The next few weeken were mostly taken up, by Harrigan at least, with seeing Palikka and her family resettled on Talzenadar IV with suitable employment – eventually a clerical position for Harkino was found with the government, for which neither Harkino or Palikka stopped thanking him for almost half an arn.

"Really…" Harrigan told Harkino once he stopped talking "I'm glad you're all here an' can start doing family stuff again as well – but it wasn't all me that made it happen, whatever my ego might try an' tell me sometimes. Rulok's boys an' girls did most of the work, Cap'n T had overall command an' did the really sneaky bits – an' of course Keyah an' Caseya played their own part in it all too".

"We have thanked each of them as well" Palikka assured Harrigan with a smile, before giggling a little and nodding towards where Ellia, Talian, and Amara were chasing each other over the galley walls and both Caseya and Keyah were trying their best to supervise "but I think both Ellia and Talian have rewarded your two Kalish in their own way with their trust and friendship over and above anything we said to them – and the younger of the two, Caseya, was even more pleased to experience that than she was to receive our own thanks".

"You come up, mama!" Amara called with much excitement "You come up on wall with your 'Mara! It lots of fun! Talian here too, mama, an' he ree-ly good at wall walk trick too!"

Talian rumbled happily at Amara's praise for him before adding "Sis-ter Ellia up here too, 'Mara mama! Ellia like you lots too just like me!"

"Go on…" Trannak urged Caseya, rumbling softly and resting a hand on her treblin shoulder "The children all love you very much, especially our own Amara – it will be good for all of you to be together that way. Palikka and Harkino can still see, if that's what's worrying you".

Caseya smiled back, more so when Amara called to her again, before saying "Both Talian and Amara have responded far more positively to my attempts to teach them the natural talents of my people than I ever expected they would, Trannak… and I do not deny it would be good to simply have fun with them this way…".

"Go on, then" Trannak replied, nodding towards the galley wall before adding "Keyah, if you want to play with the children then you go as well – you helped them learn to do that too, and by the way they were all running around and chasing each other both of you will be needed to retrieve them all when it's time to take Harkino and his family to their new dwelling on Tal IV".

"YAAAAYYY!" Amara shrieked as soon as Caseya shifted to the wall and crawled over to her "Look, Talian an' Ellia – my mama coming to play with us! Papa not come on wall 'cause he a Sca-ran so we play with papa la-ter".

Both smaller children ran across to Caseya before Amara threw her arms around her neck and rumbled with happiness and love.

"I here too, 'Mara mama" Talian reminded Caseya, hugging her as well "Thank you lots an' lots for tee-ching me wall walk trick. I go on wall with sis-ter Ellia lots now, an' mama an' papa too".

"I am glad you let me teach you, Talian" Caseya replied, Talian rumbling happily when he heard the praise "You learned fast and well. All you need to do now is practice and you will improve even more".

"It like big funny man say, Talian" Amara told her friend as the two of them climbed off Caseya and back onto the wall "He say 'prac-tiss make pur-fikt'. It mean you do stuff lots an' lots an' then you lots good at it".

"Your friend Keyah helped as well, children" Caseya reminded the two of them "Look, there she is watching you. I am sure she would like a hug and a happy rumble from each of you".

"Heeheehee!" Talian laughed, clapping "We do that!" before the pair of them ran down the wall toward where Keyah was watching them – where, to everyone's surprise and both Keyah and Caseya's concern, Amara increased speed and leapt from the wall right into Keyah's arms without stopping before giggling and clapping her efforts.

"THAT 'MAZING, 'MARA FRIEND!" Talian shouted in excitement "YOU DO GOODGOOD JUM-PINGS FROM WALL!"

"You like it too, auntie Ke-yah?" Amara asked with interest and hope "I do goodgood like Talian say?"

"You did very well" Keyah confirmed, nodding "I am surprised, actually, that you managed such a leap at your age without making a mistake and hurting yourself on the floor or on a table", and smiling a little at Amara calling her an auntie.

The community of Kalish here is still exceptionally small Keyah reminded herself so it is natural enough that Amara considers me a relation of hers. She will need others of our people to watch and learn from apart from her adoptive mother, and at this point in time I am the only other Kalish resident on this vessel so I must strive to present the best possible example for her to follow.

"I not do that" Amara replied, shaking her head "I got special bits like mama, auntie Keyah. Nice doc-tor an' grandma 'Ratha tell me bit 'bout them. It mean I all tuff an' do stuff like bigbig jum-pings an' not be hurt".

"My turn, 'Mara!" Talian called, then simply leapt from where he was to Keyah's arms.

"Wheeeeee!" he called happily, laughing when he felt Keyah catch him "I do bigbig jum-pings too, Ke-yah friend! I not do run-ings like 'Mara do 'fore I do jum-pings, but I do that next time".

"You are very big and heavy, Talian" Keyah told him "and made a very good jump from the wall. It is not easy to do, did you know that? It took me a little while to learn to do that when I learned". Talian just smiled and rumbled for a half-momen or so before both he and Amara climbed back onto the wall again and chased Ellia almost up to ceiling level before Caseya called them back down. All three of them ran over and hugged her, accompanied by happy rumbling from Amara and Talian.

Good Trannak thought happily as he watched My new wife is happy and playing with children of her own people. He smiled as he watched, thinking It is both unusual and amazing that I, considering both my past position and my current one in a special force of one kind or another, am married at all – yet here I am, newly married and to a woman outside my own species at that. He thought a bit more about that before deciding It will not be easy, that much I can tell even now – but, easy or not, I must be there when she needs me and when little Amara needs me as well. It will be a learning experience for us all.

Koronna rumbled softly from her own table some distance away.

It is good that Captain Trannak is settled and married she decided in her thoughts even if none of us ever thought he would marry a Kalish – though, however odd it might seem, they do seem to get on very well together and do much for each other and their adoptive child Amara.

Koronna sighed, a little mournfully, as she watched Amara play and talk to both Trannak and Caseya.

I wish Captain Lazarus would look at me and talk to me like Captain Trannak does with Caseya she thought as she finished her meal He is calm and quite relaxed in my company, as far as I can tell with him being human – but he is wary of a relationship closer than friendship with a female outside his own species and I don't know why…

She paused in her thoughts and cast her mind back to when she and Captain Lazarus were together on Earth.

We worked well together as a team… she decided as she remembered the time in North Korea but… ah!… and her memories reached the time when the pair of them, along with Shor, retrieved Liz from her stepmother.

I really don't know how human males think about relationship matters, especially tricky ones like these… Koronna mused as she watched Captain Lazarus talking to one of Rulok's team but would he be wary about being close to anyone again?! Perhaps I should ask Liz or Jane about this… they are both human, they would know.

"Prob'ly…" Jane replied, a few microts after Koronna finished explaining herself "It took a little while for the Captain to calm down when the law got changed back where we're from to allow women in spec-ops – not that too many of us even applied, an' few got accepted even with affirmative action. Personally, I find the whole idea of that insulting-" but got no further before getting cut off by Koronna's soft but angry growl.

"It is insulting…" she told Jane insistently "Insulting to other women, insulting to our fellow troops, and insulting to us as well! It should be as it is in the Kingdom – one rule and one standard for everyone!".

"Anyway…" Jane continued, once Koronna had calmed down "…the Cap does like you a lot, even I can tell that – but I think you're right, to one degree or another, and that he don't want to repeat what happened with his ex back on Earth".

"Then I was correct" Koronna said, nodding "In the essentials, at least – his desire to protect himself and Liz is making him wary of potential social confrontation in the area of serious relationship with a female" before thinking a little more and asking "It is not because I am Scarran and not human? That would be surprising if true".

"It's just cause you're a woman he's starting to care about" Jane replied "He knows you're Scarran, anyone who looks at you once will – but I honestly think that part of things don't really bother him much".

Jane took a few momens to think and eat before saying "Just thinkin' off the top of my head here… but just go slow. Talk to him a bit off-duty, maybe spend a bit of time wanderin' around planetside or even exploring this ship – even though we've had this thing a couple of ye-ah yes, cycles or so now we still don't know everything about it or even exactly what we got. At least in terms what the rooms are an' what's in 'em".

Interesting… Koronna thought A task that is both practically useful and personally so – ground reconnaisance of this ship we live in, finding out in detail the layout and contents of the less well travelled decks and facilities therein. The unit as a whole will gain essential knowledge about what facilities this ship has and I will learn more about Captain Lazarus… and hopefully he will start to trust and even love me before smiling just a little and rumbling very softly.

Her private musing came to a halt when Harrigan called "Cap'n L, Koronna – you two can go get Harkino, Palikka, an' their two kiddies settled down at their new place. A little bit of help fetchin' an' carryin' won't hurt either of you – an' neither of you have been offship much".

""It won't take long to prepare, Commander" Koronna replied before Lazarus could get his brain in gear "I will help the Captain select equipment suitable for a personal protection mission. We will head to the hammond flight deck and prepare to leave as soon as this mealtime is finished".

Lazarus wasn't quite sure how to respond to being volunteered, especially on such short notice, but he admitted "Can't say I wouldn't appreciate some time planetside without fighting to do, Harrigan… it's a bit surprising Koronna volunteered herself to come as well, though…".

"She's your own Command Specialist in Tactical Command as well as the Senior Command Specialist of the unit, Big L" Harrigan replied, grinning a bit to Talannah where he thought Lazarus couldn't see "It did me good to have my own sarge around to pull my fat out of the fire back on Earth, I know that, an' give me a pointer here an' there as well if they thought I was missin' something…".

Lazarus could tell there was no way he was going to get out of either a) helping Palikka's family get resettled or b) having Koronna with him while doing so, so he nodded a little reluctantly before replying "Me too if it comes to that, mister – so I'll go along with it this time. Don't think I didn't see you grinning at your wife a momen or two ago either – I might be getting on a bit now but I ain't dead yet, an' I still see things…".

Harrigan just laughed for a few microts before adding "Once you're done you got the rest of the day to just relax a bit dirtside, too – an' that's been entered in ship's log already. Koronna too, as it happens".

Now I know there's some matchmaking going on… Lazarus thought Harrigan's intentions are good, and Koronna's friendly enough as well as helping me out with work more times than I can count… but Harrigan's just not subtle at some things, and this is one of them. It sounds like he's been talking to Troll, or at least Jane… before calling "We'll be off the microt you're ready, Palikka and Harkino – it won't take long for Koronna and I to get our gear when we get to the flight deck, but since we don't want to block the street when we land we'll have to take something smaller than a Stryker - and out of Koronna and I only she knows where that kind of ship might be".

"We will need a short while to retrieve our children from the wall" Harkino replied, grinning a bit before pointing to where both Ellia and Talian were still playing with Caseya "and get them calmed down just a little bit, Captain, before we retrieve the few belongings we have from our temporary quarters here. As soon as that is done we will all join you on the hammond flight deck for the flight to our new home", after which he smiled and added "It amazes me that this ship is big enough to be able to house two flight decks, you know… but so many things aboard this ship amaze me in one way or another…".

Talian's ears twitched a little when he heard that – he made a big leap off the wall straight to the floor, and although he winced a little at the shock of landing from such a height it didn't stop him running all the way to Harkino and scrambling up to sit on his adoptive father's hip before nodding and saying "Big 'Mara home ship lots 'mazing, papa, that true…" before the rest of what he overheard sunk in and he asked "We go to new house now, papa? We not live in 'Mara home ship any more? What new house like? I not seen it 'fore".

"We need to get some things from where we have been living here, Talian" Harkino reminded his new son with a smile "Like our clothes, and the toys and books you and your sister have been given by your new friends here… and then we will go to the hammond flight deck where two people will help us get our belongings and all of us settled in our new dwelling. We should go and do this now, I think".

"We do it now, papa" Talian agreed, nodding before he turned towards Ellia and shouted "YOU COME DOWN NOW, BIG SIS-TER! WE GET STUFF THEN GO TO NEW HOUSE! PAPA SAY SO!"

"You have a very loud new brother, Ellia" Caseya told the younger girl with a grin "but even though he is loud he is correct in saying that we should go back to ground level again if it is time for your family to fly down to your new dwelling".

"Will you be coming with us?" Ellia asked as the two of them stepped back onto the galley floor.

"I will not" Caseya replied, shaking her head briefly "I have training to do here so I can help others more. I am being tested in a great many things, and when those in command have decided which things I do best I will receive further training in those areas".

Ellia smiled and the two of them talked a little about her own studies before Palikka called "Ellia – it is time for us to go to our new dwelling now! Come here, we should not delay our escorts any longer than necessary".

"I here with papa, big sister!" Talian called from his position on Harkino's hip "See? I all ready. When you with mama then you all ready too".

When Lazarus looked around and saw Koronna standing beside his chair looking at him expectantly, so he nodded and said "Yeah, we'd better get goin' too, K – it'll take me a few momens just to find a smaller ship that won't block the street if we do a ground landing or crack the building's rooftop in pieces if we do a roof landing".

"Scarran flight decks are all laid out the same way" Koronna reminded him "whatever type of ship or garrison they are on. It won't take long".

"I only know where the Strykers are…" he replied as the two of them left the galley "…as far as ships go – an' since the one I usually use is near a maintenance area on one side an' the nearest armoury on the other everything's all nice an' close…".

Contrary to expectations, Talian did not cry at the prospect of leaving the ship he was born in – and indeed he actively helped his family pack, running around to collect things and pass them to either Ellia or his parents until the last case was closed and Palikka called "All done, children" with relief.

"Go to new house time!" Talian called, clapping "We go in car thing now, mama! Your Talian know where that is, it this way!" and pointing towards the nearest transit stop. When Palikka confirmed Talian's guess of the transit stop's location as being correct, he clapped and shrieked happily – after which all of them picked up a case so they could both get underway soon and stop their youngest family member shrieking so much.

"I like those big-ass pistols Rulok's boys an' girls use…" Lazarus told Koronna in the armoury "but they sure do beat on my arms when I fire one! We got anything a bit less harmful to my health?"

"Those are standard regulation heavy slugpistols" Koronna explained, nodding "and I would expect the recoil to be hard to handle for any non-Scarran who tried to fire one since they are not designed for your use – assuming your hands are big enough to hold one to start with! Troll seems to carry one everywhere regardless of this, though"

"That, Koronna…" Lazarus replied with a short laugh "…is because he's crazy! That cannon he likes has to be pushing safe carry limits for someone his size and on top of that he likes to carry a pistol that just about breaks his wrist with brutal recoil!"

"We could use Vipers…" Koronna suggested "…but despite them being effective enough I don't like using them much. They are a specialist weapon, not a general purpose sidearm".

"So what else is there?" Lazarus asked, after which Koronna picked a large pistol from a shelf and showed him, saying "This is what we will use. It's a standard heavy-pattern pulse pistol as used by the A-teams, which means you have a shorter-range stasis barrel under the main barrel. You have a bit more actual power than the heavy slugpistol, but these usually don't have the full-automatic mode that the slugpistols have. Twenty five shots, whichever barrel you use, before the power pack runs dry".

Lazarus tested out how it felt to hold for a few microts before nodding approval – Koronna showed him how to set the safety catch to allow incapacitating stasis shots or full power pulse killshots, and at Lazarus' insistence but also her approval shoulder holsters were also found.

"It is harder for our weapon to be stolen" Koronna agreed as she helped fit his holster to his smaller-than-Scarran body "even assuming anyone is stupid enough to try. It is easier to conceal under a coat or jacket as well if we wear one. These considerations outweigh the slightly slower draw time", adding a few spare packs in the pouches available for them from force of habit, along with one of the steel rods Troll called 'slappers'.

"They are smaller than I usually like…" Koronna groused "…but can, I admit, be useful for forced entry. Especially since that crazy human modified the design a little at the ends…".

Lazarus explained a little of Troll's criminal past, to which Koronna nodded as she connected that to the altered weapon she now carried, before Koronna rested her treblin hand on his shoulder and guided him back to the flight deck – Lazarus was concentrating enough on his job that he didn't notice for a while, but when he did and looked across at Koronna in surprise she just rumbled softly and smiled before leading him down the flight deck beyond where the Strykers were stored.

"These are the main Scarran variant of an older and much more common class of craft called Raiders" she explained "Captain Trannak's personal craft is one of these. The few we have are fitted with the extra main gun as his is, but not the two larger slugweapons on the sides".

"Don't think Captain Trannak's keepin' them on his much longer, either" Lazarus replied as Koronna showed him how to enter "He don't like havin' to carry extra crew around when he can use the weight for somethin' else. Can't say I particularly disagree either, though the guns can be useful sometimes…".

"We can replace them if needed" Koronna replied, dismissing that as unlikely "For now, I should show you the differences between these and Strykers…". It only took a few momens, for which both Koronna and Lazarus were grateful – most of which was taken up by Lazarus' insistence on running through the startup as well as emergency checklists and procedures several times, a precaution which Koronna thought unnecessary but nonetheless thoroughly approved of.

The Captain believes as I do Koronna thought as she ushered Lazarus to the pilot's hammond chair He prefers to spend extra time practicing for contingencies when it is not necessary rather than failing when they are necessary. This is good and helping him strap in before heading back out to find Palikka's family.

As it happens they were not long in arriving, and when they did Harkino said "According to the regulation pattern we both learned, Palikka, if we are flying a small craft that is not a Stryker we should go this way" and leading his family down the flight deck – until Talian's hammond hand flashed out and he called "SMELL 'RONNA! TALIAN SMELL YOU, 'RONNA – WE COMING!"

"Guide your family, Talian!" Koronna shouted back "If you know where I am, you should lead the way and guide your family. If you don't want to walk, simply tell your mother or father where to go".

Talian did just that, chattering to Harkino and giving directions until they all reached Koronna and the Raider, where he called "Yaaay! We here now, 'Ronna! Flying time now, 'Ronna? We go flying in this ship, 'Ronna?"

"It is flying time, Talian" Koronna confirmed more quietly, nodding "and yes, we will be going in this ship. Can you see who is sitting inside already?"

"It Cap-tin Laz-rus" Talian replied, to everyone's surprise but also approval "I not smell him when he in ship but it him, I know it. He tell me his name when I see him 'fore an' he make sure I get it right".

Koronna called the bridge for takeoff clearance, and was surprised when Caseya answered.

"Keyah Kamara is teaching me the basic procedures of using the comm desk, Koronna" Caseya replied with a slight smile after answering the call "The two of us have only been on the bridge for a few momens when your call came in, did you know that?"

"I didn't" Koronna replied "but for now, I think, takeoff clearance is needed and the flight deck doors opened before Talian starts shrieking with excited impatience again".

"Koronna is correct" Keyah added with agreement but little in the way of rebuke for Caseya "Press that button to activate the containment field that keeps the air inside the ship… that one to open the flight deck doors… and then tell Koronna that these things have been done. She will be able to see it from where she is, but we should still tell her nonetheless – use the protocol I assume you learned at the Organisation for such things. We all know it and it is close enough to the human method that Captain Lazarus will understand as well".

"Your craft is cleared for takeoff, Koronna" Caseya replied as she scanned the desk controls for the buttons she needed – when she found them she pressed them and added "Atmospheric containment field is on… and flight deck doors are now opening".

The Raider's takeoff was a little wobbly, but nothing was damaged and no one was hurt – Talian even thought it was all done specially for him, and laughed and clapped before telling Captain Lazarus how well he was doing.

"You adjust well to this older craft" Koronna confirmed for Lazarus with a smile "It is more forgiving to fly than even the older mark 1 Strykers – and since you were already an accomplished pilot before we found you, you adapt fast".

Lazarus smiled slightly as he guided the Raider into atmosphere, where Koronna helped by navigating to the accomodation block where Palikka's family would be living – as it turned out, the building had a roof landing pad which could handle the Raider's weight, which Lazarus was relieved to hear and which made Talian shriek excitedly and clap.

Building security was a little surprised that a resident would be arriving that way but cleared the Raider to land anyway – once Lazarus had landed, Talian called "Wheeeee! We back on ground now! We go to new dwe-ling now, papa? We go in now, mama?"

"We are" Palikka confirmed, smiling at Talian "Your father and sister will help me carry our cases – if you ask nicely, maybe Captain Lazarus or Koronna will let you sit on their shoulders until we reach the door". Eventually Talian decided Koronna should carry him – once that was settled, every adult, plus Ellia, took a case and followed Koronna to the apartment door.

"We are here" Koronna announced "We are not particularly close to ground level or the roof here, but neither are we far from either one so it will be easy enough to enter or leave with any cargo you may have, even up the stairs. I think there is a levelator for residents' use as well". Koronna did not call building security to set the entry code but did that herself – Palikka used the numbers giving Talian's date of birth in Hierarchy notation, which made Talian shriek excitedly and clap when she told him, and once that was done everyone headed inside.

"It is not large…" Palikka decided "…but everything is good" before heading to the kitchen area at the back of the main room.

"All the equipment for preparing a large and varied eating time is here!" she exclaimed with delighted surprise "Labour-saving conveniences of the best kinds along with all the utensils!" before turning to Koronna and adding "I expect your Commander outfitted this new dwelling of ours. I thank you all for that as well".

"Not sure if there's actually any food here…" Lazarus replied, shrugging "… but there's prob'ly a few basic bits an' pieces in case of emergencies…".

"We will find out later" Palikka replied, nodding happily "I think my children want to see where their room will be now".

"There's a room for Talian when he needs his own" Koronna explained, but Talian shook his head and replied "I in sis-ter Ellia room, 'Ronna. Papa say that good till I ol-der".

The two of them picked the room between their parents' room and the main living room as theirs before running inside, Ellia dropping her case just inside the door.

"We put everything away first, you two!" Harkino told them, laughing as he watched the two of them look at everything and chase each other around every available surface "So get off the wall and help your mother and I unpack!"

Since even Ellia stopped every few momens to just look at their new dwelling, the unpacking took longer than expected even with Koronna and Lazarus helping.

"This my bed, Cap-tin Laz-rus" Talian said happily, indicating the bed on the treblin side of the room "It going to be mine when it slee-ping time. Stuff on it nice an' soft an' warm, that what papa tell me, an' he right".

"It's a good bed" Captain Lazarus agreed, feeling a little out of his depth talking to a child "You can see the door too, so when your momma comes in the morning you can see her without turning 'round".

Talian clapped when he looked and saw this was true, jumping up to hug Captain Lazarus briefly before running over to tell Palikka about it. He ran a complete circuit around the walls and ceiling in excitement when Palikka confirmed that for him before plucking him off the wall. Talian waved his arms and legs and called out happily and very loudly, which made everyone smile – he didn't want to climb off Captain Lazarus when Palikka told him to, but Lazarus told him "It won't be the last time you see us, little man – I'm sure someone from the ship will drop by an' check up on you all every so often an' see if you need help with anything. If not in person then on the comm – you got a good one right there on the wall by the kitchen".

"That better" Talian replied, sniffling a bit now he realised Lazarus and Koronna needed to go "I miss people on big 'Mara home ship lots, Cap-tin Laz-rus. They my first friends. Nice doc-tor who name I got for number two name my friend. 'Mara my best first friend".

"I'm sure you'll see her an' her parents on the comm or at the door at some point, Talian" Lazarus reminded him, surprised he mentioned Doctor Nrakal "When Amara finds out where you are, she'll want to comm you all or come see you, I'm sure".

"The Captain and I should go now" Koronna told Palikka "and let you all explore your new dwelling at your leisure. Comm codes for our ship's bridge have been programmed into your house comm, so you can call if you need to – whoever is on the comm desk will know it is your family calling, so you should be answered promptly".

Once the Raider had been moved to a small blast pit in the main port, Lazarus and Koronna boarded a public transport crawler to return to Market Street.

"This is not work, Anton…" Koronna reminded him softly – Lazarus was surprised to hear her use his first name, off duty or not, but nodded as she added "…so we will not be on arbitration patrol. We may intervene in a dispute if asked – but only then, I think. You need time to relax – and, truth be told, so do I".

"Then let's find a stall where I can grab a drink" he replied "I need to loosen up some – as long as I don't drink too much I'll be fine an' not do anything to embarrass you in public or get regular security askin' questions". Koronna just rumbled softly and rested her head briefly against his shoulder before taking hold of his treblin hand – He is hammond-handed she knew and would not appreciate me holding the hand he may need to draw his pistol with – and was pleasantly surprised to feel him take hold of her hand as well as they walked away from the crawler stopping point in the main part of Market Street. Good she thought more happily He is starting to relax and simply enjoy my company. I think Jane was right when she suggested my being Scarran is not an issue with him – he seems more concerned about how he treats me and how I react to him because I am female.

Koronna thought a bit more as they walked on before deciding I should talk to Liz and spend more time with her as well. She may be his adopted daughter, but Captain Lazarus places importance on what she says and how she feels about situations and people. My chances of getting closer to him will improve the more Liz comes to trust me, I think.


"Here we are, Amara" Captain Lazarus announced one morning, some time later "The galley again. First Meal time for everyone here who isn't Kalish, yes?"

"That right, Captain" Amara replied, nodding "This the galley. All food here" before she looked around the galley and asked "Mama an' papa back, Captain? They here for their 'Mara?"

After reminding Amara she could use his name and not rank, Captain Lazarus held his treblin hand out flat and rocked it from side to side briefly before replying "I'm not sure, Amara – they'll be back when their mission's done. You remember us tellin' you about missions?"

"I 'member" Amara replied, a little sadly "Miss mama an' papa lots, Captain Laz-rus".

"I'm sure they miss you too, Amara" Captain Lazarus agreed, nodding "You can give 'em hugs an' cuddles when they come back. Maybe they might have a story or two for you".

"That good" Amara replied happily, clapping "Mama an' papa tell their 'Mara goodgood stories. I tell mama an' papa stories 'bout what I do when they on mi-shun too".

Amara looked around as more people started arriving in ones and twos, with a few larger groups coming off early morning training, and asked Captain Lazarus about all of them. Koronna smiled as she watched him answer Amara's curious and excitable questions, rumbling very softly in approval – especially when Amara rested her head on his shoulder and rumbled briefly.

Good she decided My Captain likes small children. He is not uncomfortable around them as some are. He does not prefer to interact solely with older children or young adults before she smiled when Amara climbed over to sit on her lap, pulling her hands around her stomach to hold her steady.

Amara clapped when Rulok, Lirak, and both their teams entered and headed over to their table, getting their own seats close by – Amara identified each person by smell and looks, then named them with either their real names or the names she made up for them. Each of them smiled or rumbled as they heard her mention them, with one or two laughs that Amara loved and rewarded with claps.

She watched them look around and talk for a few momens before looking up at Koronna and telling her "They tell stories, auntie 'Ronna. I not know what ones, I not heard them 'fore".

"I think they are stories…" Koronna replied, listening as well "of missions they have been on before, or other interesting things that have happened to them when they were not on missions, or unusual places they have been to or heard about".

Amara opened her mouth to say something, but was stopped by a faint but clear ~painreliefmild hunger~ coming across her mind.

What that? she wondered I not hear people talk like that 'fore! Sounds like papa! I ask papa 'bout it? I ask nice doctor? I wait, I see… before the door opened and Caseya and Trannak walked in, somewhat slowly.

"IT MAMA AN' PAPA!" Amara called "THEY BACK!" before she looked again and remembered what she heard earlier and added "PAPA HUR-TING! MAMA HUR-TING BIT TOO!"

Nrakal almost fell out of his chair at the strength of Amara's instinctive broadcast of worry and concern, but quickly strode over to them both, picking Amara up on the way so she wouldn't hurt herself.

"Climb up to my shoulders if you want to watch" Nrakal told Amara "I need both my hands free. If you're on my shoulders you can see what I do, too".

"What you do, nice doctor?" Amara asked as Trannak and Caseya sat down at their usual table "What happen? You help mama an' dada not be hur-ting?"

"I will do that, Amara" Nrakal confirmed, telling Trannak to remove his fatigue shirt and undershirt along with his body armour "Your papa knows a few things about making sure he stays well, but now he is here I will look at what he did and see if I need to do anything else to help him or your mama" before smiling briefly at Amara and telling her "If you are upset, Amara, one of your papa's or mama's friends here will hold you for a while so I can help your mama and papa".

"I look, I see…" Amara insisted, nodding – so Nrakal poked and prodded Trannak a bit. Amara pointed when she saw anything she found interesting or odd, most of which turned out to be minor combat injuries – and she watched with much interest, cooing and whispering as Nrakal passed Trannak a couple of mild painkillers and watched him swallow them with water.

"Papa feel all better now, nice doc-tor" Amara told Nrakal, nodding "Papa still hurt tiny bit but not lots. Papa hungry. Think mama hungry too. 'Mara not hungry yet".

"Can you tell your papa feels better, Amara?" Nrakal asked softly, smiling as he thought hard about this new development "If so, when could you tell?"

"Not know how I tell, nice doctor" Amara replied, shaking her head "Your friend 'Mara just know. Know mama an' papa there when they at door. Not know why I see papa hur-ting an' mama hur-ting there" before she looked up at him, concerned and worried, before asking "It a good thing, nice doctor? It good 'Mara see an' know that stuff?"

"A good thing" Nrakal confirmed, both Trannak and Caseya watching as he did so "I think I might know why you know those things, Amara… but I will go and check with some of my special doctor's books after the meal. I will feel better when I go to find out new things if I eat well first, yes?"

"You feel better if you eat 'fore doing new stuff" Amara replied, nodding " 'Mara know it true when I do that. I all good then" before scratching her chin, very much like Trannak did, and adding "Mama an' dada say it not good doing wall walk trick after eating, nice doctor, so I not do new wall walk stuff till food gone down an' I had nap".

"I do not hurt badly, doctor" Caseya replied when asked "I do not know if this is normal, but these new things I have made me heal quickly even if I did feel hungry afterwards. What little I remember from the testing time suggests it is normal to heal that way. I do not know if it is normal for me to be so hungry after injury, however".

"It is normal enough" Nrakal replied "It varies between subjects, but it is normal. You ate when your body required it? A changed subject like yourself requires energy and other things from food to fuel the regenerative processes".

"It feels odd doing that outside of eating time" Caseya admitted "but yes, I ate. Only hot rations. We did not have other foods on Captain Trannak's ship".

Nrakal made a few notes on his own PDA, Amara watching closely as he did so, before suggesting "Amara… it would be good for your mama and papa to rest a while before you talk to them and tell them stories. You could come and sit with me if you like, or I can take you to see someone else…".

"Mama an' papa be all good if their 'Mara not there?" Amara asked "I still be here, mama an' papa, so you call your 'Mara if you need cudd-lees an' stuff".

Caseya lifted Amara very slowly and carefully, hugging her for some time before telling her "Your papa and I hurt after our mission, dear Amara… but do not forget we both love you very much. We will give you cuddles and hear your stories when we have rested – perhaps you can help your papa eat a little?"

"I do that, mama" Amara replied, nodding "That a goodgood idea. I help papa eat after papa have nap".

Nrakal carried Amara back to Captain Lazarus, where she told him and Koronna about Trannak and Caseya being injured on their mission.

"That's why the doc here went to see 'em" Lazarus explained "To make sure they're well. To make sure they got their rest an' didn't forget to have a good meal, too".

Amara climbed over and sat on Rulok's lap, much to everyone's interest – Rulok and Lirak smiled and laughed a little, and Amara clapped before pulling Rulok's hands around her to hold her steady.

"All good an' ready for more stories 'fore eating now" Amara announced "Who turn for story next? Who tell their friend 'Mara new stuff now?"

Harrigan was one of the last to arrive for that particular meal, but once he arrived alongside Talannah he opened the counter with the minimum of ceremony before sitting by Trannak and hearing his report.

Amara watched this.

"Big funny man all happy with papa an' mama" Amara told Lirak "You look an' see. Papa tell big funny man stuff he an' mama do an' he all happy" before looking as closely as she could and added "Papa put stuff in bag on table for big funny man, uncle Li-rak. What in bag? What it for?"

"That, Amara…" Lirak explained, rumbling softly "…is money. People give us money to do hard things for them. That's what we call missions. We can use that money to buy things we need".

"Papa an' mama get lots money?" Amara asked, still not understanding this new concept but curious nonetheless "They get more 'cause they hur-ting?"

"They might if the mission was extra hard" Lirak replied "But I think that is all even nice small people like you need to know".

"Why papa give some to big funny man?" Amara asked then "It not all papa's money?" Lirak gave a very simple explanation about taxes, and while Amara still wasn't entirely sure about it she seemed happy about part of Trannak's money helping to pay for the food everyone ate and the running of the ship they lived on.

"…so that's unit tax for the mission fee…" Trannak summarised "...plus the bounty for that Nebari political officer. It took a while to figure out a way to collect that in a way that wouldn't end up with Caseya or I ending up in a Hierarchy prison, but as it happens the local proconsul came right down to the door with his legal attache and didn't even look at our faces. Only the target. Once he verified the identity, payment came swiftly – after which we left just as swiftly in case whoever the Hierarchy sent to take that political officer to a penal colony thought they might like to take us, too".

"Sit back an' relax for a bit, then" Harrigan decided "You brought back a nice fat pile of crindars, both of you. Enjoy the good life, such as it is around here, for a while".

"Amara will have things to tell us, I'm sure" Trannak replied, rumbling softly "She often does if we go away for even a short while".

Amara ran across the galley floor to Caseya, as soon her adoptive mother reached the counter, before shifting up the counter wall and standing on the counter top beside her.

"I here now, mama" she announced "Your 'Mara here now. You all happy? Papa happy? You an' papa feel all good?"

"Your papa is still hungry, Amara" Caseya replied, smiling "I am getting him Kalish food, see? It is one of the most nutritious things to eat, even for big Scarran people like your papa – that means it is very good for him, Amara".

"You have bit too, mama?" Amara asked, showing a little concern on her face and instinctively broadcasting just a little worry with her mind "You eat too? Not know if it eating time for mama but mama hur-ting like papa hur-ting. Mama eat too?"

"I will not eat very much" Caseya decided "but perhaps some of the special bouhl, which is Kalish food made from vegetables, and a little treel, which is Kalish food made with fish. Just a little. If you are good, Amara, you can share some with me".

Amara clapped and called out happily before climbing up to sit on Caseya's shoulders.

Nrakal watched Amara from his own table, some way across the galley, and checked the readings on a more specialised scanning device he pulled out of his medical bag a few momens earlier.

"What's up?" Harrigan asked, sitting down surprisingly quietly for someone of such bulk and weight "You haven't got some bug or other yourself, have you?"

"No, no…" Nrakal laughed "I am well, Commander! This is not scanning me, I am using it to try and scan Amara's mental functioning – and preferably without her knowing about it".

"She's OK?" Harrigan asked with concern, but Nrakal just smiled and replied "She is in very good health indeed, Commander – I am scanning for something else. Unless I actually find what I think is there, I would rather not say anything… and even then I will tell Captain Trannak and Caseya first".

"I think I've found a hungry doctor" Harrigan replied, grinning a bit "You go get something, mister, before the Bloodstars get most of what's left. Again".

A happy mealtime was enjoyed by all – especially those close to where Amara was sitting. She happily told them all kinds of things about what she had been doing and clapped whenever people told her even small things about themselves or places they had been before. She shrieked and clapped whenever she was told about other worlds or species of people, and asked a lot of questions about each one she was told about – when she admitted she had not seen a species before, she would usually be told "Perhaps you will see one when your mama and papa decide to take you down to the planet below us – there are so many different kinds of people who go there for all sorts of things".

"Liz…" Lazarus called, startling his adoptive daughter as he arrived at the skulkers' table "Koronna an' I are going to look 'round the lower decks again, 'bout half way down the ship…d'you want to come? Bring your friend here if he's not got stuff to do".

"Think he's got small craft maintenance stuff to help out with after breakfast, Dad" Liz replied "Besides… it's not like he's my boyfriend or anything". The way Hellbolt smiled briefly got Lazarus thinking You may not be human, mister… but I know that look when I see it, an' your face tells me you want to get to know Liz better. I'm going to be watching you.

Captain Lazarus was startled a little when Amara crawled up his leg and then his back before peeking over his shoulder and giggling.

"Look, auntie Liz! I here, 'Mara here!" Amara called happily "I sitting on your papa!"

"Having fun, Amara?!" Liz laughed "Rulok an' his friends been telling you stories?"

"You right!" Amara replied, nodding "They tell me some an' I tell them stories too! They tell me goodgood stuff 'bout places an' people that longlong way 'way!" before climbing off Captain Lazarus and back up onto Liz's lap, rumbling loudly and happily. Liz fed Amara a few bits of her keedva, which Amara loved and rewarded with hugs and happy rumbles, before telling her "Dad wants me to go exploring a bit with him an' Koronna, Amara… I'd better help pack our stuff".

"You tell me if you find new place, auntie Liz?" Amara asked hopefully, looking up "You call on comm an' tell your friend 'Mara?"

"If there's anywhere fun I'll tell you about it, Amara" Liz replied "Not sure what's there at all, not in that part of the ship. That's why Dad, Koronna, an' I are going. We look an' we find out an' then we tell everyone else what we found".

"We take a bit of food and water with us" Lazarus clarified "You've seen it before. Those special tins that go hot when we open them. There's ones for drinks too, but we'll just take water in bottles".

"Captain Laz-rus an' auntie 'Ronna an' Liz friend go 'sploring , mama…" Amara said happily "That sound fun, mama. We go 'sploring too?"

"Our Commander" Trannak explained "the one you call 'big funny man'… he said we could have some special resting time because we did well, Amara. I think we should go down to the planet below us, Amara. Your mama and I have been there for work… but you have never seen a real planet before, and I think we should all go together. Maybe we will find new kinds of people to see, or a special thing or two for you or your mama".

The resulting excited shriek was heard all over the galley. Nrakal smiled, but also looked with some interest at his scanner as a couple of readings spiked briefly – Interesting he thought Very interesting indeed… while it is always a possibility for a hybrid child to be active, it is rare indeed for one of straight bloodline or hybrid bloodline to be active this early in their lives. I will check these readings against my medical archives… and if they mean what I think they mean I will tell her parents, and then we will decide what to tell the Commander.

Keyah heard as well and smiled.

Good, Amara is happy she decided For all my earlier misgivings over the association of Captain Trannak and Caseya… they do well together, and Amara does well being with them. She is eager to learn as Kalish people are eager to learn… Caseya is settling more easily now as well.

Keyah thought more about that before deciding That she will be with us in Skulker Command is certain… what her job will be, I do not think even the Captain knows for sure. I think she likes the idea of flying… but neither I nor others know if she has the base aptitude for it or the willingness to learn the theory and the practical as well as the technical side to flying small craft and commanding larger ones. Perhaps if they are going to the planet to relax Captain Trannak might test her a little to see what she knows and how much she wants to learn more.

"Not while we have Amara on board, Keyah… " Trannak whispered while Juroch tested Amara on how well she spoke both Kalish and a little with Scarran "… but it's a good idea. I think my wife likes the idea of flying very much. I know she likes being on the bridge of my Raider even when we are on missions…I will see about testing her on one of our spare Raiders, these are more forgiving to novice pilots as you know, and scheduling time in the simulators both for the Raider and later our mark-2 Strykers".

Once the meal was over, Amara was half-asleep on Juroch's lap, snoring a little. Trannak and Caseya watched her for maybe half a momen before waking her gently.

"It is time for us to go down and explore the planet below us, Amara" Caseya explained "We will not see everything, of course – but your papa will help us find interesting things and people to see, and we will teach you about how things are done on this planet".

Amara thought about that, then said "I learn noo stuff… goodee. Noo fun stuff" before asking "We go in papa small ship 'gain?"

"In my small ship" Trannak confirmed "When we arrive at the hammond side flight deck, Amara, there will be a test for you – you will show us how to find my ship, Amara. I know you remember. You will tell us where to go and we will find my ship and go flying down to the planet in it".

"More test for 'Mara…" Amara replied, rumbling once more "Like that, papa. It all good".

Amara's happy singing filled the transit car all the way to the hammond side flight deck – she shrieked with laughter when Caseya told her she had sung non-stop from the galley to where they are now, clapping as well and calling "That 'mazing, mama! It good singing?"

"Very good singing" Caseya confirmed "because it was you singing, Amara, for your mama and papa".

"Goodee…" Amara replied "Mama an' papa like it when their 'Mara sing…".

"Do you remember what happens now, Amara?" Caseya reminded her, smiling "There is something for you to do…".

"I find papa small ship!" Amara replied, remembering clearly "You tell me in galley! It goodgood test for your 'Mara!"

Caseya set her gently on the transit car platform, telling her softly "There is the door onto the flight deck we need, Amara. Look around when you go in and decide which way we need to go. Your papa and I will be close behind you".

Amara walked slowly over to the door – then looked up, found the keypad lock, and crawled up the wall until she sats beside it.

"This door thing, mama an' papa" she told Caseya and Trannak "You put number in it with buttons an' it open. 'Mara not know number".

Trannak pointed to a small plate beside the keypad, telling her "I can open the door by looking at that plate as well, Amara – it will scan my face and check what it finds against the ship's archive to see if I am allowed to go onto the flight deck".

Amara watched with interest as Trannak did just that, then clapped when the door opened – she just stood out in the open deck for almost a momen, cooing in wonder at the small craft she saw on one side of the deck as well as the Switchblade out in the middle of it.

"Where is my ship, Amara?" Trannak prompted after that "Which direction should we go? What is nearby?"

"We go that way, papa" Amara decided eventually, pointing towards the bow of the Havoc "Your ship that way. It not far. It come 'fore Stry-kers, papa. Uncle Li-rak tell me that".

"Show us where" Caseya encouraged her "We know you remember… show us where your papa's small ship is. Then we can all get in and go to see new places".

Amara plodded back and forth over the flight deck, cooing and pointing at anything and everything that caught her interest. After a few more momens she stopped, then pointed, before calling "This it, papa? This one yours?"

"Well done" Trannak told her in praise, lifting her up for a hug "It is mine, yes. I will hold you while your mama opens the door on this side. There are two doors for people on this ship, one on each side, and a big door called a ramp that can be opened at the back if we need to put big things in".

"That one dada seat" Amara called, surprising both of them as she pointed to each seat in turn "an' that one mama seat. I 'member that from when we go find Ta-lian papa longlong time ago. We go in dada ship then, too".

Amara watched Trannak power his ship up from a cold start with much interest, which made Caseya smile. No matter how many times I see it she thought seeing Amara happy and eager to learn like this amazes me and fills me with awe and love for her. She is very much a child of the Kalish people in this way, even though she is obviously half-Scarran to look at.

"We put special stuff o-ver us now, papa" Amara called "It web-ings. It so we stay in seat an' not fall out".

Caseya made sure the child harness was fastened securely before calling for Amara to let herself be put in it – Amara smiled and clapped and called "Har-niss 'fore flying!" as Caseya made sure she was securely seated and fastened in it. She watched with just as much interest as Caseya fastened her own crash webbing over both of them and rumbled softly when it was done before calling "We all good here, papa".

"When everything is ready like that…" Trannak told her, smiling "… the person in charge of making sure it is ready will call 'All OK'. In our case… your mama will call when she is ready, then I will call when I am ready, and then we can call the bridge where your friend the big funny man sits on his special chair so whoever is there can open the big doors so we can go out and go flying". A much better way for a child to learn essential protocol Caseya decided Instead of under hard and unforgiving authority, with the encouragement and direction of loving friends and parents.

Caseya smiled and called 'All OK' for herself and Amara, after which Trannak did the same for himself – once Amara had clapped, Trannak said "Now we are ready, Amara, we need to call the bridge and ask if we can go flying. Whoever is there will open the doors and make sure the air stays inside our home ship for us. If I tell you what to say, do you want to do the talking?"

"I do that!" Amara replied excitedly, clapping several times "You tell me, papa, an' your 'Mara do it! You watch an' see!"

She watched closely as Trannak opened a channel to the Havoc's bridge, after which he nodded and Amara asked "Ree-quest take off clee-rance for dada an' mama an' me, please…".

"Clearance granted" Sturk replied "Containment field is on… doors openin' in…3…2…1…now".

"Door op-ning now, un-cle Stu-rrk…" Amara called "It all 'mazing. Air all spar-kly too – un-cle Li-rak tell me that mean thing on so air stay in an' not run 'way".

"That's right, Amara" Sturk replied "That's what it's for. If you're comin' back today you'll probably see me on the deck… I'm gonna be there doing a full maintenance inspection on my Stryker. Lots of bits all over the place, Amara. But I'll know where all the bits are and what they're for".

"It sound fun, un-cle Stu-rrk" Amara replied as Trannak flew out of the flight deck and into open space.

"Lots of mess, Amara" Sturk replied, grinning – Amara laughed and shrieked and said "You have longlong sho-wa after then, un-cle Stu-rrk!" before Trannak called "Free and clear, Sturk – we'll be back later" and discommed.

"Un-cle Stu-rrk all nice, papa" Amara said as she watched the hull glow as Trannak flew into atmosphere "He a nice un-cle who wear red stuff on showl-das. He say he make stuff that go bang but he not show me that".

"He does make stuff that goes bang" Trannak confirmed, while the hull stopped glowing and the sky went from the black of open space to the more normal colours of a planet supporting life "He has to be very careful doing that in case he hurts people. Making stuff that goes bang is very hard".

"He like me, papa" Amara replied "He nice".

Trannak got Caseya to make the call for landing clearance. The landing controller was a little surprised Caseya gave full mass and bulk ratings for the Raider instead of just the class and vessel name, but pleased as well and gave them clearance to a blast pit close to the major traffic thoroughfares.

"Well done" Trannak told her "While not every landing controller will need the extra information you gave, it was good you knew how to find out and told them all of it without being asked. People remember things like that and are more likely to respond favourably when you pass their way again in future". Trannak made landing the ship a co-operative event that Amara was encouraged to watch – she did comment and coo with interest, but didn't get in the way even though she did fidget in rising excitement as everyone shut the ship down and undid their webbing.

"We lan-ded now, papa…" Amara called, bouncing a little in the harness "We go out of ship an' look an' see…".

When Trannak opened the hatch and everyone stepped out onto the blast pit floor Amara shrieked very loudly in excitement.

"I ON PLA-NIT!" she shouted, clapping and bouncing in the harness "THIS FIRST PLA-NIT I BEEN ON! IT ALL 'MAZING!" before looking around in amazement and pointing to every small detail she could see on the inside of the blast pit wall.

"I think you have been talking to Juroch…" Caseya told her with a smile "He is the one you call 'whisper Scarran'. I know he likes to see people noticing every tiny detail like that. I think he has been teaching you to do that".

"You right, mama!" Amara replied, clapping again "Whisper Scarran teach your 'Mara lots good stuff!"

Once they were outside the pit wall and Trannak had locked the door securely, Amara started sniffing and said "Pla-nit air not smell like ship air, mama an' dada! Why that? It 'cause there no scru-bbers that take bad stuff out?"

"Air on a planet…" Caseya explained, within hearing range of several curious passers-by "… never smells exactly the same as air in a ship, Amara… because, as you told us, there are no scrubbers to clean things out of it. Because air on a planet has the smells of the things of the planet in it, Amara".

"I still smell people here, mama?" Amara asked next "Like it when I smell people. Specially when they people who my friends".

"It may be harder…" Trannak said, taking over "But you will still be able to do it. It may be harder, Amara, because there are so many other things and people here you might smell".

"Though we work here…" Trannak told Caseya "perhaps we should start at the information booths where the cruise liners and passenger craft land. All kinds of information can be found there – though we will not need to know all of it, of course. It is easy to find the shopping areas and the markets – not so easy to find things that are interesting simply to look at and be near, should there be any such places here".

Amara looked with interest at a small gathering of people clustered by a sign – when she asked Trannak what this was, he smiled and told her "A public transport stopping point, Amara – like we have transit cars on our home ship. Here, if people do not wish to walk or use their own vehicles, they buy a ticket for the use of public transport vehicles which will take them almost everywhere there are things to buy and things to do on this planet. We will get on one and go to a place where we can see lots of people and find out about interesting places to go".

Amara just cooed happily and turned to look at the other people in the queue.

"There five Se-bay-shun people, papa…" Amara whispered "I smell them. They smell like Shor friend an' he a Se-bay-shun. I not know who other ones are".

"The lady about half way down the queue, Amara…" Trannak replied "is a Luxan" before explaining to her how she can tell. The woman actually walked over to them, asking "You are teaching your young narl about other peoples? This is a good world to do that. There are lots to see around the port and in the market" before she noticed Trannak was Scarran.

"I have not seen one of you who has been anything like friendly before…" she added, a little suspiciously "…but you are teaching your narl, which is good to see. I can't tell what species your mate is, I haven't seen anyone that colour before".

"My wife is a Kalish" Trannak explained "Most Kalish live in Scarran space. All Kalish have, to one degree or another, orange-toned skin and orange-toned hair. All Kalish have very good memories. Our daughter here is like her mother in this".

Trannak is proud of me! Caseya realised and proud to reveal our marriage in public to strangers! He is proud of me and proud of Amara and proud to say so to others! He is properly cautious about revealing the full range of capabilities of my people, which I am sure Keyah would approve of and Juroch as well.

Amara looked the Luxan lady right in the eye as she bent down slightly to see Amara for herself.

"You got ridg-ings but they not like Sca-ran ridg-ings" Amara said eventually "Your skin not got scay-lings on. It not same colour as Sca-ran skin. There lots kinds of Sca-ran skin. There lots kinds of Lux-an skin too?"

"Not so many" the woman replied "I see scales on the narl's face, I see orange-tinted hair, I see skin toned a bit like a Scarran and a bit like your mate" before she looked up and said "A crawler is here. We should get on before it leaves".

Trannak nodded to seats at the back of the vehicle.

"We can see almost every other part of the vehicle from here" he told Caseya "and almost everyone in it. It is closer to the exit as well".

"That good if we see all people, papa" Amara said, oblivious to the reasoning Trannak gave for sitting there "Your 'Mara like to see all people".

"We's heading back to the passenger port!" called the driver "by way of the main junction at Market Street. That's close to Liina's Night-Stay for those of you still needin' to book a room for the night an' there's lots to buy – an' people willin' to buy what you got if you's doin' that too" before driving off fairly sedately. While the traffic was heavy ("openin' time all over the planet" as the driver explained when a number of new visitors asked) it wasn't too hard to navigate through – just quite slow. Amara loved it all, pointing to different people she saw and asking what species they were or where they might be going – Trannak and Caseya took turns identifying some by species but only the Luxan would explain where some of them might be going.

Trannak gave a very toned-down explanation of why people might not talk to her – Amara didn't mind, instead nodding an saying "It goodgood if they go to good place all fastfast – then person they see there not shout at them 'cause they late like un-cle Ka-rok do when Troll man friend all slee-py".

Amara just stared, her jaw dropping in amazement, when the crawler stopped at a fairly large public transport embarkation area at the Market Street junction.

"This 'mazing…" she whispered, head turning from side to side as she attempted to see as many people as possible "I not seen this many people 'fore! There lots an' lots… some Se-bay-shun an' some bit like them an' some all diff-rent!"

Most of the passengers got off the crawler here but even more got on board – most of the Sebaceans were very wary of Trannak, but one young man did come close enough to look at him and see Amara. Amara happily chattered on to him about anything and everything, and it was obvious to anyone around he was surprised she could talk at all.

"It 'cause I bit Ka-lish" Amara replied immediately "Mama a Ka-lish. That why I talk when I still small" before she looked at the harness and added "Har-ness tight, mama and papa. We get bigger one soon?"

"That means, Amara…" Caseya explained "…that when we go places you will walk beside us, Amara – or you might sit on my shoulders or your papa's".

"Walk on feets all good" Amara decided after a few microts "Like it lots. When I goodgood at it then I do ru-nnings an' other stuff like whisper Scarran do".

The passenger arrivals lounge was very large and well-lit – but fairly unpopulated at this early time of the day, though there were still security staff patrolling the public areas as well as making security inspections at various dedicated areas with scanning machines and by hand.

"Here is where we get off, Amara" Trannak explained as he and Caseya stood up "When we go in, look around and ask your mama or I about things you see. Do not call out to the people in uniforms, Amara, as they are working and we should not disturb them unless asked".

"I look an' I see, papa" Amara replied, nodding "an' I tell you an' mama good stuff I find".