Aezhay cursed as she gobbled down her porridge. There was so gorram much to do, and not enough hours in the day to do it. She honestly didn’t know how Lezah managed – but she didn’t have time to ponder it. Lezah was off in Rutger keeping Bedra together, while Aisell was keeping Eyrn from falling apart. They couldn’t afford to hire anyone, not long-term. So it was on Aezhay to hold the farm together.

At least the news was hopeful, finally. The media debate was full of surprise over the news of Darren’s temporary reprieve. The judicator and magistrate had ruled that he would have to be evaluated to ensure he wasn’t a danger, but Aezhay thought that was a given, and most of the media analysts did, too, including the one yammering on the vidscreen.

“….I mean, yeah, I wouldn’t try to eat him, but if I was horrible enough to do that, he’d probably be right to kill me.”

“Well, thank you, doctor. Coming up next: can gravitic impellers make you thinner?”

“That is not how gravitic impellers work!”

“Ha! We’ll find out for sure on the Aeber and Mrrba show.”

Aezhay switched off the vid, and was surprised to hear a knock at her door.

She hoped it wasn’t reporters. They’d managed to dodge them so far. It was only a matter of time, she supposed. Well, she was probably the least upset of anyone; she may as well handle this.

She opened the door, and was momentarily surprised. “Gae? What are you doing here?”

“Hi, Aezhay. Is Lez here?”

“No, she’s in Rutger with Bedra. I thought you and the TETH folks were all up there.”

“I’m not with TETH anymore,” Gae said, wearily. “They…they were useless. Worse than useless.”

“I could….” Aezhay stopped herself, but Gae chuckled.

“Yeah, you probably could have told me so. They were gonna let Darren die. Thought it would build membership or something. I couldn’t…what’s the point if we’re gonna let an innocent man die?”

Aezhay shook her head. “I’m sorry, Gae. Is…did you want to at least come in? I have to get out soon, I’m the only one here, but….”

“Actually, that’s why I’m here,” Gae said. “I was wondering if you guys could use a hand.”

Aezhay sighed. “We…we’re barely hanging on. I can’t….”

Gae shook her head. “No…I don’t need pay. I need to clear my head, need to do something, and…well, if anyone deserves to succeed, it’s you.”

“How are you going to afford to live on no pay?”

Gae shrugged. “Well, I’m gonna dump my apartment. I can’t afford it. If you guys still have that spare room, I’d be willing to assign my rent and board credits to you – maybe that would help give you some more time.”

Aezhay nodded. “Gae, I can’t give a definitive yes without talking to Lezah, but…I mean, I could definitely use the help. Starting today, if you’re willing.”

“I am,” Gae said. “Just…one thing. It wouldn’t just be me moving in.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah,” Gae said, opening her purse up and placing a hand inside. She gently lifted Yama up and showed him to Aezhay.

“Aezhay, this is my boyfriend, Yamanu.”

Aezhay blinked a few times, then chuckled. “Sure. Why not? Yamanu, I’m Aezhay Maris, it’s nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you,” Yamma said to the tall, pretty blonde.

Gae looked at Aezhay, a bit confused. “You’re taking this pretty well,” Gae said.

“Well, my sister’s still mourning her dead human friend, and helping her friend save her other human friend, and then…well, I dunno. I’m guessing you don’t eat much,” Aezhay said, looking back to the skinny human.

“Well, not compared to you folks,” he said.

“And you don’t take up much space. So if Gae moves in, no reason you can’t. All right. Can you keep him safe while we work? After what happened to Luke….”

“Agreed,” Gae said. “I’ve got pockets.”

“And I need to sleep anyhow,” Yamma said with a grin. “I’ll let you two do the heavy lifting.”

Aezhay chuckled. “Well, fair enough. You remember how to operate a direct herbicide bot?”

“I wish I could forget,” Gae laughed. “Let’s get to it.”

* * *

Luke was rather exhausted, but it was a good exhausted, the kind you get after doing something that is both hard and worthwhile.

It had started with the math lesson and rather spiraled since then; he had run impromptu classes on Earth history and culture, told some simple stories – he’d gone with some of Aesop’s fables, and was surprised to find that a few of them had managed to survive largely intact, relayed from generation to generation in the many long years since humans had come to Archavia.

He was now talking with Drugar and a few others about basic government structures, and while he would sleep well once this was done, it was gratifying to see them grasp things so quickly.

“So if you have a vote, and one person is elected as leader, what about all those who voted for the loser?” Tendra asked.

“Well, they have to accept it,” Luke said, stifling a yawn. “That doesn’t mean they can’t keep arguing that they’re right, or trying to make sure that next time there’s an election, someone they support wins. But democracy means you trade the chance to pick your leaders for the knowledge that sometimes more people will pick someone you don’t like.”

“It sounds chaotic,” Drugar said.

“Well…it can be. But it tends to work better than other systems. In the tribe, you have a cross between a dictatorship and an oligarchy, and that works well as long as the leader cares about the tribe. Indeed, a dictatorship with a good and decent leader is much more efficient than democracy. The problem is that if you end up with a dictator who isn’t good and decent – and it happens a lot – then you end up with a terrible leader doing terrible things, and only violence as a way to remove them.”

Drugar looked thoughtful. “I suppose that does make some sense. But what if the people choose the wrong leader?”

Luke chuckled. “It’s happened, more than once. But at least with democracy, you know that the bad leader can’t stay in power forever, and that you’ll get a chance to replace them someday. That’s something.”

Drugar nodded. “Interesting. Well, it is getting late. Thank you, Luke; would you mind staying behind for a moment?”

“Of course not, Leader.”

“Thank you. The rest of you should get your first sleep of the day,” Drugar said, with a curt nod. As they filed out, Drugar smiled, and turned back to Luke. “You seem to be enjoying this.”

“I am, Leader,” Luke said. “Your people are smart, but they haven’t had a chance for schooling. I’m not saying that’s bad – you have been working on surviving, and that’s important. But getting some education can help, I think. Especially if the children can be taught.”

“I do too,” Drugar said. “Unfortunately, I have nobody to spare to teach my people.”

“I understand that,” Luke said. “Surviving is difficult enough.”

“It is,” Drugar said. “If there was someone who was not already working on something, though…someone with knowledge to share and a willingness to share it….”

Luke looked carefully at Drugar. “I…if I join the Tribe, I would want to be useful. I don’t want to be a burden. I want to earn my keep. If that means I go gathering or hunting….”

Drugar laughed heartily. “Luke, Thurfrit keeps the Tribe’s records. Oreus sees to our spirits. I do not venture out to defend the Tribe often, if at all anymore. Are we burdens? I hope not.”

Luke gave a half-smile. “I’m not quite ready to commit. I’m…I’m strongly considering it. But….”

“I am not trying to rush you, Luke of Earth,” Drugar said. “Just add this to your considerations. Should you wish to join the Tribe, know that you will be welcomed with open arms – and that if you continue teaching my people, you will be contributing as much as anyone in this tribe.”

Luke nodded, and smiled. “Thank you, Drugar. No matter my decision…I will try to teach as long as I am here, with your permission.”

“Permission?” Drugar said, offering Luke a steadying arm as he got onto his crutches. “Luke, you have my encouragement. But now, go and sleep.”

Luke nodded, and began the walk to his bed. He would have to heal up fully before he could fully commit. Not because he had any doubt what he wanted to do, of course….

But that would have to wait for his leg to support him. And for him to be certain that he would not waver once he got there.

* * *

The autocab turned toward the farm, cutting through a steady drizzle along the way. Eyrn looked out the window, down at the farm; she had to admit, this looked much more like the type of place she was used to. Out in the middle of nowhere, away from everyone – it looked a bit like the land around Ft. Vancouver, at least when she’d lived there, or maybe Ft. Snelling – lush and verdant, with tall grasses that looked a bit like wheat surrounding a small house. Even the steady drizzle couldn’t dent the beauty of the bucolic scene.

“I know, it’s not much,” Aisell said, softly.

“You haven’t been to Area 51,” Eryn said. “It’s beautiful.”

The cab touched down softly, and Aisell punched in her payment code, and then grabbed the diminutive Titan’s pack for her. She walked toward the door, and saw Aezhay and someone setting down their muddy work boots.

“Thought we couldn’t afford to pay a worker.” Aisell said, softly, though she wouldn’t have faulted Aezhay if she had. But the woman turned around, and Aisell shook her head. “Gae? I thought you were in Rutger with the other TETH groupies.”

“TETH? You mean the idiots who were ‘protesting’ by laying naked in the street?” Eyrn groused. “Great job, folks. Well done.”

Gae was rather taken aback by the small woman’s anger, especially given that she was still trying to register that this was the woman whose image had been flashed on vids for days as the owner of that troublesome human. “I…um, don’t believe we’ve met. I’m….”

Eyrn waved dismissively as she walked by Gae and into the house.

“That – Eyrn, come on….” Aisell said, but Gae shook her head.

“No, she’s right – TETH did nothing useful. That’s why I’m here. I kinda quit,” she said. “Okay, stormed off in fury. Has she seen….”

“No,” Aisell said. “She hasn’t. They won’t let her see him.”

“Those felgercarbers.”

“That’s Eyrn, by the way,” Aisell said.

“So I gathered,” Gae chuckled.

“Um…why is Eyrn in there and we’re all out here?” Aezhay asked. She pulled the door open, and signaled to the other three to enter.

Eyrn had flopped down on a couch, and was leaning back with her hands covering her eyes, as if she could shut out everything that had happened since the Gyfjon had grabbed her. Gae couldn’t say that she blamed her, not at all. If it was Yamma, on death row because he’d defended himself….

“So how much did Aezhay offer you? Because we probably can’t afford it anymore,” Aisell said quietly. “Trust me, if we could….”

“I’m working for free, and renting the spare room…though if Eyrn is staying here, maybe I’ll rent a cot in the office for now.”

Aisell quirked an eyebrow, but said nothing else for the moment; Gae was a bit nutty, but she was a hard worker and a friend of Lezah’s, and…well, frankly her nuttiness wasn’t nutty anymore.

“Great,” Eyrn said. “Another Titan.”

“Actually, there are two of us,” Gae said, checking her pocket. “My boyfriend is….”

“Oh no,” Aisell said. “No, we’re crowded enough. You’re fine, Gae, but your boyfriend…it’ll get way too crowded.”

“Not really, Ais,” Aezhay said, bringing in a tray with four glasses of mosaberry juice. “You haven’t met him.”

“Really? And why would that matter?”

“Well, I don’t take up much space,” came a drowsy murmur from Gae’s breast pocket.

Aisell looked over at Yamma, and then up at Gae. “Boyfriend?” she asked.

Gae nodded.

“I’m Yamanu,” the human said. “You must be Aisell. I’m so sorry about Luke.”

“Um…thanks. I…boyfriend?”

Gae smiled. “Yup.”

Aisell returned the smile. “All right. Yamanu, you may stay with Gae. And I am Aisell, and I really do appreciate that – you caught me a little off-guard. I kinda can’t wait for Lezah’s reaction.”

“Do you own your boyfriend?”

Gae looked over at Eyrn, who was still covering her eyes. “Well, technically, yes. But….”

“Then how can you date him? How can you view him as your equal, and still own him?”

Gae set Yamma down on an end table. “Well…you own Darren, right? Technically, I mean?”

“I’m not dating Darren. And that’s just another stupid Titan law you fucking idiots have. I had to register Darren as my pet or he couldn’t come with me, and now look at where he is. Jesus.”

“It is a stupid law,” Gae said. “I hate it. I don’t want to own Yamma. Not at all. But….”

“But you do! You own him! How can you say you love him if he can’t choose to be with you? How can he date you if he depends on you for everything he has?”

“Well, it’s not always easy,” Yamma offered.

“No kidding,” Eyrn said. “You’re all alike. You treat humans like they’re beneath you, like coming from Earth made them dumb. They’re ten times as good as any of you, you know that?”

Gae fought to keep her voice even. “I do. I really do. That’s why I went to work for TETH….”

“Oh, and they did a bang-up job, didn’t they! Aisell read one of their fliers to me. You guys talk a good game, but where were you when Darren was half-dead, waiting to be killed the rest of the way?”

Gae shook her head sadly. “Eyrn…I’m going to give you some space,” she said, wiping her eyes. “Because you have every right to be upset. I…I hope they let Darren go soon. I can tell you care about him. Yamma?” she said, turning to the human on the table.

“If it’s okay, I’d like to talk to Eyrn a bit on my own,” he said, looking to Aisell and Aezhay. “We both were raised by humans, it might be nice.”

Aezhay was about to object, but Aisell looked carefully at the human. “That’s fine,” Aisell said. “Come on, Zhay, we’ll get dinner together.”

The room cleared gradually, leaving the daughter and great-great-great-grandson of Earth alone.

“First off, I don’t think we’ve met,” Yamma said. “I’m Yamanu. You must be Eyrn Fitzgerald.”

Eyrn eyed the human warily. “I am. It’s good to meet you.”

“Likewise. Though you were a bit hard on my girlfriend.” Yamma said, quietly.

Eyrn shook her head, a bitter frown on her face. “Are you sure she’s really your girlfriend?”

Yamma didn’t take the bait. Instead, he replied, “Look, I know you feel bad, but Gae is not –”

“You don’t know how I feel,” Eyrn said, staring past him and out the window. “You have no fucking idea. I get picked up from my home, brought to live among these…these…people…the only person I know from home gets almost killed, and then they threaten to kill him, and then they just take him away from me and won’t even let me see if he’s okay….”

Eyrn trailed off. “She’s one of them. How can I feel different?”

Yamma nodded. “I understand. Really, I do. But can I ask you a question?”

Eyrn frowned, but said, “Sure, whatever.”

“If all the Titans are so awful…why are you here with Aisell? Why not hop a shuttle, head for Great Ocean or Fribbulus Xax?”

“I don’t know those places. And…at least she kind of understands,” Eyrn said. “She never owned Luke. He was her friend.”

Yamma smiled. “And you think Gae owns me?”

Eyrn turned back to Yamanu. “Well, doesn’t she?”

It was Yamma’s turn to look off into the middle distance. “You’re right about TETH,” he said, softly, so softly Eyrn had to strain to hear him. “They almost killed me.”

“See, I told –”

“Don’t interrupt,” Yamma said. “This is hard enough to tell as it is.”