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Needingsomething to do with my hands,Ireflect on the day and consider whatIshould tackle next whenInotice the cartLacieused to transport the water back to the pavilion.WhileImay not be able to act on my personal desires regarding her,Ican find ways to alleviate the burden on her and the other females.Headingtoward my personal ship, the ramp lowers immediately when the sensors detect my heat signature.Imake my way down the passageway to a private area whereIkeep all the designs thatIam currently working on.Findingthe small pumpIhad designed for another project, it takes me a few ticks to collect all the suppliesIrequire.

OnceIhave gathered all that was needed from my shuttle,Imake my way to the small water source, my eyes instantly gauging the distance for the necessary pipe.Fourcrates later,Ifind the required lengths necessary.Likea piece of me is being pulled away,Iknow the momentLacie’sdropship leavesthe atmosphere, andImust take a few deep breaths to refocus my mind on what is in front of me.Determinedto have this project finished before the females return, this is the first timeIhave been grateful for the consistent light, as this moon seldom darkens.

Therotation passes quickly asIam forced to hand-dig the path for the pipes to be laid.OnceIverify that the pump and the positioning of the pipes are functioning as intended,Imake my way into the makeshift sustenance area.Almostimmediately,Ican see where they are gathering the serving ware to be sanitized, andIinstall a cleaning system with a water purifier that will decontaminate it as it comes in and out.Makingsure the wastewater will be recycled back into other areas needed.

Istand back, stretching my tall frame, pleased with the amount of workIwas able to accomplish without any distractions.Iam walking out of thePavilionwhenInoticeKyTcoming my way.Hisquick smile instantly irritates me.

“Goodrising, brother.Ithought you had returned to your main star cruiser.”

“TheIngenuityis still in orbit, soIam using my personal shuttle while here.Withso much to do, it is an inconvenience to go back and forth.Areyou staying planetside?”

“Iam.TheTimbershave several locations within their branches that are quite cozy, andIhave taken refuge in them since my arrival.Theyare quite intrigued by the changes occurring around them and the humans themselves.Ihave also been assisting the female medic with her healing stock, butIfear she will need more than is available in this location.Eventhough it is not somethingIenjoy doing, as technology interferes with the frequency of nature,Itook the time to read through some ofLeX’slogs regarding the diseases that seem to plague this race.Iagree that a medical chamber should be obtained quickly.LeXsaid he put in a request for one, butIthoughtIwould confirm his order with you.”

“KyT, the chamber is in production, but due to its complexity, it will not be delivered quickly.Itcannot operate in these conditions at this time as the power grid has not even been started yet.Themaintenance bots are assembling the grid and are slightly ahead of schedule, but the piping still needs to be run first before the foundations can be prepared for their permanent dwellings, andIneed them to perform that function before proceeding.”

“MeK,Ihave been thinking about that, andIwonder if we should install a purifying tank system instead.TheTimbers’ roots are extremely compact soIam not sure how we can install anything between them that interconnects with each dwelling.”

Mymind runs through the changes that would need to be made to the dwellings. “Thatcan be incorporated into their design.Iwill simply have to make a few adjustments to the foundation.Doyou have any other concerns?”

“Iam sure more compromises will have to be made the further along we get in the process.Iwill have the locations of each dwelling to you by late this darkness.Onlyone more place needs exploring beforeIcan finalize it.Iwas able to get the analysis back for the massive water source below the mountain ridges, and it is safe for them to immerse themselves in.Iwas asked byKiraherself to rush through its testing.Shewants to plan what she is calling a familiar … not sure what that refers to, butIhave been told their race enjoys swimming.”Hiswords shock me.

“Theirmales and females both?Arethey allowed to do this at the same time?”

“Ibelieve so.FromwhatIoverheard, their race is not as strict about apparel and covering their skin.BuKis looking forward to this outing, as he has mentioned it several times already.”

“Hisyouth is showing.Wedo not have time to frolic around with so much to do.”

“Maybewe have just become too serious as we age,MeK.Donot begrudgeBuKfor being able to enjoy a moment in his youth.Whenwas the last time you smiled or looked forward to anything?”

KyTdoes not say anything else, he simply turns and disappears into the tree line, becoming one with the environment around him.Hiswords roll through my mind, and for a moment,Iregret that my path has been without any real warmth from another.Then,Iremember whoIam and what my purpose is.Beinga son ofDaRcomes with huge responsibilities, not to mention the goals my mother has set for me.

Shemust have sensed my doubts because my comm unit dings, showing her face.Mymother is a rare beauty and age has not touched her in the rotations sinceIwas born.Hercomplexion and skin remain as smooth as a youngling’s, but that is where her innocence ends.Shehas a shrewd mind, andIoften wonder why she ever put her body through the torment of my birth, as she has told me many times being a mother was not something she ever wanted.Shecame from a prominent family with many suitors so she did not need my father’s status.Itdid allow her to keep from having to take a companion, and it gave her the status and rights to live her life freely.Inthe back of my mind,Ihaveoften wondered if she felt that way when she was younger, why is she so adamant thatIsign a companion contract myself?

Ihit the button, and her form appears before me. “Son, how much longer will you be on that moon with that primitive race?”Hervoice is stern and full of annoyance.

“Mother, we had this discussion beforeIleft.Iwill be here for several lunar rotations.Fatherhas commissioned several of our newer dwelling models, andImust oversee their installation.”

“Thereare lesser members of our society who could have done this, and you know it.Youare simply finding any excuse to avoid finalizing your companion contracts.EventhoughIunderstand the females you have been presented with were not up to our standards,Ihave received rather pleasing news.ElderMalik’soldest offspring’s youngling has come of age, and she will be presented to the courts within the next few risings.Ihave already requested a formal introduction, and you will be there.”

“Mother, be reasonable.Itis not likeIam on the next moon over;Iam several jumps away.Evenwith my new ship and her hyperdrive system,Icannot be available quickly.Youwill simply have to postpone this for a more reasonable date.”

“Wewill see.Iwill not allow this opportunity to pass you by because of your need to fix the universe.Youhave more to offer a female than your mind or accomplishments.MeK, my prized one, you are one of the most sought-after males in this universe.Makeyour mother happy and sign a contract so thatIcan show off your offspring.”

Witha nod of her head, her holo form disappears, andIbreathe out a sigh of relief that this conversation was brief for once.Ihave used every excuse possible to avoid signing a companioncontract, as the thought of touching a female who has no desire for me beyond my name leaves a bad taste in my mouth.However,Ido not know how much longerIwill be able to dissuade her efforts.Suddenlyfatigued,Imake my way to my shuttle, only to collapse into a fitful sleep after stepping through the ionizer.Mydreams wake me half a rotation later, only to realizeIhave once again fallen asleep with my hammer in my hand.

Chapter Nine

LACIE

Afterreturning to the ship,it tookBriarandANDIboth to remove the clamp thatMeKhad put on my jumpsuit.Morningsare becoming so redundant thatI’msimply going through the motions.Sleephas become a distant memory as my mind won’t let me rest, andIhave a feeling that whenIfinally crash,I’mgoing to sleep like the dead.However, before leaving the bathroom,Icheck the button on the back of this jumpsuit twice before putting it on.I’mnot going through that scene withMeKagain.WhenIwalk out of the bathroom,Briaris all smiles, humming to herself as she sits on the floor, braiding her long black hair.

“Ugghhh, all your positivity is wearing on me this morning.Couldyou go back to being a grouch until you get your coffee?”

“I’vealready had two cups while you were tossing and turning above me.ANDIwas a doll this morning, and just asIstepped out of the bathroom, he had it ready for me in the replicator.He’sa male after my own heart.”Instantly, his small holo form appears in the mirror in front of her.

“MistressBriar, as much asIenjoy your attention, my affections lie elsewhere.”

“Oh,IknowANDI, theDestroyer, akaDestiny, stole you before the rest of us had a chance.Myheart will never survive the loss.”