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He nodded, removed her from her cousin’s embrace, picked her up, and headed out of the pyramid, taking flight with a few sweeps of his wings.

“I do not hear flapping,” he murmured in her ear.

“Me neither.Oh, look, cities!”

“Not afraid of heights?”

“Never.We had to pull the seats from the helicopter so that we could use the lightest thing possible.I did most of my flying on a webbed seat.It was almost like this but more forward-facing.”

He did barrel rolls, launched skyward, and plunged toward the ground while she giggled.

He snorted.“Well, you have regained your emotions.That is good.”

As he flew back to the pyramid, she sighed.“It is like opening a door inside me that I need or that someone else needs.Jasmine needed to hear me laugh.I used to laugh a lot.That is how she feels my presence, knows I am alive.”

“And that was important.”

“I came here for her, and I know she will do great things with the skills she has from being a primal.”

“You heard all that?”

“Heard?Maybe.Downloaded, definitely.Do we know what the computer was?”

“Designer artifact used in biological computers.Your brain was perfect for it.”.

Reem nodded.“I thought that might be it.I have also seen the extent of my alterations.Was that you or the nanites?”

“Both.I would like our time together to be enjoyable, without stress or pain.I do not enjoy those emotions.”

She smiled.“I know.”Wenvari had been at her side the last two weeks of her transformation.He had fussed over the setting and smoothed every bit of discomfort from the pain of being realigned by nanites.He had remained at her side and spoke to her as soon as she was awake.

He moved on silent wings and landed at the base of the pyramid.Ra, Harwin, and Jasmine were waiting.

Wenvari nodded to Ra.“Thank you for the use of your restructuring unit.”

Ra smiled.“Thank you for the tech to continue my research.The components you have offered in exchange for helping Reem are sufficient.”

Harwin frowned.“How much did you charge him?”

Ra smiled.“Enough.Wenvari has a number of worlds that create the most astonishing technology, and then he goes on to the next to plant trees, grow food, and then the technology creeps in again.He can’t help himself.”

Reem was tired and smiled.“That sounds like him.”

Harwin said, “You are beautiful, Reem.You take my breath away.”

Ra nodded.“Your features are lovely, Reem.”

“And you are both very shiny.”

Harwin chuckled.“She doesn’t like compliments.”

“It isn’t that I don’t like them; I just never knew what to do with them.”Reem leaned her head against Wenvari.“I just want to go home and get back to my routine.”

He kissed her temple.“Then, that is where we shall go.”

Harwin sighed.“I thought we would get to hang out more.”

Jasmine said, “Yeah, but knowing that you are in one piece and can communicate with emotions again, I guess that’s enough for me.Can I get another hug?”