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“You may call me Devran.”

She laughed at his casual tone. He just continued to work at whatever he was working on.

“Is there a primer or a book as to what is appropriate when?”

“If you need to wear something specific, I will let you know. You are comfortable with the cleaning unit for your wardrobe?”

“Yes.”

“And the bath in the bathing room? It takes six minutes to fill.”

Aya blinked. “An actual bathroom?” She closed the wardrobe and went to open the nearly invisible panels on the wall. The first was a standard necessary with a bidet and sink. The configuration was familiar. She would ask later.

She opened the next door and stared. A huge sunken tub in the floor had enough water jets to look threatening. The shower had a number of heads, and she could get a full rinse if she just twirled slowly. She might also get to third base. It was quite the setup.

There was a dressing table with hairbrushes and combs. That was the final straw.

She walked out and looked at Devran. “Where did all that stuff come from? I really don’t see you enjoying the dressing table.”

He shrugged. “I thought you would enjoy it.”

“I definitely will, but how long did it take to set this up? That plumbing is Earth style.”

“I thought you would like some comforts that remind you of home.”

She looked at him as he worked. Her lip wobbled, and she walked up to him, carefully hugging him from behind. He paused his typing. She whispered, “Thank you.”

He said softly, “You are welcome. I want you to feel at home here.”

“Thank you again.”

He sighed. “Stop thanking me and go to sleep or use your terminal. You have been up for sixteen hours.”

“I know. I am afraid if I fall asleep I will wake up back in the room.”

He lifted one of her hands to his lips, and she could actually feel his lips. “I will remain with you. I might have to have meetings with the captain here, but I will not leave you.”

“I feel pathetic, but thank you.” She said softly, “I am not normally so weepy.”

“It is all right. You have been under an incredible amount of strain, and it was lifted suddenly. Things that you find familiar will help you anchor yourself to your new situation. I hope.”

She smiled. “I hope so, too. I am going to hit the terminal.”

“There is a list of Terran consorts who would welcome a chat.”

“Who is the one you contacted for the repair unit programming?”

He got up, walked behind her, leaned toward the terminal, and scrolled. “Ra. His mate was a human. Harwin. Queen of Aten.”

“Oh, right. Wait, was?” She pivoted to the com unit and started pressing the code that would track Harwin in space.

“Have you known many human consorts?”

“I know of them. I have only met one because she needed immediate retrieval. When we go to Kazi, you will meet her.”

“Wait, you have met a human before me?”

“Yes. She needed judgment for her own circumstances, and I was most suited to retrieve her. I nearly missed, but she was delivered to Kazi alive.”