The cabin of the small shuttle is unusually silent. Copernicus is piloting, and being quite somber for his normal self. He looks at the vision of his mates' mining station with a mixture of joy and trepidation, wondering what he's going to do, what he's going to say when he arrives.
Melora leans closer to the plexi-glass so that not only does her breath steam it, but her nose just barely touches it. Her eyes follow the stars, the endless stars, as she looks out within the blackness. A soft sigh and the comment to herself, "Y'd like the kids, Mom. I know ye would... don' even know if ya see this star though." Her voice fades a little, her whiskers drooping.
Libra pads by and overhears Melora's words and gives her mate a hug, "You miss your folks, don't you? I know I would. Supposedly Copernicus had some friends look for your world, maybe you can ask him again, he's about to dock with the station."
Melora shrugs a little an says quietly, "Libra, we don't even know where we are. Ain't tellin how far m'own .. talent? took us. B'sides, they'd prolly toss me out as a spirit, I ain't black furr'd annamore." She lets her ears wilt a little.
Copernicus shrugs to himself as he slows the shuttle and brings it up alongside the docking ring of the mining station and hears the lock connect with a satisfying *thunk*.
Melora glances towards the doorway and sighs again, "an I shouln' let Coper be seein me like this. He's tense 'nuff as it is, wi'guilt. He doesn't need m'own sadness. Lemme think for a bit, I think."
Libra nods, "He cares for you a great deal Melora. That was obvious even before we met you."
Melora purrs softly, "I know, an pretty well, as I care fer him. It's why I try so hard." A bit of a wistful smile crosses her face then she turns just enough to give Libra a hug.
Libra mrrrrrrs and returns the hug, then licks Melora's nose, "And you know we're falling for you too. I see that Copernicus's shuttle has docked, you want to meet him alone or do you want me there too?"
Melora pauses a moment then looks towards the corridor again. "Purrhaps at least t'greet. Wi'someone wi'me it's a little easier not t'focus on the sad things." She stands up with a little stretch and flicks her wings under again.
Libra nods, "Maybe you should think about the happy things. You have two lovely cubs, you are healthy, even if your fur has changed color. And you have four people who care a lot about you. Let's go meet our silly mate, shall we?"
Melora shakes her head a bit and says, "m'fur has changed color. M'wings chime like metal bits in th'wind and even m'eyecolor changed. They'd be frightened o'me, an me kits too. Ma woulda loved 'em though, she wanted t'help wi'my children." She begins padding down the hallway at an easy loping stride.
Libra pads alongside and looks at Melora worriedly, realizing there isn't much she can say to help her newest mate. She sees the airlock cycle and her whiskers really droop when she sees the haunted look on Copernicus's face.
Melora lifts up her chin and her whiskers purposefully. She gives a gentle rumbly purr as she spies her mate at the airlock and tries her best at cheerful.
Copernicus just snugs Melora and Libra, "Good to see you two. I saw Ceres and Aurora working on the gate again. How have you both been?"
Libra purrs, "Doing fine, just doing some routine maintenance. You know."
Copernicus can feel Libra's concern for Melora as they touch, and he mentally frowns, wondering how to deal with Melora's other situation.
Melora nods her head a little and says, "teachin th'children some o'the songs. They're, well, tryin t'put them together but they don' understand it much yet.
Copernicus chuckles, "They're still pretty young to do much. I'd love to learn sometime too Melora. Ummm, Libra, Melora and I have to talk about some things, and for reasons I can't explain they need to be private. Is that OK?"
Libra gives Copernicus an odd look, then nods quietly, "Sure, I've got plenty of work. I'll see you two later. Take care Melora."
Melora holds up a hand to Libra in a bit of a farewell. She nods and purrs quietly, "I will, thanks Libra."
Copernicus watches Libra leave, and grins a little despite himself as she flicks her tail up as she struts off. Then he purrs, "Melora, are you OK? Libra seems worried about you. And I have to talk to you about Imbri soon."
Melora shrugs up her shoulders a little and purrs quietly, "I'm fine, Coper. Jus a little homesick. Goin through s'memories, an that th'children don' seem to pick things up as early as my people do."
Copernicus nods, "Well, they are a mix of both our races. Mine grows up much more slowly, so it may be some combination of the two. I can understand being homesick. When we get the gate working, we can look for Taliar again."
The other feline shrugs a little and says, "Y'shouldn't worry, Coper. Iffin we did find it, they'd toss me off o'it. Anyway... y'said we needed t'talk alone? We shoul' soon, cuz iffin Ceres saw y'come in, she's sure t'want a little attention." A grin for the energetic lady comes to her muzzle.
Copernicus chuckles, "True, very true. Speaking of which, how are you getting used to those three and their wanting attention from you?"
Melora chuckles, "Ask Ceres... I helped her style her fur this mornin. An odd thin t'do, but I guess I'm good wi'clippers."
Copernicus nods and snugs, "True. I was talking more about their romantic advances at you, but you'll work that out. I need to quit stalling and talk about Imbri."
Melora says, "She's okay I hope? I mean.. not ill or annathin?"
Copernicus purrs, "She's fine Melora, though I think her spirits are a bit low right now."
Copernicus is trying to hide how tired he is as he purrs, "That, and it's up to you to decide what happens to her now."
Melora frowns just a little, "what's happened? What d'ye mean up t'me to decide? I ain't got annathin against her."
Copernicus purrs, "Well, I don't think you do Melora, but I have to try and explain what she did. It's something you can't talk about to the rest of our mates."
Melora frowns a little bit. "What she did?" She repeats. Deja vu?
Copernicus's mind wanders as he ponders the fact that his arm around Melora is acting as a conduit for the T'Thar in him to talk to those in Melora. He nods, "Melora, I just found out something about my race that upset me a lot. I had always been told that it wasn't true, and now know it is. Have you ever wondered about how my mouth disappears and reappears when I enter and leave space?"
Melora says, "Maybe a bit. Figured it was part o'yer odd... what was it... atanomy? That ya were made that way fer some odd reason. Why?""
Copernicus shakes his head, "It's because of some very small machine like creatures, called nanites. Much too small to see without a microscope. They live inside all Chirr'T'Thar, fixing and repairing things, while living out their own lives separate from their hosts."
Melora pauses then says, "Somethin like yer dark-space ships where we're inside an always repairin?"
Copernicus blinks, "Er, sort of, yes. I had planned on getting us back onto a planet with forest soon though, I know how rough it is up here. But yes, they live and work inside us, and help repair us when we're sick. But very few Chirr'T'Thar are allowed to know they exist. And normally, transferring them to another race is a criminal act."
Melora nods a little bit then looks curious for half a moment, "why? What's th'reason fer such a secret?"
Copernicus smiles in spite of himself, "Well, we depend on each other to survive, and apparently the little machines started a war a long time ago. When they realized they nearly killed themselves off, they were very embarrassed and a treaty was made. Part of which was that they were to be forgotten by all but a few, to keep our lives as separate as possible. Because of Imbri, I now know of them. They've talked to me a few times, but I think we both prefer to keep our lives separate. The main problem is that you have them now too Melora. Imbri couldn't think of any other way to keep you alive before I was able to help you."
Melora frowns a little then says, "she infected me wi'them? Whyfer?" She looks at her arm then squints at it hard, then looks some more. "Where?"
Copernicus swallows and looks at Melora, "They are very small, and spread out throughout your entire body. You really can't tell they are there normally. You were dieing Melora. Your body was literally coming apart, and she infected you with them so that they could stabilize you, at least temporarily."
Melora stops and looks at Copernicus a moment then wrinkles her nose, "now that's a distgustin picture. Me becomin this... this... mess b'cause I'm fallin apart. I'm .. okay now aren't I?"
Copernicus nods, "Between what Imbri did, and what I did, you're fine. But the T'Thar are a part of you now, for life."
Melora pokes at her arm with a claw tip. She then looks over and says, "c'n they fel that?'
Copernicus blinks, "I don't know. I'm rather new to this too. It upset me to think I'm a walking city. They are aware of damage to your body. They'll repair things. You'll probably live a bit longer too."
Copernicus thinks . o O (Amazing. I pass out, nearly kill a friend and snub another friend. Melora is taking this in stride."
Melora tilts her head a little bit then frowns some more. "D'ya have drawings o'em? An too... y'said they talked?" She looks more curious, not upset or anything.
Copernicus's jaw drops, "You... you don't mind?"
Melora looks up suddenly and asks, "Shoul' I be bothered?"
Copernicus looks stunned and purrs, "I...I guess not. It's just, I was taught to despise such things. To get upset when other races accused us of having them. I guess that was part of the treaty, but, do you know what it feels like to have everything you believed about yourself turn out to be wrong?"
Melora looks back down at the little drop of blood swelling on her arm from the claw prick. She then looks over at Copernicus and says thoughtfully, "Coper, yer still the same bein I chose t'mate. An yer still th'same bein I'm livin me life out with. Yer th'father o'my kits an th'light o'my life. Y've not changed, an not everathin y'know of yerself has. Only a single point o'view. Is the changing o'a single outlook so awful when it changes nothing?"
Melora says, "D'ya remember when Imbri tol' me about those things she called germs?"
Copernicus whiskers droop a bit as he ponders this, then smiles and gives Melora a BIG hug, "Thank you Melora. I really needed a more sane point of view than my own. Thank you Kecharra."
Copernicus purrs, "Not really, what did she say?"
Melora leans against Coper and says, "well, d'ya know what they are?"
Copernicus nodnods, "Small single celled forms of life that often cause disease and infections."
Melora nods her head, "yah, but Imbri tol' me more, as I was curious."
Copernicus continues holding his mate close, feeling much better about himself, but curious as to what Melora is driving at, "What did she tell you?"
Melora says, "She said they were little tiny creatures that coul' make us sick, but that they were everywhere. That millions'n millions o'them live in a body too, t'make us feel well too. Fer eatin food an fer cleanin up an everythin."
Copernicus nods, "That's true. I hadn't thought of it that way. Course, bacteria can't talk to you. At least, not that I know of anyhow."
Melora shrugs, "mubbe they do in their own way. Iffin we're homes t'them, it ain't much farther t'be homes fer other things. An t'me it sounds like these nannels or whatever it is, help."
Copernicus chuckles deeply and gives Melora a nice, long kiss.
Melora returns it, though it's she who pulls away. "Now, what's this t'do with Imbri?" she asks finally.
Copernicus sobers momentarily, "Well, by the terms of the treaty, you and I have to decide what happens to her. I had to talk to you first, before a decision can be made. I think we should call her and tell her to stop worrying, what do you think?"
Melora looks to think a moment then nods her head, "I think.. though, I'd like t'have her around fer a bit longer?"
Copernicus nods, "I was thinking the same thing. I'm going to be exploring a rustic planet, and was hoping you'd come along, and we can always use a good doctor on an expedition like this. Want to call her?"
Melora nods her head, "It'd be good fer her. Who else knows about these thingies? Nanleds?"
Copernicus hmms, "Very few people do Melora. My mother Nebula is one. We can't talk about these to anyone else, OK? I know it seems silly, but it would cause problems. Let's call up Imbri and tell her that she's got a job with us if she wants it."
Melora nods her head again then leans against Copernicus some more. "C'n we leave th'kits with Ceres and Aurora? I think Ceres is gittin a liking fer them."
Copernicus chuckles, "I think they all are Melora. You don't want to bring them along with us on our trip?"
Melora shakes her head a little, "Prolly better fer 'em till we know what's down there, an what's kit-proofed. Saner fer us too."
Copernicus nods, "True enough. Well, lets go make that call, shall we?"
Melora nods her head and pads after Copernicus, teasing at his tail as she follows.
The two pad off to give Imbri a call, and she seems incredibly relieved that both not only "forgive" her, but thank her for what she was brave enough to do. She seems really surprised to see Copernicus taking it so well, and says that she'll think about the job offer when the time comes. As Melora and Copernicus pad back to where the cubs are sleeping, Ceres bops in and a quiet, pleasant night relaxes everyone's spirits.