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that the Great Archive has selected for you. Her name is Laliette, and she is of the Driar folk.”
    The woman bowed. “It will be an honour to serve you and your daughter, Archive Ahamad.”
    Jill smiled. “Call me Jill.”
    The woman looked shocked.
    “Well, then, call me Archive Jill. My family name has no place here.”
    “Thank you for welcoming me as caregiver, Archive Jill.”
    The Legal Archive came up to them, holding Imjay. “I have your documents of official guardianship and motherhood. All I need is your blood and a drop of hers.”
    Imjay was fussing and squirming in the man’s arms. Jill held out her arms and took her daughter back.
    Imjay looked perturbed, as if being shown off was an irritation. Jill soothed her and stroked her downy cheek.
    Rimash nodded. “I have cancelled your afternoon appointments, and the rest of the day will be filled with the legalities of an alien adopting a legal citizen of the Great Archive.”
    Legal nodded and winked. “I will see you later then. She is a lucky girl. You have much to offer.”
    Rimash stiffened, and Jill felt more than saw, his wings flex. He was not happy about the wink.
    Jill beckoned to Laliette. “Laliette, this is your new charge, Imjay. Technically, Imjillema Imbri Rimash. Or that will be her registered name as of this afternoon.”
    Rimash nodded, “Emergency custody has been filed and registered. The adoption is the only legal matter left to accomplish. No one will dare to remove the child from the Great Archive. The security here is designed to keep us and the information safe.”
    Imjay was eyeing the newcomer suspiciously.
    “Imjay, this is your nanny, Laliette.”
    Laliette took the baby carefully and settled her with the comfortable ease of someone who had handled a lot of children.
    “Do you come from a large family, or do you have one?”
    Laliette chuckled. “I come from a large family. I was not the eldest, and so I was told to find a subject of study, so I came here. I have been here for four years, trying to find something that holds my interest. The only thing I have been able to focus on is reproductive sciences.”
    “Well, you are holding the result of it right there.”
    Laliette rocked Imjay lightly and the baby settled. “She is lovely. It will be a pleasure to care for her.”
    “Will it interfere with your studies?”
    “No. The Great Archive has given me flexible access to all of the archives that interest me. When I choose a field of focus, I will be granted a secure terminal to do my homework so that my attending on Imjay will still allow me to pursue a career.”
    Jill nodded. “Good. When will you start?”
    “My things are being moved to my new quarters in your quarters, so I can be on duty this evening and Rimash can brief me on your schedule. Let’s see if I can’t find a way to get those dark circles out from under your eyes. They don’t look very good.”
    Jill took the baby back and sighed ruefully. “They probably don’t, but she is eating on a regular schedule and that schedule is whenever she feels like it. I just have to go along with it. Despite her mother’s claims, she seems to have fully developed lungs.”
    Laliette had a curious expression cross her features. “Well, I will get her medical reports this evening. Dinner hour?”
    Rimash nodded. “We will be expecting you.”
    She bobbed a quick bow and left them to the rest of Jill’s break.
    Jill looked at Rimash and sighed. “I swear, if I hadn’t heard a song in my mind, I would never have gotten any sleep over the last week.”
    His cheeks darkened to a deeper shade of greyish blue. “A song?”
    “Yes. A relaxing and rhythmic song. Every time she woke me up, that song put me right under again.”
    The baby waved one small fist in the air. A gesture of triumph if ever there was one.
    Jill gave Imjay an evil look, slipped her bag over her shoulder and heaved herself to her feet. “So, where is our first stop?”
    “Medical for the