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Story: Accounting for Taste

Jasmine grinned.“So, I might have fun genes in me?”

“Sweetie, I think you have enough.”

Harwin laughed.“You aren’t wrong.”

“All seriousness, I got this from my mom’s side.”

“Dang.”Jasmine sighed.“So, you flew a helicopter in an eruption and then hijacked a shuttle while dead?”

“Well, you know, after the impact, I had to find new hobbies.You already had knitting, so I had to diversify.”

The humans in the room burst into laughter.

The Hmrain smiled cautiously.

Ra said, “The calculations have been done, and I would offer you a meal first, but...”

“No one wants to clean vomit from a restoration unit.”She looked around and blinked.She had collected all of the children around her.“Uh, I am stuck.”

Chortling parents came and reclaimed their offspring.The kids were all sleeping, and the parents moved to the side of the chamber.

Reem caught on.“There’s a buffet.”

Harwin smiled.“Sorry.A gal’s gotta eat.”

Harwin pulled her to her feet, and Ra led her away to a different unit than the one that had done the assessment.

“This is not a fast process.You need life support while it works, and it is going to take some time.Weeks.”

“Well, hell.”She sighed.“Can you let Wenvari know that I will be late?”

“I will.You will have to enter unclothed.”

She shrugged.“Fine.”Her shoes were set near the unit, and she disrobed, folding things neatly.She felt a light touch on her back.

“They didn’t heal those scars?”

“Not scars.Birthmarks.They have been freaking out my physicians since I was born.”

“That continues to explain things.You are a mystery, Reem.”

“Gee.Thanks.This isn’t creepy at all.”She glanced at him.

He shrugged and opened the restoration unit.It wasn’t just for repairs.The cushions were deliberately arranged to support her arms and legs, and it looked comfortable.

“In you go.”He helped her get settled.“Hydration and repair systems will be connected via injection.You will be sedated before that begins.”

“Okay.So, a few weeks?”

“Three to be precise.”

“Okay.Here we go.”She leaned her head back, and the unit closed around her.The light was soft, she heard the hiss of gas, and she was under.

* * * *

Sage asked, “Is shereally part Hmrain?”

Ra put some food on a plate and carried it for Harwin.“The designers have touched her genes.Who is in her genome is lost to the ages.She doesn’t have a mark...yet.”