Helen checked the GPS on her phone as the dawn light crested the horizon, bouncing its blinding light off the high windows surrounding them as Torvil drove them through Manhattan. Jen’s gentle snores made up for the silence as she leaned against Torvil from the middle seat of Taylor’s pickup truck.

Helen felt bad for taking Taylor’s vehicle however, after vaguely explaining the situation to his parents, Scott and Samantha, they were willing to accept the money Helen had offered for it. She was not stingy about how much she gave them; it was more than enough to get the young man something to replace it within their ability as mechanics to restore an older vehicle.

After 20 minutes Helen began to nudge the sleeping bear of a woman to consciousness. Jen let out a groan as she shifted herself tightly against Torvil who had to adjust his grip, gripped the steering wheel with muttered curses. Helen just chuckled, “its about time to get up.”

“Coffee, or 20 minutes… or its your death,” Jen murmured sleepily. Torvil smirked as he reached into the door panel and pulled up a lukewarm go-cup of coffee and gently nestled it into Jen’s folded arms against her chest.

Jen moaned happily as she sat up, shifting the coffee cup into her hand and kissing him on the cheek, “I knew there was a reason I liked you.” Not seeing the grin on Helen’s face she took a sip and nearly spit the liquid back into the cup. “Ugh! Its not even hot! To think I almost liked you,” she complained as she forced herself through another sip with a grimace.

Torvil tutted, “I can assume things are never enough for Terran women?”

That made Helen laugh out loud as she watched her friend somberly drink the coffee in a steady stream as she stared at the early morning traffic. Jen reached out with her arm and held Helen against the passenger door while Helen laughed. “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it,” Helen told him cheekily. “It takes a while to learn what makes Jen happy.”

Torvil grunted in thought as she watched Jen’s lips curl into the smallest of smiles as she continuously drank her coffee like a child with a sippy cup. Helen shrugged as they approached the block Dr. Yuma’s office was on and leaned her head on the window. “Besides, if you ever need a reference, just ask yourself if it involves hot caffeine, alcohol or violence. If it has at least one of those then it’s the right option.”

“Shut up wench! You’re not supposed to give him the keys to my pants!” Jen snapped only to crack a smile towards the end of her sentence. Helen chuckled as they pulled into the parking spot near the office, even Torvil snorted at the complaint with a smile of his own.

Jen rubbed her eyes with a groan, “god damn it. I couldn't even say that with a straight face. Neither of you are playing fair!” she huffed dramatically before shifting across the seat, subtly trying to push Helen out the door faster.

Torvil chuckled as he got out of the truck. He looked into the cab at her and asked, “would you have preferred we kept you up and played unfair the whole time?”

Jen merely stuck her tongue out at him as she hopped out of the truck and closed the door, dramatically giving him the middle finger through the window.

Helen smiled to herself as she shook her head and took a deep breath. The city air was different compared to the mountain air of Colorado. It had a sort of carbon and metallic tinge to it that made the environment so foreign. It was a much-needed distraction to her from the two children she travelled with.

Calling Torvil and Jen children was a joke considering Jen was only two years younger than Helen, and surprisingly Torvil was over twice their age. As it turned out, the Eskarii reach age about the same rate as Terrans until about age 30, then their cellular growth slows down to a crawl, expanding the average lifespan of the Eskarii towards 500 years. It was a fascinating fact to Helen. When she asked Torvil why that was, he had explained that the Eskarii’s reproductive cycle differed from Terrans. Where as Terrans could reproduce every year, which has lead to the populace of billions. The female Eskarii have a reproductive cycle every 20 or so years, which according to him, their genetic evolution had altered their lifespan longevity to compensate for their low scale population. Their numbers only ranged into a half a billion in comparison to Terrans.

She considered the implications that kind of longevity would have on humanity and Helen was thankful geneticists were not privy to that information.

When Helen opened the door with a soft electronic chime and stepped into the waiting area of what looked to be an old dentist office, she did not expect see a beautiful, young Eskarii with long teal hair and bright sunflower yellow eyes to be standing there waiting. Helen recognized the young Eskarii as Mo’Emori, with how often Morrigan had spoken about her. She had a warm expecting smile on her face a she leaned against the reception desk, her floral print dress clinging to her modestly. Helen could see how her daughter found the woman attractive.

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Mo’Emori’s smile faltered as soon as Helen heard Torvil say “chwaeda” from behind. Her bare feet padded harshly against the thin carpet of the waiting room as she stormed past Helen and Jen, not even acknowledging their existence as she hauled back and punched Torvil square in the nose.

“Pah'sk!” Torvil exclaimed as he hunched over clenching his face, orange pastel blood dripping off the back of his hand. Both women watched in surprise as Mo’Emori flew into a tirade in their native language so fast that Helen could not make out what Mo’Emori was saying as she continuously slapped Torvil’s head like an irate Italian woman.

“I, for sure, like this girl,” Jen whispered into Helen’s ear as she fought back the need to laugh at the spectacle. Helen had to purse her lips in an effort not to smile at her friend’s comment. It was a failed attempt as the smile broke through, shifting both of their surprise into amusement.

Mo’Emori grabbed Torvil by the hair and yanked him back upright before firmly saying “Bra'cut.” Torvil was still holding his nose as his sister wedged herself underneath his arm and wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace. “I missed you brawder…” she said sullenly. Jen choked on a laugh as she tilted her head in surprise confusion by the swift shift of emotion.

Torvil nodded and waved his free hand at them in a way that told them that her tirade was acceptable and that everything was fine before cautiously wrapping his arm around his upset sister. Even Helen had to bite her lip to curb the amused expression she wore.

Abruptly, Mo’Emori pulled away from her brother and turned to the two women and spread her arms as she took a step forward. “Mem Helen! It is so good to finally see you!” she said cheerily. Helen barked a laugh as she accepted the Eskarii’s embrace. She finally heard the word she used but she had no idea what it meant, but by Torvil’s eye roll, it was a good word in their language.

Mo’Emori was only two inches taller than Morrigan however, she still fit perfectly in her arms. Part of her soul felt as if she were actually holding her own daughter in a loving embrace instead of a moody alien woman. For the brief instance of recognition, Helen considered the feeling to be accurate. “Its good to finally see you too honey,” she said happily as she pressed her cheek into the side of the presumably young Eskarii’s head.

Mo’Emori grinned brightly at Helen when she let go and turned to smile sweetly at Jen. “You must be Jen, my brawder's 'friend’,” her silken voice emphasizing friend, as Mo’Emori’s smile cracked into a bright toothy smile.

Jen lifted her arms expectantly, shifting into a shamelessly guilty stance with her hips shifting to the side and her head tilting playfully in the opposite direction. “Bring it in girlie!” she said with her usual half crazy smile. Mo’Emori wasted no time, giggling as she pulled Jen into a hug only to be lifted in the air by her in a crushing hug. “You’re by far my favorite alien!” Jen stated as she listened to Mo’Emori squeal in surprise and laugh joyously as she swung her around.

“Great…” Torvil groaned as he watched his Terran love interest pander to his sister’s joyous nature.

When Jen set the giggling woman down, she turned to see Torvil checking his nose to make sure the blood had clotted. She put her hands on her hips and asked, “what’s your problem you grump?”

All three women watched as he tried to wave them off. “The women in my life will make sure I won’t see my first century.”

Jen awed him as she wrapped her arm around his neck and pulled him in to kiss his cheek. “Don’t worry,” she said as she patted his chest, “I’ll make sure you keep on living.” Torvil blushed at Jen’s display of affection in front of his sister who proceeded to clap happily with a big grin on her face.

Before anyone could say anything else, an older Asian man stepped into the room, stopping to take on the scene. “I feel as if I missed something,” he said.

“Nah, just some good old sibling love! Hey, do we have coffee?” Jen piped up before anyone else could react.

Helen turned and smiled at the man, “Dr. Yuma, a pleasure to see you.” Yuma stepped up to her and held out his hand.

“Its good to see you as well Mrs. Clarke,” he stated when she accepted his handshake. “I hope your trip went well?”

Helen chuckled as she gestured to her companions, “its always interesting with these two. Sadly, I wish we were here under better circumstances however, it is nice to have a change of scenery as well as being able to lend a hand.”

Yuma nodded knowingly and turned to the others, “a pleasure Torvil, and you Miss Simmons,” he said sagely with a nod in their direction before turning back to Helen, “I take it you are officially no longer with the Federation?”

Helen nodded, trying to hide the hurt at losing her job and the anger she felt towards the Federation government, “that is correct, I have no longer work for and hold no loyalty to the Federation… everything they have done to my family… the Federation could burn for all I care.”

Yuma understood her feelings. Her family had been a priority for some time for him and Mo’Emori. “Is there any chance you would be willing to work with me and my superiors?” he asked carefully. When she cocked her head to the side as he continued, “Mo'Emori and I work for the CoU unofficially. They were rather excited to hear that there was a possible defector within the Federation’s Intelligence Division. I am quite certain they would seek your knowledge while we work on finding James, Taylor and Morrigan.”

“Yes, I can do that,” she said with a determined nod. If betraying Federation secrets meant cooperation into finding her family, Helen would gladly oblige.

Yuma smiled, “then we should get to work. I have to reopen in the next few days.” He turned towards Jen and smirked, “there is coffee in the room across from my office on the right Miss Simmons. Please help yourself.”

Jen laughed and pumped her arm as Yuma turned to lead Helen back to his office, “noice!”

Mo’Emori giggled before smiling at her brother sardonically, “L’roeso Ï Y CoU brawder.” Torvil’s expression deadpanned as he grumbled under his breath in annoyance.