Nothing to worry about

At the end of The Ark Lords, Rome was making herself at home in her new completely-rebuilt Library. She had just received a gift beyond measure from Virga as a token of Helome's appreciation for providing a genetic solution to their problems. Rome had wrapped it up for the day and it was time to go home when she and Rei had this little interchange:

     Rome pointed to MINIMCOM and Junior, parked on the landing strip. Junior’s stealth shield was nearly done. Portions of his outer hull were already completely jet-black. Soon, he would be a perfect replica of his father, just a bit smaller. Rei wondered to himself when his transformation was complete whether he would continue to keep his livetar gray. But for now, that color looked right on the little guy.
     “Mea, Beo, you go on ahead,” Rome said, sweeping her free hand toward the landing pad. “I just want to look one more time.”
     “Of course,” replied Binoda. She took Aason’s hand and Aason took the little gray livetar’s hand and they headed toward the airstrip along with Fridone.
     Rome walked a few feet into the parking lot then turned to inspect the building. Rei came up next to her and placed his arm around her waist. With very few changes, the building was nearly a carbon copy of the first one.
     “I can’t believe how quickly you rebuilt it,” Rome said. “I am eternally grateful.”
     “Well, don’t thank me,” Rei said. “There were a whole bunch of people I had to turn away the first time. They were actually thankful for a chance to do it again.”
     “And you’re sure there’s no radiation?”
     “Nope,” Rei said. “Gone weeks ago, otherwise I would never have let you near it. That’s about the only good thing about the mini-nukes.”
     “There is nothing good about them,” Rome said with a hint of bitterness. She looked around from side to side then up at her husband. “I know you’ve removed all the weapons but do you think we have to worry about any of the remaining Darwin people that have evaded capture?”
     “Naw,” Rei said dismissively. “Most of the ones we missed the first time turned themselves in voluntarily. There might be a couple of them wandering around. Not enough to do anything.”
     “That’s a relief,” Rome said. “I would not want to live my life constantly worrying about them.”
     “They’re done,” Rei said. “And they know it.”
     Rome held up the plastic box. “Clearly Virga appreciates your gift. Do you think Captain Keller and the rest of the Grays will cooperate with her? What about the children born of their union?”
     “I don’t know,” Rei said. “Have you ever heard the expression, ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’?”
     Rome shook her head no.
     Rei shrugged. “I’m pretty sure the Overmind of Helome will see to it that their children are raised as human beings, not murderers but I’ll tell you what. We’ll go back some day and check things out. What do you say?”

Rei couldn't have been more wrong. There is danger lurking in them thar hills. In fact, I wrote an entire novel about it called Rome's Evolution. However, this book is at an end. Just one more twist waiting for you... tomorrow.