Page 35 of Pirate By Parrot

Marko was on good behaviour and chortled happily.

Amethyst joined in, and eventually, Marko was back on Mel’s shoulder, and they were all sitting down for a meal.

Mel looked at the foods. “I am just going to use my fingers if that is acceptable.”

Kyna nodded. “It is very acceptable. The bowls are coming now.”

Mel carefully washed her hands and dried her fingertips.

The food was good, a little awkward, but it was shared with ladies who felt the distance from home, and it felt nice to be there with them.

Mel looked at Kyna. “Can you help Annabelle find her path? She feels very lost, with patches of panic when she thinks I am not paying attention. I have seen that before, and she’s going to pretend to be normal until she blows.”

Mel sipped at the small food bowl that was doubling for her teacup. “She may feel better when she learns that some of those men have been Darwined.”

Amethyst and Kyna chuckled. Kyna said, “Well, you are looking for a hobby.”

“Yeah, but I am dependent on Ves to get around.” She tapped her lips with a finger. “I do have access to all the information attached to the pod she was in. I should be able to figure something out from there. My problem is stealth. That is one thing I don’t have.”

Kyna nodded. “Right.”

“Look at me, bitch!”Marko raised her wings.

“You aren’t stealthy either, twit. You are a giant cursing, silver bird.”

Marko looked sly and moved coquettishly.“Pretty bird.”

“Yes, honey, you are a very pretty bird.”

Marko started grooming her hair.

“Weirdo.”

There was more chortling as the hair was straightened strand by strand.

She swayed as the grooming relaxed her.

If you are tired, you can come and rest on board the shuttle, Mel.Ves’s voice was soft in her mind.

Kyna blinked. “What was that?”

“Ves was talking to me. He offered me a nap spot.”

“Ves is the avatar?”

Mel kept her lids low. “No, Ves is the Vendari Station computer.”

Kyna paused. “Oh. Oh dear. Has the computer been really attentive to you? Consoling you?”

Mel heard the suspicion. “Yes.”

“Station computers don’t have nurturing personalities. They have cold and efficient personalities. Whatever Ves is, he isn’t a standard computer.”

“Yeah. I know. I have known for a while.”

You have?

“Ves, I was delivered to the station. That means that my caretaker was supposed to be there. Since he was the only one there, it had to be him.”

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