is. Your eyesight is really good.” Mayden seemed surprised.
Roxy chuckled as Natu joined them. “Talents are always doubted until they prove themselves. Mayden is an easy convert.”
Mayden made a face and elbowed Roxy.
“You two are the same species.” There was no doubt. The cellular patterns were so similar, it was obvious.
Roxy grinned. “We are. The Drai have found that Terrans turn into suitable Drai mates with only a little tampering.”
“Tampering?”
Mayden laughed, “DNA renovation. Mild internal alteration. Nothing that is too onerous. We make our mates pay in the long run, and they don’t seem to mind.”
Natu snorted and gave his attention to his soup.
They passed the rest of the meal in affable conversation, and when she had returned her tray to the rack, Riasa started yawning. It had been over a day since she had slept. It didn’t seem right to nap while Natu was stuck at the helm, and she wouldn’t nap while he was resting. He had done all that flying after all. He had to be more tired than she was.
Natu came up and took care of his own dishes. “And with that yawn, you are going to be my guest. Come on, Riasa. You need some rest.”
He put his arm around her waist and bustled her through the facility and out a double door that opened as they approached.
“Where are we going?”
“Over that way. There are homes built for the Guardsmen and women. Not all beings enjoy crafting a home with their own hands.” He chuckled.
The houses were neat, and as they walked down the lane, they got larger. Natu’s home was the pale grey of his eyes and the doors were obviously designed for his wingspan.
The interior furnishings were built along the same large scale. There wouldn’t be a problem sleeping on the couch; it was the same width as a twin bed.
“Just get me a blanket and pillow and I will be fine.” She swayed as she leaned on the arm of the couch.
He paused, sighed and stomped off to the second floor. When he came back, she had opened the neckline of her suit and had to wait while he set up her bed for her. The moment he turned back the blanket, she shifted from foot to foot.
“If you need the lav, it is off the kitchen on the left.”
She poked him in the shoulder. “No, I am just waiting for you to leave so I can get out of this suit. I know it gets cleaned when I take a solar or sonic, but I like to sleep with just the sheets against my skin. So, shoo.”
He opened and closed his mouth before kissing her on the cheek and leaving her for the night. She sighed in relief and peeled out of the bodysuit, folding it carefully and draping it over the arm of the couch.
She was asleep the moment that she was covered by the blanket.
* * * *
Natu waited five minutes and carried Riasa to his bed, tucking the blanket around her and crawling in with a few layers of fabric between them. Their first night sleeping next to each other had proved that she was a heavy sleeper. There was no reason for her to stay on the couch when his bed had plenty of room.
He smiled as she snuffled and curled toward him as she slept. If he was honest with himself, he didn’t want her downstairs because he wanted her with him.
Linking himself with an alien would lock his world from him forever, but he was prepared for that. The laws of his people were strict and designed to keep the population safe and separated from other races. The genetic stability that they had finally achieved was a delicate balance of bloodlines and alteration. To introduce a new genome would wreck centuries of careful design. If he and Riasa had children, they would not be able to claim any world as their own. Resicor wouldn’t have them and Urtannin would kill them on sight.
He pushed the dark thoughts away and enjoyed the feel of his partner in his bed. This was nice. He should have them make alterations to the bed in the ship so that sleeping together became possible rather than a defiance of physics.
Smiling, he
Roxy chuckled as Natu joined them. “Talents are always doubted until they prove themselves. Mayden is an easy convert.”
Mayden made a face and elbowed Roxy.
“You two are the same species.” There was no doubt. The cellular patterns were so similar, it was obvious.
Roxy grinned. “We are. The Drai have found that Terrans turn into suitable Drai mates with only a little tampering.”
“Tampering?”
Mayden laughed, “DNA renovation. Mild internal alteration. Nothing that is too onerous. We make our mates pay in the long run, and they don’t seem to mind.”
Natu snorted and gave his attention to his soup.
They passed the rest of the meal in affable conversation, and when she had returned her tray to the rack, Riasa started yawning. It had been over a day since she had slept. It didn’t seem right to nap while Natu was stuck at the helm, and she wouldn’t nap while he was resting. He had done all that flying after all. He had to be more tired than she was.
Natu came up and took care of his own dishes. “And with that yawn, you are going to be my guest. Come on, Riasa. You need some rest.”
He put his arm around her waist and bustled her through the facility and out a double door that opened as they approached.
“Where are we going?”
“Over that way. There are homes built for the Guardsmen and women. Not all beings enjoy crafting a home with their own hands.” He chuckled.
The houses were neat, and as they walked down the lane, they got larger. Natu’s home was the pale grey of his eyes and the doors were obviously designed for his wingspan.
The interior furnishings were built along the same large scale. There wouldn’t be a problem sleeping on the couch; it was the same width as a twin bed.
“Just get me a blanket and pillow and I will be fine.” She swayed as she leaned on the arm of the couch.
He paused, sighed and stomped off to the second floor. When he came back, she had opened the neckline of her suit and had to wait while he set up her bed for her. The moment he turned back the blanket, she shifted from foot to foot.
“If you need the lav, it is off the kitchen on the left.”
She poked him in the shoulder. “No, I am just waiting for you to leave so I can get out of this suit. I know it gets cleaned when I take a solar or sonic, but I like to sleep with just the sheets against my skin. So, shoo.”
He opened and closed his mouth before kissing her on the cheek and leaving her for the night. She sighed in relief and peeled out of the bodysuit, folding it carefully and draping it over the arm of the couch.
She was asleep the moment that she was covered by the blanket.
* * * *
Natu waited five minutes and carried Riasa to his bed, tucking the blanket around her and crawling in with a few layers of fabric between them. Their first night sleeping next to each other had proved that she was a heavy sleeper. There was no reason for her to stay on the couch when his bed had plenty of room.
He smiled as she snuffled and curled toward him as she slept. If he was honest with himself, he didn’t want her downstairs because he wanted her with him.
Linking himself with an alien would lock his world from him forever, but he was prepared for that. The laws of his people were strict and designed to keep the population safe and separated from other races. The genetic stability that they had finally achieved was a delicate balance of bloodlines and alteration. To introduce a new genome would wreck centuries of careful design. If he and Riasa had children, they would not be able to claim any world as their own. Resicor wouldn’t have them and Urtannin would kill them on sight.
He pushed the dark thoughts away and enjoyed the feel of his partner in his bed. This was nice. He should have them make alterations to the bed in the ship so that sleeping together became possible rather than a defiance of physics.
Smiling, he
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