Obligations

by Cheryce Clayton

  “But any hope of finding lost family,” Neavillii protested. “Must you not pursue this? For your honor, if nothing else?” Neavillii asked as she allowed Morgan to massage her legs.

  “I have a House to attend to, children to father.” Morgan moved her massage to Neavillii's midriff. “I have a life now,” she finished with a sigh.

  “Honor is seldom convenient. And your House will be stronger for the knowledge of your effort. Besides, it is I who would bear your first children, my love,” Neavillii said, and smiled as she turned to reach into a drawer for a small communication unit.

  “Now?” Morgan asked, and her surprised response evoked a laugh from Neavillii.

  “If you wish, yes. This way I will be healed and ready to serve in your stead on Bystocc when you leave for Wergol next week. I have already negotiated a loan of one of Neadesto’s nurseries for us and any of your retainers who wish to transfer their young until we can get a nursery properly established on your planet.” Neavillii still held the com unit out to Morgan.

  “The children I father would have to be transferred to my planet immediately,” Morgan said in a whisper.

  “Of course,” Neavillii said, and thumbed the com unit’s standby button.

  “I am beginning to suspect that you have outmaneuvered me, my most lovely wife.” Morgan laughed as she took the communication unit from Neavillii, and pushed the call button.

  “I look forward to waking to your beauty in the morning,” Neavillii said as Morgan’s massage became even more aggressive.

  #

  An eternity later, Morgan sat on the edge of the bed as the resuscitation team finished preparing the revived Neavillii for transport. Her thoughts kept circling around the fact that it was far different to understand intellectually how children were produced than to be involved in the actual process. Morgan watched the movement under Neavillii's skin and was awestruck at the speed of new life.

  Following behind the jogging doctors, Morgan thumbed her communication unit and asked the nurse to locate Isaac at the main hospital and send him to the nursery hospital.

  #

  “The miracle of pregnancy. I would enjoy the opportunity to observe some time,” Isaac said when he entered Neavillii’s room later that day. Neavillii lay flat on a bed; a large bandage could be seen on her stomach.

  Morgan watched Isaac look around the room in puzzlement as the Sansheren present began laughing.

  “We all enjoy the opportunity to watch when it presents itself, do we not?” Morgan’s doctor, Fanlelo, nudged Isaac as she moved towards the room’s exit.

  “Would you accompany me to the nursery, my wonderful physician?” Morgan said and moved past the still-confused Isaac. “I will be back soon, my love,” Morgan added to Neavillii before she left the room.

  “And I thought French was impossible,” Isaac said as he bowed his head to Neavillii’s, and followed Morgan out the door.

  Fanlelo caught up with them when Morgan stopped to speak with the ever vigilant Banessa. “Assign someone to watch the dear and wonderful mother of my children,” Morgan said, and placed her hand upon Banessa’s arm before moving down the hall, not waiting for a response.

  “Power becomes you, my Lady,” Fanlelo said, and Morgan glanced at the old medic. Her age showed as confidence, and Morgan realized Fanlelo was now at the pinnacle of her career and might be ready to retire. Might be looking for a dominant wife. Morgan smiled as she decided that she would have to watch her natural generosity or she would find herself with more spouses than bedrooms, and fathering children more often than sleeping.

  “Um, I missed something,” Isaac said as they walked through a set of swinging doors labeled Sheresuan nursery.

  “Oh, what was that?” Morgan asked with a chuckle.

  “A few birds and a few bees. Maybe the flowers and trees. You tell me?” and this time it was the Sansheren doctor’s turn to be confused as Morgan laughed along with Isaac.

  “I wonder if we’re speaking in the same House?” Fanlelo questioned politely.

  “This is my observation room. I think we will spend some time within,” Morgan said as she dismissed the medic. Taking Isaac by the arm, she led him into a dim room.

  The room was small, with comfortable lounging chairs facing a wall of solid glass that looked into another, bigger room.

  “May I present my children?” Morgan waved her hand at the glass partition and then moved to sit on one of the lounges.

  “But, we can’t.., I mean we could, but it can’t do any good,” Isaac finished in English as he moved to the glass wall. A fine mist covered the glass, blurring the jungle-like setting behind the glass. The nursery room was filled with plants of all shades of green; a thick grass carpeted the floor.

  “We can, and it does. I think. They don’t seem to need much help,” Morgan finished with a shrug, and reached toward the table beside her lounge, and helped herself to a bowl of fruit.

  “You mean they can all have babies? That there’s only one sex to the species?” Isaac asked. He still had his back to her as he peered into the nursery, trying to see a child among the plants.

  “All are mothers, only the best are fathers. An old saying. You are looking in the wrong area.” Morgan leaned forward and pointed to a small lump of dark green under a fern-like plant.

  “I’ve heard multiple births are the norm?” Isaac asked as he stared at the mossy looking ball and found three shapes blended together.

  “Most have two, a few one. We were honored with three. They say the more siblings you have, the smarter you become.” Morgan beamed with pride as she gestured for Isaac to sit beside her.

  “How long will they sleep?” Isaac asked with a continued curiosity about the newborns.

  “I will ask,” Morgan said before she moved to an intercom by the door and spoke with an attendant, who assured her they would be fed soon. “How strong is your stomach?” Morgan smiled without showing her teeth.

  “Carnivorous? Seeing the adult’s teeth. Live food? That would explain the relative independence of the room.” Isaac never took his eyes off the green bundle Morgan pointed out.

  “They are completely independent at birth. And very dangerous. The panel, see?” Morgan gestured to the opposite wall where a small panel could be seen opening. A cage was held to the opening and a small animal the size of a young pig was pushed forward into the room, then panel dropped closed.

  “Where did they go?” Isaac pointed to the spot where the green balls had been sleeping.

  “They hunt.”

  The prey was glimpsed as it ran from one plant to the next, trying to find something to hide under. One of the taller plants came crashing down as the frightened creature dug at its base. Movement pulled Isaac’s eyes toward the corner of the glass wall. One of Morgan’s three children was moving toward its dinner. The prey looked straight at its tormentor before bolting away: right into the range of the other two. Once caught, dinner was eaten in a blur of splattered blood. Isaac sat back in shock as the three infants began to lick at the pool of blood left behind.

  “Bones and all, how efficient.” His shocked voice was low.

  “I did warn you. They’re not human,” Morgan said before she picked up another piece of fruit and began eating. Her small children finished licking up the blood and again curled themselves at the base of a plant to sleep, their bellies distended.

  “I forget sometimes. I have to remind myself that Tansea isn’t a small woman in a costume, you know?” Isaac was sitting as far back in the chair as he could. He did not take his eyes from the green balls of fur.

  “I look into the mirror, sometimes, to remember that I am not in costume, myself.” Morgan looked at Isaac, and he tore his eyes away to meet her gaze.

  “How old were you?” and his question hung in the air for several minutes before Morgan looked at him again.

  “Almost thirteen. And yourself?” was the polite response.

  “Thirty-two. I was in a Central American country, P
anama. Pirates grabbed the Shithook helicopter I was in before it crashed. They saved our lives.” Isaac looked back into the nursery room.

  “We were in L.A.; they grabbed us in an alley.” Morgan knew she sounded far more bitter than she felt.

  “I… I know you’re their father. But?” Isaac said, and then hesitated. “I mean,” and his question fell, unasked.

  “I was a girl,” Morgan said, filling the silence that threatened to overwhelm her. She could almost feel Isaac resist the urge to look at her muscular, androgynous body, and she realized curiosity must have filled him from the first time he saw her, only growing after Neavillii asked him to help the surviving humans.

  “I was bought by a Santrey cargo ship; they needed someone small enough to crawl under the deck plating. When I started- I skipped a few months, and when I started my period, they thought I was dying. They left me on the next planet they docked at, Faldebbia. The doctors there had never worked on a human female before; they had only seen male mercenaries. They thought it was cancer, I guess. Neadesto was there negotiating a contract in person, and the Faldebbians asked her to transport me to Wergol; they had no use for me. I guess they thought I could link up with the other humans on Wergol. Neadesto brought me home instead.” Morgan leaned her head back against the couch, and wished Isaac would gather her into his arms.

  “They must’ve removed your ovaries and uterus. Hormone replacement would help.” Isaac held his hand out toward her.

  Morgan smiled before she reached out. His grasp was firm and warm, she was surprised to notice. “Help what?” Morgan asked as she watched Isaac blush.

  “Help you to develop,” Isaac said and Morgan did not look away. “Physically. Visually.” Isaac used his free hand to cup his own breast.

  “Must I?” Morgan whispered when she realized what Isaac was offering. “Talk to the good Doctor Fanlelo, she will know where you can find what you need.” Morgan sat forward and pulled her hand free with a gesture toward the door.

  “You don’t have to, you know. I’ll speak with her though. We’ve synthesized some medication I think will help Sam. You might want to stop by his room later.” Isaac stood and moved to the door.

  “Thank you. For listening.” Morgan did not turn to the door; even as Isaac left, she sat staring at her sleeping children.

  #

  Sam woke. He did not have the hangover he was expecting. He smiled to himself as he remembered the doctor’s attempts to fake drinking from the bottle.

  “I should cry now,” he said aloud.

  “If it would help release what is inside you, please do so,” a soft voice said in accented English, and Sam turned to see the doctor’s assistant, Tansea. The small alien moved from a chair by the window and climbed up onto the edge of the bed.

  “English? Are you my keeper?” Sam asked as he pulled his hand back and then moved away from Tansea. His body moved with a stiff, shaky ache that left him weak and wondering how long he had slept.

  “No,” Tansea said. Her long, reddish hair tangled about her, and she spent several moments straightening it out. He noticed that there was more hair than body, though she did not look fragile, and he watched her twist her fingers through her hair, pulling out knots.

  The small alien reached her hand out to brush a lock of hair from Sam’s eyes. The tiny hand was red brown and scaled with two blunt fingers and a nub of a thumb.

  “Everything is in such commotion, with the new House. How would you say that in English? Country, I believe? Yes, everything is in such commotion with the forming of Morgan’s new government and the preparations to return to Bystocc. I came in here to read.” Tansea held up two small rods of black wood with a strip of blue cloth connecting them.

  “Morgan?” Sam stared at the ceiling in shock.

  “Your child, yes,” Tansea answered, and Sam glanced at her. “You must forgive my English, as a child she was your friend, you lived in the same home once.” Tansea leaned against the head of the bed as she placed the scroll into a slim pocket in the leg of her outfit.

  “Morgan,” Sam whispered. “I dreamed about her, except she was a man and I wanted to kiss her. I thought I’d gone insane. I kept dreaming I was a homosexual with a man who was a little girl, things kept changing and I couldn’t find my way out of the dream,” Sam said and turned to the person beside him. “Have you ever heard anything so crazy?”

  “The Asterex have no word for dreaming. The Drecos, no word for insane. And the Sansheren? They have no word for homosexual, or heterosexual, that I’ve heard. I find it interesting, you can tell a lot about a people by what words they do not have.” Tansea moved until she was lying next to Sam and then turned slightly towards him.

  “When can I see her?” Sam asked.

  “When you wake up, child,” Tansea said, and curled against Sam’s side and closed her eyes. Sam lay very still, staring at the ceiling for several hours before drifting off.

  Chapter Twelve - Bystocc - 2012

  “Your beautiful wife has not come home yet,” Yolunu heard Thanera say, and looked to see the young administrator standing in her own doorway across the short hallway.

  “In truth? She seems to come home later each day. I worry about her,” Yolunu said, and forced a smile as she leaned against her unopened door. The hallway was dimly lit in an attempt to save energy, and Yolunu hoped Thanera could not see the depth of her concern.

  “She does you honor in her work. I saw her this afternoon,” Thanera said as she moved across the hallway and smiled in return.

  “She does herself honor. I only wish that my work was half as successful.” Yolunu brought her hand to her face, and rubbed her eyes as she spoke, but she still felt exhausted when she stopped.

  “But your work is by its nature less rewarding. Even the slightest progress must be considered a triumph. I do not hold you responsible for setbacks that were engineered long before Tadesde left this rock. No one can consider you at fault for the mag-mines.” Thanera stepped closer to Yolunu and placed a hand on her shoulder.

  “I can,” Yolunu said as she turned away and unlocked the door. The door refused to open, and Yolunu sighed; Isaac’s tent was better maintained than the building that had been converted into a temporary housing for those who pledged directly to Morgan.

  “I could assign you more assistants if you would like,” Thanera offered, and Yolunu was pleased that Thanera did not move back despite the obvious rebuff.

  “You are very generous, my Lady,” Yolunu said as she opened the door with a violent yank and cold air enveloped them. “I do not need more assistants. I need a flight crew willing to take a few more risks. We will never clear the mag-mines Tadesde scattered in orbit if my crew continues to panic with each new mine. Do you realize that we clear only one mine a day?” Yolunu asked as she leaned against the open door.

  “If you are willing to deal with mercenaries, I am sure I can find a braver crew for you. My own wish is to find a thermostat specialist,” Thanera smiled and placed her hand on Yolunu’s arm.

  This time Yolunu offered no rejection. “I do not see how we can pay for mercenaries, with the number of ships hitting dirt increasing every day? It seems a miracle we can feed ourselves.” Yolunu placed her own hand over Thanera’s and smiled.

  “We would welcome you within our humble home.”

  Both turned to Aldera’s voice, and Yolunu smiled when Thanera stepped away from her. Aldera’s approach was half hidden by the open door, and she now stood beside them, her clothing filthy and still damp in places. Her look of exhaustion far surpassed Yolunu’s.

  “My wife, come; I will fix you dinner.” Yolunu moved into the apartment to be followed by Aldera and a blushing Thanera.

  “Please do not trouble yourself for me, love. A shipment of supplies arrived today for the nursery. House Decado had the honor to send us everything necessary to start a field nursery. I ate with my few staff members. I suspect I will have new employees tomorrow when word circulates that there is uncontaminat
ed food for those who would work a shift.” Aldera moved through the room, pausing in the doorway to the next room as she finished speaking.

  “Please tell the representative of the House Decado to visit me tomorrow so that I can be certain that their generosity is recorded.” Thanera spoke to the empty doorway.

  “Will you dine with me then?” Yolunu asked after the silence built.

  “It would please me greatly. I have a package of sweet-meats I was going to dine upon. Let me contribute these,” Thanera said as she reached into the side pocket of her pants.

  Yolunu followed Aldera into the sleeping room.

  “I wish you luck with the young administrator. I am just tired. We find a new regressive every day. Right now, I want to sleep, maybe I will dream of you and your date. That would be pleasant, my dear.” Aldera smiled up at her wife as she drifted off to sleep.

  Yolunu smoothed the blankets and turned to leave, in time to see Thanera backing out of the doorway.

  “If I offended you, I will leave.” Thanera waved her hand in the direction of the door.

  “Of course not. Let us go into the kitchen.”

  “Your beautiful wife spoke of regressions. I confess to having a rather morbid curiosity toward the subject.” Thanera accepted an instrument from her host and began to open the small tin she had contributed.

  “I think everyone has a fascination with the subject. That an arbitrary decision by a nursery worker could lead you to an ‘accident.’ It frightens me, the power they wield.” Yolunu said. She worked at filling a small cloth spread on the floor as they talked, and soon she and Thanera were sitting down sampling various near-empty plates.

  “Are they having such a problem with regressions? And why has no report been filed? I warned you I was curious.”

  They both laughed as Yolunu offered her guest a bit of meat from a plate close to her.

  “Yesterday she said she and her staff had decided to take no action until after each of the suspected infants had been given adequate food for at least a week. I suppose this new shipment will give them their week. And yes, there are far more who are regressed than there should be, by anyone’s estimate.” Yolunu accepted a portion of the meats Thanera offered.