Maia lay against the warmth of Deri's chest. She would be crying if not for the effects of the flowers. Instead she felt calm, almost content. "Incredible. I've never heard of anyone taking down a wraith before—not alone."

"But that's not the worst part. After, what I did, I headed towards the cabin…your cabin. I went inside, and I saw your little girl." He hesitated for a long moment, "She must have been so beautiful once." She looked up at him, and his eyes were brimming with tears. He looked away. "I saw her, and I saw you, I just couldn't stomach it. I turned around and left you there."

He wouldn't look at her, but her silence scared him. He blinked away his tears. "Then, when I got back, they rewarded me with this promotion."

"In the guard, do they train you not to cry?" She asked at last.

He turned to look at her. She had one ear pressed to her chest, and there was a slight smile on her face. "I'm not angry with you. Terrible things happen to everyone, and we all do things we regret."

"Not like this. I should have helped you. I should have taken you back to the city."

"And if you did? Do you really think that they would have tolerated one of us carrying a wraith child?"

He was stunned for a moment. "You wouldn't have given her up." He said, but he wasn't sure.

"I don't believe that I would be given a choice." She sighed, and suddenly realized that she was resting against Deri's wound. "You must be feeling better."

"I guess so."

"You should rest."

"I'll be fine in a minute. I'll bet the first time is the hardest."

"The only time." She said, sitting up.

"Maia—"

"Stop it. I made Liu promise she would never feed off anyone else."

"That's fine for now, but let's be honest. What about if you die? When you die? What will happen to her then?"

She climbed off the bed and turned away from him. She walked to the window and stared. "I don't know. Sleep for awhile; I'm sure you'll feel better." She stepped out onto the ledge and out of site.

Maia sat against the wall, staring at the garden on top of one of the spires. Some time must have passed; she dozed. When she awoke, Liu was leaning out the window. "I can't believe it." She said.

"What?"

"Look, there's another garden." She pointed into the distance to a dome atop one of the spire. "Those are—"

"The healing flowers." Maia watched them for a long time. "They said they were so rare. They lied."

Liu stepped out and wrapped her arms around her mother. "Deri doesn't lie."

Maia sighed. She had learned long ago not to question her daughter. She was always right. "I can tell," Liu said, as if they had never been through it before. "When I—feed off of someone, it makes a connection between us. I can hear some of their ideas, and feel some of their feelings, and—" she looked up at Maia, and blushed very slightly. "He really likes you, Mom. I think he's in love with you."
The door chimed, and then there was a loud knock. "General Deri, open the door immediately."

They inched along the ledge and entered the room just in time to see Deri reach the door. He opened it and found Morai standing there, flanked by two guards.

"Are you back already?" Deri said, a bit groggily.

"The situation is resolved." He said, his tone professional.

"What's up?"

"I'm going to take the child back into custody."

"What? You can't, you said—"

"I said I was the only one who could run the project. I have returned, and I am going to resume my research."

Maia gripped Liu's hand and walked forward. "You're not going to take her."

"It was allowed once before."

"I was unconscious before." Maia shouted, "I promise that you'll have more trouble this time."

"There's not going to be any trouble." Deri said loudly, then softly to his friend. "Morai, buddy, cut them some slack. She's just a little kid. Can't you do studies on the samples you've already collected?"

"No. The Wraith is a valuable resource, and it must not be wasted."

"I'm not a Wraith!" Liu screamed.

Morai signaled to the guards and they charged into the room. One of them grabbed Liu's wrist and pulled. "No!" Maia cried, and grabbed her daughter around the waist. The guard pulled harder and Liu cried out.

"Morai, what are you doing?" Deri said urgently, stepping forward.

Morai pulled a small weapon from his belt and pressed it against Deri's chest. "You're impeding a scientific pursuit."

"I'm High General."

"The High Council has decreed that the pursuit of discovery is the highest priority." He recited, "Any action may be performed above the objection of all officers but those on the High Council. Any objector may be dealt with at the discretion of the Head Scientist."

There was silence for a moment, and suddenly grabbed Morai's wrist. He twisted the weapon from his hand and snapped the wrist back. Morai recoiled, cradling his wounded hand against his chest. With his free hand, he shoved Deri down against the side of the bed.

Liu smiled at her mother. "It will be alright Mommy," she leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. "Deri will find a way." She jerked out of her mother's grasp and let the guard take her out of the room.

Morai looked down at Deri. "High General Deri, I will be making a full report to the High Council about this incident."

Deri glared at him. "I'm counting on it."

The door slid shut and Maia rushed to Deri's side. "How can they do this?" she said desperately.

At that moment an urgent chime sounded in the room.

"What is that?"

"Damn, I was hoping to get you out of the city before— "

"What Deri, what's happening?"

"That night by the fire; Liu was right. Our censors have been monitoring their hive ships for weeks, and now they're here." He turned to her and touched her cheek. "Don't worry, I'm going to get you both out of here."

Sorry it was a little late(people who don't post consistantly are my biggest petpeev on this site)! This section needed a little more revision before I sent it out to you.

Thanks!

Eveie