Page 39 of Pirate By Parrot

“You are welcome, Vendari-bride.”

Mel blinked but removed the dress, which was folded and tucked in with the scarves. She carried the bundle back to Ves, and Marko flew into the ship just as she stepped onboard. “Okay, Ves. We are ready to travel.” She tucked her parcel in her quarters and returned to the seats.

“Very well. Clearance is achieved, and we are on our way back to our warship.”

“Wait. Warship?”

“I would never take you out without defenses, Mel. You are precious.”

She smiled. “Just fly the ship, Ves.”

There was a chuckle, and they glided carefully through traffic and rejoined their larger ship.

Marko was settled in her little three-quarter egg and was chortling happily.

Mel looked at the egg but could only see her buddy preening.

She shrugged and stretched. “I guess it is back to the gym for me.”

Ves said softly, “May I speak to you for a moment?”

“Sure. Where do you want to talk?”

“In the dining room.”

“Okay. On my way.”

Mel headed up to the dining area, and a bot brought her a cup of tea.

“What did you want to talk about, Ves?”

“I believe it is time to show you what I look like and explain why we are here.”

“Well, I am all in favour of any information.”

A bot moved forward, a projection appeared in front of her, and Mel blinked. “Well, that explains a bit.”

He had a red body, blue hair, and green arms. She could tell because he wasn’t wearing anything.

She cleared her throat finally. “Did you mean to appear naked?”

The figure smiled, and clothing appeared. Loose silky trousers and a long vest, both white and embroidered with teeny star systems. His ears were pierced in a number of places, and his hair was in a thick braid draped over his shoulder.

“Better?”

“Less distracting and very pretty. So, this is you, Ves?”

“It was. I was attacked during the fall of the Vedari, and that is when Vendar bonded with me. He split me into two beings. One was a blank body that he could use to do maintenance on his worlds, and he left me at the high-security station in stasis, as there was no reason to fix me. He had the body he wanted.”

“Oh. Well, you are fixed now.”

“Vendar heard about the project and sent the specifications needed for one of our kind. Far sooner than he had imagined, he received notification that you existed, and the transformation could begin. Vendar authorized it, ordered the very long delivery, and flew out in the clone to create a world for you, scavenging ancient buildings and making them new so you would be happy with the world around you.”

“What happened to you?”

“He began the repair and recovery process, but I remained in a capsule until I was complete.”

“So, you are also the avatar of Vendar?”

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