Sandar turned her attention back to Han. “I like San, thank you for granting me a nickname and the highly honorable title of bestie. With your instructions, I’ll be the best bestie I can.”
“This is all very amusing and heartfelt,” Zeph said, interrupting the conversation. “But I haven’t finished quizzing Han. It’s important that she is fully prepared.”
Sandar dropped her gaze back down to the information square in her hand, Tumoro and Rensom hastily returned to their game of grav.
He could tell he’d acted badly by the look Han gave him. “Don’t take your anxiety out on everyone. I know you’re worried, but being mean isn’t going to help.”
“I wasn’t being mean,” he argued. “I was only pointing out that you need to concentrate.”
She stared at him until he couldn't take it any longer.
“I apologize," he mumbled.
Han beamed at him. Assuming she’d forgiven him, he held up his Ident and initiated a holo map of the port and surrounding area.
“Where is the cresh?”
She pointed to a small cluster of buildings surrounded by a large green space. “That’s the cresh.” She moved her finger. “That’s the governing building, which should be empty this time of year. That’s the port entrance, but I’m small enough to fit through this area here if I need to. That means the kids could come with me if we need to sneak onto the port while Rensom goes through security.”
“Yes, very good,” he praised. Before he could ask the next question, the pilot’s display lit up. Fear squeezed his heart like a fist. “We’re here.”
An automated voice sounded with demands for identification. Zeph got up to sit at the pilot’s chair.
“I guess it’s time to change,” Han said, grabbing the wrap she’d made out of a Leemron coat.
He tapped on the display and heard her move into the cleaning room. After he finished using Rensom’s Ident codes for permission and synced with the port’s beacons, he turned in his seat in time to see Han emerge from the cleansing room.
She was frowning and tugging on the wrap garment with one hand and the collar with the other. “This isn’t comfortable.”
He hated seeing her this way. “Take it off.”
She smiled at him. “I will—as soon as it’s all done.”
Han
There weren’t many workers at the port, and only one person at the security checkpoint. The moment she saw Han, she waved them through then dropped to her knees in front of Han with open arms and a loud purr.
“Human! Do you want to clutch or cling?”
Rensom was quick to step between her and the security person. “She’s much too eager to meet my children at the moment. She might be ready for a clutch or cling after the excitement wears off.”
“Ah, that’s right, you’re here to move your children to a new cresh,” the guard said, standing up. “I’ve heard humans like the young of any species. Is it true they can feel affection for almost anything?”
Rensom sounded a rumble of amusement. “She named my ship and pats the walls sometimes to tell it that it’s a good ship.”
The guard also rumbled with amusement. “That’s adorable.”
“It is,” Rensom agreed. “Are we free to leave the port?”
“Yes, of course,” the guard said, stepping aside. She reached out to touch Han’s hair. Instead of being braided up, she’d left it loose because that was how humans “were supposed to wear it.”
Instead of slapping the hand away, she moved quickly to put Rensom between her and the guard again.
“You guys do not understand personal space,” she grumbled.
“What?” he asked as they stepped outside. He paused as if trying to figure out which direction to go.
She stepped past him. “This way.”
