Gaireth Eskin finishedhis after-action report and looked around the new Daycross defender training centre.“What is everyone looking at?”
The administrator said, “There was an incident with an unauthorized active tonight.She saved a bus full of children from a flooded river as calmly as if she did it every day.Totally trashed her clothing, and that is what the guys seem to be focusing on.”
Gaireth snorted and looked at the image on the screen.He exhaled.“Impossible.”
He knew that woman.Or rather, he had known her over twenty years ago.She moved the same, her eyes were the same, and her figure took his breath away.“Katta.”
Timothy looked at him.“You know her?”
“I knew her three decades ago.She looks like time stood still.”
“She has a child.”
“Which should be impossible.She’s close to sixty if not over.Where is this?”
“Aksalla.”
“Right.I need to make some calls.”Gaireth sat at a terminal and called the defender headquarters.He needed to know if she was who he thought she was, and if he was right, she owed him a date.
* * * *
Alody silenced hercom.It was going crazy.After Ithal was tucked in, she went to her terminal and checked the news reports.“Oh, dear.”
She rubbed her head and sent a note to Morthiwel.Sorry, boss.I need a few days off until this blows over.Ithal is great, and all the kids are healthy.
She sighed and started looking for accommodations in other countries that didn’t demand constant service.Life in the islands was looking pretty good, but Daycross was close to home and defended its own once you were a citizen.
Erradia was likely, but they were weird about females with power.She sat back and rubbed the back of her neck.
She saw a message flare on her screen and checked it, sitting up.“Diena.”She answered the message, and a face that was close to what she saw in a mirror flared in front of her.
“Hey, Mom.I saw you on the news.Was that Ithal’s bus?”
“Yes.There was a mountain rainstorm that washed out that particular river.He called, and I answered.”
“Thank goodness.”
“Diena, you don’t call often.Are you okay?”
“Um, yeah, I am fine.I am surrogating for someone.I don’t know who, but I know they are a solid couple.She just can’t carry.”
“How far along are you?”
“Eight and a half months.Almost done.The child is viable and healthy.”
Alody said softly, “Where are you?”
“Aksalla.I have an apartment and now have savings.Carrying for actives pays pretty well.If I come through delivery fine, I might do it again.”
“Are you still working?”
“Of course.”
“At the commissary?”
“Yup.They don’t let me lift the heavy stuff, but I am working part-time right up to the delivery date, or if I go into labour.Whatever comes first.”
“Why did you—”
