Page 78 of Alien Peacock

I kneel down at Cerak’s side. “Anything we can do, old friend?”

“For me? No organic can do much. Simply give me time to self-repair. It might be a while.”

I touch one of his spikes. “I had no idea you were a battlebot.”

“I didn’t necessarily want you to know. Being a fully functioning trash can has certain advantages.”

I take in his damage where Bari punched a hole in him. “I’m sorry if I sometimes treated you?—”

“No,” the robot cuts me off. “I give as good as I get. I hope our friendly banter will not change after this. You are, after all, an irrational organic. Also, your feathers look silly.”

I grin. “I think you’ll be all right.”

Getting back up, I glance at Tara. I see the resemblance, and she is an attractive female. But she lacks Maeve’s profound beauty. “Any chance you can fly this thing, Tara? I’d like to talk to Maeve.”

“Never flew this model of saucer,” Tara says. “But they say I’m a quick learner.”

She takes over the controls. Maeve gives her some instructions, then turns to me with a little smile on her lips. “Greetings, Supremacy.”

“Greetings,” I reply weakly, surprised by her addressing me like that. “Can I talk to you in private?”

“No,” Cerak says from the floor. “Do it here. With witnesses.”

I glare at him. “You havenoidea what I’m going to say to her.”

“I have some idea of what youwantto say. I may not be an organic, but I sometimes know what they think. And you muttered to yourself all the way from Gigori to here. Go on.”

I suddenly can’t hold back a laugh. Why not? “Very well. I’ll make a fool of myself in public. Maeve. My love. I’ve done some research about Earth. It appears that while Earthlings don’t always mate for life, they are familiar with theidealof mating for life. And I have told you about the Eoan Mark and its meaning…”

Cerak groans loudly.

“Furthermore,” I go on, ignoring him, “we have been together now for several days, and I find that while we are sometimes at odds about certain?—”

“Oh good grief,” Tara says from the control panel. “Justask!”

I take Maeve’s hand. “Maeve. I love you. Will you marry me?”

21

- Maeve-

I look up at Arelion’s chiseled, blue face and the piercing yellow eyes. For the first time, there’s a vulnerability in them, a boyish uncertainty that creates a sucking feeling in the pit of my stomach and a constriction in my throat.

“Yes, Arelion,” I reply. “I will. I love you too, you see.” My voice cracks at the last word.

Tara gives a whoop of triumph. “Yeah! Great job, Arelion!”

“Finally,” Cerak groans. “I honestly don’t know about these two, Tara. They can’t see what’s right in front of them.”

My fiance pulls me to him and kisses me with a passion that makes me see stars.

“Good,” he finally rumbles, pulling me closer and hugging me hard. “That’s all I want in this world.”

“Me too,” I chime in, wiping a tear. “Nothing else matters now.”

“So, I do enjoy flying,” Tara says from the controls. “I’ve got no complaints. It’s fun. But we’re not actuallygettinganywhere. We’re going to Eo, right?”

Arelion looks at me. “I think that’s probably the best place?—”

---