Chapter Three
Chloe slowly movedthrough the cold expanse of the hangar.Skylar had moved swiftly, but Chloe was stuck moving at the pace of her injured leg.
The snowy Hmrain was there next to his consort, who was dressed to match.Chloe inclined her head.“Hello, Trin.I am glad to see you made it.”
The hug was sudden, but Chloe smiled and wrapped her arms around the woman who had been with one of the cleverest men Chloe had met.He had put her in a chamber near the door but hidden it so that the casual observer could not find her.Trin had checked on her regularly until they were evacuated.That was the day both she and Skylar were collected.
Trin looked at her.“How did you make it?”
“Like Skylar, I didn’t.I woke up on a station with information in my head.I met my ship and told her that I wanted her to follow Skylar’s orders, then slipped back to Skylar’s area, and put the tablet with directions on her bed.I also tickled her foot so she jerked awake while I hid under her bed.”
Skylar looked at her.“What?”
“Well, I couldn’t leave that station until you were underway, so I got an ejection pod from the vessel I was on, and pirates picked it up.I did see a lot of aliens, but I was out of Hmrain space.”
“I am pleased to meet you, Seed of Life.”
“Yup.Back atcha.Can you pry her off?”She laughed.
Birun grinned.“If she feels you need a hug, you need a hug.”
“Uh-huh.I hear you have a garden here.”
Trin muttered, “Oxygen farm.”
“Yeah, whatever.”She opened her hand.“I have seeds for the tree of the Pericoff.They take thirty years to mature, so I thought they could get a nice, safe start.”
Birun blinked.“How did you get those?”
“My staff gave me the seeds.The tree doesn’t want to die.”
Trin leaned back and saw the staff.“Are you Gandalf now?”
“Ha.Zip it, hobbit.”
Trin beamed.“I am getting taller than you.”
“Well, that’s what you get for fucking a yeti.”
Trin’s eyes widened.Chloe winced and turned to Birun.“No offense.”
He stared at her then at Trin.He started to grin.
Trin laughed.“I gave him the image.He’s not offended.”
“The scale is correct.”He chuckled.“I am pleased to meet you in person, Chloe.”
She nodded and said, “So, may I plant these seeds in your base?”
“Of course.Come with me.I have just the spot.”
She smiled.“Thank you.Walk slow.I am not fast.”
