Nura laughed. "I think you should tell me."

"Why didn't all three of us die?"

"The Arcs," Nura said simply.

"I know, but why did they save J'Qhir and me and not Steve?"

"Many will say you and J'Qhir landed on the Arcs in such a way that they cushioned your fall. Unfortunately, Steve didn't. They will say you and J'Qhir were lucky and Steve wasn't. There are others who will say the Arcs pick and choose whom they save."

"And what do you say?"

Nura smiled enigmatically. "I say it's best left up to the individual to choose which to believe."

Leith reached for her cup and took another sip of cocoa. "Being absorbed by the Arc was a strange sensation."

"Absorbed? Leith, as far as we could see, you slid along the curve almost like your sliding playground equipment on Earth. You were never inside the Arc."

"But that's what it felt like, as if I were safely inside, out of harm's way."

"An illusion to make you feel safe so you wouldn't panic," Nura suggested, and it was as good an explanation as any.

Drew entered, his long dark hair coming loose from its fastening at his neck. "I can't get a connection on LinkNet," he said in exasperation. "The media reporters have jammed the transmitter again. But the good news is the Rover has been repaired."

Before Leith could say anything, a barely audible chime sounded through Nura's communication pin. She answered in the soft, soothing tones of Artilian and exchanged a few words with the voice on the other end. When she signed off, she looked at Leith.

"J'Qhir is out of surgery."

"Can you make the arrangements now, please?"

"Done. We'l give them time to get him settled, then visit while the meds are speaking with the Council."

A while later, another soft chime sounded and Nura told Leith they could go now. Nura led her to a lift that moved them swiftly through the complex to the med section. After walking through a few corridors, Nura keyed a door open and waited for Leith to enter. The door closed behind her and she was alone with J'Qhir.

He lay on a firm bed, his breathing strong and steady. She walked to his side and lightly ran her fingers along his crest.

"I know you can't hear me," she whispered. "But there is so much I want to tell you when you awaken. I want to tell you I love you and I want to explain what love is. I want to tell you about our child, a child we didn't think was possible to create, but we did anyway. I want to thank you for coming to my rescue and giving your life for me. Because of the Arcs you didn't die, but you didn't know that would happen. I can tell you all that tomorrow, can't I? Rest, J'Qhir, and tomorrow we will talk."

Leith remained at his side until Nura came for her. She kissed his cheek, crest, and mouth. She rubbed her forehead against his crest, then followed Nura from the room.

She and Drew bade Nura good night and boarded the aircar that returned them to their guesthouse. Leith slept through the rest of the night and late the next morning.

As soon as she finished showering, she turned on the viewer and ordered breakfast, plain toast and tea, brought to her room. She ate as she listened to all the news channels repeating the events of the previous evening. One reporter explained how the conference had been postponed indefinitely because of the sudden departure of the Zi Tri-Council from Artilia. He went on to explain the political ramifications to Zi and what it might mean to their admission to the Galactic Alliance.

Leith forgot her food as she switched channels again and again, hoping that particular reporter had been given erroneous information. If the Tri-Council had left Artilia, so had J'Qhir. To her dismay, several other reporters repeated the same story.

Leith tried to get in touch with Nura, but once again she was told the Servitor was unavailable.

Frustrated, she switched the viewer to a local Artilian channel that was fortunately sub-t.i.tled in Terran Standard. As she waited for a newscast, she tried to get in touch with Drew, but he wasn't in his room or the dining area.

A standard hour later, a knock sounded at her door. She ran to it and keyed it open to Drew. He took one look at her stricken face and shook his head.

"It's true, they've gone." He stepped inside and closed the door. "I knew when I heard the reports this morning that you'd want to know for sure. I've been asking around. The Zi ship left during the night. I don't think they realize what an insult this is to the Alliance Board."

"And J'Qhir?" Leith asked in a small voice.

"I'm sorry, Leith. He's gone, too."

Leith fought the tears that burned her eyes and found the viewer on the bed where she'd dropped it. She left a message for Nura, thanking her for everything. She walked past Drew and opened the door. "I 'm ready to go."

"Where?" he asked warily.

"Where else? Earth."

Chapter 16.

Earth July 2308 TST Leith leaned over the countertop as the Peridot crawled underneath, out of her line of vision.

"I understand your needs, sir," she began and sincerely hoped the being was indeed a male. With the Peridot, it was difficult to make the distinction. "But none of our early model Galaxians can accommodate your physical requirements."

The Peridot crawled over her feet, and Leith suppressed the urge to grab something and swat him away.

"While I'm aware the older Galaxians are within your budget, the newer models do include alternate control systems." Leith sighed in relief as the Peridot moved back into view. He stopped long enough to look up at her beseechingly, the only way to describe the expression on his countenance. "Of course, we value you as a customer. We'l lease you a new Galaxian at the same rate as an older model. McClure Shipping strives to..."

As she spoke the Peridot crawled to the outer door and exited.

"...keep our customers happy," she finished the spiel to an empty room.

Leith sank into a chair that automatically conformed to her expanding curves and filled out the leasing contract as she sipped a chocolate milkshake. When the forms were completed and a copy sent to the Peridot's office, she leaned back and absently rubbed her distended belly.

On her return to Earth, Leith had decided to do what her parents always wanted and become part of the family business instead of hiding behind a computer console at the university. She thought time might have changed her, but she found dealing with the customers as tedious as when she had worked at the office during school breaks.

She wasn't suited to the faux cheerfulness she had to adopt when confronting the customers in person or on the viewer. She allowed them to walk all over her literally as well as figuratively. She was miserable...but she couldn't lay all the blame on McClure Shipping.

The child within kicked fiercely and Leith closed her eyes. She was only a little over four months along, but she felt huge and ungainly. Dr. Val Mitchel, her xeno-obstetrician, thought she might carry only seven months. Other human-alien hybrids were not uncommon, but Dr. Mitchel could only hypothesize since human-Zi crossbreeding had never occurred before.

Information trickled out of Zi. Leith gathered every word of it, bits and pieces of the language, the culture, the geography of the planet, even medical procedures. She had spent six weeks alone with a Zi, but she still knew so little.

Even less information came through that would help Leith and her child. Dr. Mitchel had requested obstetric information in the name of research, but the Zi were slow in responding. As long as they were both healthy, Leith wouldn't let the doctor reveal the real reason for her interest. She didn't want anyone on Zi to know unless it was absolutely necessary.

If everything went well, in as little as three months she could be holding her child-hers and J'Qhir's.

She regretted not having the chance to tell him she loved him aboard the Starfire, even if the words held no meaning for him. She wished she had made a greater effort to let him know her feelings during their stay on Artilia. But what she had told Nura was true. Ultimately, the decision was up to J'Qhir.

He had made his choice, and she had to abide by it. If only he had cared enough, felt obligated enough to say good-bye. Perhaps a clean break was easier, but it sure as h.e.l.l couldn't hurt less than if he 'd confronted her and said, "I do not want you."

Not that she believed for an instant he didn't want her. They had discovered pa.s.sionate pleasure together. J'Qhir, who never knew pleasure could be a part of the mating ritual, had enjoyed it as much as she had. No, he chose to return to the rigid moral code of Zi. He chose his duty and responsibility to his people over his own personal happiness.

Shouldn't she love him all the more for his choice? Shouldn't she respect his decision and be proud of his integrity? She shook her head and wiped at the tears. She couldn't feel any of those things because she was, after all, only human. She could let the ache in her heart make her bitter or she could do something about it. She hadn't wanted his duty and responsibility to bring him to her, but he had a right to know.

Leith leaned over to the console and connected to LinkNet. It was time to contact J'Qhir and tell him about the child they had miraculously conceived. Looking back, they shouldn't have taken the chance, but neither of them thought creating a life between them was possible. She located the number of the Galactic Alliance offices on Earth. A temporary liaison had been appointed to Zi and she would start there.

Three hours later, she was only a little closer to contacting J'Qhir. After being shuffled through half a dozen offices and then told she would have to wait six standard months before a request of contact with the Alliance-Zi office would even be considered, she used her clout and notoriety and reminded them of who she was. This got her as far as an under-secretary who sniffed as he informed her the liaison was unreachable at the moment. Then he surprised her by lowering his voice, as if he were sharing a confidence, and said, "The Warrior is not on Zi at this time. He is expected to return in two standard weeks. The liaison should be in his office at that time as well. You can try again then."

Leith had thanked him and broken the connection.

Now, two standard weeks seemed an impossibly long time. She had antic.i.p.ated hearing his sibilant speech, watching subtle expressions only she could interpret cross his face. She wouldn't have given him the news over the viewer but asked to meet with him. She supposed it would have taken longer than two standard weeks to make all the arrangements...if he agreed. It frightened her to think he might never want to see her again.

The outer door opened. Most customers conducted business through LinkNet, but some, like the Peridot, preferred doing so in person. A few insisted on retaining hard copies so the contracts were printed on plastisheets. Occasionally, customers requested natural materials, such as paper made from wood pulp. She hoped it wasn't a Hykaisite who only signed in blood. She was not in the mood to watch one rip his skin open with a jagged knife and bellow out the ritual conclusion to the transaction.

Leith stood, sucked in her stomach, and straightened her dress. The loose, flowing garment hid her condition well enough. She wasn't ashamed of her pregnancy, but it wasn't something she cared to discuss with virtual strangers. Tears came too easily these days.

"Leith, darling," Catherine McClure called out.

Leith relaxed and turned to face her parents. Cameron McClure sat in an anti-grav wheelchair, the bottom floating a few centimeters off the floor.

"Dad!" Leith hurried around the counter, kissed her father and hugged her mother. "What are you doing up and around? Isn't it a couple of months early?"

"My tormentors have released me from my horizontal confinement," Cameron laughed. He looked better than when she had first returned from Artilia, but he was still too pale and thin. "How's my grandson?"

"Granddaughter!" Catherine corrected.

Leith smiled at their never-ending argument. They had taken the news of their grandchild and its paternal heritage better than she expected. She kept them informed of everything Dr. Mitchel told her. They knew the risks.

"He or she is doing well. He's moving around a lot and hurts me when he kicks, but Dr. Mitchel says everything looks good right now."

"That sounds encouraging, Leith," Catherine said.

Cameron nodded toward the other console. "Where's Tasha?"

"I gave her the day off." At her father's frown, she continued, "It's been slow the past few days. Tasha kept mentioning all the things she needed to do."

"You look tired," Catherine observed and felt her forehead. "Are you sure you're all right?"

"I am tired, but I'm fine. Don't worry about me. I would tell you if anything was wrong."

"I hope so, Leith. Naturally, your father and I are concerned."

Leith glanced at Cameron who had steered his chair toward the console. "I know, but you and Dad have enough problems without me."

Catherine smiled toward her husband. "The worst is over. Now, we have to get through recovery. Your father begins therapy three times a week at the hospital. The sessions will last a few hours, and I've decided to spend them here at the office instead of waiting uselessly at the hospital."

"Have the doctors said how long before he'l be walking?"

"Another six months, at least. He has decided he will be walking in six weeks. You know how hard-headed he can be."

Leith smiled and nodded. "It's that positive att.i.tude that's gotten him through so far."

"True enough. One doctor told me about some cases of the Fever where it took two years for the patients to get to the point where he is now. But they had become very despondent over their condition. Your father has never lost faith he'l recover."

"Leith! What's this?" Cameron shouted from the console.

"What, Dad?" Leith asked, knowing what he had found.

"The Peridot contract. Did he give you that old story about financial straits?"

"Well, yes-" A blush of embarra.s.sment infused Leith's face.

"That Peridot has more credits than all of our other clients combined," Cam snorted. "Tasha would have known how to deal with him."

Leith shook her head. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize-"

"Cam, please," Catherine admonished.

Cameron scowled and turned back to the viewer.

"It's all right," Catherine said soothingly. "We didn't expect you to be an expert overnight."

"No, it's not all right." Leith moved over to the large window and looked out over the city of Memphis sprawled beneath. The sparkling ribbon of the Mississippi River ran lazily beneath the M-shaped bridge. She could see two of the three steel and gla.s.s pyramids built in the last few centuries. She lay her forehead against the cool gla.s.s. "I knew the Peridot was bluffing me, but I didn't want to argue with him."

"Cam has been doing this for over twenty years, and he's known the Peridot longer than that. It comes with time and experience."

Leith heard the disapproving sounds her father made as he looked over other files. She sighed. "Meanwhile, McClure Shipping goes belly up because I can't say no."

"It's not as bad as all that. Cam will make it up on the next contract with the Peridot."

The outer door opened again, and Leith turned to find Drew sauntering in.

"Are we ready yet?"

"Ready for what?" Leith asked.

"Drew!" Catherine snapped. "I haven't had a chance to ask her yet."

"Ask me what?"

Drew kissed Leith on the cheek and shrugged. "Oops."

"What is going on?

Catherine frowned at Drew. "Your father and Drew are taking us to lunch. I have some errands to run afterwards."

Leith looked back and forth between them and knew her mother's annoyance at Drew meant there was more to it than lunch and shopping. "Will one of you please tell me what is going on?"