Page 53 of Pirate By Parrot

“We will use sedation and tanks. They are not being changed to our height. That was the cause of most of your discomfort.”

“Got it.”

Imbolt scowled. “We should adjourn to the surface so I can make sure it is suitable, Melora.”

“Okay. Sure.” She looked to Occorin. “Are we good to head down?”

He nodded. “If you will come with me?” He held out his hand, and she blinked.

She slowly extended her hand to him, and his fingers closed around hers. He smiled at her shyly, and she smiled in return. “I hope you like feathers. Whee has started moulting, and she needs a place to nest.”

He smiled. “I hope you both find it suitable for making yourselves comfortable.”

She nodded. “Back to the shuttle?”

“No. We are using a drop-ship. Zanican can get himself up and down and back to his ship.”

Mel looked at the other avatar, and he grinned and nodded.

She nodded. “Right. So, I finally get to see where I am going to be living.”

Occorin kissed her knuckles, and she smiled slightly. With her buddies on her shoulders, she was walked to the drop shuttle, strapped into the chair, and each of her little ones had their own safety seats. Occorin sat at the controls, and the ship they were in lifted off and cruised down a long hall until they were near the field that kept the atmosphere in. They punched through, and then she saw Vendar for the first time.

“Oh, it’s beautiful. Wait. It looks like us.”

Occorin laughed. “It does. That was on purpose.”

She blinked and saw a mountain sculpted in the profile of her face. “Wow. This is like a messed-up theme park.”

“He wanted to make sure that you knew he wanted you here. The execution has been rough, but the intent is to your benefit.”

The ship eased into the atmosphere and glided toward a structure made of stepped-down gardens leading to a fairy castle. A waterfall came out of the upper level and cascaded down to fill a pool that fed the gardens.

“Oh, wow.”

Occorin exhaled slowly. “He is very glad you like it. Your past has been so hostile that he wanted to make sure you felt serene here. This is a place for new starts, so he wanted it to be beautiful.”

He flew around the castle and settled on a gravel pad. “Your clothing was wrapped up and packed on board.”

“Oh. Cool,” she murmured, but her eyes took in a light spectrum that she didn’t even know she could see. There were colours that she didn’t have names for, and she wanted to learn them.

Occorin undid his latches, and as she did the same, he opened the safety pods and helped her menagerie out.

“How are you feeling?”

She shrugged. “The same as on the station.”

She got up and loaded her crew onto her shoulders.

Occorin took her hand and led her out onto her new world.

They went through the castle, and her eyes took in all the details. Marko was flying, and Whee was in the bedroom making a nest out of Mel’s favourite sash.

When they joined Imbolt in the kitchen, he was sitting and talking on his com to his daughter. He glanced up. “And here they are.”

Mel called out, “Hi, Alyla.”

The hologram turned to see her. “Mel. Oh, gosh. You look amazing. Marko, you are stunning.”

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