Page 4 of Pirate By Parrot

Mel started laughing and held her hand up. Marko glided toward her and climbed up to her shoulder. They nuzzled together, and Marko began to groom her hair.

Minerva smiled. “There are creatures that have been designed for this kind of a response, and I think this is what they are shooting for. Calm caring.”

“Will the alterations hurt Marko?”

“No. We are using the same tech we are using on you. Marko will grow slowly and with balance so that flight is never in danger.”

“Oh, good.” She took the tablet and read it. It was basically swearing that Marko would be with her until death. “Yeah, we always knew that.”

She signed it, pressed her thumb, and stared at the optic scanner. She handed it back to Minerva and handed both tablets to her assistant. “Link and upload them to the archive. I will help Mel and Marko to the car.”

He blinked. “You are going with us?”

“I am. She requires immediate assistance without notice. I am equipped for it, and I want to hug my daughter.”

“That is why you wore your suit.” He chuckled.

“Correct.” She held out her hand to Mel. “Come on, Melora, Marko, your future awaits.”

Mel put her hand in the slim woman’s and accepted the help. She called her lawyer and told him to transfer all of her assets to Pria. She got one hug from her niece and spoke quickly to her, explaining what was happening. All assets were hers to keep or dispose of, and Mel was taking Marko to space. It sounded crazy, but it was all summed up.

Mel looked at Alyla over the breathing apparatus they had fitted to her until her alterations started kicking in. They normally did that kind of thing in transit, but she was a special case, and so was Marko.

It had been a month in the tank to reset her body, and now she was working through the genetic fusion.

She smiled. “Hey, Alyla. How are things going?”

“Well, I have come to announce that your lungs are good, and you are ready to start walking around in the cargo hold.”

“The hold?”

“You have outgrown the med bay.” Alyla grinned. “Mom will be impressed.”

“Do I need the mask?”

“Can you breathe comfortably without it?”

“Yeah.”

“Take it off.” Alyla grinned. “We have a transport tank that will work on your density. You are really coming along. Hell, you are taller than my dad.”

Mel looked at Marko’s perch, and her buddy was preening her new silvery feathers. She had quadrupled in size, and that was the point where Mel figured out that it was in her future, too.

She slowly removed the mask and hung it up. She could breathe just fine, but she snored. The mask helped.

She slowly stood up and now towered over Alyla. “Well, my admiration for your mother just increased.”

“Why?”

“Because I have seen pictures of her with your father, and I can tell you that I feel terrifying.”

Marko flew to her shoulder and settled. The loose trousers and tunic flowed around her as they walked to the cargo area that had been blocked off and turned into an apartment.

“Aw, this is so sweet!”

Alyla grinned. “It is the least we could do. I know that you felt every ache and pain as you grew.”

“Pain lets you know you are still alive. I don’t like it, but at least I can move on my own now.” She chuckled. “Your mom is on my holiday card list.”

---