Sunshine woke up. "It's only been FOUR DAYS! Can I get out early? Please?" Her voice sounded tinny over the regeneration tube speaker. Prince looked over at Rose and smiled. Rose smiled,"Not you've absobed enough bone mass for this 'half-growth spurt' you frightened me with! I thought you might be going all adolescent on me!" She glared at Prince and said,"I still haven't forgotten the terror YOU put me through having my daughter collapse on the bridge and scream about how much it hurt her! I still ought to smack you on the head, on general purposes! At least YOU gave a good,clear report on what happened planet-side. I HAVE noticed how clearer your diction has improved!" Prince said,"I think it's due to Sunny helping me. Words just make more sense to me,now. I'm just glad I kept Floona from freaking out when the Stone of Water appeared in front of her. I'm sure she must have thought that Neblae had died." Rose looked at Sunshine with a clouded look. "The thought of it being passed on so early frightened MANY of us for different reasons! ANYWAY...Sunny! I woke you for a GOOD reason. I want to introduce you to someone,you've already met before!" Sunny had a weirdly curious look on her face as Tall White Lady walked in, carrying an alien child with a big head and shining blue eyes. TWL said,"Well, I brought my 'Weapon of Mass Destruction' along! She's walking AND talking today! God, I need some sleep!" TWL stopped before the regeneration tube with her. She leaned forward and grabbed at Sunshine and shouted,"PUDDING!" Rose laughed,"So,I see. Pudding? Not 'Mama'?" TWL laughed,"It's what she loves most in the world! Butterscotch pudding. Toxic has cookies, and Prince has chicken. My little mouth has 'pudding'!" The alien girl nodded,"PUDDING!" Sunshine's face scrunched up as if to cry and she said,"I don't believe it! And I'm in this stinking tube! STARSHINE! IS THAT YOU?" Starshine nodded. "Pudding." She slapped the face of the tube with both hands and stared at Sunny. TWL said,"She's getting used to having a body again. She's like a baby right now, though it's coming back to her quickly. She was like a newborn on day one. She's been crawling up a storm the last two days. She's been a little poop machine,too. She's better with that,today. I HOPE! She's still relearning to see. She has trouble focusing her vision on things. She has eyes like Kyryn, but that's before your time, Sunny. She CAN understand what we say, so THAT is a BIG help, at least! I'm about to faint from fatigue. Leviathan DID sing her up a new body right after the fight, and I have been on the go every second after that." Sunny looked sad."I'd help if I could! I'm in a damn tube for another DAY!" Rose said,"I have to go on duty in an hour, so I'm out. After she bit the captain yesterday, I think most of the crew might fear her! HOWEVER I do have a solution to two problems! Prince! I have an assignment for you! BABYSIT STARSHINE! TWL will go get her some snacks, then sleep for at least four hours or more. YOU will keep her safe, happy and played with! You will see to her needs and keep her clean. YOU will be her big brother! Do you understand?" TWL laughed,"Rose! You're brilliant!" Rose smiled. "I know. It's in my job description." Prince looked over at the mountain of bedding in the far corner where golden eyes gazed at him. He said,"Daddy? Do I have to?" River King's voice rumbled at him,"Rose is VERY smart! Listen to her! Sister of your mother's child IS family! Take care of her! Going back to sleep. Play with outside!" He snuggled back to sleep with a loud,"Ahhhhhhhhh,pillows,mmmmmmm!" TWL put Starshine down and put her hand in Prince's. Sunny grinned at him and tried not to laugh. Rose said,"You got your orders, 'big brother'! You two look SO cute! Sunny can join you two in a couple of hours, after we drain the tank." Sunny almost shouted for joy. --To be continued--