Tawni and Tybda met Tabitha in the castle's doorway. They followed her into the library, where they saw Tim. They also saw a large number of women just standing around. "Tim, you wish to see us?" Said Tydba.
"Yes, I need your help. I have about thirty females that may be... live with us. But they would like to see the ship and talk to others. Would you two and Tabitha or Tammy be able to handle that?" Asked Tim.
The two women told Tim, "We'll be glad to help. When do you plan on doing it?" They both began to look around them and watched the women stare at them.
"I am sorry, Ladies, this is Tawni and Tydba, they are other guests of ours." Both turned to look at the large group of females that stood there. They smiled and nodded their heads.
"I thought that in the morning, Sarha would have everything prepared." Said Tim. He looked at Tawni, "Could you have the shuttle ready by nine o'clock?"
"Yes, it will be ready." Said Tawni.
"Tim, I have a question, please?" Thaito asked. Almost all the women have asked her the same question.
"Go ahead, ask."
"How many of our family are we allowed to bring with us?" Thaito asked.
"Thaito, have you read the rules? Everyone over the age of 14 will be required to do some type of work. May I ask how many have you thought about bringing?"
"Tim, I'm sorry, when I told my kids I was to leave with you, they wanted to come with me. And now, more of the mothers want the same information." Said Thaito.
Tim turned to look at the King. He just nodded his head, "You may take as many as you want. If they break any of the rules, drop them off the next time you are here or anywhere else."
"Thaito, you heard the King, any place, as long as you understand that part. You are welcome to bring them along; that goes for the rest of you." Tim looked towards both groups.
"If there are no more questions, please be at the front of the castle by nine o'clock.
* * * * *
Tim looked through the window to the main door, and there were the thirty women and the six mates. Tim came downstairs to ask why the six mates wanted to make a second visit. "Why are you six going back on this trip?"
"Well, now that we're your new mates." Thaito said, "We all want the best homes for your children." She said that last statement with a smile on her face.
They all turned to Tim to see what his response would be to that question. Then they all laughed because the expression on his face was a full expression of disbelief. "Tim, Tabitha told us to tell you this and then said to watch your face." Said Thaito.
Tim stood there without believing the answer to his question. "Well, how many of our kids will there be?" Tim now knew it was a joke. Therefore, he would be agreeable.
Thaito said, "Well, Tim, you have been a remarkably busy mate because between the mates and you, there are about twenty-five kids, and that's only the ones under fourteen. Suppose you count all the ones that are lined up to go. You have around seventy-five."
"Well, I guess I have been swamped. I hope all of you bring a replacement man in case I become weak." Tim was more relaxed now that he knew that these females were sweet and gentle and could also continue with a prank.
"Tim, on your last question, will you authorize something like that?" asked Thaito.
"I thought Tabitha or Tammy already went through that part?" Tim said. He now had a questionable look.
"You know our laws here, but Tabatha said that you are King, God, Ruler on your ship, and that what you say is the final word," Thaito said.
"Well, Tabitha did carry it a little too far, but when you enter the ship to stay, you are no longer my mates; you are free women."
The six mates now knew what Tabitha had told them was true. Tim would release them from being his mates, enabling them to choose new companions. There were smiles, and they felt a sudden joy in life that they thought they had lost.
Six incredibly happy females now surrounded Tim, thanking him for their new outlook on life.
Tammy came up to Tim, "What's going on here?" She saw all six mates with smiling faces.
"Tim, just confirmed what Tabitha said with respect to the freedom to mate again." Said Thaito.
Tim now turned to look in Tammy's direction. "Tammy, will Tabitha come down?" asked Tim.
"I think she was headed in this direction in about fifteen minutes. Why do you need something?" asked Tammy.
"I need her to get together with the ones on the ship and get some supplies ordered." Tim heard some of the others wanted to know if they could get some food and other necessary things. Sure, the Replicator was doing a good job, but some things would taste better hand-made.
There was one of Tammy's princess's servants that had been following her. Tammy turned and asked her to go get Tabitha. She bowed and headed away. "Tim, she will be here very soon."
"Tammy, you and the girls head-on into the shuttle; I'll have Tabitha go up on the next."
* * * * *
Tim was on his way to the palace library for a break. "Tim, could you give me one minute of your time," Sarha asked. She spoke through the translator on Tim's upper right chest.
"Do you require that I return to the ship?"
"No, I have found out that the strange man from the Queen's past was from one of my sister ships," Sarha replied.
"Are you sure?" Tim said. He stopped in his tracks.
"Yes, the Queen gave some of her hair samples from before the fight. They tested positive for micro-nano-bots."
"Is it possible for them to have come from another place?"
"No, but they were from a weaker micro-nano-bot chain. That may be four or five generations back down the road."
"So, one of your twin ships is still out there and has crossed this way by fifty years."
"I hope it was one of our ships. I always hoped there were more of them."
"So, what will be your next step? Will you attempt to find it?"
"No, you're the captain, and when you tell me to go someplace, that's where I'm going."
"I appreciate that. Well, is there any way of finding out which direction it's headed?"
"Tim, if you want, I'll start looking for signs of the ship and see which way it's headed."
"OK, tell me what you come up with, and we'll go from there."
That is precisely what I shall do. Tim, the girls, just boarded the spaceship. I have the bots processing their information into my system now."
"Sarha, the six feline's who were meant to be my new companions, would like to claim their new home. Could you make arrangements for this to happen?"
"Tim, are they going to be on Deck 2?" asked Sarha.
"No, they are just starting their new life, but not with me. Place them on deck 3."
I will ask them to look at a couple of different places and let them pick. Do you need anything else?" asked Sarha.
"No, I mean nothing else." Said Tim.
"Tim, while we are talking, Fafaw is working on installing an MST at the castle. If you could find out where it will be, I may start shipping the parts and installers to the planet.
"I'll ask the King about it," Tim said.
* * * * *
Tim sat in the library by himself and thought about the next thing he wanted to do. As the King entered, Tim rose to greet him, "Sir, good morning."
"Tim, you don't have to stand up and call me sir every time we talk." Said the King. He walked over to his usual seat and sat down.
"Sorry, it's a habit," Tim said.