Page 34 of Pirate By Parrot

Mel nodded and knelt. They eased off her robe, and Ageka asked, “Why do you need the suit?”

“It controls my limbs and keeps me from flying in lower gravity, apparently. Like a leash on an animal.”

Ageka blinked. “Oh, right. We will leave it on.”

“Thought you might.”

She was directed to put her arms out, and three layers were yanked and tucked around her. One woman muttered about a waste of fabric in Rai.

Mel sighed and responded, “Yes, I understand. I am not to grips with it myself.”

The woman flushed and bowed in apology. “I meant no offense, lady.”

“Yes, you did. You just didn’t think I would understand. Are we done?”

Ageka said, “One more layer.”

When Mel was wearing three layers of smoothed robes, a sash was wrapped around her waist, and it snugged everything together. There was no way to get the Obi into standard configuration.

“Thank you, ladies.”

She got up, and Ageka blinked. “Did you grow since you sent the information?”

“Yes. I told you that.”

“I didn’t expect it to be this much.”

“Sorry. I can remove this, and you can recycle it into a wardrobe for all the staff.”

Ageka laughed and said, “Come with me.”

Mel walked carefully and tried to balance her weight as she let Ageka get ahead of her.

The ladies were looking cute and sitting under a silk canopy that had obviously been set up for her. Mel walked up silently and bowed. “Ladies.”

Amethyst got up, her black hair pinned high on her head. Kyna’s crimson hair was half up, half down. She got up and smiled. “You are a Reset?”

“Apparently.”

“To what?”

“Something called a Vendari.”

Kyna looked around. “Where is he?”

“I don’t know. I have been on my own since I woke up. Well, until Annabelle floated past.”

Marko squawked and thudded to her shoulder. “And Marko. Marko has been with me, but she’s on good behaviour here.”

Kyna blinked. “Is that a parrot?”

“She was. Nearly at her expiry date when I got the offer, so she had to come with me. She jokes she gave me her feathers.”

Kyna chuckled and nodded to Marko. “Greetings, Marko, welcome to Rai.”

Marko flapped happily and stuck out her beak for pets. Mel lifted her hand, and her buddy stepped onto her wrist. She lowered the bird to where Kyna could give her scratchies.

“I thought it would feel like metal, but it’s so soft, like feathers.”

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