She got up and hurried to greet her mate, nuzzling into him with such eagerness that Qalu looked away. Their love produced pheromones tangible even to Tiralan senses. She followed Helix’s example and rose to offer a traditional Tiralan greeting, slight inclination of body, subtle movement of head tendrils. This must be Zylar. This Barathi looked much like the others she’d encountered as they traveled, though perhaps his colors were a trifle more muted.

“He said Helix was here?” Zylar glanced between the two unfamiliar Tiralan with obvious puzzlement. “Is he waiting on your ship? Did you bring equipment for me to—?”

Helix took a step forward. “I’m right here.”

“Helix?” Zylar whispered. “Is it really you?”

“Yes.”

In excitement, Zylar grappled him, and when Qalu might have intervened, Beryl said, “It’s fine. That’s a human tradition I taught him. You do it when you’re happy to see someone.”

Eventually Qalu figured out that was a variation on a “hug,” roughly commensurate with the comfort of touching another’s chest and playing cadence with their heartbeat. Bojak had been considerably calmer when he grasped her, not that Helix had let that go on for long. It irritated him when others handled her, and she had to admit she didn’t enjoy it either.

“When I told you to find your own path, I never expected this.” The Barathi stared at Helix, seeming unable to trust his own senses. “How did this happen? I had no idea there had been so many advances in biosynthetic research.”

Qalu sat quiet while Helix explained the circumstances leading up to his transition and everything that had happened since. He finished with, “I came to express my sincere remorse for what I did to your intended, and to renew our bonds, Zylar. You were my first friend, my only friend, when I was an AI. I existed to serve you and desired your happiness to the point that I broke all known code protocols to facilitate it. Now, I hope we can be more like family, even once we’re separated by great distance.”

“We should give them some space,” Beryl whispered.

She followed the other female into another room, allowing Zylar and Helix to catch up in private. It was a sensitive retreat, and in that interlude, they discussed her work, Qalu’s home on Tiralan, her mothers, and Helix’s budding interest in art.

“This is amazing,” Beryl said eventually. “You had the prototype ready to go, exactly when he needed it, like you were meant to be together.”

“Yes,” she said, trusting that was true.

[  23  ]

“The universe has a sense of irony,” Zylar said.

Helix suspected he might know what Zylar meant, but he asked, “In what respect?”

“After such an elaborate scheme to pair me up with a human—with you pretending to be Tiralan—now you are Tiralan, and you’re the one with a Tiralan mate.”