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“They are all still alive; my brother and sister-in-law are working at something called the assessment centre.”
“Siloven has a variety of different species who have now agreed to be Vecchin. They were purchased after plagues, and once they had a locked-in population on the first world, he continued to populate Siloven with the same species.”
“Oh. So, Terrans...”
“An experiment because a Terran is now the consort of Overseer Mekked, the guardian of the world Vecchin. She’s on your call list. Misty is her name.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
“I would have put your people on it, but they don’t have deep space coms.”
“But we can go there?”
“When we have spoken with Kazi, yes.”
“So a few days to the world where I get my petition robes?”
He smiled and nodded. “More for your collection.”
She looked at him and stifled a yawn. He was proud of the collection he had constructed for her. “Is it all right if I go to bed?”
“If you are tired, sleep.”
She nodded. “Is there sleepwear?”
He looked toward her with confusion. “Skin only in bed. No reason for clothing.”
“Oh. Okay.”
She walked over to the bathroom and took care of nature, brushed her hair and teeth, and then loosened her dress before she walked over to the bed. She turned the sheets back and let the dress slide to the floor. She picked it up and folded it, tucking it at the foot of the bed.
Naked, she crawled between the sheets, and when she was settled, he spoke softly, and the lights went dim. His eyes still glowed as he did whatever it was that he did. With the small sounds and glow in the corner, she curled up and let her fatigue take her into sleep.
* * * *
Devran looked at the small, tight figure. Picking an avatar had always been something that he and Kazi had mentioned to each other. Dytura had gotten one by accident. Now, Kazi had his avatar, and Devran could see the appeal.
She could walk the worlds that he would crush, speak to populations who would break when he arrived.
Tomorrow, he would ask her if she wanted to be his avatar, and if she said yes, he would put some of his energy into her after they met with Kazi. He smiled. He liked having her near. She sparked with energy and touched his mind a dozen times an hour without even noticing the energy she was patting to make sure it was still there.
She murmured, “I imprinted on you, like a baby duck. You were the first thing I saw, so I belong to you.”
Aya dipped back into deep sleep.
Devran laughed softly. She was aware of him. Even asleep, she was aware of him. That was everything he wanted in an avatar. He was pretty sure. He had never made one before. Kazi’s had been successful.
Aya was still in a tight curl, and he stood up, removed his clothing, and slid into his bed. He had a tablet to work with, and he sat up, answering contacts from the worlds who looked to him for guidance. They wanted to know the past so they could make better futures, and he had access to all histories.
He jolted when Aya touched him, and once she had located him, her body nestled against his. Devran smiled. He had guessed she was cold, and this was proof.
He stroked her back, and she relaxed.
He continued his work at identifying floodplains from nineteen centuries ago. She snuggled up against his side. She needed a companion more than he did, so he would try having one. It would be different. He would take notes. He hoped she liked history; she was about to get access to all of it.
* * * *
When Aya woke, she was warm, and she wasn’t alone. A large hand was rubbing her back with a slow and comforting motion. She was facing blurry skin and had an arm draped around his waist. She slowly moved her arm.
