Page 123 of Star-Born Anomaly
Iax sent a questioning thought toward him, and a small bit of information returned. Atlas sometimes brought them food and refilled their water.
Wynn turned toward him, the smile gone from her face. “We need to get them out of here.” She gestured to their haphazard living arrangements. “They shouldn’t be confined to this area when there is so much that could benefit them above.”
“I agree.”
Her shoulders relaxed, and she sent him a nod. “They need proper quarters, and terminals, and dispensaries, and anything else kids have access to.”
He nodded at that as well. “Atlas will help. He was sent to assist in this as well as to report back to The Four.”
Wynn cast the other Calypson a glance. “Well, it would be nice if he were good for something.”
Chapter forty-three
Her heart hadn’t stopped hurting since she’d seen those kids for the first time in that shitty little space. Speechless, she couldn’t believe how the Calypsons had discarded and ignored them.
But that was what had happened to her too, wasn’t it?
With the decision made that they couldn’t stay in the cargo hold, more silent Calypsons arrived out of nowhere, ready to carry the kids’ belongings to a new location.
The kids crowded Wynn during the process, keeping space between them and the Calypsons. To realize they inherently trusted her eased some of the ache gripping Wynn’s chest.
While walking through the corridors, the kids continued to grunt and babble, using their hands to communicate. They’d taught themselves language, and Wynn was in awe of it. Everything about them amazed her. That they’d survived in such substandard living conditions. That they’d banded together to create a caring family unit.
They were smart, strong, and resilient. Pride mixed with her hurt and disbelief at finding them in such a secluded existence.
Would the same thing have happened to her if she’d lived in Sector Ten instead of being discarded to CORE territory? She wouldn’t have had the love of her adoptive parents. She wouldn’t have had the benefit of good schooling and excellent opportunities in the scientific community.
She vowed then and there to make those options a possibility for these kids too. They deserved the whole solar system after everything.
An odd sort of peace enveloped Wynn as they took the lift upward, everyone squishing into the lift except Atlas and the other Calypsons carrying the children’s belongings. Iax had told her it wasn’t acceptable for her to live anywhere else but with him, and she didn’t want the kids far. They were all relocating to deck eleven, where Iax said some empty quarters remained.
“Did you know?” she asked, turning her body fully toward Iax as the lift hummed around them. “Did you know when they wanted me to take charge of these kids?”
He shook his head slowly. “They did not tell me their full intent, only that I was to collect you, to bring you home.”
The growing tension in her chest eased at his words.
“They also told me it was not safe for you to live as you were,” he added.
The lift stopped, and the door opened, revealing a corridor thriving in the twisting black ropes of Calypson construction, leaves and vines intertwined until it was difficult to determine where the growth began and ended.
A sound of surprise and wonder erupted from Bex.
Wynn cast her a small smile as she followed Iax off the lift.
“This way.” He tilted his head to the right.
Wynn glanced back at the lift. Six faces stared at her with wide, questioning eyes. She gestured with her hands. “Come,” she said, encouraging them off the lift. “We’re finding you a better place to stay.”
Mack took a hesitant step out with Ari on his hip, the girl’s head tucked under his chin and her thumb in her mouth. Bex followed, holding Dexxa, the toddler’s body slumped in slumber. Each of the twins held the back of Mack’s pants, their grips twisting in the material, but they stared at her with openly curious expressions and something else that tugged at her heart.Hope.
Wynn swallowed around the emotion threatening to clog her throat, and waved them onward. “This way.” She walked backwards a few paces, then when she was sure they followed, turned around to stay close to Iax.
“Your quarters are on this deck?”
“Yes. As are others.”
He hadn’t even finished speaking when a door slid open beside them, making Wynn twitch and pause.
