I’m having to sneak up on this as there are, as you’ll read, three big things looming in Pai’s mind. In signal with her totality from their ship parked behind the house, she still is unsure how to proceed. A concern in my mind is she might just panic and leave, at least for a while.

I am happy that after three years, and children, Alix’s disgust is now more just a subtle teasing of someone vastly different from her. And, even with the odd family arrangement, that they can love one another.

Enjoy my content? Buy me a beer!

Graf glanced up at the hands on the wind-up clock over his head as Alix got out of bed.  A few minutes after four.  A little early to go fishing with Suza.  Maybe just bathroom.  He fell back asleep.

In a nightshirt with no panties, she turned to sit on the toilet, only to make out Pai’s form in the dark.

“What, now?” she whispered.

“Three things.  One, did the legionaries tell you why they’re here?” she asked.

“No.  ‘Just scouting’ was all the leftenant would allow.” She pulled some toilet paper.  “And two and three?”

“Two, I’ve chopped a day off my transition.  That will be this evening.  I think my husband will bear it, but I want you to know.” Pai moved her gaze from Alix to the opposite wall.  “I will need your help.”

“I didn’t think,” she said, standing and flushing, “that you needed anyone’s help for anything.  Three?”

The android did not move and Alix was getting a little concerned.

“May we speak?  Downstairs?” Pai asked.

“Sure.”  Alix was puzzled to see someone so confident, so sure, acting in this way.  She recalled from dinner there was something Graf was not supposed to talk about.  Was it that, or the looming transition, which had her now rival-in-name-only spooked?

“I know you don’t need anything, but mind if I get some berry juice?” she asked.  Pai gave a tiny smile and nod as she sat.  Used to their fights, it made Alix more nervous.  She took the chair directly opposite, a drink, and looked up.

“Your transition or what happened out there?”

“Yes.”

The human took another drink, grimaced at the feeling from her gut, and waited.

“To the latter, I murdered someone.”

Alix bridled.  “We are both military.  To obey orders against an enemy combatant – ”

“It was not war.  It was murder.  I may not disclose details, but as the adoptive mother of your children, you must know this.” Alix watched Pai’s body shudder.  “I asked Graf if I should ever be around the children again, now that I am a murderer.  He forgave me and told me yes, I must.  Still, you have to know.”

Alix was at a total loss.  Who did she kill?  Why did she kill them?  She knew Pai would never act out of emotion.  Was she defending Graf?  No, that would not make it murder, which is what she’s insisting on calling whatever she did.  A terrible thought came to her.

“Pai?  Did your mother make you do this?” she asked.

With no movement at all of her android body, the human watched tears stream down the machine’s face.  Answered that question.  She was out of her chair and around the table in a moment.

“It’s okay,” she said, taking Pai into her arms.  “You said Graf has forgiven you?  Then I do, too.  It’s okay.”

When the tears stopped, Alix pushed, to keep Pai thinking.  “And the second?”

“This form will be retired this evening.  My new self…well, Graf will not recognize me,” Pai continued in her whisper, more out of fear than to keep the house quiet.  “I have already been mistaken for his younger brother.  He will be called a child-trafficker soon.  I do not know when the Empress will recall us, but I wanted you here for the change.”

“No,” Pai said, finally turning and taking Alix into her arms, too.  “I need you here.”

“Then here I am; I cannot do otherwise.” Alix made a small smile and a tiny tilt to her head.  “May I know what you’ll look like?  Us, again?  But older?”

“No.” Her denial was complete.  “My brothers suggested I look like Aurelia.”

“What?”

Pai stood, pulling Alix up with her.

“Time to wake Graf and try to lever Suza out of bed; fishing for breakfast.  The river where I was destined to fall on him is less than a half mile to the southeast.” Pai turned her about.  “I’ll manage things here.”

Alix hesitated.  “Pai?  I’m…”

A cold finger across her lips. “I know.  I love, agape, you, too.  Now, go fish.”