Page 83 of Master
"Is that a Ker..." Tarook began, foreboding in his voice.
"That is our son," Daicon said, gently laying a large hand on Daisy's shoulder. The glance he gave Tarook brooked no argument.
At my side, I felt the low rumbling of a growl begin in Tarook's chest, but he said nothing. I repressed my own trepidation with a heavy swallow. While I didn’t think the child running toward us posed a threat… he was a Kerzak—a species I hoped to never see again.
"George, the other child remaining with the Bardaga, elected to stay on the ship," Emmy told us, oblivious to my mate's mood. "He is a Garoot—the species that created the machine that gave us all our twenty-something asses back. He and Toovis, the ship's healer, are in the middle of some experiment."
"I think George found it too hard to say goodbye," Daisy sighed like she knew exactly how he felt. She plastered on awide smile, holding her arms wide toward the furry little alien tottering her way.
"Hello, sweetie!"
"Hi, Mommy... Dad!"
A faint blush colored the paler patches of fur on his cheeks as the young Kerzak ran straight into Daisy's arms, tightly returning the hug.
"Is everyone excited to meet their new family, Ewok?" Daicon ruffled the gray-brown fur on his head, making two small ears twitch happily.
I grinned at the name. It couldn't be any more perfect.
"Uh-huh," he answered, flashing the beginning of small fangs that made a chill wash through my blood. But it didn't take long to see the furry little boy bore no resemblance to the creatures that hurt me. His smile was broad and happy, and the child loved Daisy and Daicon as dearly as they loved him.
Tarook seemed convinced as well. The gaze I caught him giving the small family looked wistful and warm.
Daisy shooed Ewok off to help the other children settle with another hug and a kiss on his black button nose.
"Look." Emmy’s gentle voice drew our attention towards the bustling town square, where a group of shy children met their new parents for the first time. The sunlight cast a warm glow on the scene, illuminating the bright colors of foliage and the excited chatter of the townspeople. In the center of it all, the children stood in a line, their small hands fidgeting nervously until an adult chosen to be mom or dad stepped up and, with a simple touch or smile, welcomed them home.
The six of us moved through the bustling crowd, our footsteps light and carefree. My friends and their mates introduced themselves to the villagers, who welcomed them with open arms and warm smiles. The proud new parents joyfully presented the children in a beautiful display of love and family. As I observed these heartwarming interactions, tears of happiness welled up in my eyes, touched by the pureness and beauty of it all.
My early years spent in the foster care system were far from ideal. I often felt lost and alone, longing for a stable and loving home. But as I watched the children welcomed into the Tau Ceti community, I couldn’t help but feel grateful that they would have a much better experience than I did.
As I looked around the bustling hub of activity and heard the laughter and chatter of families coming together, I knew this place offered all the things any child truly needed for a happy and fulfilling childhood. It filled me with hope for the future of these children in this loving environment.
Mei stood pressed to Bartholomeus' side, her arms joyously wrapped around a tiny creature sporting reddish skin, a long, tufted tail, and small black horns. Nearby, Buck and Lula stood with their hands linked with a tall, awkward gray adolescent sporting hair that looked like strands of thick black wire. Catching my gaze, Lula squealed, prompting the trio to wave broadly as we walked closer.
"Oh my God," Emmy gasped, her eyes going wide. "Is that Elvis?"
Close enough to hear my friend's question, a shiver of alarm passed over Lula's face.
"That's Buck and Lula. They're good friends," I told Emmy, watching Lula's mouth curve into a wide smile as she overhead.
"Sorry," Emmy waved at the couple. "After meeting Marilyn Monroe, I guess I'm on the lookout for dead celebrities."
"You met Marilyn Monroe?" I blinked.
Khaion took that opportunity to express his desire to question Mayor Parlow, so the guys set off for the jail. At the same time, we girls settled at a picnic table near the edge of the square. Emmy told the tale of meeting Marilyn Monroe and falling in love with Khaion. Daisy went next, telling how Daicon, Ewok, and the other children stole her heart. When my turn came, the story of how I thought Tarook was a client, resulting in us having sex before I knew his name, had all of us laughing.
"You win the meet cute competition," Emmy chuckled, wiping her eyes. "Although me thinking Khaion was an angel is a close second."
"I never thought I'd find love again," Daisy sighed. "The idea of life without Daicon and Ewok is unthinkable."
A tidal wave of joy surged within me, threatening to overflow and consume all other emotions. Emmy and Daisy deserved every bit of happiness to come their way. Daisy’s marriage to a cheating turd had left her broken and bitter, while Daisy’s grief over the loss of her husband seemed to break her spirit. It was as if the universe finally made things right for them to balance out the pain they had endured.
Emmy's expression grew thoughtful. "Did it hurt you… the valakana?"
I shook my head so hard the tips of my hair flicked against my cheeks. "Honestly, I thought I had heartburn."
"Mine didn't hurt exactly," Daisy admitted. "My heart felt full and achy. I thought it was stretching to accommodate Daicon. He's awfully big, you know," she added with a bawdy wink that drew a bark of laughter from me.
