"Do you still think of it as an 'invasion'?" Little you asks with a tilt of your head. Your pigtails sway with the motion.

It's a good question, but yes. I think so. A nonviolent one, but an intrusion on the human species, nonetheless.

The Shadow took a break to rest, to discuss, to... relate to one another.

Even Tameka backed me into a hidden corner of the ravine. With love in her eyes—such extraordinary love—she convinced me everything was all right between us. After so much overexposure during my Verse, I craved the contact with her. We kept everyone waiting another hour. We weren't the only ones to return with a few buttons undone or sleeves slipped off. Every couple was a little disheveled as they found their places.

Korac glided his hand down Sagan's shoulders, displaying her bare arms, free of their ribbons.

It was oddly comforting. So normal, natural, and healthy. How could everyone having sex in my stronghold come across as so wholesome?

I actually laughed aloud at how ridiculous it sounded in my head.

Tameka quirked a brow at me with a sexy smile. "Are we thinking the same thing?"

It felt good to say, "Yeah. I think so." I kissed her hair and walked us back to the fireplace in my study. When I turned around...

Wow.

One day, we'd return every pillow and blanket back to their respective couches and beds, but it might take a while.

I asked my growing audience, "Is everyone comfortable?" I kept my voice from trembling with anxiety.

They responded with various forms of "Sure, Wingmaster." "Aye, aye cap'n." Or quiet toasts with their drinks and food.

Tameka gave my hand a reassuring squeeze, and I was as ready as I'd ever be.

"Who wants this one?"

Silence stood. "I do."

I gave a small bow with my head. "Yes, foremother."

At my reverence, Silence beamed and glided to one wall covered in journals, asking, "Which will it be?"

"Four hundred and ninety-eight. Page two hundred and eighty-three."

The woman responsible for all of our creation smiled a thousand-watt movie-star beam as she read the first few lines. "If that creature who opened a conduit to Earth was a Thailean Mystic, I would eat my robes."

Kyle laughed. "How did that marinate in hindsight?"

Andrew asked, "Yeah, how could you tell it was Remorse?"

I ran a hand through my hair while I said, "I didn't, but... I knew Mystic sightings were rare, made more ironic given Korac was regularly conversing with one in secret."

The Iona General shrugged.

I confessed, "Still. Nothing is as beautiful as a conduit opening for the first time. The desert waited on the other side. I decided, once more, to forgive Nox. After all, he'd brought me the stars."

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"Fascinating. I wonder if the conduit occurs in a place or if he fashions it there? Are all conduits connected by the Seam? If so..." I could go on and on, fidgeting with Elden's nacre shard while ruminating about the physics and metaphysics of blood-borne conduits.

Fortunately, Korac drove me out of it with the lure of a race. How could anything be better than the three of us crossing into a new planet in peace and sport?

Regarding my wingless lover, I said, "Fair race. No flying. Ready?"

Korac said, "Set."

Nox finished it. "Go!"

But it wasn't meant to be. Remorse interrupted us to harass my brother. Meanwhile, Korac and I were the first to reach Earth and the first to...

Well...

In my study, the Iona General suggested, "I think we can skip the sex scene this time."

"Who says you get a say?" Pehton cried from across the room.

Sagan laughed before agreeing with her husband. "Leave it to the imagination, girl."

I could hear the grin in the Lyrik's voice as Pehton said, "Caedes has me covered, anyway."

Wholesome and healthy.

It made it hard to push on, but... "Silence, can you please continue reading?"

With a sad smile, as if she'd already read ahead, Silence continued.

With less of a fight than I'd expected, Nox agreed to let me build my stronghold in peace. For the next phase of my work, I needed complete privacy. It might strain my relationship with Korac, but I couldn't have them peering over my shoulder for their own inspiration.

Life.

I would create it. Soon.

While I wanted a fresh start with my brother, I couldn't trust him enough with something as monumental as this. Baby steps.

Still, when I went to scout a location, it meant leaving Korac for the evening. When I thought about how I felt for him, it was bittersweet. I'd loved no one more, and my heart ached against leaving him, even for a few hours, because I knew the truth.

Many days alone were ahead.

On the bright side, I found the perfect site only an hour's flight away. When I stood on the level ground above a thin sheet of bedrock, it felt...

Perfect. Right.

The stars twinkled in their agreement.

For what I envisioned, it would take time and advances in technology beyond my imagination, but for now, a simple building would do. I found some volunteers to pay after I bought materials from the proper sources. We broke ground in no time.

A few hours later, the foundation was on its way. I worked alongside the men, dirty and entirely too focused. The foreman was remiss to inform me that they'd spent the better part of the night ignoring their duties at the camp to help me.

Even after they left, I kept working, taking pride in the aches even my nacre couldn't address immediately. Lifting one-ton blocks was hard work.

The small version of you giggles. "Those were some big blocks."

Yes. I was properly exhausted by the time I returned to camp for a day in Korac's care. I wasn't expecting to find humans in Nox's tent.

Colita gloated, "I brought them here."

"Quite impressive. Look at you, our lady diplomat." I patted her on the back and instantly regretted it. So much dirt. "Oh... I am so sorry."

She glared at me and scoffed. "There is no way you should expect to confer with the General while looking so filthy."

Point made, but that didn't stop me from greeting our first humans with grimy hands. They seemed to appreciate it.

Elden, they were fuzzy. And varied. Their hair and eye color, muscle and fat composition, intelligence—I spent several hours in Nox's tent recording observations the way we'd often seen Iuo record our histories. I almost managed to sneak a hair sample, but alas...

The sun threatened our horizon.

Nox offered to let the humans stay in our camp, but Colita volunteered to return with them to their homes as an ambassador. It suited her, but the risk to her skin exposure under Sol's radiation resurfaced some ongoing concerns.

To my dismay.

Especially with the considering glance from Nox as he saw Colita and our visitors out of the tent.

New planet. New sky. New problems.