E:A Vol 3 Ch 9—November 4, 2119

Victoria was just getting the kids into their highchairs when Zy’nayth walked into their quarters. Barely a day back on Terra 2 and he had found out that there was something happening on Elgolia regarding guns which Vince knew nothing about; he and Vince talked about where to put the new bridge portal and found a temporarily location for it; then he had it moved to that position and tested; and finally, he had Terra 2’s main civil engineer, Jack Burgeon, meet Kol’non and Ja’val so they could work together on the new permanent facility. He had barely even seen his wife and children. Victoria’s smile as she greeted him warmed his heart.

“Just in time,” she said as the puppies ran up to give him, tails wagging. “Ky and Kenna said you did a good job with their meals while on the ship.”

“I had a good teacher,” he replied and gave her a tender kiss then wrapped his arms around her waist, drinking in the feel of her. “I have missed you.”

“Well, are you at least home for the day now?”

“I am. The bridge portal is working perfectly, and tomorrow I will have Ja’val and his team start work on running power to the permanent location. Lunch smells good. What did you make for the children?”

“Spaghetti, garlic bread, and some fruit. When do you plan on heading back to Earth?” she asked as they walked arm in arm to the kitchen.

“Kol’non and I are still trying to figure out which bridge will be easiest to retrieve. We may pull a couple of them.”

“Really?”

“It would be quite handy to have one on the flagship, provided I can get it to work from there.”

“Won’t the address work from a ship?” she asked as they went into the kitchen, where the kids were just about to attempt to climb out of their high chairs since Mommy and Daddy weren’t moving fast enough.

Zy’nayth gave each a kiss as he continued his explanation. “The address is based on a fixed location, though given room for some shifting, all calculated into the system. So the one at Central Command has already taken into account the shift in the solar system and such, over the last few thousand years. Therefore, it works properly. So when we put the portal in your MedBase, I adjusted the coordinates, if you will, to that specific location. The built in programming will handle the rest. When we move it to its permanent location, I will adjust them again. I must find a way to have the address for the one on the flagship adjust with our speed, direction, location…perhaps if I tie it into the navigation program…” he waved off his thoughts, “you get the idea.”

“Yeah, and that’s why I’m a doctor, not a programmer.” She sat down and the family joined hands and Zy’nayth prayed.

“No,” Ky’nayth said when his father finished and attempted to pull his hand away, “You has pway for Baxter and Suhwest too. Pweez.”

They rejoined hands and Zy’nayth prayed for the furry members of the family, then Victoria served their lunch. “Have you talked to Becket or Ja’val about their results from the other fullbloods?” she asked.

“In passing. I am not encouraged.”

“Now don’t do that,” she said. “Besides, it proves Becket’s point that there’s something in your history, or your family’s history, that we just haven’t uncovered yet, and once we find that, it will lead us to finding a serum for you.”

“If that is true, my brother should have been as strong as I am. And Gal’nayth should have shown signs of having superior abilities as well. Ky’nayth and Mik’kenna do, albeit just telepathically at this point, which is more than Gal’nayth did.” He sighed, “I am more concerned about them than myself. I do not want them to feed as I must.” He took a small helping of the spaghetti and a piece of the garlic bread. He did enjoy the flavors though the food did nothing to replenish his energy supply.

“We will find the answer, Zy. We will. You were the younger of the two of you, right?”

“Yes,” he said. “That is why my brother should have been as strong, if not stronger, in ability than I am. He was the firstborn.”

“That’s not necessarily true. There are genetic mutations in humans that skip generations or don’t impact every child in the family. For example, one child could be born deaf, the others could be completely healthy. One could be a genius, the other just average. One turns out to be an Olympic athlete, the other can barely walk and chew gum at the same time.”

“Mommy,” Ky’nayth said liking the new word that his sister had just started using earlier that day, “cooz me,” he quickly added. “Baxter need pwate. He want pahgetti too.”

“No honey, the puppies have their own food. Our food isn’t good for them.”

“Kay,” he said then looked at his puppy, “Sowwy Baxter. No good for ooh.”

“Bwed?” Mik’kenna asked. “Maybe bwed kay for puppies.”

“No honey. I know they can’t have garlic, so that bread would be very bad for Baxter and Celeste. They have plenty of their own food.”

“But day wook so hungwee.”

“You saw them eat their own lunch. They’re not starving. Trust me, sweetheart.”

“Kay,” the girl said and used her fingers to put another handful of spaghetti in her mouth.

Victoria turned back to her husband, “Do you have any family records we can search through?”

“I am going through what I have. Christopher is going through some of the files and records I gathered after Koh’vash’s death.”

“Can I help?” she asked, “Or Becket. Maybe you’re too close to this and you’re missing something that might stand out to one of us. Plus the more people reading, the sooner we may find something.”

He sighed, “Perhaps you are correct. I will have Becket check through things as I finish going through them.”

“I can help, too. I do know some Raythian,” she said.

“Do not think that I am keeping secrets from you. My family records may be quite disturbing and I do not want to upset you. As you have said, I am, perhaps, too close, and because of your love for me, you may get too emotional as you read through things and therefore miss something.” He reached over and caressed her cheek, “But after this is over, I will allow you to read it if you wish. Just not now. Please understand.”

She reached up and pulled his hand to her lips and kissed it, “I understand. On a different note, did Major Kessler find you guys?”

“He did. Christopher will be joining him on his next trip to Elgolia. I believe they are heading out in the morning.”

“Are you concerned?”

“As of this moment, no,” he said, then took another bite of the garlic bread. “I will wait for Christopher’s report. I am not as familiar with Major Kessler and so I am not sure of his strengths and weaknesses. If Christopher’s report is like that of Major Kessler’s, I may consider it something to look into.”

“Do you think maybe we have a traitor here…”

“I am not going to speculate, Victoria,” he smiled to try and reassure her. “Your people have had much interaction with the Elgolians. They have seen your weapons. It is possible that the leap in their weapons technology is due simply to that. It does not have to be due to someone selling or giving them weaponry beyond their current capabilities.”

“I hope so.”

“One second please,” he said and tapped his comlink, “Colonel Hagen?”

“Yes, sir, what can I do for ya?” John replied.

“With Christopher being engaged elsewhere for the next few days, we will need to move the date for your return trip to Earth.”

“Already working with Vince on that. And since we don’t have a bridge there yet, will you be flying back that way, or hanging out in this galaxy?”

“I am undecided. I wish to stay here, but I also wish to be in Earth’s orbit in case something should happen to endanger my wife. Let me know the date you arrange for your next trip. I will inform you whether or not I will travel to Earth.”

“Will do. Hagen out.”

“You can stay here,” Victoria said when he shifted his gaze to her, “I’ll have the team to protect me. Besides, the kids will want to be with their puppies and until we have a portal set up at my place, I can’t really take them with me, and I know you’re not particularly fond of the idea of having our furry friends on your ship.”

“Day be good on ship,” Mik’kenna said. “Good puppies.”

“Honey, you’ve had less than two days with them,” Victoria stopped and sighed. The kids just wouldn’t understand until they had to spend more time with them and tending to cleaning up their messes and taking them for walks. So she smiled, “They are still too young. They are good puppies, but too young to be on the flagship. Anyway, Zy, the team can protect me just fine.”

“But I do not like the idea of Central Command knowing that you are on Earth especially if I am not in orbit. I do not trust this new Oversight Committee.”

“The team will protect me,” she said again. “We’ll also have one of those military shuttles they loan us from C.C. If John and the team are on the other side of the property, I can jump in the shuttle and take off…if I knew how to fly it.”

“Do you not have a personal shuttle on Earth?”

“Yeah, but it’s nothing like what the military uses since those can actually go into space. Mine’s just a glorified car. Theirs is more of a spaceship. Okay, if we get a break, I’ll have John or Chris give me lessons.”

“Lessons, yes, you should have them. I will need to consider everything else further. There is still your personal cruiser. Does it not operate?”

“No. I think it’s just sat for too long. But I’ll be fine.”

After lunch, the kids had thirty minutes to play with their father and dogs, then they were put down for their naps. Both were exhausted from the exciting day of reuniting with their puppies. Victoria let the puppies roam through the chambers, but she kept the master bedroom door shut. But shortly after the kids fell asleep, she noticed that the puppies were no longer running around the quarters. Zy’nayth paid them no mind, already deep into his research, but Victoria was always wary if there was too much silence when there were puppies or toddlers around. She walked into the kids’ room and found that each puppy had curled up on the floor beside its guardian’s bed and sleeping peacefully.

She walked back to the main room and tugged on her husband’s arm, “You have to see this,” she whispered then took him to see the cute little scene. He smiled, kissed her cheek then returned to his work. She settled on the sofa to read but fell right to sleep. Zy’nayth got up, moved her to a more comfortable position, covered her with a blanket, then went back to work.

November 5, 2119

“I do not want her to be on Earth without having my ship in orbit,” Zy’nayth said to John as they watched the dogs and twins play while they walked along the path leading to where Victoria and Be’atta were sitting and chatting. “It is not that I do not trust you to protect her, I simply have, what you might call, a bad feeling.”

“We could go without her,” John said, “No problem. In all honesty, all she’d be doing is fixing our meals. Well, yeah, she’s got other things she wants to do around the house, but our priority is getting that perimeter array up. That really just needs to be me, Chris, and Kaven. We could take David to stay at the house, maybe fix our meals, he’s a great cook, by the way. But until that array is up, everything else is secondary. If it rains we can continue our work on cleaning out the barn.”

“She will not want you to go without her.”

“Too bad,” John smiled. “I’ll talk to her. This is my idea.”

“Do not be so sure of that, Colonel,” Zy’nayth grinned. “Perhaps I led you into this.”

“Using your telepathy on me!” He smiled and shook his head. “So what if you did? Really, on this trip, if it’s just us guys, we’ll get a lot more done. We won’t have her nagging us that it’s too late and we need to come in and rest. We can eat when we want. Stuff like that.”

“I would not use the word nag,” Zy’nayth replied with a smile. “Victoria may not be a warrior, but Be’atta is and I believe she could take you in a fair fight.”

“I’m pretty good at fighting,” John grinned, “but, yeah, no doubt Be’atta could kick me into next Tuesday without trying.” He was still grinning when they walked up to the two women, “Okay ladies, I’ve decided that this next trip is just gonna be the guys.”

“Zy, I’ll be fine,” Victoria said, knowing her husband didn’t want her there without him.

John raised his hand, “Of course you will. But really, we need to focus on getting the array up and we don’t need you ladies for that.”

“I can swing a hammer,” Be’atta said. “Probably better than you.”

“I have no doubt of that,” John said, “but let’s keep the risk to Victoria to a minimum. The High Chancellor wants to remain here to work on the serum and figure out how to get the next bridge portal out. And we’ll need someone to watch the puppies while we’re gone. They’ve bonded to you two.”

“What about Alessa?” Victoria asked.

“They’ve bonded to her too,” John grinned.

“You know what I’m asking. Will she be going if Chris is?”

“No,” John said, “I think we can get more accomplished if we don’t have to worry about guarding you and Lessa. And worrying about Be’atta. She tends to get herself into all kinds of trouble.”

“Uh huh,” Be’atta said, “have you’ve ever had to worry about me?”

“I always worry about you,” he replied. “So, it’s settled, it’s just gonna be the guys. Victoria, I’ll need the passcode to get into your house.”

“Zy…” Victoria looked at her husband in protest.

“It is best to not put you at undue risk.”

“And the puppies will need you,” John said, “think of the puppies.”

“Oh all right,” Victoria said, “I won’t fight. Besides, I do want to get the puppies acquainted with the island.”

November 9, 2119

“How many more of these do we have?” Kaven asked. It was nearly 8:00 p.m. of their first night back on Earth. The day after Chris and Steve returned from Elgolia, Chris found himself packing for Earth. He was used to it. Most of his life had been returning home for a couple of hours, showering, changing clothes, packing new gear, and heading on to the next assignment. If things were going his way, he’d get a night of rest first.

John checked the schematics on his tablet as they headed back to the house, “A dozen. Then we have to hook up the controls. So two days tops. One day to finish the array, and a day to finish cleaning out the barn.”

“I’m starving,” Kaven said, “but after I get something in me, I’d be up for working a few more hours. I wouldn’t mind getting done early with this project.”

“I agree,” Chris said. “John?”

“Agreed. Let’s get food.”

“Dad,” Chris said over his comlink, “heading in, should be there in about ten.”

“Gotcha,” David replied, “I’ll throw the burgers on the grill.”

“Good, we’re starving.”

The men walked up to the patio and each collapsed in a lounge chair. David prayed over the meal then the men each slowly got up and went to the picnic table and poured themselves a tall glasses of iced tea.

“How’d you guys do today?” David asked.

“We’ve got three-quarters of the array up,” John said, “if it wasn’t so blasted hot we’d probably be done.”

“It’s only seventy out,” David said and began piling the burgers onto a plate.

“It’s November in Montana, we brought winter clothes,” John said. “I’m burning up in these.”

“Supposed to cool off even more tonight,” David said.

“Good,” Chris said as he smeared his hamburger bun with mustard, “cheese?”

“Left it in the fridge,” David said.

“I’ll get it,” Kaven said, “more tea there too?”

“Yup.”

“How’d your weatherstripping project go?” John asked.

“Finished before it got dark. House is ready for winter. While you guys are out tomorrow, I think I’ll start mowing this mess. How many acres did you say she had?”

“Just over ten.”

“Lots for me to do then. I’ll start around the house, get that under control and then I think I’ll build a suitable pen for the puppies. I ran to the city and picked up some materials for that.”

“I didn’t see the shuttle take off,” John said.

“Got her cruiser running,” David replied.

“Did you remember to pick up more bags of food for the dogs?”

“Yup. Got some to leave here, then got enough to last us a couple of months back on Terra 2. More puppy pads, too. I also stocked up her laundry supplies so we don’t have to keep running to the store for those every time we’re here. Stocked her spice rack. Poor thing only had a few spices she brought down in little plastic bags from Terra 2. And picked up more briquettes for this fire pit since I know we’re going to use it a lot,” he smiled. “Need to figure out which trees we can cut down for wood for the pit. I want to make sure we plant new ones in their place, but I’m not cutting anything down until Victoria gives it a nod.”

“Sounds like you’ve been busier than we have,” Kaven said.

“Mostly little things. Need to clean out the garage and shed, but I think getting the area around the house and barn cleaned up is more important.”

“All that and still managed to feed us,” Chris said with a smile. “I think I’ll keep you as my Dad.”

“Like I said, they’re just little things. I’m glad to be of some use. There isn’t much on Terra 2 I can help out with since everything is so specialized, but here, there’s plenty to keep me busy.”

“I know Victoria will appreciate everything you’re doing,” John said. “You may think they’re little, but they add up. I know she’s putting up a strong front, but I know this serum issue with Zy has her worried. And trying to raise those two little kids. They’re incredibly advanced for their years, and very well behaved, but they can be a handful. She’s got to be both their mother, their teacher, and their playmate since there aren’t any other little ones for them to play with. I think that’s one reason Zy approved of the puppies—it gave them playmates, in a way.”

“Why doesn’t Victoria spend more time in some of the villages you’re friendly with?” David asked. “Like Be’atta’s village? They have to have little ones that are Ky and Kenna’s age.”

“I can think of a good reason,” Kaven said, then swallowed down his bite with a swig of iced tea. “Zy wouldn’t allow it. If there was even one person in the village who held a grudge against the Rayth, and there would be in Be’atta’s village, the kids would be targets—kidnapped or outright killed.”

“I didn’t think of that. I guess I’m so used to Zy’nayth and his men being friends, not enemies. But when this bridge portal is working, maybe they can get to know the neighbors…and hopefully they have kids.”

“That would be nice. I think we just need more kids on Terra 2,” John said, nudging Chris.

“Hey, it’s up to God,” Chris replied then took another bite of his cheeseburger.

***

“Once we have the bridge portal operational on Earth,” Zy’nayth said to Kol’non, as they sat in his office on the flagship, “I will be stepping down as Supreme Commander. The fleet will be yours.”

“Is this what you want to do?” Kol’non asked.

Zy’nayth sighed, “I cannot leave the chancellery and I cannot continue in both roles.”

“With all due respect, sir, I think you need to. We’ve talked about this several times, and each time I can see how difficult it is for you to even think about giving up command.”

“It is time. I accept this.”

“I talked with Victoria,” Kol’non continued, “and Dr. McKenna. Neither feel that it’s right for you to leave the Command. We’ve all been praying about it. We’re all saying no.”

“They wish for me to continue doing what I enjoy. And I enjoy the Command more than being High Chancellor.”

“John and Chris feel the same way.”

“They…”

“And the general. Alessa, Becket, and Amelia. And her parents. And Be’atta. And Kaven. Sir, we all believe you should remain the Supreme Commander. At least for now. It’s not time.”

“My attention needs to be on finding this serum, and getting what we have finalized for distribution to our people. I must remain High Chancellor in order to do that, and since it will consume much of my time, I will not have time to command our army and fleet.”

“Sir…Zy’nayth…we’ve just found out that the Elgolians are receiving weapons technology from an unknown source. If there’s still a rebel faction out there, you need to be at the helm. Especially if Rayth are involved. I don’t mind doing the legwork. I enjoy it. But you need to be in that command chair. I know I’ll never garner the respect you do. I accept that. I am quite content being your First.”

“Kol’non, I appreciate what you are trying to do, but…”

“You can’t step down,” Kol’non said. “You know it’s wrong. All of these people who love you and have been praying about this for you have said no. I can’t let you do this.”

Zy’nayth ran his fingers through his wild white hair. “Very well,” he sighed.

“Sir, I can run the fleet as I did during the rebellion, and I can follow up on this Elgolian issue, but you need to be the Supreme Commander.”

“Thank you, Kol’non.”

“Sir, I’ll do whatever I can to ease your workload. Just let me know what you need me to do.”

“I will,” he said as he stood. “I should teleport back down.”

“Would you like me to take lead on this Earth bridge project so that you can focus on other things?”

“I was the one who promised John that we would get the bridge for them.”

“And John and the others are my friends too. I wish to be of more help. Allow me to do this.”

“It is yours. Thank you.”

Zy’nayth walked onto the ship’s bridge and teleported down to the control room. “Your wife and children just bridged to the mainland,” one of the Terra 2 Control Room technicians said.

“Please activate the portal for me,” Zy’nayth said.

The bridge lit up with a golden glow then Zy’nayth walked across it and ended up in the MedBase. He walked out into the sunshine and smiled as he watched his children trying to walk their puppies. They had their leashes in their little hands and were doing more trotting after the dogs than walking them.

“I wasn’t expecting you to show up,” Victoria said.

“Meeting was shorter than expected.”

“It apparently didn’t go well. You don’t look happy.”

“I was going to turn over command to Kol’non. Apparently all of you have been conspiring against this.”

“Not conspiring against. Praying for. Honey, God has you where He wants you. I know you feel like you’re being pulled in a million different directions. I wish it wasn’t that way. But you also need to realize you have a lot of people willing to take some of your work off of your shoulders. Zy, I’m worried about you. Ever since we found out the serum wouldn’t work on you…well…you’ve been different. Down, I guess.”

“Victoria…”

“You don’t even laugh at your children’s antics. You’ll smile, but you don’t laugh. Not like you used to. Look at them over there trying to get the dogs to heel. Isn’t that the cutest thing?”

“I should return home,” he said.

“Talk to me,” she replied as she grabbed his arm.

“Not here. Not around the children.”

“Then we’ll all go home. The kids can play with the puppies while we talk in our room.”

Zy’nayth nodded. “Very well.”

“Ky, Kenna,” Victoria called after her kids, “Daddy got done early. We need head home, okay?”

“Daddy!” the kids waved and started trotting up to him. The puppies ran ahead of them to greet the High Chancellor.

Zy’nayth knelt and petted the two dogs then hugged his two children. “I am sorry to cut your walk short.”

“Is kay,” Ky’nayth said. “Hot owwside.”

Once the family returned to their chambers Victoria told the kids that she and Daddy were going to their room to talk. She filled the kids’ sippy cups with ice water and set them on a table in the living room. “If you guys need something, just knock on our door, okay?”

“Daddy sad,” Mik’kenna said.

“That’s why we’re going to talk. Mommy’s gonna try to cheer him up.” She gave them both kisses on their foreheads, then she whispered, “Can you guys pray for Daddy while I try to cheer him up?”

“Kay,” Ky’nayth said, “Baxter and Suhwest pway too.”

“Thank you so much. I love you guys.” After another kiss, Victoria walked into the bedroom where Zy’nayth had already discarded his long white leather jacket. “Okay,” she said as she shut the door. “The kids are set. Now sit down and talk to me. What’s going on? How can I help?”

“I am not sure what is wrong,” he said as he sat on the edge of the bed. “It is as if, as you said, I am being pulled in a million directions, yet there is less going on now than there has been in a century.”

She motioned for him to turn then she sat behind him and began to massage his neck and shoulders. “Let’s see,” she said, “one thing that is very different is the serum. You’ve been looking for this for ten thousand years. Trials are all going perfectly, we’re going to be ready to offer it to all Rayth in a few months, and yet the one man who has fought for this, who has put his life on the line a million times to find a way for his people to live off of the land, the one man who probably wanted this more than anyone, that man can’t take the serum. And he’s worried about his children having the same problem.”

“Perhaps.”

“Other than that, what is there? The Rayk homeworld? The bridge portal on Earth?”

“The Elgolians.”

“Doesn’t count. We didn’t find out about that until this week. What else? Is there something going on you haven’t told me about? Or can’t tell me about?”

“No.”

“Is there anything else that has you concerned? It doesn’t have to be work related.” After several seconds she kissed his cheek, “Come on, talk.”

“No. I suppose it is primarily the serum. I do not want my children…” he sighed. “Ky’nayth and Mik’kenna being able to eat food is of the utmost importance to me. If there is something that I have passed on to them to prevent that, I do not…”

“Nope. No negative thoughts. You know what Becket and Ja’val have accomplished in just five years. You know they’ll find an answer for you.”

“But when? I want the solution before the twins need it.”

“You said that wouldn’t happen until puberty. Quite a few years yet, High Chancellor. And, you need to remember one very important fact. For whatever reason, God is allowing this.”

“Perhaps He wants me to do more to find this serum.”

“Or perhaps He simply wants you to trust Him. You’re used to being in control. Maybe He’s wanting you to relinquish that control.”

Zy’nayth put his head in his hands with another sigh. “You are probably correct.”

“Try not to worry so much. Listen, you’re great at research. You’ve got Kol’non who can work on the bridge project.”

“I have turned it over to him.”

“Good. So that frees up some of your time to work on the serum. Or, you can use that time to relax. The kids also could use better tutoring than I’m giving them in Raythian. I don’t really know any Mythican, so you need to teach them that,” she smiled and nudged him in the arm, “and I happen to know for a fact that you love spending time with them.”

“That I do,” he smiled. “I believe I will take you up on your advice.”

“Good,” she said and kissed his cheek. “Tonight, you’re getting a better massage. You’re nothing but knots.”

“I would enjoy that.”

As he turned to kiss her they heard a big crash and a yelp. They both went running out of the room. Mik’kenna was sitting on the floor in the living room, head in her hands, crying.

“What happened?” Zy’nayth asked.

“I frew baw,” she said, “hit wamp. Suhwest hurt,” she pointed to the sofa where the puppy had crawled under. “I sowwy, Mommy, Daddy. Is assident. She no come out.”

Victoria got down on her hands and knees, and looked under the sofa. “Come here, Celeste, it’s okay.”

The puppy whimpered.

“She’s bleeding, Zy,” she said as she reached under and, as gently as she could, slid the puppy out.

Zy’nayth knelt down and took the puppy in his hand and let his energy pass through her. “Just a little cut,” he said. “There we go. Easy fix. She is all better but very scared. We should give her a bath to make sure there are no little pieces of glass in her fur.”

“Did you get hurt, sweetie?” Victoria asked as she checked over her daughter.

“No. I sowwy for hurding you, Suhwest,” she said as she reached out and petted the puppy as her father held it.

“Ky’nayth, are you all right?” he asked. “And Baxter?”

“We kay.”

“Victoria, can you clean up the glass while I help Mik’kenna give Celeste a bath.”

“I help too,” Ky’nayth said. “Baxter need baff.”

“Thank you, Ky’nayth, that is very considerate of you,” Zy’nayth said.

“Daddy, I hold Suhwest?”

“She is still very frightened,” he replied. “I am trying to calm her.”

“She scared of me,” Mik’kenna began to bawl. “My puppy scared of me! I sowwy. Is assident! Suhwest, I lub ooh. I no hurd. I sowwy.”

“No my beautiful daughter, she is not scared of you. She is frightened from the sound of the lamp crashing, and of getting hit. She is calming down. I think a nice warm bath will make her feel better.”

Victoria set about cleaning up the broken lamp and the little bit of blood while her husband, still carrying Celeste, went and ran a little bath for the puppies.

Celeste recovered from her ordeal quickly and was back to pouncing on Baxter and chasing toys and the kids around after she and her brother had baths.

“Victoria,” Zy’nayth said as he walked into the kitchen where she was cooking dinner, “do you wish to go back to work in the infirmary?”

“I wouldn’t mind doing some part-time work other than research. Why?”

“If I am going to be spending more time working on serum research, I would be able to tend to the children if you wish to help Becket.”

Victoria smiled and kissed his cheek. “I think that would be perfect. When do you want me to start?”

“Today is Thursday. I need to discuss a few things about my new arrangement with Kol’non, Ja’val, and Ny’van. Would you like to work a little each day or a couple of full days?”

“Hmm, how about if I ask Becket what he needs as far as staffing? I think it might be best to work a couple of hours each day, just so you don’t feel overwhelmed taking care of the munchkins and furballs, but if he needs someone for a full shift on say, Thursdays, I’d be willing to do that too.”

“Then you work it out with the doctor and whatever works for him, I will adjust my schedule accordingly.”

Celeste and Baxter came pouncing into the kitchen and began sniffing around the floor for any food that Victoria might have dropped.

“What did you two do with Kenna and Ky?” she asked the puppies.

“They fell asleep a few minutes ago,” Zy’nayth answered. “Did you not notice that things had quieted considerably?”

“Too busy cooking and thinking, I guess.”

“The children enjoy being out with the dogs. And the pups are really starting to understand the commands. They are quite intelligent.”

“Alessa said they would be. Dinner will be ready in about five minutes so you’d best wake up the little warriors and get them ready.”

“Baxter, Celeste, come,” he said and walked down the hallway to wake the kids. The puppies scampered after him, occasionally pouncing on each other. When he walked into the kids’ room the dogs ran in and each went to their guardian’s bed and tried to clamor up onto them, but their little legs were still too short. Zy’nayth gave them each a boost and soon Mik’kenna and Ky’nayth were both giggling as the puppies licked their faces.

“It is time to wash up, dinner is almost ready,” Zy’nayth said.

“Daddy,” Ky’nayth said as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, “we go to Earf dis week?”

“Not this week. We need Uncle John and his guys to get a few things done, and Daddy has a big project that he needs to get done before we can all go out together.”

“Baxter and Suhwest go, too?”

“They will. Come, my little fire warrior, go wash your face and hands. You too my little miracle blossom.”