Page 35 of Tarek

I shook off the thought. That was a different life, and I couldn't let it poison this one before it had even begun.

"All right, boys," I said, getting up to check their packing. "Let's make sure we've got everything we need for tomorrow. Clothes, favorite toys, toothbrushes, and anything else you can't live without."

"Cars," Matt said immediately.

"Definitely cars," Evan agreed.

"Then make sure they are all in your cases” I said, glancing at said items, then at the boys' eager faces. "And remember, we're responsible for our own luggage. If you pack it, you need to be able to carry it."

Both boys nodded gravely, as if I'd entrusted them with a sacred duty. Within minutes, they were back to packing, and I found myself laughing as Matt tried to fit every single one of his cars into the carrier at once.

By the time we were finished, the room was crowded with neatly packed yellow suitcases, the boys' car cases, and the few things we'd need to keep handy for the journey. Skye settled at my feet while I checked the locks and made sure the little keys were safely tucked away.

13

DARREN

The next morning, I woke the boys and made sure Laura was comfortable before loading the luggage into the car. The yellow Samsonite cases made a cheerful stack in the trunk, and the two Hot Wheels carriers were placed where the boys could reach them once we were on the shuttle. Skye climbed into her usual spot, looking pleased with herself, while I made one final check of the motel room to ensure we hadn't left anything behind. Everything looked good to go, with all the food and drinks we'd bought packed into reusable shopping bags and the twelve-volt cooler plugged into my minivan's cigarette lighter. Apparently, Xero had decided the cooler counted as luggage, too.

I used my wrist comm to settle the room bill in full. The account had been loaded with funds from the Dragonii relocation program, and the transaction went through without a hitch. It was a strange feeling, being able to pay for things again without having to count every dollar or worry about what might be left at the end of the month. I was grateful for the help, but I was also determined to make the most of the opportunity I'd been given.

And, as it turned out, I had enough left from the moving-day expenses deposit that I could afford to do something a little special with the children before we left.

"How would you two like to have breakfast at the beach?" I asked as I climbed into the driver's seat.

Matt stopped in the middle of trying to fit one more Hot Wheels car into his carrier. "The beach?"

"Which beach?" Evan asked, already suspicious that there might be a catch.

"Cape Canaveral. One last trip before we leave."

Both boys cheered, and I couldn't help grinning as I started the engine. I'd grown up in Florida, and the coast had always been part of our lives. I wanted the boys to have one more happy memory of home, something that belonged to them and not to everything that had happened with Philip. We could be excited about New Haven and still be sad about leaving Florida. The two things didn't have to cancel each other out.

Before setting off, I checked the E-Pass app on my phone to make sure there were enough funds for the toll road. The balance wasn't what I'd expected, so I topped it up with a dollar fifty and watched the confirmation appear on the screen. That settled, I took two juice boxes out of the cooler and handed one to each boy, then checked that Laura had her bottle of milk within reach. Skye settled down in the back, apparently satisfied that we were finally going somewhere interesting.

The boys chattered almost nonstop as I drove toward the coast. They talked about the flying-saucer-shaped Mylos shuttle, whether the shuttle would have windows, whether they'd be able to see Earth from space, and whether Tarek would really have wings big enough to fly with them. I answered what I could, although I hadn't seen the shuttle myself and couldn't tell them exactly what to expect. That only seemed to make them more excited.

"Do you think Pata Tarek can fly really fast?" Matt asked.

I smiled at his enthusiasm. The previous evening, after I'd finally got all three children settled and asleep, I'd spent some time skimming the cultural information Xero had sent to my data pad before I'd left the center. There was a lot to learn about New Haven, its people, and the customs I'd need to understand before arriving. I'd only managed to get through part of it, but I'd read enough about Dragonii biology to know the answer to Matt's question.

"There are two Dragonii genotypes," I explained. "The royal type is called Mahtras. Johree is one of those, and they have larger wings that allow them to fly. The regular Dragonii, like your new Pata, are Buleri. Their wings are smaller, and they're built for gliding rather than sustained flight."

Matt considered that. "So Pata Tarek can glide?"

"That's what I understand."

"Like a flying squirrel?"

I laughed. "A rather large, scaly flying squirrel, perhaps."

Evan leaned forward between the seats. "But he's a sheriff, Matt. He doesn't need to fly fast. He just needs to be able to catch the bad guys."

"Maybe he can glide after them," Matt said, clearly unwilling to abandon the idea.

"Maybe he can," I agreed. "You'll have to ask him when we meet."

"And you're going to be his deputy," Evan reminded me, as though he needed to make certain I hadn't forgotten the most important part.