Bre'el Sector
18tht day of the 8th month (June: Earth calendar)
Lairo and See'a's Quarters
Mareesa had always enjoyed having her hair done and had long ago decided that See'a was her favorite
person to do it, always insisting that she did it 'just right." She had come to her quarters for a visit and
the two of them were now settled on the sofa while See'a quietly combed her hair, a long standing habit
of theirs. She used Mareesa's favorite comb and brush. See'a herself had gotten it for her as a birthday
gift when she was eight and ever since then it had become 'their' comb and brush and was always the
one See'a used with her.
She looked out the window and smiled at the sight of the other ships they were travelling with. "This is one
of my favorite parts of the whole trip."
See'a smiled. "Mine too."
After leaving the depot, the Havora had traveled 'north' another ten light years, an eighteen day trip,
to the border of the Bre'el Sector, where they had rendezvoused with a Rigelian convoy. The Rigelians
were a people noted for their industriousness and love of trade. Their trade routes were nearly as far
flung as the Andorians and they had been the second species from outside their sector that the Nlians
had encountered.
The five ship convoy they were traveling with now was under the command of Vato Loris. For many years
he had been in command of the T'suslk, one of the many large powerful freighters that made up the backbone
of the Rigelian Trade Commission. Every year he led a large convoy of freighters from Rigel to the Bre'el
Sector, whereupon they would then split up into different directions to conduct their trade, before reuniting
some months later to head back to Rigel. The Havora had rendezvoused with the small fleet and after their
regular exchange of goods were now traveling with them towards their next mutual stop in the Qori System.
Mareesa's loved to travel with different ships. It made her feel like the ships were part of a community.
Often she would pretend that the crew of the Havora was a tribe and that they were now part of a tribal
gathering.
"I always enjoy it when we have the chance to meet with or travel with other ships," See'a continued,
her thoughts echoing her young friend's. "It gives us the chance to reunite with old friend's.
The Havora had regularly traveled with the T'suslk, convey for several years. The crew had
befriended several of its members and Tav had formed a close friendship with Loris. "And it also
gives us the chance to see new faces."
Mareesa nodded. For as long as she could remember she had loved the opportunity to meet new people.
For her there was no greater thrill.
See'a started to stay something else, when she suddenly stilled and gave a slight "Oh!"
"What is it?" Mareesa asked.
See'a smiled. "The baby. She just woke up." It had been exactly four months since the Mating had struck
and her child conceived. Nlian mothers started feeling them physically at around six months, but much
sooner telepathically.
Mareesa grinned and turned around. "Can I touch her?"
"Of course."
Mareesa gently put her hand on See'a's stomach and extended her senses. She smiled as she felt the tiny
soul respond. A gentle, almost shy touch. A baby feeling another touching it and reaching back.
"I'll be nine months along by the time we get home," See's said. "And I'll have about a month to go.
Your Captain always puts the ship in drydock for a month after our long hauls so this works out perfectly.
You'll be doing system runs for the next four months after that so Darnos can take over as head pilot
for awhile."
She rubbed her stomach gently. "Zan and I are going to have our baby back home in the Northern Land,
in the little house we bought in the Lake Country. As soon as we get back I'm going to go fix up the baby's
room. I've picked the perfect spot, the room with the large windows facing the lake. I want her to spend
her earliest days being able to see the skies, the mountains and the lake."
Her eyes filled with fond memories of her girlhood home. "Gathering Lake's waters are so clear that
you can see almost down to the bottom of it. During the day the sun makes it glisten like a jewel and
I've always thought that the sky there is bluer than anywhere else in the world. At night the stars make
the lake seem like a bottomless well of stars.
"The mountains, the lake and the sky... When I was a child I would wander the area near that lake look
up at the sky and dream of flying. I'd try to climb as high as possible to touch the sky. After my little girl's
born I'm going to hike up to Bomee Pass hold her up and show her the entire valley from a bird's eye view."
Mareesa frowned slightly. "You'll come back won't you?"
See'a gave one of her musical chuckles. "Don't worry, Mareesa. I'll be back before we're ready to start our
long hauls again. My father used to call me a golden bird who could never stay away from the stars for long.
He was right." She chuckled again and ruffled Mareesa's hair. And besides, if I weren't here who would
do your hair 'just right?"
Mareesa burst out laughing
See'a's hand once again went to her stomach. "The baby's moving again. I think maybe's she's laughing."
Mareesa once again put her hand on the See'a's stomach and reached out to the tiny soul.
*Hurry and come, baby* she sent to it. *I can't wait to see you. We're going to have a lot of fun
together. And maybe I'll do your hair!*