*
Well after Li had fallen asleep, Az lay there holding her, thinking about how his life had changed since he had first seen her. Thinking about what he and Kaz now suspected about these strange People. Thinking about the only logical, incredible, likelihood. There was no other sensible explanation for where they had come from. Tellingly, their body language was almost identical. The Terrans were making no claims. In contrast, they were speculating as to where the Niseyen had come from! How were he and Kaz going to handle this? But they had to be. They were so different yet so like. And Helkmid was so sure. He looked back down at Li. What would the Niseyen make of her? Stella would pass for normal but Li would not. Neither would most of the others. He wondered if he and Li would ever be able to have children. No matter. Their destiny was joined now whatever happened. To have been Chosen was enough. Still thinking, he drifted back off to sleep until awoken by the alarm. Belatedly he noticed that last night neither of them had had nightmares.
Arriving back at the Healing Machines, they picked up the Cats to go back, six of them, plus some Okme who were going to search for the Healing centre and try to get the Machines going. There were still a lot of seriously injured Cats needing treatment. They started back. Az explained to the startled Cats, set the auto pilot and he and Li cuddled up on the bag and went back to sleep. The Okme settled into the cabin seats to sleep. The Cats were not happy. This was not natural in sooo many ways! Two of them took it in turns to sit up front and guard the auto pilot.
Li, Az and the Okme arrived back, refreshed and eager to start another day. The Cats were somewhat less than refreshed after such a scary flight and the effort of supervising it while the pilot slept on the job. They were not impressed.
Alien Alliance Page 59
