There was a call to Aten and a call to Kregosi Station.Orex sat back.She had called the raiders on herself.Why?
His curiosity was raging.The woman wanted her child, that much was certain, but what did the raiders have to do with it?
He drummed his claws on the com and then made a call.He waited, and when it was answered, he inclined his head.“Honoured Ra, first among us, I am Orex, and I have a bit of a mystery weighing on me.”
Ra sat and looked at him.“I love a good mystery.Please tell me.”
He explained about the missing Terran and provided him with an image of the woman known as Zelda.He explained about the fake companion then the raiders and abduction.
After that, he mentioned the child.Ra held up a hand.“Harwin, do you know anything about a Terran child arriving here?”
The female voice said, “There will be many in a week or so.Why?”
“I believe the woman I have described will be heading to Aten to claim her daughter.”
The woman started speaking, and Ra pulled her onto his lap.Orex stared.The woman blinked.“Oh, yeah, the shiny thing.Apparently, the elders have this effect on their consorts.So, you think she’s coming to collect her daughter?”
“Yes.”
“Ra, can I see the image again?”
The image came up on their end, and the woman covered her mouth.“Ra, how could you not recognize her?”
“I haven’t seen her before.” Ra smiled and stroked her huge belly.
“But you have seen her sisters.Zoey is being repaired right now, and Zaniah is next to her.This is a sister, obviously, but not a twin.The heterochromia is an interesting twist to her appearance.”
Harwin looked through the files and smiled.“And her daughter has it as well.”
The image of a little girl in a tunic and trousers with black hair and one white eye and one aqua eye filled the screen.“This is Aretta Yelnar.Her mother is Zelda Yelnar.”
“Aretta was brought to the station in the first three lifts, and her mother was brought up four retrievals later.Aretta was long gone.Zelda checked on her vessel, and then she was restrained to be bonded out until her daughter was clear of her own bond.This was before Ra woke and dismissed all the Terran bonds.”
Orex nodded.“I see.”
“Yes.”Harwin shifted on Ra’s lap.“Let me talk to some of the new transplants and see what they know about Zelda.”
“She is headed toward you.If you can hold her once she arrives, I will pursue her from that point.”
Harwin muttered, “Why delay?”
Ra stroked her hair and kissed her shoulder.“Sweet, the ship she is on may not come directly here.It is probably also not as fast as Orex’s ship.His are known for speed.Space Arrows.”
Orex felt proud and embarrassed.“You know of my vessels?”
“I was going to commission a few ships.It seems some of the Children of Geb are being held outside of a mutual contract.We have guards here who are capable of retrieving them, but my vessels are outdated.Zell would, but he has larger ships, and we want something a little more manageable for small crews.”
Orex was stunned.“I will send you the specs for some new hull designs.”
Ra smiled.“Thank you.Oh, of course.This is my mate, consort, and queen, Harwin, Queen of Aten.Harwin.This is Orex of the darkened wastes, guide of twenty worlds.”
Orex blinked.“You know that?”
Harwin chuckled.“He’s cheating.He has your stats up on a tablet offscreen.”
Ra sighed.“My Queen, you are ruining my mystique.”
Orex laughed.“Eldest among Hmrain, you don’t need any mystique.”