Chloe was laughing as the last bolt was removed.
The blood on her legs sealed quickly.The mossy ground of the shuttle absorbed it.
Chloe sighed and laughed.“I love having a backup plan.I get a kick out of it when they think they can catch this ship.”
“How fast is it?Gertrude won’t say.”
“Not as fast as the slip ships, but faster than Nebel’s vessels.”
Skylar grinned.“I am buying a slip ship.A friend’s sister is consort to Orex, and he agreed to sell me one for a friend and family discount.”
Chloe smirked.“Can I ask you to carry a beacon to make the Dyturans chase you?”
“Nope.It is fucking unsettling to feel the energy wave seeking you out.I thought it was looking for me, not Gertrude.”
She had a thought.“I am going to call my cousin.I think they saw the Dyturan, and she isn’t afraid of anything.”
Chloe was still on the moss and had started moving her leg carefully.Skylar checked the com availability and sent a call to Aten.She watched as the call headed out and grinned when it went through.Harwin’s gold face filled the screen.“Skylar!How are you doing?”
“I wanted to ask you the same, Harwin.Did the Dyturan show up?”
“Yeah.He and Ra walked off and had bro time, and then he left.Weirdly, he seemed surprised that you were one of his people.”
Chloe called out from the floor.“Ha!”
Harwin asked, “Who was that?”
“The owner of my ship, apparently.Chloe...what was your last name?”
“Harwin.Chloe Harwin.”
Harwin’s eyes bugged out.“No fucking way.”
Skylar looked at her and pointed to her own chest.“Skylar Harwin.The Queen of Aten is known as Harwin but was Charlotte Harwin, and you are Chloe Harwin?”
“Yup.It does explain our genetic similarities.”Chloe leaned back into the greenery that moved to support her.“Gertrude, split screen and visual on my face.”
Skylar saw both of them, and there was a definite similarity in the cheekbones and the curve of their lips.“Oh.I see it now.”
Harwin nodded.“I see it as well.”
Skylar nodded.“Chloe, can you name a few of your grandparents or great-grandparents?”
“Well, Gertrude’s husband was named Morris.Morris had seven siblings, five boys and two girls.”
Skylar asked, “Was one of the men named Melvin?”
“Melvin, Argus, Theodore, Morris, Wendle, and Charlie.Those were the great uncles.”
“Our grandfather was Theo.” Harwin smiled.“Does Skylar have access to any of your relatives?”
Skylar shook her head.“Nope.There is no one.They all died before I was born.”
Chloe smiled.“I am thirty-five.My parents died in an accident when I was two.Grandparents were already gone.”
Harwin teared up.
Skylar explained, “Harwin just had a baby this week.She’s very in touch with the idea of lost family.”
