about this. Cin wouldn’t do anything to erase our kids or grandchildren.”
“Would we even know if Cin did? Or would we only remember those still here, not those he took from our past?” Freya was near tears.
Dar did his best to reassure his mate that Cindrac wouldn’t do anything that would take their family from them and kept his fears unspoken.
*****
Cin arrived back at the cabin in time to have a beer and watch the sunset. As interesting as it had been to go to the LAW Outpost and see the wonders of space, Cin was glad to be back on Earth.
It was strange for Cin that he’d never felt connected to anything when he was a slave, which was by the elite's design. Now that he was free, Cin felt a kinship with the Earth, his fellow human slaves, and the universe that surprised and overwhelmed him.
Cin also felt the deep connection forming between him, Dar, and Freya. Every minute that passed, memories of people from Earth and beyond started to pop into his mind. Friends he was making as he traveled the past to fix the future.
Having spent the last forty-two years of his life in a bleak, hopeless, and solitary existence, Cin was feeling more than a little emotionally raw over it all. Determined to do right by those he was quickly becoming attached to and the Earth he loved, Cin stood.
Seconds later, Cindrac jumped through the shimmering portal and shielded his eyes against the blinding sunlight. The fresh, clean air had Cin taking a deep breath before smiling at sea dragons of all sizes playing in the Argassian Sea.
Pulling the energy from the air around him, Cin shot it back out until his nanites attached themselves to the closest electronic device. Through that one comm, the nanites gained access to all technology on the planet Mascador.
Rapidly learning all he could about his best friend’s planet, Cin was stunned at the mystical and mythical qualities of Dar’s world. Turning to the pod of Mascadorian Sea Dragons, Cin marveled at how much they looked like giant bearded sea horses from Earth.
The creatures varied in size depending on age, with the oldest being at least seven feet tall and weighing almost half a ton when full-grown. The spirited animals were known to gather around the shores, looking for those willing to play.
It only took a few minutes of listening to the sea dragons communicating with one another before Cin directed his nanites to modify his vocalizations appropriately. His first attempt to speak to the dragons made them stop and stare at him.
Cin tried again, explaining to the animals that he was a visitor, a friend was coming by to meet him, and the little boy wanted to play with them. It didn’t take long before Cin was happy he had nanites to keep up with the string of chatter coming from each of the excited dragons at one time.
He spent the next few minutes talking to the creatures before an adorable child, the size of a twelve-year-old on Earth, approached with a brilliant smile on his face. His blue eyes, the color of the sea, twinkled as he listened to the odd man with white hair and matching eyes that seemed to be talking to the sea dragons.
There was no mistaking that this child was the four-year-old Dar Vacanow. Cin’s future best friend and the most decorated LAW officer in the League’s history.
“Are you really talking to them?” little Dar asked, his highly intelligent eyes taking in the scene before turning to study the stranger.
“Yes, I am Dar.” Cin smiled at the miniature version of the giant he’d just met an hour earlier.
“Are you a Shaman?” Dar’s eyes widened in wonder.
“I guess you could say that.” Cin liked the comparison and didn’t want to confuse the little boy. “I’m a friend to all. The sea dragons know it.”
Dar looked out at the sea dragons who were watching the exchange between him and the stranger. “How can I tell if that’s true? Or that you’re really talking to them?”
Cin had expected the intelligent child to make him prove his words. “How about we ride them?”
Little Dar gasped, his mouth forming a large O. “They’re too fast! You can only play splash and chase, not ride!”
“You have to know how to ask,” Cin assured the excited boy. “Want to try? The worst that can happen is you fail.”
“OK!” Dar ran and splashed into the water, leaving Cin to run after him.
Cin