“Seventeen is too many.”
“An eighteenth query just came in.”
“Why are they asking you?”
“They aren’t just asking me.The Prefect of Aksalla is getting pelted with demands.I am the alternative to a handoff.”
Hemma felt agony and rage at the same time.Tears flowed, and she knew they were the same blue as her blood.
She heard Kessie calling for her mom, and Hemma tried to wipe away the tears before Keska saw.She was wrapped in a hug a moment later.Hemma continued to cry silently, and Keska held her.
Khytten came by and said, “Oh, sweetie.”
Hemma muttered, “It’s a weird combination of being a war criminal and a dating show.”She looked at Keska.“What am I supposed to do?”
Keska hugged her and smoothed her hair.“It’s okay.We will figure it out.”
“They all know I am alive now, and most don’t have any issue with my being Uraddan.”
Keska nodded.“Did you want me to wrestle Zera for you?I can help.Most of those countries buy my inventions.There may be some bargaining room.I will also contact Caska and Ava.They will look in on you while we are in the islands.”
She swallowed and nodded.“I said she could access my medical records.I am hoping that will stop the prodding.”
Khytten said, “Why are your tears blue?”
“All my bodily fluids are.”She sniffled.“It’s a matched set.”
Khytten smiled.“What do you need fixed?”
“I am not going to put that on you.It’s a lot, and I definitely don’t want to mention it with Ekbert ten feet away.”
Khytten took her by the hand and pulled her into the house.She was persistent, so she showed Khytten the melted skin over the stitched-up gill marks, explained the hysterectomy, and the other modifications that had been installed and removed.
Khytten’s lip wobbled.
“Please don’t.My body works for most applications.My tracking is still in place, and my strength is still accessible.Besides, to look at me, no one knows.But you can see why intimacy is not possible.”
Khytten nodded.“Yes.I...this is extensive.I am guessing the tissue depth is different.I could design a program, but you have a mix of burn, surgery, grafting, and extraction.You are complicated.”
“Yeah.I know.Sorry that I lost my composure, but I already lost it when facing the international agents.”
“Oh, right.Yourwe just want to live quietlyspeech.”
“Yup.I just like going to the farmers’ markets and picking up food.It’s my favourite hobby.”
Khytten hugged her.“I will need some deep scans to figure out what to do.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
Keska’s voice came from behind her.“Because they cost thousands, and I pay her well, but her insurance doesn’t cover them.”
Khytten blinked and then said, “Like Jeneev.But she had BDC insurance.”
“Debt can get me deported, so I am not going into debt just to answer some curiosity.”
Keska said, “Come with me.”
