“That was the day the world broke.Today is the day.”
“Where did the signal come from?”
“Birun says it was Isolde.”
Cori paused.“Yeah, that seems like something she would do.Is she still at that array?”
“Wait, what do you mean it is something she would do?”
Cori ran a hand over her face.“Isolde is a psychic.She’s also a seer.She saw the asteroid coming, knew that no one would believe her, bought a bunch of freeze-dryers and solar panels, and got ready for the end of the world.The day before it struck, she packed up a rental van with supplies and drove to my place.We had fruit, meat, ready meals, and everything just needed water.She brought solar panels with her, and we were actually fairly comfortable for the longest time.She helped me ease through one of the most traumatic moments of my life, because she had seen it already.”
Trin nodded, and she lifted her head.“I am sorry.I have to take a call.”
Cori frowned.“What?Oh, shit.She did that to me once.”
Trin let thecallgo through.
Trin was standing on the floor of a base of some kind, and a woman was walking toward her.
“You know, I knew I had a little sister, but I never imagined meeting her.There was too much bad blood between my mother and our father.He was really a bastard.He tried to kill me as a toddler, and Mom was pregnant with Cori when we made a run for it.She never had to meet the asshole.”Isolde came into the light, and Trin stared.
“You are...pregnant?”
“Yeah, that was an accident.One of the worlds I was bonded to tested compatibility by dumping the Hmrain semen on you while you were asleep and then watching for what it did.Mine decided to build an addition.I was supposed to be dumped into a harem, but Ra paid our bonds, and I insisted.They couldn’t keep me, so I came here.”
“You look like me.”
“I look similar to what you used to look like, yes.”Isolde sighed and rubbed her back.
“How far along are you?”
“Eight months.I think I have another three to go.Hopefully less.”
“Do you want to do it alone, or can I beg you to come to Sanctuary Base?”
Another figure manifested.Cori stood there.“Or come to Aten.”
Isolde chuckled.“Either one has a Hmrain who will try to contact the male contributor.I know who he is, but he doesn’t really take an interest in his harem, and I just want to have my little girl in peace.”
Birun showed up and wrapped his arms around Trin.“I will not seek out the Hmrain who belongs to that genetic material, but neither will I conceal you.”
Isolde looked at him.“I suppose that is fair, and it is an indicator of how much Trin wants to meet me.I wish to meet her as well.”
Birun smiled.“Good.We are much closer than Aten.You are twelve hours away.”
Isolde grinned.“You caught that.”
“I know the look of our station.Get in a shuttle, and we will have a room ready for you, and a med unit to make sure you are fine.”
Birun nodded.“We will send Boss and Nebel’s warship.We want to make sure she is secure.”
Trin looked around.“Are we all astral projecting here?”
Isolde laughed.“Soul walking.Yes.I just left all of you a trail of breadcrumbs.”
“Are you really a seer?”
“Not by choice, but being open-minded runs in our family.It’s also what makes you people-pleasing.Happy people are less threatening.”Isolde smiled.“Cori can tell you that I did some time in various institutions.Being around a lot of humans has never been restful for me.Even during the time after the asteroid, several members of our gathering wanted to kill me.They thought I had brought bad luck or was part of a conspiracy.If I am not related to them, I don’t really like humans.”
