Page 30 of Ancient Rising

“The number?That is how many days she will be in until her restoration is complete.”

“Forty-one?The standard repair units don’t take that long.”

“I was put into one of these units, and I came out without fighting for balance, wrestling with headaches, or battling my impulses.It is a gentle repair, fixing as the machine progresses.”

“It’s safe?”

“It’s safe.”Harwin smiled.“Ra wasn’t going to risk losing a handmaid.He was delighted when he got a consort out of it.”

“What’s the difference?”

“Aftercare.”Harwin chuckled.“Next?”

The ladies went into the tubes one by one until there were ten of the strongest ones left.

Harwin looked at the others.“Well, I guess lunch and a change of clothing, as well as a tour of your private quarters, are in order.Bots, lead the way, please.”

The bots flew slowly, and Harwin followed them.

The blue woman asked, “Is that heavy?”

“Yeah, about ten pounds of metal and gems, but Ra insists, so I wear it.I dream of a sweatsuit, though.”

“Wow.So, your last name is Harwin?”

“My only name is Harwin.If history remembers that, then I have done what I can for my family.”

Blue nodded.“I get it.I am Ariadne.Most in my group call me Addy, but I was referred to as subject thirty-nine.”

“But, there are only thirty of you.”

“It was a particularly brutal project.I am amazed that so many of us made it.Thank you for bringing us here.We have a much better chance on an empty world.”

“Well, it isn’t empty now, Addy.”

She laughed.“I guess not.Do you know the species we were infected with?”

“Not until you are in the unit.Ra might know, but we will chat with him over dinner.Probably.For now, snacks.”

She brought them to a room on the main floor with a food unit.She dialled in the food for eleven and then looked at them.“It will take ten minutes.Your rooms are this way.”

A woman in a swirl of purple and green smiled.“Chances of a shower?”

“This way.Well, the bots think this is where your rooms are.”

She showed them to a hall that she didn’t remember.The rooms were huge, and a digital wall looked like a window.Harwin said, “It is also a computer screen.”

There was a wardrobe with tunics, belts, and sandals inside.Addy walked forward.“My room for now.I am dying to get out of this suit.They had to scramble to find stuff to put on us.They didn’t bother with clothing for the experiments.”

“Ouch.Well, I will show the others their rooms, and everyone can change and wash up for lunch.”Harwin grinned.

The other women were excited, and five minutes later, they were all changing and washing up.Harwin returned to the dining area and began taking the completed items from the dispenser and carrying them to the long table.

Ra walked in and smiled.“Would you like help?”

“Sure.”She expected him to send in the bots, but he stacked the platters on his arms and helped her load the table.

The ladies started to walk in in their long tunics and froze as they saw Ra carrying pitchers of water and juice to the table.They tried to bow, but he wasn’t looking.He set everything down on the set table, and then, Harwin was pulled into his arms for a cuddle.

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