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their young siblings. There were no shelters on the surface, only forests of the elders.
    The emirate held his position because of his immense age and his placement of his root system. Choosing your rooting spot was how your position was asserted in your dotage. The current population was looking for their sites on a daily basis, trying to decide which of the current elders was going to become the next emirate when the current one gave up his leaves and let himself turn into compost.
    It would be decades if not centuries before that occurred, so it was a guessing game when it came to placement for the rooted lifetime of the Yaviilianika.
    Toby sighed and recalled all of her eyes but one. She settled that one in Naroz’s hair and set the relay to record while she settled back to take her nap. Toby was always able to sleep when she felt like she was in control of the situation.
     
    Her pulse pounded and her skin was hot when she woke. Images of Shatter’s hands swamped her mind. His hands holding her, caressing her and claiming her. The funny thing is that they were all repeats of the kiss in the control room.
    “Damn it! Do you want me to go nuts or something?”
    An image of a portrait of Toby in Shatter’s arms played into her thoughts.
    “Seriously? You believe him?”
    Images of couples traipsed through her thoughts. Several of them were Guardians with Terran-looking women.
    “So, you are telling me that she has been correct before—the artist, I mean. Is that it?”
    A green light came up in Toby’s mind followed by the image of the portrait again.
    It suddenly came to her. “You like him, don’t you?”
    The light turned green again.
    “Oh, for the love of…A man finally talks directly to you and you turn all mushy?”
    Images of Shatter getting undressed for the night overlaid the green.
    “Fine. He’s hot.” The images continued. “And naked. I get it! Knock it off.”
    She rubbed her forehead. “You know how I feel about playback when there is no hint of subterfuge.”
    A purple colour flared in her mind.
    “Fine. I accept your apology. I know he is pretty, but shortly, I will have firsthand knowledge. We don’t need to spoil the surprise.”
    Blush pink followed bright yellow.
    “Yes, I know you are excited. We will have a third in our weird relationship. If you behave, I will ask him if he wants to get a bio-tag that will link him to you. You never know. He might be up for it.”
    The image of Toby in the pilot’s seat was outlined in black and stars.
    “Yes, I am and will always be your pilot. I wouldn’t trust a man to drive anyway. They don’t like to take direction.” She laughed and the mechanisms of the ship chirped and chortled.
    Her eye told her that the men were returning. Shatter was still on alert as they walked through the populace, but his shoulders relaxed when she opened the door for them and they entered the ship. She sealed the ship immediately and did a sweep for life forms. They were the only ones there.
    She got to her feet as they approached and greeted them in the hall. “So, is everything ready for our departure?”
    Naroz grimaced. “The emirate offers you sincere apologies. He had no idea how painful or long-lasting his intrusion would be.”
    She sent her eye back to its holding area, and Shatter chuckled. “I did wonder about that. It was yours, obviously.”
    “Correct. It is one of my personal critters, designed to operate in concert with this ship.”
    Shatter laughed. “One of?”
    She batted her lashes at him. “A lady needs her secrets. Now, where are we off to?”
    Naroz grinned. “Get us off this world, and I will make it up as I go along. Is my private com set up?”
    “It is. Even the ship won’t listen in.”
    “Good. Then, I will retire to my chamber and you can put us in orbit around that moon.” He jerked his head at the huge pink sphere in the sky.
    She grinned. “Shatter, either get to your quarters or strap in. We are going to get