Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Author: Invid Fan
Title: The Bells of Home
Summary: Sequel to The Bells of Tanah.  Almost a year has past.  Our
heroes have traveled across the galaxy, in their supermarket spaceship The
Bells.  Can Humans and Orang overcome the obstacles in their way?
Keywords: MF, MFF, FF, cons, rom, SF, alien, pregnant, Poly



   The Bells of Home By Invid Fan (c)2012

   A Bells Across the Universe Story

   ****

   Chapter 1

   "Do you, Justin, take this woman as your wife.  To love her, comfort
her, help her.  Do you promise to love the children she will bless us with
as your own, to abandon jealousy, and help her find her way in this new
universe?"

   "I do."

   "Do you, Alicia, take this man as your husband.  To love him, comfort
him, and help him.  Will you bear his children, and love those born through
his love with others as your own.  Will you stand by him, where ever our
travels may take us?"

   "I do."

   "Then, with no power but that of friendship, I now pronounce you husband
and wife.  You may kiss."

   ****

   Anthony stepped back, letting the two have their moment.  Another
wedding.  The gathered cheered, Justin and Alicia stepping together as if
for their first kiss.  If you had asked him, a year ago, if he ever thought
the blonde, seemingly at times bimbo, cashier would ever be paired with the
brown skinned, skinny four eyed geek, no answer would even have been
necessary.  That this, now, was one of the more normal couples, said
everything.  Hell, it wasn't even a couple...

   Obviously unable to hold back anymore, Daium ran forward, grabbing bride
and groom in a furred hug.  She was laughing, crying, blackish grey
forehead pressed against theirs, with enough presence of mind not to squish
the five month pregnant Alicia too much.  Melinda and Rinda, almost at the
childbirth stage themselves, joined the hug, followed by the others.  It
became a mass of fur, and cloth covered flesh.  Anthony stayed where he
was, chuckling.  Putting his now official marriage vows notebook on the
park bench, he looked for Hannah.  She too had not joined the pile,
standing instead next to a bed of white alien roses.  Her smile was sad, as
her hand caressed the swell of her belly under the long white dress.  With
a sigh, he walked to her.

   "Want to take a walk for a few minutes?"

   The sadness seemed to fall from her as she turned to him.  It was always
this way.  Left on her own, his lovely wife would brood, thoughts going
where there was no good in sending them.  She was distracted more easily
than a newborn babe, though.Taking his hand, fingers warm, smooth, she
shook her head, smiling.

   "I'll be OK.  Silly male.  You do NOT walk out on someone's wedding!"

   Anthony grinned, looking up at the clear dome overhead, and the stars
beyond.

   "It's not like we could walk far anyway..."

   ****

   Nona just wanted to leave.

   She didn't dance.  Didn't sing.  Didn't...  well, party.

   OK, that wasn't the problem.

   Sighing, Nona took another swig of the strange alien beer as she watched
the couples swaying to the slow pop song.  Not drinking was one of the
Islamic laws her family had been rather flexible about, and despite her
re-dedication to her faith it was one of the many things now ignored.  Beer
just...  made life more bearable.  God had to understand.  Hell, if
anything, it kept her from sinning more.

   For example, going over and smashing the speaker now playing Celine
Dion.

   Justin and Alicia were slowly swaying to the music, head on each other's
shoulder.  Nona wasn't sure what she thought about all this.  The
marriages. Really...  did it matter?  Everyone, apart from her and Tammy,
had paired (or tripled) up rather early.  The bonds seemed to be strong and
long lasting.  Did this second marriage, when both were already married to
Daium...  she shook her head.  Well, it wasn't her problem.  So long as it
worked for them.

   Her eyes shifted over to Tammy.  She, too, wasn't dancing.  She, too,
wasn't her problem.  The woman was sitting next to Rinda, laughing at some
comment by the blue Orang.  Dirty blonde hair, tied back as always in a
pony tail.  She wore a black form fitting dress that, while not really
revealing, hugged her athletic form in a way that made Nona uncomfortable.
So much about Tammy made her uncomfortable, including the fact of feeling
uncomfortable.  It wasn't, at this point, the whole lesbian thing (after
all, all the women apart from her had at least ventured to that side once,
and the Malay had no problem with that).  It wasn't that she got along
badly with her.  Far from it.  They could almost be considered friends,
now.

   What the hell WAS it?

   Nona looked away, taking another sip of her beer.  Later.  She'd think
about it later.

   Maybe getting drunk would help.

   "Um...  Nona?  Do you want to dance?"

   In spite of herself, Nona smiled.  Danny, she could understand and deal
with.  The half human boy was standing before her, looking rather good in
blue pants and a black shirt.  He'd grown almost an inch since joining
them, with most likely more to go.  but this new outfit had been tailored
by Hannah almost perfectly.  His red hair, usually a shaggy mess, had been
trimmed down and combed back, both ears fully visible above his forehead.
His green eyes, above his fleshy snout...  well, there the cracks in this
self confident shell was plainly visible.  Despite their friendship,
despite the months of talking together...  he still went to pieces around
her.

   Nona took it as a complement.

   Mind you, the poor teen's choices for realistic crushes were slim in the
extreme.  Unless the incest taboo was broken, or one of the three marriages
opened further, she was it.  And...  well, in the future, who knew.  Her
choices were just as limited.  Maybe, someday, they would end up together,
like kids in a small town who all married their childhood playmates.  She
did like him, after all.

   But, for now...

   "Sorry, Danny." She smiled apologetically, hoping he understood.  "I
don't dance."

   "I didn't either," he said, hope still in his eyes, "but Alicia taught
me.  I'll lead.  Please?" There was a whining in that final word she didn't
like.  Her body language must have shifted, as his shoulders slumped.

   "OK.  I'm sorry I..."

   "I'LL dance with you!"

   Melinda ran over, or waddled, if you were feeling less than kind or just
knew her well, grabbing Danny's hand.  He was pulled away, to much
surrounding laughter.  Nona found herself blushing as much as he was. 
Their little exchange had been watched.  Which, naturally, it would be. 
How their small family got along was everyone's business, and she made no
attempt to sneak her observations of her companions.  But, still...

   Goldie came up beside her, golden fur brushed and shining.  Sitting her
bear-like body on the grass next to the bench, she looked out at her
brother.  He had no idea where to place his hands, and his body kept
bumping Melinda's large baby-filled tummy.  Goldie sighed, her human face
wistful.

   "He likes you."

   "I think we all know that," Nona chuckled.

   "Then dance with him!" She looked up, human eyes wide with emotion. 
"Please!"

   "I don't..."

   The song ended, to her great relief.  Gone was the threat of dancing,
for now, and more importantly the threat of bad pop music.  Nona looked
down at her beer.  Maybe it was time for a refill.  Justin would probably,
in the interest of fairness, ask for something more rock or progressive be
played next.  There'd be no dancing to Pink Floyd...

   The first note came from the speakers.  Nona's head shot up, horrified.
No.  They couldn't.  Think of the children!  And the Muslims!

   "Young man, there's no need to feel down..."

   Tammy was in front of her, grin on her face.  Grabbing both of the dark
skinned girl's arms, she forcefully pulled Nona to her feet.  Nona stumbled
forward, was twirled, and found herself in a line with all the other
females.  The boys stood just off the circular stone patio that had become
their dance floor here in the ship's garden filled dome, expressions that
of amusement.  Nona took a half step to join them, but was pulled back in
line by Tammy.

   "Stay here!  It's a girls only dance!"

   To her left, Goldie reared up onto her hind legs.  She wobbled for a
moment, body not built for being vertical, but her face was excited.

   "Don't help me!  I've got it!  I've practiced!"

   Well.  If Goldie was putting in that much effort...  With a sigh, in no
way willing to admit she was probably going to enjoy this, Nona put her two
arms up in the air as the chorus came.

   "It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.!"

   ****

   Daium yawned as she floated across the spherical bridge with her husband
and wife.  Their clothing, hair, and fur, which had been immaculate that
morning, was now a bit disheveled.  Within the hour, the clothing would be
off and the hair in much worse shape.  That was the future, though.  The
now saw them moving around the large tree taking up the center of the
bridge.  Pausing, Justin dived down to its roots, the others grabbing the
central trunk to wait.

   "Looks good," he yelled up, hitting some switches.  "The new pump is
keeping the water flowing."

   "Thank the Tree," Alicia grinned, hand going out to rub Daium's head. 
Daium nodded, happy, hand caressing the rough bark.

   "Losing the tree would be like losing Dad again."

   "I'm glad you didn't say like losing us," Alicia said, cocking an
eyebrow, "or I'd question exactly what you do on the bridge alone."

   Daium laughed, pushing off towards her chair at the front of the bridge,
legs spread to offer a glimpse under her green skirt.

   "Wouldn't you like to know!"

   Outstretched hand reaching the console, she flipped a switch.  The
wooden bridge walls faded, replaced by the blackness of space around them.
Even the view behind showed this, instead of the large dome with its garden
and Bells store, and the corresponding half sphere lower hull of the ship.
Who wanted to see those, when you could see space!

   Daium took her seat as her mates came up behind.  Adjusting her four
lensed glasses, she brought up windows of data onto the curved wall before
them.  Justin put a hand on her right shoulder, next to her suspender
strap.

   "Anything?"

   Color images of five planets appeared, surrounded by numbers and
letters. Alicia leaned in squinting.  Her breast, swollen like her belly,
brushed against Daium.  The breast paused, then began rubbing itself on the
furry arm.  Daium just shook her head.  The bitch could be SUCH a tease.

   "Neither of the two Goldilocks planets are inhabited.  Or, if they are,
it's a primitive species."

   "Cool, we can be gods," Alicia laughed.  Daium turned, catching her eye.

   "You're already my goddess."

   "Hmm...  keep that up, and I'll forget it's Justin I'm honeymooning with
tonight..."

   "We'll see about that, Woman.  It's about time you had a husband to tame
you."

   "Promises, promises..."

   Daium felt the two kiss behind her, her own lips tingling in response.
Of all the strangeness that had happened, the love between the three of
them was the strangest, and the most wonderful.  Every day brought new
blessings.  Although, she thought, resisting the urge to touch her flat
belly, not always the one she wanted.  Someday, maybe, Holy Tree willing,
the ultimate blessing of Justin and Alicia's love would be given to her. 
Until then...

   New data popped up.  With a sigh, her shoulders dropped in defeat.

   "Fuck."

   "What?" Justin moved next to her, eyes on the screen.  She pointed.

   "Planet three has too much methane, and planet four seems to be having
an ice age."

   The three stared in silence.  Alicia finally snorted in disgust.

   "You said the survey you found showed both were Earth and Tanah like
planets."

   "I also said the survey was a good 8,000 year old.  Planets change, like
everything else."

   "Fuck change."

   "That'll show it." Justin turned off the sensor display.  Before them,
stretched the endless universe.  Somewhat closer, if still a day away, was
the fourth planet of this system.  The Bells had warped in outside of its
orbit, partly so they could get a better sensor sweep of the system, but
mostly to give them time alone for the wedding.  They had wanted it in real
space.  Exactly why, she couldn't have said.

   Alicia pushed herself forward and spun, back coming in contact with the
bridge wall.  She looked between her two mates.

   "So, this place is a bust.  What now?"

   Daium brought her hands up to her head.  She could feel a headache
coming on.

   "Don't know.  We can't go to every star system looking for a new home.
The ones we have leads on, we keep finding things have changed.  I don't
want to turn around, or circle around the edge of the galaxy, because... 
well..."

   "Because, with our luck, we'll run into your people."

   She nodded, glumly.  That was a complication they did not need.  Some
word had jumped ahead of them, confused tales of roaming Orang ships. 
That, knowing some had survived, was enough for her.  The bridge between
her and her people had long ago been burned.  She wanted to be away from
them.  To flee...

   "Short term," Justin said, hands going to massage Daium's scalp, "I
think it's time to find a system to settle in while Rinda and Melinda pop
out their kids.  Nona has been doing what studying she can, but we should
be on a planet just in case."

   Daium sighed.

   "Doctors are never good outside their own species, but...  yes." Her
eyes closed, Justin's fingers doing their magic.  "Tomorrow.  I'll find a
system tomorrow."

   "And after?" Alicia wasn't going to let the subject drop that easily. 
Things were too casual among them.  You needed to do lots of bitching to
keep everyone focused on what was needed.  The blonde was good at that, one
of the many reasons Daium respected, not to mention loved, her.  Which
didn't mean she always appreciated such nagging.

   "After..." Her four eyes looked again at the star map.  "We're getting
near the outer rim.  We could...  well, leave the galaxy."

   Justin's hands paused.

   "You're kidding."

   "No.  We just go, leave all this behind.  The ship can do it..."

   "You're talking years at warp, Daium.  With no idea if we can resupply
once we get there."

   That was the idea.  Go.  Just Go.  Flee.  Flee the past.  Flee any
chance of it catching up with them.  Start over.  Start a new race.  She
looked at her wife, trying to say all that with her eyes.

   "Alicia..."

   "If it was a spiral galaxy," Alicia told her, shaking her head, "one
that could be the Milky Way, I'd say go for it.  But, I've seen the charts.
It's not even close to the same as home.  No...  we'll find a new home
here."

   Daium nodded.  She understood.  That's why she loved them.  They were
strong.  Stronger than she was.  Stronger...

   Soft, wet lips touched hers.

   "Come," Alicia said, pulling back, eyes sparkling.  "Let's go to bed."

   Stronger, and more loving.

   ****

   "There is nothing," Chuck muttered, half to himself, "better in the
universe than this."

   "Flatterer."

   "He flatters with truth."

   He smiled, arms drawing Melinda and Rinda closer.  The three lovers lay
on a patch of green grass near the edge of the dome, surrounded by red
daisies.  The lights mounted on the store roof were off, night now fallen
over the garden.  A night with a million stars above them.

   And below.  And to the side.  It's not as romantic when the idea that
there's an infinite drop two or three floors below you enters your mind. 
Not that you'd actually drop in space, but...

   "Hey.  Less thought, more kissing."

   Soft hands turned Chuck's head to the left, drawing his lips to
Melinda's.  Rinda's smooth hands were there a moment later to draw him to
her side.  The next little while was a giggling tug of war, which would
only have winners.

   ****

   The grassy beds had been, Chuck had to agree, one of the great ideas in
history.  They had started as a treat for Goldie.  The poor girl could not
use chairs, at least not easily, and while Anthony had suggested extra long
benches up here in the gravity zone for her use, she hadn't been thrilled
with the idea.  On their various planetary trips, the young teen had fallen
in love with just laying on the grass.  Her life had been spent on stone,
or metal, so the feel of soft plants and dirt spoke to her in a way no
bench cushion ever could.  They had started with a small patch, large
enough so she could sit and relax among the flowers.  It was soon expanded,
so she could roll a bit.  Roll, and lay, so much like a dog that some of
the humans were a bit uncomfortable.  She WAS human, after all...  as human
as the coming children...

   It only took a week for the various romantic groupings to discover that
grassy beds under the stars had other uses.  With no explicit discussion,
four more were laid out in the garden surrounding the store, each
reasonably isolated from the next.

   The evolution of the garden itself, not to mention the store and the
rest of the ship, had followed a similar pattern: need, plan, revise plan.
Repeat.  The old grocery store from Earth, now emptied of most of its food,
contained living quarters, bathrooms, and a remodeled bakery and deli
kitchen.  Most of it was left as it had been, old shelves left up empty. 
When they needed the room, they'd take them down.  Outside, stone paths
wound their way through plant beds seemingly rearranged and restocked at
each planet.  Some were food plants, experiments to see what they could
grow and eat once they found a new home world, but many were just flowers.
Off in one corner, the two vans which had make the trip with the store that
fateful night sat unused.  They as of yet weren't converted from using
gasoline.  Exactly how they could be converted, without just ripping the
motors out, hadn't been given much serious discussion.  Chuck wondered if
it would be easier, when the time came, to just try and make gas out of
something.

   The rest of the ship had been left much as Daium's father had made it.
The living quarters weren't lived in much, the pain of gravity being seen
as a needed evil for most of the day.  But the Bridge, and Commons area,
which held a large TV screen and dining area, remained in use and gravity
free.  Floating was just too much fun to give up entirely, despite the
needs of the unborn.

   ****

   "Mmm...  aaahh..."

   Rinda watched Melinda shudder.  The two wives lay on their sides,
bellies touching, as Chuck slowly fucked Melinda from behind.  The blue
Orang loved watching the human orgasm.  The way Melinda just gave into
pleasure, both giving and receiving, was always a source of wonder and joy
for Rinda.  You could see it in her face, the effort to ride the wave of
pleasure up to the peak.  Eyes closed, focused on every point of contact
with her lovers.  With a grin, Rinda slid down a bit, moved her face closer
and took one of Melinda's nipples in her mouth.

   That did it.  The human let go a scream, which hung in the air around
them.  Rinda grinned around the swollen breast.  If Goldie or Danny were
around- and she had seen them peeking a few times lately- they certainly
heard that.  Hmm...  she pictured both of them in her mind.  Rinda had been
about that age when she first began exploring her sexuality.  Maybe she
could teach them, as it was obvious Nona wasn't going to do it.  She'd ask
her partners first, though, naturally.  It might not be how humans did
things...

   Melinda seemed to go limp, apart from an occasional shudder.  Pushing
her head up, Rinda saw her wife done for at least the moment, all pleasured
out.  A chuckle came from Chuck's general direction.

   "She sure knows how to stroke a guy's ego, among other things," he
whispered.

   "Did you come, Love?"

   "Almost there..."

   "Give it to me..."

   Melinda's warm body shifted as Chuck withdrew and stood.  Rinda's four
eyes stayed on the human as his form moved through the darkness, lowering
itself behind her.  She shifted a bit, picking the most comfortable spot as
she felt him press against her.  Two hands worked themselves around to pull
her tight, as his hardness searched for the opening.  It was her turn to
give into pleasure.  The world outside vanished.

   Neither noticed the faint, snowy glow by the front store windows...

   ****

   "Am I the ONLY one," Hannah asked, shaking her head, "who isn't a
screamer?"

   "You're not?"

   "Not in the garden, at least!  Not when I know others are probably
around!  God!"

   One look at Anthony in the dim store light was all Hannah needed to know
this wasn't a rant which would get much sympathy that night.  And, really,
she was being a bit self righteous.  And hypocritical.  She, just...

   Well, she just.  Some things weren't worth putting into words.

   Anthony's hand found hers, squeezing.  As always, worry vanished when
her mind turned to him.  She shook her head, giving a smiling sigh as they
walked down the front aisle towards the cash registers and the stairway
beyond.

   "Sorry.  Just tired."

   "Will you be OK with the stairs, or do you want to try the elevator?"

   She laughed.  That had been the first design mistake: putting all the
new bedrooms up on the second floor.  Given the whole point was that these
would be needed for pregnant women, who required gravity for their fetuses,
access was not as convenient as it could be.  Melinda had been the first to
bitch, Rinda being a bit more stoic in the pain department.  Discussion
went back and forth, some suggesting moving the bedrooms to "ground" level,
basically starting over just as the women needed less stress in their
lives. That was when Goldie, in one of those moments that showed the adult
she would become, asked if they couldn't just turn gravity off in the
stairwell.  After all, if gravity could be turned on for just a part of the
ship, maybe it could be turned off for an even smaller section?  After both
Daium and Chuck finished smacking themselves in the forehead for not
thinking of that, they went to work.  Instead of modifying the stairs,
though, they created a gravity free tube near the back of the store.  A
circular base, with polished wooden rods along the outside to keep you
inside the floating zone as well as provide hand holds as you made your way
up or down.  Alicia had said it reminded her of a stair replacement mod for
The Sims.

   "I think the stairs will be fine today, Honey.  I'm not a bloated mess
yet."

   "Oh, no argument there.  In fact..."

   "Hannah..."

   The sound was faint...  but familiar.  A sound from a lifetime ago,
tickling the back of her head.  It was in her head, yet, also...

   The two of them were near the front entrance.  Hannah stopped, spinning
her head towards the front window.

   Gone was the darkened garden.  And the spaceship.  Instead, on the other
side of the thin plate of glass, was snow.  A field of snow, with more
coming down.  Falling onto four people, humans, all dressed for winter. 
Ghostly, as if on a film projected against the snow.  A young girl, maybe a
teen, knelt in the center, looking at her in amazement.  To the right was a
young man, tall, holding two snowmobile helmets.  And...  to Hannah's
left...  an unknown woman, and...

   Her husband.

   Mark.

   Oh.  God.  It had been...  He looked good.  Older.  Wiser.  His eyes...
even through the glass and snow, she could see the love in his eyes.  See
the loss, the hurt.  The ease with which she had left him behind flooded
up, threatening to overwhelm her.  She had been such a horrible wife!  He
had deserved better!

   And...  he had found better.  Mark wasn't running to her.  He was
holding the hand of a beautiful, dark haired woman.  Hannah smiled at the
pair, squeezing Anthony's hand while moving her free hand to her swollen
belly.  The ghost of Mark nodded, voice once again echoing in her head.

   "I miss you..."

   And she missed him...  Almost as much as she missed...

   "MOMMY!"

   Her head jerked to the right.  The girl.  The young girl.  Almost a
teen. Dressed in pink and white.  The hair, the eyes...

   Her daughter.

   Her baby.

   Her life.

   Mary.

   Time stood still.  Hannah fell to her knees, arms outstretched.  It
couldn't be her baby, her baby would only be two and a half!  But it WAS
her baby!  Her Mary!  Her little Mary!  She couldn't be seeing this!  Her
eyes were so full of tears, she knew she WASN'T seeing this!  The girl was
now running towards her!  Towards the window...

   Through the window.

   "MARY!!!!"

   The ghostly scream of her husband never even registered as her daughter,
her living, breathing, flesh and blood, daughter threw herself into
Hannah's arms.

   "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!"

   The girl was hysterical, almost as much as she was.  Her daughter! 
Grown!  And here!!  Long brown hair!  And so tall!  Her baby...

   "I'm sorry.  I'll protect them."

   Anthony's words...  spoken not to her, but to the other side.  Part of
her knew they were important.  Knew that this was not a GOOD thing.  But
that was the future.  The now...  the now was her baby.

   "Oh, Mary!  I've missed you, my little Mary!  Oh, God!" They both were
laughing.  Crying.  Showering each other with kisses.  Hannah finally
grabbed the girl's head and held it still, rubbing their foreheads
together. "I can't believe it's you!"

   "And Daddy!" Mary's eyes were wide with excitement.  "Daddy's here, too!
Daddy, look!" She turned, looking back at the storefront window.  Hannah
raised her eyes as well.

   Outside, beds of flowers could just be seen in the darkness.

   Hannah's body went cold.  Of their own volition, her arms released her
daughter, a split second before Mary bolted to her feet.

   "DAD!"

   Why.  Why was the universe doing this to her.  To them.  What had Hannah
done wrong?  Mary rushed to the window, bashing the glass with her fists.

   "DADDY!!!"

   Hannah didn't mean to take her away from Mark.  Didn't mean to drag her
into this life.  Didn't mean....

   Through blurry eyes, she saw Anthony slowly walk up to her Mary.  Saw
him kneel down next to the screaming girl.  Talk.  Say everything she,
herself, should be saying.  It should be her comforting her baby.  She was
a failure.  How could she bring a new life into this world, when she had
failed her oldest so badly...

   Blinking, she saw Mary slowly walking towards her, Anthony's hand on her
shoulder.  The girl's eyes were wide, not understanding.  How could she. 
They didn't understand it, either.  Hannah struggled to her feet, body so
tired.  Taking two steps forward, she took Mary in her arms, burying the
girl's face between her breasts.

   "I'm so sorry, Honey.  So sorry.  I didn't mean..."

   "Mom...  Daddy, he's...  he's..."

   From behind them, a tired, worried voice spoke.

   "I heard yelling.  Is everything OK?"

   Hannah let out a sigh.  No.  Everything wasn't OK.  But, there was no
need to worry her tonight.  She turned her head to the human faced bear
girl, smiling.

   "Everything's OK, Goldie.  Go back to..."

   A scream erupted from Mary.  Primal.  Terrified.

   A rather reasonable reaction, all told.

   ****

   Chapter 2

   She was in Wonderland.

   That had to be it.  Wonderland.  And not the good kind, with invisible
cats and cartoon cards.  It was one of those horrible dark, live action
Wonderlands made by adults who should be locked up and let nowhere near
children.

   Mary reached down to touch one of the red daisies by her feet.  Nope,
not painted.

   The thirteen year old looked around the circle of park benches.  They
were all here.  All of them.  The dead...  well, the missing.  And she knew
them.  Had memorized them.  Dreamed of them.  Given them personalities,
voices.  Anthony, the Manager.  Dark haired, mustached.  Thin, but strong.
Afraid of nothing.  Tammy, the office girl.  Blonde, sweet, shy.  Alicia,
the scar faced cheerleader.  Sad, but bubbly.  Melinda, the geek.  Smart,
awkward.  Nona, the dark skinned cashier.  Foreign, mysterious.  Chuck, the
stock boy.  Chubby, cheerful.  Justin.  Short, brown skinned.  Good singer.

   And now they were real.

   Or she was dreaming.  That was it.  It would explain the four eyed
monkeys and bear kids.  Wonderland was always a dream, wasn't it?  Alice
always woke up.  She'd wake up, and be with Dad again...

   Mary's eyes went to her mother, sitting next to her on the bench.  The
woman she had dreamed of every night for as long as she had lived gave her
a smile of such sadness, such loss...

   Mary didn't want to wake up.  Not yet.

   ****

   "Twelve years..."

   Mary turned to look at Chuck.  The boy, man, was sitting between
Melinda, who's glasses seemed to sparkle in the light, and the skirt
wearing, blue furred four eyed monkey girl with suspenders that were also a
bra.  Wearing seemingly hastily donned blue pants and white shirt, he was
just shaking his head.  As if...  as if it was SHE that had the outrageous
story!  She was confusing THEM!  She looked around, trying to understand.

   "How long has it been for all you?"

   "Not even a year," Chuck replied.  One hand went to his forehead.  "And
it's not even consistent with what Goldie and Danny told us!  Damn it, the
timelines don't match at all!"

   Against her better judgement, Mary's eyes flicked over to the two... 
creatures.

   She didn't think she had overreacted when first seeing the furry Goldie.
The creature now sitting on the grass was hideous, a cute girl's face on
the body of a small bear.  That the girl looked to be about her age made it
worse, as if an evil witch had turned the girl into this, and it was to be
Mary's fate!

   The fact Mary was incredibly tired and disoriented hadn't helped.

   The boy, though...  he had come running down, dressed in just shorts,
ready to rescue whoever was screaming.  He was...  was...

   A God.

   That was it.  If his skin was black, he'd be like that dog headed
Egyptian God.

   She looked away, blushing.

   A freak, that's what he was.  A hunky, shirtless, redheaded freak, with
the most beautiful eyes...

   "What about my parents?"

   Mary looked over at Nona.  The dark girl looked back with wild, worried
eyes.  She was alone on her bench, the only one so isolated.  Well...  that
wasn't true.  The dirty blonde Tammy was on the bench next to her, also
alone...  wait, what was the question?

   "Nona," Anthony said, voice not as strong as Mary had pictured it,
"don't.  If we can't go back, it's best to just assume our families are
well.  We can't do anything, so there's no point..."

   "I HAVE to know!  Please, Mary!  My Mom, Dad...  are they OK?  Have you
heard anything?"

   Had she heard anything?  She tried to think.  It was hard.  She had been
up early that morning, the excitement of the yearly trip on the anniversary
of Mom's disappearance.  Then the storm, Dad canceling the trip, her
disobeying and trying to make the trip in the snow with her friend's older
brother anyways...  then, naturally, this whole thing.

   Her mom stroked her hair.

   "It's OK, Honey.  You don't have to answer.  I know you're tired.  Maybe
tomorrow, after we all get some sleep..."

   It flashed before her eyes.  An article she had seen online.  She'd
recognized the names...

   "I'm sorry, Nona..." Her eyes met the girl's.  Nona's expression became
one of horror, denial.  Slowly, she rose to her feet.

   "No, no, no, no..."

   "Two years ago.  I saw their names.  I'm sorry..."

   "FUCK ALL OF YOU!"

   The Malaysian girl was off, running.  Mary saw a door in a wall open,
the girl vanishing into it.  Nona had almost seemed to throw herself
through, with no concern for gravity.  It closed behind her.  Mary buried
her face in her hands.

   "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

   "It's OK," Anthony sighed.  He reached over and stroked her arm, even as
Mom hugged her tight.  His touch...  it felt like Dad's.  The mustached man
looked out at the now closed door.  "Should someone..."

   "I'll talk to her," Tammy said, rising.  "She probably went to her old
cabin."

   Anthony nodded, standing as well.

   "We should all go to our rooms, get some sleep."

   "Some of us WERE sleeping," the scar faced Alicia said, but there was no
anger in her voice.  Rising, joined by the dark skinned boy and the
blackish grey furred monkey with glasses (would that make her eight-eyed?),
she came to stand in front of Mary.  "I'm happy to see you, Mary.  Your
mother has talked about you so much, missed you so much.  I wish we had
been the ones to travel to you, but..."

   "Me too," Mary whispered.

   ****

   Tammy pushed off down the ship corridor.

   Well, wasn't this a fine kettle of fuck.

   Life had been calm.  Routine.  No major emergencies, at least none since
Chuck had to have his wisdom teeth removed.  No emotional conflicts, now
that the Daium/Rinda war was over (she still didn't know exactly what the
problem had been.  Rinda had been quiet, even when they spent the night
together).  It had been the calm before the expected storm of childbirths
in a week or two.

   Now, it was the chaos before the chaos.

   Grabbing a handle on the wall, she stopped herself in front of the cabin
door.  Nona had to be in there.  Really, where else would she go?  It was
her quiet place.  Tammy knew that.  While the others had almost completely
moved into the new gravity equipped rooms, apart from when floating sex was
desired, Nona had kept her limited possessions split between two bedrooms.
Maybe it was symbolic?  After all, she was the only one alone.

   Well...

   Tammy sighed.  Now wasn't the time to feel sorry for herself.  She had
partners, when she wanted them.  If she lowered herself to going to
Melinda, or Rinda, and asked them to leave their lover's side for an hour
to keep her company.  She was asking less and less, as it satisfied her
less and less.  But, Nona didn't even have that.  The girl wanted it. 
Tammy could see that.  She WANTED someone to hold her.  NEEDED someone to
hold her.

   And there was nobody to do it.

   Tammy would.

   In a heart beat...  with her heart beating so fast...

   No.  Put that aside.  This was about Nona.  She needed comforting,
comforting that was NOT in any way sexual.  Tammy would NOT use this to
take advantage of the poor girl.  Damn it, she could never live with
herself if she did that.  She had seen guys do it to friends of hers, and
it was the lowest a human could get.

   No.

   She took a deep breath.

   "Focus," she muttered.  "Be strong for her."

   Exhaling, Tammy pressed the keypad on the doorframe.

   ****

   Tammy's heart caught in her throat.

   Nona had ripped her clothing off.  They floated, orbiting the teen like
moons of sorrow.  The dark skinned Malaysian was curled into a ball, arms
around her knees, slowly rotating in the darkness as she shook.  The sound
coming from her buried head was almost a low moan, punctuated by
uncontrolled sobs.

   Tammy's eyes filled with water.  Never...  never had she seen anyone
like this.  Someone so sad...  and, so...  so beautiful.  Nona's skin, in
the faint glow from the hallway light, was flawless.  A smooth light brown
stretched over graceful limbs...

   No!

   Don't!

   Better to back off than to approach a girl who has already shown no
interest!

   But...  Tammy found herself floating forward with no conscious effort on
her part.  Nona needed her.  Needed to be held.  Needed some connection to
humanity, to tell her she wasn't alone.

   Behind her, the door slid silently closed, plunging them back into
darkness.  Not total darkness, though.  There was a light.  Faint. 
Rectangular.  Floating with the clothes.  Her phone.  The screen was dim,
battery saving settings in the process of shutting it down.  As she
approached the sobbing girl, the screen finally went dark...  but not
before Tammy saw a photo of two adults who could only be her parents.

   She wished she had met them.  Wished she had known the people who had
produced such an extraordinary daughter, who had inspired such love.  Her
own parents...  Tammy had not talked to them in years.  Didn't even know if
the phone number she had was current.  Didn't know if she'd care, if...

   In the darkness, her outstretched fingertips touched soft skin.

   It felt like a shoulder.  Moving her hand, she felt the rounded joint
that connected arm to body.  Guessing, Tammy moved her other hand to where
the head should be, and felt hair.  Mind filling in the rest of the girl's
body, she pulled herself closer and wrapped her arms around the slowly
spinning girl.  Her head pressed against Nona's, mouth next to the sobbing
girl's ear.

   "Shhh...  it's OK."

   The shaking doubled in intensity.  Tammy began petting Nona's black
hair, forcing the silky strands against the girl as they strove to float
however they wished.  Her cheek slid against Nona's.

   "I'm here, Nona.  I'm here for you.  If you need me, I'm here..."

   ****

   They floated in the darkness, two humans adrift in space.  Eventually,
Tammy gave up speech.  She just held Nona, hoping it was enough.  The girl
had done nothing to acknowledge her.  Tammy didn't even know if Nona knew
she was there.

   Time passed.

   Sobs and moans gave way to silence, the occasional sniffle.  Maybe it
was over.  Tammy rubbed her cheek against Nona's.  Maybe she had done some
good.  Nona shouldn't suffer...

   Freed from giving all her attention to the girl in her arms, Tammy
suddenly became aware of herself.  What she was doing.  Her left hand... 
had slid down Nona's back.  It had traced the girl's spine...  and now was
slowly heading lower.  Her fingers were reaching the cleft of Nona's...

   Tammy jerked her hand away, lifting her head off of Nona.  God damn it!
She was taking advantage of the girl!  It was a kind of rape!  Worse than
rape!  You don't fucking do this!

   "Don't..."

   The voice was weak, raw.  Tammy's heart broke.  What had she done.  She
had just wanted to...

   "I'm sorry, Nona...  I'm so sorry...  I'll go..." Tears coming to her
eyes, Tammy loosened her hold on the girl.  She'd leave her.  Maybe find
Hannah, send her...  no, she would be with her daughter...

   "No!"

   It was a shout.  Tammy froze, her dress covered body still half pressed
against Nona.  She couldn't see, but felt the girl shift.  Nona's voice
trembled, cold fingers finding and touching Tammy's arm.

   "No, please, don't go.  Hold me.  Hold me..."

   "Oh, Nona, Nona..." Tammy once again engulfed the girl.  This time, she
felt her responding, arms going around her, hands tentatively touching,
caressing.  They cried, together...

   ****

   "He thinks I hate him."

   "Hmm?"

   Tammy brought a hand up, touching Nona's face.  The two floated, bodies
fully extended, feet intertwined.  Nothing existed, at that moment. 
Nothing that wasn't them.

   "Daddy.  I told him...  I hated him.  He died thinking I hate him.  I
never got to..  to..."

   "Shh..."

   "Mom too!  We fought!  Oh, God..."

   "They know you love them, Nona.  You were just being a teen..."

   "It's their fault." Her voice had turned cold.  Tammy shifted, bringing
her nose up to press against hers.

   "Whose fault?"

   "Daium.  Anthony.  All of them.  I wanted to go home.  That's all I
wanted.  To go home.  They were all fucking around, and I wanted to go
home!" She spit those last words out.  Tammy winced, at the truth of it. 
Finding home HAD become secondary.  Mind you, once they realized this
galaxy wasn't even the Milky Way, there hadn't been much that could be
done. But...

   "I'm sorry, Nona.  I'm just as responsible.  It's my fault too."

   "No, it's not.  You had no one to go back to..."

   "But I knew how you felt.  We should have tried..."

   "I don't blame you..." Nona's voice was getting tired, groggy.  Tammy
pulled her closer, their heads sliding past each other, cheeks touching.

   "Sleep, Nona.  Sleep.  Sleep for me..."

   "Stay..."

   Tammy closed her eyes.  She knew the answer she wanted to give.  The
answer every fiber of her being cried out with.  Nona felt so good in her
arms...

   "Until you send me away, my Nona..."

   ****

   Hannah stood next to her daughter in the upstairs hallway.  Her eyes,
still unbelieving, could not leave Mary's face.

   Mary.

   The toddler she had left behind, not yet in her terrible two's, now
stood beside her on the verge of womanhood.  She had missed...  everything.
Her first day of school.  The first lost tooth.  A dozen birthdays.  Her
whole life, gone by in the blink of an eye.  It was too much.  She could
see herself in the girl, though.  See the teen she had been, that her
younger sister had been.  There was some of Mark, too, in the eyes.  The
skinniness, almost a twig of a girl with just the start of breasts, also
probably came from him.  Hannah had gone from baby fat to curves.  But, she
was definitely her daughter.

   A daughter who was a stranger.

   And so, worse still, was she.

   "You sleep in the store?"

   Mary's voice was incredulous.  Beside them, Anthony let out a laugh. 
Hannah was so grateful to him.  Everything she didn't know how to say,
seemed to come from him so easily.

   "We didn't, at first, but it's more home-like than the rest of the ship.
More...  human."

   The girl nodded.  The hall was carpeted in a soft, shaggy dark red,
wooden walls painted white with an alien oak trim.  A mural, soft brush
strokes depicting a forest scene, ran between two doorways on the left. 
Shifting her small backpack to her other hand, already holding her winter
coat, Mary reached out and touched it.

   "Who?"

   "Goldie," Hannah said, moving behind her, hands going to her shoulders.
"She's a great artist, isn't she?  You should see what she's done with her
room."

   Mary seemed to lose interest on hearing the artist, backing away and
looking around.  Hannah looked over at Anthony.  He shrugged.  Mary turned
to them.

   "Where am I sleeping?"

   "Well, obviously, we weren't expecting you.  Maybe we can put you in
Nona's room, for now.  I'm sure she won't mind..."

   "Can't I sleep with you, Mom?!  Please?"

   The pleading was well practiced.  You could see that.  This was a girl
who had gotten what she wanted for most of her life.  Not spoiled, maybe,
but Mark had never stood a chance.  Neither did Hannah...  at least, not
yet.

   "Of course, Honey." She looked at Anthony, who just laughed.

   "I'll see you two in the morning." Turning, he made his way back to the
stairs.  He'd probably sleep in their old cabin.  Or maybe in the garden.
It was warm enough.  Mary looked between them, confused, and seemingly not
sure if that could be blamed on being tired.

   "Doesn't he sleep up here?"

   "Usually," Hannah replied.  Deciding to postpone that whole aspect of
this new reality, she moved down the hall to their room and opened the
door. "Come on in, Mary."

   Somewhat hesitantly, the girl passed by Hannah into the room.  Almost,
it seemed, as if she still wasn't sure this all wasn't some trick, that now
that her "Mother" was alone with her the mask wasn't going to come off,
revealing a monster.

   Hannah had some of the same trepidations, really.

   Mary stopped a few feet inside, looking around as Hannah closed the
door. The bedroom wasn't in the most visitor friendly shape: the king sized
bed, with its four posts and light blue canopy, wasn't made.  Clothing was
scattered on the blue carpet from that morning's pre-wedding activities. 
With a seeming sigh, she let her pink backpack and coat drop to the floor.

   "It's too...  normal."

   Hannah tried to think of a response.  Mary's gaze fell on the vanity
against the left hand wall.  It had been a birthday gift from Anthony,
modeled after one that had been in her bedroom as a child.  Light blue,
with a pink trim.  Mary slowly walked over to it, winter boots leaving a
faint trail in the carpet.  Letting herself drop into the wooden chair, her
eyes gazed into the large mirror.  They met Hannah's.

   "This is his room, too."

   "...  yes."

   The reflection of the girl nodded.  It gazed down, looking at the few
brushes and cosmetics scattered on the counter.  Once again her eyes rose
and met the still frozen Hannah.

   "What happened?"

   Hannah sighed.  Walking without conscious thought, she found herself
sitting on the edge of the bed, left hand playing with the carved post as
she tried to organize her thoughts.  Mary waited, back to her mother.

   "We don't know," Hannah finally said, voice tired.  "Really.  One minute
we were closing the store, the next the power was out, the parking lot was
just empty snow, and the entire store was on another planet."

   "Another...  planet."

   "Yup.  Very stupid.  We all agreed on that point." She laughed, shaking
her head.  "'Something quantum' has been our standard explanation for all
the shit and coincidence that have gone on." Mary's reflected eyes doubled
in size on hearing her mom curse.  Hannah shrugged.  "Mary...  I'm probably
not the woman you think I am.  I can't imagine what you've gone through. 
What it's been like growing up." Her voice became emotional.  "Mary,
Honey...  I..."

   "When did you give up on Dad?"

   "What?" Hannah jerked up straight.  Mary's head turned from the mirror,
eyes boring into her.

   "Dad waited ten years before moving on.  Ten.  Years.  I had to FORCE
him to date again!  And...  you..."

   Hannah bowed her head.

   "I wasn't a good wife, Mary.  I won't say I was.  The marriage wouldn't
have lasted if none of this had happened."

   The silence was deafening.  Hannah looked up, saw Mary's face a mass of
sorrow and outrage.

   "Wha...  what about me?  Were you glad to be rid of me, "Mommy"?"

   "Honey, No!"

   "You're already replacing me!"

   OK.  That did it.  Hannah was pissed.  She rose, eyes blazing.

   "Mary!  Come here!"

   "No!"

   "Mary Moyer!  You get over here, NOW!"

   She heard her own mother in her voice.  Heard the echoes of countless
generations of women.  She stood, glaring, as her teen slowly stood and
meekly walked over to her.  Taking her hand firmly, Hannah led Mary around
the bed.  Coming to the corner of the room, she pushed her daughter in
front of her, hands on the girl's shoulders.

   "There.  Look."

   Mary stood, silent.  Hannah couldn't see her face, but hoped she
understood.  Before them, was the shrine.  A small corner shelf held a baby
car seat, a stuffed yellow bunny with a pink bib buckled in tightly. 
Framed pictures of a year old baby surrounded it.  Varnished wooden vases
held freshly cut flowers.  On the floor, was a square box.  It was wrapped
with balloon covered wrapping paper, topped with a pink bow.

   "What's that," Mary whispered.  Hannah moved forward, letting her belly
press against her daughter.

   "That, my little girl, is the gift I bought for you on an alien world,
for your second birthday.  I've been saving it."

   Silence.

   The shoulders under her hands began to shake.

   "I'm sorry, Mommy.  I love you."

   "I love you too!"

   A moment later they were hugging.  Crying.

   Bonding.

   ****

   The bedroom door opened.  Anthony peeked in, eyes well adjusted to the
dark of the store.  Two lumps, one big, one small, lay next to each other
under a sheet on the bed.  Glancing over into the corner, he saw the gift
box open and empty.  The car seat was empty as well.

   The head pulled back out of the room.  A moment later, a vase of flowers
appeared, placed on the floor just inside the room.

   The door closed.

   Mother and daughter slept on.

   ****

   Chapter 3

   Goldie yawned as she opened the bedroom door.

   There was a difference, some of her friends could have told her, between
a morning person and someone who just tends to wake up early.  Between
enjoying the start of a new day, and having biology just starting the day
too damned early.  Goldie, definitely, was in the latter camp.  She hated
waking up.  The whole transition from being comfortable on a nice soft bed,
and having to get muscles and brain ready for actual activity.  But... 
once her eyes opened, there was no going back.  Her internal alarm did not
so much ring, as rip the covers off and push her off the mattress.

   Just another way biology was screwing her.

   Standing on all four limbs, she stretched.  She could hear the cracking,
especially as she rotated her neck.  Once, when she was half asleep, she
had heard this horribly loud crack and thought she had broken something. 
Worried the heck out of her.  Wrinkling her nose, she also realized she
could smell herself.  Her fur stunk.  The humans, full humans, wouldn't
notice for another day or two most likely, but her brother would.

   She looked down at her furry arms.

   Maybe if she shaved it all off...

   Another yawn spawned, surprising her.  OK, enough self reflection.  She
needed a shower to get rid of the stink, and wake up.  Time to move.

   She padded out into the hallway.  Turning, Goldie reached up her clawed
hand and grabbed the door knob, pulling the door shut.  Anthony had offered
to make the door more four legged friendly, but she had squashed that. 
Goldie didn't want special treatment.  She wanted to be like them.  Be ONE
of them.

   So, no doggy doors.

   With another yawn, she ambled down the hall.

   The ship, especially this store, was the most bestest place she had ever
lived.  Bar none.  Now, true, before she had been a slave, living in some
sort of cage (even if a nice one, compared to most cages).  That alone
could account for most of how she felt, her experience in the area of
accommodations being rather limited.  Still...  carpeted floors, nice beds,
clean bathrooms...  What more could you want?

   There was a sound behind her.  Someone else was up.  Stopping, she sat
on her hind quarters and turned her head.

   From Hannah and Anthony's room, a sleepy Mary stumbled.

   Her eyes were half closed, brown hair a frizzy mess.  Her skinny body
was clad in an orange oversized t-shirt which fell almost to her knees. 
The faded image of a mean cowboy's upper torso holding a Lacrosse stick
covered most of it, along with the words Buffalo Bandits.  One hand held a
stuffed pink creature with lots of eyes.

   Goldie froze.  If she turned and ran quickly, maybe she'd be away before
the girl noticed her surroundings.  But, then again...  this was Hannah's
daughter.  Hannah had been like a second mother to her, and Anthony the
only REAL father she had ever had.  Over the past year, Goldie had come to
realize that the story her mother had told, especially the part about "Real
Daddy" (as opposed to "Fake Daddy", the one who got Mom pregnant), had been
mostly fantasy.  Embellishing truth for the little girl.  Real Daddy... 
had just been a boy she liked, before all this happened.  Anthony was real,
and wonderful.

   Goldie silently sighed.  She had to try and make friends with the
newcomer.

   "Good morning!"

   Mary looked up, eyes opening.  They then opened wider.  Her hand
finished closing the bedroom door, but even as the latch clicked Goldie
could see the girl hesitate, consider opening it and going back inside.  To
her surprise, instead of being hurt, as she had been last night at the
screams of terror aimed at her, she was emboldened.  Neither girl was happy
at what was to come.

   Goldie could be stronger than her.

   "Did you sleep well, Mary?" She turned her body to fully face the girl,
but otherwise stayed seated.  She could see the war on Mary's face.  Her
smile stayed simple, sincere.  She hoped.  It was what Goldie was feeling,
but she never really knew what she looked like to others.  Especially the
full humans.

   "Umm, yeah.  Thanks." Letting go of the door, Mary reached up with her
hand and rubbed her eyes.  Blinking, she seemed to regard Goldie with... 
wary acceptance.

   Maybe.

   "Mom...  told me about you.  And your brother.  I'm sorry.  About
yesterday...  Goldie, right?"

   "Right!" Well, this was going well so far!  "Don't worry about
yesterday. You'll get used to things."

   "Right..." Mary shook her head.  "Um, bathroom?"

   "Oh!  Down here!  I'm going there too, to take a shower!" Not waiting
for a reply, she stood and turned, heading down the hall.

   ****

   "Um...  can I go first?"

   Goldie turned to look at Mary, puzzled, hand already on the bathroom
doorknob.  She could see the teen's legs together, her body tense.  Ah,
that was it!

   "Oh!  Don't worry, it's big!  Come on!" Opening the door, she paddled
forward onto the tile.

   The gasp behind her was, for some reason, very satisfying.  Continuing a
few feet into the room, she waited until she was out of the way before
facing Mary.  The poor girl's eyes were practically bugging out of her
face, stuffed creature barely held onto.  Goldie nodded, happily.

   "Alicia said, when women design a bathroom, they design a bathroom!"

   ****

   The humans had started their interstellar travel with the Bells
Supermarket's usual bathroom arrangement: a men's room and a ladies room,
both with four toilet stalls and two sinks, in the back by the break room.
The first problem with this setup had been noticed almost as soon as they
realized they weren't on Earth, namely that there was no water connection
anymore.  That was bad.  Once things had moved to the next level of
silliness, with the store now on a spaceship in zero gravity, the bathrooms
became useless.  Piss and shit floating back at you is not a desired thing,
apart from some of the more unusual fetishes not shared by those on the
ship.  Thus, that aspect of human activity was done in the Orang designed
bathrooms placed among the ship's crew quarters.

   With gravity restored to the dome, and the store, designing proper
bathrooms fit for fussy women became a high priority (the original store
ones, naturally, having been declared icky).  Tammy had decided that,
instead of recreating an updated men's room/ladies room setup, with added
baths and showers, they should do one big multi person bathroom.  After
all, they were used to being around each other, and not all that shy.  Four
toilets from the ladies room were moved up to the second floor, placed in
new, extra roomy stalls made from a nice wood painted white.  A bank of
four custom made sinks sat opposite them, set into a black and grey swirly
marble counter.  Copper faucets sat before a long mirror.

   In the back, both corners of the room held showers, curved curtain rods
providing some privacy.  Two large baths, half submerged into the floor,
completed the necessaries.  From the ceiling, copper lights hung down
around the edge of a large skylight.

   A small R2 robot under one of the sinks, waiting for something to clean,
completed the picture.

   "Toilets are there," Goldie said, although she immediately regretted it
because, well, it was obvious where the toilets were.  "The one at the end
is kind of special built for me, so try the other ones.  I'm going to take
a shower."

   She turned, not waiting for a reply.  The girl made her nervous.  She,
obviously, made Mary nervous.

   She needed that shower.

   The sound of a stall door closing came to her as she pulled aside the
shower curtain.  It was covered with blue flowers, matching the blue tiles
of the shower.  She liked blue.  Her mom had told her it was the color of
the sports teams in her home city of Buffalo (one team even used blue and
GOLD!).  Mom...  she didn't think of her mom as often as she used to. 
Surprisingly, when they came, the thoughts were now happy, of the good
times.  Maybe because SHE was happy now, having good times...

   Cold water came from the shower, drawing a quick yelp from the girl. 
She turned the hot water nob a bit.  Finding a comfortable temperature,
Goldie steadied herself...  and rose onto two feet.

   Closing her eyes, she let the water wet her down.  She could feel her
hair become one with her body.  Fell it stick to her like...  like
clothing. Starting at the top of her head, her hands began running down her
body.  Only when she was soaking, like this, could she truly feel her body.
Could she feel...  human.  Her hands came to her breasts, cupping them. 
They were firm, not changing shape when she stood like a person, filling
her hands.  Her stomach was flat, her hips swelling.

   She wanted the hair gone.  Wanted to look human.  Human women had no
hair below the neck, or at least shaved most that was there.  Why was it
that SHE got stuck with all this fur?  Danny had NOTHING down there, so far
as she could see, yet human men had tons of hair!  Chuck had short curly
hair on his chest, arms and legs!

   Eyes still closed, water hitting her face, she reached for the shampoo.

   ****

   Mary couldn't help staring.

   She could see the outline of Goldie behind the flowered shower curtain.
Goldie was...

   Human.

   Actually human.

   Oh, there was an oddness to her legs, the angle of her hips, that spoke
of something not being quite right.  She occasionally staggered a bit,
losing her balance staying upright for that long.  But, beyond that there
was no doubt about it.  Even the two ears on top of her head looked like
nothing so much as waterproof cosplay costume stuff.  What her Mom had said
was true.  Goldie was...

   "Oh, tell me what you want, what you really really want!  I'll tell you
what I want, what I really really want!"

   Goldie was singing a bad oldies pop song.

   Smiling, shaking her head, Mary looked around.  There were two comfy
chairs near the shower.  More proof this was designed by women.  Taking a
seat, carefully setting Mr.  Eyeball on the armrest, she waited for Goldie
to finish.

   ****

   Nona woke to mild, jabbing pain.

   Her hand made its way up to the problem area.  Her forehead, it seems,
was pressing against the corner of something on the wall.  This was
fixable. All she had to do was shove her body away from the wall.

   Her eyes opened.

   Why was she floating in the dark?

   Moving her head away from the attacking point, she put one hand on the
wall as her brain slowly came online.  She had been sleeping.  In zero g.
This, most likely, meant she was in her old cabin.  Why had she come
here...

   Oh.

   She closed her eyes.

   "Oh, God...," she muttered, rotating her neck as she worked the kinks
out of her aching body.  "I didn't take that well, did I?" Nona had always
hated being embarrassed, or the focus of attention.  Her actions hadn't
helped in that regard.  Now they'd be treating her like some sorry kid,
when all she wanted was to deal with it on her own.  She didn't need...

   Oh.

   Her hand finally realized the object on the wall was, in fact, a light
switch.  She turned it on.

   She was in her cabin, nude.

   Floating across the room, sleeping in her sexy black dress from the
wedding, was Tammy.

   Luckily, for both of them, it wasn't possible to stay together while
floating un-tethered.  If Nona had woken with the blonde girl cupping one
of her breasts or something...

   Nona flushed a bit, resisting the silly urge to cup her breast to see
what it would have felt like to have woken like that.  Quickly looking
around, Nona saw one of her spare outfits hanging against the wall.  A
shove had her over there, dressing.  She was...  happy that Tammy had come
last night.  Surprised, to be honest, that they hadn't just let her be. 
That's what she would have done, if one of the others had gone off to
grieve.  Grief should be private.  That it had been TAMMY that had come...
well, she did like her.  Despite, well, you know.  She was kind, smart,
always listened.  Always, well, tried to understand.  Nona liked that. 
Sometimes she felt nobody here really understood her.

   Not that she understood herself most of the time.

   Adjusting her blue half shirt and white shorts, she turned.  Tammy was
awake.  Tammy was also...  not looking at her.  Her eyes were averted. 
Nona blushed again.  She wasn't sure why.

   "Tammy."

   The woman turned to her, face uncertain.  Nona smiled.

   "Thank you, Tammy.  For last night.  It...  well, helped."

   "Anytime..." Nona saw Tammy bit her lip, blushing a bit.  Why, she had
no idea.  But, then, she had just woken.  Her eyes caught the clock.

   "I'm not gonna bother with a shower.  Need food."

   "I probably should go make breakfast then," Tammy replied, grinning. 
Nona grinned back.

   "I'll help."

   ****

   Anthony and Daium floated next to Alicia's sensor station up at the top
of the bridge.  Anthony's long arms grabbed a nearby branch, holding
himself steady, while Daium free floated next to her wife.  All eight eyes
were on the fluctuating signals displayed on the curved wall before them.

   "You see," Alicia said, pointing.  "Here.  The same thing.  And if we go
back...  there.  We've seen the same signal much weaker at least five
times, including the same day you said you thought you saw Ghosts outside
the store."

   Anthony nodded.

   "Always remember the day, because it was when we left Te after finally
finishing the bedrooms.  Hannah and I walked by you three, um, 'testing'
your new bed."

   "You WHAT?!?" Alicia whirled, face undecided if it should be amused or
furious.  Daium's black face gained a reddish tinge.

   "Not our fault you three couldn't be bothered to close the door.  Hannah
was mortified."

   "You probably liked it.  Pervert." Alicia's tone showed she had decided
to split the difference.  Anthony just nodded, agreeing.

   "It was hot, yeah." That got him a whack on the chest by both women. 
Well worth it, though.

   "So," Daium said, trying to change the subject as she adjusted her
glasses, "the sensors actually detected Mary coming through."

   "It detected something, something that at least one other time was there
when there was a link between us and home." Alicia frowned.  "It's a weird
energy signature, that's for sure.  Very...  unstable?  Probably the wrong
word, but it's not radiating outward.  Literally, if we weren't right on
top of it the damned signal would dissipate and vanish within minutes. 
Like it originates and ends here.  There's no way we can do searches using
this.  At best, I can set it up so we're alerted the next time it's on our
ship."

   "Good enough," Anthony told her.  "If you can rig a portable sensor we
can take with us, do that as well.  I want to know everything we can about
this.  Is it just on the ship?  Or does it follow US?"

   "Chuck and Daium build, I just fiddle with the dials, but OK.  We'll see
what we can do." She looked at Daium.  "We leaving this system?"

   The Orang nodded.

   "I haven't picked a new planet yet.  After breakfast."

   ****

   "So, there we were, floating on the bridge!" Melinda held up her fork
and knife, both covered with sticky pancake syrup, making floating motions.
Mary, sitting across the table from her, looked on with wonder.  Freshly
showered, she wore one of the three outfits she had packed for just such an
emergency as this.  Outfits chosen on the, admit-ably unlikely, chance she
found herself whisked off to be with her mother.  This one was a year old
pink and white top with a dark pink skirt.  A little small on her, truth be
told.  As her only shoes were her snow boots, she went barefoot, as the
others did on the ship as well.

   "Where was Mom?"

   "Shush!  I'm getting to that!" Melinda used the handle of the knife to
push the nose of her glasses up.  The others around the table chuckled,
eating the random bits of unfinished breakfast.

   "So, like I said, we're floating.  Alicia and Justin are up in the
treetop with the strange monkey girl, looking down on us like they are oh
so much better than us peons."

   "What's a peon?" Goldie asked.  She sat on the ground next to Mary, chin
just clearing the table top.  Chuck looked over and gave a wicked grin.

   "It's someone below you who gets peed on."

   "Eww!" Alicia reached over and smacked his shoulder.  He responded by
flicking a pancake crumb...  or at least attempting to.  It stuck to his
finger, so after three tries he just licked it off.

   "So I'm just floating here, easily getting the hang of it, being the
wonderful athlete that I am.  Chuck there is just trying to keep near the
ground, and Nona is glaring at us for having WAY too much fun."

   "Someone has to!"

   "True!  So," Melinda went on, grinning, "about that time we're wondering
if Anthony and Hannah have survived our little surprise liftoff from the
planet.  You know, that's not the kind of thing you like to surprise people
with.  Just then, the door from the dome with the store opens, and in walks
Anthony and Hannah.  And, we're all like, 'yes, you're alive!' And they're
like, 'what the fuck happened?'"

   "Her quotes are so accurate," Anthony marveled.

   "Memory like a paper bear trap," Hannah agreed.

   "Quiet you two!  Were you there?  No!  It's my story!  So, anyways,
Anthony looks around at us, and goes, 'who here was supposed to secure the
bathrooms?' And, like, I raise my hand, because well I was supposed to. 
Hannah, your mother, looks at me, and says, 'well, guess what's now
floating all over the store!'"

   Mary's hands went to her mouth, eyes wide as the others broke into
laughter.

   "No!"

   "Yes!" Melinda cried, picking up a small half eaten sausage and waving
it in front of her.  "Day old wet poop floating all over the bathrooms! 
Along with drops of piss!"

   "Oh God!  What did you do?!?"

   "Well, me, I couldn't help laughing!  I mean, floating space poop!  They
never had that in Star Trek!"

   "There was Voyager, though," Justin mused.  Melinda nodded, popping the
sausage into her mouth.

   "Very true!  The geek knows his TV poop!"

   Alicia leaned over across the table to Rinda, who was looking at her
mate with amusement.  She tapped the blue Orang on her furry shoulder.

   "Has she been drinking by any chance, or should we blame this on
hormones?"

   Chuck just shook his head.

   "I haven't seen any change, to be honest."

   ****

   They walked though the garden, towards the bridge.  Mary...  was still
overwhelmed by it all.  Slowly, as it hadn't even been twelve hours yet,
her preconceived fantasies of these people were being replaced by the real
them.  It would take work, she knew.  Like when you saw the movie version
of some book you've read a hundred times, and someone looks and sounds
nothing like what was in your head.  She had no option of ignoring the new
version this time, though.  The movie was her new reality.

   Goldie walked next to her.  She was getting used to the girl amazingly
fast.  Mary had always, really, been the type to make friends quickly.  As
a little girl her father had been amused when, a half hour into playing at
the park, Mary would come over with a strange kid and ask if her new friend
could come spend the night.  Years later, when Mary finally talked Dad into
entering the dating game again, he confided to her that his one regret now
was that he hadn't taken advantage of all the cute single mothers that
Mary's actions brought over to talk to him.  A number had definitely sent
signals.

   Her eyes flicked over to Danny, walking on the other side of Goldie. 
She saw his eyes quickly look away.  Oh, God...  was he sending signals? 
Was SHE sending signals?!?  Signals that he was a freak, hopefully!  And he
was still shirtless!  God!  He had to cover that!  She didn't want to look
at that hairless, muscled...

   Mary ripped her eyes away.

   Freak.

   They came to the door Nona had run through the previous night.  Mary
glanced over at the Malay.  She...  seemed OK.  Nobody, that Mary had
heard, had commented on it.  Mary wanted to know if she was OK, to say she
was sorry, but...  well, how to you say that to a stranger?  At least she
did seem to be smiling.  Tammy seemed to be keeping near her, so maybe they
were friends.

   Reaching out, Daium hit a switch.  The door before them opened.

   "Here's the bridge, Mary."

   Mary stepped forward, stopping at the doorframe.  She just...  stared.

   "There...  there is a tree."

   Rinda barked out a laugh.  Holding out her black hand to Daium, she
grinned.

   "I win!  Pay up!"

   Daium shook her head, disgusted.

   "It's not a bet if we both agree that's the first thing she'll say!" She
turned back to Mary, expression apologetic.  "Ignore them.  That's one of
the Holy Trees from our home world.  Legend has it that we first were
created in the trees of that forest, so we honor the trees."

   Mary nodded, looking at it anew.  Extending maybe two stories above and
below the central platform running around the edge of the bridge, it was
topped with green leaves on its many branches.  The bridge itself was a
sphere, top just barely missing the top of the tree.  The walls were wood,
sort of cherry colored.  Or, at least looked wood.  She couldn't believe a
ship would actually be made of wood...

   Right, because that would be silly.

   Her mother was beside her.

   "OK, Mary, this is the tricky part.  I want you to sort of grab the door
frame, and push yourself into the bridge.  Be ready to grab the railing
over there."

   "Grab railing.  Gotcha." There were butterflies in her stomach.  She was
going to float.  She was with her mother, and was going to float in space.

   She was still dreaming, obviously.

   "OK," the voice of Anthony said from behind her.  "on the count of
three. One, two...  three!"

   Mary pushed herself forward.

   Her feet weren't touching the ground.  There WAS ground, wasn't there?!
Her head jerked down.  Yes.  A metal grating.  Good.  Her head jerked up
again.  She was floating.  Floating!  The railing was coming up fast. 
Shooting her hands out, she grabbed it, her body continuing forward.  Her
ankles hit something down there, stopping the forward momentum of her legs.

   "Good job!

   She could sense the others coming in behind her, but Mary's eyes were
darting all around the bridge.  The tree, the controls, the walls... 
suddenly, the walls vanished.  Mary let out a gasp.

   Space.

   She was surrounded by space.

   The tree, the walkway, the control stations...  all floating in space.
As was she.

   Soft firm hands gripped her shoulders.  Her mother pressed against her
back.

   "Welcome to our world, Honey."

   ****

   Chapter 4

   Rain fell from the sky with the same intensity that light radiates from
the sun.

   It was not a steady shower, unvaried in its force.  The downfall seemed
to ebb and flow as black clouds moved overhead, creating interesting
variations that could be seen by any foolish enough to be outside.  Moving
a short distance in any direction could take you from painful, knife like
drops to a gentle, almost morning dew like, heavy humidity.

   Mary, walking under her mother's umbrella, looked out in awe.

   Dad hadn't liked to travel.  Had not, really, liked leaving his comfort
zone.  This had never bothered Mary growing up.  Naturally, as most
children do, she considered whatever her family was like as "normal",
compared with the strangeness that was other families.  Normal was staying
in your hometown.  Oh, the occasional visit downtown, or even the next city
over, but no farther.  Even week long summer camp stays were just an hour
from home.

   Now, here she was.  On an alien planet.  Far from the familiar home of
Rochester, of Buffalo.

   Far from Dad.

   "I wish Dad was here."

   She looked up at her Mom.  The beautiful woman of her dreams was still,
at least a little, a stranger.  Her actions, manner of speech, movements,
were new, unexpected.  Not the comfortable familiarity that are a part of
every child's view of what defines their parents.  She no longer had doubts
that this WAS her mother, at least.  Three days together had overcome that.
That inner knowledge, though, came with the realization that maybe this
wasn't a dream.  That, maybe, she really was here.  That, maybe...  she
wouldn't see Dad again.

   She had spent her entire life with him, dreaming of her mother.  Would
she now spend the rest of her life with her, dreaming of him?  Was life
that unfair?

   Her mother looked down, smiling an uncertain smile.

   "Me too, Honey."

   Mary looked back over their shoulder at the receding ship, already
almost hidden by the rain.  The design, seen from the outside, was... 
cool. The body was shaped like a huge football, at long as a football field
if not longer.  Its lower half looked to be made of polished wood,
glistening in the rain.  The upper clear dome almost seemed to be made of
waterfalls, as the rain fell against it and ran down the sides.  Forty foot
diameter spheres attached to either end, the bridge and the engines, the
latter having smaller spheres attached to it of unknown function.  The ship
lay in a metal cradle seemingly custom fit to the craft, gangway and stairs
attached to the side of the bridge where the hatch lay.

   Beyond the ship...  she could see nothing.  Just looming shapes in the
rain.

   Her mother stopped, Mary, having enough awareness, managed to stop
before walking out from under the umbrella.  Ten feet in front of them,
Daium, Chuck, and Anthony were stopped before...

   "Mom..."

   It was a slug.

   A giant, eight foot long, five foot tall slug.  With two arms.  Mary
stepped closer to her mother.

   "Yes, I know.  Just don't stare.  You'll be seeing a lot more.  Just
remember what we've told you, and stay near us."

   Being told, and knowing, are two different things.  Even the video
footage they had shown her hadn't really sunk in.  After all, movies are
full of fake things!  But, this...  this was real.

   Too real.

   ****

   "You have got to be shitting me."

   Daium almost winced at Anthony's words.  She hated, more than anything,
disappointing him.  Them.  Her human friends.  They put their trust in her.
Trusted her to help navigate this universe, to give them the information
they needed to decide.  Only she had managed to learn the Common language
(even Rinda wasn't able to handle its complicated syntax).  Only she could
link them to the universe.

   And she'd fucked up.

   "I'm sorry, Anthony.  I didn't know..."

   "We all saw the info on this planet, Daium," Chuck said, shifting the
umbrella in his hand.  "Don't blame yourself.  Blame reality.  I know I
do."

   "Reality is the cause of most of our problems," Anthony agreed.  The
three of them, as one, looked at the slug dock master.  It stood there,
looking at the non-slimy creatures, waiting for their babbling to end so
Daium could answer his demand.  What that answer could be, she didn't know.
The Inimesed, it seemed, no longer used gold, in any form, for their
economy.  Oh, they had, up until the previous year.  It may not have been
the basis for their currency, but at least it had value, and could be
exchanged for money.  Now...

   "What the heck are they using?" Chuck asked.  Daium sighed.

   "Nothing.  Just numbers in the computer, or printed slips of plastic. 
Once the economy collapsed, they decided that since they didn't actually
use gold for anything it had no value.  They have TONS of the stuff, just
sitting around, so we can't even sell what we have in exchange for
currency. At least, not at a rate we'd want to."

   "So we can't even pay docking fees, let alone anything else." Chuck
turned, looking back.  Daium followed his gaze.  The others stood under a
half dozen umbrellas, waiting.  As usual on these planetary trips, they
were dressed in their homemade uniforms: the males in black jeans, the
girls (apart from Goldie) in skirts of various colors.  The humans also had
white shirts, with an orange Bells logo on the right breast, while she and
Rinda had the traditional Orang suspenders with integrated bra cubs.  An
orange Bells logo had been woven into the right bra cup of each.  Even Mary
was in uniform, one of Nona's cut down for her use.

   Daium's eyes caught Rinda's.  Her cousin crossed her arms, hugging
herself, shivering, her pregnant belly exposed to the elements.  She saw
Chuck notice that as well.  He shook his head.

   "We either stay or go, but we have to do it quick.  We can't keep the
girls in the rain."

   "Maybe," Anthony said, "we can sell something?  Daium?"

   "What do we have?  Flowers?  I'm not selling off droids, that's for
sure."

   A shape approached.  The head of the slug turned, rain seemingly not
bothering the creature.  A moment later, the sound of a motor came to
Daium's ears, quickly followed by the dark blob resolving itself into a
long, rectangular, grey bus.  It had four headlights, rectangular in shape,
set below a four pane rectangular windshield.  Eight brown wheels leaving a
wake behind them on the flooded tarmac, it came to a stop just behind the
dock master.  The rectangular side door opened, and the driver stepped out.

   The white furred, four armed monkeys were the reason they were here. 
Almost as tall as humans, the simian Personnes race was close enough to
Humans and Orang that there was some hope they could help with the coming
births.  If nothing else, their hospitals would provide backup if Nona's
basic skills proved inadequate.

   Maybe.

   The driver ambled up next to the slug.  He, Daium assumed it was a he,
wore a garish plaid rain poncho, complete with hood.  His gaze swung
between the dock master and the aliens, more curious than impatient. 
Removing a white stick, about the length of a finger, from his pocket, the
Personnes put one end in his mouth.  Protecting it from the rain with one
hand, the other brought a small metal box out of its other pocket. 
Bringing it up to the stick, he pressed a button.  A moment later, the end
of the stick began to glow, white smoke coming from it.

   "Quel est le probleme?"

   Daium turned to Anthony.  She was all set to give up.  They had no
money, she had no idea what this guy had just said...

   The look on the dark haired man's face froze her words in her throat. 
It was...  surprise, and...  hope?

   About time they had some.

   ****

   Anthony couldn't believe it.

   Not the French part.  They had expected that, part of the 'what the
fuck' nature of the universe they found themselves in.  No, it was the
smoking.  Could it be this easy?

   "Excuse me, Sir," he said, trying to dredge up long forgotten high
school French.  The monkey turned his attention to him, eyebrows raised. 
"I am not good at this language, so forgive any mistakes."

   "I would not expect a hairless being to be otherwise!  Are you the ones
who called?"

   "Yes.  I am Captain Anthony.  We would like transport to your
settlement. However, we have a problem: we were not aware of the new... 
money situation here." Anthony shrugged.  "We are barbarians."

   The driver nodded.  Again, he expected no less.

   "However...  I see your people smoke.  Is it...  tobacco?"

   His eyes widened.

   "Yes!  Very rare!  Your kind know of it?"

   "Well..." Anthony tried to play it calm.  "Our people have grown tobacco
for centuries.  In fact, while my crew does not smoke, we happen to have a
rather large supply.  Maybe you know of buyers...?"

   ****

   They were back on the ship.

   Melinda shifted on the garden bench.  Junior was being difficult today.
She could feel him moving around inside her, restless.  With luck, he
wasn't looking for the exit quite yet, although God knows she was ready to
pop the little guy out.  He'd have to wait.  As usual, things had taken an
unusual turn.

   She sat back, watching Anthony and Tammy through the store window, up
behind the store counter next to the office.  Samples of each brand of
cigarette and cigar were laid out on the orange counter, Anthony giving a
sales pitch while Tammy tallied up their inventory.  The chimp, now out of
his rain slicker and wearing a rather dapper purple striped chauffeur's
uniform, was on a cell phone talking to a friend who know a guy whose uncle
dealt with the stuff.

   She felt like they were doing a drug deal.

   "They speak French."

   Melinda looked at the young girl next to her.  Mary had that familiar
shell shocked look, gone for so long from her companions.  It was almost
comforting, in a way, to be reminded that, yes, this was stupid.

   "Yeah.  We knew that going in.  Took us embarrassingly long to figure
out what was going on out here, language wise, but that was mostly because
we spoke so few languages among us."

   Mary looked confused.  Another familiar expression around here.

   "What?"

   "Well, see, when we found Daium she spoke Malay.  Which Nona spoke.  So
we were like, OK, this is weird, but whatever.  It's a nice coincidence. 
Then we meet a bunch of other species, who we can't understand at all,
which is kind of what you'd expect, right?" Junior kicked again.  "Oh, hold
your horses, I'll feed you soon enough.  It's like having an alien in you,"
she confided to Mary.  The teen giggled, eyes glancing over at the other
pregnant women sitting around the garden, waiting.  Melinda took the girl's
hand and placed it on her belly.  Her eyes shot back as Junior punched this
time.

   "Oh, that was a strong one!  So...  right.  So, anyway, after a couple
months we run into this planet that speaks Spanish.  And we're like, what
the fuck?  Spanish?  Your mother speaks a bit of it, so that helped.  It
was then that we noticed the pattern."

   "Pattern?"

   "Um, yeah.  The pattern.  The stupid, why the hell is this going on
pattern." Melinda sighed.  "You know Rinda and Daium's people are called
Orang, right?"

   "Right.  Like Orangutan, right?"

   "Don't let Nona hear you use that word!  But, yeah.  Orang is the Malay
word for 'people'.  Their planet was Tanah, the Malay word for 'soil'.  The
world that spoke Spanish was called Suelo...  the Spanish word for 'soil'."
Mary's eyes widened.  Melinda nodded.  "And the people were called
Personas, which means..."

   "People!"

   "Yup.  And so on.  We went back and checked the worlds we had been on,
translating names back into Orang/Malay and then English, and they all came
out the same."

   Mary jumped to her feet, almost as if such stupidity couldn't be taken
sitting down.  Melinda saw Danny, over helping Chuck rig a half dozen
droids to transport cartons of death, lift his head at the movement.  As
soon as he saw his actions were being watched, his eyes quickly dropped
back down.

   Ah!  Mary has a stalker!  How cute!  Should she send the girl to Chuck
for advice on how to deal with such a situation, or go help Danny do a
better job of it?  Maybe both!

   "But what about this planet?" Mary turned to her, arms outstretched to
encompass the world around them.  "Muld isn't French!"

   "Nope!  But, then, it's not the French speaking Personnes who made it
into space first, but the slugs!  So, the planet is named in their
language."

   Mary just looked at her.  With the disgusted sigh that defines a teen,
she threw herself back down onto the bench.

   "This is too weird."

   ****

   "Look over at her one more time, and I'll break your nose off."

   Danny grimaced.  He hadn't thought he was being so obvious.  Turning
back, he saw Chuck giving him a disapproving glare from across the droid.

   "Sorry..."

   He looked down at the ground.  Danny could feel his face heat up, blood
rushing to expose his embarrassment.  He hated being embarrassed.  It made
him feel so, so...  so CHILDISH!  That was it.  He wasn't a child.  He was
a Man.  Man.  A human Man...

   "You have the purple wrench over there?"

   "Wha...?  Oh!  Yes!  Here!" Grabbing the tool from next to his right
foot, he handed it over to Chuck.  The now only mildly chunky man took it,
nodding his thanks.  Looking closer at what Chuck was doing, Danny saw they
were almost done.  The last all weather wheel had been added to the droid,
giving it much better traction for the short trip ahead.  The various
helper machines had already been set up for work in gravity, as opposed to
zero g, but while they were waiting Chuck had said they might as well use
the time to customize them a bit.  Danny thought he might have wanted a few
minutes away from his wives as well.  Rinda had been a bit grumpy over
having to be out in the rain for nothing.

   His eyes lifted, looking over at the blue Orang sitting next to Nona and
Hannah.  Nona seemed to be examining her.  He hoped the baby was OK.  His
eyes moved to the left.  He should check out Melinda, make sure she and
Mary were OK...

   "Oh, for the love of...  have you even talked to her?"

   "What?!"

   Danny's head shot around.  Chuck was leaning forward, arms folded on the
droid, his white dress shirt showing a few streaks of grease.  His face
showed amusement.

   "The girl.  Human.  Cute.  Your age.  Have you actually talked to her
yet, or are you just standing off and looking at her?"

   "Um..."

   "Oh, God...  and I thought I was bad at your age." Shaking his head,
Chuck pushed himself back away from the R2 unit.  He motioned Danny over.
Embarrassed, and really not wanting to talk about this, he slid himself
over the stone walkway until his leg and shoulder just barely didn't touch
Chuck's.  Both leaned back against the bench behind them.

   "Has Anthony given you any dating advice about Mary?"

   Face getting redder, Danny shook his head.

   "He...  well, he's told me what to do about Nona.  THAT hasn't really
helped..."

   "Sure it has.  She likes you.  You're friends.  You're not KISSING her,
true, but that's good for now."

   "How is that good?"

   He looked at Chuck.  If Anthony had been like a father, Chuck was the
older brother.  Chuck teased him, harassed him...  but laughed happily when
Danny fought back.  Chuck had...  well, taught him what it was to be a
male. He had grown up with just Goldie, and their two mothers, their
"father" having given the two offspring nothing more than genetic material.
He had grown up in a feminine world...

   Chuck put a hand on the teen's shoulder, giving a firm squeeze.

   "We'll talk about Nona later.  Right now, let's talk about Mary." Danny
nodded, looking up at the girl across the garden.  "The first thing you
need to know is, she needs a friend, not a boyfriend."

   Danny's head dropped in exasperation.

   "Again with..."

   Chuck gave his shoulder a little shake.

   "This is different.  Your sister is already making friends with her. 
Letting Mary get used to her.  You need to do the same.  Talk to your
sister, let her help.  When your sister goes over to talk to Mary, go with
her.  Talk.  About anything.  Just...  spend time with her.  You two are
close enough in age that, if she comes to like you, things will happen on
their own." Danny gave him a disbelieving look.  "Trust me.  She looks at
you, you know.  The same way you're sneaking looks at her."

   Danny's eyes widened.

   "Are you...  sure?"

   "Yup," Chuck snorted.  "It's rather obvious, at least to those not
involved.  So, talk.  Be a friend.  Wear a shirt more often...  at least
when Hannah and Anthony are around.  And, the next time the women are in a
dancing mood...  maybe she'll dance with you."

   The redheaded half human looked longingly at the slender teen.

   "I'd like that..."

   ****

   Anthony showed the figure written on the scrap of paper to Daium.  The
white alien monkey stood, waiting, ten feet behind them.

   "I don't think I can get him much higher.  Will that cover costs, with
extra?"

   She bit her lip.  The last hour had been spent checking prices,
comparing them to costs on previous worlds.  Money...  had never mattered
before.  Their treasury, taken from the Orang government vaults by her
father, had barely been touched even after a year.  To now have to worry
about such a...  petty thing...

   Eventually, she nodded.

   "Yes.  It should.  We'll be able to pay the dock fees for a week, as
well as a week's hotel and food, easily."

   "Good.  Make it a cheap hotel, just in..."

   There was a scream.

   Anthony and Daium were running instantly.  Not bothering with the front
doors, they bolted through the bottle return room and out the side store
door.  In front of them, Chuck was vaulting over flowerbeds towards a group
of women, Danny just behind.  They ignored the path as well, not caring
what flowers they trampled.

   "What is it?!" Anthony yelled.  Daium prayed.  That had been Rinda's
scream.  Oh, by all that grows green, let her be...

   Rinda stood in front of the park bench, hands on her large belly, four
eyes looking down in shock.  Hannah and Nona were on either side of her,
the Orang's strong black hands gripping their hands tightly.  On the stone
bricks between her two bare feet...  a pool of water, splattered
everywhere.

   Her water had broken.

   "Is she OK?!" Chuck was at Rinda's side, grabbing her right hand, taking
Nona's place.  He looked at the Malay, eyes wide.  "What now?"

   Daium saw Nona bite her lip.  The eighteen year old was their medical
expert.  She...  she had to do it.

   And she would.  Daium trusted her.

   "Everyone back!" Nona's shout came as a mask of confidence fell over
her. She shot a finger out at Tammy.  "Get my bag!  It's by the bridge
door! Danny, blankets from the bedrooms!  Justin and Daium, hot water,
soap, and towels!"

   Daium turned and ran.  It was happening!

   ****

   Rinda squatted on the rough stones.

   Chuck held one smooth black hand.  Melinda the other.  Her lovers. 
Mates.  Friends.  The baby was theirs, as much as it was hers, and she drew
strength from them as their child made the most important journey of its
life.

   She hadn't listened to the women, as a young Orang.  Didn't listen to
the tales of this birth or that, of the do's and don'ts.  Had never even
thought of what it would be like to bring life into this universe.

   Until the past year.

   Until the sacred Tree had chosen her to be the first to unite two
people.

   It wasn't pain.  Pain she knew.  It was...  was...

   "Ah...!"

   She pushed again.  It was stretching her.  Stretching so much...  Her
body knew what to do.  Orang had been populating the world since life first
came to the forest.  She could do this.  Would do this...

   She felt human arms between her legs.  Fingers were probing her.  Eyes
closed, she groaned again, pushing downward.

   "The head!  I can feel the head!  Yes!  It's not breach!"

   Nona.  Good friend Nona.  Doing all she could.  So, there was a head? 
That was good news!  She pushed again, hands squeezing hard enough to break
bones.

   "It's coming, oh, Allah be praised!  Push!"

   Rinda forced her eyes open as she pushed again.

   There.  Between her legs.  A head.  Coming out of her.  As she watched,
it slid out past the neck, shoulders visible.

   It had four eyes.  Four beautiful closed eyes.  Its skin was hairless,
black and glistening.  On its head, blue fur.

   Her baby.

   THEIR baby.

   Rinda's body pushed again.  Nona's hands, so clean they shone, were
under the baby, supporting, helping pull it free.  With a sudden rush...

   It was out.

   HE was out.

   A son.

   She had a son.

   His crying echoed through the ship, and their hearts.

   ****

   Chapter 5

   Anthony, umbrella in hand, watched the dock master slug slither off in
one direction, the monkey driven bus with its cargo of Earth tobacco
driving off in another.  Rain, unchanged in the hours since they first
braved the elements, fell in sheets around him.  Again, he thanked whatever
gods ruled this world for the lack of wind.

   "So..." Hannah stood next to him, umbrella actually a bit under his,
causing its runoff to just miss his arm.  He raised an eyebrow at her. 
"Are we staying here?  Sure, now we have money, but the kids are born.  I
assume we're not hanging around until Alicia and I pop ours out."

   He laughed.  Things changed so quickly, concrete plans tended to be
nothing more than future suggestions.  Daium, on his other side, just shook
her head under her own umbrella.

   "If we're not planning on coming back here, we might as well spend all
this money we now have." Anthony saw her finger the stack of plastic bills
in her hand, as if it was burning a hole.  "We have the driver's number. 
Maybe go into town tomorrow?"

   "It'll involve splitting us up," he warned.  "I doubt our mothers will
be in any shape to leave the ship, and Chuck's not leaving their side."

   "There's no way we can have landed here and NOT let Mary see her first
alien planet," Hannah said.  "I think it'll be safe leaving Moms and babies
on the ship."

   "Morning it is, then.  And I like how you lumped Chuck in with the
babies there."

   ****

   "You two don't fool me."

   Chuck looked down at his two wives, disgust clear on his face.  He shook
his head.  The two evil females in question lay next to each other in the
center of their bed, nude, a sleeping few hours old baby on each of their
chests.  Despite exhaustion clearly showing, Rinda and Melinda grinned back
at their husband wickedly.  Melinda gently cupped the back of little
Carol's head.

   "Why don't we fool you?" she asked, almost managing not to break out
laughing while using a little girl's voice.  Chuck growled, large finger
touching his daughter's incredibly small hand, marveling at the smoothness
of the pink skin.

   "Come on.  Rinda pops out little Jeli there, and you just HAPPEN to go
into labor a half hour later?  You two had this planned, didn't you?  Or
were you jumping up and down to try and squirt Carol out so Rinda wouldn't
hog up all the attention?"

   "He's got us," Rinda loudly whispered to Melinda, shifting their son a
bit so he wouldn't slip off.  His little black fists were clutching her
fur, head snuggled between her breasts.

   "Damn straight.  I know you both too well." Chuck, sitting on the edge
of the bed, reached over and smoothed out the dark blue hair on his son. 
Or was it fur?  Time would tell.  Rinda reached her own black skinned hand
up to take his, fingers intertwining.

   "That you do..."

   "Yeah," Melinda added, taking his other hand, fingers joining as well.
"We can't pull anything over on you..."

   "And don't you forget it."

   Chuck gazed at his family.  Family...  he had a family.  Pulling his
hands away, he removed his clothing.  The girls shifting apart on the bed,
he moved over to lie down between them.  Weight changing the gravitational
pull of the mattress, they slid down against him, giggling.  He put his
arms around their shoulders, pulling each in for a sweet kiss.  His arms
would probably soon be numb and tingling, but he didn't care.

   Some pain was worth it.

   ****

   Nona sprawled face down on her unmade bed.

   Pillow.  She needed a pillow.  Her head, pressed against the mattress by
the evil gravity, was not on a fluffy surface.  Where was her pillow... 
ah. Yes.  It was up at the top of her bed.  Where else would it be.  But,
she was down here.  Her head was a good two feet short of that fluffy
goodness.  Could she move up to the pillow?

   ...No.  She was too tired to move.  Two babies.  She had delivered two
babies in three hours, mind terrified the entire time.  To have four lives
in her hands!  God, she just wanted to sleep...

   A soft knock came from the bedroom door.

   "Nona?"

   Nona instantly moved, rolling over and up, sitting on the edge of the
bed, one hand supporting herself while the other went to her forehead. 
Dozens of post birth complications ran through her head.

   "I'm up!  What is it?!?"

   The door opened, a surprised and chagrined Tammy quickly poking her head
it.

   "I'm sorry!  Everything's OK!  Everything's fine!"

   Strength once again left every limb of Nona's body.  She fell back onto
the bed, feet still on the floor, bouncing once.  She heard a groan.  It
may or may not have come from her mouth.

   "What do you want?"

   Her voice was tired.  Or were her ears tired?  Could it be both?  Maybe.
Hard to say.  Her mind was tired.

   "I'm sorry, Nona.  I...  I didn't think you were asleep.  I thought you
might be thirsty.  I brought something.  I'll...  I'll put it over here..."

   Drink.  Did Nona need a drink?  She swallowed.  Dry.  Her throat was
dry. And tired.  Drink would be good.  It would require movement, though.
Movement upwards.  Maybe Tammy could just pour it into her mouth...

   OK, this was getting silly.  With a loud groan, which to her ears was
embarrassingly theatrical, Nona first pushed herself back into the bed,
then forced her body upward.  She sat up, stopping as she achieved a
vertical sitting position.

   "No, no, don't go...  drink would be good..." She shook her head, trying
to wake.  Her straight black hair continued the movement for an extra
second, before settling into place.  She blinked.  There was the sound of
things being put places, liquid being transferred between containers.  A
weight settled on the bed next to her.  Looking, she saw Tammy, still, like
her, in their Bells ship uniform, holding two clear glasses with a dark red
liquid.  Nona reached for the offered glass with her right hand, paused to
consider how much she liked her nice bedding, and used both hands to grasp
the drink.  There was a light touch on her bare arm.  Looking up, she saw
Tammy smile and raise her glass.

   "To the babies, and a job well done."

   Nona blushed.  She kept her glass still while Tammy clinked hers against
it, then took a deep drink.  To be honest, they weren't sure what this
stuff was.  They found it five planets ago, an incredible combination of
fruity red wine and beer.  Served cold, as this was, it went down like
water and refreshed even as the alcohol did its thing.  Not only had they
filled an entire storage room with bottles of the stuff, they had left that
world with seeds, plants, and every book on brewing they could find.  A
test crop was already sprouting in the garden.

   She lowered her glass, already half empty.  Tammy topped it off.

   "I didn't do anything, you know," she said, sighing.  "Just stood there,
like a catcher.  We were lucky..."

   "No," Tammy replied, shaking her head.  "You did a lot.  You kept the
girls calm.  Focused.  You had the right kind of pain killers for Melinda,
and used them well."

   "God she's a screamer..."

   "I think we ALL knew that," Tammy laughed.  That did get a chuckle out
of Nona.  Everyone always knew when Melinda was getting some from Chuck, or
Rinda.  Or from...

   Nona blushed.  Looking away from Tammy, she took another swig of her
drink.

   "You...  you helped too, Tammy.  Thanks for being my nurse."

   "Oh, my pleasure.  I'm sorry I wasn't dressed for the occasion.  I'll
have to see if I can have a naughty nurse outfit ready when Alicia's due."

   "OK, question." Nona, drink in her right hand, raised her left
forefinger as she looked back at her friend.  "Why is it there's only
naughty nurse outfits, and not naughty doctor ones?"

   Tammy cocked her head, barking out a laugh.

   "Ha!  Do you want Hannah to make you one?"

   Nona could feel her ears burning.  She couldn't answer that.  Who would
she wear something sexy for?  Not herself.  She really wasn't the kind to
do that.  Not Danny.  Who would she want to dress up, or down, for?  Why
had she even ASKED the question, and to Tammy of all people?

   There was a light touch on her bare arm.  Every nerve end, every hair,
seemed to react.  Nona kept her eyes down in her lap.

   "I'm sorry, Nona.  Bad joke.  I shouldn't have..."

   "No, it's OK." Nona shook her head.  "It's...  hell, I wouldn't even
look good in one."

   There was a moment's silence.  Her eyes closed.  If Tammy agreed with
her...  oh, God...

   "Hey."

   A smooth, strong hand touched her chin, raising it.  Her face was gently
turned, eyes forced to meet Tammy's.  The look she saw in her face...  Nona
trembled.

   The hand began to caress Nona's cheek.

   "You're beautiful, Nona."

   Her face had to be glowing, blood from the rest of her body seemingly
rushing to re-enforce the blush.  Her eyes...  couldn't leave Tammy's.  She
should look away.  Say something, take another drink, something...

   Tammy's eyes, her face, seemed to be getting bigger.  Closer.  God, was
she leaning in to...

   No.

   Tammy wasn't moving.

   Nona was.

   Her head jerked back, eyes wide, half empty glass dropping from her hand
to the rug.  A growing patch of blue carpet turned purple.

   Tammy let out a breath, seeming to deflate.  In that moment, the entire
atmosphere of the room changed.  Something...  had been lost.  Something
Nona wanted.  Needed.

   And had rejected.

   "I'm sorry, Nona.  I'll go..."

   Tammy stood, weight leaving the bed.  She was going.  Nona's mind
whirled.  Tammy was leaving.  Everyone was leaving her.  Mom.  Dad.  They
had gone.  Left her alone...  No.  She had left THEM, and now they were
gone.  Forever.  And, now, Tammy was...  Nona was making her go...

   "Please..."

   It came out as a whisper.  She didn't even know if she had said it
aloud, let alone if it had carried across the void to Tammy.  Nona wet her
suddenly dry lips, trying again.

   "Please, Tammy...  stay."

   Silence.

   The mattress creaked next to her, weight returning to it...  not so
close this time.  Nona's eyes refused to look at her friend.  She didn't
want to see the...  disappointment in her face.  Or, worse...  affection...

   "What do you want, Nona?"

   There were so many layers of meaning to that quiet question.  So many
answers, all true, yet not.  Her right hand went to her forehead, trying to
contain the sudden throbbing.

   "If I knew that, do you think I'd feel this way?u Do you?" She was going
to cry.  She knew it.  Cry again, like she had the other night.  The night
Tammy had held her...

   "Were...  were you going to kiss me, Nona?"

   Her other hand joined the first on her forehead.

   "I don't know!"

   The words hung in the silence.  Nona felt the bed shift next to her. 
Tammy's voice, still soft, came from somewhere closer.

   "Do you want me, to kiss you?"

   "Yes..."

   The words were out of her with no conscious thought.  Her eyes shot
open. Oh, God, what had she just...

   Two warm, soft hands took her own, pulling them away from her face. 
Nona's head slowly turned.  Tammy sat there, eyes wet with tears.  She was
beautiful.  Nona had always known that, always thought that, but...  had
never UNDERSTOOD it.  She did now.  God forgive her, she understood.

   Tammy.  Beautiful Tammy.  Athletic.  Graceful.  Understanding.  Loving.

   She leaned forward.  Nona sat still, frozen, only to realize she too was
slowly leaning into Tammy.  Her eyes closed...

   Something soft, silky, touched her lips...  and was gone.

   Her eyes slowly opened.  Tammy was looking at her with...  awe.  Her own
expression must have mirrored it.  The older woman took a moment to compose
herself, then stood.  She bent down, limbs moving in ways Nona would never
permit herself to really see before, picking up the fallen glass.  Handing
it back to Nona, whose hands took it mostly by instinct, Tammy grabbed the
bottle off the nightstand and refilled it.  She then raised the wine to her
lips and took a long swig.  Letting out a sigh, she dropped her arm,
holding the bottle loosely with two fingers.  She looked down at the Malay.

   "I am on my way to being drunk, on you, and on this stuff.  Neither is
going to help us." She laughed, shaking her head.  "OK.  I need to go.  I'm
going to go back to my room.  For the next...  twenty minutes, no make that
half hour, I'm going to be busy.  After that I'll get dinner going." Tammy
made a move to leave, paused, and dropped down into a crouch before Nona.
Her free hand lightly touched Nona's skirt covered knee.

   "Whatever you want between us, Nona, I will accept.  So long as you keep
me in your life."

   Tammy rose.  A moment later, the bedroom door closed.

   Nona was alone.

   Only now she wasn't.  Her left hand slowly rose, fingers touching lips
that still tingled.

   "First kiss..."

   ****

   "Aww, does little baby want to be fed?"

   The two girls giggled.  Mary, sitting legs crossed on Goldie's bedroom
rung, picked up the stuffed bunny.  She had seen it before, a lifetime ago,
next to baby her in photos.  It was supper soft and supper squishy.  With a
grin, she mashed the bunny's face into her left boob.

   "Hey!" Goldie yelled, "Don't hurt the baby!" She picked up a stuffed rag
doll, with red yarn hair and patched clothing, raising one of its arms in
protest.  "Be careful with my sister!"

   "She's just hungry!" They both laughed.  Mary pulled the doll's face
back an inch, made a belching sound, and put her back.  Goldie fell over
backwards, laugh turning hysterical.

   Mary just shook her head, grinning.  Goldie was fun.  She didn't act
like she was a year older.  Heck, at times she didn't even act like a ten
year old.  Like now: it had been YEARS since Mary had played with dolls. 
She still had them, naturally, but only as decorations.  Mary had even used
some of her saved up money to buy a new china doll she had seen at a craft
fair, with a beautiful handmade body and dress.  It sat at home on her
dresser, and she had dreams of filling all her shelves with dolls like
that. But, playing Mommy with dolls?  That was so elementary school!  Yet
when Goldie had asked her into her room to play, she had done so without a
moment's thought.  Because, well...

   It was fun.

   Goldie sat back up.  She tried to match Mary's position, sitting on her
butt with legs Indian style.  One leg she got positioned correctly, but the
other just would not bend.

   "Mary?"

   Putting her now fed baby down, Mary slid over to her friend.  She
grabbed the disobedient leg.  The problem, it seemed, was the hip joint. 
It just didn't want to allow both legs to point outward at an angle that
would let them then bend in and the ankles cross.  Holding the furry leg in
the air, she considered.

   "Maybe lift up your butt a bit?"

   Goldie did, hands out behind her to support her weight.  This had the
effect of emphasizing her chest.  Mary couldn't help but look.  They were
bigger than hers, for one thing.  More, though, they were a reminder that
Goldie was naked.  Heck, when she had grabbed the leg, she had seen her
opening, not quite hidden by the fur.  What would it be like, to be able to
walk free like that?  Part of her liked the idea...

   "What's the matter?  Something wrong with my boobies?" Goldie brought a
hand up, as if to check them.  At the same moment Mary finally brought
herself back to the here and now, moving the leg again.

   "Oh, wait!" Goldie began to totter.  Her left hand, all that was holding
her up, slipped on the carpet.  Her right, instead of going back, shot
forward to grab Mary for support.  Mary, already precariously balanced on
her knees...

   Down they went, shrieking and giggling as Mary fell on her friend.

   Goldie was furry and soft.  Like a dog.  Her boobs, though, were NOT dog
like, and feeling one press into her neck had her rolling off the girl
making laughing "Ick!" sounds.  Goldie, laughing, helped shove her away,
her clawed fingers and toes lightly scratching her.  They ended up on their
backs, looking up at the ceiling.

   "Did you paint that?"

   Mary's eyes tried to take the entire scene in at once.  There were
clouds, looking as if they were drifting over head.  The shapes and sizes
didn't look...  quite right, or at least not quite like Earth.  The sky,
above them, wasn't quite the right shade of blue.  But...  it was so real!

   "Yeah.  You like it?  Chuck found the paints for me, your mom made the
brushes."

   "I love it!  Did it take you long?"

   "Weeks!  I just did a few hours a day, though.  Had to give it time to
dry before bedtime, as I was afraid wet paint would drip down on my nose
during the night!"

   "Heh!"

   "Gonna do the walls, too, but I haven't decided yet."

   Mary sighed.  She had never been able to do anything like that. 
Cartoons, yes, but nothing you'd ever mistake for reality.  Writing, she
could do, but art...

   "You're good."

   "Thanks." Goldie rolled onto her side, looking at her.  "When they get
your room all done, do you want me to paint it for you?"

   "I couldn't ask that!  You still haven't finished yours!"

   "But it would be fun!  You can help too!  We'd both do it!"

   "I can NOT paint like that!" She laughed.  "It would be easier just to
share this room with you!"

   Taking her gaze away from the clouds, her head fell on its side facing
Goldie.  The young girl was biting her red lips, blue all too human eyes
seemingly...  worried.

   "What?"

   "Um, Mary?  Would you...  well, do you want to room with me?"

   Shocked, the almost fourteen year old pushed herself up on her side,
facing the older girl.  The idea...

   "You...  sure?"

   "Yeah." Goldie nodded, clawed hand reaching across and touching Mary's.
"I always slept with Danny, but when we came here he wanted his own room.
And, it was fun, for a bit, but...  it would be nice to have someone to
talk to, at night.  It's not that I get lonely, or anything, but..."

   Mary giggled.

   "It would be like a slumber party!"

   "What's a slumber party?"

   "It's when a bunch of girlfriends go to one girl's house and spend the
night.  Talk all night, about boys or something, listen to music.  Girl
stuff!"

   "I wanna do girl stuff..." Her voice sounded so wistful.  Mary's heart
almost broke.  Goldie had grown up with no friends, no sisters.  Mary had
friends, but no mom.  Maybe they were meant to be friends...

   "I need my own bed, though.  Yours is a bit too close to the ground!"

   "I wouldn't want to sleep WITH you anyways!  Yuck!"

   ****

   It was still raining the next morning.

   Alicia looked out the bus window, sighing.  It had been three weeks
since they were last under a sun.  Rain was nice, don't get her wrong. 
But, you couldn't go out in this rain.  This was the wet equivalent of a
blizzard, to be enjoyed inside a nice warm dry building with large picture
windows.  Or overhead dome.  But, still, she was disappointed.

   That's why she wanted them to find a planet to call home, to be honest.
So they could have a sun over them every day.  For everything else, she
actually wouldn't mind spending the rest of their days on a spaceship.  But
she needed the sun...

   The sound of the rain on the metal roof intensified.  No wonder slugs
evolved on this world.

   Justin let out a sigh next to her.

   "It just seems wrong not to have Chuck here."

   Daium nodded.

   "And Rinda.  Splitting up on a new planet..."

   "We'll be fine," Anthony put in from the other side of the bus.  He sat
with Hannah and Danny.  Mary, Alicia noticed, was over in the corner with
Goldie.  Well.  Those two had bonded quickly.  Shifting her eyes to the
other corner, she saw Tammy and Nona sitting somewhat closer than normal.
The dark girl's expression was...  well, who could ever tell what Nona was
thinking?  Not her, that's for sure.  Tammy seemed happy, though.  She
looked back at Anthony.

   "How long till we get to Monkeyville?"

   "Half an hour.  He said there's a large indoor shopping place."

   "A mall!" Laughing, Alicia raised her right fist.  "To the mall!"

   ****

   Mary looked around in frightened wonder.

   Aliens were...  everywhere!

   Most were the four armed monkeys, which after seeing the driver twice
she was somewhat used to, and there were some slugs slithering down the
wide mall walkways.  But, there were others!  Strange tall humanoids with
rectangular heads, goats with three horns wearing striped dresses...  she
took a half step closer to Mom.  Hannah put a hand on her head.

   "Remember what we've told you.  WE are the aliens here.  Look, but don't
stare.  Don't bump into anyone, they might take offense.  Stay close. 
Danny, stay with her."

   Mary was going to object.  Say that she didn't need a babysitter, or
that she could just stay close to her.  That, though, was before she saw
the two legged reptilian thing walking by, fur hat the same color as Mary's
own hair.

   Well, she could always push Danny between herself and danger if it came
down to that.

   ****

   "Are there always so many...  kinds of people?"

   She was talking to him.  Mary was actually talking to him!  She was
walking at his side, soft bare arm swinging just a few inches from his own.
Goldie trotted on the other side of her, the two siblings forming a
protective guard for their newest companion.  The adults were walking
ahead, deciding which stores to hit first.

   Reply.  He had to reply.  Chuck's advice came back to him.  Just talk to
her.  Talk to Mary like he'd talk to anyone else.  Become her friend.  Find
something to say...

   "Not always," Goldie said, looking around.  "We're near a spaceport,
though, so most of the non-natives are from other ships just like we are."

   Danny winced.  He was too slow.  Was there something he could add,
though?

   "The planet Anthony found us on, the city was almost all from elsewhere.
The locals lived underwater, and built the floating town just for aliens."

   "It almost feels like this planet is underwater..."

   He had talked to her, without sounding like an idiot.

   Damn it, maybe Chuck was right...

   ****

   "I'm not sure about this fabric.  Tammy, what do you think?"

   Anthony took a step away, sighing.  Nothing was more boring than the
girls talking clothing.  He almost longed for the days when they just had a
couple pairs of outfits, and for the ladies that was just skimpy bikinis
made out of aprons.  Damn it, he had liked that fashion statement.  Why
couldn't they go back to that?  Or, at least, more revealing styles.

   He looked around.  For example, that creature over there.  It was a red
squirrel, maybe four feet tall, body a little slimmer than the creatures
back home.  Clearly female, thanks to the two breasts, she wore what seemed
to be two white rectangular cloths, one front, one back, attached just by
some string tied on the side.  The entire side of her body was exposed. 
Now that, he thought, would look good on Hannah.  Especially once the
pregnancy was over.  Hmm, maybe he could get Hannah to role-play "slave and
her master".  Then again, it looked a bit like some fantasy priestess
getup...

   The squirrel glanced up from the bin of thread it had been
contemplating. Her head swung away, as if she was looking for someone, then
swiveled back.  Her almond shaped black eyes fell on Anthony.

   Her entire body shot around to face him, claw grabbing the wooden
display as if she was about to collapse.  Her other hand went to her mouth.

   Anthony's eyes widened.

   She had seen humans before.

   "Justin!  Come here, quick!"

   At the sound of his voice, the girl's other hand shot up to her mouth.
She fell to her knees, trembling.  He sensed the others come up next to
him.

   "What is she?" Hannah asked.  The squirrel's head jerked to face the
source of the new sound.  Her eyes widened even more.  Facing Anthony once
again, she fell forward, red furry arms outstretched on the ground towards
the humans.

   "Don't know, but keep your eyes peeled for a Moose..."

   ****

   Chapter 6

   "If she asks if you're a god, say 'yes'."

   Justin shifted his eyes around.  Nobody really reacted.  Daium did,
though, nod her head in agreement.  With a sigh, he let it go.  Melinda
would have gotten the joke.  Probably Chuck, too.  What was the point of
making obscure geek jokes, if nobody was going to react?  Laughs or groans,
didn't matter.  It probably didn't help that the movie in question wasn't
among those in the store when they vanished, and thus was lost forever so
far as they were concerned, but, still.  The Bullwinkle thing got
chuckles...

   He set his attention back to the task at hand.  A strange red furred
squirrel girl was prostate on the store floor, hands outstretched, tail
arching over her back.  She was dressed in a white...  well, shift might be
a good name for it, cloth barely longer than mid-thigh and cut short in
back to allow room for the tail.  Sexy, in a slave girl kind of way.  If
you were into animals, which he wasn't.

   Anthony, dressed as they all were in their "away mission" uniforms,
knelt down on one knee in front of her.  Alicia, standing behind him next
to Hannah, was scanning the room, hand down where her holster would be if
she was wearing it.

   "People are starting to look.  We should take this elsewhere."

   "Agreed," Anthony said.  Justin noticed that every use of English seemed
to send tremors through the squirrel.  Anthony seemed to see it as well. 
Reaching out, he touched her head between the ears.  "Sit up."

   The girl shot up.  Her legs were bent under her, trembling hands
clutching furry bare knees.  Her long face, with its black almond eyes on
either side and brown nose at the end, looked down at the floor.  Human
like breasts, under the white fabric, heaved.  Anthony stood.

   "We have to talk, but not here.  Do you know someplace close?"

   Justin could see her eyes dart back and forth, mind racing.

   "I...  we have...  a room.  Close."

   He noted the use of the word "we".  The others did as well, exchanging
glances.  Hannah motioned Danny to move closer to her daughter, while she
stepped up to Anthony's side.

   "Take us."

   ****

   Chuck whistled an early Metallica song as he moved the hose over to the
next flower bed.

   There were a number of amusing things about his current activities.  The
first, naturally, was the silliness of watering flowers during a rainstorm.
The clouds, and their resulting downpour hitting the arching dome overhead,
were so dark and thick he had turned on the spotlights on top of the store.
Lightning flashed, and you could hear the thunder and pouring rain despite
the thick shell.  The very fact that Chuck was using a hose was also rather
silly.  After all, not only could they easily have installed sprinklers to
water their expansive collection of exotic plants, but the bottom recesses
of the ship had whole rooms full of droids.  Any number of them could be
modified to water and tend the garden, even though you might have second
thoughts about having one perform personal grooming.  But, the key to
survival was keeping busy.  The garden was as much to give them something
to do as anything else.

   "Oh, field hand!  I need a drink refill!"

   And, naturally, keeping busy kept one from killing various females.

   He was tempted, very tempted, to use the hose on Melinda.  illing her
glass from twenty feet away could be seen as an honest attempt at serving
her.  But, alas, there was the baby nursing with her to consider, as well
as Rinda and little Jeli on the bench.  Rinda had not annoyed him yet,
although the day was still young.  Nope, there was no way he was going to
spray his lovely wives and children with water.

   Naturally, he thought, turning to aim the hose a foot away from the
bench, there was no reason they would know that...

   ****

   Their driver did not bat an eye when the Bells crew returned to the bus
not a half hour after entering the mall, accompanied by another alien.  He
expected nothing else of foreigners.  The address they gave him was a mere
four blocks away.  They could have walked, not bothering him.  But, again,
they were soft aliens.  Lighting up a cigar as they once again exited his
vehicle, he sighed.  What could he do...

   ****

   They paused, out of the rain again at least for the moment.  Alicia
looked above.  The ceiling on the...  well, driveway into the building, was
an archway made of brick.  She had seen buildings like this, in movies: a
large, ugly structure taking up an entire city block, but once you traveled
through the tunnel in one side you came upon a bright courtyard park with
stairs and terraces leading to a hundred apartments or whatever on all four
sides.  Up ahead, their view showed them the first three levels on the
opposite side, with three more unseen above that.  The courtyard itself
seemed to have more weeds than plants, although nothing would look good
flooded as it was.  She wondered if the rain ever did stop.

   The slugs kind of hinted the answer was "no".

   Her eyes went to their "guide".  There was no trust to be had here,
naturally.  Not yet.  Their position in the universe was much too fragile.
They needed to get whatever information this fluffy tailed girl had, and
get back to the ship so they could plan.  Doing anything without the input
of Chuck, Rinda, and even (though it pained her to say it) Melinda, was
foolhardy.  They all looked at the world from different enough points of
view that someone usually saw the flaw in any plan.

   Alicia liked finding flaws.

   She felt movement inside her.  As Justin was the father, she always
pictured her baby just quietly reading a book in the corner of the womb. 
Recent crankiness on the infant's part, though, was causing her to think
her side was going to be more dominant.  Given stories her mother had told
at about every gathering where the subject of children came up, this was
not a good thing.

   Another kick.  She looked over at Justin.

   "Baby's getting cranky.  Can we hurry this up?"

   Alicia felt Squirrel Girl's eyes on her.  She flicked her eyes at the
creature, causing the thing to cringe back a bit.  For some reason, that
made her feel better.

   ****

   Umbrellas up once again, they made the not quite dash into the
courtyard, and up the stairs.  Anthony, despite the inner need to do this
quickly, before the attention of some unknown bad thing fell on them, kept
to an Alicia and Hannah friendly pace.  The protective side of him wished
they had been sent back to the ship.  Who knew what they were getting into.
But, that would have involved yet another splitting of the group.  They
were too divided as it was.

   On the fourth landing, the newcomer led them down the row of wooden
doors.  It definitely looked like a motel, or maybe very small apartments.
The place was not in good repair.  The railings were rusting, with orange
paint peeling off (the color change was an improvement at least).  Down
below, weeds grew up between paving stones.  There was no sign of life,
either.  Kind of made sense, if this was a motel type place, as who would
be in their room in the late morning.  He'd expect some mothers and
children to be around otherwise, though.

   The red furred girl stopped in front of a door numbered 415.  There was
a window to the left of it, curtain drawn.  She turned to him, seeming to
struggle for the right words.  She was nervous as hell.

   "This...  is our room."

   He nodded, motioning for her to enter.  Her face almost seeming to blush
through the fur, she pulled a string necklace he hadn't noticed before out
from under her outfit and over her head.  Fitting the metal key at the end
into the handle lock, the door clicked.  Seeming to brace herself, she
opened the door and entered.  Anthony quickly followed, Justin a step
behind.

   The room was small.  It looked like every motel room Anthony had ever
had a hookup in, if a bit dingier (hey, he had standards).  One double bed,
unmade, was against the far wall.  It obviously had been pushed there,
judging by the marks on the brown rug.  The walls were an ugly yellow, ugly
enough to distract him as he entered.  It wasn't until he heard the voice
that he noticed someone was already in the room.

   "Miriam!"

   It was another squirrel, naturally.  This one had black fur, with a
tinge of grey on the chest and tail, and eyes of a sparkling brown.  She
had been lying on the bed nude, reading something, but sprang to her feet
on their entrance, breasts bouncing.  Seeing those following her companion,
any further words died in shock.

   "Sarah!  Speak only the holy tongue!" The one they now knew was called
Miriam ran to her companion, practically shoving her down to her knees. 
Dropping down next to her, she looked back at Anthony.  "We are yours to
command, oh Lord!"

   Anthony paused.  He recalled Justin's joke.  Despite the lessons of
Ghostbusters, they had to be careful here.  Nona, for one (and there were
probably others), would get seriously pissed at any impersonation of
godhood.  On a more practical level, a comic book story he had read as a
kid, long forgotten, had popped into his head.  Two Spanish conquistadors
had come to a South American city, claiming to be gods.  As they were about
to be killed, they said they could blot out the sun, and sure enough the
eclipse they knew was coming happened.

   The King, naturally, was impressed.  He freed the two, started leading
them towards the heart of the city...  and tossed them in a pit.

   "What the heck?!", the two yell back.  "Let us out!"

   "Well," says the King, "if you two are Gods, and I do think you are, you
should be able to fly out of there.  If, on the other hand, you are NOT
gods...  well, just let us know and we'll lower a rope and continue where
we left off."

   The story stopped there, letting the reader decide which ending they
would pick.  Personally, Anthony decided to try and avoid the whole thing.

   ****

   "Everyone inside, close the door."

   Nona slipped in behind Anthony, sliding over in front of the window and
settling in the corner.  She didn't like this.  It was...  freaky, that's
what it was.  She also got this pagan vibe, which for some reason was very
unsettling.  The candles, and large pentagram laid out on the rug with
white tape, were the cause of most of that.  It was obvious the bed used to
be there, but they needed the room for whatever evil purpose witch
squirrels have.

   Off hand, Nona couldn't think of any.

   Tammy's taller form appeared next to her.  Without giving it any
thought, Nona reached out her right hand and grabbed Tammy's.  After a
moment's pause, she felt the strong, soft hand shift in her grip, fingers
intertwining with hers.  Despite everything around them, Nona blushed,
happy.

   With a click, the door closed.  Anthony took a couple steps forward,
stopping about six feet away from the squirrels.  Nona, eyes automatically
checking their two pregnant members, saw Alicia leaning a bit on an
umbrella while Hannah used the wall for support.  She didn't see any
chairs, and the bed was behind the aliens.

   "Who are you?"

   The red one bowed her head at Anthony's question, elbow hitting her
companion when she didn't immediately follow suit.

   "I am Miriam, Servant of She Who Saw, follower of She Who Fucked."

   Nona shot a glance at Tammy.  She had NOT just heard that, had she?  The
blonde had the same look, though.  What were they getting into...

   "This," continued Miriam, "is Sarah, handmaiden and newcomer to The Way.
We..." She stumbled, words failing her.  Nona recognized part of the
problem.  English wasn't their native language.  She was speaking...  what
had she called it?  The Holy Tongue?  Nona would have the same problem
trying to speak Arabic.  More so, given how little she had kept up on that
in recent years.

   "Where are you from?" Anthony's voice was calm.  Nona had no idea how he
did it.  Guess it came with being manager.

   "We are from the Temple, the NEW Temple, recently dedicated in your
name."

   "Who do you THINK I am?"

   Miriam looked up, startled.

   "You...  you are one of the daemons!  All of you, apart from her!" Her
finger jabbed at Daium, who's four eyes widened.  "Even those young are of
your seed!  Oh, how we have longed to see the joining of us and you!  To
know that it is possible!  Shia, She Who Fucked, must be told!  The Temple
will celebrate!"

   Anthony held up a hand, instantly silencing her.  The black furred one,
Sarah, just sat there, trembling, eyes not looking at any of them.

   "Have you seen other humans, others like us?"

   Miriam looked at the rug, body seeming to deflate.

   "No, Lord.  Not I.  I am not skilled enough to see your kind, or summon.
Neither have I attended the rituals, not that any have been successful from
what we have heard.  I have tried!" She looked back up, eyes wide. 
"Believe me!  I, we, have studied hard!  Tried to understand all you have
told us, all you have shown us!  But your ways are mysterious, oh Lord!"

   "I just bet they are," Nona heard Tammy mutter.  She shook her head. 
They were speaking gibberish.  Whatever information there was to get, the
humans would have to get it themselves.

   She glanced down to her left.  The nightstand, now far from the side of
the bed, had books on it.  The topmost one, a large hardcover seemingly
bound in dark brown leather, had no name on the cover.  Just a large white
pentagram.  Nona reached for it.

   "No!"

   Nona's hand jerked back, head whipping towards the now standing black
squirrel.  The creature's fur was almost standing on end, her tail straight
up.

   "Those are OUR Holy Books!  You may NOT...!"

   *SLAP*

   "SILENCE!"

   Sarah slowly turned to the red furred Miriam, eyes wide, one paw going
to the struck cheek.  Nona watched with...  fear.  Her hand squeezed
Tammy's, heart doing a flip when her friend answered, caressing with her
thumb.

   "Who do you think you're talking to?" Miriam's eyes bore into the
younger woman.  Not waiting for an answer, she jabbed a clawed finger
between Sarah's breasts.  "Who gave us knowledge?  ANSWER!"

   Nona was starting to feel sorry for the black one.  Sarah cowered back a
bit, but straightened, as if reciting something.

   "The Gods."

   "From where does all knowledge flow?"

   "Earth."

   "What is Earth?"

   "Home of the Gods." It came out as a whisper.  Miriam put one paw on her
shoulder.

   "These, before us, are Humans.  Of Earth.  Before them, we are nothing
but servants.  All knowledge comes from them.  Thus, how can we deny them
any of our knowledge?" She turned back to Nona, looking like a dog trying
to please its master.  "Please, take it.  Forgive us."

   "N...no problem."

   Letting go, reluctantly, of Tammy's hand, Nona picked up the book.  It
was heavy, a good couple pounds.  Holding it by the spine, she let it fall
open to somewhere in the middle.

   The book...  was new.  Or, at least, newish.  The pages, for all they
looked like some Middle Ages manuscript, were crisp and clear.  The
contents, words and pictures, were hand drawn.  Much of it was in some
language she was unfamiliar with, small squarish runes it looked like, but
passages of English were interspersed throughout.  Passages that really
made no real sense.  Illustrations showing female squirrels, nude, in
various positions around pentagrams, candles, and...  picnic tables.

   "What the fuck?"

   "Let me see." Tammy leaned over, Nona moving the book so she could get a
better view.  After a moment, Tammy laughed, looking over at Anthony and
the others.  "It's a spell book!"

   Anthony frowned.

   "Spell book?"

   "Yeah, pretty sure.  I dabbled with Wiccan things in high school, with
some girls I knew, and this looks like some of the crap they were into. 
Only difference is, the spells in here are in English instead of Hebrew or
Mayan or whatever they were supposed to be."

   Nona's heart seemed to stop.  She looked at Tammy, not wanting to
believe.

   "You...  were a witch?"

   Tammy smiled back at her, hand coming up to lightly touch Nona's cheek.

   "No, I wasn't.  I...  well, a girl I liked was into it, and I played
along just to be with her.  Mostly, I liked the nude rituals.  None of it
ever worked, never cast any spells or the like.  It was just stupid high
school stuff."

   Nona let out a breath, relieved.  The whole liking a girl, and a
non-Muslim at that, was proving hard enough to deal with.  She didn't need
that kind of thing on top of it...

   Something the red squirrel said clicked in her mind.  Handing the book
to a surprised Tammy, her eyes bore into the creature as she took a step
forward.

   "Where is Earth?"

   "Oh God, they know," she heard Hannah whisper in shock.  She took
another step forward, fists clenched at her side, eyes going between the
two worried aliens.

   "Where.  Is.  Earth?"

   "There is no Earth..." Sarah started to say, puzzled.  Miriam shot her
hand out to cover her companion's mouth, face anxious.  She smiled at Nona,
trembling.

   "Um, she doesn't know.  New, hasn't learned much, hasn't undergone
training..."

   "Where."

   "Oh, uh, Earth is everywhere!  Earth exists in all of us!  Earth is
between the atoms, between the stars.  Earth is what binds us together..."

   Anger built.  If there was one thing Nona hated, despised, it was New
Age bullshit.  The others must have seen it in her face.  Nona had barely
begun to lunge forward when Tammy grabbed her arms from behind, pinning
them.  The others just looked on, not knowing what to do.  Nona knew,
though.  The time for being nice was over.

   "Don't give me that bullshit!  You know English!  You know Humans!  You
know Earth!  Tell us where the hell our fucking planet is, you stupid
squirrels, or I'm gonna get Jihad on your sorry bitch asses!"

   She could feel the eyes of her friends on her.  Could feel Tammy pull
her back against her, breasts pressing into Nona's shoulder blades.  She
didn't care.  This thing was going to get them home, if she had to rip its
guts out...

   Miriam just looked back at her, confused.

   "Earth...  all the universe, all reality, is Earth..."

   ****

   Chapter 7

   Justin felt his blood turn to ice.

   "That," Alicia said, speaking for most in the room, "makes no fucking
sense."

   Oh, but it did.  It all made sense.  Or, it could.  The languages.  The
animal aliens.  The...  familiarity, and stupidity, of it all.  God fucking
damn it, if they were...

   There'd be no going home.

   He saw Alicia turn to him, her face becoming disgusted as his expression
registered.

   "Oh, fucking...  please, don't say you understood that.  I don't want a
kid fathered by someone who understood that."

   Justin shook his head, Nona now looking at him as well.  He also saw the
squirrels staring intently.  They were going to need those two, that was
now clear.  He didn't think it was a good idea, but then, what was?

   "I...  might.  That is, I know what it could mean, one possible way." He
looked at Nona.  "I'm sorry, but we'll probably never get home.  We'll try,
Nona, God damn it we'll try, but, please..." She stiffened, Tammy still
pinning her arms behind her back, then seemed to slump in the woman's hold.
Justin knew how she felt.  Turning to Anthony, he sighed.  "We need these
books.  We have to go over them.  All of us.  See what we can tease out of
them."

   Anthony nodded, thoughtful.

   "Ladies," he said, turning his body to face the two residents of the
room, "I'm sorry.  We need to borrow any books you have.  We will return
them, I promise..."

   "No!"

   The black furred one, Sarah, stepped forward, shaking off the red furred
Miriam's attempt to restrain her.  She walked up to Anthony, two uncovered
breasts leading the way, pink nipples just visible under the short fur. 
Justin's eyes shifted to Daium, to see how she saw all this, and was
surprised to see anger on her face.  Hmm...  natural antagonism between
these two races?

   "These are OUR Holy Books!" Sarah jabbed one black claw into Anthony's
chest.  "OURS!  She Who Fucked entrusted them to us!  Few copies exist, and
I will NOT release them from my care, even t Daemons!"

   Anthony looked down at the creature, a good two or more feet shorter
than him.  Justin could see his mind working (which, he had to admit, was a
good thing, so long as what you're seeing isn't the gerbil on its little
wheel trying to get up to speed).  Looking back at the others, Anthony
indicated the door.

   "I think we need a little meeting outside."

   ****

   "No fucking way!"

   Anthony blinked.  He looked at Daium, not recalling the last time he had
seen her this angry.  Her four white fur rimmed eyes looked at him from
behind her glasses, serious.

   "Look, Daium, we need those books."

   "Then take them!  Buy them!  Or, borrow them, and we stay here until
we've copied what we need.  But, I am NOT letting my father's ship become
some taxi service, or letting just anyone onboard!"

   Anthony leaned back against the metal railing, feeling the occasional
drop of rain making it under the shelter of the walkway above them to fall
on his back.  Most of the others were against the wall of the motel, or
whatever it was.  He had to chuckle at that.  Obviously, they didn't trust
the rusted, formerly painted support railing.  Just as, really, Daium
didn't seem to trust their two acquaintances.  He glanced over at Hannah,
the only other to brave this side of the walkway.  She had both hands on it
behind her, almost as if holding it up instead of the other way around. 
Her eyes were regarding the Orang with a speculative gaze he was well
familiar with.  Not from her, really, but just woman kind in general.  A
quick look showed Justin too had realized this was a "woman thing".

   Danny just looked confused.

   "I don't trust them either," Nona said, almost growling.  Tammy had her
held against her, like a guy might hold a shorter girlfriend, arms around
her waist.  Nona's arms were crossed, not seeming to notice Tammy.

   "We don't need trust, we need the books." Alicia put a hand on her
wife's bare shoulder.  "Please, Love.  We can lock them up if you like...
if they come voluntarily, and agree, naturally," she quickly added,
glancing at Mary's widening eyes.  "After all, we're the good guys." Justin
shook his head.

   "We are NOT going to treat them like prisoners, or steal their stuff."

   Daium's gaze went to her husband.  As dim and male as Anthony was, he
began to have a hint as to what the problem was.  He let out a sigh.

   "Hannah..."

   "Yup." She pushed off from the railing, pausing to brush some flakes of
paint and rust off of her hands.  As always, Anthony couldn't help but
admire her pregnant form.  His life had always been spent trying to avoid
having his women in this state, with a couple close calls in his younger
days.  If he had realized the beauty of this female form, maybe he would
have stayed with that cute Indian girl who refused any contraception.  Then
again, that was an easy call to make now, as opposed to back in community
college...

   ****

   Hannah walked over to Daium, nodding to Alicia.  The blonde glanced down
the walkway, away from the others, then back at her questioningly.  Hannah
nodded again.  Placing her hand on Daium's other shoulder, the two women
turned the Orang around and walked her away from the others ten paces or
so. Daium came, if not willingly, at least with no resistance.  Her arms
were crossed over her woven bra, mirroring Nona.

   The dirty window they stopped in front of had no curtains.  The room
inside, identical to the one they were just in, was bare, dark.  Hannah
glanced in, decided she really didn't want to be that exposed, and moved
them the few extra feet until they were in front of blank wall. 
Maneuvering Daium so her back was almost touching it, the two pregnant
women stood before her.  Daium's eyes were on the ground, not meeting
theirs.  Hannah let out a sigh.

   "Is this about Justin?"

   All four eyes opened wide, Daium's gaze coming up to met hers in shock.
Hannah just shook her head.

   "Come on, it's not like you're the first female to feel like this."

   "Yeah," Alicia agreed.  "Hell, we've just been lucky there hasn't been
much of it between us."

   Daium's gaze dropped again, shoulders slumping.  She hugged herself as
the howl of the wind began to add itself to the constant sound of rain.

   "They, those two..."

   "They are young, furry, walking around naked or almost naked, and seem
to have a desire to have kids with humans." Hannah looked over at Alicia,
who nodded.

   "Yeah, I caught that too." She looked back at her wife, who was nodding
miserably.  "You don't think Justin's going to cheat on us, do you?"

   Daium let herself fall back against the wall.  Her voice was miserable.

   "He is male.  Males, human males, want lots of mates.  He has two, why
would he not want three?  Or four?"

   Hannah burst out laughing.  Daium looked at her, shocked.  Alicia smiled
as well, just shaking her head.

   "Oh, Daium, you do NOT know Justin!  He was perfectly happy with just
you, before I forced my way into the mix.  Hell, none of the guys have
strayed."

   "Well," Hannah disagreed, considering, "I think Chuck hooked up with
Rinda while with Melinda."

   "Yeah, but Melinda doesn't count, sort of stalking him and forcing
herself on him.  I know Anthony hasn't tried to go for any of us."

   "Possibly because none of you have flirted with him.  He has, jokingly
I'll admit, complained about that."

   "Oooh, so I should start!  Hmm, that could be fun..."

   "Alicia, Love," Daium interrupted, hand reaching out to touch her bare
arm.  "You...  are not worried?"

   "No," she replied, stepping closer and leaning in to give Daium a quick
peck on the lips.  "Just tell him he has us, and you don't want him to
stray, and he won't even give them a second thought."

   Hannah stepped back as the two embraced.  That, it seemed, solved that.
The other women would have to work it out with their men.  Rinda and
Melinda probably wouldn't care about Chuck, although you never knew. 
Danny...  she'd have Anthony, no, Chuck, talk to him.  And, naturally, she
had no worries about Anthony.

   She glanced down the walkway at him.  Her husband was talking to Mary
and Goldie.  He had been there for her, since the first day they'd found
themselves in this place.  When she had needed a friend, and more, he had
stepped up without hesitation.  When she had been unsure...  he had stepped
back, and waited.  When she had told him of Tammy's loneliness, he again
had stood aside.  Hannah knew he didn't like it, and while enjoying herself
with Tammy greatly she stopped after a few encounters.  Tammy had
understood.

   So...  given all that...  if Anthony had some interest in the two
inside, could she really stand in the way?  He WOULD come back, after
all... wouldn't he?

   ****

   "God damned fucking piece of..."

   Chuck sighed.  This wasn't going to work.

   The girls were napping.  For some odd reason, squirting out babies, plus
the assorted other gunk that had been in there (he had almost expected
packing peanuts to pop out), had tired them.  Real tired, not the fake kind
just to get his attention.  Chuck had popped into their room and found both
passed out on the bed.  The kids were asleep too, in their little
bassinets. Those had been all ready to go, as they knew the babies were
coming.  Other stuff, for the most part, was still in pieces.  They had
stocked up on things like cribs, strollers, and playpens, all unassembled.
They could have put it all together early, naturally.  It's not like there
was a lack of free time while the ship was traveling.  But...  babies did
not always make it to full term, and when they do they are not always born
alive.  In some times and cultures, he knew, they didn't even bother naming
kids until they had been around for a few months so they wouldn't feel the
loss as much when they lost them.  So, this had all been left until needed.

   Which is why it wasn't until now that he discovered the damned crib was
missing a support.

   Well, they'd have to improvise.  Or buy one here.  The kids wouldn't be
needing one for a little bit.  They couldn't even roll over, after all.

   Chuck sat back, considering.  He still had to move the spare bed into
Goldie's room.  It wasn't so much heavy as bulky, but he could get a few
droids to help.  Hell, maybe they could do it themselves.  Or, should he
wait and see if Anthony was going to pick a new bed up in town?  The one in
the Dog House, used when one of the threesomes (or the twosome) felt that
one member really should be absent for a bit, wasn't that girly.  It also
was a bit big for the room, as they hadn't intended two beds for the teen's
room.  Maybe a bunk bed?  That could work, although whoever was on the
bottom couldn't see the painted ceiling.  Have to talk to Mary and Goldie,
see what they wanted.

   His cell phone rang.

   Chuck glanced at it.  Couldn't be good news.  He knew that.  Then
again...

   "Chuck here.  What's wrong now?"

   "Oh, you're gonna love this," Alicia's voice said.  "We're gonna have
two guests, and probably be taking off as soon as we get back.  Any
supplies you know we'll need?"

   "Should I ask for any details about all of this?"

   "We'll fill you in when we get back.  It's...  well, the normal
weirdness."

   "Gotcha.  Um...  well...  damn it, I don't want to rush buying
furnishings, so it can wait until the next world.  No, nothing.  Just get
whatever was on the lists you took with you."

   "Kay.  We're putting the squirrels in one of the Orang rooms, or maybe
two rooms.  We'll see."

   "Squirrels..."

   "Yup!"

   Chuck removed the phone from his ear.  Holding it out, he just looked at
it.  Squirrels.

   Well, it was bound to happen.

   ****

   Piercing crying woke Melinda with a start.

   Panicking, she tried to push herself up off the bed.  There was
unexpected resistance.  Rinda was sleeping on her arm.  Just as she was
about to try and just use all her strength to half pull it out, half roll
her lover off of it, Rinda woke as well, as the cry of Jeli joined that of
Carol.  She was up in an instant, rolling off the bed onto her feet,
leaving Melinda with an arm tingling madly.  Furiously clenching and
opening her hand, trying to hurry blood flow back into the appendage,
Melinda got to her feet and rushed to Carol.  Her little girl was crying,
tiny face scrunched up as if in horrible pain.  Melinda scooped her up in
her arms, holding her against her shoulder.

   "Oh, baby...  what's wrong?  Shhh, Mommy's here..."

   Carol had a little diaper on, made of cloth.  They had tons of diapers
in the store, which no doubt would not last through four or more babies,
but none were newborn sized.  Trying to remember Hannah's lessons through
the screaming, Melinda ran her hand over the diaper.  It was dry.  That
means, most likely, this was food related.

   "Are you hungry, Carol?  Want some milk?" They had undressed for bed, so
there was no more to do in that department.  Sitting down on the mattress,
she adjusted Carol in her arms and brought her mouth up to her right
breast. The screaming stopped, the little mouth finding other activities to
keep it occupied.  "There you go...  good girl..."

   Melinda had dreamed of being a mother when she was little.  Dreamed of
husbands, babies, sons and daughters.  Dreamed of a family, a chance to
give her children the love and security she had never had.  It hadn't been
Dad's fault, naturally.  Mom had died, before Melinda could even walk, and
none of the other women who entered his life seemed to last more than a few
years.  Well, this was going to be different.  She was going to be with
Carol forever.  Chuck and Rinda were going to be her little girl's father
and second mother forever as well.  They were a family...

   There was a groan from the bed as Rinda sat down beside her.  Little
Jeli was happily suckling on her right breast, Rinda's four eyes wide with
awe.

   "I'm still not used to it," she said, amazed tone drawing a chuckle from
Melinda.  "It feels so different than when you or Chuck suck on me!  Not
sexual, but...  amazing!"

   "Yeah..."

   Their eyes met.  Without even thinking, Melinda leaned over towards her.
Their lips met, mouths open, Rinda's tongue quickly entering to engage
hers. Adjusting so that one arm held up Carol securely, she brought her
left hand up to Rinda's face.  Her lover seemed to purr into her mouth as
she caressed that soft fur, ran her fingers over her almost human ear.  She
felt Rinda's smooth hand come up, touching her cheek...

   ****

   A half hour later they were dressed, the babies fed and changed, and
walking out of the store.  Both wore thin short skirts, almost see-through
in the right light, with matching non-transparent panties.  Melinda's thin
blouse had been altered for easy access to both breasts, flaps held with
fasteners openable with one hand.  Rinda's light tan woven suspenders and
bra had a front clasp.  Both outfits had been extensively tested by Chuck,
back before the reason for them caused them to no longer fit.  The girls
had found, much to their delight, a fully assembled two baby stroller
awaiting them when they got to the front door.  Each holding the handle
with one hand as they pushed it out the automatic store doors, they took
the babies into the garden.

   "Girls!"

   Chuck's cry had them looking over towards the front of the ship,
grinning.  Those smiles quickly faded a bit.  There were strangers.

   Chuck hurried over, following the winding path.  The newcomers, they
could see, were...

   "Squirrels."

   Rinda looked over at Melinda.  The human's face looked...  a bit
repulsed.

   "Squirrels?" she asked.  The word meant nothing to her, but she assumed
it referred to the bushy tailed newcomers.

   "Yeah, squirrels.  They're small, about yay big," she indicated the size
with her hands, letting go of the stroller for a moment, "eat nuts.  Furry
rats, basically.  Remember, we watched that cartoon with all the ice?"

   "Oh!" She remembered!  The one little guy who kept trying to get the
nut. Rinda looked back at the two aliens.  They looked nothing like him.

   Chuck came up to them, grinning.

   "Have a good nap?" He leaned over and gave both a quick kiss, then
looked down at his son and daughter and gave them his finger.  The two
fought over it.

   "What the hell's going on," Melinda asked.  Rinda nodded.  They didn't
need more people here.  They were fine, just them, and the babies.  They
especially didn't need...  more women.

   "Something has come up, it seems," Chuck told them, voice not sounding
much happier than they were.  This lightened Rinda's mood somewhat.  If HE
had no interest in these creatures, then maybe she didn't mind.  "Those
two, it seems, know of humans.  Worship us, even, even though they've never
actually seen one.  So, we're taking them on board for a bit."

   "Why?" Melinda's tone was a little softer, but not much.  Chuck
chuckled.

   "Well, they have a bunch of books Justin wants to go over, written
partly in English of all things, and they won't part with them." His face
suddenly looked startled, eyes going into the stroller.  "OK, that's
definitely my son.  He just tried to twist my finger off so he could have
it to himself."

   "These squirrels worship us?"

   "Yup.  I'm used to it, naturally, as you've been worshiping me for
years."

   Rinda saw Melinda try not to react.  Try to stay stern, angry about
these cute newcomers.  But...  you couldn't stay angry when Chuck was
there. Melinda broke into a grin.

   "Well," she said, playfully jabbing a finger into his chest, "We'd
better be your ONLY harem members.  We don't share."

   Rinda nodded, so glad the two of them were on the same page with this.

   "That's right.  You have us." Even as she said it, Rinda felt a slight
pang of hypocrisy.  After all, both women had been with Tammy.  But... 
that was different, right?  And Tammy hadn't been with either woman in over
a month...

   Chuck regarded them, face serious.  Rinda began to fidget a bit.  She
didn't like it when he looked like that.  Didn't want him serious.  Unless
they were making love, but even then it was so much better when he was
playful...

   "We'll talk later.  But, don't worry.  You two are enough for me."

   Rinda didn't know why that answer wasn't good enough.

   ****

   Miriam looked at the approaching females.

   They were the mates of the male Chuck.  She could see that, from the way
they walked next to him, pushing that strange cart.  Their hips and body
moved as one, as women who shared a man and each other.  In their eyes, she
could see the possessiveness.  Their man, they were telling her, was off
limits.  The same vibe had been given by the scar faced woman and the Orang
with the glasses about the dark skinned male, Justin.  She could
practically feel the hate coming from the one called Daium.

   And well all four women should fear.

   To mate with one of the daemons, a human, was the most sacred act.  The
most sought after goal of their faith.  Every ritual was performed to that
end.  Every spell, every attempted summons.  Only once, ONCE, had it
worked, but that one partial success had spurred them on even more.  They
now knew that it WAS possible!  That She Who Saw was in fact right, that
their faith was right.

   They could mate with Gods.  And something petty like existing bonds
would not stop Miriam.

   Sarah at her side, Miriam bowed down to the approaching party.

   "Greetings.  It is an honor to meet you..."

   ****

   Chapter 8

   Justin kind of liked having to deal with jealous females.

   It was a new experience.  As, really, were most things having to deal
with women.  He had not dated on Earth.  Not by choice, naturally.  Few
teens choose such things, and those who do often discover the problem was
they weren't paying attention to the right gender.  That had never been the
case with Justin, despite that odd dream about Chuck he'd rather forget
about.  No, he liked girls.

   Especially, but not limited to, what the two girls in his life were
doing just then.

   Justin had been placed in the middle of their bed, with orders not to
move.  Both his wives, eyes full of a hunger he never got tired of, quickly
stripped his lean body, clothing already shed from theirs.  Alicia was
magnificent, with her blonde hair, slightly swollen belly and larger
breasts.  The scar on her cheek only seemed to accent her beauty.  Daium's
blackish grey fur clad form, at least to him, kept getting more human. 
There was a swell to her hips now, and he could swear the white fur on her
breasts seemed to be shorter.  The mind behind her four eyes, however, had
never changed.  It showed the same loving, caring being that had been there
the first day he saw her.

   That mind, it seemed, was currently focused on one thing.  Laid out on
the lower part of the bed, Daium moved her head over his thighs and licked
the side of his cock.  Alicia, stretched out on the other side, legs folded
up near Justin's head, kissed his smaller head, tongue flicking out as her
lips pulled back.  She repeated it, moving her lips over the smooth top as
Daium continued to lick down below.

   Eyes closed, Justin contemplated the difference in his lovers.  Alicia's
tongue was small, but sharp, fitting her perfectly.  It came almost to a
point, allowing her to move it like a feather over his most sensitive
parts. Daium's was large, wide, a touch rough in the center.  She could
curl it around his shaft as she licked, up, and down.  Without a word the
two traded targets, Daium attacking the head while Alicia kissed up and
down his manhood.  A content groan from him was met with giggles down
below. There was movement and a shifting of weight on the bed.

   "We're going to tease you." Alicia's voice was in his ear, followed by
her teeth lightly biting on his earlobe.  Justin's slight gasp of pain was
followed by another groan as his cock was engulfed by Daium's mouth.  Her
throat always felt so strange, so different than Alicia's.  A sexy chuckle
echoed through his head.  "We're going to satisfy you, again, and again. 
Just to remind you what you will never feel again..." Teeth lightly pressed
against the base of his mouth enclosed penis.  "...if you ever, ever, look
at those squirrels the wrong way..."

   Justin had no interest in animals.  In aliens.  He had the only two
women he wanted in the whole world (especially since he knew Tammy wasn't
bi).  Both hands going down to hold Daium's head, he opened his eyes to
look at Alicia.

   "Take all night if you have to..."

   ****

   Mary lay in the darkness.

   Goldie had left the bedroom a few minutes before, doing her best to
close the door silently.  She did a good job, the latch just making a
slight "click" sound, but it really didn't matter.  Mary wasn't asleep.

   She had slept well last night.  Maybe the excitement of the babies, or
the idea of sharing a room with her new friend, had tired her.  Or, maybe,
it had just been that it had been her second night in the spare bedroom. 
She had spent two nights sleeping with Mom, cuddling with her for the first
time in...  well, in living memory.  That had been...  wonderful.

   Looking up at the ceiling, she blushed a bit, thinking about being in
Mom's arms.  She hadn't slept with Dad in years, not being a scaredy cat
during storms or anything like that.  The feeling of having someone next to
you, someone that loved you...  you don't miss what you don't remember, but
now she missed the closeness of those two nights.

   Naturally, though, she wasn't going to sleep with Mom forever.  Mary had
been the one to ask for her own bedroom.  After all, she was almost
fourteen.  So, she took over what Goldie had told her was called "the dog
house".  Anthony (she was NOT going to call him her Step-Dad!) hadn't been
using it, probably keeping it free for her.  She had spent the first night
there not getting much sleep either.  So, even though she was in the exact
same bed now, the room was different, the company was different...

   Oh, God, was there anything in her life now that wasn't different?

   Her mind wandered.  She had walked on another world.  Was, in fact,
still on another world, at least until tomorrow.  She hadn't asked what
their plans were.  The two squirrels had thrown everyone's plans up in the
air.  Squirrels....  four foot tall, talking squirrels.

   She thanked God they hadn't been bugs.  She hated bugs.

   The door opened again, a shaft of light cutting through the darkness,
illuminating Goldie's empty bed.  Goldie softly entered, tiptoeing on her
four clawed feet.  Her eyes came up to Mary's bed, meeting hers.  She
paused, startled.

   "Oh!  Did I wake you?  I'm sorry!  I sometimes have to go potty at
night..."

   Mary shook her head, which was never very effective when your head is on
a fluffy pillow.

   "No, you didn't wake me.  Can't sleep."

   "Oh..." Goldie came farther into the room.  She kicked the door closed
behind her, softly enough that its noise wouldn't have been heard in the
other bedrooms.  The room dark again, she heard Goldie get into her bed. 
Her friend settled in, the room once again quiet.

   "Mary?"

   "Yeah?"

   "Still awake?"

   "No.  It's a dream.  All a dream."

   "Hmm...  if it was a dream, I wouldn't be furry..."

   That startled Mary.  The idea that Goldie wanted to be like the rest of
them...  well, like the humans, made sense, but she'd never considered it.
Lots of things about her new friends she probably hadn't thought of yet.

   "Goldie...  if you're not too tired, want to stay up and talk?"

   "Yes!"

   ****

   Chuck ambled down the hallway, yawning.  Scratching his side, he looked
down, making sure he had in fact remembered to slip some shorts on.  True,
nobody was likely to be awake, but there was no reason to scar someone for
life if it could be helped.

   Yup, green shorts.  He was good to go.

   Pausing for a second, he looked back at the bedroom door.  Both mothers
were up for the "Goddammit It's Too Damned Early" feeding.  He wished he
could help.  He really did.  For the previous ones he had stayed up, talked
to them, helped change and fuss over the babies.  But, really, he was in
the way.  Oh, things would be different once the newness of it all faded,
once all the "babies are the best!" chemicals started to be flushed from
their systems.  Melinda and Rinda would want their sleep, and he'd take his
turn dealing with them, feeding the kids bottled breast milk.  You know,
the whole modern dad thing.

   Now, though, while he was somewhat awake, realizing sleep might be long
in coming, he had decided to get some reading in.  Justin had made some
comments about the gathered books.  He hadn't said much: Justin wanted
Chuck to look at them with uncontaminated eyes, to see if what he saw jived
with what squirrel girls had told them.  Best to get that done as soon as
possible.

   Closing in on the end of the hall, he heard voices.  He stopped.  Ah. 
The door to Goldie's room wasn't quite shut.  Smile on his face, he felt
like he was back home, sneaking up to his younger sister's room when she
was having a sleepover.  Should he?  Well, he did have to walk past it to
get to the stairs, unless he walked all the way back and took the other way
down...

   "...and Beth was like, 'No!  Get it away!', and my cousin was like,
'It's just a frog!  Look!  Look!'"

   "Hahahahaha!"

   "And then he threw the frog at ME, and I was like, NO, you do NOT do
that!  So here I am, chasing this four year old through the birthday party,
over the sandbox, around the swing set TWICE, and he trips running around
the table the cake is set up on, grabs the table cloth as he falls..."

   "No!"

   "And pulls the entire thing off!  Cake all over the grass!  Oh, Aunt
Marge was MAD!  And she blamed ME!"

   "It wasn't your fault!"

   "I know, right?  Like anyone can control a four year old!"

   Chuck moved away, smiling.  They needed Mary.  What she was doing for
Goldie, and probably would do for Danny, was more important than any books.
It would be hard on her, but...  they'd take care of her.

   Rotating his shoulders and neck, waking up a bit more, he headed for the
stairs.  Time to get to work.

   ****

   Tammy hated being a light sleeper.

   It was an active night on the ship.  Three people had used the bathroom,
the babies had woken twice, and after the last crying fit someone had left
the cabin across the hall and walked off towards the stairs.  Once again,
she considered asking for better soundproofing.

   But...  really, she didn't mind all that much.  The sounds reminded her
a bit of the college dorm.  It was comforting, in a way, to know the people
around her were OK, and if there was a problem she'd be one of the first to
be up to help.  She liked that.  Especially when there were strangers on
board.  And, hey, she always fell right back to sleep, it wasn't like this
was cutting into her R.E.M.  time.

   So, no hurry.

   Pulling the blanket up a bit, Tammy felt sleep coming on.  She kept her
room a bit on the chilly side, just so she could snuggle under a blanket.
She slept nude, enjoying the feel of being tucked in.  There was nothing
better.

   Well...

   Somewhere in the hallway, another door opened.

   Tammy sighed, turning on her side.  This was getting a bit much.  She
waited for the sound of another door, probably the bathroom next to her, to
open and close.

   Nothing.

   Hmm.  Interesting.  Did they go downstairs?  Alicia or Hannah get the
munchies?  Or...

   There was a light tap at the door.

   That...  had never happened before.

   Sitting up, she swung her legs around, sitting on the edge of the bed
looking at the door.  Who could it...

   Oh.

   Tammy's heart started hammering in her chest.  Looking around, she
didn't see anything in the dark she could quickly put on.  Her dirty
laundry was in the bin, she had no robe.  There had been no need of one...

   Another soft knock.  If she didn't answer, and it was Nona (it might not
be, don't get your hopes up), she'd go back to her room.  Possibly to never
try this again.  The courage it was taking her to do this!  Standing on the
rug, Tammy walked quickly to the door.  Grasping the handle, she took a
deep breath.

   "Be calm," she told herself.  Turning the handle, she opened the door an
inch, keeping her body behind it as she looked out.

   The dimly lit hall was empty.

   Tammy opened the door wider, sticking her head out.

   Nona was slowly walking back to her room, head down.  She was dressed in
a re-fitted oversized Buffalo Bills T-shirt, coming down past her butt
halfway to her knees.  Tammy bit her lip.  Damn it!

   "Nona..."

   She stopped, bare feet caught mid stride on the carpet.  For a moment,
Tammy thought she's just keep walking, that she'd have to go after her. 
Slowly, Nona turned.

   She had brushed her hair.  The part down the middle was neat, perfect.
There was no makeup, not that she was the type to use any (or need it), but
she had primped to the best of her ability.  It had to be past two in the
morning.  It had taken her that long to psych herself up, to will herself
to walk over to Tammy's door.  How long had she stood there, before
knocking?  Tammy's heart melted.  She spoke again, softly.

   "What is it, Nona?"

   Licking her lips, Nona looked down at her feet.

   "W...would you like to take a walk in the garden?"

   "I'd love to, Nona."

   ****

   Chuck looked at the pile of books on the dining table before him.  It
was late, he was tired, and realistically he was only going to be able to
focus on one of these damned things.  Two, if the glass of beer became two
or three glasses, but comprehension might suffer in that situation. 
Although, hell, at times it seemed the universe itself was drunk, so...

   With a sigh, he grabbed the largest in size, although not thickness.  It
looked like a coffee table book, the kind with tons of pictures.  He liked
pictures, especially at times like this.  Pushing the others away, he
positioned his choice in front of him, getting more comfortable in the
wooden chair.  The book was leather bound, like the others, title burned
into the hide.

   "Seeing", by She Who Saw.

   Great, a see saw book.  Taking a sip of his cold beer, he opened it.

   The first page was a drawing, looking like it was done with colored
pencils.  Lightly touching it with his hand, he saw it wasn't printed: this
was a lovingly done, handmade book.  The image...  Chuck scowled.  It was a
picnic table.  Faded green, wooden, with the benches on either side
attached at the ends.  The artist was looking down on it, as if perched up
above.  Under the table was dirt, weeds, with dark green grass and the
occasional dandelion filling in the rest of the ground.

   Weird.  He turned the page.

   The same table, although the artist had lifted his head to look past it
towards the horizon.  There were other picnic tables around, trees, garbage
cans, swing set...

   The next page showed a human family having lunch at the table.  Husband,
wife, three kids, eating sandwiches and drinking pop.  In the corner, half
seen, was a squirrel.

   Chuck sat back.

   The style was realistic, even if the skill of the artist wasn't capable
of photorealism.  She...  well, She Who Saw, had seen this.  Seen... 
Earth? He flipped the page.

   Another view, still from up high.  It was looking through tree branches,
almost as if they had just turned in place.  There were people...  kids,
dressed in the same color...  oh!  Baseball diamond!  It's a view of a
baseball game!  Words caught his eye.  Unlike most of the facing pages,
this one wasn't blank.  It had...  well, it was in English...

   ****

   Hey batter batter Hey batter bat Hey batter batter Swing batter batter
swing Hey batter swing batter Hey swing bat- crap he hit it!

   ****

   Chuck blinked.  He took a long swig of his beer.  Blinked again.  Didn't
help.  Next page.

   Now he saw porn.  A human girl, dressed in a cheerleading outfit, was on
the picnic table, legs hanging off the end closest the viewer.  Between
them was a guy, pants down by his ankles, banging away at her.  There was
a...  roughness to the drawing, not seen in the others, as if the artist
was not only trying to get this down as it happened, with the subjects
always in motion, but had one hand busy.  The next page was the same, with
a different couple, both nude this time.  The guy was banging away with all
he had, which to be honest looked like quite a bit.  Two small squirrels
looked on from the ground.

   The following page had a change of perspective.  The viewer, it could
now be seen, has been up on the branch of a tree near the picnic table. 
Looking almost straight down, this view showed a teen guy leaning against
the tree trunk.  His dick was out, and a cheerleader was busy blowing him.
Her long blond hair was blurry, head obviously moving quickly.

   Chuck sat back again.  Two things.  First, what the fuck.  Second, damn,
that's a bad place to get laid, all open like that, unless part of the
thrill is the danger of getting caught.  Third, that was a Clarence High
School cheerleaders outfit.  Why the fuck...

   His eyes widened.

   The artist was looking into their world.

   A window.  A SMALL window.  In one spot.  A park, somewhere near
Clarence.  A window that could see across the vastness of space?  Was that
it?  Or...

   "...or into a different universe..."

   He didn't notice he had spoken aloud.  Different universe.  Dimension.
Plane.  Brane.  And a...  hole?  Passage?  Between them.

   He took another drink.

   "How do you find our books?"

   Chuck didn't do a spit take.  He was very proud of that.  Spewing out
beer onto priceless handmade books would not have been good.  Instead, he
took the time to swallow, put his beer down, and looked up across the
table.

   It was the squirrels.

   It had been decided to give them free run of the garden and store, but
no access to the rest of the ship.  Even that free run had been limited
somewhat: watch R2 droids had been placed at the access to the upstairs
sleeping quarters, and protecting food storage areas.  As they claimed they
loved nature, one of the grassy patches had been declared their bedroom. 
Obviously, they were up late.

   "What can I do for you ladies?"

   "Many things..." The red furred one, Miriam, took a few steps forward.
She was...  Chuck blinked, making sure he was seeing this right.  The
slightly smaller black one was in the white slave girl outfit from earlier,
the one with the exposed sides he really would like to see Melinda and
Rinda wear.  Miriam, though, wore a cloak, or maybe you'd call it a robe.
She held the front tightly closed.  Maybe she was nude under there?  Come
to seduce him?

   Well, half a beer wasn't enough to make that happen.

   "You're up late."

   Miriam smiled, slowly walking around the table.  Her hips swung, furry
tail swishing.

   "Sarah was mediating, and saw you, Lord, come down from your harem.  We
saw you were alone, and thought you might need...  company."

   Coming around the end of the table, she stopped three chairs away from
Chuck.  Smiling a smile that, well, could be called sexy, or at least could
be interpreted as trying to be that, Miriam pulled the cloak open, letting
it fall to the ground.

   She was wearing a red Clarence Red Devils cheerleader uniform.

   That did it.  Chair turned to face her, Chuck bent over, laughter
pouring out of him.  His right hand banged on the table, not quite spilling
his beer but shifting a couple of the stacked books.

   Miriam froze, horror on her face.  Sarah looked on with uncomprehending
eyes.  Chuck looked up, again seeing this furry squirrel shoved into tight
human clothing in no way tailored for her form.  He tried to speak, shaking
his head through the laughter.

   "Oh, God...  You thought....  Ha!  And some said Americans didn't
understand other cultures!"

   "But...  but..."

   "But nothing, my cheerleading friend!  I don't have that kink, and
frankly I don't think you'll have luck with the others either.  We're all
newly married men and not that desperate yet." Chuck rose.  He hoped the
girls were still awake, as they had to hear this.  Grabbing his glass (he'd
finish it on the way upstairs), he walked towards the hurt, confused,
humiliated Miriam.  Passing by her, he paused.  "Oh, by the way...  stay
away from Danny.  If I hear either of you tried anything with him, you'll
be wearing that outfit on the inside."

   He left the former produce aisle, walking down the front of the store
towards the stairs still chuckling.  Cheerleading squirrels...  Man, it's a
good thing there weren't any furries on the ship.

   ****

   Tammy couldn't keep her eyes off the Malay next to her.

   They walked slowly down one of the stone paths through the flowers.  The
rain, ever present since coming to this world, had stopped.  In the sky
above, beyond the invisible dome, were stars, and a small, red, crescent
moon.  It provided a faint red tinge to the scene, competing with small
white lights set every ten feet along the path.  Nona held Tammy's hand,
her blushing face easily more radiant than the moon.  Tammy could feel the
girl's budding sexuality, confused, exalted, bubbling inside her.  Nona
moved with a grace she had never seen.

   God, she felt like it was HER first date!

   Tammy had found her own version of Nona's outfit, just an oversized
shirt, barely long enough to be considered decent.  Especially with nothing
underneath.  Nona's blush had intensified on seeing it, but she had just
smiled, shyly taking the older girl's hand and leading her downstairs and
outside.  Tammy had no idea what her beautiful friend had in mind, but she
was happy just doing this.  It had been so long...

   They came to the far corner of the garden.  One of the two vans was on a
raised mound, almost like a work of art, surrounded by an oval of flowers.
On the far side, bushes had been planted in a semi circle, forming with the
van a three sided hideaway.  Lush grass covered the ground.  Nona led them
to the center.  The grass felt green and alive under Tammy's feet.  She
gave Nona's hand a squeeze, and waited.

   Nona looked up at the sky.

   "I've never dated.  Tammy.  Never.  I never wanted to.  Nothing to do
with my parents, or my faith, or me being shy or non social.  I...  just
never wanted to.  I did things with my friends, went out with groups of
them, and some guys thought they were paired with me, but...  no." Tammy
squeezed her hand again, urging her on.  "You've made me uncomfortable. 
Right from the start.  I never knew why.  I figured, once we all ended up
here, well that was it.  I had my chance at romance and it was gone.  No
one here interested me.  And, I was OK with that.  When...  when Danny
came, I figured, well, eventually, I'll probably marry him just because,
well, who else did each of us have."

   She turned, looking Tammy in the eye.

   "I love you.  I think.  I don't know.  I haven't explored love.  I
missed that part of puberty, or maybe it's just hitting now.  I want..."
She paused, swallowing, eyes wet.  Tammy raised her free hand, wiping away
the tears.

   "What do you want, my little Malay?"

   Nona's eyes widened at the name.  She trembled.

   "I want...  oh, Tammy...  go slow with me, please...  date me.  Teach
me. Let me...  let me grow into my love for you.  We have time...  Oh, God
above, I want to just tear off that stupid shirt and make love to you,
but..."

   Tammy stepped into her.  Leaning down, she silenced her with a kiss.  It
was soft, mouth closed.  Nona whimpered, or maybe she did.  Tammy lightly
licked Nona's upper lip, and was rewarded with Nona's mouth opening.  The
world vanished.  It was just the two of them, bodies pressed together,
separated by two thin cloth barriers.

   Heaven.

   ****

   They lay on the grass, looking up at the stars.  The lateness of the
night was catching up with them, as effective as any chaperone.

   "I'm sorry," Nona said, voice already half asleep.  "Sorry for how I was
when you first told me.  That you liked girls.  I..."

   "Shh...  It's OK.  I...  my fault.  You were so beautiful, and I just
hoped..."

   "...even then?"

   "I loved you even then, Nona..."

   Turning on her side, Tammy saw Nona's eyes close, smile on her face. 
Reaching over, she brushed a stray hair from the dark skinned girl's
forehead.

   "Then, now...  and always."

   ****

   Chapter 9

   It started as a joke.

   "You know who SHE is, don't you?"

   Sarah looked up from her textbook.  Lily sat there, grinning, eyes
motioning over Sarah's head.  She didn't need this interruption.  She was
behind in Quantum Math to begin with, between the treatments and therapy.
Her family told her not to worry, not to put more stress on her body,
but... to not ace the next test meant repeating the year, falling behind
her friends.  The very friends who were trying to distract her with...

   What the hell.  Sarah turned.

   She saw her.  Red.  Red fur.  Nobody had red fur.  At least, no one that
she had ever seen, in her life or on the screen.  Was it dyed?  Couldn't
be! From her bearing, and the simple blue dress, the woman had to be a
teacher, or researcher.  Not a student, certainly not someone young like
her that might play with colors on a whim.

   "Who is she?"

   Lily grinned across the library table, brown furred face smug.  Lily was
always smug.  Annoyingly so.  Reaching a clawed finger up, she scratched
her long face.

   "You don't know?"

   Sarah groaned.

   "No, I don't.  I'm busy here.  If I had any idea who by the Acorn of
Knowledge that was I'd be ignoring you and doing some actual studying. 
Now, who is it?"

   Smug grin even worse, Lily leaned back in her chair, hands folded in her
lap.

   "She's a follower of the Insane One."

   ****

   The rumors were too outlandish not to be true.

   The 'Insane One', some called her.  The 'Mad Scientist'.  The 'Furred
Freak'.

   She Who Saw.

   Whenever Sarah heard the whispered tales, she felt sorry for the woman.
Empathetic, even.  After all, SOMETHING had happened.  Something... 
strange.

   She had been, was, a scientist.  A researcher.  Brilliant.  Everyone
agreed on that.  Incredibly observant, intuitive, Not one to stay put,
though.  Always looking for the next problem to be solved, the next unknown
her mind could dive into, she had cut a path through the world of the most
cutting edge scientific endeavors.  As one project started to bore her, or
more often as the truth began to become apparent to her and her colleagues,
she moved on.  Always staying one step beyond the Known.

   Her last major project, last government funded experiment, had involved
one of the most massive instruments known.  Planetary in scale, it was
constructed as a series of hollow spheres, one inside the other.  At the
center, at the core...  the attempt to peer beyond the universe.

   She had been behind the fundamental ideas, the foundations of
Multi-Reality Theory.  While not an engineer, she had helped design the key
sensors and test beds.  Her fame, although never officially used as such,
was a recruiting tool, bringing the brightest minds in M'ntsn space to her.
Women, for all the hard sciences were the domain of the female sex, flocked
to be with the one changing history.  Other species tried to join, offering
funding, expertise.

   But, no.  This was for the furry tailed M'ntsn.

   What happened next...  well, that was the thing.  If the Insane One was
to be believed, then she was not insane.  Thus, what DID happen? 
Something, certainly.  Into the central chamber went the most decorated
intellectual in her species history.  Out came...  a zealot.

   What is known is that the P'aqt research facility literally imploded as
she fled through the station.  The work of years, resources that would take
the planets decades to recover...  gone.  So too, all data.  All hope of
understanding.  The pride of their culture now preached insanity, of
knowing the unknown.  She did not, however, preach to the masses.  Did not
rail against the government now demonizing her.  She allowed herself to
become a pariah.

   She did not, though, vanish.

   Slowly, rumors spread of a small band of young women, students,
researchers.  Responding to some siren call.  She Who Saw gathered them,
taught them...

   ****

   "See?  You aced it.  Why were you worried?"

   "I aced it because I WAS worried.  Studying your tail off does help, you
know."

   Sarah shook her head.  They'd never understand.  Lily, the others.  They
never...  applied themselves.  Not beyond what was needed for the now. 
Dedication.  That's what was needed, to get anywhere.  Not that she knew
where she was going...

   "Besides," she sighed, stopping as they exited the exam building to rub
her leg, "what did I get by passing?  A chance to go through five more
years of this?  Ten?"

   "Whine, whine, bitch, bitch." Lily's face was unsympathetic.  Once
again, the question of why they were, in fact, friends crossed Sarah's
mind. Rooming with someone shouldn't automatically grant that status.  Lily
suddenly perked up, reaching into her bag.  "Oh!  Almost forgot!  I know
what can take your mind off of things!"

   "Roasted nuts?"

   "This!"

   Sarah took the small piece of paper.  It was an ad, torn off of some
wall or tree where it had been nailed.  She frowned, reading it.

   "See.  Listen.  Learn." There was an address, too, a small pub in a
quiet part of town.  She looked at Lily.  "OK, what is it?"

   "I THINK, based on what I've heard, and you would too if you'd actually
listen to the gossip, that it's a meeting run by that red furred doctor. 
About, you know...  HER."

   Her.

   Sarah looked at the paper again.  Suddenly, her leg didn't ache so
much...

   ****

   "If they're recruiting, it's a failure so far."

   Sarah ignored Lily, taking in the pub's small back room.  Food had been
set up, although not much, just some of the more common (and less
expensive) nuts.  They had been late getting there, the Blain monorail not
running due to a track problem.  Others may have had similar problems,
but...  yeah, the room was sparse.  Maybe fifteen young women, university
age, most in pairs like she was.  There was one single there, though. 
Light brown fur, with a tail mostly white with a brown stripe down the
middle...

   She knew her!

   "I'm going to try and find the litter boxes, then something to drink,"
Lily told her.  One glance told Sarah the drink was going to be more
important than keeping her company here.  She made a motion with her hand.

   "Go.  I'll be fine."

   "Later."

   Just like that.  Drag her here, then abandon her.  She needed a new
roommate.

   Sarah's eyes went back to the familiar face.  Hedva.  She had not seen
her former tree mate since...  since before university.  What a small
universe...

   "Sarah!"

   "Hedva!"

   They grabbed each other's hands, grinning like the idiots they were. 
Sarah's eyes immediately went to the side of the woman's face.  The scar
earned as a child, a lesson to pay attention while jumping branches, was
gone, just a slight discoloration of the fur.  She saw Hedva glance down at
her left leg.  She resisted the impulse to take a step back.

   "Your leg!  How is it?  I heard!"

   "Oh...  it's..." she blushed a bit.  Talking about herself was never one
of her strong suits.  "It's fine.  The treatments went well.  The growth,
they think, is gone this time.  Why are you here?  Didn't you go off
to...?"

   "My exams finished, so I came back.  As for why I'm here...  same as
you, I think.  I want to know."

   Sarah scoffed.

   "Don't we all..."

   The room went quiet around them.  Entering the room, from a door that
she would have guessed led to either the kitchen or the bathrooms (speaking
of which, where was...), the red furred woman moved through the gathering.
She was regal, or at least self assured.  Her eyes seemed to meet
everyone's as she passed.  Sarah blushed a bit at the contact, which was
rewarded with a knowing smile.  She was younger than Sarah would have
guessed, maybe not long out of university.  Her outfit was no longer the
blue of her profession, but a simple white, baring her arms with moderate
cleavage.  The dress fell just past the knees.  Coming to the front of the
room, she turned, facing them.  With a motion, she bade them come closer.

   "We are few, so there is no reason to be shy." Her voice...  was
unremarkable.  Sarah blinked as she complied, Hedva staying with her.  She
wasn't sure what she had been expecting.  Why shouldn't someone with red
fur speak normally?

   "There, much better.  This will be short, a disappointment perhaps given
the distances some of you have traveled, but there are reasons.  We have a
Way." You could hear the capitalization as she said the word.  Sarah put
her hands together in front of her, ready.  Now would come the unbelievable
sales pitch...

   "We are not interested in having you join us." Sarah's eyes widened a
bit, a murmur going through the room.  "Neither are we going to tell you
anything you need to know about us."

   "...the fuck?" The whisper came from somewhere behind Sarah.  The woman
nodded in acknowledgement.

   "More true than you know.  My name is Miriam.  I...  I am a servant, a
servant of the She's who will not be named here.  You have gathered here,
some of you, because you know.  Because you know you wish to know what is
known, what can be known.  You wish to experience, to help bring about..."
She paused, as if contemplating the right word.  "...the sensualness of
what can be."

   That made no fucking sense.

   "If you are one of us, you will know, and knowing, will know knowledge.
Thank you." Miriam bowed her head.

   Wait...  that was it?  Sarah looked around.  The others were equally
confused.  She looked around for Lily, still not seeing her.  Well,
naturally not.  If she thought she'd need a few drinks before listening to
this nonsense, there's no way she'd be done yet.  People were leaving. 
Angry, amused people.  Reactions ran the gamut.  Shaking her head, she
looked at Hedva...  she was moving towards the front of the room, as were
two or three others.  Not sure why, other than the excuse of staying with a
friend, Sarah followed.

   ****

   "Sorry for abandoning you."

   "No problem..."

   "I mean, as I was squatting down in the box, I had the sudden thought,
'what if this is some brainwashing thing?' My old G'al'k warned me about
that.  One of the few things I remember from Temple, actually..."

   "It's OK.  You wouldn't have liked it."

   The monorail continued its journey.  Looking out the window at the
passing night, Sarah fingered the small slip of paper in her pocket.

   ****

   The second meeting was two towns away, in a hotel not quite cheap enough
to be affordable by the students gathered there but close to that bad. 
Sarah came alone this time.  Her roommate thought she was...  well, at this
point she didn't think Lily thought much.  Hedva was here, though, smiling
at her as Sarah entered the room.  Two others she recognized from the first
meeting.  The other ten...  strangers, but like them young students.  They
smiled shyly at her, apart from the one black and brown furred girl with a
strip shaved between her ears.  She scowled.

   "Any ideas?"

   Hedva shook her head, filling her plate with food.  The selection was a
bit better this time, and the water was quite fresh.

   "No.  We've entered the unknown."

   "At least we know that."

   ****

   A half hour later, Miriam entered the room.  She wore a two piece white
dress, just the back and the front, tied at the side and around her neck.
Her entire side was exposed.  Sarah blushed.  It was...  sexy.  She could
never wear something like that.

   "Your attention.  Ladies.  Thank you for coming.  Thank you for... 
coming alone.  From now on, what we do is for ourselves alone.  Let the
universe go on its way.  We will go on ours."

   Well.  That was...  a message Sarah didn't think she could live with. 
Was there to be another weeding out phase?

   "I would ask you now to sit in the chairs provided." Miriam motioned to
the rather comfortable stuffed chairs scattered around the room.  Just
enough for everyone, Sarah noted.  She took one, sitting on the edge, her
bushy tail falling over her right shoulder.  If she got bored, she could
always groom it.

   Seeing they were ready, Miriam went to the hallway door.  A moment
later...

   The woman that entered was, perhaps, middle aged.  Her gown was
identical to Miriam's, but blood red, contrasting with her pure white fur.
She, too, had a regal bearing, but now Miriam was bowing to her like the
lowest servant.  This couldn't be HER.  But, then, who?

   She stopped in the center of the room.  Turning, she looked at them. 
Her face...  was calm.  a calm Sarah had never seen.  This one...  this one
Knew.

   "I...  am She Who Fucked."

   There was a gasp of surprise.  Not at the admission, as Sarah had no
idea who that was, but at the name.  It was...  vulgar, and yet erotic.  A
second gasp was ripped from them as She Who Fucked pulled two strings on
her dress and let it slide to the ground.  She stood there, nude, proud. 
Her body was slim, lacking the padding that all of their race tended to
have.  The fur on her breasts, and between her legs, was shaved short. 
They could see her nipples clearly, hard, pink.  Stepping forward and
slowly turning to them all as a bowing Miriam rushed in to remove the
dress, she spoke.

   "It was almost twenty years ago.  I was young.  As young as you.  Young,
proud, foolish.  But, yearning.  As you may yearn.  I was one of the first
to answer She Who Saw's call.  I left school, family, friends, and went to
serve my Lady.

   "She told us.  Told us what she saw.  Showed us the books she had
written, the drawings and paintings.  Oh!  Oh, girls, the things that she
drew!  Such beauty!  Such truth!  I sat at her feet, and soaked up
Knowledge.

   "But, with She Who Saw, it is not about what is known.  Only what is
not. We worked.  Hard.  We built machines, incredible machines.  Machines
that put any you have read about in any science journal to shame.  For,
this knowledge we seek is that of science...  yet, also, the mind."

   She paused, modesty entering her posture.

   "I, myself, was never good at that.  At electrons and subatomic this and
transdimentional that.  I was, though, one who enjoyed language.  Ritual.
Controlling emotions, the mind.  I, yes, I, suggested we try this, in
addition to that.  And, she said yes." She paused, as if this was a major
thing.  Getting caught up in the story, Sarah was half way to believing it
was.

   "The experiment was one of a number, but the first with the new machines
up above.  The new boson accelerators and quark entanglers.  I was down
below.  In a cave, carved from solid rock under the labs.  It was...  our
ritual place.  I was alone.  Nude." Reaching a hand up, her thin clawed
fingers cupped her right breast.  "As they worked above, I set up the
wards. The marks.  I sang the songs.  I prostrated myself on solid stone,
and chanted to the world She had Seen."

   She did another slow turn, pinching her nipple while her other hand
began to rub at her hip.  Sarah saw, between her legs, white fur getting
darker.

   She Who Fucked was getting wet.

   "I did not see it happen.  There was no sound, no light.  I just
suddenly, in the midst of my chanting, heard...  the sacred language!" Her
eyes doubled in size as she spun, hand on her hip shooting out to point at
all the women assembled.  "Can you imagine that?  Can you?  She Who Saw had
come back from the Seeing with a language.  A language she said came from
beyond the universe, from those so above us.  And, here, someone spoke it!
It was TRUE!  Yes, belief, but KNOWING!  To KNOW!

   "My head shot up.  There.  There in the circle, in the pentagram, on the
dais...  a daemon.  A god.  One of...  them.  Human."

   Sarah leaned forward, half aware the others were as well.  She was not
aware one hand was straying towards a cloth covered breast.

   "Oh, ladies...  the drawings of our Lady did not do them justice!  It
was a male.  No...  a MALE.  Tall.  Twice my height.  No fur, apart from
his head and between his legs.  Brown.  His body...  smooth, yet hard. 
Color...  color like sand in the evening light.  And, between his legs...
Oh, ladies.  His maleness.  He was huge!  Long.  Hard.  Easily as big as my
arm!" She squeezed her breast, other hand going to the opening between her
legs.  She spread her lips, easy to see with the short fur.  Sarah gasped,
imagining an ARM entering there!

   "I thought, in my hubris, I had made a cage.  That any who came to us,
for that, my sisters, was what we were trying to do, would be held, at
least for awhile.  But, no.  Of course not.  These are Gods.  He walked off
the dais as if only air stood between him and me.  He strode, tall, proud.
His eyes...  they burned with desire.  Desire...  for me..." Two fingers
went inside her.  Sarah's hand squeezed her own breast, the other slowly
sliding down between her legs.  "He spoke.  'Who are you', he asked.  The
voice was so full of power, the power of a true male.  Not like OUR males!"
There, Sarah had to agree with the disgust in her voice.  No male
interested her...

   "I told him my name.  Shia.  Told him I served She Who Saw.  His face
was blank.  He knew this.  Of course he knew this!  It was a test!  Then...
oh, sisters, I was bold.  It was the boldness of youth.  I...  I said,
'Lord, Fuck me.  I am yours.'"

   The room gasped.  Sarah's fingers found their way into her panties.

   "Sisters!  There was no hesitation!  He grabbed me!  Lifted me up like I
was a child!  And I was, we all are, compared to them!  He touched me,
between my legs!  Saw I was wet, ready!" She lifted the fingers from
between her legs, licked them, then returned them to their duty.  "He saw
the altar.  The altar She Who Saw had built.  And, he knew it!  He knew it!
Again, she was right!  SHE WAS RIGHT!  He took me, and THREW me on the
altar!  He grabbed my legs, pulled them so far apart it hurt, and FUCKED
ME!"

   Her entire hand entered her, minus the thumb.  She held it still for a
moment, then began thrusting to the rhythm of her voice.  Her legs were
spread, knees slightly bent.  Eyes closed in memory.

   "It hurt.  Oh, Lord, it hurt!  But it didn't!  He filled me in ways I
did not even know was possible!  He rammed it in, and out, over and over!
My ass slapped against the altar!  God, the pleasure!  The pleasure!  No
male, no furred male, could match this!  I was ruined!  Gloriously ruined!
I was his!  His mate!  I wanted his seed!  I would birth the litter of a
God!  We all would!  All of us, all the sisters, we would birth A RACE!"

   She gave a squeal, an orgasmic scream.  Half the room did as well. 
Sarah's fingers were dripping, her breasts beginning to get bruised from
self abuse.

   There was silence.  She Who Fucked stood in rigid pleasure, then dropped
her head in despair.  She removed her hand, voice soft, despondent.

   "Then...  I felt him fade.  Felt my Lord...  leave.  He had not finished
the act!  His seed was still inside him!  I could see it in his face.  He
did not want to go.  Did not want to leave me!  His lover!  He thrust one
more time...

   "And was gone."

   Her voice was raw.  Miriam ran over with a bowel, holding it so she
could drink.  Waving it aside, she again looked around at them.

   "We failed.  All of us.  I could not keep him.  Or his seed.  Worse, up
above...  Machines failed.  Exploded.  Many sisters died that day.  She Who
Saw was injured." The room gasped.  "BUT!  Oh, but!  We knew it could be
done.  We had done it!  And, someday, we will do it again.

   "Will you join us, sisters?"

   ****

   Three years later.

   Sarah found herself in a dingy room in an abandoned building, reading
texts that are on the verge of making sense.  Her faith is strong.

   The door opens.

   In walks Miriam...  and Gods.

   Faith...  but Knowledge!

   These beings, these humans, these...  people.  They are not what are
expected.  Despite Lady Miriam's insistence.  They are less...  yet more.
So much more.

   ****

   Sarah sat on the grassy patch the Humans had given them for the night.
She was once again nude, a state she had found she preferred.  It was so
freeing, made her one with the universe.  The moon and stars above only
re-enforced that feeling in her.  Her eyes, though, were not on the
heavens, thought they wished to be.  She watched Miriam discarding the
outfit carefully made under the direction of She Who Saw.  The outfit they
were to deliver to the new Temple being built, a doubling of their
resources.  The Temple Miriam was to lead.

   What did it mean, to have met these creatures NOW?

   "What brought them here, Lady?"

   She spoke in a quiet, meek voice, as they all did when talking to one
above them.  A glance from her Lady silenced her, and she bowed her head.
It was not her place, the place of a neophyte, to talk.  Lady Miriam looked
at the brick outline of the Bells store.

   "We must take them to the Temple.  The She's will know what to do.  I am
not enough."

   Sarah wanted to ask, "And if they won't go?", but remained silent.  It
was not her place.

   She lay down, eyes on the stars.  She knew.  She KNEW.  And knowing...
what would she come to know tomorrow...

   ****

   Chapter 10

   Danny yawned.

   He had slept well.  But, then, he always slept well.  The slave pen (and
that's what it was, for all the comfort his mom had) where he grew up could
be noisy at night.  It was either learn to ignore it, or live forever
sleepless.  A few had been driven mad.  Compared to that, this place was as
silent as something that wasn't a tomb, but was still silent.  No sense
jinxing things.

   He made is way down the narrow stairs to the main floor, hair still wet
from his shower.  Slicking the red mass back as he passed the front
windows, he noted it was almost touching his shoulders.  Time for a hair
cut?  Or did Mary like long hair?  More importantly, how could he find out
without embarrassing himself?  Hmm...  maybe have Goldie ask.

   "Morning sleepy-head!"

   Speak of the devil girl.  He looked up as his ever widening stride took
him around the corner to the dining room.  Goldie was sitting, human style,
at the table next to Mary.  He stopped.  His sister NEVER sat like that. 
It hurt her, hips just not built for it.  She had her own chair, custom
built to keep her head at the same level as everyone else.

   He mentally shrugged.  Whatever.

   "Morning, sis.  Morning, Mary."

   "Morning!"

   There was something...  musical in her voice.  It perked his mood right
up.  As soon as she had said it, though, both Mary and Goldie leaned their
heads together and giggled.  Hmm.  Something was up.  He had never had to
deal with TWO girls before.  Best to be careful.

   Breakfast that morning was fruit and toast, with some cheese.  Taking
one of the pink spheres picked up at the market the day before, he grabbed
two slices of bread and pulled the plate of butter closer as he sat across
from the girls.  Making use of the butter knife, he spread a good amount on
the toast as he looked at the far table.  All the others were down there,
gathered around a pile of books.

   "OK, what's going on?"

   "Well, if you didn't sleep in!"

   "Yeah!"

   More giggling.  Danny looked at their plates.  Either they were slow
eaters, or they had been down here for only a couple minutes themselves. 
Should he mention it?  He glanced at Mary.  She was smiling at him.

   Nope.  He smiled back, and began eating.

   ****

   "See...  here it is again."

   Hannah pointed at the section of alien text.  Anthony leaned in, hand
automatically going to her back, sliding down.  Just as automatically, her
body responded, pushing back and repositioning slightly.  Such moments of
affection were so common and open among the couples so as to be almost
invisible.  His wife giving a pleased hum, Anthony frowned.

   "Really?"

   "Really.  This phrase looks familiar, sort of.  I'm telling you, this
looks like a mutated version of Hebrew."

   "Not it doesn't," Tammy scoffed.  "I tried to learn Hebrew, in my occult
days, and that's not it."

   "Who's the Jew here?  It's backwards, altered a bit, but..." She sighed,
shaking her head as she sat back in her chair.  "But it doesn't matter, as
I don't speak Hebrew."

   "It could be a sister language, one dead on Earth," Chuck commented,
taking another look.  "It's not like the written words have always matched
up with what we expect anyways."

   "Let's get to the things we CAN read." Justin pushed the book aside,
bringing back one of the heavily illustrated texts.  He grabbed one of the
alien orange fruits Daium was done peeling and sectioning.  "So, what have
we got?"

   "Alien Squirrels," Alicia said, voice half amused, half contemplating
suicide at the stupidity, "make or find a VERY small window from this
universe or whatever into a tree in the Clarence Town Park.  From the
outfits, I'd say...  late 60's, early 70's?" She glanced over at Hannah,
who nodded.  "The woman who did this starts some sort of cult, one which,"
she gave a disgusted glance at one thick book, "insists on having math in
its bibles."

   "That's not just math," Chuck corrected, voice as bemused as anyone
else's.  "That's...  wow.  Even what I can read is so far beyond even the
stuff Daium has shown me."

   "Any of you seen Prince of Darkness?" Melinda leaned forward, excited.
Alicia gave her an exasperated look.

   "That's not one of your tentacle anime, is it?"

   "You wish!  No, it's a great old horror film.  John Carpenter.  There's
a 2000 year old book written by Jesus, and when it's translated from Latin
and Hebrew it's all mathematical equations and such to prove what the book
is saying."

   "Can't believe they left it out of the Apocrypha," Anthony commented. 
Melinda grinned.

   "Great film!  They showed it at a church youth group lock-in, along with
Life of Brian.  Presbyterians rock!"

   "And roll," Chuck added absentmindedly.  This got him a quick kiss on
the cheek.

   "Theories," Nona suggested, "we need theories."

   "Oh, we have tons," Justin replied, laughing.  "All the theories you
want.  All fitting the facts and mutually exclusive."

   "Oh, god, it's string theory," Melinda moaned.

   "The question," Daium said, looking them over as she absently played
with little Jeli in the bassinet, "is what do you want to do?"

   The humans exchanged glances.  Anthony kept his eyes on their two furry
friends.  Earth...  complicated things.  Maybe, perhaps, in a good way, but
complications were never easy.

   "We stay away from their temple," Nona said, seated as she now tended to
be next to Tammy.  "For now.  Later, maybe, we see what's up, but..." She
shook her head.

   "I'd have thought you'd want to go there right away.  See if there's a
way home."

   Nona shook her head again.

   "Too soon.  Something about this isn't right.  It's too...  I don't
know. If nothing else, I don't want to be surrounded by a hundred or more
cult members eager to mate with our three studs here."

   "That's why I vote no for now," Chuck added.  "We have the kids to
consider.  After they're all born, maybe.  There's time."

   "Dad was getting old," Melinda said, sadness in her voice.  "The longer
we wait...  the more it won't matter."

   "What will not matter, my Lady?"

   Anthony looked down the row of tables.  Their guests were awake.  Gone
was the cheerleader outfit, which he was glad he had missed.  Chuck may not
have handled that in the most diplomatic way, but he wasn't sure he would
do much better if the image in his mind was any indication.  They were back
in their two piece white dresses, black furred Sarah standing a few steps
behind red furred Miriam, head bowed.  Miriam's head was raised high,
eye's...  slightly lowered.  Anthony nodded to her.

   "You're up.  Good.  We have things to discuss today."

   "Indeed we do, Lord.  Indeed we do." Miriam bowed low, breasts almost
large enough to show cleavage.  "Lords, Ladies.  This humble servant of She
Who Saw invites all in this blessed group to the Temple dedicated to their
name.  Bless us with your presence, let us serve you.  All knowledge will
be yours: those volumes before you are but a small sample of what the holy
library contains."

   Anthony flicked his eyes to Nona.  Her expression hadn't changed. 
Tammy, beside her, silently nodded her agreement with the moody Malay. 
Chuck caught his eye, shaking his head.  Melinda, next to him, hesitated,
eyes flicking to the baby in her arms...  then slowly nodded.  The others
were the same.  He turned back to Miriam.

   "You have caught us at a bad time.  Naturally, we have plans and
destinations of our own.  I'm afraid we can not travel to your temple right
now."

   The two squirrels jerked their heads up, astonished.  The smaller one
fell to her knees, prostrating herself before them.  Anthony went a little
cold at that.  Another reason to stay away.  Miriam fell to her knees, too,
but raised her arms, eyes looking at them yet staying down out of respect.
That had to be hard to learn.

   "Please, oh Lord, reconsider!  Our people live only to serve!  Has not
our faith been enough for you?  Do we not please you?  If so, come, correct
us!  Give us NEW words and books to live by!  Let us supply you, for your
journey onward!  We would gladly fill your holds with all we have!"

   Oh, she was good.  He cast an eye over at Daium.  The blackish grey
furred Orang stood, adjusting her glasses.

   "Out of curiosity," she asked, "where IS your temple?"

   ****

   Mary watched the adults (well...  older people) begin to rise and put
away breakfast.  Her mother, being motherly, waved them away to whatever
they were in a hurry to do and began to gather the dishes herself.  Looking
down at the half eaten fruit on her plate, she grabbed it and took a big
bite.  Juice squirted out all over her face.

   "You're very neat," Danny commented from across the table.  His own
partaking of the non-orange orange was...  much less messy.  She felt a
blush coming on.  Goldie shook her head, giving her brother an exasperated
look as she too took a squirting hunk out of the fruit.

   "Ignore him, Mary.  Fruit should be messy to eat."

   She smiled at her friend gratefully.  Mary didn't know what she'd do
without someone to, you know, really relate too.  Goldie suddenly winced a
bit, adjusting her hips in the chair.  Danny leaned forward, concern on his
face.

   "Sit in your other chair, Goldie.  You know it's not good for you to sit
like that."

   "But I WANT to sit like this!  I don't LIKE that chair!" Her furry body
adjusted itself again.

   "Yes you do." Danny's voice sounded tired, the tired of an argument
fought many times and thought to have been won.  Mary suddenly saw his eyes
shift over to her.  Why would he be...  oh.  Goldie was doing this because
of her.

   Danny's eyes pleaded with her for help.  How?  She didn't know the scope
of the argument, what had been said, what her practical limits, in fact,
were.  That she wanted to be a normal girl was about all she knew, and
Mary, well, could understand.  Wanted to help.  Not in ways that hurt her,
though!

   Well, at the very least, she could get her to stand up for a bit.

   "I'm done.  Come on, Goldie, let's help Mom clean up and go play with
the babies."

   ****

   "There.  That is the site of The Holy Temple of What She Saw."

   Daium frowned as Miriam stepped back from the console.  Letting her
touch her father's ship had seemed...  wrong.  As if the ship had been
defiled.  She probably shouldn't tell the priestess, or whatever she was,
that.  Or anyone else, as it was a silly thought.

   (If she touched the Tree, though...)

   Looking at the coordinates, she frowned again.  The system was,
somewhat, in line with the path they had been traveling.  A ways away,
though.  Couple months travel, if they don't stop.  You could almost argue
that the star wasn't even still in the galaxy, as it was isolated out
beyond what most would call the galactic rim, although still rotating with
the rest of the stars.  Like an island off shore, before the vastness of
the ocean.

   She smiled.  Given there had been no oceans on Tanah, Daium was kind of
proud she had come up with that analogy.  It was probably even right!

   "Thank you, Miriam," Anthony told the woman.  His voice, at least to
Daium, had a worried undercurrent.  She looked up at him.  No sign of it
there.  Maybe just her imagination?

   "Will we be leaving for the Temple then?"

   Daium had to admire her persistence.  The entire walk to the bridge had
just been her trying out various, very reasonable, arguments, while her
assistant walked silently a few steps behind her.  Daium kind of felt sorry
for the girl.

   That would only last until she made a play for Justin, though.

   "Let me talk to our Captain here first, alone."

   To Daium's surprise, Miriam happily agreed.  The two squirrels left. 
Anthony turned to her.

   "Thoughts?"

   She sighed, leaning back in her chair.

   "I don't know.  I'm not sure I want them traveling with us, for one
thing."

   Anthony nodded, eyes taking in the screens with a practiced eye.  Daium
put up a few more, giving the details of some of the more interesting
nearby systems.

   "We need the books, which means they're coming with.  Either that, or we
try and photograph all the pages.  Hmm...  how long would that take, if we
use all the camera phones?"

   "No idea, but I'm willing to find out."

   "What's in the system?"

   "Nothing.  Absolutely nothing.  To be honest, it's exactly what we were
looking for.  Minus the religious nuts."

   The door slid open behind them.  Turning, Daium was surprised to see it
was the LOWER door, the interior of the ship, and not the upper one to the
dome.  Rinda, strapping on a gun belt, burst through it, quickly making her
way along the circular walkway to them.  She must have entered the engine
rooms at the far end of the ship and circled around through the hull. 
Anthony's hand went to the back of Daium's chair as she spun it around to
face her cousin.

   "Anthony!  I've got it!  I know!"

   "What?" She skidded to a stop before him, hands on his shoulders helping
stop her momentum.  All four eyes were bright with excitement and worry. 
He copied the gesture, as if trying to calm the excited Orang.

   "Their ceremonies!  Machines!  They're to try and bring humans to them,
right?!?

   "That's what it seems, but..."

   "WHAT IF IT'S WORKING?"

   Working?  If it was working they'd have all the humans they needed. 
There'd be no need for people who just randomly appeared...

   "Oh, sacred tree, mother of us all..." Her eyes shot up to Anthony.  His
face was white.

   "Jesus Fucking Christ..."

   ****

   Sarah could not get enough of the babies.

   Babies.  Human babies.  Well, one human, one half human.  For all She
Who Fucked went on about breeding with the gods, she had never actually
gone into much detail of what that would be like.  The biology, what, in
fact, little half humans would be like.  Hell, what they'd DO with the
little sacred offspring was also sketchy.  Maybe it had seemed like a moot
point until they actually had some?  But, here, in front of her, were two
incredibly cute ones.  She wanted to just reach into that basket and tickle
them.  One look at the human mother standing nearby, as the two young girls
fussed with the babies, kept her a couple feet away.  The humans didn't
trust her or Lady Miriam yet.

   Sarah didn't blame them.

   "Lady Miriam!"

   The voice of the Lord called Anthony was cheerful.  Something in the
tone alerted her, though.  She turned.  The Lord and both of the furry
Others were walking towards them through the garden.  The four eyed
creatures looked tense.  The one, with blue fur and no glasses, kept her
hand at her waist.  Sarah could think of no reason why she'd do that.

   Lady Miriam, smiling, took a few steps towards them and dropped to one
knee, bowing.  Sarah took her place three paces back and did the same,
making sure her head dropped below that of her mistress.  To do otherwise
would dishonor her.  She had acted improperly in the rooms the day before.
She would not repeat her mistakes.

   "Lord.  Have you come to a decision?  Will you come to your temple with
us?"

   Lord Anthony stopped a few paces away, still smiling.  Sarah now noticed
both he and the other two wore thick, woven belts, with something attached
at their hip.  She had no idea what it might be.  Whatever it was, though,
the other humans were reacting.  In the corner of her eye, Sarah saw the
baby carriage being pulled away, Lady Melinda stepping in front of it. 
Lord Justin was practically shoving Lady Alicia behind him, which the
pregnant woman was having nothing to do with.  Her eyes went back to Lord
Anthony.

   "We may, but first we have a couple questions."

   "Of course!  Anything, my Lord!"

   "Good!  Good.  Hmm, let's see....  well, first, I had a question about
your rituals.  At the temple, you perform rituals to try and make contact
with our world.  Correct?"

   "Yes, Lord, but we fail." Miriam dropped her head, shame in her voice.
"We have never, in all the time since She Who Fucked, succeeded.  We try,
again and again, but it never works!  Are we not worthy, Lord?"

   "Oh, I'm sure you're worthy.  So, you do these rituals often?"

   "A few times a year, oh Lord.  When the machines are ready and
conditions are right."

   "I see..."

   "Honey?"

   Sarah saw Lady Hannah, gloriously pregnant with the Lord's child, walk
closer.  He waved her back, smile...  suddenly not seeming as real to
Sarah. She began to tremble.

   "So!  You do this a couple times a year, and it never works.  When,
Miriam, was the last time they tried to bring someone from our world?"

   "Lord?" Lady Miriam raised her head, confusion in her voice.  Sarah was
confused too.  Why would it matter?  Not that she had been admitted to the
rituals yet.  She would have no knowledge to add to this if questioned by
the Lord.

   "Simple question.  When would the last ritual have been?  Ballpark
figure, just general timeframe."

   There was a pause.  Miriam's voice was uncertain.

   "A week ago?  Less?"

   Anthony's eyes seemed to first go to Mary, then traveled around the
group.  After a moment's pause, all hell broke loose.

   "Mother fucking!"

   "No!"

   "Anthony!"

   "Quiet!"

   Anthony held his hands up.  Sarah finally recognized the strange lump on
his belt.

   A weapon.

   She spoke.  It was against all protocol, but she had to!

   "Lord?  What is wrong?  What have we done to offend you?"

   "Wrong?"

   At first she thought the voice came from the dark skinned woman, as it
was angry, as Nona had been angry the day before.  It was the blonde,
though.  The athletic looking one who was always with the dark Lady. 
Coldly, the woman came forward, eyes blazing.  She stopped, dropping to one
knee before Sarah, looking her straight in the eye.

   "What you did, was play with things you had no business playing with. 
Your rituals worked."

   "W-worked?"

   "Oh, yes." She nodded, face so close the human's white nose almost
touched hers.  "You ran your machines, said your prayers, and drew humans
to this universe."

   "Oh..."

   "You know what happened then?"

   "No..."

   "THEY DIED!"

   Lady Tammy shot to her feet, whirled, grabbed Miriam by the front of her
dress and yanked her up.  Sarah could only look, uncomprehending.

   "How many?  Huh?  How many have your fucking animals brought over, to
die alone?"

   "I...  I don't..."

   "Mary!" Tammy shot a hand out, pointing.  "She was brought over here
less than a week ago!  Your machines!"

   "They...  they work?  Oh!  Oh, Praise Be!  I must tell..."

   "Shut up and listen!" Tammy slapped Miriam.  The sound echoed through
the garden.  Sarah froze, appalled.  Nona came up behind Tammy and grabbed
her arms, pulling them unresisting behind the blonde's back as Chuck came
forward and held a stunned Miriam.  Sarah could feel herself guided to her
feet, but all attention was on the still yelling Tammy.

   "You brought us over!  Against our will!  Just dropped us who knows
where in this fucking insane universe!  How many died, huh?  How many have
you killed?"

   "But...  you're not..."

   "Their moms!" Tammy jerked her head at the shocked Danny and Goldie.  "A
dozen humans came with them, dropped onto some godforsaken desert planet,
all dead!  Their mothers turned into sex slaves!  SLAVES!!  And how many
more?  How many just popped in between planets?  Kid?  Babies?  GOD DAMN
YOU!"

   Oh.  Oh God.  Oh God, oh God, oh God...  what had Sarah done.  What had
she joined.  She...  she just wanted...  it sounded so...

   "You're lying."

   Sarah's head jerked to her Mistress.  Lady Miriam's voice was cold. 
Lord Anthony came up to them, head cocked.

   "Really?  That's your answer?"

   "You're lying.  All of you.  You're not humans.  You're not Gods.  Let
me go.  Let me and my servant go."

   Servant.  Not disciple.  Not assistant.  Not even apprentice.  Sarah's
eyes looked up at the faces around her.  Angry.  Upset.  The little one,
Mary, was holding her pregnant mother, eyes wide with fear as if either one
might now vanish.  The boy, the half human boy, and his sister were
GROWLING, teeth bared.  These people...  these innocent, human people... 
surely, Miriam had to see.  Had to see they were right.  Had to...

   "We have to destroy the machines."

   It came from Justin.  Miriam's head whipped around to him.  Sarah saw...
the woman she loved and respected, vanish.

   Miriam's red tail came up, smacking Chuck on the side of his head and
shoulder.  More surprised than hurt, he gave a cry and let go.  She leapt,
not at one of the humans, not to Sarah's side...  but towards the doorway
to the bridge.  Sarah, standing there with Justin's hand holding her arm,
just watched.  She made no move to follow.  Wondering why none of them were
giving chase, she saw Anthony's hand was up, the universal signal to stay
put.  Miriam was almost to the hatch, when her body suddenly vanished from
sight in crackle of electricity.  Anthony dropped his hand.

   "Well, the droid taser works."

   ****

   Chapter 11

   "Well.  That went down with the usual human diplomacy and tact."

   Anthony looked over at Chuck.  The humor in the man's voice, as he
rubbed his shoulder, helped ground him.  Anthony gave a rueful sigh.

   "That did not go as planned, needless to say."

   "I should hope not," Hannah said, moving to his side.  She cast a glance
towards the bridge door.  "Is she..."

   "Hope not.  Nona..."

   "On it." The Malay was quickly tracing Miriam's path, Tammy at her side.
The blonde almost seemed to be acting as body guard, although her rage
thankfully was fading.  Reaching the squirrel, Nona dropped to one knee. 
"She's breathing."

   "Good." Anthony let out a breath.  One less thing to have to worry
about, although now they still had to deal with her.  "We probably should
tie her up, or something." A second droid, red with a blue vertical stripe,
came out of the same opening in the ship wall as the taser droid.  Its two
arms ended in handcuffs.  Anthony turned to Daium.  "We HAVE asked you why
your father built droids like this, right?"

   She nodded.

   "Yes, you have."

   He nodded back.

   "So long as we asked." Anthony let it drop, watching the robot secure
Miriam's stirring form.  He loved Daium as a friend, respected her, and
knew that it was only due to her help that they were still alive.  Still,
he also had to admit her father being dead when they stumbled into her home
had probably been the best case situation.  The more they learned about
him, the more surprising it was his daughter was as she was.  Not that she
probably didn't have her own buried dark side...

   "How do we know it's actually them?" Alicia's question was echoed by a
couple others.  Daium let out a breath, shaking her head.

   "We don't.  And we can't prove it was them.  If they do their thing, and
something happens a thousand lightyears away, how are we going to connect
the two?  Or even know about both?  Best case, we get a list of when they
have done this, and match it to our experiences and those strange energy
readings we've gotten.  But, that's still not proof."

   "What's the old joke?" Chuck asked.  "Guy buys a house with a light
switch that does nothing, and he flips it every time he walks by.  A month
later, he gets a letter from a guy in Germany telling him to stop it."

   "But..." Mary came up to her mom again, hugging her.  "I did it
differently than you guys!  I didn't just vanish!"

   "There are different ceremonies."

   Anthony looked over at Sarah.  The furry prisoner's entire body
seemed... deflated.  Disillusioned, defeated, eyes looking at anything but
the humans.  Justin was holding one of her arms lightly, but it was obvious
she was going nowhere.

   "We're not going to hurt you, Sarah.  Or Miriam.  Tell us what you know,
and we'll let you both go."

   She nodded, eyes still on the ground.  Anthony indicated that Justin
should let her sit on the stone path.  He and the other humans took over
the park benches, Nona and Tammy coming over to join them.  Legs folded
under her, Sarah.  spoke.

   "First...  I am sorry, Lords.  I did not know..."

   "We are NOT lords," Chuck said, drawing his wives close on either side
of him.  They were once again holding the babies.  "I think that's the
entire point here.  And we know you didn't know.  Nobody could.  It's what
you, she, did after knowing that's the point."

   Sarah nodded again.

   "Yes.  I know." She sighed.  Taking a deep breath, she seemed to gain
strength.  Lose some of that submissiveness.  To Anthony, it was almost as
if the real woman was coming to the fore, someone kept under wraps until
then.

   "They do the ceremony, use the machines, several times a year.  There
are different versions, always changing, as they try to make it work. 
Sometimes the change is in the machines, sometimes in the ritual." She gave
a tired laugh.  "The ritual has been becoming more important, or so the
rumors say.  I think I joined more for that, than for the actual reality of
you humans."

   "How many of you are there?"

   "Few hundred.  Maybe more.  We are scattered, now, somewhat.  It is
another recruiting time, so missionaries are out and about, not at the
temple.  Plus, there is the new temple.  Some have gone ahead there..."

   "Two temples?" Alicia leaned forward, eyes narrow.  "Are there two
machines we have to deal with?"

   "No, no.  The second temple is not yet active.  Miriam was to lead it.
We brought the books to fill its library, have with us the plans to build
the new machines for the ceremonies..."

   Daium leaned forward, excited.

   "Plans?  With you?"

   "Yes, although I have not looked at them.  I am just an acolyte."

   Hannah, one arm around Mary, the other hand caressing her swollen belly,
frowned.

   "Do we deal with the machine, or the people?  If we can just tell them
to stop..."

   "Enough will have the same reaction as Miriam to make that dangerous,"
Nona said.  "We know how some of the religious on our planet are.  It won't
be much different here."

   "But we have to try!" Melinda looked around.  "We're not going to just
bomb the place or something!  Killing hundreds to save a few of us isn't
right!"

   "Morals are annoying, yes," Chuck said, dryly.  His eyes flicked over
towards the bridge.  "Our friend is awake.  Pissed and quiet, but awake."

   "Ignore her," Rinda said.  "It's what we do with Sarah that's the main
question."

   "We toss them off the ship," Tammy said, voice cold.  "We take the books
and anything else we need, give them our leftover money so they won't
starve, and leave them at the spaceport."

   "We can't have them warning anyone," Melinda worried.  "If they have a
ship and outrun us..."

   "We have no ship," Sarah said quietly.  Melinda raised an eyebrow at
her. "No ship.  We have passage booked in a week to the site of the second
temple, but no way to travel beyond that."

   "See?" Anthony gave Melinda a reassuring nod.  "If we warp right away,
we'll have a good jump on any news..."

   "Let me come with you."

   ****

   Sarah watched the reaction to her words.  She was asking them to trust
her.  To trust someone they had just met, knew nothing about, and who was
the servant of those they now had cause against.  But, then, she was also
asking herself to trust them.  Trust those she knew nothing about, who had
just confronted one she had considered, if not a friend, then a teacher and
mentor.  Neither side had long to consider the matter.

   "No," Daium said, all four eyes boring down on her.  Sarah forced
herself to meet that gaze.

   "I will not plead," Sarah told her.  "I will not protest whatever you
decide, but hear me.  I know the temple...  somewhat.  Have been there.  I
have a friend, a childhood friend, who joined with me.  She is still there,
and..." She faltered.  What could she say, with honesty, about Hedva? 
Would her friend see things from the Human's point of view, or would she
side with the Miriam's of the temple?

   The brown skinned man, who had left her side to once again be with his
mates, regarded her from behind his glasses.

   "And you want a chance to talk to her."

   "Yes." Sarah lowered her eyes again.  Were these not Lords, after all?
They knew, knew so much...  even if it was just a guess, or reading her
expressions, still, they were special.

   "You'll be a traitor." The blue furred Orang's smile was not the kindest
she'd seen.  Sarah shrugged.

   "To some.  My people, in general, think She Who Saw is an insane freak.
I will not be traitor to THEM." Not that she cared what her people thought.
The temple's training had not had to instill a disregard for her people. 
That had already been there, to some degree.  They only had to take
advantage to her yearning for something more.  Something outside what was
expected of her.

   What was more outside that, than where she was now?

   "Traitor!!!!"

   Miriam's cry made her wince.  Why.  Why did it have to be like this. 
Why couldn't Miriam have seen the humans for what they really were, seen
things the way they saw them...

   "Oh, what the hell.  She can come."

   Sarah's head shot up, meeting Daium's eyes.  The Orang stood, walked up
before her, dropping to one knee.  She could smell fruit on her breath.

   "Just understand your position.  Earn our trust." Daium paused for a
moment.  Her voice lowered almost to a whisper.  "And stay away from our
men."

   ****

   "No...  no...  no...  no..."

   Anthony just shook his head as system after system dropped off the list
of possible destinations.  This one had contact with the squirrel people,
that one was outside the usual monetary systems.  Daium had almost set a
course for a world filled with methane breathers, before catching the
mistake.

   It would have been a good choice, apart from that.

   "Damn Hannah, and her wanting us to be fully supplied before taking on
the temple."

   "We could always eat less," Daium suggested.  Another list of planets
popped onto the screen.  "Is sixty light years away too far?  Here's one
that fits.  Even has three inhabited planets and a few moons."

   "I'd like to be right on the galactic rim, but...  what's our travel
time?"

   The right side of the forward bridge wall filled with equations,
possible paths through the nothingness next to reality the ship would be
traveling through.  Was that what the M'ntsn sect was tapping into? 
Somehow punching holes through that into Earth's reality?  And, if so... 
was there a way for them to take their ship back home at the end of a warp,
instead of back into this universe?

   Naturally, given their luck, they'd end up in some galaxy far from the
Milky Way.

   "Best course gives us seven weeks."

   Anthony considered.  Seven weeks.  They had never traveled that far in
one jump before.  They could hold enough supplies, naturally, probably had
enough now, but their reserves would be very low...

   With a sigh, he leaned around Daium and hit a button on the console
before her.

   "OK, gang, the first ideal destination is seven weeks away.  I want an
accurate inventory of all supplies.  If we can't last eight weeks, I want
to know it now.  We lift off and warp as soon as everyone reports back.

   He stood back up.  There.  The order was given.  His job was done.

   It was good to be the manager.

   ****

   Danny sat shirtless on the hard metal floor.

   Chuck, shirt still on, adjusted the wrench a few turns and returned it
to the bolt on the front of the droid's four foot tall cylindrical body. 
Danny held his tool, inserted into the open access panel.  Chuck's eyes
came up.

   "Ready?"

   "Ready."

   Danny locked his arms, grip tight.  His hands were beginning to sweat,
and he hoped to hell he didn't let go again.  Real men didn't do that...

   Chuck leaned into the droid, his full weight coming down on the wrench
and the stubborn bolt.  Danny felt the pressure on his wrench, but
countered with his own weight, holding the interior nut still.  There was a
moment's hesitation...  then the bolt gave, rotating.  Chuck half grunted,
half growled.

   "OK, hold it, let me..." Rotating the wrench for a couple full turns, he
dropped it and grabbed the bolt with his bare fingers, continuing to turn.
Danny felt all tension fall from his tool as Chuck pulled the six inch bolt
out.  "Got it.  Now, gently, pull that nut out.  Try not to drop it, or
you're going to be the one fishing it out."

   That put more worry into Danny than he really needed right then.  His
arms trembling a bit in his effort to keep them still, he moved his body
back.  Slowly, the black tool came out.  He could see it.  See the
tarnished silver of the five sided nut held in the end of the wrench.  It
was almost out.  If he could just clear the side of the droid...

   "Hey, Chuck!"

   Mary's voice came from the doorway behind him.  With a jerk, he fell
onto his butt, wrench pulled out of the machine.  The nut flew off,
clattering on the floor somewhere to his left.  His eyes quickly went to
Chuck.  The man...  well, he may have been amused, but that amusement was
not the kind that made Danny's life an easy one.  He grimaced, putting the
tool down and casting his eyes around for the lost nut.

   "I'll get it!"

   "Indeed you will.  I'm not moving."

   Danny saw, with a relieved breath, that the thing hadn't bounced far, or
under anything else.  Scooting his body across the droid bay floor, he
grabbed it.  It wasn't until then that the fact Mary was there, registered.
Turning, he looked up at her.  He had never seen the girl from this angle,
him on the floor and her standing.  He was close to her bare, white legs,
ending in flip-flops.  Her toes, he noticed, were cute, nails painted pink.
His eyes began going back up her legs.  It was only when he got to her
knees that Danny realized, before actually seeing it, that she was probably
still wearing the skirt from that morning.  He did NOT want her to think he
was looking up her skirt!  His eyes jerked upward to her face.

   Mary was looking down at him, face a bit red.  Her eyes were not on his
face, although they WERE on him.  With a jerk of her head, she brought her
eyes up to meet his.  Her face seemed to get redder.

   "You interrupting our manly work for a reason, Mary?"

   Chuck's amused, and not amused, voice seemed to jolt her head up. 
She... she had been looking at Danny!  Looking at him the same way he had
been at her, and been as embarrassed at being caught!  Damn it, Chuck had
been right!  Well, then.  When he had a chance, the young male teen would
have to ask his mentor some more questions about girls.  He was an expert!
With a smile, Danny kept his eyes on Mary's red face.

   "Um, yeah.  Mom said they decided Sarah is going to sleep on the patch
of grass next to that bluish corn, and wants to know if you can have a
sentry droid to sort of...  keep an eye on her."

   "That's what the hell I'm doing," Chuck replied, putting the bolt on a
tray and grabbing a water bottle.  "Tell Miss Mom that we're switching out
some parts on this guy, and we should have him ready to go in an hour or
so. I'll also have bots that will take over watching her if she enters the
zero g parts of the ship.  The guards I put up last night we'll also keep
up, for now."

   "OK..." Her eyes seemed to be going everywhere but Danny.  Danny saw
Chuck get a familiar grin on his face.  The brown haired man cocked his
head at the girl.

   "If you want to learn how to do this, let me know.  I could use an
assistant who isn't all butterfingers like you know who here."

   Danny saw her eyes come back to him.  The thought of...  WORKING with
her...

   Well, that would be worth any amount of teasing from Chuck!

   ****

   A level below, Goldie was hard at work.

   It was hard, much harder than she wished it was, to find things Goldie
could do well.  It wasn't a matter of skill, of effort, or will.  She had
all of that.  It was her body.  Her stupid, four legged body.  Anything
that required hands, especially using hands while standing or walking, were
a horrible strain on her.  She WANTED to do them.  Wanted to be useful! 
Her brother was useful!  All his weird face kept him from doing was using a
drinking glass!

   Still, if there was one thing her friends and shipmates were good at, it
was fitting her in with the rest of them.  Inventory had to be taken, and
Tammy and Nona had asked her to help.  Hung around her neck, like a VERY
heavy necklace, a computer tablet swung back and forth as she walked.  Ever
few feet, she stopped, sat on her haunches, and marked what boxes and
containers she saw.  Now and then, she'd stand to get a better view, trying
to then walk and write the way the others did.  Her record was ten steps.

   Stopping at the end of a row of flour barrels, she sat and tallied up
what she had so far.  They knew, somewhat, what was supposed to be in the
hold.  What they had bought, what had been used.  However, not everything
was logged when dragged up to the kitchen.  Some things went bad, turned
out to not be edible (or, worse, only edible by Orangs).  However, it
looked like in her assigned section at least, all was accounted for. 
Rotating her sore shoulder and neck muscles, she sighed.

   She was done.

   The question now was, where were Tammy and Nona?  For awhile she had
heard them talking, but things had gone quiet.  Something must have really
demanded their attention.  Getting onto four legs again, Goldie started her
search.

   ****

   She found them busy, although not the way she expected.  Coming to a
stop ten feet away, she sat, eyes wide.  Nona's back was pressed against
the wall of the second fresh water tank.  Pressed against her front was
Tammy, one hand under her shirt, the other in her black hair as they
kissed. The one hand of Nona's she could see was cupping Tammy's breast
over her shirt.

   Goldie had seen couples kiss before.  Boys kissing girls, girls kissing
girls (no boys kissing boys, though.  She wondered why.).  She had even
seen, in the shadows at night, her friends making love.  This, however...
maybe it was because it was unexpected.  Because she didn't know they were
a couple.  Or, maybe, because she had spent months looking at Nona, trying
to see what her brother saw in her.  Finally seeing someone kiss the dark
skinned girl...  her body was reacting.  She wanted...  something.  Her
body wanted something.  Something...

   Two giggles came from the women before her.  Tammy stepped back from
Nona, turning to face the furry teen while her partner in romance hurriedly
adjusted her outfit and smoothed her hair.  Tammy's face, while a bit red,
was nowhere near the color of either Nona or Goldie.

   "Ah.  Finished?  We did too, a little while ago."

   "I saw." Not knowing really how to react, Goldie settled for an
embarrassed laugh as she removed the rope from around her neck.  Rubbing
the indentation the necklace had left in her, she handed the computer pad
to Tammy.  "All accounted for."

   "Thank you, Goldie." There was honest thanks in her voice.  Goldie
blushed even more.  She loved helping.

   ****

   Daium and Rinda stood on either side of Sarah.  The two, taller than she
was but nowhere near the height of many of the humans, had spent the last
half hour making sure she understood.  Telling her the difficulties of
being with humans, the changes she'd have to make in her life.  She'd have
to eat their food.  Watch and listen to their entertainment.  Understand
THEIR ideas of humor.

   "Chuck, especially," Rinda was saying, "will say things that seem to
make no sense, although Melinda is not much better.  Just ignore what you
don't understand.  It is never hurtful.  Never take offense."

   "Goldie likes to touch, but not so most of the others.  Do not touch
them unless they touch you first."

   "But, I saw..."

   "How human mates act, and how they act towards non-mates, is very
different."

   "Ah." Well, Sarah was not the touchy feely kind herself, but contact
between M'ntsn WAS part of the social norm.  "So..."

   "So you give them time to get used to you." Rinda smiled.  "Don't worry.
We've broken them in for you, mostly."

   Sarah smiled back.

   "Thank you."

   "Earn our trust, and soon this will be your home as much as it is ours."

   "So long as you don't touch the men."

   ****

   Miriam, rubbing her wrists, watched as the large, egg shaped ship rose
into the air.  Daemons.  That was one of the words She Who Saw had used to
describe the beings she had seen.  Her use of the word had been positive,
worshipful.  Now Miriam saw the word as representing evil.  These were
daemons all right.  Horrible, deceitful creatures, tempting the righteous
into betrayal.  They had tricked Sarah.  Poor, fallen Sarah.  But, that
would be the extent of it.  They had no chance against She Who Saw, She Who
Fucked, or any of the other True Followers.

   After all, SHE had resisted.

   Hmm...  She Who Resisted.  Had a ring to it, did it not?

   ****

   Chapter 12

   Wine her, dine her, sixty-nine her.

   Nona wasn't sure who, in her group of friends, was the first to come up
with that phrase.  Probably Steve, although it could have been Cindy for
all she knew.  It was the kind of thing she was likely to think of.  Nona
did know, though, that the expression became one of their group's arsenal
of regular sayings long before she herself understood it.  It was something
silly, probably dirty.

   That it now described her love life was scary, and wonderful.

   She had asked Tammy to be patient.  All around Nona on the ship, she had
seen relationships form based, on friendship, yes, but at the start mostly
on lust and sex.  Maybe that was the adult way to do things.  She didn't
know.  Nona had been the youngest of the group, if only by a year, and
certainly the most romantically innocent.  Even Justin had her beat, mostly
because he had TRIED to find that special someone.

   Nona had never bothered.

   Now, there was someone she liked.  Maybe loved.  Someone who felt that
way about her.  And...  she wanted some of what everyone else had.  Oh, she
knew it wasn't practical.  There would be no dinner dates to small, out of
the way restaurants.  No long walks through crowded markets, hand in hand,
just the two of them alone surrounded by crowds of strangers.  Not for
almost two months, and even then it was rare the humans felt safe enough on
a planet to travel in small groups.  Tammy tried, though.  Tried to do
right by Nona, and each effort opened the Malay's heart even more.  The
others had to be laughing.  She could see it in their eyes.  Her own eyes,
though...  those were only for Tammy.

   ****

   Dinner that night had been set up in what the others had begun to call
"the Malay Hideaway", the small patch of grass isolated from most of the
universe by bushes and a SUV.  Nona had arrived, as instructed, an hour
after the usual shipboard dinner time.  That extra hour had been needed,
quite frankly.  Nona was not one for fancy dress, and in fact HAD no fancy
dress apart from what she had worn to recent weddings.  That afternoon,
though, a blue silk gown had magically appeared in her room, as had Hannah
to complete a fitting.  She CLAIMED it was just something she had whipped
up, out of boredom, a change from doing outfits for her daughter.

   Nona wasn't fooled.  Tammy had arranged this.  Tonight was to be
special. Special enough for a dress she would never have the confidence to
buy herself.  Baring her right shoulder, it hugged every curve, flowing
down to her ankles.  A slit up the right side went up mid thigh.  It made
her feel sexy.  Nona never felt sexy.  Unless Tammy was with her.

   Leaving the stone path, Nona's bare feet took her through the gap in the
bushes into the grassy hideaway.  The feel of the silk against her skin,
the grass against her feet...  already, the evening was special.  A small
round table had been set up in the clearing, table settings for two laid
out.  Even as she noticed the lit candle in the middle, the garden lights
dimmed.

   She smiled, shivering slightly.  Yet another first for her, it seemed.

   Alone, at least for the moment, Nona walked to the table, one hand
touching the metal silverware.  The store had made the journey to the stars
with only the plastic place settings and paper plates and cups sold in
aisle seven.  This had been fine, for awhile, and the ship galley had some
Orang dishes (although that part had not been fully stocked).  Over the
past year, though, various alien plates and utensils had been gathered. 
This one, she thought, had been picked up on that cat planet.  Silver forks
and spoons, beautiful wooden plates.  The cups, stems of twisting green
glass vines ending in red roses, had been found on a space station, origin
unknown.

   The sound of wheels on stone came to her ears.  Turning, she almost
fainted.  Tammy stood there, long black dress glued to her body.  It was
cut low, thin straps traveling up to tie around her neck hinting the back
was probably MUCH lower.  Dirty blonde hair fell down to cover one bare
shoulder.  Her eyes...  Nona's heart fluttered under that gaze.

   Smiling, Tammy glided forward.  Behind her, Goldie was walking, on two
feet, pushing a two shelf hand cart with covered dishes and plates.  The
half human girl's face was adorned with bright red lipstick, blush, and a
touch of eyeshadow.  She wore actual clothing, a maid's apron.  The sight
was enough to bring Nona out of her romantic haze.  Tammy broke into a
grin.

   "She wanted to help."

   Nona laughed, going up to Goldie and placing a hand on her furry arm.

   "You look beautiful, Goldie." The teen blushed.

   "Thank you.  So do you!  I wish I had a dress like that!"

   Nona felt the girl start to tremble a bit, hands gripping the cart
handle tighter.  Standing like this was not easy for her.  Stepping back,
Nona let her continue forward.  Still grinning, Tammy came up and placed a
hand on her back.

   "Come.  Sit."

   Allowing herself to be led, she sat down at the table.  Tammy pushed her
chair in.  Nona wasn't sure if she felt like a date being treated like a
princess, or a little kid.  Maybe there was no difference between the two?
As Tammy sat down opposite her, Goldie moved the cart next to the table. 
With moves obviously well rehearsed, she poured dark red wine into each
cup. Stepping back, she waited.  Tammy took her glass, raising it.

   "To two years."

   Nona blushed.  Two years.  Two years ago, she had come to work at Bells.
Two years ago, she had seen Tammy for the first time.  Just an older girl
working up in the customer service counter.  No one special.

   "To two years."

   Their glasses clinked.

   ****

   "Rendang!"

   Tammy grinned.  That one cry of joy had made the entire day of slaving
over a wok worth it.  The beautiful Malay's hands were literally trembling
as she moved the fork to spear one of the chunks of spicy meat.  It was
sort of a curry, but not quite, one of the recipes she had contributed to
their store of knowledge almost a year ago.  It had been too spicy for some
of the others, ingredients were hard to find (especially once alien meat
had to replace their depleted Earth stock), so had not made the regular
menu.  For this special evening, though...

   Nona took her first bite.

   The change in the girl's expression was NOT good.  Tammy groaned.

   "Did I screw it up?"

   She could see the warring emotions on Nona's face.  She didn't WANT to
say anything bad, obviously.  Another bite, another involuntary grimace. 
Nona slowly put the fork down.  Looking up at Tammy, her eyes were
apologetic.

   "It...  it's not BAD, really.  I've had worse..."

   Tammy burst out laughing.  She grabbed the cup of wine, raising it in
toast.

   "Just what every chef longs to hear!"

   Clearly relieved no offense was given, Nona grinned and raised her own
cup.

   "To Rendang that tastes like I made it!"

   "Oh!" Tammy put her glass back down, recoiling in horror.  "You didn't
say it was THAT bad!"

   "You saying I can't cook?"

   "I used your recipe!"

   "Don't blame me!"

   ****

   Goldie, back on all fours for the moment, watched the two women laugh
and eat in the candlelight.  It was all so...  romantic.  She had started
to watch the romantic movies in the ship's collection, those her brother
and the other men derided as "chick films".  So, too, was she reading the
few books Alicia had brought on her phone.  Those were more...  physical
than the films, about kissing, touching.  She always felt her body
responding when she read those parts.

   This, though...  just seeing two people in love, was better than any
movie or book.  They would be kissing later.  And dancing.  And kissing. 
She'd be gone, then, though.  After desert, she'd take the dishes away and
leave them.

   Would she ever have a candlelight dinner?  Dance, with a boy or girl she
loved?

   "Goldie?"

   Tammy was turned to her, smiling.  Pushing herself to her feet, Goldie
walked over to clear the table.

   ****

   Nona pressed her body against Tammy's, swaying to the music.  She had no
idea who the singer was, and didn't care.  All that mattered was the heart
she could feel beating next to her own.  She was lost.  Lost to the passage
of time, to everything that wasn't them.

   "Hey."

   Tammy's voice floated into her ear.  Eyes closed, Nona just hummed in
reply.  She could feel Tammy's laughter.

   "Having fun, my little Malay?"

   "Mmmm..." Nona pulled her head back.  The two women looked at each
other, noses touching.  Tammy's eyes...  she could just get lost in them.
Not even thinking, she leaned in, touching her lips to Tammy's.

   It was the first time she had taken the lead.  Nona could feel the
surprise in Tammy, but there was only a moment's hesitation before the
blonde's lips parted, soft tongue coming out to play.  Her hands began
sliding down Nona's back.  She reveled in the feel of her lover's touch. 
They slid down, moving from her back onto her bottom...  and she felt Tammy
pause.  Giggling, something she had thought she'd NEVER do, Nona broke the
kiss off to look at the happily surprised woman in her arms.

   "Yes?"

   "Why you little..." The strong, yet delicate, hands moved again over her
ass, the lack of underwear now accepted fact.  Nona moved her own hands
down Tammy's side, knowing she would find the same there.  Suddenly, one of
Tammy's hands slid over to the slit in her dress, touching the bare skin of
her thigh.  It moved up, and over, cupping bare ass.  Nona gasped.

   "Are you ready?" Tammy whispered.  Nona nodded, eyes closed.  She was
ready.  She had been ready, almost from the start, if she had been willing
to be honest with herself.  She loved Tammy.  Loved her.  Wanted her. 
Needed her.

   "Love me..."

   "I do..."

   ****

   Nona lay on the grass, dress gone.  The sky above was the colored
streaks and swirls of whatever dimension warp travel took them through. 
Her mind, too, was all swirls of pleasure and emotion.  She could feel
light kisses traveling up her right inner thigh.  She spread her legs
farther, waiting.  Waiting for the first touch.  The first touch of her
lover.  The first touch that would make her a woman...

   "Aaah!"

   It was so light.  Just a lick, at the edge of her sex.  Another.  A wet
flick over the smooth wetness of her body.  Her body was so tense, but it
was the tenseness of eager anticipation.  Every glorious touch seemed
magnified, Tammy took her time, letting the girl accept each new feeling
before going on to the next.  When her lips were parted, Nona feeling that
wondrous tongue entering her, she couldn't help but let out a cry.  Others
would hear.  They were supposed to be in the lounge down below, watching a
movie, but she knew they could still hear.  Didn't care if they heard. 
Nona, stuffy, repressed Nona...

   ...was coming.

   ****

   "When did you first fall in love?"

   Nona's question, half muffled by the breast she was snuggling against,
caught Tammy by surprise.  She was still recovering from the girl's magic
fingers.  Nona's hand was sliding up her stomach, leaving a wet trail to
cool in the evening air.  Bringing a hand up to caress the dark girl's
face, she considered.

   "With you?"

   "No...  you love me?"

   Nona's eyes still showed doubt.  With all the serious in the universe,
Tammy nodded.

   "I love you."

   She offered no further details.  No further protests of emotion.  Nona
wasn't one to need that.  The girl...  the woman, could sense the truth. 
Nona snuggled her body closer, legs bending to intertwine with Tammy's.

   "I love you.  This has to be love.  How do I know?  What if it's just...
lust?  How did you know, the first time?"

   Tammy sighed.  Her mind cast back, over girlfriends, lovers.  Sensing
her thoughts, Nona pushed herself up, raising her own hand, still wet, to
caress Tammy's face.  Without any thought Tammy took the hand and brought
it to her lips, slowly sucking each finger clean.  Nona smiled, eyes
waiting.  Tammy rolled over on her side, the two women adjusting until they
faced each other.

   "My first love...  my very first love, not a crush, not a girlish love,
but REAL love...  was the brother of a girlfriend."

   "Brother?"

   Tammy nodded.  From the look in Nona's eyes, her own eyes must have
shown the sadness that had suddenly welled up in her.  Swallowing, wanting
to tell, she lightly kissed her lover, and began.

   ****

   His name was Brian.

   Tammy first saw him the second time she went home with Cathy after
school.  The skinny, brown haired waif of a girl had come up to Tammy after
a soccer game, gushing about how good she had been that afternoon, how cool
she was.  An old hand, by now, at picking up the signals of those who at
least had some leanings in the same direction she did, even if they had
never acted on them yet, she had looked the girl over and liked what she
saw.  A couple days of talking, some innuendo, inviting Cathy to "spot" for
her as she worked out...  Soon they were in Cathy's bed, naked and sweaty,
making the most of the two hours before her parents got home.

   The second time, though, as Tammy pulled her beat up Toyota into the
driveway, Cathy next to her had a disgusted look on her face.

   "Ugh.  HE'S here."

   "Who?"

   "Brother."

   They walked into the house.  Cathy grabbed Tammy's hand, starting to
lead her upstairs, when...  he appeared at the end of the hall.

   Brian was nothing special to look at.  Especially to one, and this had
been well established by then, who had no sexual interest at all in the
male gender.  He was fifteen, a year younger than the two girls, with curly
black hair and a few pimples.  A somewhat scrawny body was covered by a
shirt for some band Tammy had never heard of and faded jeans.  The look he
gave his sister was...  amused.

   "New friend?"

   "Fuck off!"

   With that, Tammy was yanked by the smaller girl up into the hallway and
into her room.  The door was slammed shut, Mia Hamm poster protesting its
home's treatment.  Cathy threw herself onto the pink bed, rolling onto her
back.

   "God!  Can you believe him?"

   Amused, having seen this type of family dynamic before, Tammy crawled
onto the bed over the slim girl.  Cathy's face changed from pissed to
yearning desire.  With a growl, Tammy dove in.

   ****

   Dressed again, Tammy quietly walked down the front stairs.  It had been
good.  She liked the small, girlish types, and for someone who had never
been with a woman before Cathy was very eager to please.  She could still
feel that last orgasm.  If only Cathy had not seen the clock, jumping up to
take a much needed shower.  Tammy liked cuddling, liked a goodbye kiss...

   The sound of a familiar video game came from down the hall.  Curious,
knowing there was still a half hour until the parents returned, she walked
through the house.  In the doorway of the den, she paused.  The brother was
sprawled on the couch, playing Grandia 2.  Looking, she saw it was even the
old Sega Dreamcast version, the familiar white controller in his hands.  He
was about mid game, if her memory was right.

   "You two done for the day?"

   His voice was...  half amused, half resigned, with maybe a hint of
disapproval.  Or maybe she was imagining that last part.  It's what she
expected to hear.

   "She's taking a shower.  Has to wash the shame away."

   There was a bitterness in her voice.  She knew that wasn't it.  Cathy
was not at all reluctant.  And, yet...

   He turned to her, battle paused on the screen.  His eyes...  they seemed
to look right into her.

   "She's a good girl.  It may just be a game to her now, but...  give her
time."

   Tammy stepped back, shocked.  Brian turned back to his game.  She stood
there, watching.  Only when the living room clock struck the quarter hour
did she finally make her way to the car.

   ****

   For the next three months, she and Cathy were an item.  They didn't try
and hide it, too much.  There were no public displays, to be sure, but both
sets of friends knew.  Tammy made appearances at the house with parents
home, as a close friend, and if the adults suspected more, there was no
sign (pro or con).  Brian, too, was around.  They talked.  Whenever Cathy
was busy, or if Tammy happened to stop by while she was out, somehow she
always found herself sitting with the boy, talking.  About old games. 
Politics.  Religion.  He made her laugh.  He made her think.  On days when
Cathy was being a real bitch, which began to happen more and more, Tammy
would bring her date home early, go to the nearby park to sit...  and, a
half hour later, Brian would come walking up to sit on the next swing over.
They'd talk, about everything except his sister.

   It was the happiest time of her life.

   ****

   She saw it happen.

   That was the worst, maybe.  She saw the truck hit him.  Saw him... 
saw...

   ****

   Nona gathered the older woman in her arms, letting her cry into her bare
shoulder.  She shouldn't have asked.  Should have known better.  Naturally,
every love before this would have ended in tragedy, or at least sorrow! 
Otherwise, it wouldn't be a "past" love!

   But, still, how could this be a love?  How could what she had felt for
this, well, boy, qualify?  Holding her close, she shook her head.

   "I don't understand."

   Tammy sniffled, composing herself.  She pulled back, meeting her
confused gaze.

   "Love isn't sex.  Isn't desire, or friendship.  It's...  real love is
something beyond.  Something that has nothing to do with gender, or age.  I
loved him.  With every fiber of my being.  He made me feel like no
girlfriend ever has.  If he had been first...  if I had met him in middle
school...  maybe I'd consider myself bi.  At the very least, I'd have
learned to at least accept boys just to be with him.  I still may have,
later, if we stayed friends after Cathy and I ended.  At the very least we
could have been friends..."

   "You don't love me, do you?"

   Tammy didn't protest.  Nona was grateful for that.  She just looked at
her through tear full eyes.

   "Like that, no.  Not yet.  I do love you, Nona.  You know that.  Can
feel that.  But.."

   "But it's too soon."

   Tammy nodded, hand coming up to touch her cheek.  Only when she felt the
tears being wiped away did Nona realize she was crying too.

   "We have forever together, Nona.  I love you more than any woman I've
been with.  That, Love, is the truth.  Open yourself to me.  Let me into
your soul."

   Taking her right hand, Nona drew it to her heart.

   "You're already there..."

   ****

   Chapter 13

   The thrill of new books was wearing thin.

   For a heavy reader, like Justin, the past year had been hell.  Imagine:
all there was to read, potentially for the rest of their lives (and their
children's lives), was the contents of eight cellphones and iPods.  Oh,
sure, by pure chance both he and Melinda had the amazingly large storage in
their phones filled with tons of books: the complete catalogs of Lovecraft,
King, McCaffrey, Bear, Norman, and others, alongside equally large music
collections.  Their favorites would always be there for them.  There had
been little in the libraries of the other employees, though, just the title
or two they were reading.  So little, compared to the infinite wealth of
words he had grown up with!  Just made you cry.

   Mary, for all he was happy to have her with them, had depressed Justin
even more.  Her phone had...  nothing.  No music.  No books.  No movies. 
In the decade they had been gone, everything had been moved up into some
"cloud".  No internet access...  no content.

   Fuck clouds.

   Thus, Justin had jumped into the study of the squirrel books out of the
joy of reading as much as a desire for knowledge.  It was new.  It was
interesting.

   At the start.

   Two weeks in, and he was starting to get sick of squirrel "literature".
To start with, he had never been that into religion.  Oh, sure, church,
Jesus, God, all that.  He believed.  He had never actually read the books
Jesus wrote, though, leaving that to his Mom and others.  It wasn't like it
had mattered, and quite frankly he preferred fiction.  Thus, the... 
quality of the religious texts before him, the style of arguments, were
totally unfamiliar.  They made his brain hurt.  Melinda, bless her, seemed
to have more of a knack for it.  Comparative religion was actually a bit of
a hobby of hers, she had said, if only so she could laugh at the silliness
of other faiths.  Justin had started pushing most of the books towards her.
Let her try and cut through the crap to the underlying facts.

   The hand written English texts weren't all they had now, though.  Among
the possessions destined for the second temple were data spheres with
thousands of books.  All untranslated.

   Yeah, that was going to do them a lot of good in the short term.

   Justin looked across the Commons.  Sarah floated before the wall screen,
fingers flicking quickly across the virtual keyboard.  She was translating.
Well, in theory, both translating and teaching the computer how to
translate, but they had already learned the software onboard was not up to
the task.  Its Malay/Orang to English translations had been...  horrible,
Nona able to do much better work even when it used her instructions.  That
they were on a spaceship with computer systems in some ways a decade or two
behind what they had at home was one of the many puzzling things in their
lives.

   He returned to the books floating before him.  It was the first of
Sarah's translations, done not because of importance but because it was the
only physical book with major portions not in English.  One of their few
remaining spiral notebooks had been sacrificed to the cause, the black
furred newcomer's careful English script laid out so it could easily be
matched to the original.  Composition, the placement of paragraphs among
the illustrations and English phrases were important.  It told a creation
myth.  Not the one, according to Sarah, traditional to the M'ntsn.  It was
new, and thus related in some way to She Who Saw's visions.

   Probably why it was crazy.

   The claim was that Earth was the creator of the universe.  Or, at least,
Humans.  The two words were used interchangeably.  It was all dragons,
daemons, gods, good, evil, mashed up into a confusing mess.  The timeline
went back and forth, the future changing the past, and all matter of
weirdness.

   Justin closed the book again.  His head hurt.

   "Justin!"

   The door to the bridge opened, Goldie and Mary floating in.  Goldie was
her usual happy, furry self, wearing a necklace they had picked up for her
a few planets back for a birthday gift.  In zero g like this, she was
almost human, movements not much different than the bipeds among them.  Her
breasts, at least to Justin, became more of an issue.  Maybe it was time
they got some clothing on her.  Mary wore a loose shirt and shorts, hair
tied back in a pony tail.  Her mother was sure going to town making new
outfits for the girl.

   Not that he paid attention to the outfits the young teens wore or didn't
wear.

   "So," he asked the pair, grinning, "what's on the agenda for the day?"
Justin saw Sarah pause, listening.  He ignored her for now.

   "Chuck wants to teach me how to change out a droid's power supply," Mary
said, seeming to blush a bit.  Goldie, coming to a stop using a ceiling
handhold, gave a disgusted grunt.

   "It's HARD.  I tried."

   Justin sighed.  The girl's body just didn't agree with most work.  Mary
was following the same path Danny and Goldie, and Rinda before them, had
followed: spend time with everyone as they went around their daily tasks,
find out what they were interested in and good at.  Goldie STILL followed
that path.  Taking in her attitude, it was obvious that the two friends
were not both involved in this robotic test.  He thought a moment, then
pushed the notebook towards Goldie.

   "Want to help me make sense of all this?"

   "Sure!"

   Her expression brightened immediately.  Justin smiled.  She just wanted
to be useful.

   ****

   Alicia sat on the examination table, clothing in a pile on the floor. 
She had never really liked doctor visits.  Part of it, probably, was the
scar.  The constant examinations after the accident, the touching, the
questions, had made her self-conscious about a flaw she had wanted to just
disappear, wanted others to ignore.  Not that anyone had ever ignored it.
Every eye was drawn there, her paranoid mind kept telling her.  It was all
others saw...  but, after awhile, that became a secondary issue with regard
to doctors.  The main one was that the idea of some old adult prodding her
body, especially "down there", just gave her the willies.  Well... 
usually. Her doctor as a kid had been a man, and at some point she got a
kind of crush on him.  Maybe because he had called her "beautiful", and
completely ignored the well healed scar.  It was short lived, though.  Mom
must have noticed, since in seventh grade she had switched her over to a
female one.  That ended that, and things went back to being weird.

   That was definitely the case here.  She was being examined by Nona.  A
friend.  Not a CLOSE friend, to be sure, in the way her girlfriends in the
olden days had been.  Brandi examining her would have been silly and fun,
and in fact while both girls had been totally straight they had examined
each other on sleepovers.  Nona, though, was a friend through necessity. 
Someone she trusted and respected, yes.  Maybe even liked.  But...

   "So, has the baby been kicking?"

   Nona, dressed in the white lab coat she always wore for these things,
walked up holding a computer pad.  It was obvious she, too, wasn't too
comfortable with all this.  Her eyes tried to stay on Alicia's face, or
swollen belly.  That hadn't been the case before.  The Malay had always
been clinical about this kind of thing.  Why the change...

   Ah.

   Tammy.

   Feeling a bit more at ease, now that she understood, Alicia placed her
hand on her belly button and rubbed.

   "He's been a bit active.  More than I expected, being Justin's kid."

   "Well, you haven't swallowed any books for him to read, so he's bored."

   Alicia's eyes shot up Nona's face, surprised.

   "Both Justin and Daium use that same joke."

   "Well, I'm sure it's just as funny the hundredth time." Giving her a
weak smile, Nona began the exam.  Alicia was prodded, poked, scanned.  They
did NOT have an ultrasound, and naturally x-rays were out of the question.
Just another limitation they had to deal with.  At least the latest
remodeling had turned the old tractor trailer, parked at one edge of the
dome park, into a reasonably clean and modern clinic.  Nona had pushed for
moving their sickbay into it, despite the space limitations.  She had
argued that this way, once they DID find a planet, the entire structure
could just be picked up and moved off the ship to form part of their
initial settlement.

   Whether that would be practical when the time came remained to be seen.

   ****

   "All done."

   Alicia let out a long breath, relieved.  Perhaps her main objection, her
main problem with these exams, was that Nona seemed to know what she was
doing.  Alicia was jealous.  This was serious, hard work that needed
someone very smart to do it, and the younger woman was doing extremely well
with few resources.  Alicia couldn't do it.  That was for certain.  Oh,
yes, what she did with the sensors on the bridge took skill and brains as
well, don't get her wrong.  But this...  there had been nobody, literally
nobody, to teach Nona medicine.

   Then again, she could just be faking it.

   Sitting up, Alicia was about to get to her feet when Nona bent down and
grabbed the pile of discarded clothing, putting them on the bed next to the
blonde.  Grabbing the bra, she nodded her thanks.

   "So, any problems, Doc?"

   Nona shook her head, double checking her notes.  She was always so
serious.

   "Nope, not that I can see.  You're about the same as Melinda was at this
stage..."

   "That is NOT reassuring."

   "...and you line up with Hannah.  I have the sickening feeling you two
will also pump out your kids close together."

   "If she goes first, you have my promise that I'll try and hold my legs
together for at least another day."

   "Thanks."

   Slipping her underwear on, Alicia watched Nona remove the long white
coat and hang it up next to the desk.  Photos of her parents hung on the
wall, blown up from cell phone images.  Alicia, with a new phone, had yet
to put any pictures on it that fateful night.  In a way, that had made it
easier to adjust, or so she told herself.  She rarely thought of her
family, or her boyfriend...  damn it, what had been his name again?  A
change on the desk distracted Alicia.  There, propped up next to a potted
flower...  was a photo of Tammy.  With a grin, Alicia arched an eyebrow at
her.

   "So...  how is it going?"

   "How is..." Nona's expression, at first puzzled, changed to a blush. 
One hand moved, as if to take down the photo of her significant other, then
just dropped.  Alicia laughed.

   "Come on, dish!  What's going on?  How is it?"

   "It's..." With a sigh, Nona dropped into the swivel desk chair.  She
began to swivel, eyes anywhere but on Alicia.  "I don't know what to say."

   Man, was she that out of practice talking about girl things?  A guilty
pang hit Alicia.  She had been left out of a lot.  By her own choice, to be
certain, but...  Alicia and the others should have tried to include her. 
Talk to her.  Well, now that she was in the relationship club, maybe she'd
be more open.

   "Are you happy at least?  With her?"

   "Yes!" It came out so quickly, Alicia had to laugh again.  Ah, first
love!

   "Well, tell me about it!  Every girl needs someone she can brag or bitch
to!"

   She could see the blush on Nona, her one hand playing with her skirt. 
The girl's eyes went to Tammy's photo.

   "It's all so...  new.  I honestly just lose myself when I'm with her. 
I'm someone different."

   Alicia nodded.

   "Been there, done that."

   "And, it's...  scary.  Really scary.  And wonderful, and sweet,
incredible..."

   "And you're falling, and you don't want to stop, because when you do you
know it'll kill you." Nona looked up at her, eyes wide.  Alicia nodded. 
"Hey, I've been in love.  A few times.  It's not easy, believe me."

   "Does it get easier?"

   Alicia shook her head, standing up on her bare feet, unconsciously
smoothing her blouse and skirt.

   "It changes, over time.  Becomes more...  comfortable.  But, at least
for me, that feeling never really changes." Thoughts of Daium filled her
mind.  It was her turn to blush.  Expression turning a bit shyer, she
pushed herself back up to sit on the bed.  Nona's eyes widened in surprise.
"Nona...  do you want to...  talk?"

   "Huh?" The unstated second part of that sentence was that obviously they
already were talking.  Alicia smiled, suddenly feeling tired.

   "I mean..." she looked around the trailer, at the ship beyond.  "We
never broke up into cliques here.  Which is good, yes, we're all together,
no one REALLY isolated." Again, she felt a bit guilty, but pushed on. 
"But...  I'm a kind of reluctant lesbian.  Daium was the first, and so far
as my body and mind are telling me, ONLY woman I want to be with.  Before
Tammy, did you ever have thoughts..."

   "No." Nona blushed, looking down at her skirt again.  Alicia nodded.

   "Do you want to talk?"

   Nona looked back up, eyes shining.

   "Yes."

   ****

   Mary didn't know why she was doing this.

   There was the reason that WASN'T the reason, for sure.  She was not here
in the droid repair bay because of Danny.  Nope.  That for sure wasn't it.
She in no way had ANY desire to spend more time near that freakish half
human, especially in a place where he tended to remove his shirt from his
sweaty, glistening, well formed chest.  God, why couldn't he leave that ON?
Nobody should see that!  And, it wasn't because she was in anyway
mechanically minded, or enjoyed hard labor.

   Or so she had thought.

   Dad had not been a very handy person.  He didn't have a workbench in the
basement, or a tool set out in the garage.  If a toy broke, they tried some
glue, but if that didn't work into the trash it went.  Her grandmothers had
tried to teach her sewing, and she did like that a bit, but mostly she had
been like Dad.  Just let others that are better at it do the work.

   This was different, for some reason.  Maybe it was because the work was
done in the weightless part of the ship, still a novelty for her.  Maybe
because Chuck, for an older married guy who WASN'T inhumanly hunky, was
kind of cool.  And, maybe, it just turned on a switch in her that had been
dusty and unused.

   "OK, before you is a hull repair droid, used, theoretically, to repair
the hull.  Thankfully, we've never had to see if they actually work. 
You'll notice it works purely via thrusters, no wheels.  One reason we're
working on it down here, and not up in wonderful gravity.  Plus, it was
designed to be serviced like this."

   "That's silly," she said, maneuvering around the egg shaped robot twice
her size.  Chuck nodded.

   "Welcome to my world.  OK, first task: using just the instructions on
your pad there, remove the cover and point out the battery pack."

   Mary grabbed the tool from her belt.  To her left, she could sense Danny
pausing in whatever work he was doing that she totally didn't care about.
His eyes seemed to be burning into her...  or, at least in her imagination
they were.  Goldie had said her brother kind of liked her.  Wanted to know
if she liked him.  Which, no...  no!  God, no!  No...

   Before her mental protests began to sound hollow even to her, she began.

   ****

   Daium's eyes had a hard time leaving little Jeli.  Her nephew (that's
what the little baby was, wasn't he?) was sucking happily on Rinda's left
breast.  His black, furless skin was bright and shiny, looking so different
than an Orang baby yet the same.  Reaching out a hand, she caressed his
back.  It was the same skin as hers, as Rinda's.  Tough, yet smooth.  Her
hand slid up, into the tangled mass of blue hair on his little head.  And
it was hair, it seemed.  Not fur, but human hair.

   Did she want a baby like this?  Before, the answer was yes.  With no
doubt in her mind.  From the first time she had seen Justin, or so her
memory now told her, she had wanted to bear his child.  Had wanted to bring
a life into this world that was both Human and Orang.  Now such a child
existed.  Most likely, if the looks Chuck and Rinda still gave each other
were any indication, there were more to come.  A new species.

   Was having Justin's child still so important?

   She could be infertile.  It had been a year, after all, a year in which
every other female paired with a male had conceived.  Alicia had conceived,
so it wasn't Justin that was the problem.  She was the problem...

   "Do you want to hold him?"

   Daium looked up, startled.  Rinda was re-buttoning her shirt, smiling at
her cousin.  Jeli let out a burp, looking around.  He was so cute, four
eyes taking in all the colors of the garden.  Outfit decent once again,
Rinda held her son out to her.

   "Take him.  I need to make a quick run to the bathroom.  I'll be back
soon."

   "You can just squat over there," Daium said, not startled enough to miss
the obvious joke.  Rinda chuckled, strangely mirroring both Chuck and
Melinda.  Their influence was so heavy on her, at times she didn't even
seem Orang.

   But, then, how Orang was Daium?

   "*I* am civilized," Rinda said.  She held Jeli out a little father. 
With a wan smile she hoped wasn't taken the wrong way, Daium took him.  His
first act was to grab onto her blackish grey fur, just under her breast. 
His grip was strong.  Rinda stood, letting out a slight groan.

   "I'll be back.  Don't let him grab your glasses.  He almost broke
Melinda's."

   That would not be good, this far from anywhere.  Daium had no backups.
Frames probably COULD be repaired, or at least temporarily replaced. 
Still, there was no need to tempt fate.  She'd keep the little guy down
low.

   That wouldn't be easy.  As soon as her hold on him loosened, just
cradling him in her arms, Jeli turned and began to try and crawl up her. 
Black hands with little tiny clear fingernails reached up and grabbed onto
her bra, using the woven cup to leverage his body upwards.  Laughing, she
put both hands around his waist and moved him to sit on her knee.  He
immediately became distracted by her skirt, and the flowers printed on it.

   Did she still want a son?  Or a daughter?  Did she want a little baby
like this, all of her own?  To love, to raise...  she could help raise the
others.  She did not have to give birth to be a mother.  With so many
babies, and so few of them, all would be raised by the entire crew.  What
did she want...  and, more, what did she, in her heart, need?

   Skirt now boring him, Jeli reached again up towards her glasses, now so
far away.  He was so much more active then Melinda's girl.  Carol just lay
there, not doing much as of yet, apart from being cute.  Hannah had said
that was the normal way of things for humans, that they took awhile to grow
up.  Longer than any other creature on Earth.  Heck, it took almost two
decades before they were adults, a side effect of a species that could live
to be eighty, or a hundred.

   A hundred....

   Daium sighed.  Justin could live to be a hundred.  Orang lived...  what,
fifty?  If that?  How long did they have together?

   Taking advantage of her distraction, Jeli again began the climb up her
body.  Laughing, she put all that aside.  She had to defend her glasses!

   ****

   "Done!"

   Mary pushed herself away from the droid, adrenalin surging through her.
She had done it.  Actually done it.  With no help, no assistance.  Just
her, the instructions, and an alien robot.  She had managed to find the
power cell, replace it, diagnose why it wasn't working and fix the problem.
She wanted to shout.  She wanted to brag.  She wanted ...  wanted...

   She wanted to do it again.

   Mary looked over at Chuck.  He and Danny had another droid completely
disassembled, parts attached to fasteners all around them.  She saw him
glance up, take in the scene, and nod.

   "Good work.  Quick.  If you're not tired, want to help us with this?"

   Tired?

   She could do this all day!

   ****

   "You're asking the wrong person," Sarah sighed.  Sipping her drink, she
shook her head at the other two floating in the Commons with her.  The
three had agreed, with the unspoken bond sometimes forged among those with
a common task, that they were done for the day.  The drink bar had been
broken into, liquid refreshment liberated as reward for boring, fruitless
work.  Justin let out an exasperated noise.

   "Well, you're the only one we CAN ask, that's what makes it annoying."
She shrugged.

   "Sorry."

   "Not your fault.  You didn't know you had to study up on all this."

   "Does it matter?" Goldie asked.  Her cheeks reddened as the two adults
regarded her.  "I...  I mean, we have LOTS of time to read all this.  We
don't have to know everything NOW.  With the three of us, it'll go fast!"
She saw Justin chuckle.  He reached out, putting a hand on her head and
ruffling her golden fur.  She liked that.  She knew why the others didn't
touch her like that much, but she still liked it.  Goldie beamed at him,
trying to convey that feeling.  His hand scratched between her ears.

   "So, you like these boring books."

   "They're FUN!" Her eyes widened, arms moving in excitement.  "Danny told
me some of the stuff Nona tried to teach him about God and such, but she
didn't have any books.  This is much more interesting!  All the stuff about
Gods, and magic, and quantum entanglement, and sex..."

   Her hand went over her mouth, keeping any other embarrassing admissions
from flowing outwards.  She could feel her face turn beet red.  Justin just
laughed.

   "I don't know which is a worse place to read about sex, this stuff or
Melinda's GOR books, but don't worry.  You're hired.  Your secret is safe
with us."

   "Um," Sarah said, eyes plainly now curious, "what are these GOR books
you mentioned?"

   ****

   Chapter 14

   Sarah woke for the start of another day.

   They left her alone.  That, perhaps, was the source of most of her
depression.  She had her own little corner of the garden, with her few
possessions, changes of clothes, and a bottle of water.  Every evening,
after dinner, and any entertainment planned (often a movie, sometimes
Melinda reading and acting out parts of one of her favorite books, to
laughter and catcalls), Sarah separated from the others and came here.  She
sat, thought.  Maybe read.  Then sleep, only to start again the next
morning.

   It was not a life.

   She understood.  They hadn't accepted her.  Not yet.  Oh, Justin, and
maybe some others, talked to her, somewhat.  But...  only when there was
something to say.  Never...  about nothing.  The girls still gave her
looks, even while showing off the babies to her.  Almost as if to lay claim
to their man, even though she had made absolutely no move towards any of
them.

   Maybe she should.  Anthony...  intrigued her.

   Sitting up, she stretched.  Her body was slimmer, at least a little bit.
A combination of human food, and the slightly higher gravity of the dome
living space, had taken a bit of weight off of her.  She was also doing
gardening, although that wasn't all that labor intensive.  The others took
turns with the watering and such, and she was included in that rotation. 
It was fun.  She had never done much with living things before, much less
plants, and they definitely had a beauty to them.  That the humans had
surrounded themselves with all this said something.  What, exactly, she
wasn't sure yet.

   It was still dark around her.  The others, she knew, would be waking
soon, going through their morning routine.  Judging by the very faint glow
coming from the large lights that would soon be simulating dawn, she had a
bit over an hour before breakfast.  An hour to herself.  Stretching again,
getting the kink out of her muscles, she spread her legs.  Leaning forward,
she opened herself with the fingers of her left hand, two fingers of her
right slipping inside her sex.  Her body shivering with the contact, Sarah
began her morning exercises.

   ****

   Anthony's hand slowly ran over the soft curve before him.

   The body of a pregnant woman, he had come to discover, was perhaps the
very definition of beauty.  For half a year the woman asleep beside him had
been changing, life growing within her.  Every altered curve, every swell
of the belly and breast, only succeeded in bringing another lump to his
throat.  Anthony couldn't even imagine Hannah as she had been.  She was the
woman before him now.  Radiant.  Incredible.

   Snoring.

   His eyes flicked up to the clock.  Well, it was time to wake her.  Not
time to actually get up, but there was always quite a delay between when
they woke and when the bed was actually abandoned.  She lay on her side,
facing away from him.  How to attack the problem...

   Gently, Anthony slid up against her.  His cock, mostly hard, made its
temporary home nestled up between her two lower cheeks.  Kissing her neck,
his right hand slid down her side, over the swell of her hip, dipping in
between her legs.  Fingers feeling soft brown hairs, they followed the
trail down until folds and slight wetness revealed his target.  With long
practice, his middle finger divided smooth lips, sliding up and down
between them, as the others gently rubbed around her sex.  After a minute,
the body next to him began to stir, his finger now wetter.  Curving it, he
entered, rewarded with a drowsy gasp.

   "Oh, no, stop," came a drowsy, joking voice, music to his ears.  "I'm
being molested in my sleep.  Anthony, save me..." Her body pushed back
against him, hips now moving of their own volition.  A second finger
entering her, his lips moved up to her ear.

   "I'm not sure I can.  You may have to save yourself..."

   With speed belying her condition, Anthony found himself on his back,
Hannah swinging her leg over him as hands pinned his arms up next to his
head.  With long familiarity, she dropped down, engulfing him.

   "Take that, you rapist..."

   Anthony groaned, in the thrill of defeat...

   ****

   Sarah's breath came shorter, faster.

   The daily regimen of exercising the vagina, attempting to stretch it,
was perhaps the last remaining vestige of her temple training.  The rest
had fallen aside.  It was easy, once outside of the circle of novices, to
slip back into what until three years ago had been the real her.  Not that
she had been something else, really.  Sarah had not so much given up
herself to the Temple, as taken on attributes that were extra.  Mostly. 
She HAD discovered some things inside herself that had been repressed.  Or
ignored.

   For example, orgasms.

   M'ntsn males were small, puny things.  They had small, puny phalluses.
The Temple had shown Sarah she did not have to settle.  She could have
pleasure, pleasure beyond what any of her kind could provide.  Pleasure...

   Fingers together, her entire hand up to the knuckles pounded in and out.
Against her will, his image appeared before her eyes.  Tall.  Hair as black
as her own, on his head as well as between his lips and nose.  His eyes...
those eyes...  she wanted him.  Imagined him nude, standing before her,
like one of She Who Fucked's paintings.  Imagined his hardness.  His
hardness inside her....

   Mouth open, she silently screamed into the empty garden.

   The ritual was over.

   ****

   Hannah could feel her husband's eyes on her as she bent over to pick
yesterday's dress off the floor.  From the bed, he probably had a good view
of her profile, belly rounded, breasts hanging down.  She paused, holding
that pose.  Without turning to face him, she smiled.

   "Like what you see?"

   "Always."

   It was the honesty in such praise that always got to her.  While
Anthony, she was sure, could be a charmer, in bars or out on the dance
floor, she had only ever seen honest attraction in his eyes.  Maybe he was
good at faking that, who knew.  And, so long as she never found out, it
didn't matter.  Position starting to stress parts of her now susceptible to
stress, she continued the motion and grabbed the dress.  Standing, she
balled it up, tossed it in the hamper, and moved to the closest to grab
today's outfit.  Her ass wiggled a bit, drawing a laugh from behind as the
creaking bed indicated he had finally decided to join her in the land of
the standing.

   Her eyes swept over the day's clothing options.  Tammy had mentioned
some "girls day" activity for later on, possibly requiring an outfit
change, but for breakfast just a once piece sundress would do.  Purple, she
thought.  It was a purple day.

   "So, what do you have planned, Honey?"

   Not bothering with underwear, she slipped the dress over her head.  She
had already washed up a bit, using the basin they kept in the corner.  Nice
big bathroom at the end of the floor, and it was often more convenient to
just do things in the room.  It avoided the morning rush, if nothing else.
Although, if everyone was doing that, they had built that sucker for
nothing...

   "Not a heck of a a lot," his voice came to her, briefly muffled by a
shirt passing over his head.  She hadn't heard a wash cloth being used. 
Typical male.  "Chuck mentioned something about a 'guys day out', so we'll
probably be down in the ship for a bit."

   "Sounds kinky."

   "We'll take photos."

   Deciding that she would, in fact, put some panties on, Hannah walked
over to the dresser.  Her eyes briefly touched on the Baby Mary shrine,
still up in the corner.

   "I'm not sure what Mary will do, if she can't spend the day playing with
machines."

   "Oh," said the voice right behind her, accompanied by arms going around
her waist, "I'm sure she'll survive.  You can try her again on more girlish
activities." Smiling despite herself, she stopped and enjoyed the hug.  His
tall, lanky frame, now covered by jeans and a shirt, pressed against her.
The roughness of his clothing rubbed against her skin, the thin dress
almost not even there.  She let out a sigh.

   "I'm glad she enjoys it down there, but she doesn't seem to want to take
sewing or cooking seriously.  Unless it's just her and Goldie fooling
around."

   "Oh, don't worry about it." His lips kissed her neck, mustache tickling
her skin.  "There's lots of time for her to gain an interest.  Maybe the
sewing gene just skipped a generation, and you'll have to wait for her kids
to come along."

   Hannah felt her body stiffen.  Damn it, she had been avoiding thinking
about that.  His arms tightened, sensing, as always, her mood.  He always
knew her mood.  Always knew what to say.  Her eyes closed as his voice
spoke softly in her ear.

   "Don't worry, Love.  Chuck's watching out down there, and has Danny
fully in hand.  There probably will be kids, before she's 17, but that's
just our new reality.  It'll be awhile yet before the two of them are
ready." t And if a problem could not be avoided, she shouldn't spend her
strength worrying about it.  She nodded.

   "I know.  Now, let me get some underwear on." Chuckling, he released
her, stepping back.  Opening the drawer, she sorted through it.  Hannah,
thinking ahead, and lacking good elastic, had created a series of panties
based on what she remembered of her sizes while pregnant with Mary.  Odds
were this wouldn't be her last use of them, between the lack of birth
control and little desire from either of them to hold back, so it wasn't
like it was a waste to create good maternity clothing.  She'd get her
money's worth.  Finding a pair with a small '6' embroidered on them, she
grabbed it.

   "I wonder what it's going to be like."

   She looked up as she pulled the silk panties up her legs.  Anthony was
looking over at a new photo of Mary over on the vanity.

   "What is going to be like?"

   "Five generations from now.  Human, Orang, and whatever those bear
things Goldie and Danny's dad was, all mixed up.  How are the genes going
to mix?"

   "Don't forget squirrel."

   There.  She'd said it.  They should be getting downstairs, Tammy and
Nona probably having breakfast already out on the table, but the opening
had been there.  They needed to talk about this.  She saw his head slowly
turn, eyebrows raised.  All the well reasoned facts and arguments she'd
been going over in her head for the past month came to the fore, and
quickly vanished.

   Typical.

   "She's not staying," Anthony told her, stating again his position.  He
crossed his arms, leaning back against the cabin wall.  "After we deal with
the temple, however we deal with it, we send her on her way home."

   "But..."

   "No buts."

   ****

   She wasn't proud.

   Using some of the water in her drinking bottle, Sarah cleaned her hand
off, using a bit more to clean between her legs.  The Orang's would be able
to smell it if she didn't.  Maybe could smell it regardless.  Who could
say. At the very least, the odor wouldn't be enough to draw comment, or a
distrustful look.

   Humans were not playthings to be mated with.  They were not otherworldly
creatures, abstract, mythic.  They were actual people.

   Yet...

   Damn it.  She wanted him.  The other three males, no.  They did nothing
for her.  But, Anthony...

   Slipping into her one piece dress, making sure the side ties were
securely fastened, she made her way towards the store, towards breakfast.
Maybe food would make her less horny.

   ****

   The others were already seated and eating.  There was a schedule,
unofficial but more binding perhaps because each individual had chosen it
for themselves.  Tammy and Nona came down first, half dressed and drowsy,
starting some hot caffeine enriched drinks brewing.  Alicia was next,
popping down to help as they decided that day's breakfast plan.  The others
slowly filtered down, order unchanging.

   Last was Sarah.

   "Over here!"

   Sarah's mood lifted.  Goldie, sitting with Danny and Mary away from the
older Humans and Orang, was waving frantically.  The other two seemed to
exchange a glance that communicated much, although Sarah was not able to
interpret such telepathy.  An empty chair next to Danny, directly across
from Goldie, awaited her, Goldie beaming as Sarah slipped into it.  She
squirmed for a moment, large furry tails not designed for seats such as
this.  Despite being older, she was the shortest at the table, a fact she
took as reinforcement of her subservient position even among the
youngsters.

   "I'm glad you're here!" Goldie's human face was bubbly, furry ears on
the top of her head twitching with excitement.  She gave off such energy
Sarah almost felt like running.  Next to her, Danny just shook his head at
his sister.

   "OK, she's here.  Now are you going to settle down and eat, or do Mary
and I have to hold you down and pour orange juice down your throat?"

   "Hey, why am I on your side?" Mary's eyes seemed to sparkle.  Sarah had
seen that sparkle before, when Hannah was with her man Anthony.  Was this
the human mating dance?  The back and forth that led to pair bonding? 
There had been none between those two when she first came on board.  Was it
something she could try with Anthony?  Or did the male have to initiate it?
So much to learn...

   "Sarah, I read that book you translated the other day!" The comments of
the others seemed to wash off Goldie, at least when the youngster had a
goal.  An admirable trait.  Sarah thought for a moment, trying to remember
which one the furry girl could be referring to, as she went on.  "It was SO
interesting!  I have so many questions!"

   Well, questions she could answer, even not knowing exactly which book it
was.  She smiled, grabbing a fruit off the plate in the center of the
table.

   "Ask."

   "Well, first, there's all the talk of bringing humans over.  But, why
nothing about you guys going to Earth?  If it's such a paradise, why don't
you want to go there?"

   The murmur of voices from the other tables seemed to quiet, Goldie's
loud question carrying quite well.  It was a good one, too, although not
one she herself had asked.  Maybe she should have.  Again, her mind cast
back into her teachings.

   "I...  THINK, for I was far from the inner circles, that the machines
that first allowed She Who Saw to see, were in fact allowing light from
your world to enter ours, but NOT light from ours to enter yours.  Thus,
the first machines based on that first design would bring people this way,
following the light." A memory came to the fore.  "But, I think they were,
are, working on something to go the other way.  To send a volunteer to
Earth.  Perhaps to arrange transport of males, who knows.  They were
building something as I left, something HUGE.  Expensive."

   A moment's silence followed her words, conversation returning once it
was clear she was done.  Goldie's mouth twitched, as she considered the
information.  The other two had gone back to eating some sort of checkered
bread covered with a brown, thick syrup.  Sarah took a bite of her own
fruit.  It was sweet, juicy.  Not as good as a nut, but more refreshing. 
Goldie leaned forward again, fur covered breasts coming down on the table
top before being hidden behind her arms.

   "OK.  Makes sense!  Next thing.  Why is there so much talk about
penises? And if she never actually had one in her mouth, why does She Who
Fucked insist human semen tastes like hickory nuts?"

   ****

   The four males floated in the Bells engine room.

   "This isn't a 'bitch about the girls' meeting."

   Chuck's opening comment had Anthony smiling.  As if, really, they had
anything to bitch about.  Life wasn't perfect, no, but it was damned close
as far as he was concerned.  Justin, to his left, let out a mock sigh.

   "Damn.  I wanted to bitch about Alicia for a few hours.  How the hell
did you deal with two pregnant women, Chuck?"

   "Set them against each other, and stayed out of the way."

   They laughed.  Even Danny, who probably was just thrilled to be included
as an equal.  Really, why shouldn't he be, given he was only four years
younger than Justin and Chuck.  Anthony, grabbing a ceiling handhold,
decided to get down to business.

   "So, what is this about?"

   Chuck looked around the room.

   "We have to make plans for if things go wrong."

   He had their attention.  Anthony nodded at him to continue.

   "When we get to squirrel world, we don't know what we'll find, what our
plan of attack will actually be.  We DO know, however, we'll have two
pregnant women and two babies.  How do we keep them safe, who do we leave
behind, and how do we get them ready to stay alive in case the shit hits
the fan."

   Justin shook his head.

   "We just don't do anything stupid that puts us in danger.  Then it's not
an issue."

   "It's not that simple.  Who, now, can fly the ship on a moment's notice?
Not learn, given time, but set good coordinates in an emergency and take
off and warp?"

   "Daium and me," Anthony said.  Chuck nodded.

   "Which means one of you gets left behind if we leave the ship for an
'away mission', or we have to spend the next month training up some of the
girls to do it.  I have Danny here as backup for the engines, with Mary
coming along.  We have to get everyone ready for the possibility we lose
someone."

   "No!" Justin shook his head more violently.  "We don't put anyone in
danger!  Yes, we have to stop them from bringing others over, but it's not
something I'm going to risk Daium or anyone else over!  If we can't do it,
we fall back!"

   "Nona won't accept that."

   Justin turned to Danny, surprised.  The bear faced boy looked at him
with sad eyes.

   "I've talked to her.  She wants that destroyed.  At any cost.  It took
her away from her family, and she never, ever, wants anyone else to have to
go through that."

   "Hannah feels the same," Anthony added.  He sighed.  "She'll have to
stay behind if it comes to that, naturally, but you didn't see her crying
out in the middle of the night for her daughter.  We shut it down, blow it
up, convert everyone to Buddhism, whatever it takes."

   ****

   The sight that greeted the males as they entered the garden put the
legendary Eden to shame.

   The girls were wearing bikinis.  Skimpy, almost nonexistent bikinis, of
various colors and styles.  Red, blue, green...  The ladies were stretched
out on the ground, blankets and towels under them, one of the upper
spotlights shining directly on the group.  It was a breathtaking sight, to
be sure.  Anthony could hear the gasp from Danny, as he got his first look
at an unclothed Mary.  She was definitely her mother's daughter when seen
this way, breasts under the stretched red fabric still small but full of
potential.  Goldie, though, was the real revelation.  She, too, wore a
bikini.  The black fabric highlighted her breasts, revealed the secrets
between her legs by the very act of covering them.  For the first time, she
looked like a furry woman.

   Something had to be said, naturally.  Something complimentary, yet
witty.

   "Having fun, ladies?"

   OK, that probably wasn't it, but he was distracted.  Hannah, eyes
closed, shifted, bending one leg as she lay on her back.

   "We're just taking in the sun.  Getting some tanning in."

   Anthony looked up.  The sky, above the dome, was the usual dark swirl of
colors.  The spotlight, while bright, most likely was not suitable for
tanning as such.  Should he mention it?  Naturally not.  That's what they
wanted.

   Amusement clear on his face, Chuck walked over to his wives, kneeling
between them.  Rinda was on her back, both babies napping on a blue blanket
next to her.  Her four eyes regarded him drowsily.

   "You know," Chuck said, hand going to her furry knee, "you really should
have some suntan lotion on so you don't burn.  Want me to rub it in for
you?"

   "I already DID her," Melinda said, turning her head as she lay on her
front.  "Why don't you do me?" Her bottom, much more rounded than Anthony
would have given her credit for, wiggled suggestively.  Shaking his head,
he once again looked over at Mary.

   It was only because he was looking at Mary's face that he caught that
first reaction.  Her eyes, perhaps to avoid seeing anyone looking at her
and thus becoming more self conscious than she wanted to be, were on the
universe beyond the dome.  As Anthony watched, those eyes suddenly shot
open.  Thin arms pushed her body up, mouth falling open.  Anthony
immediately shot his own gaze upwards, seeing it the same moment warning
klaxons rang throughout the ship.

   Something was above them.

   Nothing could be there.  They were nowhere.  In no time, no space. 
There was even no movement: it was more like they stayed still, while
reality flowed around them.  Yet, there it was: A cylinder.  Tube. 
Something.  It was a bright swirl of colors, stretching...  you couldn't
say.  There was no sense of scale.  It could be small and touching them, or
lightyears away and larger than a solar system.  It was short, though,
compared to its diameter.  A swirling tunnel of colors...

   "What the hell is it?!" Alicia's cry cut through is mind.  What WAS it?
Was it dangerous?  And the alarm!  He knew it!  It meant something
specific! Daium was on her feet, eyes wide with recognition.

   "It's the signal!  From before!"

   That was it!  The ship was picking up the same energy pattern as when
Mary came through!  Did that mean this was...!

   It suddenly flashed.  Hands shot up over watering eyes.  Anthony
couldn't look away.  He had to see.  See what this was.  See what had just
happened...

   "NOOOOOO!"

   Nona's scream cut through his mind like a knife.

   He saw.

   Just for a moment.

   The tunnel, for that was what it had been, had vanished.  Gone.  There,
silhouetted by the exploding light, had been three shapes.  One was like a
boat.  A small one, for a lake, or river.  Next to it...  not in it, but
next to it, were two smaller shapes, one half the size of the other.

   Like little stick figures.

   ****

   "Aaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!"

   Sarah didn't see her cry draw every eye to her.  She didn't even notice
her legs failing her, her body falling to its knees.  Her eyes never left
the sky.  The dark, swirling sky.  Even after the light faded, even after
all traces of the portal were gone, she could still see it.

   She had believed the humans.  Believed them when they said that what She
Who Saw was doing was wrong.  Believed them when they said the rituals must
be stopped.

   But now she knew.

   And KNOWING, KNOWING....

   She fell to the grass, crying the tears of sin.

   "WE DIDN'T KNOW!"

   ****

   Chapter 15

   Hannah paused at the break in the path.

   Her doubts about her intentions, the wisdom of this choice, were washed
away by the sight in the darkness before her.  Sarah lay, on the grassy
patch they had given her, curled up in a ball.  Her black fur blended into
the shadows, faintly outlined in the dim light that was midnight in the
ship garden, but Hannah's eyes had adjusted well.  The large furry tail
twitched, as if bad dreams tormented the poor girl.  It was doubtful she
was asleep, though.  Not tonight.

   Hannah glanced around.  She needed backup.  Someone to help her, keep
her from backing down.  The garden was empty, though, the store dark and
silent.  She was on her own...

   Movement caught her eye.  Two shapes, slender, quietly slipped out of
the bottle return door.  They saw Hannah, paused, then slowly walked
towards her.  They were nude, Melinda's pale flesh in stark contrast to
Rinda's blue fur.  Hannah had to admire their confidence, having slipped on
that day's dress before leaving the bedroom.  Robes and nightgowns had not
made her tailoring schedule yet.  Not wanting to wake Sarah yet, she strode
towards the girls.

   "Out for a walk?" She kept her voice low, crossing her arms over her
chest.  Just looking at those two made it seem like she was the naked one.
Melinda reached up and adjusted her glasses, looking over towards the
sleeping Sarah.

   "We just put the babies down to sleep.  She doing OK?"

   "No.  And I don't think we've been doing OK by her."

   "That's not our fault," Rinda muttered, voice betraying her true
feelings.  Her arms hugged herself, a slight shiver running through her. 
The night air wasn't quite as warm as they were used to.

   "Forget the past, we worry about the now," Melinda said.  Her eyes
regarded Hannah thoughtfully.  "You offering Anthony?"

   Hannah almost took a step back at that.  Damn, she was observant. 
Letting out a sigh, she shook her head.

   "He wants her gone, when this is over.  Probably because he notices the
looks she gives him.  I...  I don't want to toss her out."

   Melinda nodded.

   "I told Chuck, when the whole thing started, I'd be willing to share him
because pairing up was going to leave some out.  Naturally," she chucked,
"if you don't count our two furry companions it turns out we actually did
pair up nicely."

   "But the point still stands," Hannah said.  "Goldie is going to need
someone.  And Sarah."

   "I don't like sharing..." Rinda's voice was one on its final argument.
Melinda reached out and touched her arm.

   "Tammy."

   Rinda seemed to deflate.  Hannah nodded.

   "Tammy.  We helped Tammy, and the men stepped aside.  We should do the
same."

   "IF the men are interested." Rinda seemed to perk up at her own
realization.  Melinda smiled, giving her arm a stroke.

   "Come on.  I don't want to leave Chuck and the babies for too long."

   The three walked over to the grass.  They made noise, wanting to find
her awake, or at least waking.  As they stepped onto the soft green blades,
the dark form rolled over and sat up.  Before she could stand, they lowered
themselves to sit before her.

   Sarah, too, was nude, although fur and darness covered her more than
adequately.  She adjusted herself, legs folded under her body, hands in her
lap.  A position of respect, of submission.

   "How can I help."

   Not what do you want, or even hello.  Hannah looked at the others.  She
didn't even know where to start.

   "Do you still see it?" Sarah's eyes widened at Melinda's question, then
closed, head dropping.  Melinda nodded.  "Me too.  I've never seen...  I've
seen death, Daium's dad, but never people dying like that." Hannah lowered
her own head.  They could argue that they in fact didn't see what they all
thought they saw, didn't see two people, an adult and a child, flung into
the void as the Squirrel's machine failed.  They could do that.  That would
not help them with what was to come, though.  Not help them steel
themselves for whatever was needed to stop these mad experiments.  No. 
They had to use this.  It was...  confirmation.

   "Anything you want," Sarah told them, eyes still closed, "I will do. 
Anything against the temple.  Just..."

   "We forgive you," Hannah told her, reaching out a hand to touch her
knee. Her fur was cold to the touch, body trembling.  "Forgive you even
before you do anything.  That's why we're here.  We forgive you."

   "And we want you to stay."

   Rinda's voice was soft, with no hint of previous doubt.  Sarah's eyes
opened, surprise clearly showing.

   "Stay?"

   "Stay." Rinda added her own hand next to Hannah's, Melinda following
suit.  "Join us."

   "But..."

   "It will take time for you to really fit in, yes," Melinda said.  "We
three will start to include you more, work on the others.  If you want to
stay.  If not, we'll give you money for passage anywhere, naturally.  We'll
owe you that, if this works.  But," she looked at the others, "our little
group is alone in the universe.  Eventually, we'll be large, a race to be
reckoned with, but for now we need friends." Her hand squeezed Sarah's
knee. "Are you a friend?"

   There was a pause, followed by both her hands covering theirs.

   "I can be..."

   ****

   Hannah slipped back into bed, pregnant body protesting having ever left
it.  She had thought she had heard sounds from the girl's room, late night
giggling.  The temptation to join them, or at least give them a playful
scare, had been great.  Her baby, though, was telling her she needed her
beauty sleep.

   Snuggling against Anthony's strong back, her sleepy mind considered. 
Three weeks.  She had three weeks to try and work her magic on him...

   ****

   "OK, everyone, we have real space in five minutes.  I want a full status
report, everyone at their stations!"

   "Captain Anthony, should we give the reports before we go to our
stations, or do you want us to go to them and then report?"

   "Whichever your saucy blonde mind prefers, Alicia!"

   Anthony grinned at the two extended middle fingers that showed
themselves as Alicia launched herself towards the sensor station near the
top of the bridge dome.  They'd been too long onboard.  Seven weeks, give
or take.  Seven weeks with no fresh air, nothing new to see or do.  It had
been their longest jump, and one he was going to do his damnedest not to
repeat.  Damn it, he wanted to see a new face, even if it was some slimy
alien walking down the opposite side of the street.

   He caught black fur out of the corner of his eye.  He nodded.

   "Sarah.  Know what your job is?"

   "Stay out of the way."

   "Ha!" He looked down at her, eyebrow cocked.  Damn it, that was the
first joke he thought he had heard from the squirrel.  Assuming it was a
joke.  You never knew with aliens.  No, there was a twinkle in her eye.  He
glanced over at Hannah, who made a point of not looking back.  It was her
doing, naturally.  As a male, he knew female manipulation when he
experienced it.  The key was to not let them know you knew, so they felt
all superior and such.

   Or maybe that's what she wanted.  Who knew.  His gaze returned to Sarah.

   "Well, yes, always.  We are the Lord Humans after all." Yes, damn it,
there was a twitch of a smile at that.  At this rate, he was almost going
to have a moment's sadness when they kicked her off.  "I meant what you'll
be doing while you're out of my way."

   "See if any Temple ships are here.  But I don't think there will be. 
It's not near the home world, and we wouldn't come over here for supplies."

   "But you said there's some kind of..."

   "Small temple, yes, for travelers.  And for collecting any tech She Who
Saw needs."

   He nodded.  They needed information.  This small temple would provide
it.

   Maybe.

   "Thirty seconds!"

   At Daium's yell he strapped himself in.

   "Ready when you are, Captain Daium!"

   ****

   It only seemed appropriate that they land on a planet named Sol in
blizzard conditions.  The crew, now numbering lucky thirteen, crowded the
central walkway of the spherical bridge, gazing at the projected image of
the snowstorm around them as the ship rested in its docking cradle.  The
wind whipped around, snow seeming to fall horizontally.  Chuck laughed.

   "Now there's a sight for sore eyes!"

   "I want to make a snow Chuck," Melinda yelled, grabbing his arm and
jumping up and down.  Alicia glanced at her across the bridge.

   "A 'snow Chuck'?"

   "Only the best, most noble kind of snowman," Chuck told her.  He turned
to Anthony.  "We still doing this?"

   Anthony nodded.

   "I still think it's best.  If the 'wrong' people see humans, it'll just
lead to complications." Behind him, the door to the ship interior opened.
"All ready, Daium?"

   "Ready."

   She was dressed in winter gear, the same snowsuit she had worn that day
a year ago when two cultures first met.  Feet and hands were gloved, a
pistol strapped to her waist.  Rinda was similarly dressed, blue snowsuit
thin, of military cut, wrinkled for having been in her pack for ages. 
Following behind, Sarah entered wearing an ill-fitting blue human winter
coat, falling almost to her bare knees, and a knit Buffalo Bills hat. 
Unlike the other two, she had no weapon, or shoes.

   Anthony walked up to Sarah, putting a hand on her shoulder.

   "We're counting on you for this.  We need information."

   "You can trust me." There was a tremble in her voice.  He squeezed her
shoulder.

   "I know." His eyes flicked to the two Orang.  "Recon the port city, take
her to the temple.  If it goes well, you have the shopping lists.  Feel
free to add to it."

   "It IS my dad's stolen money we're using, after all," Daium said. 
Rinda's glance told Anthony that argument, long settled, was still a point
of minor friction.  He just nodded.

   "Good luck, be safe."

   ****

   If there was one bright side, it was that the Habitants hated snow.

   The three furred travelers sat on the subway car's bench, coats opened,
relishing the heat.  Sarah was tempted to take the damned thing off, never
one for heavy clothing, but stopped short of that.  She'd only have to put
it on again when they got to the city center.  She looked around.  The car
was almost deserted, only a couple of the reptilian locals sitting at the
far end.  They were bundled heavily, obviously not evolved for the weather
now battering the city above.  Unless coats could be considered an
evolutionary trait?  Hmm...  Glancing down at her bare feet, she wished her
kind had evolved shoes.  Even the foot gloves Daium and Rinda wore would be
nice.

   Seeing her looking down, Daium shook her head.

   "They're not that great, although they keep your feet dry.  Human shoes
and boots are much better in the snow."

   "Too narrow," Rinda disagreed, frowning.  "How can you force all five
toes into one shape like that?  Makes no sense."

   "Makes human sense," Daium shrugged.  Sarah scrunched her toes.  Yeah,
she could see how shoes COULD work, but Orang foot gloves did seem to have
the comfort part right.

   "Fast train," Rinda said.  Sarah looked up, surprised, as she felt the
car begin to slow.  Lights on the wall map approached a large crisscrossing
of streets.  Rinda stood, grabbing a strap hanging from the ceiling. 
"Showtime.  Ready?"

   Sarah zipped up her coat.  She was in no way ready.

   "Ready."

   ****

   The blizzard, it seemed, had shut the city down.  Streets were empty,
both of cars and people.  A few storefronts were lit, large windows
revealing bored shopkeepers alone with their wares.  Most residents and
workers had had the sense to stay home.  Only the foolish would venture out
of their own free will.

   Sarah kept her head down, wind battering her hat like the prow of a
ship. Human hats, she approved of.  In her hand, she held the address of
the local temple.  It was on this street, she knew that.  Thought she knew
that.  It HAD been here.  Places like this, though, were transitory.  Only
the Temple was constant.

   Or, at least, had been.

   A hand grabbed her right arm through the thick coat.  She was almost
afraid to stop, as if any loss of forward momentum would forever doom them,
wind casting them back towards the ship.  Pausing, she turned her head a
bit, eyes finding Daium's legs.  Looking higher would just invite the wind
to blind her.

   "It was 87556, right?" Daium's voice cut through the wind.  Sarah took a
moment to translate the words, her mind not thinking clearly.  Glancing
down at the paper she was holding, it took another moment to compare it to
Daium's words.  She was so cold...

   "Y-yes.  87556."

   "It's here."

   Daium pulled her arm to the edge of the sidewalk, and into an alcove. 
The wind vanished, as did the stinging on her bare legs.  Her body
straightened, shoulders slumping in relief.  Daium and Rinda appeared to do
the same, which pleased her to no end.  She would hate to have been the
only one suffering.  The door before them was plain, naturally.  Behind it
was a small religious order, one trying to stay, if not secret, then under
the radar.  No fancy custom designed buildings.

   Besides, the rooms were rented.

   Sarah looked at the two Orang.  They awaited her, patiently.  It was all
her from now on.  They were there...  to either help, or hinder, her. 
Depending on how they saw her actions.  She turned back to the door.  It
was a simple metal panel.  A keypad was imbedded in the frame.  Thinking
for a moment, she typed in the length in milli-cubits She Who Fucked had
estimated the size of a human penis was.  The door clicked.  Steeling
herself, she turned the handle and entered.

   ****

   The room was simple, bare.  As one would expect.  One tapestry hung
against the far wall, woven picture of a brown picnic table in a grassy
field.  Beneath it, a desk, bare apart from a computer monitor.  Sitting at
the desk, head coming up as eyes tried to blink away sleep...

   "Hedva!"

   The light brown furred woman blinked even more, head cocking as she
regarded the newcomers.  Recognition dawning, she jumped to her feet, brown
striped white tail standing straight up.

   "Sarah!"

   The two old friends ran towards each other, meeting in one giant hug. 
Sarah was ecstatic.  Of all the people to meet here!  Her worries vanished
in an instant.

   "Hedva!  Why are YOU here?  I've missed you!"

   "Me?  Why are YOU here!  You should be with Miriam at the new Temple! 
What's going on!  Did you respond to the Temple recall?"

   Sarah pulled back, eyes questioning.

   "Temple recall?"

   "Well, yeah.  That's where everyone is.  You didn't hear?  Everyone was
recalled, us acolytes left in their place as, you know, WE don't matter. 
Well, apart from you, serving Miriam and all." Sarah began to get a cold
feeling deep in her heart.  Hedva paused, seeing it in her eyes.  "What's
wrong?"

   "Why the recall?"

   "Why are you wearing that stupid hat and coat is the question!  And who
are those four eyed women?  What..."

   "Hedva!  Why the recall?!"

   Her brown furred friend released her, stepping back.  Sarah was
obviously confusing her.

   "I'm an acolyte, how would I know?" Sarah's hard gaze caused her to
backtrack.  "OK, well, there's rumors.  The new machine may be ready, or at
least part of it.  I think they're testing it..."

   "WHEN?" Sarah saw her friend just stare at her.  It broke her heart, to
see her not understanding, but there was no time!  "When, Hedva?  When is
the ceremony?"

   "Ah...  wait..." Her brows furrowed, eyes looking away from Sarah in
concentration.  "Three days from now?  Maybe?"

   ****

   Goldie lay on her back in the grass, looking up at the snowstorm.  She
had never seen one.  Never seen snow, come to think of it.  Real snow, not
the stuff in the movies or in books.  This, too, almost looked like a
movie. Like a sea of white stars falling from the sky, falling onto and
around the glass dome above them.  It was so pretty!

   "You said it's called a blizzard?"

   Mary nodded, eyes up on the sky as well.  She was lying on a park bench
in front of Goldie, feet dangling off the end.  Goldie saw her between the
wooden slats of the bench, the weird angle and viewpoint amusing.  They
should switch places, let Mary look up at Goldie through the bench...

   "Yeah.  Blizzard.  Looks worse than the one the night when I came here.
They're beautiful if you're inside, looking out.  Out there in them,
though, they're no fun.  The wind, the cold, the snow..."

   "I hope we get to play in the snow.  I want to make a snow Chuck."

   "They're not called..."

   Mary paused, quickly sitting up.  Goldie, staying on the ground behind
the bench, saw her quickly straighten out her dress and blouse.  That was
the problem with clothing, you had to keep moving it so it kept covering
what you wanted covered.  She felt someone coming towards them, up the
path. They stopped just next to the bench.

   "Hi Mary.  Seen Goldie?"

   Goldie almost laughed.  All her brother had to do was look down here,
and he'd see her.  Did he pay that little attention to his surroundings? 
Duh!

   "Haven't seen her."

   Now it took all Goldie's willpower to stay silent.  Good Mary!  Let's
tease her brother a bit!  With a sigh, Danny sat down beside Mary.  She
scooted over a bit to leave more room between them, although not TOO far.
Their hands, on the bench, were a mere inch apart.

   "What do you need her for?"

   "Oh, nothing.  Just wanted to talk." He looked at her, eyes a bit
confused.  "I'm surprised she's not with you."

   "Oh, you know," Mary said, casually.  The hand farthest from his eye
line stuck its fingers through the gap in the bench, wiggling at Goldie. 
Goldie stayed still, not wanting her movement to give them away.

   "Actually, I probably should apologize to her."

   "Why?" Yeah, why?  He had done nothing wrong!  Nothing serious and out
of the ordinary, at least!

   "Well, you're spending a lot of time down there with Chuck and me, and I
know how much she likes being with you.  I'm taking you away from her."

   "It's not like we don't spend the rest of the day and night together,"
Mary said.  Goldie heard something in her voice.  Was it...  embarrassment?
"And I like spending time with- in the engine room." Her voice speeded up
as she corrected herself.  "It's fun."

   "It's definitely more fun with you there."

   Goldie caught her breath.  She heard Mary above her do the same.

   "Really?"

   "Yeah.  I like being around you."

   They were doing it!  They were talking!  Goldie had been hearing from
both sides for two months, and now they were talking about it!  Next thing
you knew they'd be kissing!  Wow!  She wondered if they'd let her watch!

   "I...  um..."

   Mary went silent.

   Looking up, Goldie saw...  her brother's hand, covering Mary's.  Time
seemed to stand still.

   ****

   The warning klaxon blared out twice, startling the two lovebirds to
their feet.  Goldie, too was up on all four legs, jumping out next to them.
Her brother almost had a heart attack.

   "Goldie!"

   "EVERYONE TO THE BRIDGE!" Chucks voice echoed through the dome. 
Melinda, running with her stroller before her, burst out of the store. 
"EMERGENCY LIFTOFF AS SOON AS AWAY TEAM GETS BACK!  DANNY, ENGINE ROOM!"

   "Fuck!" He was off before his name had even stopped echoing through the
dome.  Mary and Goldie just stood there, stunned, watching him go.  Melinda
passed him, then screeched to a halt in front of the girls.

   "What is it?  What happened?"

   Goldie looked at her, eyes wide with all the seriousness of youth.

   "He held Mary's hand!"

   ****

   "What's their ETA?" Anthony looked over at Alicia, frowning.  The damned
message had been partly garbled, the storm playing havoc with their
modified iPhones.  Apparently, the first ones hadn't even gotten through.

   "They're off the subway!  Just a few minutes!"

   "OK, I want everyone buckled in.  No idea what's going on, but as soon
as that door closes we're getting out of here."

   "At least Daium didn't request covering fire," Justin said, worry clear
in his voice.  "It can't be THAT serious."

   "Here they come!"

   Through the transparent seeming bridge walls, they could see four
figures hurrying through the snow.  The blue coated one, which had to be
Sarah, was practically dragging another squirrel.  Nothing could be seen
following them.  Anthony closed his eyes.

   "Oh, this had better be good."

   ****

   The bridge door opened, two Orang and two squirrels bursting in.  Daium
leapt to the pilot's chair, Anthony already vacating it.  Rinda shed her
snowsuit as she ran over to her station, leaving Sarah standing next to the
already closed door with her friend.  Anthony ignored them.

   "Daium, what's going on?"

   "We have to go!  No time!  No time!  We may not even make it!" The ship
shuddered, ground starting to fall away.

   "Damn it, what is it?!"

   "Three days."

   All eyes fell on Sarah.  Keeping her feet despite the rumble of takeoff,
she let her wet coat fall to the ground, removing her hat.

   "In three days, the new machine powers up."

   "And," Daium said, fingers flying over the controls, "it's three days to
the Temple planet."

   Anthony closed his eyes.  Fuck.  Opening them, he saw the newcomer down
on the metal walkway, arms stretched out towards him in worship.

   Double fuck.

   ****

   Chapter 16

   It's sad when you're an old hand at being called a god.

   Justin hung back, Daium and Alicia flanking him as Anthony tried to talk
to their newest companion in the garden.  "Companion".  Yeah, he was
beginning to feel like The Doctor, what with strangers walking into his
Tardis and being, "What the hell is this?  Why is there a tree on the
bridge?" It got old, quick.

   "Didn't Sarah brief her at all on the way back?"

   Daium shook her head, string of colored beads hanging next to her ear
swinging back and forth.

   "No.  She just told her to get her stuff and come, then told Rinda and I
what was up while the poor girl was out of the room.  We finally did speak
when we got to the train, and the girl freaked when she heard English."

   "Maybe it was her chance to have a little power trip over her friend,"
Alicia muttered.  One hand dropped to her belly.  Justin put his own hand
over hers, concerned.

   "Want to sit?"

   "Yeah...  yeah, I do.  Mary, I'm kicking you out." The teen jumped to
her feet as Justin helped Alicia over to the bench.

   "Sorry!  Can I get you anything?"

   Alicia shook her head, not just to Mary but to Nona, who had started to
come over.  Butt firmly planted on the bench, she relaxed.

   "Another month.  This is going to kill me."

   "Not if I can help it." Justin gave her shoulder a quick squeeze.  His
eyes went back to the newcomer.  "I'm not going to let anyone hurt us."

   ****

   "I'm leaving her in your care.  The watch droids are going back on
higher alert, and she's your responsibility.  Keep her out of our way until
we can use her."

   Sarah nodded at Anthony.  She understood.  She had brought Hedva here,
when she didn't have to.  It was up to her to protect her friend, from
herself if nothing else.  She didn't Know, like Sarah Knew.  Drawing her up
to her feet, Sarah led Hedva away, towards the patch of grass she called
home.  There was so much to teach her...

   ****

   "I almost forgot we had these."

   Chuck picked up the rifle, feeling the heft.  The Orang military issue
weapons didn't feel quite right, designed for a smaller form and arm size,
but he had fired them before.  Weapons training had been an early time
killer, and a fulfillment of Rinda's original mission.  That had been long
ago, though, before the garden even.  Before Danny and Goldie.  Hell,
before he had two wives.  He saw Nona pick up a small weapon, looking a bit
like a submachine gun.  She, too, hefted it a few times, then laid it back
down on the bench.

   "I can't."

   Chuck nodded, understanding.

   "I know, and we don't expect you to.  Hell, we don't expect US to.  If
we need these things, we've failed oh so spectacularly.  But..."

   "But we have babies to protect." Alicia slammed the empty ammo pack into
her own rifle, then quickly removed and replaced it.  Her muscle memory was
long.  Tammy, standing behind Nona, picked up the weapon she had discarded.

   "Count me in."

   Shoulders slumping, Nona took the gun from her, shaking her head.

   "That one's more my sized.  Take the rifle."

   ****

   "ONE HOUR TILL REAL SPACE.  GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER."

   Hedva almost cringed at the sound.  For all Sarah had told her, had said
these were not Gods, or Daemons, hearing the Holy Words echo through the
air still filled her with awe and dread.  It was all so sudden!  Hedva
hated change.  Hated not knowing what was coming.  The Temple had given
her...  a constant.  A safe, unchanging harbor in which she could live out
her life.  And, now...

   "It will be OK," Sarah said, voice cutting through her fear.  Hedva
looked at her oldest friend.  So...  confident.  So strong.

   "How do you know?"

   "I Know."

   ****

   "One minute till showtime."

   Anthony looked around the bridge.  He was all nerves.  Never, not since
the first time he had tried to ask a girl out, or maybe just before a final
exam he hadn't studied for, had he felt like this.  Was no one else feeling
it?  Why were they all so calm?

   Or did he look calm, too, and they were all wondering the same thing
about him?  That lifted his spirits a bit.

   "Do we have a script yet?"

   "Nope!  All improv!"

   "I vote we all start with a hoedown!"

   "No!  Those suck!"

   OK, maybe Chuck and Melinda weren't all that wound up.

   "Thirty seconds!"

   "Make video contact as soon as we're..."

   Alarms blasted through the bridge.  Anthony's heart stopped.  As if from
somewhere else, he heard his voice yelling for the view screens.

   The curved bridge walls vanished.  There, in the swirling void they were
poised to leave, was a wall of rainbows.  It filled the entire lefthand
sky, seemingly almost touching the ship.  Tammy, at a console facing it,
threw herself back, body slamming into the trunk of the central bridge
tree. She screamed.

   "God!  What is it?!"

   "Ten seconds!"

   "Viewscreen off!  Now!" The walls returned to wooden panels.  Anthony's
death grip on the panel edge before him loosened a bit.  Eyes wide, he
tried to remain in control.  "I want them on as soon as we're in normal
space!"

   "4, 3, 2, 1, out!"

   The walls vanished again, alarm still blaring.

   They were floating in empty space.  Before them, a blue green world. 
Peaceful.  Beautiful.  Innocent.

   "I have a massive energy reading," Alicia yelled down from her sensor
post up by the ceiling.  "Coming from one point!"

   "Try and make contact!  Can we send a video signal?  Get our image on
their screens!" He had no plan.  No ideas.  They just had to stop it. 
Them. Anyway they could.  He'd play God.  Anything...

   "Landing beacon detected!  Heading in!"

   Suddenly, silence.

   ****

   The thought that first came to Alicia, up in her sensor perch, was that
of the a movie fight scene suddenly stripped of dramatic music.  Her body
was all nerves, but the reinforcement, perhaps even the cause of that
state, had vanished.  It was disorienting as hell.

   "What the fuck?  The alarm's gone!"

   Trust Melinda to state the obvious.  Shaking her head, Alicia poured her
full concentration on the displays before her.  Windows opened and closed
quickly, hands dancing over the controls.

   "Energy reading...  gone." She blinked.  "Daium...  check your
readings." There was a pause.

   "I...  see nothing."

   "Yeah...  um, Anthony?"

   "Talk to me."

   "We just had all energy signals from the planet vanish."

   ****

   The Bells dropped down through the atmosphere, passing through thin
layers of clouds.  Everyone, despite the lack of seats, was crowded on the
bridge walkway, artificial gravity put to work to keep those standing from
hurting themselves.  It felt like cheating, but there was no way to keep
the kids and squirrels away.  This was too important.

   As they broke into clear sky, there was an audible gasp.  The planet
below...  was beautiful.  They were coming down towards a large peninsula,
jutting out into a blue ocean.  Its phallic quality wasn't lost on Anthony,
probably the reason it had been chosen, but that thought was shoved aside
by the world around it.  Green forest filled the land, lush, healthy.  He
saw lakes, rivers, patches of grasslands.  As they dropped father, flocks
of birds could be seen, V formations heading mostly northward.

   "Tanah..."

   "Earth..."

   Daium and Nona's whispers only confirmed how he felt.  This...  this was
home.

   ****

   They continued to drop.

   "Visual on the landing field."

   It was in a valley, surrounded by low hills.  A large, grey, concrete
surface, maybe a half mile square.  Three other ships occupied docking
cradles, two small, less than half the size of the Bells, and a larger one
roughly the same mass.  No lights were flashing to indicate an authorized
landing zone.  That didn't concern Daium, although in a minute it would
become a rather urgent issue.  Her eyes were on the large, brown circle of
land due north of the pad.  She felt movement behind her, a black furry
hand reaching out past her head towards the image.

   "It's...  gone."

   Sarah's voice was confused, as well it should be.  Daium bit her lip.

   "Did it blow up?  You said things sometimes went wrong with the
machines..."

   "How...  why..."

   "Ha!"

   Mary's outburst startled everyone.  Daium spun her chair to face the
girl, frowning.

   "Mary, this isn't..."

   "They went!  Don't you see?" She looked around, eyes wide with
excitement.  "It looks just like where the store was!  I've seen the
pictures, from after you guys vanished!  The whole temple just went to
Earth!"

   ****

   The Bells settled on an empty stretch of tarmac, landing skids extended,
the one empty landing cradle lacking power.  It sat for a moment, silent. A
small hatch at the bottom of the central body opened, from which a small R2
unit dropped onto the ground.  Its top swiveled, getting its bearings. 
Seeing its target, it began rolling towards the collapsible portable stairs
on the other side of the field, moving deftly around scattered pieces of
equipment.  Small connectors extending out, it plugged itself directly into
the control panel, beeping happily.  Those beeps stopped, replaced by one
long beep sounding as much like a sigh as Chuck had been able to make it.
Behind, four more droids dropped out of the ship.  As they approached, the
first directed them to the gangway's four corners.  Clamps extended from
cylindrical bodies, latching on.  Slowly, the wheeled gangway began to
roll.

   ****

   Anthony was the first out of the hatch, stepping onto the now extended
stairway, pistol in hand.  After the recycled air of the past months, the
cool fresh air was a shock.  He paused, taking in a ragged breath.  And
another.  It felt like spring.  Early spring.  Chuck moved past him,
holding a rifle, repeating the ritual Anthony had started.  The two men
looked out across the valley.  A wide path, paved with irregular, colored
smooth stones, extended from the end of the spaceport, running due north.
It ended, abruptly, at the start of the brown circle.  It was definitely
dirt, or clay, and not natural.  Not quite a perfect circle, with various
half circles extending out here and there, nor was the ground of uniform
depth.  Remembering their first explorations of the exterior of the store
that stormy night, it seemed whatever had happened here had followed the
same pattern, taking everything attached to the main structure plus some
extra.

   Moving as if in a daze, Sarah stepped out between them.  Anthony moved
aside a bit as she approached the railing.

   "Gone..."

   "Looks like it," Chuck said.  His head turned to survey their
surroundings.  "I hear by proclaim this 'Deus Ex Machina' valley."

   "Gone..."

   "We've already established that."

   Rinda, dressed in her military issue suspenders and skirt, joined them
wearing a combat pack, rifle at the ready.  Daium, with just a pistol belt,
followed.  Anthony nodded, looking back into the ship.

   "Everyone else stay here.  The five of us are going to look around a
bit."

   ****

   It was the empty ships that worried Chuck the most, as the five
explorers slowly made their way across the tarmac.  Their hulking mass,
looming above them, could be hiding anything.

   "Sarah, were these crewed by temple people, or hired help?"

   "Temple sisters." Her dazed voice spoke with almost no inflection.  "No
outsider would be allowed to even know where this planet was..."

   "So everyone would be inside the temple." He relaxed a bit.  "Possibly
still security systems on board, so we'll have to send droids in first."

   "Good idea," Anthony agreed.  They passed the nose of the last ship,
coming up on the path.  The landing pad itself was surrounded by bushes,
perhaps four feet high, trimmed into a wall.  There was no gate blocking
their way, but instead two tall carved posts flanking the break in the
bushes.  Chuck looked up as they passed.

   "Well, don't know about you, but this doesn't make ME feel inadequate,
no sir."

   "I don't even want to THINK about something that big," Rinda added. 
Shouldering her rifle, she moved closer to Chuck and took his hand.  Her
eyes wandered.  "I don't know what it is about this place.  It's so... 
peaceful.  I can see why they put the temple here."

   "It is..." Chuck suddenly stopped.  The others did as well, all eyes on
him.  Squeezing Rinda's hand, he regarded Sarah.  "Sarah, you said everyone
was recalled to the Temple."

   "Yes." She hung her head.  "All except the acolytes, like Hedva.  Those
few are all that are left, along with those at or going to the new Temple,
like Miriam.  So few..."

   "And nobody else claims this planet?"

   Daium gasped.  She spun around, taking in all the green.

   "Oh...  Chuck, do you think..."

   "Where would you plant the sacred tree, Daium?"

   She pointed.

   "There.  That hill.  The tallest.  In the center.  Around it, a circle
of seedlings.  Oh, Rinda, we can replant the Sacred Tree!"

   "You and your trees..." There were tears in her eyes, though.  Throwing
his own gun onto the grass beside the path, Chuck grabbed Rinda into a
spinning bear of a hug, kissing her soundly.  With the same skill he'd use
removing other items of clothing, her gun and combat pack found themselves
also on the grass, her body molded to his.

   "I think that's settled, then," Anthony said.  Chuck gave him a silly
grin as he broke the kiss, looking past his wife's head.

   "So you think it will work?"

   Anthony nodded.

   "Don't see why not.  We'll have to plan, really stock up on supplies..."

   "We have those prefab buildings in storage."

   "Yeah, but there's no need to rush." He glanced back at the ship.  "I
would like to see my son or daughter born under this sky, though..."

   ****

   The next week was spent in intense planning.

   Buried deep in the records intended for the next temple were years worth
of logs from this world, reports of weather, growing seasons.  It was, as
Anthony had thought, early spring.  Crops could be planted soon,
immediately even.

   "We're not farmers," Tammy repeated, adamant.  "We have to expect to
screw up for the first year or two.  I want just test crops in, so we don't
waste our seeds.  It's not like we can go back across the galaxy and
restock."

   "Don't worry.  Nobody's going to risk our supply of grapes and hops!"

   It was decided, in the end, to leave droids to begin plowing and
preparing fields while they returned to Sol.  Every possible colonizing
item anyone could think of was purchased, with more ordered for delivery
from other worlds.  All would be picked up on Sol, naturally.  Outside
transport to their new home was to be discouraged.  Carpentry tools, along
with an entire hold full of nails and screws, were high on the list.  Daium
insisted her home be made of wood.  Rinda claimed indifference, but Chuck's
casual acceptance of that idea for their own home resulted in the wildest
post-pregnancy sex yet.

   The Bells overflowing with supplies, they started the return journey.

   ****

   "Blow out the candles!"

   Cheeks red with embarrassment and happiness, Mary leaned over the cake,
blowing.  The fourteen candles, small, cheap things which had seen a number
of uses, were no match for her mighty lungs.  They went out quickly,
although the one at the end almost hung on.  It took one extra puff, still
technically from her first breath, to extinguish it.  A cheer erupted
around her.  Goldie, standing to her left, bounced up and down.

   "What did you wish?  Tell me!"

   "No!  Then it won't come true!"

   "Bet it's about Danny!"

   "Goldie!"

   It was with great relief that Mary saw her mother come and take charge.
God!  She loved Goldie, but you do NOT talk about things like that!  Not in
front of ADULTS!  Her eyes slid to Danny.  He either hadn't heard, or was
ignoring his sister.  Either way worked.  He was dressed in his best shirt
and pants, cutting a striking image.  His arms, poking out of short
sleeves, seemed to be getting even bigger, stronger.  Catching her looking
at him, he smiled.  Mary returned it.  The days of them avoiding each
other's gaze was over.

   "Mom," she asked, taking the plate of chocolate cake that was handed to
her, eyes still on Danny, "how old were you when you started dating?"

   Her mom paused mid-slice.  Mary thought she heard a resigned sigh, but
couldn't be certain.

   "Fourteen.  We'll have a talk later, set the rules."

   Shifting the plate to her left hand, Mary leaned in, hugging Mom.

   "I love you."

   ****

   "Everyone remember, if you see a shadow over you, move!"

   As Chuck held his breath, the loading crane lifted the former tractor
trailer up off the garden floor.  It paused, hanging ten feet above the
ship, then slowly began to swing outwards.  Nona, next to him, was
practically bouncing.  They had opened the clear dome that covered the top
half of the Bells that morning, the first time such a thing had been done
since Tanah.  Once they were done it would be closed again, a backup garden
to provide seedlings for future plantings.  Already, Hannah and Anthony's
vans had been lifted off, testing the spaceport's crane on something that
they might not be able to use much.  Now it was Nona's clinic, critical for
the coming births.  Some of the most important things had been removed,
just in case, but this was still a matter of life and death.

   Now hanging sixty feet in the air, the trailer was slowly lowered.  Once
down, droids would tow it to the rapidly growing settlement.  Finally tired
of the distraction, Chuck put a hand on Nona's shoulder.

   "Stop your jumping.  It'll be OK.  We had the system rehearse the move a
half dozen times."

   "I'm worried about the wheels.  Might be rusted."

   "Then we fix them.  Look, worse case, we leave it here and run long
power cables, and you'll have it when the kids pop out.  But it should be
OK."

   "Let me worry, OK?  Makes me feel better."

   ****

   It figured the mess hall would be the first thing finished.

   Tammy walked around the kitchen, still not believing it.  They'd done it
in three days.  Three days to get a timber frame building with a full
kitchen and food storage, restrooms, a dining area large enough for sixty
people, all connected to the start of the town power grid.  For now it
would also double as their rec room, until an actual one could be built. 
Tomorrow, they started on the first house, Chuck, Melinda, and Rinda's, so
the babies would have their own place.  Anthony and Hannah's were next,
then Daium, Justin, and Alicia's.  The three teens would have their own
house, Mary and Danny's future for now assumed to be set (although the
reality of relationships would probably throw that into doubt eventually).
Finally, a new wooden home for her and Nona.

   Tammy blushed.  Her own home.  With Nona.  Curtains.  She'd have to talk
to Hannah about making curtains.  Now she laughed.  It would be weeks until
she had her new home, and she was already decorating it!  God, she was such
a wife!

   A ringing came from the far wall.  It took a moment for her to place the
sound, laughing when she finally recognized the wall phone.  They were so
few, and so rarely scattered, the phone system was more an investment than
a need.  She'd get to try it out, at least.

   "Hello, Kitchen.  How can I help you?"

   "Tammy!" Rinda's voice was excited, and loud.  "Alicia just went into
labor!"

   ****

   The four mothers sat in a circle in the grass, babies either in their
arms or in their laps, comparing notes, showing off.  In the distance,
Chuck and the three teens were planting the second field, singing bad
camping songs.  Dinner would be soon, Tammy and Nona having promised a
feast starring a large turkey-like bird they'd caught that morning.  Both
Rinda and Daium seemed happy about the idea of eating bird.

   Anthony stood with Justin and Daium on the tarmac.  Sarah stood before
them, dressed again in her revealing, two piece Temple garment, Hedva
behind her similarly dressed.

   "Are you sure you want to do this?"

   Sarah smiled at Anthony's question.  Such a change, in so little time.
She bowed her head slightly.

   "Yes.  The other acolytes must be told about the Temple.  Must Know.  I
must gather them."

   He nodded.

   "Well...  if you ever want to return, there's always a place for you
here." He extended his hand.  She took it.  It was firm, strong.  Human. 
For a moment, her resolve wavered.  The full plan then came to her mind
again.  She could do this.  She was strong.  With a final smile, she
released his hand, turning to accept the goodbye's of the other two.  With
a wave to the blooming town, she turned, heading up the gangway into the
small ship.

   ****

   Hedva almost collapsed into the copilot's chair.  One hand went to her
forehead.

   "It's almost like leaving a dream.  They've turned our Temple grounds
into..."

   "Into a paradise."

   Sarah slipped into the pilot's chair, fastening the straps.  Belatedly,
Hedva did the same as systems powered up.  Tentatively, while she had the
nerve, she asked the question.

   "Are you sure they will like this?"

   Sarah's glance was not promising, but she answered.

   "Once we have done it, they will see how I am serving them." Sarah
flipped more switches.  "We will gather the Sisters.  I will tell them what
I Know.  We will buy supplies, and come back.  We will serve the humans,
befriend them...  eventually, some of us will mate.  We will join our
races. This, I Know."

   Hedva nodded.  Every time she heard it, she believed more.  It could be
done...  would be done.

   "Yes, She Who Knows."

   ****

   The two humans and one Orang watched the small spacecraft liftoff. 
Anthony was almost sorry to see them go.  Almost.  It did solve lots of
problems, and was two less mouths to feed and house.  He was betting they
never saw them again.

   Turning, they walked off the tarmac.  Gone were the carved penises
flanking the exit.  Instead, the posts had been reshaped into regular thick
poles, painted by Goldie with Buffalo sports team logos and other symbols
suggested by the crew.  He particularly liked Waldo.  Someday, maybe, their
children's children would consider these mysterious signs important. 
Anthony's eyes went to the far hill, now home to the Sacred Tree which had
lived for so long on the bridge of the Bells.  It stood out from all the
other fauna, seeming to glow with life.  He suddenly understood why it was
sacred.  Given time...  who knows.  He might even join in the worship of
it, if only symbolically.

   "You know," Justin said, walking hand in hand with Daium, "I just
realized we haven't named this planet yet."

   "'Planet' is a good name," Anthony whimsically replied.  "Or 'Dirt'."

   "'Home'", Daium said, gaze far away.  "Let's just call it...  'Home'."

   "Planet Home, Home Planet..." Anthony shrugged.  "We'll have to see what
the others think, but it works for me.  Easy to remember, at least."

   "Home." Justin seemed to consider the name.  "Home, home to seventeen
colonists of...  mixed race."

   "Eighteen."

   Justin stopped, frowning at his wife, redoing the math.

   "Eight from the store, two Orang, three teens, and four babies.  No,
Daium, I count seventeen."

   Smiling, Daium put a slender hand on her belly.

   "Eighteen."

   ****

   The End

   October 4th, 2012

   Edited by SciFi Nut

   Comments more than welcome.  invidfan@localnet.com
http://storiesonline.net/library/author.php?id=6389
/~Invid_Fan/