First short of the next collection complete (barring copyediting, of course). I’m rather please for how I wrapped it up, keeping with the religious and life-affirming themes of my works (barring all those people Fussy and Aurie have killed, of course; that’s war, not murder – a critical distinction).

My future history is called Machine Civilization, but there are times where it’s all humans, or sometimes humans and demis. I’m glad I was able to get tribe Toshsaka back into the fray. Many no longer have any relationship with physicals at all. Nice to see Thaad, eldest Thinking Machine on Earth, is still about.

I don’t think it’s prurient to mention Colour’s post-coital response. I recall a million years ago, BC (before children), when my wife was overseas on assignment in the Far East for a mere six months. I made sure she couldn’t walk much the next day; funny thing was, with those muscles out of use, I couldn’t much either.

Trying to piece my way through a second story. Having people talk to themselves, by themselves, is not really engaging to the reader, so, like an orb, I am pondering things.

Enjoy my content? Buy me a beer!

The morning after next, Colour, eyes shut and laying on her back, considered three things.  First, after their dinner and bottle of wine, things got interesting quickly and she had forgotten to put the leftovers into the fridge.  Second, having not been with a man for a quarter-century, she was rather sore.  Lastly…why is it so dang bright in my little bedroom?

She opened her eyes to a bright ochre sky.  But I don’t see a sun.  Wait, isn’t this what Aurie called a “construct”?  A place the Machines made?  But that’s impossible as there is no signal where my house is!

A small motion at her left shoulder.  Loup and I fell asleep after we had…  Anyway, being so cold, we pulled nightshirts on and first lay holding one another before drifting off and rolling onto our backs.  And this does not feel like my bed.  To not disturb him, she sat up slowly.

I recognize this place, she thought, looking around at the eight or nine-yard diameter blue metal disk.  It floated about two or so feet in the air.  Colour looked about at the array of bushes and trees.  Three impossibly tall palm trees were to her right.  Ahead was a small open area and what looked like a cliff of some sort.  For the life of me, I cannot recall which tribe’s this place is.

“Your life is not in danger, Miss Jansen,” a youthful male’s voice said from behind her.  “Well, so long as you do not do anything stupid.  And we are tribe Tohsaka.”

Twisting about enough to elicit a sound from Loup, Colour looked at a man maybe nineteen.  Light olive skin, golden hair over pale eyes, and jug-handle ears sticking out of said hair.  An off-white tunic with a rope about his waist was his only clothing.

“Tad, what that it?  Forgive me for not remembering,” she apologized as she stood.  Her nightshirt was just long enough for modesty.

“Thaad, but I appreciate your effort.  While I am otherwise very busy, my daughter asked me to effect this meeting.” A disinterested shrug.  “It is only a timeslice of my life, but I am older family is important.”

“Family?” Colour was confused.

“Henge, my mama, is his daughter,” Aurelia said appearing from nowhere next to the lad’s left, typically in her legionary uniform.  On his right, just brighter than the other two, was Henge herself in a white dress with a smile that made her heart hurt.  She heard Loup sit up and mumble something in French.

“Don’t worry,” Aurie replied in the same language, coming over to give him a hand up.  His shirt was not long enough to be modest.  “Dang, Colour!  You okay down there?”

“Sore.  Thanks for asking,” she tried hard to not laugh.  “How is this possible?  There’s no signal at my place?”

“One of my S-2s,” she switched back to English, “is floating about ten feet over your house.  It’s snowing and still fairly dark, so it won’t be noticed.”

She looked back to Loup and made sure to keep her eyes up.  “Colour will explain everything when we’re finished.  Ah, here’s our last visitor!”

A man dressed also as a legionary but with a cross on each of his collars was next to Henge.  Looking about, he bowed first to Henge and then saluted Aurelia.

“This is Father Hearn, he currently serves in our legions,” the princess announced.  “He’s here to preside over y’all’s vows.”

“Our what?” Colour and Loup said in perfect unison.

“You’re my friend, Colour,” the pushy former regent said, coming over to put one hand on her shoulder and another on her belly, “and I won’t have your child a bastard.”

“Child!” The other two, again.

“As well as y’all talk together,” Henge finally spoke with a voice like a dream, “this is just a formality.”

“I…I…” now Loup was very flustered.  “I need pants…”

“Oh, shut up and face each other,” Aurie said with a roll of her eyes.  “Father?  These antiques will need prompting if you’d be so kind?”

“Of course, Princess,” he replied, walking over to the impending couple, both of whom were starting to shake in fear.  Aurelia moved behind Loup and put a hand on his shoulder.  Henge did the same for Colour, who shook more when she did.

“Don’t overdo it, Mama!” her daughter laughed but was quieted by a look from the priest.

“Dearly beloved…” he began.

The only pause was at the “I do’s,” which they both stuttered out.

“In the name of God and Empress Faustina, I pronounce you husband and wife.” When no one moved, Aurelia and her mother both gave them a push.  Brief kiss over, it was only those four still on the platform.

“I cannot be pregnant!” Colour yelled.  “I’m barren!”

“My fault, my darling Colour,” Henge admitted, taking the human’s face into her hands and kissing her cheeks.  “It seems my nature went a little further than just making you look a little younger.”

How can this be happening? Colour thought.

It is happening, came the most beautiful thoughts from the angel holding her, because my daughter saw it.  You know her most personal secret:  God rarely gifts her glimpses of our future.  She saw you, holding a child.  So, all this.

“Thus,” she concluded, dropping her hands, “it is meant to be.”

“It is?” Loup asked, still completely stunned by the last few minutes.

“There are no such things as coincidences, Lo-, er, my husband,” Colour smiled, reaching out to take his hand.  “You will have to tell me where you want to raise our child.  Maybe more than one?  I’ve been blessed by this angel, after all.  Nova Scotia, Quebec?  I am yours now; you promised to love me and I to obey you.”

She lifted his hand.  “I’ve learned from my friend, here, that loyalty is all.”

“Right,” Aurelia called.  “We’re finished here.  You will see me later, Friend.”

Colour and Loup were in her narrow bed, staring at her bedroom’s ceiling and just starting to shiver from the cold.  He stood at once.

“Where are you…?” she began.

“Getting a fire going, first.  Then, a drink to celebrate.” He held his hand up.  “Just for me, of course.  Do you have any coffee?  No, don’t get up.  I’ll find it and start that, too.  I’m coming right back.”

A wonderful feeling washed through her body and she smiled like the sun. “Hurry back!”