Borne On Wings of Steel by Tony Chandler Page A

wrinkled his nose in thought while Kyle stared into space.
    "Sure,” Kyle said unexpectedly.
    Jaric's eyes widened with surprise. “Sure?"
    Kyle looked at him as a teacher does his student. “Of course, she's human too.” Kyle looked up at Mother. “But when the time is right."
    "I agree,” Mother said. “I will work with Elise in order for that time to come soon."
    "Let's go, the morning wastes away and we have not yet begun our journey.” Rok motioned with his arm toward the ramp.
    "Be careful,” Mother said after them.
    "Oh, we will. There's not an alien here we can't handle, right, fellas?” Kyle laughed.
    "Not a one. I'd bet that we three are more than a match for anyone we're likely to run across,” Jaric said with a twinkle in his eyes.
    Rok grunted ominously. “Just let anyone dare to cross us, it'll be a day they'll rue for a very long time!” He laughed heartily as the others joined in his mirth. The three walked away as one, ready to take on the universe.
* * * *
    "WELL, I HOPE OUR young warriors are half as good as their talk!” Minstrel's flowing body swirled into the corridor.
    "I am glad the authorities here on RahajMr do not allow weapons to be carried by anyone entering their floating cities,” Mother said.
    "A very prudent law,” Minstrel agreed.
    "But, three overconfident young males can still get themselves into a lot of trouble without realizing it."
    "Imagine that!” Minstrel laughed.
    Mother's processors focused on her other child. “I must talk with Elise, she is very upset.” Mother paused, more to allow Minstrel to follow her train of thought than her own need.
    "I understand. I am planning on entering the city today totally incognito—with my dampening field active around my natural body. I want to observe some new species and learn of them while unseen.” Minstrel's twinkling body flashed out like a light simply switched off.
    Mother waited a few moments before she closed her hull door. Even the most sophisticated Mradian sensor would not detect Minstrel now.
    Krinia entered Elise's room as Mother watched silently.
    The Mewiis sighed deeply, a compassionate expression on her green face as her head-tail grew limp. She sat down beside the sobbing form, then ever so carefully she began to caress Elise's shoulders.
    "There, there, my young friend. No need for tears."
    Elise looked up and wiped the wetness from her cheeks. “I—I'm just tired of being treated like a baby. And a non-person.” Her breathing grew ragged, but as she looked into her friend's face, she began to breathe more normally. And most important, she felt comfort simply from Krinia's presence.
    "I know, it must be very hard for you. But look how far you've come these past months. Look how much you've learned,” Krinia said soothingly. And then her face changed to surprise. “And why is it you want to help Jaric and Kyle all of a sudden anyway, the way they've treated you!"
    "I want them to like me."
    Elise's voice trembled with emotion, her eyes a mirror of forlorn sadness. She looked away quickly, wiping her eyes again. When she spoke, she kept her face hidden. “Didn't you see how Jaric and even Kyle looked at me just now—like they were uncomfortable with me just being there?” She sniffed loudly. “I just want them to like me ... and ... and I thought if I offered to help them with their precious search, well..."
    "Elise, it's not all you. A lot of this is their problem. Theirs, not yours.” Krinia began softly stroking Elise's long blonde hair. “And they will learn to like you. They will."
    Krinia smiled as Elise turned to her.
    Elise smiled shyly back at her.
    "But there must be more?” Krinia asked.
    "Yes! I want to meet other aliens now. The only life-forms I've ever been around much are you and Jysar. And Mother.” Elise paused, a puzzled look on her face. “And Rok. And Jaric and Kyle, if I can count them, although they've mostly avoided me."
    "And maybe that's a good thing.” Krinia