Chloe smiled.“Friends of the family raised me, many friends of the family.They taught me about farming and planting and listening to the land.Nature became my caretaker and babysitter.”
Harwin frowned.“Are you lying down?”
“Yup.I just got a brace lock off my leg, and I will have to get Skylar to help me to a med bed.Right now, I am just admiring the ceiling.”
Harwin grinned.“Skylar, I am feeling the need for another visit.Your godson wishes to see you.”
“His biggest focus is your boobs.”
Harwin shrugged.“Just like his dad.Anyway, please come by.We have the best healing units geared toward enhanced humans.Seriously.We can also fix your hair.”
“I am not worried about my hair.I have been in that lock for sixteen months.Walking is going to take some doing.”She paused.“I wouldn’t mind getting the station tattoo off my head, though.”
Harwin’s lower lip wobbled.“Done.”
Chloe called out, “Gertrude, set course for Aten.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Harwin blinked.“The ship is yours?”
Chloe grinned.
Skylar snorted.“She used me as bait.The Dyturan wasn’t after me; he was following her ship.”
“Sucker.”Chloe chortled.
Harwin looked at them both and started laughing.“One family reunion coming up.”
* * * *
Harwin was grinningand laughing and grinning again.Ra was setting up more colonists and organizing things with Harran in the crook of his arm.“Well, Harwin, is Skylar safe?”
“Oh, yeah.And we found out why the Dyturan came this way.”
Ra nodded.“He was chasing her ship, not another Dyturan.”
Harwin felt her grin threatening to split her face.
Ra paused.“What do you know?”
“I know who owns the ship and who she is.Well, mostly.”
He looked at their son.“Mama is trying to draw this out.”
“The ship is named Gertrude, it is bioactive, and the captain is Chloe...Harwin.The plants come when she calls.”
Ra’s eyes were wide.“Another Harwin?Oh, no.Harran, I don’t think the universe is ready for her.”
Harwin grinned and took their son.“Tough because she and Skylar are on the way.She had been in a mag-cage.Her muscles don’t know what to do anymore.Since we have the best repair units available, I invited them here.Maybe we can have a sleepover.”
“Only if the baby and I can be there.You don’t sleep without me anymore.”
“So, dinner it will be.”She asked, “What did the Dyturan say?”
“When I explained what was in that ship, he looked disappointed.How did she get it?”
“Oh, Chloe used the ship as bait for some reason.”
