PrologueThe tiny planet of X'anakrakl circled the triple suns of Alpha Centauri. In exquisitely-boiling hydrogen pools on X'anakrakl, the Flamebeings leaped and flickered, and turned their photosensors to the rapidly-alternating day/night of the sky.
“Ohhhh, s*x is lovely,” Sriish number Eight, the youngest of the family, said. “Tell us again how we procreate, Number One.” The eldest Flamebeing of the Sriish family embraced with fire Momma and the six younger of the eight genders which co-existed in their hydrogen pool.
“It's a sharing of essential atoms,” Sriish number One said, “but new beings can't come into being without the Spirit, and you're too young to know about that.”
“Oh, please tell us about the Spirit,” Sriish number Five said. “I see you look to the skies, number One. What
