If you ever want to sidetrack people, get them talking about their kids. Even I am guilty of that, proud of my two debt-free, employed daughters (cough hint cough) that I am.

The importance of children echoes through all of my stories. Those who cannot or can only have a few are devastated by that knowledge. Reina, also, is NOT at pleased at the prospect. The world of the Change is not one of GrrlBosses and WineAunts. You marry in your late teens and get knocked up ASAP; FFS, Empress Fussy has ten kids. Personally? I think that may be because I’m a mule and my wife sterilized by chemo when she was 28. We adopted two. One of the reasons it was so easy for Pavel and Reina to adopt Tay, I suppose.

Anyhoo, Graf forgets what he was told and nearly dies. He is technically the main character, so I rather that not happen.

Enjoy my content? Buy me a beer!

It looks awful, here, was his first thought.  It was very dark with just enough light to see he stood in the midst of a destroyed city.  Reminds me of that one time we went to Lake Michigan and Dad and I took that walk through the outskirts of what had been Milwaukee.  He turned all the way around.  No one here.  Did Pai not tell her mom…no, of course she has.

He took a few careful steps, the last half-foot or so before the ground was covered with a gray fog.  But, when disturbed, glowed a reddish tint.

“Like Pai’s wonderful eyes,” he essayed a smile.

“What did you just say about my youngest child, human?”

Not there in front of him a moment ago, Graf looked to person who looked like a blend of Pai and Alix.  Her hair is darker, and her fringe a little different.  Same shorter stature.  Eyes just a little less red.  I don’t really get her outfit:  thin leather coat over a dirty, collarless white cotton shirt.  Pants are… what’s the word?  Scarlet, maybe.  So much for my homeschooling.  And her black leather boots to her knees were well worn.

Worst of all was the look on her face.  Her mouth twisted into a scowl and those eyes wanted him dead.

“I said your child has wonderful, beautiful eyes,” he replied, mulishly holding his ground.  “Which, it seems, she got from you.  I am Graf Winstead.  Pai and I, while sudden, care very much for one another.  You are…?”

“Kah, kah.” She emitted what he supposed was an odd laugh.  “If only, human, you knew the deeper meaning behind that word, sudden.  I am Reina.  First among equals of tribe Mendrovovitch and Prime Minister of Imperial Russia.  Pai said you should meet with me.”

“I think it appropriate for anyone romantically involved, to meet family as soon as possible,” he replied, trying to use his peripheral vision to see if there was any place to sit down for this conversation.

“There’s not,” she said, reading his mind.  Like mom, like daughter.  “How does your head feel?”

“What?” That question out of nowhere surprised him.  Graf raised his left hand and rubbed at the back of his neck.  “Just starting to hurt, now that you mention it.”

“Then I shall be brief.  Graf.” Saying his name made her look worse.  “It is possible for our kind to make more with each other.  Similarly for humans and demi-humans.”

“Pai did say she has an older step-sister…”

“Tay.  Yes.  And two other brothers:  Ivan and Vlad.  My husband and I are not sure if we will make more.” She shook her head as if angry to be sidetracked so easily.  “My point stands:  barring an event as Henge’s rash action, or something we cannot yet foresee, this union will be sterile.  Removing both of you from parenthood.”

“I…” she took a step closer.  He made sure to not retreat. “I once never wanted a husband or children.  I am much older now.  So, I shall ask nicely:  find one of your own kind and leave Pai to hers.”

“Ma’am,” he began.

“Reina is fine.  Given the behavior of you two over the last few days.”

“Reina.  Pai literally fell out of the sky.  And nearly onto me.” Graf took a breath and pushed on.  “She was the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen.  Pushy and fast?  Sure, but really didn’t mind…”

Her scowl came back.

“Will we be together forev… well, no.  She said I’d die hundreds if not thousands years before her.  But we have a little time, right now.  Days, months, years?  No one, not even you people, can answer that.”

“You are suspiciously clever, human.  Graf,” she allowed in a much lower voice.  “Carry on.  For now.”

“Thank you, Reina,” he said, taking a step and touching the arm of her coat.  It was as if lights exploded behind his eyes and his chest was in a vice.

“You idiot.  Get him out, Daughter, now.”

Back in their room, Graf rolled forward out of his chair, puking about half of the soup out.  Onto Pai, who had taken his shirt off and now had that machine attached to his chest.  He heard “Arrhythmia now negative.  Unit in standby.”  And the look she was giving me…

“You touched her.  I warned you about that.  So stupid!” Pai looked down at the mess on her.  She removed the ledes and pulled him up.  “Time for a shower, my stupid Intended.  You are going to need a lot of rest, tonight, so don’t ask.”

“Can…can I ask one thing?” he requested, being pushed.

“Just one.”

“When I was dumb, I admit it, right before I was back here and got sick on you, I saw something.”

“What did you think you saw?”

“Well,” this could be insulting, “why did your mom suddenly look like a big, white fluffy dog?”

The look of shock on her face is priceless.  She pressed her mouth to his, puke and all, and kissed him.

“All of us Thinking Machines, even me, have a kind of vestigial, that means leftover, Graf, code in us.  Sometimes humans or demis catch a glimpse of that.  What you did was dumb and nearly fatal, but you did something, and saw something unique.”

She’s a dog?

Pai’s dirty coveralls were off and the water running.  “Get in here.  Please.”

I wonder what Pai really looks like?