The land speeder took five minutes to cover three kilometres. It gave Princess a chance to see the terrain she'd trekked this morning. Each slight rise felt like a mountain to her fatigued legs. As she decreased her fluid intake, her calorie consumption followed. Only the Swan's cerabonics stopped her feeling lethargic as dehydration set in.

'There,' Princess pointed out an opening in the rock face.

Spectran day's lasted twenty two Earth hours. At first light this morning she'd set out for the village. Arriving an hour later, the Swan waited, watching from a vantage point for another two before feeling safe enough to enter. Now a little after noon, she'd been absent for five hours. Fretting, Princess hoped to find Mark still alive.

They'd found the cave on the eve of their third night. Barely making it, Mark began slipping in and out of consciousness within an hour of reaching shelter. When his condition deteriorated, Princess knew she had to get supplies and find a way to send an emergency signal to the ISO. Unable to detect a reason for her commanders condtion, his cerabonic healing capacity malfunctioned. They needed rescue soon.

'You,' Mother looked aghast, 'have been living under such primitive conditions, without electricity or water.'

Nodding, Princess didn't trust herself to answer. Part of her training included survival against great odds. Right now Mark's welfare took precedence over anything else. The Commander of G-force had to stay alive. Once she had him in a secure location, the Swan could use her considerable capabilities to learn about this society and its rules. The reports she'd write for ISO headquarters would prove invaluable intelligence on the general populace. Until then, it would be best to say as little as possible in the attempt to keep her cover.

The moment the speeder set down, Princess jumped out, the transparent cover barely open. Not allowing the long, flowing Ebque to hinder her movements, Mother and Tanora noticed the precise, graceful actions. They followed several paces behind as the girl ran to her Marc. It seemed she'd come from a much higher cast than a simple Foundling. The elegant way she walked and acted at odds with her history.

Locating Princess huddled over the body of a man at the back of the cave, Mother and Tanora heard her whispering to him in the dim light. The words too soft to hear, it sounded like another language. The gentle touch, almost a caress of her hand on his cheek bespoke the emotion between the two young lovers.

'He lives,' Mother asked, uncertain at the grey pallor of his skin.

'Yes, but we must move him, quickly,' Princess turned to the woman, pleading in her eyes. 'I fear we don't have much time.'

It took all three to drag Mark to the speeder. Using the last of her cerabonically enhanced strength, the Swan hauled her Commander into the back of the vehicle. Climbing in beside him, she checked his heart rate, breathing and eyes response to light cautiously so Mother and Tanora didn't become aware of her medical training. When they'd gained some privacy, she'd be able to strip him and clean his wounds. Maybe, with decent light, Princess might find something she'd missed, causing this unusual reaction.

The trip back became a blur. Princess sat quietly in the back seat as the speeder raced over the landscape, her concentration devoted to her companion. Mark's head on her lap, she spoke the odd word to him in a High Spectran. Stroking his messy hair, it came as a shock when the forward motion of the vehicle slowed. They'd re-entered the small town.

'Yanni, Atoli,' Mother called over a communications device hung like a pendant around her neck. The speeder approached a sprawling four story building surrounded by a high fence near the middle of the Village. A gap appeared in the fence before a trap door slid open. Entering an underground cavern, the speeder parked itself. 'Come help,' she demanded.

Two young men appeared from a doorway to one side to the cave like room. With enough space to park a second speeder, the area felt empty and unused. Princess wondered why, but refrained from asking. She'd need to keep her eyes and ears open for clues. When they left, it would be good to know how many people lived in this household and the most direct route for their escape. The boys looked enough alike to be brothers. Princess guessed they were about the same age as Keyop. Eyes wide, they had to be wondering about the identity of their new visitors. When Princess stepped out of the car, the pair's expression changed to astonishment.

'Where,' the older of the two stuttered, 'did you find her?'

'Juna is to join our house,' Mother stated. The no nonsense tone didn't invite a response. 'You will accord her every courtesy of a sister. At evening meal she will share her story. Until then, help your new sister and aunt. Juna's Marc is gravely ill. Take him to his bed so she may attend him in privacy.'

'Tanora,' Mother instructed her daughter, 'please place Juna in the sleeping chamber next to Tyna.'

Acknowledging the order, the woman led the party away. Struggling under Mark's weight, the boys followed with the limp Eagle between them. Bringing up the rear, Princess took the opportunity to map the complex. Larger than it looked on the outside, they entered an elevator. Stopping on the third floor the corridor extended in both directions at least twenty meters.

'In here,' Tanora chose a door at the end of the left hall. Opening the portal, a well-appointed room held a large double bed, desk and computer station. It might have been a hotel room from the austere decoration and lack of personalisation. 'This is to be your chamber while you stay with us.'

Holding Princess back, Tanora allowed only the boys to enter. Depositing Mark on the bed, they seemed nervous but took the time to arrange him comfortably. Wanting nothing more than to be left alone with her Commander, Tanora refused to let the Swan step over the threshold. Pointing to the box beside the door, she indicated Princess should place a hand print to access the room. Spectra didn't have her unique pattern. Reluctantly Princess followed the instructions and hoped they'd never discover her true identity.

'We are extremely fortunate. All our chambers have an attached bathing room.' Only when the boys departed the room did Tanora allowed Princess to enter her new quarters, pointing out the door. 'I welcome you to your place of serenity in the House. Within these walls you have complete privacy to do with your Marc as you please.' A knowing smile covered the boys' faces, until the woman glared at them. 'The young,' she rolled her eyes, 'procreation always on their minds. Within the house, you may go about without your Ebque. We follow the old way. Mother insists on a gauze vale inside when in the company of men, not,' she turned to the two youngsters, 'boy's like these immature specimens. I will send Yanni,' Tanora pointed to the older boy, 'with appropriate clothing and refreshment once you are settled.'

'Thank you,' Princess wanted to go to Mark but felt she needed to give Tanora proper thanks. 'I am honoured by your hospitality.'

A genuine smile covered the woman's face. 'The honour goes both ways. We now have another female in the house which greatly increases our family prestige. We are thankful to the Great Spirit for such a gift and hope you will help us fill his House with more daughters in the near future.'

'How many others share this floor,' Princess asked, trying not to swallow visibly. Much had been implied during the morning and the Swan believed she could now hazard a guess at the inferred meaning. Counting five doors on each side of the hallway suggesting ten rooms, this House must contain at least fifty people.

'This wing,' Tanora indicated the left side of the elevator shaft, 'is kept for daughters of the house who have married but do not yet have a child. You will share with Tyna, Evoka and their husbands.'

'Aunt Tyan won't be in this corridor much longer,' taunted Yanni.

At the scowl his aunt levelled his way, the boy looked suddenly sheepish. 'She is with child?' Tanora asked, her tone softening the rebuke.

'That new husband,' Yanni smirked, 'must have been a good choice. Either the other two needed to work harder or he is the child's father. It will increase his standing in the family if he gives her a daughter the first time around.'

'Yes,' Tanora nodded, 'it will. Does Mother know or are you spreading this before your aunt has had a chance to tell her.'

Looking guilt, the pair of boys glanced at the floor. 'I heard her telling her husbands this morning,' Yanni confessed.

'Then we shall say no more about it,' Tanora decided, 'until Mother announces the pregnancy. As you can see,' the woman smiled at Princess, 'it is hard to keep secrets in such a large family, even while talking in the privacy of your marriage chamber.'

'Tyna,' Atoli spoke softly, almost reverently to Tanora, 'told them in the dining room, when she thought everyone else finished.'

'Then,' Tanora smiled, 'she wishes everyone to know. That girl cannot keep a secret. Still it is impolite to spread gossip until Mother unveils the pregnancy. Be off now, both of you.'

'Atoli looks like you,' Princess noted.

'He is the only child from my second husband,' Tanora turned her attention to the girl. 'Yanni is Mother's last child by her seventh husband and the only one still living in this house. The others have all married well. It is unusual to bear so late in life but our family has a history.'

'I will come to you before evening meal, so you might be properly dressed to meet the family. At the moment both my husbands and two others are in service of the Great Spirit. Rest now and take care of your husband. I will send a man servant. You may ask him to supply anything needed to heal your Marc.'

'Thank you,' it didn't seem enough gratitude to Princess as she stepped into the room. A soft whoosh signified the door closing out the crowd in the hall. Supressing a sigh of relief, the Swan went immediately to her Commander.

'Ok, let's get you undressed,' tired beyond belief, Princess prepared to use the last of her strength to keep Mark alive until the cavalry arrived. 'Once you're awake, I can tell you all about the human sides of Spectra we never suspected.'