“Fine?”She turned her head to look at him.“So, this was enough?”
“Oh, absolutely not, but you have life to experience out here, and you need to remain with your people to do it.”
She grinned.“So, when do you leave?”
“Oh, I don’t.The warship is going to shadow you until I am called away or have to attend matters on Amtha.When I am not with you, the twos—as you call them—will be.”
She grimaced.“Fine.As long as I don’t have to wear that stupid outfit, I will let them take up space on the ship.”
“Very gracious.”He kissed her softly.“You were stunning in that outfit.You are glorious without it.”
“I did like the coronet.It made me feel like I should be able to shoot laser beams from my eyes.”
“That would have put you in prime ranking.”He chuckled.“Those invisible swords are impressive.You have them on your world?”
She laughed.“No.They were a fictional concept, but Trin is an inventor, and when the ladies mentioned something to make me feel better, she scrambled to her workshop, and off she went.”
He blinked.“Wait, she just put that together cold?”
“Yes.”
“How did she work with technology like that?”
“She and her grandparent were on Belen.They had access to everything Nebel’s people could offer, and they could offer a lot.”
“And Birun gives her everything she needs.”
“Correct.And she is mostly alone on a world with him.Her mind can scamper from idea to idea, task to task, and the station and her Hmrain take care of her and let her flourish.”
“How long will it take for you to know if you flourish?”He put a hand on her abdomen.
She blinked.“Oh right.Seven to fourteen days for early markers.At twelve weeks, the first third of gestation will be over, and it will be generally safe to announce it.”
He nodded.“You will notify me at once.”
“When I have a minute.Sure.”
Aken-Var looked at her wryly.“You are going to fight me on this?”
“Absolutely.If I do end up pregnant, I will be able to continue as captain until I am midway through gestation.At that point, I can still pilot, I just can’t do gravitational entry and exit.”
She realized something.“How long is Zowoth gestation?”
“Three hundred and thirty days.”
“Right.How big are the babies?”
“Four kilos on average.”
“Okay.About the same size as Delia then.”She wrinkled her nose.“So, are you going to let go so we can each get back to work?”
He hugged her.“One day, we will be united officially.You will be at my side.”
“Heavily armed and cursing like hell.”She patted his cheek.
“I will take it.”He grinned.
“Well, since we are at Orexi station, I should see where my team is.”
