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Page 5 of Pirate by Parrot (Terran Reset #9)

BACK ON THE LARGER ship and on the way to Rai, Mel sat in her quarters and activated the com.

“Ves, I want to know about the Vendari.”

“No.”

“What do you mean no?”

“I mean that the people known as the Vendari were nasty, cruel, and brutish, and you don’t need to know about them.”

Mel paused. “So, you know why I am here.”

“Yes, Mel.”

“Why am I here?”

“Vendar received permission to try again.”

Ves paused. “Vendar was delighted to hear from the Reset Project. When they learned that you were already halfway to a Vendari transformation, it was—as you say—a no-brainer. So, they paid to complete your transformation, and it was executed on the station.”

“Got it. So, the Skevarik?”

“Tried to steal you when they realized their chance for you had been outbid.”

“Which is why they tried to blow me out of the sky.”

“They are sore losers.”

“And they harbour resentments against the Vendari.”

“And yet, they didn’t come onto the station.”

There was a smug and innocent note in the voice.

“Because you have the gravity so high, they would get squashed. Now, honestly, how much gravity do I actually need for survival?”

Ves paused. “Two gravitational forces. You can be adapted for two gravitational forces.”

“That is what I thought. This body has felt so weird.”

There was another pause. “I am sorry. You should have had help adapting, but there were issues of logistics.”

“Yes, I am sure that will make me feel better about the situation.”

She sat back. “Does Imbolt know about this? Alyla?”

“The celestial consciousness knows; their daughter does not.”

“Okay, that is better. I am going to have a chat with Gaia about this. I am pretty sure that Minerva is going to be pissed as well.”

“You are going to tell them?”

“I am a daughter of Gaia. She held my hand and told me everything would be all right. It is not all right. I am alone, and I am scared, and if it weren’t for Marko, I would be inconsolable.”

“Is this a hormone problem?”

“It doesn’t help, but instead of making me mad, it just makes me sad.”

She rubbed the back of her neck.

“I do not wish you to be sad.”

“I don’t either, but here we are.”

She sighed. “I am going to the gym.”

“We will be at Rai in two days. You will need to go for an interview on the station.”

“Why?”

“Customs check. They want to make sure you aren’t going to disappear into the population. You also have to explain how you came to be in possession of a lost Citadel member.”

“Oh. Right. I will practice being calm with a polite smile.”

Mel headed to the gym, and without invoking Ves, she dialled up some music and decided to give Liona’s advice a try. She moved to the mats, started to slide her feet, and moved slowly in dance patterns that she remembered from her misspent youth. When the ethnicity of the music shifted, Mel began to rock her hips while keeping her upper body still. That was tricky, but her balance felt better after she had moved around to the music.

When the classic ballet started up, she tried a pirouette and staggered to catch her balance, but she did it again and again until she could spin.

It was a solid hour later, but the endorphins had started doing their work, and Mel felt herself smiling. She felt lighter as well. She knew how far she could spin without hitting the walls, and that bit of physical competence made her feel good. She was less clumsy after one hour, but she was going to feel it in the morning.

Marko flew toward her and dropped one of the fruits Annabelle had brought on board. “Eat it, bitch.”

Mel sniffed it and took a bite. It was a cross between dragon fruit and passion fruit to her senses. It tasted nice.

She was in better spirits, and the fruit was boosting her mood tremendously. She returned to the common area and smiled at Annabelle, talking to the retired guardian of Rai who managed the retreat. A room would be waiting as soon as Annabelle arrived, and she could begin treatment with the local therapists at the retreat.

Mel smiled. Annabelle looked hopeful, and that was a very good thing.

Annabelle glanced her way and smiled wide. “Lady Ageka, this is my friend, Melora. She and I are the same species.”

Mel walked into view of the camera. “Good day to you, Lady.”

The shock was obvious. “You are the same species?”

Mel nodded. “I am from the same program that made your Lady Kyna.”

“Snow bunny? You are the same as her?”

“Different medical conditions but same general result. I don’t look like Annabelle here. She is what our species most looks like in height and body type. Pigments vary wildly.”

Ageka looked at her carefully. “Are you coming for an evening?”

“No, ma’am. I don’t think I would fit in at the retreat.”

“Are you sure? I think you could benefit from a good soak, maybe a solid massage.”

Mel chuckled. “I don’t think I fit most of your equipment and certainly not your personnel.”

“Well, consider it. Send us your measurements so that we can have materials on hand to make a robe for the retreat. We already have Annabelle’s measurements.”

“My measurements are changing, so it is difficult to guess where they will be in a few days.”

Ageka nodded. “Fine, but send them anyway. I will put authorization for landing in your vessel through to the station. A guardian may come on board to accompany you to the surface, and any deviation from your landing site will be met with aggression. Do you understand?”

Mel asked, “Ves?”

“Yes, absolutely. We will comply with all stated zones.”

Ageka nodded. “Good. We don’t normally allow foreign vessels on our soil, but we have been told it is considered a medical device for you.”

Mel nodded. “You are not wrong. I am completely dependent on the vessel and the mind that drives it.”

Ageka nodded again. “I will put the authorizations through. I look forward to meeting you and seeing if you are as tall as you look.”

“I am. Do not doubt that, Lady.”

She finished the fruit and went to wash her hands.

Annabelle continued her conversation and discussed her issues so that there would be minimal males at the start of her treatment.

Mel returned from the lav and smiled. “Getting excited to be back in the Imperium?”

Annabelle nodded. “I want to run around on soil. I want not to be afraid all the time. It isn’t much, but it’s what I want.”

“I want that for you, too. I also want you to stop travelling with the circus freak. You deserve a chance to live your life without someone looking behind you and asking questions.”

Annabelle sighed. “You aren’t a freak. You are just tall. The rest of you is perfectly proportioned. Generously but perfectly. You are taking it too seriously.”

“I am stuck in this for life, so I am taking it very seriously.”

Annabelle blinked. “They can’t undo it?”

“It was always a one-way trip.”

She sighed. “To be frank, I told the avatar back home that as long as things were over, whether I died up here or died at home, I just wanted things to happen fast. I got my wish.”

The specialist blinked. “Right. Did the fruit work?”

“It lifted my mood. I don’t feel like jumping out an airlock right now.”

“That’s good.”

“I think so. I also tried something Liona recommended. At least I know where my limbs are at any given time.”

She smiled.

Ves called out for the meal, and they headed back to the dispenser area. Everyone got their meal, and Mel got her two. Marko was happily eating seeds and cracking nuts, ignoring the raw vegetables that had been prepared.

Mel ate with one hand and held the vegetables for her buddy. When Mel held them, the vegetables were eaten.

Annabelle smiled. “Does she eat noodles?”

“Yes. Noodles are tomorrow’s snack.”

Annabelle laughed. “How long have you had her?”

“She was with my brother, and when he died fifteen years ago, she came to me. My nephew is out of town, and she scares the hell out of my niece’s church group.”

Annabelle started laughing. “Oh, yeah, I can see that.”

“So, it was either take her with me, or her life would be over.”

“Oh, right. How old was she?”

“Close to fifty. This was a second chance for both of us. At least she’s having fun.”

Mel looked at her buddy, happily cracking nuts and chortling as she swayed from foot to foot.

Two more days to Rai.

Mel sat in an observation area and watched a full wall of stars flow by. She could see the occasional ship, and the kid in her felt like frantically waving like she had when a boat passed under any bridge that she was on.

She sipped a cup of tea and leaned back as they approached the elaborate station.

Ves spoke softly. “Rai is guarded by a security screen, which means we can’t come and go as we like. They don’t have a Drai guarding the surface.”

“Right, so if I blow the customs interview, only Annabelle goes down.”

“Not even her. There will have to be appeals and requests.”

“Oh, so a lot is riding on me not blowing this.”

“Yes. Marko could be with you, but it isn’t recommended.”

She chuckled and sipped at the tea before saying, “Does she still qualify as a live being?”

“She qualifies as sentient technology.”

“Oh, cool. Is she bio-secure?”

“Yes, her feathers don’t come out, and the tech handles her waste. She is bio-secure.”

“Nice. One less question to deal with.”

She nodded. “Is this outfit appropriate?”

“Yes. There are outer robes if you wish to obscure yourself slightly.”

“That might be a good idea. I can go in disguised as an obelisk.”

She chuckled. “I have spent my life not standing out and just doing my job, but now, I have no job, and I stand out just by standing up.”

“You sent your measurements to Ageka?”

“I did.”

“Good. A day at the retreat might be nice for you.”

She paused. “I am not staying, am I?”

“If the retreat allows, you can stay a few days.”

“Oh. Right. That won’t be uncomfortable at all.”

Ves said softly, “It will be fine, Mel. The Rai are very polite.”

“Yeah, politeness can disguise a lot of things. Manners can cover a lot of hostility.”

She asked the room at large, “Why am I out here again?”

“To become a mate of a member of a high-gravity species with specific characteristics.”

“Oh, yes. When is that going to kick in?”

He chuckled. “In good time. A match was found suddenly, and there were tasks that had to be completed. Patience, Mel.”

“Sure. You are a voice in a station. Patience must be easy for you.”

He sighed. “We are getting ready to park. Please get ready to enter the shuttle.”

Mel focused on the viewer again and saw the station arms easing up to greet them. “Right. I am going to put on that robe.”

She brought her teacup with her and set it in the kitchen before she went and found an open panel in her wall that had a lightweight robe that would cover her suit and still leave her able to defend herself if necessary.

Ves remained near the station, and Mel nodded and straightened, walking past Annabelle’s room and confirming it was empty. She headed down to the cargo area, where the shuttle was waiting. Marko flew in and settled on the pad on Mel’s shoulder.

“Marko, you aren’t supposed to come with me. I have to do customs chit-chat, and you tend to get irritated with the procedure.”

“Be good, baby.”

“Ves, can I take her along?”

Ves chuckled. “You are responsible for her. Several Rai speak English, and she is fluent in Imperial and Alliance common.”

“Oh, yeah. Well, at least it will be interesting.”

She nodded. “Any other advice?”

“Remain calm.”

“Lovely. So, if they let us go, you will bring us to the surface.”

“I am not leaving you, Mel. You will be safe. I would not take you into danger.”

She nodded. “Yeah, I am getting that feeling. Well, here we go.”

She walked to the shuttle, and Marko hopped to her padded little perch. Annabelle looked at her with a smile. “Here we go.”

“Here we go. Excited to be back with regular talents again?”

Annabelle smiled. “A little. I am going to miss you and Marko. You two make an impression.”

Mel nodded. “I will miss you, too. Okay, here we go. Ves?”

“I have a berth assigned. Here we go.”

They lifted and left the larger ship and proceeded to the station.

Time to face customs.

The officers took one look at her and waved her and her tiny crew off to the side where larger scanning equipment was available.

“Miss, what are the metal implants in your limbs?”

“Supports. I was born to a smaller species, Annabelle’s species actually, and because of my growth, reinforcement was necessary.”

“I see. What species are you now?”

“Altered Terran, as far as I know. No one has given me a definitive species as I have been altered for three, so I am not sure what the scans are showing.”

They nodded. “Well, you are biologically stable, and there is no reason you cannot enter the station. The bot is yours?”

“It is.”

She didn’t explain further.

“Do not let it out of your sight. They are valuable.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you.”

The man smiled, and she turned her head to see where Annabelle was nearly hopping from foot to foot.

“Can you direct me toward the Nyal Guardian representatives?”

“Oh, they have offices on three. Simply go into this lift and up to the third floor. Turn left, and you will be there.”

“Thank you.”

She stepped up to Annabelle and smiled. “Third floor. Come along.”

Marko remained quiet, they got into the lift that barely had room for Mel, and they headed up to three.

The transaction was surprisingly straightforward. A scan was administered to Annabelle to confirm that she hadn’t aged those sixteen years, and from there, the reward was authorized.

Annabelle looked back. “Mel?”

Mel looked to the men in armoured suits. “Can you send seven hundred fifty thousand to the Citadel on Annabelle’s account and give her the two hundred fifty thousand directly?”

The man with blue skin and white eyes smiled. “What about the other million?”

Annabelle blinked. “What?”

“There has been a bump to it.”

Mel shrugged. “Put it all in Annabelle’s accounts. I don’t have any and don’t really need anything.”

The guardian paused. “You don’t have accounts?”

“No. Don’t need them. The station provides what I need, and I don’t really fit anything in the marketplace.”

The guardian blinked. “Oh, right. Well, Specialist, you are now free of obligation to the Citadel, and the funds are in your account.”

Mel asked, “Where did the funds appear from?”

“The soon-to-be-empress added them.”

“Of course.”

Annabelle frowned. “If you get an account, I will transfer that other million to you. I don’t need it for anything.”

The Guardians were grinning.

Mel chuckled. “Not used to folks trying to share a reward with each other?”

“No. Not used to two women trying to support each other with no thought to themselves.”

Annabelle smiled. “Sirs, can you direct us to the visitor’s centre? We are authorized to head down to the surface but want to make sure everything is organized.”

“I will escort you, ladies. The station can be confusing.”

Annabelle checked her wrist unit and exhaled. “And there is the Citadel acknowledgement, and there are the funds.”

Mel smiled. “Thank you, Guardian. Just make sure you take us through paths with high ceilings.”

He laughed, they walked for five minutes, then they got in line, and someone took their names. There was a startled look at a datapad, and then the male said, “Please come with me.”

Mel and Annabelle followed him, and Mel ducked under the doorway.

They were taken to a quiet room, and tea was provided.

Annabelle asked, “What’s going on?”

“Well, Amethyst is married to Lord Akutan, who is the head of Rai. He was a guardian named Blade, and his niece is using the family hero name still. She’s Terran from the first wave. Then there is Kyna, who is married to another retired guardian, and she is the Rai recruiter and is starting her family. She is a Terran Reset and lives as a daughter of the house to Ageka, an ex-guardian known as the Sacred Flame. So, Terran’s are usually welcome. We come in peace and are useful and respectful.”

“They won’t expect me to marry anyone?”

“No. You are coming as a wounded warrior. You need time to find yourself again, and that is what the resort is all about. It’s a good thing you have the funds. Like any good resort, they are pricey.”

“Do you want to stay a few days?”

Annabelle asked. “My treat.”

“It isn’t really in my plans. I am not comfortable around people, and seeing others of my species makes my heart hurt because I don’t blend in anymore.”

Someone knocked softly on the door, and a man came in, knelt, and looked at Mel in surprise. “A Vendari. That is surprising. It wasn’t on your customs entry.”

“You were born a Rai?”

He nodded. “I was.”

“What are you now?”

“Um, a Rai?”

“I was born on Terra. Lived as a Terran, and now I am a Terran in Vendari skin.”

He looked at her and nodded. “Understood. So, you wish to visit Rai?”

“Yes. Apparently, the Ladies Kyna and Amethyst wish to have tea with us, with Lady Ageka providing security.”

Mel name-dropped with those she was comfortable with. She had talked to all of the ladies in question.

He turned to Annabelle. “You are staying at the resort?”

“Yes. I require therapy and need to find a new direction for my life. I am not able to commit to a guardian position in my current state, and I will not return to the Citadel.”

“Are you looking to immigrate to Rai?”

Annabelle blinked. “No. I want to return to the stars. I am looking for comfort and healing. A place to be safe.”

“You aren’t safe with your current companions?”

Mel said softly. “I am extremely emotionally unstable, and my transformation isn’t done yet. I am also set up for heavy gravity, and having to keep things light is difficult as it curtails naked day. There isn’t a balance with me. My companion and the ship that I am on are very patient, but I need to be able to walk around in a suit that doesn’t have to have compression capabilities.”

“Really? You should feel so much lighter in normal gravity.”

“The suits hold me in and keep my movements small, so I don’t go scampering out an airlock.”

Annabelle asked, “What?”

“It is like being wrapped in Bungie cords. If I reach out, it pulls me back.”

“So, you are under restraints?”

“Kind of like a full-body wrap in elastic.”

“I had no idea. You move so easily.”

“Yeah, that is just practice.”

The interviewer looked at them. “I judge you are no danger to Rai. Your application to take your small shuttle down directly is authorized.”

“How long do we have?”

“You have three hours to get to the grid and begin drop procedures. Ms Melora, you have three days maximum on the surface before you leave. Are we understood?”

“Absolutely. Please send the data to my ship.”

“Not your com?”

“I don’t have one.”

She shrugged.

“You should get one. They are useful for containing travel documents.”

“Well, my skin surface is as dense as an armour plate, so when I find a convenient laser, I will get one installed then.”

His eyes widened. “Of course. I hadn’t considered... Right, the information is at your shuttle. Please proceed.”

Mel asked, “Where do we go?”

“Oh, I will have an assistant take you there.”

The man in the kimono stood and smiled.

She smiled and set her tea down carefully, standing carefully in full cosplay mode. His eyes lit with appreciation.

She shrugged. “Only way to stand up in loose clothing.”

He grinned. “Indeed.”

His assistant came in and was directed to bring them back to the berth where their shuttle was waiting.

Annabelle murmured, “Can you show me how to stand up like that?”

“Sure. We have an hour or two.”

She chuckled.

The assistant nodded. “Have a lovely visit to Rai.”

They entered the vessel, and Marko heard something in the distance and perked up. “Come on, Marko, we have to get going.”

Marko shrieked and flew down the walkways, a group of Citadel staff turned toward them, and one of them raised a hand to Annabelle.

Mel paused. “We have a few hours if you want to chat with them.”

Annabelle shook her head. “I can send a message.”

“Eager to get down?”

“Oh, yeah. Have you ever felt that this is what was supposed to happen?”

“I did, and then I woke up blue and nearly nine feet tall. Now I think I might just have needed some ice cream.”

Annabelle laughed. They settled in while Ves got his clearances arranged, and then they were on their way through the protective grid in the shield around the gorgeous and protected world of Rai.

Mel talked Annabelle through standing from a kneeling position, and then they were entering the atmosphere, and the world turned to flame outside the shuttle.