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“If I could arrange for you to be moved back to your quarters, would you promise to rest until they release you?” Vivian asked.

“I will,” he said firmly.

“I don’t believe him,” Vor said. “He’d be up and dressed and trying to force me back to the ship.”

“He would,” Kail added. “He’s not the most patient of us.”

“I am the most patient of you.”

“No, that’s Vor,” Zahn said. “I hear you are finally mated.”

“I am. And everything about Li’Orani was and is worth whatever wait I was forced to endure.”

“No regrets?” Zahn asked.

“None at all. I’m completely happy. Or, I was.”

“What does that mean? You’re not giving up Li’Orani?” Vivian said somewhat alarmed.

“Oh, no! Never. But now that I’ve been here for a while, I’m remembering how different life is down here. I’m realizing how different our lives could be.”

“You cannot have my job,” Zahn said, realizing exactly where Vor’s comments were going. “I will fight you for it,” Zahn continued, trying to throw the sheet off of his legs so he could stand up to fight Vor.

“No, I will not fight you — yet. But I have an offer for you and for our Sirena. And for the rest of you, as well,” Vor said, looking around at those he’d guarded Vivian with since she’d first been found and brought onto Command Warship 1.

Everyone watched Vor, waiting for his proposal.

“If Li’Orani agrees to move to the palace, I would like to share the status of Captain of the Sirena’s guard with you. It will allow me to do what I’ve been more rewarded by — guarding our Sirena — and build a life with my Ehlealah here on Cruestace. I believe she would quickly adapt to and flourish here on Cruestace rather than living on Command Warship 1. Further, since you’re now mated,”

“Not quite,” Au'revele reminded with a smirk.

“Almost mated,” Vor corrected, “if we shared the position, it would give us both a fair amount of time to be on duty, and a fair amount of time to be off duty so that we can spend more time with our Ehlealahs.”

Zahn immediately looked at Vivian who was grinning at Vor. “Sirena?” he asked.

“I want the two of you to do whatever is best for the two of you, and therefore the best for all of you,” she said, turning to glance at Rel, Kail and Asl. “But if it’s my blessing you’re looking for, you have it. I would love nothing more than to have all of you here in the palace with me. You’re all my family, my friends.”

“When will you be moving to the planet permanently?” Zahn asked.

Vor smiled his characteristic wide smile. “As soon as Li’Orani agrees.”

“This is good. These are very good changes taking place,” Zahn said. He reached for Au'revele’s hand and held it in his. “Good changes.”

“We’ll all be together again,” Asl said, as he and Kail and Rel all shook hands with Vor to welcome him permanently back.

“Does anyone remember Sirena Vivi pushing over the shelves on top of us as she ran around the ship evading our every effort to protect her?” Rel asked.

“You were not an easy female to protect,” Zahn told her.

“You all are still just offended by the fact that a little human outsmarted you,” Vivian said, grinning at each of them. “I’m going to speak with the doctors about releasing you. But you won’t be alone. You’ll have to have someone taking care of you to be sure that you follow their instructions to heal properly.”

“I will, Sirena. If you can just get me out of here I will be forever grateful and do whatever it is that you say I should do,” Zahn said gratefully.

“I’ll see what I can do,” Vivian said, starting for the door on her way to speak to the physician in charge of his care.

Vor launched into the story of how she slipped past them and stayed hidden on the ship for hours.

“Sirena, may I come with you, I have something to discuss with you,” Au'revele said.

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