Berret woke up in their bed alone the next morning. Chiana had forced him to eat a vast quantity of food the day before and the microbes seemed to have done their job of repairing more of the damage to his body.
He sat up and found he was only a little dizzy. Waiting for the spell to pass, he looked about the bedroom and for the first time realized he really didn't recall ever seeing a room like it aboard Moya. After a few microns he was able to get to his shaky feet and make it to the lavatory. He cleaned himself up and found the longer he remained upright the easier it became for him. He went back into the bedroom and found his clothes in a storage chest and dressed. He couldn't find his boots anywhere about the room so he went to the door and walked out into the corridor.
He thought it should have been Moya's corridor, but was very surprised to find himself in another larger room. He looked about himself in amazement. The room had big comfortable looking chairs, tables, and a couch placed about at various places. There was a thick carpet covering the floor that felt very good to his sock covered feet. There were a number of doorways that opened off this room; some of them shut off by closed doors and others just opened archways without them. There were numerous pictures on the wall and his attention was on going one to another when he stepped on something sharp and hard.
"Ow!" he cried out more surprised then hurt, but he still danced around on one foot until he collapsed into one of the big nearby chairs. He reached down to the object he'd stepped on and as he picked it up he saw that it was a miniature Prowler. The tiny ship was extremely detailed he'd noticed.
He was trying to figure out where it might have come from when Chiana, hearing the noise, stuck her head into the room from what turned out to be a small kitchen.
"Oh, you're finally awake. How are you feeling?" she asked as she came into the room.
She noticed him studying the small Prowler and asked, "What have you got there?"
He held the miniature up for her to see better. "That Jalen," she said in annoyance, "I've told him a hundred times to pick up his toys after he's done playing with them."
Berret continued to study the toy. "Where did he get it?" he asked idly
"D'argo made it," Chiana answered, coming over to sit by him.
"D'argo makes toys now?" he asked.
"Well, it's a hobby for him. He started to make them when Jothee got here, and just kept making them for the other kids as they came along," Chiana explained with a smile.
Dumbfounded, he almost forgot to ask, "What or where is this place?" pointing to the room around them.
"Oh," said the Nebari woman, "we're on tier five. After Aeryn became pregnant, Pilot had the DRD's tear out all the cells on this level and construct living quarters suitable for families. We all have apartments now, which is a nice step up from living in a converted cell."
"I'll have to go to the den and visit Pilot today," Berret said, being reminded of the multi-armed being.
"He commed twice yesterday, but you were sleeping both times and he didn't want to disturb your rest.
He'll be happy if you go visited him," Chiana said.
"I will as soon as I find my boots," he said remembering the missing footwear.
"I put them in the 'safe room' so they'd be out of the way," explained his wife.
"Safe room?" ask the Shrike confused now.
"Come on, I'll show you."
She grabbed his hand and led him to the door next to their bedroom. She keyed the lock saying,
"We thought it'd be best if certain things were kept out of reach of the children," she explained.
"I can see what you mean," he admitted as he looked around the room. The walls were covered with all types of weapons and equipment. Some he surprised himself by recognizing as equipment coming from the Wraith when he first came aboard.
He walked around the room taking down items, examining them, and then hanging them back in their place. Scattered here and there about the room were heavy clothing and other wear. He found a well-used pair of boots by the doorway and put them on. A closet caught his attention and he wandered over to it. Chiana quietly watched him, making no comments as he explored the room. Opening the door he found something he totally forgotten about... his Shrike ballistic-suit, armor, and the gauntlets. He picked up one of the arm pieces; it's deadly blades still hidden inside it. Chiana came silently up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him as he examined the contents of the closet.
"You haven't worn that since sometime around when Jalen was born," she said. "There hasn't been any need too."
She put out one of her hands and stroked the Acquarian Silk cloak that was hanging from a hook on the closet door. "Do you remember all the times we spent wrapped up in this?" she asked teasingly.
He found himself smiling at what she was slyly implying. He pulled her around to face him and immediately became lost in her dark eyes.
"I'm not sure," he said. "Why don't you refresh my memory."
He brought his lips down to meet hers for a long kiss.
"Be careful," she murmured against his chest when the kiss was over, "that's how we got Chulee."
Once he got outside the new apartment additions, the rest of Moya was laid out as he remembered. He rounded a corner and almost ran into Malika, who was carrying a tray of potted plants. To his surprise the woman greeted him in a friendly matter.
"Good morning, Jared. How are you?" she asked... and smiled pleasantly at him.
Berret stood stunned, but the Delvian was too busy fiddling with her plants to notice.
"I'm sorry neither Andar or I could make it to see you yesterday. We've had to hurry to prepare these 'Terza roots' for delivery today, and you know how much care they need to survive being transported." Berret had no idea what she was talking about but nodded his head anyway; here was something else he'd forgotten. Berret was at first surprised that the woman had also shaved her head like Zhaan, and then he remembered John telling him that Malika had just achieved the Third level of the Delvian Seek. Here was a change from the young woman who went out of her way to avoid him when they first came aboard Moya he thought. She smiled again and promised that she and Andar would visit once they returned from their trip. As she walked away in a swirl of robes she called over her shoulder,
"Oh, if you're looking for the children, they are playing in Pilot's Den."
The Den door cycled open and Berret was immediately assaulted by the sounds of screaming children. The four children were running every which way apparently playing a game of tag. For all the shrieking and giggling going on, Pilot seem to be enjoying it... a look of pleasure on his face. He'd even closed the huge vents that the allowed you to peer into the massive depths of Moya from the gangways leading to his station, allowing the kids to run free. Chulee saw him first as he stepped inside.
"Daddy!" she yelled in joy and dropped her Chiana doll as she ran to meet him. To Berret's surprise the little girl bounced into the air and flew an amazing distance to land in his arms.
"I can see where you take after your mother," he said as the child rubbed her cheek against his. Berret had not bothered to shave that morning and Chulee pulled her face away, frowning in disapproval. Her small hand came up and rubbed at the offending stubble on his cheek.
"Daddy, I don't like that," she said in a serious tone.
"I'm sorry, Chulee. I'll try and remember that next time," he promised.
Up close, he could see that the child's complexion was somewhere between his and Chiana's. Grayer then his human skin but not as pale as Chiana's Nebari gray.
He shifted his daughter so she rode on his hip like he'd seen Chiana do. She brightened, forgiving his transgression of not shaving that morning.
"Guess what we're playing, Daddy," she said as he continued to approach Pilot, but going on in a rush before he could guess. "We're playin' 'Resistance Fighters'... Andrea and Missy are Peacekeepers, and me and Jalen are Nebari Freedom Fighters."
"That's nice, Love," he answered as he came to a stop in front of Pilot, watching his son swoop in making pulse gun sounds and tapping Missy on the back as she ran from him. He then spun around and ran off back in the opposite direction with Missy now close behind him in pursuit firing her own imaginary pulse guns. "But I don't think you should all be in here disturbing Pilot," he continued.
"That is quite all right, Jared," said Pilot with a big smile. "Moya and I enjoy having the children's company."
"Moya knows the children are here?" he asked, not having considered the Leviathan would be aware of their presence in the Den.
"Yes, the sounds of them playing is like music, relaxing to us both, they will always be welcomed in the Den," he explained.
"Well, as long as it's alright with you and Moya..." he began
"Jared," Pilot stopped him, smiling and caressing Chulee's hair with one large clawed hand, "Such are the joys of life."
Berret nodded, looking into his daughter's big expressive eyes and having to agree with Pilot's wisdom. He should have known that rambunctious playing children wouldn't disturb a being capable of performing the multi-tasking operations of piloting a Leviathan in the slightest.
"Now, tell us how you are feeling, Moya and I both are anxious to know if you're well again," asked Pilot.
Berret and Pilot conversed for a short time. Berret assured him and Moya that he was feeling better while Pilot relayed Moya's questions. The Shrike remembered something and wasn't sure if he should asked, but decided to anyway.
"Pilot, forgive me for not remembering, but whatever happened to Talyn and Crais?"
Pilot looked sad for a microt. "There is no need to apologize, Jared. The last news we had, Talyn and his Captain are fighting the Scarrens alongside the Peacekeepers."
"Why?" asked Berret. "I thought the Peacekeepers had disowned Crais."
"Perhaps 'alongside' was not the best word to use. Talyn and Crais fight the Scarrens just as the Peacekeepers do, is more accurate," said Pilot.
"I'm not sure I understand?" admitted Berret.
"I will explain it more clearly," said Pilot.
Chulee had become bored with the grownup talk and decided that the 'Resistance' needed her help more then her father needed her company. Climbing down from his hip, she paused only long enough to rescue her Nebari doll and headed over to where her brother was fighting a desperate battle outnumbered two to one. Berret watched her go and felt his heart warm. Chiana was right; these are happy times he thought.
Looking back at Pilot, he waited for his explanation.
"The last time we met up with Talyn and Crais, it was clear they wanted to take part in the fighting," Pilot went on to say. "Moya tried to talk Talyn out of joining the conflict but his reasons for doing so were too sound."
"What reason could he possible have for fighting on the side of the Peacekeepers?" Berret asked in wonder.
"Rule under the Peacekeepers was bad enough, but tolerable. If the Scarrens come into power, life as we know it in the Charted Territories will cease," explained Pilot.
"I see... the lesser of two evils. I know the cruelty of the Scarrens well," said Berret, rubbing the old collar scars on his neck.
"Exactly!" said Pilot. "The Peacekeepers would never let Crais return, and if they did... would never let him continue as Talyn's captain. So they hit the Scarrens where they could and attempt to stay clear of the Peacekeepers at the same time."
"A difficult existence," commented Berret.
"Yes, but one they are well adapted at now. Talyn has grown to almost full Leviathan size. I dare say that a single command carrier would be of little threat to him now."
"That is good to hear. I truly wish them the best of luck. It is an honorable endeavor."
"So do we, Jared. So do we," Pilot said.
The day had been spent visiting the others in the group. At the evening meal Malika and Andar managed to join them. Berret couldn't get over the change in the Delvian woman from what he remembered. Andar himself had changed as well. The young Sebacean man's frame had filled out with more muscle and he'd grown more sure of himself compared to the young student-teacher who had led a sheltered life on the secluded Sebacean colony. The two talked very excitedly about their new projects over dinner and it seemed to Berret that the two might have been very taken with each other, though he thought it best he keep the observation to himself in case he was mistaken or at least until he was able to remember if the pair were a couple or not. He thought it best to avoid an awkward comment if possible.
That night he laid in bed with Chiana, who had her head lying on his shoulder while her finger idly traced a pattern over and over again on his chest. After a few microns he realized the pattern was actually a Nebari script that meant 'endearment'.
"What are you thinking about?" his wife asked sleepily.
"You," was all he said, a warm smile finding it's way onto his face.
"What about me?" Chiana said becoming slightly more alert with interest.
The smile growing bigger, he said, "It has occurred to me, that your speech patterns have changed a great deal over time?"
"What do you mean?" she asked bewildered at the odd comment.
"They contain... shall we say, less of the past colorful expressions than I remember," his grin widened.
Chiana looked at him as if he'd just said the dumbest thing she'd ever heard.
"Well, we do have children now... you know?" She frowned at him because he should have known better.
"Oh?" he said, "I thought it might be because you were getting old or something of that nature."
"Jared..." she said, and he raised an eyebrow to indicate he was listening. "Frell You!" she finished.
Delighted he replied, "I thought you'd never ask." And then moved over so he could kiss her.
After their interlude, Chiana laid with her head now on his chest. "Jared?" she murmured.
"Humm?" was his sleepy response. She raised her head up to look at her husband's face.
"Do you have any regrets?"
He opened his eyes to look at her. "About what?" he questioned.
"Any of this. I know John's talked to you... and you know about the wormhole in the Leviticus system. Do you regret that the two of you decided to stay with us instead of going home?" she asked, almost as if she were afraid to hear the answer.
That afternoon John had found him in the gym, and he filled in his memory about Moya finding the stable wormhole that opened back to the sector of space where Earth was located and the short time they had spent there. He had asked Chiana to let him discuss the incident with Berret. Seeing both men made their choices together, he felt the information would be better coming from him. At the end, for different reasons at the time, neither one chose to leave Moya and the others. It seemed to Berret a good decision then as well as now.
He pulled Chiana close to him. "As far as I'm concerned... my life began the moment you found me in that alley on that backwater planet. My past on Earth is someone else's life. I could no more fit in there then I would... say in Rygel's harem."
The statement brought a laugh to the Nebari's lips. "I can just picture that!" she giggled.
He chuckled along with her. "With you, Jalen, and Chulee... I'm the happiest I can ever be or have hoped for." He traced the line of her cheek with a forefinger. "It would be a better question to ask if you have any regrets?"
"Well, there was the time you replaced my food cube stash with soap cubes," she said thoughtfully, "But... I got over it."
"I'm glad to hear it... but you did deserve it if I recall rightly," he stated, thinking of all the pranks she'd pulled on him over time.
She burst out laughing again, "Yeah, I guess I did." She snuggled close to him. "I'm glad neither of us have regrets" she murmured. She was quiet for a few microts, and then poked him in the side.
"Tell me you love me," she demanded in a whisper.
"I... love... you," he whispered in her ear, and then nipped it for good measure, making her squeal and giggle louder.
"Quiet! The kids!" Chiana admonished, even though it was she making the noise.
The next morning Berret walked into command to find Jothee on duty as always. Jalen was with the young warrior. The half Nebari boy looked up to D'argo's son and often spent time with him assisting on the command tier or running errands for Jothee.
"Good morning, Uncle," called Jothee cheerily, then he turned to Jalen and handed him a record list with instructions to deliver it to Zhaan right away.
"Hi, Dad!" the boy called as he passed by his father. Berret ruffled his son's hair as he darted by and out the door... and almost bowled over Crichton in the process. John was spared the collision by Jalen's Nebari reflexes as the boy bounced out of the man's way and continued on his mission while tossing a, "Sorry, Uncle John!" over his shoulder.
"Whoa!" said John at the near collision, "I bet that kid can play some killer hoops."
Not understanding, Berret said absently, "No. I rather he not kill anything, John."
"That's not what I meant..." started the human then decided there wasn't a point in explaining right at that moment. "Never mind," he said waving it off. "What's goin' on, guys?"
"Malika and Andar are on their way back to Moya. Their trade this morning went very well," Jothee reported. "And they report that their new transport system for Terza Roots is a success. They only lost 5% of the cargo instead of the usual 26%."
"That's great!" said John genuinely pleased at the news. "When are they due back?"
"They should reach Moya within the arn, Uncle John," Jothee said after checking the updated sensor logs.
"Then I guess as soon as they dock, we can starburst home. We need some down time and a vacation sounds good about now... especially after all the dren that happened on this run," said Crichton referring to the Shrike's injury.
Berret was confused at John's statement, "Home?" he asked and looked around at Moya. He'd thought Moya was their home. Jothee and John looked at Berret, not comprehending what had confused the Shrike.
Then Crichton realized why he was looking around at the deck and walls of the Leviathan.
"Ah! Well, yeah... Moya is our first home, but she needs a homeport. Someplace where she can rest safely," John explained.
"And where is 'homeport'?" asked Berret.
"Hyneria.... we're going home to visit Papa Sparky," Crichton said with a wide grin.
He sat up and found he was only a little dizzy. Waiting for the spell to pass, he looked about the bedroom and for the first time realized he really didn't recall ever seeing a room like it aboard Moya. After a few microns he was able to get to his shaky feet and make it to the lavatory. He cleaned himself up and found the longer he remained upright the easier it became for him. He went back into the bedroom and found his clothes in a storage chest and dressed. He couldn't find his boots anywhere about the room so he went to the door and walked out into the corridor.
He thought it should have been Moya's corridor, but was very surprised to find himself in another larger room. He looked about himself in amazement. The room had big comfortable looking chairs, tables, and a couch placed about at various places. There was a thick carpet covering the floor that felt very good to his sock covered feet. There were a number of doorways that opened off this room; some of them shut off by closed doors and others just opened archways without them. There were numerous pictures on the wall and his attention was on going one to another when he stepped on something sharp and hard.
"Ow!" he cried out more surprised then hurt, but he still danced around on one foot until he collapsed into one of the big nearby chairs. He reached down to the object he'd stepped on and as he picked it up he saw that it was a miniature Prowler. The tiny ship was extremely detailed he'd noticed.
He was trying to figure out where it might have come from when Chiana, hearing the noise, stuck her head into the room from what turned out to be a small kitchen.
"Oh, you're finally awake. How are you feeling?" she asked as she came into the room.
She noticed him studying the small Prowler and asked, "What have you got there?"
He held the miniature up for her to see better. "That Jalen," she said in annoyance, "I've told him a hundred times to pick up his toys after he's done playing with them."
Berret continued to study the toy. "Where did he get it?" he asked idly
"D'argo made it," Chiana answered, coming over to sit by him.
"D'argo makes toys now?" he asked.
"Well, it's a hobby for him. He started to make them when Jothee got here, and just kept making them for the other kids as they came along," Chiana explained with a smile.
Dumbfounded, he almost forgot to ask, "What or where is this place?" pointing to the room around them.
"Oh," said the Nebari woman, "we're on tier five. After Aeryn became pregnant, Pilot had the DRD's tear out all the cells on this level and construct living quarters suitable for families. We all have apartments now, which is a nice step up from living in a converted cell."
"I'll have to go to the den and visit Pilot today," Berret said, being reminded of the multi-armed being.
"He commed twice yesterday, but you were sleeping both times and he didn't want to disturb your rest.
He'll be happy if you go visited him," Chiana said.
"I will as soon as I find my boots," he said remembering the missing footwear.
"I put them in the 'safe room' so they'd be out of the way," explained his wife.
"Safe room?" ask the Shrike confused now.
"Come on, I'll show you."
She grabbed his hand and led him to the door next to their bedroom. She keyed the lock saying,
"We thought it'd be best if certain things were kept out of reach of the children," she explained.
"I can see what you mean," he admitted as he looked around the room. The walls were covered with all types of weapons and equipment. Some he surprised himself by recognizing as equipment coming from the Wraith when he first came aboard.
He walked around the room taking down items, examining them, and then hanging them back in their place. Scattered here and there about the room were heavy clothing and other wear. He found a well-used pair of boots by the doorway and put them on. A closet caught his attention and he wandered over to it. Chiana quietly watched him, making no comments as he explored the room. Opening the door he found something he totally forgotten about... his Shrike ballistic-suit, armor, and the gauntlets. He picked up one of the arm pieces; it's deadly blades still hidden inside it. Chiana came silently up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him as he examined the contents of the closet.
"You haven't worn that since sometime around when Jalen was born," she said. "There hasn't been any need too."
She put out one of her hands and stroked the Acquarian Silk cloak that was hanging from a hook on the closet door. "Do you remember all the times we spent wrapped up in this?" she asked teasingly.
He found himself smiling at what she was slyly implying. He pulled her around to face him and immediately became lost in her dark eyes.
"I'm not sure," he said. "Why don't you refresh my memory."
He brought his lips down to meet hers for a long kiss.
"Be careful," she murmured against his chest when the kiss was over, "that's how we got Chulee."
Once he got outside the new apartment additions, the rest of Moya was laid out as he remembered. He rounded a corner and almost ran into Malika, who was carrying a tray of potted plants. To his surprise the woman greeted him in a friendly matter.
"Good morning, Jared. How are you?" she asked... and smiled pleasantly at him.
Berret stood stunned, but the Delvian was too busy fiddling with her plants to notice.
"I'm sorry neither Andar or I could make it to see you yesterday. We've had to hurry to prepare these 'Terza roots' for delivery today, and you know how much care they need to survive being transported." Berret had no idea what she was talking about but nodded his head anyway; here was something else he'd forgotten. Berret was at first surprised that the woman had also shaved her head like Zhaan, and then he remembered John telling him that Malika had just achieved the Third level of the Delvian Seek. Here was a change from the young woman who went out of her way to avoid him when they first came aboard Moya he thought. She smiled again and promised that she and Andar would visit once they returned from their trip. As she walked away in a swirl of robes she called over her shoulder,
"Oh, if you're looking for the children, they are playing in Pilot's Den."
The Den door cycled open and Berret was immediately assaulted by the sounds of screaming children. The four children were running every which way apparently playing a game of tag. For all the shrieking and giggling going on, Pilot seem to be enjoying it... a look of pleasure on his face. He'd even closed the huge vents that the allowed you to peer into the massive depths of Moya from the gangways leading to his station, allowing the kids to run free. Chulee saw him first as he stepped inside.
"Daddy!" she yelled in joy and dropped her Chiana doll as she ran to meet him. To Berret's surprise the little girl bounced into the air and flew an amazing distance to land in his arms.
"I can see where you take after your mother," he said as the child rubbed her cheek against his. Berret had not bothered to shave that morning and Chulee pulled her face away, frowning in disapproval. Her small hand came up and rubbed at the offending stubble on his cheek.
"Daddy, I don't like that," she said in a serious tone.
"I'm sorry, Chulee. I'll try and remember that next time," he promised.
Up close, he could see that the child's complexion was somewhere between his and Chiana's. Grayer then his human skin but not as pale as Chiana's Nebari gray.
He shifted his daughter so she rode on his hip like he'd seen Chiana do. She brightened, forgiving his transgression of not shaving that morning.
"Guess what we're playing, Daddy," she said as he continued to approach Pilot, but going on in a rush before he could guess. "We're playin' 'Resistance Fighters'... Andrea and Missy are Peacekeepers, and me and Jalen are Nebari Freedom Fighters."
"That's nice, Love," he answered as he came to a stop in front of Pilot, watching his son swoop in making pulse gun sounds and tapping Missy on the back as she ran from him. He then spun around and ran off back in the opposite direction with Missy now close behind him in pursuit firing her own imaginary pulse guns. "But I don't think you should all be in here disturbing Pilot," he continued.
"That is quite all right, Jared," said Pilot with a big smile. "Moya and I enjoy having the children's company."
"Moya knows the children are here?" he asked, not having considered the Leviathan would be aware of their presence in the Den.
"Yes, the sounds of them playing is like music, relaxing to us both, they will always be welcomed in the Den," he explained.
"Well, as long as it's alright with you and Moya..." he began
"Jared," Pilot stopped him, smiling and caressing Chulee's hair with one large clawed hand, "Such are the joys of life."
Berret nodded, looking into his daughter's big expressive eyes and having to agree with Pilot's wisdom. He should have known that rambunctious playing children wouldn't disturb a being capable of performing the multi-tasking operations of piloting a Leviathan in the slightest.
"Now, tell us how you are feeling, Moya and I both are anxious to know if you're well again," asked Pilot.
Berret and Pilot conversed for a short time. Berret assured him and Moya that he was feeling better while Pilot relayed Moya's questions. The Shrike remembered something and wasn't sure if he should asked, but decided to anyway.
"Pilot, forgive me for not remembering, but whatever happened to Talyn and Crais?"
Pilot looked sad for a microt. "There is no need to apologize, Jared. The last news we had, Talyn and his Captain are fighting the Scarrens alongside the Peacekeepers."
"Why?" asked Berret. "I thought the Peacekeepers had disowned Crais."
"Perhaps 'alongside' was not the best word to use. Talyn and Crais fight the Scarrens just as the Peacekeepers do, is more accurate," said Pilot.
"I'm not sure I understand?" admitted Berret.
"I will explain it more clearly," said Pilot.
Chulee had become bored with the grownup talk and decided that the 'Resistance' needed her help more then her father needed her company. Climbing down from his hip, she paused only long enough to rescue her Nebari doll and headed over to where her brother was fighting a desperate battle outnumbered two to one. Berret watched her go and felt his heart warm. Chiana was right; these are happy times he thought.
Looking back at Pilot, he waited for his explanation.
"The last time we met up with Talyn and Crais, it was clear they wanted to take part in the fighting," Pilot went on to say. "Moya tried to talk Talyn out of joining the conflict but his reasons for doing so were too sound."
"What reason could he possible have for fighting on the side of the Peacekeepers?" Berret asked in wonder.
"Rule under the Peacekeepers was bad enough, but tolerable. If the Scarrens come into power, life as we know it in the Charted Territories will cease," explained Pilot.
"I see... the lesser of two evils. I know the cruelty of the Scarrens well," said Berret, rubbing the old collar scars on his neck.
"Exactly!" said Pilot. "The Peacekeepers would never let Crais return, and if they did... would never let him continue as Talyn's captain. So they hit the Scarrens where they could and attempt to stay clear of the Peacekeepers at the same time."
"A difficult existence," commented Berret.
"Yes, but one they are well adapted at now. Talyn has grown to almost full Leviathan size. I dare say that a single command carrier would be of little threat to him now."
"That is good to hear. I truly wish them the best of luck. It is an honorable endeavor."
"So do we, Jared. So do we," Pilot said.
The day had been spent visiting the others in the group. At the evening meal Malika and Andar managed to join them. Berret couldn't get over the change in the Delvian woman from what he remembered. Andar himself had changed as well. The young Sebacean man's frame had filled out with more muscle and he'd grown more sure of himself compared to the young student-teacher who had led a sheltered life on the secluded Sebacean colony. The two talked very excitedly about their new projects over dinner and it seemed to Berret that the two might have been very taken with each other, though he thought it best he keep the observation to himself in case he was mistaken or at least until he was able to remember if the pair were a couple or not. He thought it best to avoid an awkward comment if possible.
That night he laid in bed with Chiana, who had her head lying on his shoulder while her finger idly traced a pattern over and over again on his chest. After a few microns he realized the pattern was actually a Nebari script that meant 'endearment'.
"What are you thinking about?" his wife asked sleepily.
"You," was all he said, a warm smile finding it's way onto his face.
"What about me?" Chiana said becoming slightly more alert with interest.
The smile growing bigger, he said, "It has occurred to me, that your speech patterns have changed a great deal over time?"
"What do you mean?" she asked bewildered at the odd comment.
"They contain... shall we say, less of the past colorful expressions than I remember," his grin widened.
Chiana looked at him as if he'd just said the dumbest thing she'd ever heard.
"Well, we do have children now... you know?" She frowned at him because he should have known better.
"Oh?" he said, "I thought it might be because you were getting old or something of that nature."
"Jared..." she said, and he raised an eyebrow to indicate he was listening. "Frell You!" she finished.
Delighted he replied, "I thought you'd never ask." And then moved over so he could kiss her.
After their interlude, Chiana laid with her head now on his chest. "Jared?" she murmured.
"Humm?" was his sleepy response. She raised her head up to look at her husband's face.
"Do you have any regrets?"
He opened his eyes to look at her. "About what?" he questioned.
"Any of this. I know John's talked to you... and you know about the wormhole in the Leviticus system. Do you regret that the two of you decided to stay with us instead of going home?" she asked, almost as if she were afraid to hear the answer.
That afternoon John had found him in the gym, and he filled in his memory about Moya finding the stable wormhole that opened back to the sector of space where Earth was located and the short time they had spent there. He had asked Chiana to let him discuss the incident with Berret. Seeing both men made their choices together, he felt the information would be better coming from him. At the end, for different reasons at the time, neither one chose to leave Moya and the others. It seemed to Berret a good decision then as well as now.
He pulled Chiana close to him. "As far as I'm concerned... my life began the moment you found me in that alley on that backwater planet. My past on Earth is someone else's life. I could no more fit in there then I would... say in Rygel's harem."
The statement brought a laugh to the Nebari's lips. "I can just picture that!" she giggled.
He chuckled along with her. "With you, Jalen, and Chulee... I'm the happiest I can ever be or have hoped for." He traced the line of her cheek with a forefinger. "It would be a better question to ask if you have any regrets?"
"Well, there was the time you replaced my food cube stash with soap cubes," she said thoughtfully, "But... I got over it."
"I'm glad to hear it... but you did deserve it if I recall rightly," he stated, thinking of all the pranks she'd pulled on him over time.
She burst out laughing again, "Yeah, I guess I did." She snuggled close to him. "I'm glad neither of us have regrets" she murmured. She was quiet for a few microts, and then poked him in the side.
"Tell me you love me," she demanded in a whisper.
"I... love... you," he whispered in her ear, and then nipped it for good measure, making her squeal and giggle louder.
"Quiet! The kids!" Chiana admonished, even though it was she making the noise.
The next morning Berret walked into command to find Jothee on duty as always. Jalen was with the young warrior. The half Nebari boy looked up to D'argo's son and often spent time with him assisting on the command tier or running errands for Jothee.
"Good morning, Uncle," called Jothee cheerily, then he turned to Jalen and handed him a record list with instructions to deliver it to Zhaan right away.
"Hi, Dad!" the boy called as he passed by his father. Berret ruffled his son's hair as he darted by and out the door... and almost bowled over Crichton in the process. John was spared the collision by Jalen's Nebari reflexes as the boy bounced out of the man's way and continued on his mission while tossing a, "Sorry, Uncle John!" over his shoulder.
"Whoa!" said John at the near collision, "I bet that kid can play some killer hoops."
Not understanding, Berret said absently, "No. I rather he not kill anything, John."
"That's not what I meant..." started the human then decided there wasn't a point in explaining right at that moment. "Never mind," he said waving it off. "What's goin' on, guys?"
"Malika and Andar are on their way back to Moya. Their trade this morning went very well," Jothee reported. "And they report that their new transport system for Terza Roots is a success. They only lost 5% of the cargo instead of the usual 26%."
"That's great!" said John genuinely pleased at the news. "When are they due back?"
"They should reach Moya within the arn, Uncle John," Jothee said after checking the updated sensor logs.
"Then I guess as soon as they dock, we can starburst home. We need some down time and a vacation sounds good about now... especially after all the dren that happened on this run," said Crichton referring to the Shrike's injury.
Berret was confused at John's statement, "Home?" he asked and looked around at Moya. He'd thought Moya was their home. Jothee and John looked at Berret, not comprehending what had confused the Shrike.
Then Crichton realized why he was looking around at the deck and walls of the Leviathan.
"Ah! Well, yeah... Moya is our first home, but she needs a homeport. Someplace where she can rest safely," John explained.
"And where is 'homeport'?" asked Berret.
"Hyneria.... we're going home to visit Papa Sparky," Crichton said with a wide grin.