Three Weeks Later

  Yau-tala and Consuelo Martin, the former orderly from Weyland Station Thirteen, are performing their rounds. Several of the elderly female hybrids struggle with human ailments such as arthritis and high blood pressure. The powders and elixirs Yau-tala provides help combat the overbearing symptoms of these diseases.

  Having worked in medicine for nearly a decade, Consuelo quickly volunteered to aid the female settlement leader. Consuelo's young son has been taken under the wing of the settlement's self-proclaimed 'child watcher,' Mifbon. Teresa is still weary of the former orderly, spending as little time with her as possible. Which is difficult, considering Consuelo follows Yau-tala nearly everywhere.

  "Yau-tala? May I have a word with you?" Teresa calls to the settlement leader.

  Yau-tala stops her brisk gait, on a dime, and turns to peer at Teresa. The former scientist is approaching at a slow pace, wooden stoller in front, Vor'taalnis at her side. Yau-tala grins and waves to them all.

  "Of course. Meet me at the medical cabin. Consuelo can finish my rounds. I won't be long, Consuelo. You will please excuse me."

  Yau-tala breaks off from Consuelo and moves on a path to intercept Teresa. When she reaches Dr. Boyd, she extends her hand to Vor'taalnis, grateful to simply touch him. For many cycles of a season, she has wanted a childling of her own. The little time she spent with Mau-Nis has rekindled that desire. For better or for worse.

  Yau-tala allows Teresa to enter the medical cabin first. Following closely behind, she draws the front door shut. Teresa has no love for her ooman assistant, Consuelo. That much Yau-tala has ascertained. Privacy is what Teresa seeks.

  Teresa pushes the wooden stroller to within a foot of the nearest lab table. She plops down on a chair and looks up at Yau-tala. Yau-tala gazes back. The dark circles around Teresa's eyes are no longer as prominent, but are still quite visible. It is obvious she is getting very little sleep. No wonder, with three small childlings either at her breasts or underfoot. Even with Mifbon's help.

  "I feel like a third wheel around here, Yau-tala. I know being heavy with descendants...When I first arrived...Is why I don't technically have an assigned position in the settlement. Now, with three childlings to tote around...I'm not much help. What can I do that would be useful?"

  "I was hoping you'd ask!" Yau-tala says with obvious excitement.

  "You were?"

  "Yes. Halyiis is in need of an assistant. He is what you oomans would call a historian. Currently, he is working on an archive of important events. In both yautja and ooman history. You could help him with that. When you are not helping me. You were once a scientist. I could really use your help, Teresa. Your extensive knowledge of ooman physiology and biology could do wonders for this community. There are matters of reproduction...And other sensitive areas...Which I cannot even pretend to understand. You will only assist me when Consuelo has gone off shift. I know of your hatred for that particular ooman female. And it is understandable. She was simply the first ooman female to volunteer. Otherwise, you would have been my first choice for female assistant. We must make the best of this situation. Two female assistants are better than one. We have a great many female hybrids who need specialized care. You will work with Halyiis in the mornings, and aid me in the evenings. We can work out a schedule whenever you find the time. For now, the childlings are your priority. Once they are weaned, things will be better. There is no rush."

  "Wow. Okay. That does sound like a plan. I think Elder Scar did mention Halyiis to me. Some time back. Thank you, Yau-tala. It will be good getting back into the thick of things again. I miss messing around with genes just for the hell of it."

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Yau-tala's brow creases and she shoots Teresa an odd look. To Yau-tala's way of thinking, Teresa never stopped messing around. She simply found another technique. The settlement leader bites her ridged tongue and stifles a childish laugh.

  "If you say so. Now, I must return to Consuelo. She is still fairly new to our medicines. I do not want her giving an elixir for compacted gut to a patient needing a cure for headaches. I cannot wait for Binahytu to return from his foraging. Then, he can resume his usual rounds. And Consuelo can go back to measuring ovulation cycles for females wishing to become heavy. I'll see you later, Teresa."

  Yau-tala is gone before Teresa can even stand up from her seat.

  "Uh...Okay. Thanks."

  -

  -

  Heading down to the river, Teresa stops to rearrange the blankets covering Erilnis. The temperamental childling kicks out a clawed foot in protest, and accidentally rakes the top of Teresa's hand.

  "Oww!" Teresa yelps.

  She puts the back of her hand to her mouth and sucks away the tiny specks of blood. Vor'taalnis grows angry and stomps in front of the stroller. He plants both feet and wags a finger in Erilnis' face. Chittering loudly, he chastises his baby brother. Teresa chides him between a surprised laugh.

  "Vor'taalnis! Stop that, right now! Stop being mean to your brother. He didn't mean to scratch me. He's just a baby!"

  Vor'taalnis doesn't seem the least bit repentant. He goes to his mother and takes her hand in his smaller one. Kissing the wound on the back of Teresa's hand, Vor'taalnis smiles up at her.

  "D`oij! Mother. D`oij!"

  "What?" Teresa exclaims, bewilderment on her face. "What does he have to do with this?"

  Vor'taalnis smiles even wider and points toward a spot several feet away. He tugs on Teresa's hand, coaxing her in that direction.

  "D`oij!"

  Teresa sighs and rolls her eyes skyward. Placing both hands on her hips, she turns in the direction Vor'taalnis is pointing. She hollers seemingly into thin air.

  "Fancy meeting you here, Elder Scar."

  As she half expected, a shower of square-shaped sparks erupts, starting at Scar's muscled chest. Teresa's brow knits as the rest of Elder Scar materializes. She rolls her eyes again and releases another deep sigh.

  "Leave it to a child to know what's up!" Teresa scoffs.

  With a wolfish grin, Scar approaches where Teresa waits beside her children. The settlement elder kneels in front of Vor'taalnis and chitters softly. It is obvious he is chiding the toddler for revealing his position. Teresa playfully refuses to stand for it.

  "Speak...Ooman, please. I can't understand when you speak yautja. It makes me nervous."

  Scar peers up at Teresa, the wily grin still frozen to his face. Teresa is unable to keep herself from smiling back. No matter how hard she tries.

  "I do not wish to make you nervous. I only wonder how it is that your son knew I was there."

  "Hmmm. He's always been very intuitive. Although, I'm guessing it has something to do with your scent. You all seem to have a wonderful sense of smell. And he is the son of an elder. One of the greatest 'smellers' I have ever known."

  Scar twists his mouth at the idea that his scent may have given him away. The female is obviously attempting to be humorous. Or maybe, she is serious? Perhaps, he can convince her to join him for a dip in the river? Simply to test her theory.

  "I do not smell!" Scar protests, purposely seeking to provoke Teresa.

  "I never implied you do! I meant...It may have been your particular scent. Similar to how his father and others can sniff out other elders. Or females close to mating readiness."

  Scar's face droops at Teresa's last assertion. His ruse isn't going as well as he'd hoped. This female is rather smart. As he'd suspected.

  "So...Will you be joining us at the river?" Teresa inquires, her smile returning. "I could use some company. And, I know Vor'taalnis would love to have you along. It's actually perfect. You can watch the childlings while I meditate."

  "What's in it for me?" Scar says with another wolfish grin.

  "Hmmm," Teresa mumbles and shrugs.

  Tossing her hair over one shoulder, Teresa takes the handle of the stroller in both hands and moves off down the path, toward the river. Scar watches her go, his eyes narrowing. Vor'taalnis tugging his left hand draws Scar's attention downward. He scoops the toddler up and places him on his right shoulder. Together, they follow Teresa to the river.