“Zoey, I will come and see you whenever you like.I am about to make a purchase that will make it easier.”Skylar chortled.“Your sister’s Hmrain makes some of the fastest ships around, but only certain species can use them.They do a dimensional slip through folds of space, and you have to be radiation resistant to be comfortable.”
Zoey said, “Will Aretta be all right?”
“Yup.He has shielded quarters.She just has to stick to the reinforced areas.I should have said that the pilot needs resistance.Everyone else is fine.”
Zoey blinked.“Oh.Good.”
“It isn’t like a toxic radiation either, more like...time radiation?I dunno.Surfing the puckers in space is an interesting thing.”
“You have done it before?”
“Sure.My shuttle is capable of it, but I need something a little bigger.My ship is just big enough for me and six ghosts at any given time.”
“What?”
“Oh, yeah.I got cards made up, and we play poker on long glides between worlds.”She shrugged.“If I am going to carry them, I am going to make them teach me how to play cards.”
Zoey laughed.“Good, because the only card game you have really mastered is Go Fish.”
Skylar chuckled and stretched.“Well, I am very glad you have skin and body fat again.Contact me if you ever need me.If you have to, call your mom, or Zelda’s mom and tell the wind what you need.I will show up as soon as I can.”
“I have to ask, but are you supposed to?This seems like the kind of thing that the robes say should not happen.”
“I don’t listen to my inner or outerwear.They are not the boss of me.”
Zoey grinned.“That sounds like Skylar.At no time did your underwear tell you what to do, and usually, it had your name in it.”
They stood together and laughed, but Skylar felt a thump in her head.“Whoops.Gotta go.”
Zoey blinked.“Why?”
“Something is coming, and it isn’t happy with me.Gotta go make my goodbyes and run for it.”
Zoey nodded, and they went to Harwin, made their goodbyes, and told them how to call her.“Just ask Geegee.She can tell me.”
Harwin paused.“Did your fingernails turn to claws?”
“Oh.Yeah.That happens.The change is kinda relentless.As long as I don’t come out of this with a tail, I am good.”
Ra lifted his head.“You felt that?”
“Yup.I am now getting off Aten and going to visit a few more Terrans who need to know that their loved ones want the best for them.Keep Aretta from beating that woman to death.She’s small, but she has Zelda’s heart.She can manage it.”
Harwin nodded.“Take care of yourself.”
“I will, or the ghosts will.Not sure.Either way, gotta go.That fucker is fast.”She stroked Harran’s cheek, nodded to Ra, and touched Harwin’s cheek as well.“See you later, Zoey.”
She moved at full glide out of the temple and down the hill to where she parked her ship.The invisibility shield receded as she slid into the hatch and got herself into the pilot’s seat.She stroked her controls and was up and away using an energy source that came from the life in the ship itself.
Skylar took herself skyward and headed for a panic signal.It was on her way to Orex’s world, so she had time to make a stop.It wasn’t really up her alley, but it was a request from a Terran, so she headed out to see what the heck a Pericoff was.
* * * *
Zelda watched the shipsilently glide up and away.Orex was staring with his eyes wide open.
“So, based on your expression, it should be making a different sound.”
“I cannot understand why she needs a larger ship.That is a ship with a biolock, and it uses life energy to fly.”