Ryee gathered a large group of diplomats to find many of the people I listed. “But, the ones whom I said would marry, these are the ones who should find them.”
J~oie smiled. “Then, I shall be operative!” Pas looked worried.
“My ba, wait until we return with Greg Wehn Cet. Then the rest of you may search.”
All of our clones came to us. My sisters were very different, yet had all my memories! One was Areonian and one of Ryee’s were Areonian. They planned to live on Earth! But many chose to be traders, scientists, join DS, learn to be artisans, and fully twenty made ready to leave for Sigan Mas! Fifty already married. Some chose other husbands and wives than another Adia or Ryee. Most did not resemble us.
Two couples did. The first one trembled. “I am Ay, but I am not brave.”
I laughed and hugged her. “Do not worry. I was not. Father Of All shall help you as He did me.”
The second hugged us both. “Oh, we shall go to Esteerr now! I am eager to end large network slavery!” As the three of our minds touched, and Ryee’s bae, we saw many more futures! Then, Adia and Ryonne~ ran to my husband’s small green ship and left. Ay and Ryee will stay with us and help many of our Team find their Earthan wives, or husbands! They also saw futures that I did not. After our injuries, they will help rule Ye~.
Ry’nao, Cevit Ion, Peatabus, First Galaxy Minister, Butres Nu of Ea~ who is Eighth Galaxy Minister, and Rosiop Of Nopera, Fourth Galaxy Minister, traveled with us to Earth. Many of Ryee’s friends gathered around us. Ry’nao coordinated many as Ay showed him locations and needs. I was happy to let her! Pas stood near with his ennead, but she seemed not to need them as I did! She added more to herself than I did.
Others stood with us in our Link. Ishmarel, First Prince Of Zheiea, set course for Earth! He asked me to share memories of Alice again, but Ay did. She saw much more detail of this Earthan destined to be Queen of all Zheiea! Taredias Gupa and Siasch, now Equal Partners of Samar Thaae, ported to us. They also—their clones—will travel with us. This Siasch knows healing! With him were clones of his wife, whom Taredias woke, his son and daughter. They went with Berto to another chamber.
When we made our plans, Ryee led me to our chamber, once his alone. J~oie came after us and gave us a folded tapestry. “A gift for your wedding, ba. I am very happy that you found happiness. O, I hope for mine also! Fa and Mea are happy also.”
We smiled and unfolded it. At Therapy Square, Ryee carried me to his ship, followed by my family, Vonn and Derees with his children and wife. How I feared this, but my future changed between the time I first saw it and lived it. Regen was terrible, but for a few mins rather than hours.
“Love, should I try to think harder about—when I meet Eriganh?” O, my treacherous body shook!
He gasped and carried me to our bed. The tapestry now had a place on the wall. “Ne think. You can ne—”
“When you worried that M’Naga betrayed you in D’gharr, you studied the memory until you found that he was trained to do this! I should face my fear—”
“I lacked judgment to do such! My unwells caused you great distress, and yet I continued? O, I hope I ne ever do this. Ay, a woman can ne. Many of our women choose diplomacy and find that their bodies can ne withstand their work. Mea is one of five diplomats who are women. Men number 1046! She nearly died twice as many times as Fa. My fathers lost their wives early. I fear to lose you, Ay!”
I clung to him and wept. “What shall I do, if I miss, when he comes?”
“Dear wife, I had ne warning of danger, and survived my work. We have progs. Kirnonos knows much we can ne know. I fear for you, this weight on you! We shall work hard, but we can ne expect perfection. We can expect that our love helps us endure.” Tenderly, he kissed my forehead.
Bellsong rose. Then, Ryee sat and stared towards the wallportal. D’gmiash stood there, looking about.
“D’gmiash, my friend, why stand you here?” Ryee’s chest heaved. His face was striking orange.
“I heard music and thought you must be awake. I—” His eyes turned dark. “Are you upset?”
Ryee held out his hand. “I am ne angry. But I must teach you of us. Ne come in the chamber of any married, without a holo. We—” My poor husband struggled for a way to tell him.
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Ni’olmai rushed in and grabbed his ba’s arm. “D’gmiash, you must not come to a Zheien’s room. Pardons, my friends.”
“I just wanted to ask if we could look for Jen tomorrow. Please call me Doug, like she does.” He did not look at us. His face drooped.
Ryee pulled his head against his shoulder. “Doug, my friend, I am ne angry. All must learn.”
“Zheien have many rules, and I try to remember, and I forget. Maybe they hit me too many times and made me stupid.”
We both pulled him closer. “Pas writes progs for those who cannot remember things. Many of our Areonian friends from the hospital, and even Vonn’s brother Tan needs them. If you ask, he will give them to you. I feel overwhelmed because they are more than I had on Areon. But they are wise rules, and I know they will help me.
“You and I are learning a diff culture than that of our youth, yes? Zheien are patient. You have time to learn. Do not fear that we will treat you as Etkar did. Anyone who rescues as many diplomats as you did has injury. They fought you with telepathy and fists! Pas found evidence of many regens.”
He cried softly. “He gave me yllis. Why did it not heal me? I am surprised I remember my name!”
I rubbed the back of his head. “When there is injury, there is pain. My friend, even Pirad cannot make me as I was before my injuries. My emotions and my sleep are unwell. But I have help, and so do you.” So disappointing, that yllis did not and Pirad could not make me as I was before DF! But, I have skills, and I can learn new ones. Ryee’s mind supplies what injury took from me. Perhaps Jen’s mind helps his.
“Doug, we will take you to find Jen, but first we must find Greg Wehn Cet—”
“Wehn Cet! He will make us all slaves! Mirado knows him.” Doug shivered!
“No, this is his son, and he is a good man. He will help TS bar Opseh Wehn Cet from trading. Greg Wehn Cet will help us.”
“If he is good, then can I go to help you find him?” His blue eyes wavered between dark and light.
“No, we need you to help entertain our people while they must wait. Your poetry inspires them to do their best work. This is why it is so important that Ye~ have a poet. Why not write some love poetry for your maiden?”
He rubbed tears off his face and his hands, on our redviolet blanket. I resisted a smile.
“Doug, water does not hurt Ryee or me now. Progs run for you, if any need protection. Soon, none of our Yeff shall need them.” Even now, at home, Pirad’s army of clones worked to alter everyone’s bodies for our new environs. And, all who wanted clones, had them. Ryee named all of our people Elders. And, all Areonians and Elshars who joined our colony. Other species, also.
None of our diplomats will need to travel now, for their clones will. Traders and other travelers, such as in DS and ScSv Teams. All who rule on any Zheien world. Every Zheien world will have clones of these three Bisillip Elders, and Ahstam, as well as other great healers. Our world changes today because of the new fuel that enables travel! The Cube Of White Light did this, for all of us.
“I don’t want to hurt anybody. Ni, help me remember, would you?”
“Bahie, I will. Let us leave so they can get some sleep. Maybe they want to talk of important things before sleep.” His eyes turned very light blue.
“Ni’olmai, will you take him to Pas, or Kas if Pas sleeps? He needs frequent healing.”
“We will go to Kas. I want to learn healing for when you have the ache, Bahie.”
He staggered, and Ni’olmai held him up. “My head hurts, but this—” he waved at his chest, “—hurts more. I don’t like to complain.”
“Pas said if you had any pain to see him or Kas. Let me carry you.”
“Zheien worry. I don’t want to worry them, Ni.”
“Healers get upset if you wait to see them. If you let them heal you, it gives them practice, and then they are better healers, are they? You are happy and they are happy.” He picked him up.
Doug nodded. “I want to make him happy. I’ll let him heal me.”
Ni’olmai walked out with him.
I giggled. “Poor Doug! Maybe we should run a lock prog like my parents used to do. Aronna walked in on them several times until she learned.”
Ryee found one and ran it. “I worry for him. If he lacks judgment, we should ne let him leave our ship.”
“When we find Jen for him, he must be there. She fears men, but he will attract her. Let us take Ni’olmai also. He knows how to speak to his ba to help him.
“Tomorrow, finding Greg Wehn Cet will be easy. Telling him who we are shall not.”
My husband smiled. “O, I shall convince him. It is like any negotiation.”
Soon, we enjoyed bellsongs, then prayed our gratitude for one another.
I pulled his hand to my cheek and he caressed it. Warmth followed his fingers. But, I did not forget to wave for a bowl of ea fae. Enjoyed the comfort my ‘healing’ brought him. Progs controlled his shakings today, but I dreaded the next time unwells found him. My telepathy is too damaged for me to learn healing. Yet, in that future, I did become a healer. Perhaps the Cube will enable it. But I will have unwells, when we are injured.
Fear and doubt are part of missions. This mission will be my hardest work. Maybe I should not think much about our future. For now, my work is to find these Earthans, for purposes I do not know. It is something I can do while I wait for the Final Battle.