Margo smiled.“I have been alone here for eight hours with the exception of Geri’s wonderful appearance.”
Geri inclined her head.“I will go prod the guys to come and relieve you, and you can go and get something to eat.”
“How is it that you are still connected to the ship?”
“The thing that changed my DNA gave me an affinity for digital channels.Now that the radiation is completely encapsulated in my cells, I think that they did a little bit more than just make me a suitable bed partner for a random Mathor.”
As Geri turned to leave, Margo smiled.“You do realize, Geri, that you owe him a night, even after all this time?”
Geri looked at her with a snort.“I am hoping he forgets.”
“He hasn’t forgotten.That’s a mark of royalty.”
She looked at her hand.“Well, hell.Wait, does that mean he’s...”
“In charge.”Margo chuckled.
Delia remained with her as Geri went to send the guys back.“Couldn’t you just call them?”
“Sure.That’s what these little things are on the suits.I still think it’s invasive.”
Delia chuckled.“I missed you, Mom.”
“I missed you, too.So, how long do you think I should stay out here before joining you?”
“Don’t talk like that?”
“Why not?No woman in our family has passed seventy, and I am not going to save for a retirement that I am not getting.”
“Maybe Chloe can help.”
“Chloe’s help might cost me everything.I get the feeling she can do a reversion for my humble self.I don’t want to be your age and go through it all again.That is a lot of period products.”
Delia laughed.“You also could have a chance at a second family.I mean, I am amazing, but another family would be good for you.”
“That is a lot of work.And I have a list of species I could choose from.Some of the species make cuter kids than others.”
Delia sighed.“So, you will think about it?”
“You asked me.How could I not?I mean, I don’t think Chloe can do that, and I don’t know why she would, but sure, on the off chance I found a guy I could tolerate, I would invite her to do an overhaul, and she could mess around with what was necessary.”
Delia grinned.“Thank you.I am gonna be right back.You look like you need a nap in the worst way.”
Margo watched her simply disappear.She was sitting, one hand scrubbing at her features, when her guys trooped in.“Okay, who wants to be in charge?”
Soven lifted his hand.She smiled.“Great.Soven, you are in charge.Keep us on course.The ship that was tailing us has fallen back.I am going to get some rest.Wake me if you need to.”
She headed to the food court and nodded to the other ladies.Chloe smiled.“So, Delia has spoken to me, and she said that you are not averse to having a renovation.”
Margo got her tray, walked over, and sat down.“Well, my criteria would involve actually finding a guy I wanted to have kids with.Recreation sex is easily acquired out here.I don’t court PMS lightly.”
Chloe held out her hand.“Let me see what I am dealing with.”
Margo held out her hand and kept eating with her left.She felt a warmth going through her body, and she relaxed as Chloe’s whatever was coursing through her.
She felt cool marks on her skin and smiled as some of her marks from surviving Earth appeared on her skin.They were the soft silver of her other marks, and she felt remarkably proud to wear them, even if they reminded her of the toughest part of her life.
She rotated her forearms, and there were the slashes that had nearly taken her life when she knew her Delia was gone.She exhaled slowly.
