Lana heard the noises in the kitchen knowing what was happening upstairs. She had the kids on the floor and was preparing a meal for them all. "In the morning, we'll go to the ship and find out what's happening. I'd like to have an idea of how long the kids will be here."
Dobin nodded and stole a piece of carrot from the bowl before she dumped it in the pot. "Noone grows food like you do."
Lana chuckled, "I infuse my food with Qi when I grow it. Everything I grow is bursting with life energy. This means we are consuming life energy when we eat it which boosts flavor and nutrient profile."
She took a few steaks out of the fridge and cooked those up for the guys. "Who's taking care of your blood supply, Shalt?" She asked him curiously.
"Well, it doesn't feel like it but it's not been long so I haven't needed any but Dobin and Biff have both volunteered and will make sure my flask is always full."
"Good. These wings are a bit annoying and are taking a bit to get used to. Life sure has a way of throwing strange things at us, huh?" She gave him a small smile.
"I need to thank everyone for coming together while I slept."
Dobin laughed, "as much as you have done, we barely scratched the surface and returned what you have given us. You deserve the rest."
They finished cooking and eating. Dobin returned to his home, stopping on the way to let those in the command post know Lana was back on her feet. Kattie went running out to go visit her friend while Dobin went to get some well-deserved rest.
Lana had just finished washing the table and putting the kids to bed when Kattie burst into the room and slammed into her, giving her a huge hug. "You MUST tell me everything!"
Lana laughed then sat her friend down, after a long while Kattie was filled in on everything that happened. Kattie kept glancing, fascinated at her wings and sparkling skin and eyelashes.
"You are so beautiful!"
Lana chuckled and twisted a bit to present a wing, "do you want to touch it?"
Kattie's face brightened and she tentatively stretched out a hand. "Will it hurt?"
Lana laughed, "not unless you pull or intentionally hurt them. So far, they seem resilient. Sitting on them can be painful."
Kattie touched the wing gingerly. "It's soft."
She nudged Lana's shoulder with her own. "Do you know how many girls would kill for a set of wings?"
Lana laughed again. "How do I explain this transformation in the human world?"
"I would say don't. Let them think you have a transformation ability."
"Oh! Speaking of ability! Caser has a girlfriend! She's pregnant and they are both upstairs right now. I bought them cushions so they'd be comfortable."
"I'll make sure everyone knows there will be an additional maccavity around here so they don't get frightened."
Lana smiled. "I need to go to the ship in the morning and find out what's going on. I also want that emergency shelter done below. I'm afraid the dalki will attack and there will be no safeguards. It needs to be done."
Kattie smiled and hugged her friend. "You've had a hard day and should get more rest."
Lana chuckled, "I was actually going to sit here and finish copying this notebook for the girls. I have nine more to do!"
Kattie chuckled, "Now is a good time to work on it, then!"
She bid her friend goodnight and quickly left. By the time Lana emerged from her home the next morning, everyone knew about her wings and Griddlebone. Griddlebone had decided to stay by Caser's side and help Lana and her family. This added an additional nursemaid for the babies and an additional person to keep Lana from doing something foolish.
Lana and the kids slept through Qi training and simply went to breakfast. She noticed the choices she was presented with on her plate were all geared toward strengthening herself. The cooks sure did know a few things about nutrition.
After breakfast was over, Lana told the girls to focus on studies and handed them the book she finished last night. She had Dobin accompany her, Shalt, the kids and both Griddlebone and Caser to the ship.
In the command center, Lana was shocked to see Megan and a new face she met not long ago, Helen of the Daisy faction. "Megan, what's going on? Where is everyone?"
Megan looked frazzled. Her hair was all out of place. It looked like she had been crying. Papers were scattered all over. When she looked up from her work, she was shocked to see Lana's appearance. Helen appeared to be looking through things and entering data into her tablet. She looked up at the sound of Lana's voice, also shocked at Lana's appearance. Lana looked between the two.
When Lana didn't offer an explanation for the drastic change, she decided to go ahead and answer the question. "Kaz came back and next thing I knew the entire command staff but me left. They have a teleporter in Quinn's special training room and left through there."
"Can you list exactly who went with them?"
She listed them and included Alex, Logan, Borden, Wevil and Sil. Lana's facial expression went to shock then to fear then to happy. She looked at Shalt and they locked eyes for a few moments then she looked back at Megan.
"Am I to understand that Helen is here to help you?"
Megan nodded, "Sam told me to bring her in to help me since she has so much experience running the Daisy faction."
Lana nodded. "Did Dennis leave you anything for me? He was supposed to help me create an emergency shelter and I have heard nothing. I really want to get to work on it."
Helen had stopped working and was listening intently. She was curious about the faction she was now a part of. She was also curious about Lana's new appearance.
"He didn't leave anything specifically. I didn't exactly get a turnover, just access to these files. Also, the …children… I went to look in on them and they are missing."
Lana shook her head, "not missing. When Sil is away for an unknown amount of time, they are to be with me. We have built them their own place. They are safe and continuing their education and training. You should have been made aware of at least this point so I apologize for the needless worry."
Lana turned to Helen, "I appreciate you stepping up and helping."
"Oh, I'm quite happy to help."
Lana smiled, "in that case, if you are able to keep a secret, do you think you could help me design an emergency shelter? A place people could evacuate to in addition to this ship?
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