Borne On Wings of Steel by Tony Chandler

and embarrassment, sensing not only Elise's guarded looks, but also feeling the weight of the presence of the others around him.
    He wanted to apologize to her, but not in front of everyone—then he would have to explain his apology and his stupidity to everyone. Jaric couldn't bring himself to make eye contact with Elise as his mind whirled with confusion and embarrassment.
    He felt terrible because of the way he acted to Elise last night.
    And now Elise wanted to help.
    Jaric looked over at Kyle, whose expression remained set like granite and emotionless. But Jaric could tell by Kyle's eyes—eyes that looked everywhere but not at Elise, eyes that revealed just a glimmer of sadness. Yes, Kyle also felt the pangs of his conscience.
    The silence stretched on with no one acknowledging Elise's desire to walk for the first time outside Mother's hull as well as her wish to help Jaric and Kyle.
    Mother watched intently, sensing the rising body temperatures and the dilated pupils which indicated high emotions ready to explode. Her processors hummed with activity.
    Elise had yet to leave the protective confines of her hull. At all the other planets they had visited, she stayed behind to observe via Mother's sensors. Jysar and Krinia advised Mother that Elise needed to learn how to interact with others, something normally learned during childhood and adolescence—years of growth she hadn't experienced being a clone.
    Because of her naiveté, unscrupulous aliens might take advantage of her, especially if she got separated from the others. After all, they lived in a dangerous universe.
    But every child eventually grows beyond the apron strings of their mother.
    "RahajMr is a very crowded place, Elise. And there are thousands of different races here, each with a different emotional makeup. It is a very difficult place for one so young as you are,” Mother advised with a soothing, electronic tone. “Why don't you view the city from—"
    "No! I want to help Jaric and Kyle search for human survivors. I'm a human too.” Elise's eyes narrowed in challenge, not only at Mother's nearest optic, but also toward Jaric and Kyle.
    Jaric sighed wistfully. He nodded momentarily, then realized Mother was correct. It might be too much trouble to baby-sit her in this maze of steel and countless aliens.
    "Mother's right, there are some pretty rough aliens here. And when they're all bunched up together like this, it might get a bit, well, dicey.” Jaric grinned knowingly at Rok and Kyle.
    "Yeah, you need to know how to handle yourself. But I think you'll be ready soon,” Kyle said, trying to be helpful.
    But Elise heard the patronizing tone in their voices—including Mother's.
    "Your fear and worry are a prison to me. I can handle myself just fine,” she said firmly.
    Jysar grabbed her by the arm and held her still. “They are right, Elise. There are so many unknown scenarios and so many aliens with short fuses. We must pick a better planet for you to walk upon for the first time."
    Elise's face expressed shock at her close friend. “So, you think I'm still a child, too.” She shook her head firmly. “And I would've thought you of all of them would know what I'm capable of."
    "It's not that,” Jysar said quickly, a hurt expression on his face. “I'm thinking of you personally."
    Elise snatched her arm out of his grip and marched back toward her room without a second glance.
    Jysar looked helplessly around the room until he met Krinia's harsh gaze.
    "You're all wrong. She has to go out into the world one day, and today's as good a day as any.” Krinia whipped her head-tail a few times to emphasize her anger. Her smooth green complexion deepened with emotion as she turned and quickly marched after the retreating form of Elise.
    Jysar took a deep breath and walked silently back to his quarters.
    "I will talk to her,” Mother said. “But I want you boys to realize that soon she will join with you in your search. If not today, soon."
    Jaric