E:A Vol 2 Ch 16—June 17, 2119

“Are these the original texts?” Zy’nayth asked as he looked at what his wife had just put on his tablet.

“Well, not the original originals. I don’t think they have those. But these are scans of the earliest known copies of the Bible in their original languages. Wait, can you read Greek and Hebrew?”

“I will be able to soon, I am sure.”

Victoria and Zy’nayth, a month after Mik’kenna had been healed, gave their lives to Christ. They knew very little about the Bible, about Jesus Christ, but they found enough evangelical information to know that if they trusted Him, believed in Him and His work on the cross, they would be born again into a new life and enter heaven upon their deaths. Now, three months later, both had read through the Bible at least once, Zy’nayth several times, and studied it together every day pulling from a number of resources. Zy’nayth then decided he wanted to translate the Bible into Raythian for those Rayth, though few, who did not read English.

“It’s kinda weird,” she said, “having to go to a different galaxy to become a Christian. It’s also sad. There are so few left on Earth. Aside from my grandparents, I don’t recall ever knowing any other Christians. A few of their friends, but that’s it.”

“What about your parents?”

“If they were Christians, I didn’t know they were. I hope they were. I hope I will see them again in heaven.”

“I will not see any of my family there.”

“You will see me,” she said as she kissed his ear. “And if we do things right with our kids, you’ll see them there as well.”

“This we must do. I am sad that I will not see Gal’nayth there. I wish I had come across this information before he died. We should pray for our children more.”

“You know, we don’t have to have a formal prayer time to pray for them. We can pray anytime we want? So I just sort of pray throughout the day; like when I’m cleaning, I just mentally say a little prayer for you or the kids or whoever comes to mind.”

“I do not wish to abandon our formal prayer time,” he said.

“I’m not saying we should, I’m just saying we can pray whenever and wherever we want. It doesn’t have to be out loud, we can do it in our heads.”

“But is it as reverential as it should be? I do not wish to disrespect my Lord.”

“I think that comes from our hearts, not how we stand, kneel, whatever. We’re new to this. I don’t think it will be disrespectful. We’ll adjust if we need to as we learn more.”

“I do not wish to make a mistake. It could ruin the eternal lives of our children.”

“Sweetie, God is God. He knows your heart. Yes, we should always be respectful, and yes, we should have a devoted time of prayer and Bible study, but that doesn’t mean we can’t just send up a prayer when someone comes to mind while we’re busy working.”

“I am over-complicating things,” Zy’nayth sighed.

“It’s okay. We’re both learning. Now, it’s late, your wife is tired and she wants to fall asleep in her husband’s arms.”

***

“You know,” Becket said as he ran the scan on Ky’nayth, “it’s a little weird seeing your husband talk about Christianity. The first Rayth missionary.”

“He’s grasped doctrine so fast and can explain things better than most of the literature I’ve found on any given topic.”

“That photographic memory probably helps.”

She smiled, “He has all of the advantages. So you never said you were a Christian.”

“Nominal,” Becket replied. “Always tried to do the right thing, live morally, and such. Became a Christian when I was a teenager. Was passionate about it, then came college, the doctorates…I was so focused on getting all of those degrees, I put God to the side. But after this little episode with your daughter, I’m refocusing.”

Victoria smiled, “Good.”

Zy’nayth walked into the infirmary and immediately Mik’kenna, who’d been content sitting on the floor trying to read her book, got up and toddled over to her father. “Dada! Kiss!”

Zy’nayth scooped her up and smothered her with kisses, making her giggle. Victoria picked up the discarded book then kissed her husband. “Her scans were normal,” she said, “and Ky’s almost done.”

“How are you doing today, Becket?”

“Fine. Things have been slow since the Gyhan rebellion was put down. I almost feel like I’m overstaffed now.”

“Then you could spend more time with Ja’val. He is ready to begin the next round of trials but still has much data to analyze. I am sure he would be thankful for the extra help.”

“I thought Victoria was helping.”

“I am,” she replied, “but my time is limited since I have to keep an eye on these two little warriors who insist on exploring every inch of this place and then regale me and their father with stories of their adventures.”

“Ma!” Ky’nayth exclaimed, “Turr tee. Dink peez.”

Victoria dug into the stroller’s bag and pulled out his sippy cup, already full of juice. “When Uncle Becket is done, you can have your juice.”

“Kunkle dun. Dink peez.”

Becket laughed, “Their vocabulary has expanded quite a bit.”

“You have no idea,” Victoria grinned. “It’s hard to keep from laughing. People talk about the terrible twos, but they’ve been nothing but joy.”

Becket finished his scan and Victoria handed the cup to her son. “Out of curiosity, do they speak in English more than in Rayth?”

“I’d say English simply because they’re around me most of the time, but Daddy usually speaks to them in Raythian when we’re home. They understand it quite well. Better than I do, probably.”

“They will probably begin to use it more since they are around Rayth a little more frequently now,” Zy’nayth said. “So do you think you will be able to make a few extra visits to help Ja’val?”

“Oh, sorry, got off topic. Yeah,” Becket said. “Tomorrow’s my day off, I can see if Vince is okay with me taking a few extra days. Maybe a week. They can always send for me if I’m needed here.”

“You can bridge over to the island whenever you are ready. We will have the guestroom ready for you.”

“It probably won’t be until tomorrow. I have a little date tonight.”

“Date?” Victoria asked. “A real date?”

Becket smiled, “A real date.”

“Day!” Ky’nayth exclaimed and Mik’kenna clapped at her brother.

“Who is she?” Victoria asked.

“A new member to the team. She works in astrophysics with Pavel.”

“Does she have a name?”

“Amelia. She goes by Lia, though.”

“Is she a Christian?” Zy’nayth asked.

“As a matter of fact, yes. And, her father happens to be an evangelical pastor back on Earth.”

“Perhaps he should come here. We need a pastor. We need a church. I have wanted to talk to General Cavanaugh about this. Perhaps this is the answer. Victoria and I will pray about it.”

“So, do you think we could go down and meet this Lia?” Victoria asked.

“She’s off-world with Pavel, gathering data on one of the trillion stars in this galaxy.”

“We could stay for dinner,” she grinned.

“But we will not,” Zy’nayth added. “I look forward to meeting her. Will this change your plans for the week? I do not wish to keep you from this young lady.”

“Ah, honestly didn’t think about it. We’ve only been on four dates. I’ll talk with her tonight about it. If anything, we both work during the day, so I’d be free to work with Ja’val anyway. I might bridge back to have dinner with her in the evenings.”

“You must not sleep with her until you are wed, Becket,” Zy’nayth said sternly causing Becket to smile.

“I wouldn’t have done that even before I rededicated myself to Christ. I was a gentleman.”

“He always has been,” Victoria smiled.

“Thank you, love,” Becket said. “If you wouldn’t object, and if she’s willing, maybe I could take her to the island one evening to have dinner with the two of you.”

“No offense, my friend,” Zy’nayth said, “I would prefer not to allow people I have not yet met on the homeworld. However, Victoria and I would be more than happy to come here for dinner one evening.”

“That works. I’ll figure out a night and let you know. It’ll probably be more comfortable for Lia anyway. She’s still a little unsettled around Rayth. She’s only been here a month.”

“Speaking of which, the General and Colonel both tell me that my men are integrating well. Is that the impression you have?”

“Yes,” Becket said as they went to his office, Ky’nayth holding his hand and walking beside him, his juice cup in his free hand, “though it’s a little difficult for us since they haven’t given us their names. And that’s fine, we all understand the Rayth tradition. I think everyone’s happy that they all have different titles, otherwise it would be extremely confusing.”

“That was not intentional. I should have remembered that you would not know their names.”

“Quite all right. Anyway, most of them seem to be quite interested in the agriculture facility and spend a lot of time there.”

“That is why they were selected to be part of the first group. I hope, however, that they have shown other interests.”

“Two of them, Third Science Commander and a Science Officer, have been interested in helping out in here.”

“Have they been of use?”

“We haven’t used them to heal anyone. I wouldn’t ask them to do so. But they’re very interested in learning about humans. Your Third Science Commander has a rather expansive knowledge base already, I assume that’s from working with Ja’val. The Science Officer is picking things up quickly.”

“They do not scare your patients do they?”

“Off-world patients, yes; that’s to be expected. But our own people, no. I’m thankful for Janice and Lutia, they’re quite able to calm our off-world patients when one of your men walks in to observe.”

“So they have not healed anyone?”

“No. I haven’t allowed it, and honestly, we haven’t had anything serious. Like I said, it’s been slow. Not that I mind, I don’t want people getting hurt or sick, I just feel like I don’t have much I can show them until a patient does come in.”

“Have they offered to heal anyone?”

“Yes. I was the one who said no.”

“May I ask why?”

“Sir, I don’t feel the cost to one human to heal another one is worth it. I can’t watch your men heal a broken leg when I know that he’s going to bridge to some storage area and feed off of another human so that he can replenish the energy he used to heal that leg.”

“Those in our storage pods would be fed upon in any case.” Zy’nayth said then stopped and shook his head. “I am sorry. You must do as your conscience leads. I understand. This is still good training for my men. When the serum is ready for distribution, it would be helpful for you to have a Rayth on your staff. Then they can help heal your injured, and would only need to have some of Victoria’s lasagna to replenish their energy.”

“Victoria isn’t going to be cooking that much lasagna,” Victoria smiled, “well, I would for you and Becket, but only because I love you guys.”

“Decket,” Mik’kenna clapped.

“We need to work on your B’s,” Victoria smiled, “and he’s Uncle Becket to you.”

“Kunkle Decket!” Ky’nayth clapped.

“Close enough,” the doctor said and lifted Ky’nayth in his arms and kissed him. “I love you, Ky’nayth.”

“Duv ooh.”

“Duv ooh!” Mik’kenna said reaching out to be held and kissed too. Becket set Ky’nayth back down and smothered his namesake with kisses.

“I love you, Mik’kenna.”

“Duv Kunkle Decket!”

“They do pick things up fast. Already have ‘Uncle Becket’ down. Sort of,” Becket chuckled.

“I do not wish to break this up,” Zy’nayth said, “but we need to return to the island. The Vice Chancellor and I have some business to tend to. And it is time for the children to have lunch. We will have the guestroom prepared should you change your mind and wish to stay on the island tonight. Otherwise, we will see you tomorrow.”

“I hope you come by tonight,” Victoria said taking Mik’kenna from him, “after your date. I’d like to find out more about Miss Lia.”

“Victoria…” Zy’nayth began in a warning tone.

She grinned at her husband, “I’m not interfering, just inquiring. Besides, you’re the one who interferes.”

“I think I’ve missed something,” Becket smiled.

“I’ll tell you later,” Victoria winked, then kissed his cheek. “See you tomorrow, at the latest. Give Uncle Becket a wave and say ‘goodbye’ kids.”

“Aye!” each kid said, still having difficulties with making a “b” sound. They waved and blew kisses as they left the room, something new that Victoria taught them.

June 20, 2119

“Sir, the last thing we have for you is regarding the status of destroying the energy planet,” a Councilman said.

“The plan is ready and now that the battlecruiser manufacturing facility is out of the explosion radius, I could begin the operation, however, I am reconsidering it,” Zy’nayth said.

“I thought the First Science Commander was adamant that it be destroyed.”

“He is and I agree with him. I am, however, concerned about destroying a third of that solar system.”

“But there is no life on any of the planets, correct?”

“Correct. Yet it is still not something to be done lightly. I want to make sure that there will not be any lasting repercussions from such a massive explosion. Meanwhile, my science team is searching for a way to neutralize the planet, the energy, if it is even possible to do so. That may be a better solution.”

“Do you have patrols set up in the area so that no one takes advantage of that energy?”

“No. I do not want Rayth near that power. It has proven unhealthy for those who worked in the manufacturing facility. I have distributed several satellites in that solar system to alert me if a ship enters the area.”

“Do you have an estimate on how long it may take to find a way to neutralize the energy? Or when you may decide to just go ahead and destroy the planet?”

“I do not. My science team is primarily focused on the serum trials, however, Dr. McKenna has been able to free up some time to help with data analysis. I believe that these trials are of more importance at this point in time. Meanwhile, if someone should invade the area around the energy planet, they can be dealt with in other ways.”

“Very well. Please keep us informed of the progress. We don’t wish to have another rebellion on our hands because we failed to destroy that planet.”

“I do not wish for that either, and yes, Councilman, I will keep you informed.”

***

“You didn’t have to do this,” Becket said as he sat down for dinner.

“Well, since you couldn’t have dinner with Lia tonight, I thought you would at least like a nice meal, and besides I haven’t made this in ages.”

“The children appear to be excited about the lasagna,” Zy’nayth said as he finished putting Ky’nayth in his high chair.

“I think you might be as well,” she smiled.

“I did enjoy it when you prepared it for us before, and some day, it may actually nourish me.”

“Taytoe?” Mik’kenna asked.

“No potatoes tonight, sweetie.”

“Ma! Taytoes!”

“Mik’kenna, it is time for us to pray,” her father said.

“Kay.”

The family joined hands then Zy’nayth gave thanks for the meal. When he said “Amen,” the kids, to Becket’s amusement each said, “Aay enn.”

“Taytoes?” Mik’kenna asked again as Victoria passed the fruit salad around the table.

“No, sweetie. Grapes, melon, strawberries, lots of fruit.”

“No taytoes?”

“She apparently likes potatoes,” Becket said as he spooned out some of the fruit onto the little girl’s plate.

“Obsessed with them,” Victoria replied, “I can’t blame her, they’re my favorite as well.”

“Dada,” Ky’nayth said pointing to the fruit on his sister’s plate, “Dada, peez?”

“Yes, Ky’nayth, just a moment.”

Ky’nayth clapped as Mik’kenna shoved a piece of melon into her mouth.

“So has my wife interrogated you thoroughly about Amelia?”

Becket nodded, “Ceaselessly. I wasn’t sure I’d get to the lab on time.”

“It wasn’t that bad,” Victoria said as she served the lasagna. “And Lia sounds wonderful. I can’t wait to meet her.”

“Did you determine a night for us to join you on Terra 2 for dinner?” Zy’nayth asked.

“Actually, tomorrow night, that’s Wednesday, right? Anyway, if you can make it.”

“We can. When you are ready to bridge over, Victoria can contact me and I will join you.”

“Are you going to be at the chancellery all day?” she asked.

“Just in the morning. I have things to tend to on the new flagship.”

“Which, by the way,” she said, “I haven’t seen yet.”

“You will.”

***

After dinner, Zy’nayth helped his wife clean up the kitchen while Becket took care of the kids.

“Zy, is everything okay?”

“Yes. Why?”

“You haven’t been looking well. Just not as strong as usual. That’s not like you.”

“I have been quite busy, that is all.”

“You’ve been busy from the day I met you and you’ve never looked like this for so long. It’s been at least two weeks since you looked like your normal self, and…” she stopped. “Every two weeks for the last four months.” She put the dish back into the water and turned to him after drying her hands, “You’re not feeding every day, are you?”

“You do not like to discuss Rayth feeding habits.”

“You said you could go about two weeks between feedings if you had to. You are, aren’t you? You’re stretching them out? Why? Zy, why are you doing this? It can’t be good for you.”

“I am feeding.”

“If you are, it’s not enough.” She went back to finishing up the dishes, “I want Becket to examine you.”

“Victoria, I assure you that it is nothing.”

“You wouldn’t let me get away with that answer. I won’t let you.”

“Ja’val is monitoring me,” he said after a sigh.

She handed him the last dish to be dried and flipped the switch to drain the sink. “Okay, you, me, and Becket, we’re gonna talk about this. I don’t like being kept in the dark. Can you see if Ja’val can come as well? I want to know everything.”

“Victoria, I am not in any danger.”

“Do it, Zy, just do it,” she said as he wiped at her tears. “I’m worried.” She left the room to find Becket who was with the twins in their room.

“There you go,” Becket said as he set Mik’kenna down on the floor. He looked up and saw Victoria wiping away a tear, “Love, what’s wrong?”

“Zy’s hiding something, I want you to come and talk with us. Ja’val will hopefully be here soon.”

“This has something to do with how he looks, doesn’t it?”

She nodded. “He doesn’t look well. He’s not feeding.” She heard her husband greet Ja’val, who must have been up on the ship and teleported down since he couldn’t have made it from the bridge that quickly. She grabbed Becket’s hand and led him to the main room and sat down across from her husband. “Okay, what’s going on? I want to know everything.”

“It is quite simple,” Zy’nayth said, “I am only feeding enough to get me through each day. There is no reason for me to do a full feeding every day.”

“Zy…” Victoria took a deep breath and let it out, “okay, you said you didn’t want to take the serum because you couldn’t risk being weak, couldn’t risk any side effect that might make you weak just in case another rebellion arose while we were still running tests on the serum. Now look at you. I think I could take you in a fight now. You can’t do this to yourself. It has to be hard on your system. You’re starving yourself. Why are you doing this?”

“It is my choice.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head, “no. I can’t have you weakened for any reason. The safety of our children is at stake. And Zy, if this harms you in any way, if you go and die on me, how do you expect me to raise two Rayth children on my own? They need you. I need you. Stop doing this.”

“Nothing will happen to me. Ja’val has been…”

“I have been telling you that your strength and reaction times are diminishing,” Ja’val said. “Yes, you are alive, and yes you will remain so until you cannot regenerate at all, which may be quite some time, perhaps years from now. But, High Chancellor, I agree with your wife, this is not good for you. I told you that when you informed me about what you were going to do. Just enough energy to survive a day or two isn’t enough.”

“And what if one of the kids gets sick and you need to heal them?” Victoria asked.

“Healing their tiny bodies does not require…”

“What if I get sick? What if I go to the beach tomorrow to go rock climbing and I slip and fall and bash my head against a boulder…what if one of the rebels who hasn’t been caught finds me and tries to kill me…what then? You wouldn’t have the energy to save me. You wouldn’t have the energy to fight them off. Zy, I don’t know why you’re doing this, but stop it.”

“I cannot kill humans any more, Victoria.”

“What?”

“Murder is a sin. I cannot take the life of human. After Mik’kenna nearly died in February, and I began to read and understand the Bible, I have decided that I cannot take the life of a human. It would have to be a defensive measure if I did. And…”

Victoria went over and knelt in front of him, “Zy’nayth, you don’t have an alternative. The Mythicans created you this way. I don’t like it, you know I hate that you have to feed on humans, but this is something that was inflicted on you, this is how the Mythicans designed you. You had no say in the matter. You have to feed in order to survive.”

“I am surviving.”

“No. You’re killing yourself.” She turned to Ja’val, “Am I right?”

“The less energy you have to draw upon, sir, as I told you, the weaker your regenerative abilities are. Victoria is correct, just as I tried to tell you, this course of action will eventually kill you.”

“But not for many years. You said it would take several years before I got to the point of no return. By then the serum will be sufficiently tested.”

“What happens if you have to use your energy in the meantime?” Victoria said now sitting beside him. “What if I have an accident? That’ll only weaken you further.”

“I will see that there is someone to heal you. Ja’val has already offered.”

Victoria shook her head, “No. It is your responsibility to take care of your wife and children. Ja’val has his own wife to care for. He can’t be expected to be at your beck and call all day every day.”

“I already am,” Ja’val smiled, “part of my job. And it’s not an inconvenience at all.”

Victoria shook her head again, “No. Zy’nayth, I want you to bridge to your ship or to your palace and feed. I want you back to your normal strength and health. You don’t have a choice on what sustains you, you were designed this way, I cannot believe that God would punish you for this.”

“I cannot do this.”

“Zy’nayth, you will do this. I’m not giving you a choice.”

He tilted his head, “I do not think you have the ability to force me to change my mind on this matter.”

“Victoria, I tried my best to talk him out of it,” Ja’val said. “Reason hasn’t worked.”

“Then maybe I’ll tell the Vice Chancellor that you aren’t thinking clearly,” Victoria said, “and that you should be removed from your duties.”

“I have never wanted to be High Chancellor.”

“And have your command taken from you,” Victoria threatened.

“Kol’non is ready to step in as Supreme Commander.”

“And maybe there are still a few traitors out there that will rise up the minute you’re out of the picture. Then what? Do you think Ny’van and Kol’non could quell it?”

“Yes. I could still advise them if needed.”

“And what if…” tears flooded her cheeks, “don’t do this to me, Zy. You’re my protector. I need you to be strong. I need to look at you and know that there’s nothing in this galaxy that can hurt you, that you’ll be able to save me from the evils we encounter.”

“So what you are saying,” Zy’nayth said as he stood, “is that you only love me because of my power and strength.”

“No, honey…” she ran after him as he headed for the door, “you know that’s not true.”

Becket dodged in front of the still rather intimidating Rayth, “Don’t do this, Zy’nayth. You know right well that Victoria loves you more than anything and not because you’re super strong. But you also know how fragile she is, and your strength has always given her a sense of security and safety. Don’t go making this into something it’s not. Turn around and get back in there, let’s discuss this rationally.”

“Dada!” Mik’kenna tugged on his pant leg, “Dada, no go. Kiss peez.”

“Ma sad,” Ky’nayth said tugging on the other pant leg. “No sad.”

Ja’val smiled, “Perhaps having such perceptive children will be a bane to you.”

Zy’nayth turned and picked up his kids in his arms. They smothered him with kisses and hugs. “Perhaps my wife has telepathic abilities of which I am not aware.”

“Your wife,” Victoria said, “is simply terrified of losing her husband.”

Zy’nayth returned to one of the sofas and let his kids back down so they could return to playing. “I am sorry, Victoria. I know you love me for me and not my strength and power, and I know what Becket said is true. But I do not wish to take any more lives.”

“Sir, back in the infirmary, when I told you why I didn’t want your men to heal my patients, you said that the humans in those pods would die anyway. They’ve already been gathered. If you don’t feed on them, another Rayth will. And as much as I don’t like what you have to feed upon, you do need to feed.”

“There are two other options,” Ja’val said. “First is the serum. I know your reasons for not yet wanting to take it, but we’re seven months into the trials and our first subjects are living completely off of fruits, vegetables, meats, with no life extraction added. There is no sign of any of their abilities being affected. Regeneration rates are the same. Telepathy, strength, reflexes, everything is where it should be for each individual.”

“They are not fullbloods.”

“As if that’s doing you any good now, sir, in the condition you’re in,” Ja’val said.

“What is the second option?”

“It would have to be quite limited, and we would need to figure out how to get you, and you alone, close enough, to the energy planet. The Rayk homeworld.”

“You said the Rayth on the space station were on the verge of madness,” Victoria said, “that their bodies and brains couldn’t handle that energy.”

“I did, and it’s true. But they’d been there for two or three years. I was there for two weeks with a ship of men and though we each did suffer some side effects, they did dissipate and everything is back to normal. The men working on that facility are also…and I mean no disrespect to them, the lowest of the Rayth, they are not as strong, they are not warriors, they don’t have the abilities those on a warship would have. Their bodies simply can’t handle that much energy being constantly poured into them.” He pointed to Zy’nayth, “He is only one generation from the original Rayk-Human hybrid. His body should be able to handle it. Besides, he wouldn’t be within range for any longer than it would take to restore him to his natural levels.”

“I don’t like it,” she said. “And the High Council won’t either. Their relationship to him is still a bit tenuous. If he starts making routine trips to that planet to restore his energy, they’ll get suspicious. I don’t want that. Things are going well, I don’t want that to change. It’s not like he can just bridge there. You’d have to take a ship, be gone for days at a time.”

“Victoria is correct,” Zy’nayth said. “I have put down rules that no one should go near that planet. I, too, need to follow those rules.”

“Then we’re back to the serum,” Becket said. “I’m here for a week. I can adjust my schedule when I return to Terra 2. Let’s start running simulations on fullblood DNA. I’d like to get some fresh samples from both you and the Vice Chancellor. Ja’val and I can each run separate tests. Victoria can as well.”

“I will need to adjust several calculations,” Ja’val said, “shouldn’t take me more than a day or two. But the simulations will take weeks. I suggest, sir, that you feed normally. Our samples and our baseline have to be taken from you at your normal strength and ability. Taking samples now would be of no benefit to our simulations.”

“Please, Zy,” Victoria said as she squeezed his hand. “God knows you don’t want to hurt those humans. He also knows that you don’t really have a choice and that we’ll do all we can to switch your system so that you can eat the same food we do. Please, honey, please do this.”

“I would like to pray about it. I need to. So if you will excuse me, I will go to my study now.”

“Would you like me to join you?” Victoria asked.

“No. I must do this on my own. But your prayers would be appreciated.”

She walked him to the study door and gave him a tender kiss. “I love you, Zy’nayth. I love you so very much.”

June 21, 2119

“I see the study door is still closed,” Becket said as he and Victoria ate their breakfast.

“He came up last night just after midnight to pray with me, then went back down. He is really struggling with this.”

“And it doesn’t help when we’re telling him to go and take the life of another human after years of working so hard to stop the need for that.”

“Yeah. But it isn’t his fault. It really isn’t.”

Both of them heard a thud of something heavy hitting the wood floors. Both of them jumped up and ran into the main room. Zy’nayth was on his knees, attempting to get back onto his feet. “I am afraid, I have grown weaker than anticipated,” Zy’nayth said.

Victoria reached over and pushed the button on her husband’s comlink as he began to sink back to the floor. “First Commander, it’s Victoria. I hope you can hear me. The High Chancellor is very weak. Teleport him directly to the food storage area or whatever you…”

She, Becket, and Zy’nayth appeared in the food cargo bay where thousands of pods were filled with humans. Kol’non soon appeared beside them. He easily lifted the High Chancellor, wrapping an arm around his waist and led him to the nearest pod. Zy’nayth’s hand, more from survival instinct than anything, snapped onto the chest of the man in the pod. “Forgive me,” he said under his breath, then drained the man of his life.

“He needs to be fully restored,” Becket said in his Scottish accent, “he hasn’t been feeding.”

After the fourth feeding, Zy’nayth began to look like his old self and could stand on his own. Victoria ran to him and replaced Kol’non, just so that the High Chancellor knew she was there and that she supported his decision. When he finished he sat on the floor, his back to the pods.

“Thank you, First Commander. I am quite fine now.”

“Is there anything else I can do to help?” Kol’non asked.

“No. I just need a moment. I will signal you when we are ready to teleport back to the house.”

“Oh! The kids!”

“First Commander, please take the Victoria and Becket back to my home. Victoria, I will be there shortly. I wish to pray here.”

“Of course,” she said and kissed his forehead, “I love you.”

She walked over to Becket and Kol’non and the three of them were teleported to the island home where the cries of the twins could be heard. They were terrified. They couldn’t sense either of their parents, but as soon as Victoria appeared in the house, and they began to sense her presence, they began to calm. Victoria ran into their bedroom, Becket on her heels, each taking one from their cribs and comforted them.

“Are they unharmed?” Kol’non asked, following them in.

“Just scared. They’re fine.”

“I should check, just in case. Your husband will most likely ask.”

Victoria smiled and settled Ky’nayth so that the First Commander could check the toddler. Kol’non put his hand on the Ky’nayth’s chest and let his energy flow through the boy, then he checked Mik’kenna. Both were injury free, and as Victoria said, they were just scared.

“Thank you, Kol’non.”

“Glad to be of assistance,” he said then signaled the ship to be teleported back up.

“Dada?” Ky’nayth asked.

“On his ship, he’ll be right back.”

Ky’nayth frowned, “Dada no kiss bye. Dada ‘pose kiss bye.”

“I’m sure he’s very sorry about that, honey, it was an emergency.”

“Ma no kiss bye.”

“I had to go with Daddy, sweetheart. He was sick.”

The kids settled as if they understood everything Victoria explained, which, she thought, they did. They were carried out of the room, but both wanted down to go to the bathroom. By the time they finished and were dressed, Victoria had bowls of oatmeal for them as well as for herself and Becket since theirs had gone cold. Just as she served up the food, Zy’nayth walked into the kitchen. He tenderly kissed both children who were being given their own little bowls of oatmeal and a half a slice of toast and a half of a banana.

“Dada no kiss bye,” Ky’nayth said.

“I was not planning on leaving, but I got very weak and had to go to my ship. I am sorry, my son and my daughter.”

“No Ma, no Dada,” Mik’kenna said, “no kiss bye.”

“We’re sorry, sweetheart,” Victoria said, “it was an emergency.”

“Kay.”

Zy’nayth took the hands of his children into his own, Victoria and Becket completing the circle, then the Rayth prayed over the food.

Ky’nayth and Mik’kenna each began munching on their banana slices while waiting for their father and Becket to feed them their oatmeal which was still cooling down.

“So, you’re going ahead with the serum?” Becket asked.

“After you run your simulations, yes.”

“And you’ll feed properly until then?” Victoria asked.

“Yes.”

“Are you going to be able to handle that okay? Is there anything I can do to help you?” Becket asked.

“Just pray for those humans. Pray for me.”

“We will,” Becket said. “So now that you’re at full strength, how soon can we begin taking samples?”

“I believe Ja’val would be best to answer that question. I will join you when you bridge to his lab.”

“Dada, nammer?” Ky’nayth said holding up a slice of banana up for his father.

“No, thank you.”

“Ma?” he offered it to her.

“No, thank you, honey, go ahead and eat it.”

“Kay. Tank ooh.”