Next, a blue door. The color alone made it seem less ominous and the panel opened. A scream rent the hushed quiet as eight sets of eyes looked up at his interruption. “Ah... sorry.” He bolted backwards practically falling on his ass.
“The blue door, just to the left of me,” said the attendant.
When Jax paused directly in front of it he looked back, seeking and getting a nod of encouragement. He approached and it slid open to reveal a bright passageway, clean, the ambient temperature cool, and emitting only a gentle shushing sound. Optimistic, he ventured forward peering into a few empty bays, until he heard a familiar voice.
“They’re WHAT?!”
Bent over with his jumpsuit down about his knees is how he found Igor. A man was prodding the hoof print bruise and bathing the area with a clear antiseptic just before grabbing a scalpel and making a narrow incision.
“Incubating, organic waste eaters.” The meditech, wielding a pair of tweezers, was pulling a long strand from the cheek of Igor’s ass.
Jax could see that the bruise was undulating.
“Useful in the stables of Carnarvon no doubt, but would probably end up seeking refuge within your intestines.” Another long, wriggling mass was deposited into a tall beaker.
“Can’t you just kill them? Zap them or something?” Igor’s voice squeaked. “No, no. We’ll take them and use them in the recycling facility, to assist with the decomposition and regeneration. These will grow to be six feet in length and consume a ton of waste. With any luck they’ll multiply.” Putting down the tweezers, he put a lid on them. Then picked up a laser and sutured up the opening.
“Are you done?” With the meditech’s nod, Igor pulled up his pants.
Igor turned around, grimacing at Jax. He wasn’t going to let him forget this, was he? Igor shoved his arms into the sleeves and started to pull up the closure.
“Oh. I missed one. Let me see.” The meditech prodded the area just above his left nipple and, when there was no reactionary movement, raised the laser. “This one’s just a bruise.”
Jax unconsciously growled.
Igor glanced at him, clearly surprised, and then stepped back. “Leave it.”
The medtech sighed, “You sure? Looks like it hurts.” With Igor’s nod, he put the laser back down. “All set then.”
Jax was suddenly pissed. Hunger was getting the better of him. “Let’s go.”
Igor expressed no surprise at his surliness. One of the benefits of littermates; they were used to his occasional moodiness.
Be Careful What You Wish For
“Look at all of this!” Jax swept his arms wide, encompassing the bustling marketplace, then clasped Igor’s hand pulling him along and stopping at a vendor sweating in front of an enormous fire pit. Rotating items through the grills and plucking off what shoppers around them shouted out. “And you thought it would only be simulmeat. Ha!”
Igor browsed the list of Port Dishes with the slightest of smiles. Jax knew what he needed and he found it. Igor wouldn’t admit it, but that didn’t matter. Score one for him.
“So what do you want?” He asked, placing a hand on Igor’s nape, gently kneading.
“Ummm... well, the kraken sounds good, but not sure since the fraglock is marked as fresh.” Turning he asked, “What do you think?”
“The whole stall smells good and, judging from everyone else clamoring for the food, I don’t think you can make a wrong choice.”
“Alright. Fresh fraglock it is.” Igor grinned at him as he shouted out his order.
The chef grunted, went to a chest against the side of the stall, lifted the lid and extracted a small, wriggling quadruped. It wasn’t until the chef nailed the fraglock through the head before mounting it over the fire that Igor realized how fresh his meal would be.
Igor spun and gagged uncontrollably, but nothing came up. “I can’t eat that, Jax.” He kept dry heaving.
Jax swore silently. For someone who had completed advanced biomedical training and been promoted through the Progeny Institute, Igor had a very sensitive stomach. Then again, cloning wasn’t exactly a bloody endeavor. It probably hadn’t helped that he and his other littermates had teased Igor relentlessly growing up, trying to harden his resolve. The four of them had been asses really, and whenever their sirdar caught them—because Igor never told— they got swift correction. Jax had spent more time than any of them bent over in chastisement for taunting Igor. The pain never bothered him, but Sirdar’s evident disappointment made him regret his actions. He’d sneak out from his confinement to apologize to Igor—who’d always accepted it.
Tossing some money on the counter, Jax guided him away and down another aisle filled only with textiles. Once the smell dissipated, Igor’s midsection stopped clenching and he stood up straight.
“Sorry about that.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll find something more palatable later.”
Wandering slowly through the market they made purchases here and there. Jax handed over credits for a couple of starfruits and a large, fluffy bun that was still warm. Igor gobbled down whatever was handed to him. Jax quickly purchased more.
He was just watching some juice drip down the side of Igor’s mouth when he said, “Jax! Look there.” He waggled his finger pointing to a small table in the back.
Jax wiped the droplet with his thumb and licked it clean. “I thought you didn’t want to help?”
“I could hardly not mention a plate full of tokens.”
Plateful. Odd indeed. Jax motioned the vendor over, “What are those coins for?”
The old man picked one up, “These here are Sirens. You throw one into the Well of Tells in the aquatic district, and a mer will retrieve your fortune.”
The two Sirens jingled in his hand. Try as he might, the vendor refused to sell more than one to each of them. You’d think, at that price, he’d be happy to part with a few extras. Jax held them tighter as they approached the waterwall. There was no glass but the liquid kept its form, encompassing the entire distance from the transport hub to the pleasure district.
They stood there, side by side at the well, just watching. Long leaves undulated and small schools of fish flitted here and there. Circling slowly was a pinniped, doing acrobatic twirls and turns. It slowed as it neared them, observing them as much they did it. There was a knowing in that look and then—wink! It sped away, leaving nothing but a trail of bubbles, rising slowly.
Jax handed Igor one Siren and bade him to throw it. It slowly drifted down, and just before it reached the bottom, a hand snatched it. A figure rose from behind a fan, her hair colored similarly to the blue plants she had been resting amongst. She approached the barrier and stared at Igor, her tail lazily sweeping the sand. There was something, not quite creepy, but intense in the eye contact between the two and then, with a smile, she darted away.
When she returned, a small golden circle lay in her palm. She raised it to the barrier and began to push it through. More than a little intrigued by how she manipulated the field barrier, Jax reflexively lunged before stopping, letting Igor put out his hand to catch it before it fell.
Interesting. That was no cheap bauble. In fact, the cost of the Siren did not cover the value of Igor’s fortune. What would he get? Jax tossed his Siren further into the well, it hadn’t fallen far when a small flurry of bubbles surrounded it, and then a pair of green eyes held his gaze. They were huge compared to the boy’s face, a giant grin cut across it, and then he was gone.
Jax’s fortune was not as easy to find apparently, for some time had passed and he had not returned. Igor was turning the circle over and over in his hand. “Let me see.”
He dropped it into Jax’s outstretched hand. It was heavier than it appeared and smooth, even with all the carvings scored into it. He twisted it and it came apart into two identical rings, the markings on one mirroring the ones on the other.
“Oh!” Igor plucked them from him and twirled them, putting one on each hand moving them synchronously.
> Distracted, Jax didn’t notice the mer’s return until a shrill whistle called him. The boy smiled and held up a—yes, yes it was—a token. Once again, the barrier gave way and Jax held the token in his hand. The boy watched as Jax showed it to Igor and then when Jax turned back, his dimpled grin broadened as he waved and leisurely cut through the water disappearing back into the depths.
Up, Up... and Away?
“How lucky was that?” Jax bounded up the ramp into the space runner. He inserted the token into the reader and waited. The computer ran, but then it was ejected. “What?” Oh no. This was a token; he knew it.
“Something wrong?” asked Igor.
He shoved it back into the box. Again, rejected. The token fell out onto the floor.
Igor picked it up. “Why won’t it register?”
Shrugging his shoulders Jax said, “It’s like all the others. This is not a fake.” He was sure. Had to be something else, but what? Jax plopped down and started querying the galaticaching board about registration fails. A couple threads had nothing and then, there—one discussing transmutation. “Apparently, ‘some tokens especially higher point Bling tokens require exposure to an element, catalyst or other force before activating’, and I’m guessing we’ve got one of those.”
“How will we know what to do?” Igor leaned over his shoulder scanning the thread.
Reading further, “It says that ‘activation keys are located in the general vicinity of the token’.” Jax dragged his hands through his hair tugging.
“Stop.” Igor rested his hands on Jax’s. “You’ll get patchy and start looking mangy.”
He immediately stopped, just holding Igor’s hands. He was going to miss this companionship when he took his new position—solitary. He barely went hours without seeing or talking to Igor at home, how was he ever going to survive years without him?
“Let’s check out the map and see what else there is in the port nearby,” said Igor.
They spent the next couple hours studying the sectors adjacent to the well. SPV7Z-218 looked like crap from the outside. Situated on the edge of the known galaxy with little assistance available it made sense, but there were high-grade amusements and technology everywhere. The range of activities available between the transport hub with the viewing platform of the aquatic district and the pleasure district alone numbered into the double digits, making their search not as easy as it first seemed. They agreed that several of the clubs located in the Hedonist sector were where they wanted to go. They touted everything from mind-altering substances to an antigrav stage. Pleasure district it was. Maybe they’d just get lucky. Jax knew they both needed it, and he had no problem paying for Igor to fucking relax.
The Perks of Public Transport
Hopping on the slingshot just inside the security checkpoint, Jax and Igor stood leaning against the doors. It was empty except for one other couple. The larger male was whispering and gently rubbing the grotesquely swollen abdomen of his companion.
Now that looked uncomfortable. Jax diverted his attention to his favorite playtoy when there was nothing else around, Igor’s hair. Igor rolled his eyes as he started braiding it.
“Why don’t you grow your own hair so you can play with it instead of mine?”
“Where would be the fun in that?” Jax tugged harder to ensure it was straight. Igor might complain, but of all his littermates, it was Jax he came to for grooming. “Besides, until you decide to move in with me and I have someone to do it every morning before duty, I am not spending the time securing and pinning it.”
He pulled a band from his pocket and was twirling it around the end when the other pair began a heated exchange.
“No—I can’t... fucking slow... my fucking breathing.” He growled. The smaller male was whacking the other’s shoulder, his beautiful face distorted in pain or rage... or both.
Not exactly a threat to the big guy, but awkward.
“I hate you.” The smaller male burst into tears as another groan wavered through gritted teeth. The hulk seemed unmoved by the physical abuse as he pulled his companion closer, massaging his stomach and obviously attempting to soothe him.
Jax had sidled as far away as he could from the pair when the slingshot abruptly stopped; sending them all onto the floor. A sharp cry of pain preceded a long, drawn-out whimper that had the hulk clutching the fragile figure in his arms.
“Hold on, Taro.” He rocked back and forth cradling his pregnant mate. With each cry he was becoming increasingly more distressed. “Please. Calm down.”
That comment was met with a weaker whack to the cheek. “I will not... calm down.” Taro gasped and then an ear-piercing scream ripped through the metal enclosure. “Something’s wrong,” he yelled clutching his stomach. A bloom of red stained his silver tunic.
Igor had been pounding on the doors to no avail and the intercom system was not responding. Jax kept calling over the speaker trying to get anyone. Igor stopped fighting the panel and hurried over to the pair after the last cry.
Crouching he said, “Help is delayed. We need to see what’s going on with your mate.” Igor waited for the hulk’s response.
“The babies are too soon. We knew with the difference,” he gestured between them. “The size... would mean an early delivery for Taro, but this is months before...” A tear ran down his cheek. “This was only supposed to be a wellness check for them.”
“It’s okay. Lift his tunic.” Igor encouraged as he motioned Jax. “I need the medkit in the wall panel. Tell me what’s in it.”
Glad to be occupied with anything, ignoring the soft cries emitted with each pant, Jax ripped it open. “General first response items: gauze, suturing laser, disinfectants, unguents, and sheaths.”
“Tige, don’t leave. Please.” Taro’s begging was cut short by another cry.
“Never,” he vowed.
Igor was focused on the bloody opening revealed by the rolled up fabric that seemed to be getting larger as they watched. “Sheaths,” pulling them on as soon as Jax handed them over. “Thylacine, correct?”
Tige nodded. “He’s only in his seventh season.”
Igor raised a brow, but made no comment. Jax knew blood. He dealt with blood. He dealt out blood. But this, this was nothing like what he knew. He was a nervous wreck watching the three while he had no fucking clue what was going on. On the plus side, Igor seemed knowledgeable about the species.
Jax wasn’t sure he understood what Igor intended to do. Heck, Jax wasn’t sure he even understood how a male got pregnant. And he was definitely a male; the shriveled dick made that much obvious. All he had to do was help Igor and try not look. Why was there blood? He hoped that help would arrive before—another scream.
Uh oh. He had a bad feeling about this.
“Open the gauze.” Igor barked. He grabbed the square and held it out, “Disinfectant.”
Jax soaked the cloth. Igor gently swabbed the opening. They continued this until the entire area from opening to pouch was clean.
“How many?”
“Three. He’s too small for more and even then Taro’s been taxed for weeks.” Tige kissed his mate’s forehead murmuring sweet sounds.
“Taro, I’m going to reach in and help pullout your younglings and place them in your pouch.” Igor waited for him to open his eyes and acknowledge him. “Understand?”
Heavy lids rose and Taro gave the slightest nod and whimpered.
Igor looked to Tige. “I’m sorry for this trespass, but I am concerned about both Taro’s and the younglings’ distress.”
Tige’s expression was grim, but he nodded. “Do what you think is best. Help them.”
With a deep breath, Igor eased his hand into the birth canal. Taro gasped at the intrusion and Tige held him tighter. Turning his wrist, he slowly withdrew it holding a crimson-streaked, hairless form that wriggled. Igor gently laid it inside the pouch just above. Then, carefully slid his hand back in. A few moments later, another one was placed within. Igor moved quickly and adroitly, h
is hand seeking from left to right.
“I need to find the third youngling,” he said in warning and then pushed deeper.
Taro cried out; blood was now seeping onto the floor. The pair seemed to be hyperventilating. Igor’s curt nod towards the two spurred Jax to grab Tige’s shoulder; he guessed this was the time all that triage training was going to come into use. When Tige looked up Jax said, “Breathe with me.”
A slow inhalation and exhalation, Tige followed his lead. Repeat. Taro began to mimic Tige, and Jax just kept them focused as Igor searched the cavity. At last, his arm started withdrawing and the last one emerged.
It seemed too still.
Taro began weeping, burying his face in Tige’s chest. The hulk watched Igor rub it gently. Still. Igor kept rubbing, slowly massaging the form. Tige closed his eyes when nothing happened. The only sounds were Taro’s sobs and Tige’s hitched breathing.
Igor didn’t look upset, merely determined.
And then, the slightest of movements and the last youngling joined his littermates. Igor made sure it attached to a teat and then removed his hand.
Both were staring, not breathing as Igor smiled at them. “It’s alright. The last one is a bit smaller than his siblings, but it shouldn’t be noticeable after a couple weeks of nursing.”
Thankfully, that good news was punctuated by the sound of a laser searing through the slingshot’s door.
“Of course I knew what I was doing.” Igor was unwinding the braid Jax had woven for him. “I am a progeny and reproduction specialist. We study various species and scenarios for fertilization and birth, not just Feldoonae.”
“Their method is so different.” And terrifying. Actually, insane sounded more like it, but at the same time he couldn’t help but feel a little jealous at the emotional result. “Tige and Taro seemed so close. I wonder if we’re missing out on something without the incubation and birth,” Jax postulated, remembering how entwined Taro and Tige were afterwards. They didn’t seem to notice anything beyond themselves. Even while the crew was battering down the door, they just kept whispering and smiling at each other. “Amazing really.”
Strange Charm Page 2