by A. C. Katt
TeAwer and TeZen found their bonded, TaAdele last moonrise and were irritated that they were disturbed for the meeting. “This could be a major setback in our rebuilding program if TeAngle has an accomplice in the Federation.” TeZen got out of the overstuffed chair and paced the room.
TeAxit rose from his spot on the couch, dislodging Tigger from his lap. Tigger had teleported back to Castle Air with Duchess to listen in on the Elders’ informal meeting. “It would be prudent to assume that they also had followers on Sarran. They had Septis. How do we find the others?”
::At the birth meetings,:: Tigger suggested. Tigger leaped from the couch and landed on the table. ::Can someone get Duchess and me Tierest juice? Better for us than milk, milk gives me gas.::
The whole room broke out in laughter. “By all means, Tig, you can have Tierest juice along with the fair Duchess,” said Tonas, wiping cat hair off his trews.
Zaron told the Concierge to find Garlance and have him bring in a carafe of Tierest juice and two saucers.
“ Let’s get back to the business at hand—birth meetings?” TeZuron asked, somewhat puzzled.
::The fem got together to talk about the lack of midwives and what to do about the PTSD. They solved both problems at once and will present the solutions to the council at the next scheduled meeting in two risings. To be brief, each WarriorPair has to report for birth training, even those who are unbonded, in case a fem goes into labor when her Warriors are absent. TaSyn and TaAnya will attend all of these classes. TaSyn attends to attempt to evaluate the individual Warriors by the auras for PTSD and for evil intent; TaAnya as a physician, specializing in the care of infants and children.::
“What good would this do?” asked TeAxit.
::TaSyn can see auras, a person with evil intent will harbor a floating black miasma which can be detected, a dark red aura indicates diseases such as PTSD. If each Warrior on Sarran has to attend the classes, it might take three tides, but all could been seen and a dual purpose served,:: Duchess said, picking up one dainty paw to wash her face.
“Three tides are twenty-nine risings too long; but we have no choice. Duchess and Tigger plus any other members of PsyOps who can see auras can help,” Bron suggested.
“You know, Naffie claims that Syn can fix auras. What do you think that is all about?” Zaron asked, picking up his glass and sipping on his Asta.
“Why don’t you ask Naffie?” Jonal said reasonably.
“When do we start these classes? We should attend the First Ones so we can hold ourselves up as an example. Awer and I need to find out to help our Adele,” TeZen said gruffly, embarrassed to be caught showing so much emotion in a council meeting.
“We need to give the fems one or two risings to set up the curriculum and find the Earthen visual aids.” Jonal twirled his Asta in his glass. “Anya and Stern will bear the brunt of this because they are doctors. The second class, after ours, should be the Sarran doctors, I believe we have about five hundred including those in the fleet. Our population is at twenty thousand not counting the fem and any offspring under the age of culpability.”
“See if we can get Stern and Juraens on the com; I want their opinion.” Zaron tapped his fingers on the table.
“I hope Stern and Juraens find their fem soon. There is nothing in the Codex that says the Elder Council must remain at five WarriorPairs, only that they have to have been in Triad,” Jonal observed.
“The Goddess will provide. If we need them; she will give them their fem,” Bron said, clasping his hands together with Zaron’s.
TeZuron got up and said, “If we have to be in Triad, then TeAxit and I are currently ineligible as are TeAllen and TeWell.
TeAxit went over to his bonded. “The Codex reads that they have to have been in Triad, which all of us were, my love. And we will be again, I’m sure. The Goddess has given fem to the other members of the council; she will not slight us. Now let us adjourn this meeting. TeZuron and I are going to the fem quarters to see that they are adequately housed and have what they want and need. You’ll let us know about the class?”
“Immediately upon setting it up,” TeTonas said as he rose to bid them farewell.
“We all better be getting back to our fem, we don’t want them to think we are neglecting them and TeZen and I are newly bonded.”
TeAwer came over to his beloved and said, “We leave to go to our Adele.” They were gone in an instant.
* * * *
The Concierge said, “TaAnya will you take a com from TeJonal and TeTonas.”
“Put them through please.” Anya looked at Syn, “They’re over at your place.”
When they turned on the com they found four Warriors grinning at them through the holo. “All right,” Anya said, “What have you done?” They managed to look sheepish.
“Syn,” said Zaron, his voice cajoling, “Can we are have Anya’s Triad over for moontine.”
“But I haven’t prepared anything,” Syn wailed.
“Don’t worry; your Warriors took care of everything. Tonight we eat a Sarran meal, Brok and Tack work even as we speak. You don’t even have to make the coffee. We have that Keurig machine and the chefs will clean up,” Bron promised.
“This is three nights in a row,” Syn said.
Anya agreed. “This is too much.”
Zaron spoke, “Remember when I said the highest ranking officer must do the hosting? We are the highest ranking officers on the planet. Occasionally, when being entertained, we can go elsewhere, but if Sarran business is to be discussed, it must be here.”
Syn looked at Anya and sighed, “He did say that. Good thing I had a very well-stocked larder. But when the fleet goes back to Earth, they go with a grocery list.”
“Well, since they cooked, let’s get Naffie and the cats and go eat dinner.” Syn laughed and complied.
When Syn and Anya teleported in; they were surprised to see Juraens and Mark. “I take it there is a big pow-wow tonight,” Mark said to Syn as he greeted the two fem with a kiss on their cheeks.
“The issues discussed today do concern you, so it’s right that you’re here,” Anya said as she gave him a hug.
Zaron and Bron brought them directly to the table. “Naffie, you may eat with us tonight. I have some questions for you,” Bron told him as he put his arm around Naffie’s shoulder while they walked to the informal dining chamber.
“I take it that this is some sort of celebration?” Juraens asked as he pulled out the chair for Mark, setting eyes on the Sarran Sparkling Pinner wine.
“Yes, both Anya and Syn carry our bebes and they are both fempring.” The four Warriors beamed with pride.
“This is wonderful news.” Juraens saluted the four Elders.
“As we already discussed some of this with Mark, it creates somewhat of a problem,” Tonas said to Juraens.
“Mark told me. If the Earthen fem are as fertile to Sarran sperm as they appear to be; they will all give birth at approximately the same time. Out of two thousand five hundred fem, over fifteen hundred have bonded. The rest may bond within the next thirty days. That is an awful lot of deliveries. Even if the Sarran doctors are trained; there aren’t enough doctors to go around,” Juraens said thoughtfully, putting his arm around Mark’s chair and stroking his neck.
“We have a solution that may take care of two problems at once,” Bron said, seating Syn while Zaron poured her Tierest juice. “The efficacy of the plan depends on something Naffie keeps saying.”
“Let’s eat,” Zaron said from the head of the table. Syn sat to his right and Bron to his left. Anya sat between her Warriors and Mark, Juraens and Naffie across from them.
“First we eat, and then we talk.” Zaron looked around meaningfully. Duchess and Tigger nibbling at their tuna at the far side of the table took their cue.
Tigger found one and Duchess two listening devices. All three were under the table.
“All clear?” Tonas asked Tigger.
::Yes, but there is a traitor in this household.
We made a sweep earlier before the council meeting and found four more in the study.::
::Gentleman, let’s ward the room. All of the food is out on the buffet.:: Zaron began to serve, first the fem, then Tonas and Jonal followed by Juraens and Mark.
“Following protocol, I see.” Mark said as he put a piece of what looked to be beef on his plate along with a mashed purple vegetable and some greens. “I’ve been reading up on it.”
“What protocol?” Syn asked genuinely bewildered. “This is an informal dinner,” Bron answered, “The most senior officer serves and then he serves to the next senior down the line. Of course, the fem are served first.”
“Okay, but I insist we dispense with the Te and Ta with our friends.” Syn picked up her fork.
“It shall be as you wish,” Zaron said as he reached over and kissed her hand.
“So,” Syn asked, “why are we all here?” She swallowed some of the mashed purple stuff. “This is wonderful, what is it?”
Juraens answered, “A tuber called monc, similar in shape to your potato, but it carries more vitamins. It grows in cultivated patches planted in the forest. We don’t farm the land as you do. Thousands of years ago, we had huge farms and a larger population. But big agriculture polluted our rivers with fertilizers, so now our farmers grow in patches in the wild where they harvest the crop and sell at market. If the crop fails, we have the fabricators to feed the population. But since we stopped factory farming; we haven’t had a single crop failure.
“To answer your first question, we must quiz Naffie. Pa Syn, you’ve been seeing auras, yes?”
Syn took a moment to finish swallowing her monc. “Yes, the first time it happened was on the field when we landed after Naffie, used mindspeech and popped, as he put it, my barrier.”
“And what of you, Mark,” Zaron asked.
“If you mean the colors around people, yes; but I dismissed that as a planetary phenomenon. What is this meat? It’s better than a porterhouse.”
“It’s laptard. Zaron and I went hunting before the voyage,” Bron answered.
“And you, Juraens, have you begun to see auras since your bonding with Mark?” Zaron probed deeply.
“Yes, I have. I was going to report it to you next rising; since you were in meetings all day today.” Juraens put down his fork.
“Have you seen any black clouds, like a miasma hanging over an individual?”
“Yes, Stoker when we came into the manse.”
“Jonal, use the silent com, call PsyOps to the manse, post haste. We found the traitor who set the bomb and planted the listening devices. Tigger, could you and Duchess and keep an eye on Stoker until we say otherwise?”
::Didn’t like him, he spit in our tuna this rising.::
Syn was appalled. ::Why didn’t you say something.::
::I didn’t have to, he has a chunk missing from his calf and a large scratch. I spilled the tuna and had banc instead. He had to clean it up.:: Tigger walked across the table. ::Wouldn’t mind some of that laptard, though.::
Tonas got up immediately to serve him and Duchess, cutting the meat into bite size pieces. ::Even we can get sick of having tuna all the time.::
If the situation wasn’t so grave, Syn would have laughed. ::Nothing like a well-trained Warrior,:: Syn shot to Anya on a private channel. Anya covered her mouth with the napkin to stifle a giggle.
Bron turned to Jonal. “How soon before they arrive.”
“They are teleporting in as we speak, TeBron.” Syn looked at Jonal as if trying to figure out why he had reverted back to formal speech. It was then she noticed the six PsyOps Warriors teleporting into the room.
Zaron used the com to call Stoker and Garlance to bring the coffee. Stoker came in first. He had a laser but Mark used his telekinesis to grab the weapon. Garlance looked confused.
“We found one of our traitors,” Jonal told the PsyOps troops. “Take him to a secure location and put him on mind lock.” One of the troopers looked angry.
“Is that necessary, TeJonal?” the operative asked defiantly.
It was then that Naffie shouted. “He has one too!”
The Warriors and the PsyOps troops acted quickly and grabbed Stoker and the unknown Warrior. Stoker began to speak, but Zaron grabbed his head between his two hands and squeezed. Bron leaped across the table and grabbed the Warrior. The PsyOps took over and transported them away as quickly as they came.
“Where are they taking them?” Syn asked.
“To the Government Hall for a mind wipe,” Zaron answered.
“No trial, nothing?” Anya blustered.
Mark answered, “When you can deep read a mind, you don’t need a trial. You know their deepest most closely held secrets. Most Sarrans can’t but those who sit in this room, including you, Syn, and Naffie can do this with training. They don’t because it is impolite and a deed punishable by the Codex. But in cases of treason, no permission is necessary. If we were wrong, Zaron and Bron would have been relieved of their command. That is why the information on the auras is so important. They tell us where to look.”
“The reason we called for a dinner this evening is to have everyone here prepared to read the auras during the birth trainings for the next three tides. We need to ferret out all of the traitors loyal to Zuff and Angle. We just found two.”
“Don’t you keep them for questioning?” Syn asked.
“They don’t need to, not when they’re deep read. Juraens explained it to me on Brightstar, those who have no honor will only tell lies.”
“Why didn’t you catch Stoker before? Couldn’t you read the auras,” Syn asked.
“Not until we bonded with you, Pa Chette.” Zaron said grabbing her hand.
“Now for Naffie. Offspring, what do you mean your Mommie can fix auras,” Zaron asked.
“Like operations, Zadda…you know. You fix it with your hands. Only you use you psy like your hands—an operation. Mommie can fix the bloody ones and even some of the black ones that are more grey than black, but she can fix it!” Naffie looked frustrated trying to make them understand what he was trying to tell them.
Anya looked up, “I think I know what he’s talking about, I saw it on a PBS Special but on Earth it’s a hoax. I think Naffie is talking about psychic surgery on auras, not gall bladders.”
Mark started to laugh but covered it with a cough as soon as he saw Naffie’s face begin to scrunch up to cry.
Anya offered, “Jonal and Tonas probably uploaded information on this to the ship’s library.
“We uploaded everything in Earth’s libraries, on the internet and the archives of your television and radio stations, also cable. You have a very complicated entertainment structure. I liked what they called commercials. The little green reptile was very funny.
Zaron looked up at Garlance who to Syn’s astonishment seemed unmoved at what had occurred. “Bring the coffee to the study, Ensign; and find a roster for those eligible to take Stoker’s place here. When you have it narrowed down to five, we’ll pick a replacement.”
“Yes, TeZaron, it shall be as you ask. You will have the names on your desk at dawntine.”
::Garlance never liked Stoker; but had nothing he could put his finger on to tell his superiors. He was glad the PsyOps took him away,:: Duchess said. ::Just in case you’re wondering.::
“Duchess, you are amazing,” Zaron said.
* * * *
The party adjourned to the study. “So we need to research psychic surgery; and you say Mommie can do this, Naffie,” TeBron asked.
“Yes, she can. Mommie is very smart. She fixed her own red one and now it’s purple like our house color, regal,” Naffie said in a firm voice.
“How did I do that, sweetie?” Syn asked, pulling him onto her lap.
“I don’t know. You did it like an operation, you used your mind to heal. I’m tired, Mommie, may I take Duchess and Tigger for a sleepover and go up to bed.”
“Yes, sweetie,” Syn replied.
“You go on and ta
ke Tigger with you; it’ll be nice if he spends the night sleeping on someone else’s head,” Tonas said winking at Jonal. Anya elbowed Tonas in the ribs.
::I told you milk gives me gas,:: Tigger turned his ass toward Tonas, let loose, and popped out of the study. The room burst out in laughter.
::Tigger and Tonas have a love/hate relationship. It’s because he sheds all over. Tonas is the one who brushes him and he hates it on his clothing.::
::Then I hate to see what’s going to happen with my two. Duchess has more hair than Tigger; but Naffie has taken over her grooming. He seems to like doing it and she loves Naffie.::
Tonas turned and addressed Zaron and Bron, “You’ll see, living with a feline is not an easy task; but now at least he has a use: banc. There are no banc within a mile of the Palace of Light.” He sat on the couch between Jonal and Anya and idly played with Jonal’s hair. Jonal laughed giving his Warrior a kiss. “Remind me to set up a viewing at the Palace of The Odd Couple; it fits us to a tee.
* * * *
“I think we are set for this evening.” Zaron and Bron rose. The others took the cue that it was time to go. Zaron and Bron followed the group to the teleporter.
“Jonal, you and Tonas need to find aides through PsyOps to guard your fem and unborn fempring. I suggest Warriors who have not yet bonded. By being your aide they are exposed to more possibilities to find their one.”
“We’ll do that,” Jonal replied, “Thank you for the information.”
“Once we pick from the list Garlance prepares, we’ll send the rest of the names to you and save you some trouble.” Bron patted Jonal on the back.
“Once again, you are too kind and we are grateful, Bron. We will take our leave.” Jonal and Tonas saluted Bron and Zaron.
Juraens and Mark got ready to get on the pad. Zaron stopped them, “A word…”
Bron continued, “We know that Castle Water is a ruin. To make it habitable, craftsmen will have to work for tides. As princes, you will receive more credits so you can get a lot of what you need handmade. That takes longer than fabricator work.”