Resolutions

"...uhhhhhhh..."
       A cool hand was laid against my face.
       "Little warrior?"
       "...wha'...?"
       "Can you open your eyes?"
       I could, but it took a lot more effort than I really wanted to make right now. Blurrily, I made out Zh'leet's face bending over me.
       "...where...?"
       "You're in the research facility."
       "..wha' happened...?"
       She slid a hand behind my back and pulled me half-upright, piling pillows behind me then settling me back down.
       "How do you feel?"
       I felt - boneless. As though I'd been training non-stop for a week. I also felt nauseous.
       "Terrible."
       Zh'leet chuckled briefly. "That's not surprising." As I came more awake, I also became more aware of various aches and discomforts through my body. There was a dull pain in my arm where some sort of drip was attached, and my back was sore. Worst of all, though, was the nagging ache in my abdomen.
       "What's happened? Why'm I here?"
       Zh'leet glanced at Gh'veen.
       "Do you want to explain?"
       I would have grabbed her wrist, but I was too weak: my hand flopped to the bed. "I'd rather you did."
       She sighed. "Very well..."

I stared, stunned speechless.
       "You're joking. Aren't you?"
       "I'm afraid not."
       "But..."
       "I know. We didn't think it was possible."
       Gh'veen sat on the edge of the bed.
       "What do you want to do?"
       I bit my lip. "What do you mean?"
       "What do you want to do about the hostlings? Do you want to keep them?"
       I rested a hand on my belly.
       "Is that possible?"
       "Yes. You'll need constant monitoring, a daily transfusion of the synthetic nutrients we have devised, and it will not be possible for the hostlings to be born naturally. But yes, you would be able to carry them until they are able to survive on their own on removal from your body."
       I swallowed hard.
       "And if I decide I don't want them?"
       "That is, of course, your choice. We can remove them. They will die, however, almost immediately."
       I glanced at Zh'leet. "You're a brood. Couldn't you...?"
       She was shaking her head.
       "Yours is a Saiyan pregnancy: the hostlings are attached to you. I can't host them: I don't have the same sort of hosting chamber. Even if the operation to transfer them was successful - which is unlikely in the extreme - the... placenta?" she glanced across at Vinas, who I hadn't noticed until now, and who nodded, "wouldn't graft to me."
       "Well," Vinas interjected, "there's a very remote possibility that it would - with drugs to stop the ko'ish'n's body from rejecting it. However, there is a ninety-nine percent probability that the strain would kill her. And the foetuses."
       I bit my lip. "I... I need to think about this."
       Zh'leet nodded. "Of course. But we'd recommend you don't wait too long. If you decide you don't... want them, the sooner they are removed the better - both for you, and for them. If they are to die, we'd prefer it happen while they're still too undeveloped to have anything more than a rudimentary consciousness."
       I agreed. It was a somewhat harsh way of putting me in the picture, but I was grateful they'd kept it so cold and clinical - it made it easier for me to grasp exactly what had happened to me. But now I needed some time to myself, and Zh'leet realised it. She ushered Vinas and Gh'veen out of the room.

Zh'leet perched on a table in the neighbouring lab, arms crossed over her chest.
       "I suggest we let Ti'aasaan and Rhoi'i'dat'hzziu visit. The Ssii'iin too, if he's available."
       Gh'veen frowned. "Would it not be more appropriate to wait until she has come to terms with the situation?"
       "I suppose so. But I understand she has difficulty making decisions, and in the meantime the little one is tearing himself apart with guilt and worry. The Ssii'iir is very anxious too - he and the little warrior are very close. And whatever Leteetza decides to do it would be unfair to deny Ti'aasaan at least one contact with his offspring."
       Gh'veen stared at her, the slightest smile in his eyes.
       "And you are hoping that Ti'aasaan, and the Ssii'iir, might persuade her to go through with the hosting. Should Leteetza not wish to do so. "
       Zh'leet twinkled. "You know me too well."
       The tz'een frowned. "Is this perhaps not a little - unfair?"
       "Definitely. But you heard her. She did not immediately reject them, demand they be removed. She was looking for alternatives."
       "And you do not want them to die."
       "Of course not! What did you expect - I'm a brood. And don't tell me you'd be happy to see them destroyed, because I won't believe you."
       Gh'veen inclined his head. "Very well. Will you call them or shall I?"

...what the hell am I going to do?...
       I don't want offspring. I've never wanted offspring. I didn't want these little aliens invading my body.
       I stifled a bitter chuckle. Alien invaders - yeah, very funny Leteetza...
       And to my absolute fury, while the emotional part of me was recoiling in horror from the very idea, the curious part of my mind was coolly pointing out that this was a chance to make history, to chart the first hybrid hosting, to add to the fund of knowledge steadily filling the database.
       And it might also be of enormous use in helping Radittsu and Zha'haabron have their own children.
       I groaned, sinking my head into my hands. What a time for rationality and logic to kick in!
       I tried to convince myself I wanted them gone. But all I could see was Ti'aasaan's face as he gazed adoringly at his children.

Zha'haabron was in conference with the council and Vejiita had left strict instructions they were not to be disturbed, so only Radittsu accompanied Ti'aasaan to the facility. The little zn'hre was tense with nerves: the Saiyan hugged him.
       "She won't blame you."
       "She might."
       "She won't."
       "I blame me..."
       Radittsu sighed and kissed the top of his head.
       "What if she doesn't want them?" Ti'aasaan continued.
       "Let's take things one at a time, little one. She could easily change her mind."
       "What if she can't carry them?"
       "Perhaps Zh'leet could help. Don't broods carry hostlings?"
       "No, just eggs." The zn'hre halted, frowning. "I wonder if it would be possible?"
       "We could ask. But for the moment let's just go and see how she is, shall we?"
       Ti'aasaan nodded absently as they entered the lab complex.

I groaned as the two familiar forms appeared in the doorway. Both looked apprehensive...
       Well, actually Ti'aasaan looked terrified. I pulled myself up a little and beckoned to them: they glanced quickly at Zh'leet, who'd been hovering inside the door, then walked quietly to my bedside as she nodded acquiescence.
       Ti'aasaan was trembling, his face very pale. He sat on the bed and lowered his eyes.
       "Leteetza... I'm sorry. I didn't know..."
       Radittsu stood beside him, one hand protectively on his shoulder, gazing at me impassively. Waiting for me to speak. I reached for his other hand, then took Ti'aasaan's.
       "It's not your fault."
       Radittsu squeezed the little zn'hre's shoulder, then smiled warmly at me. Ti'aasaan still looked frightened, and I tried to pull him into a hug - annoyed when I found myself too weak. He moved into my arms anyway, biting back tears.
       "Are you... are you all right? I mean..."
       I nodded. "I feel pretty awful, but I guess that'll improve once Vinas has the nutrient mix right. At the moment they're taking more out of me than I really have to give. But I'm all right, I guess. I'm more tired than anything."
       Ti'aasaan nodded and bit his lip, obviously desperate to ask but scared to hear the answer. I smiled tiredly.
       "It's all right, little 'un. I'm not going to hurt them. As long as you promise to help me look after them!"
       The smile that lit up his face was worth all the pain and misery I was going to suffer over the next however many days this pregnancy lasted. He snuggled carefully up against me, and Radittsu sat on the bed beside me, gently pulling me to rest against his chest.
       *I'm proud of you!*
       I *sighed*. *Don't be, not yet. I'm not looking forward to this. And I've yet to face Vejiita. Gods alone know what he's going to say.*
       *Not a lot - Zha'haabron's already 'spoken' to him.*
       Well, that was one less thing to worry about, anyway. But Ti'aasaan had pulled back slightly and was watching me with a worried expression.
       "What is it, little 'un?"
       "Um, well, I'll help all I can, of course, but..."
       Uh-oh... "But what?"
       "Um..." He glanced helplessly up at Radittsu. The big male sighed and wrapped his tail reassuringly around my waist.
       "Ti'aasaan's hosting. So is Zha'haarak."
       I blinked. "What...?"
       "There are seven new zn'hre due just before the cold season. Zha'haabron's the sire."
       I groaned and buried my face in my hands. "We'll have to open a bloody nursery!"
       Then the funny side struck me, and I started to laugh. Saiyan and R'ren'nkian stared at me.
       "Sorry..." I gasped. "It's not really funny - just ironic."
       Zh'leet joined us, a large beaker of something purple in her hands and a satisfied smile on her face. She handed me the beaker - which I drained very quickly: it tasted disgusting - then stood back as though making some sort of presentation.
       "Would you like to see them?"
       We all stared at her.
       "What?"
       She gestured to the monitor, then to the movable screen beside the bed.
       "We have sonic imaging set up. Would you like to see them?"
       Without waiting for the chorus of 'yeses' she obviously expected she switched on the machine. Seconds later an image appeared on the screen...

There were two tiny forms there, already recognisably humanoid. I stared, almost unable to believe these were inside me: then Radittsu and I both smiled at the look of awe on the little zn'hre's face as he tentatively touched the monitor screen.
       "Is that a tail?"
       Obligingly, the tiny form stretched, revealing the outline of a tiny tail. Ti'aasaan's eyes grew huge.
       "It is! But is it a Saiyan tail or a R'ren'nkh'ian one?"
       "Saiyan." Zh'leet sounded positive. I frowned.
       "Are you sure?"
       She nodded. "Absolutely. We've run all possible tests and checks. Their blood is a somewhat bizarre mix of the two species, but perfectly viable. Although we'll probably have to keep a supply in storage for them in case they ever need a transfusion - neither Saiyan nor R'ren'nkh'ian blood matches, and simply trying to combine the two hasn't been successful so far. But we can worry about that later."
       I licked my lips nervously.
       "What are they going to be?"
       "Mostly Saiyan." she assured me. "We won't know skin, hair and eye colour until much, much later, maybe not until they're born."
       "Uh, I meant - will they be male, or female, or something else?"
       Zh'leet looked slightly troubled. "At this point, we don't know."
       Ti'aasaan reached a hand towards my stomach, then paused and glanced at me.
       "May I?"
       I nodded as Zh'leet pulled the monitor a little further down the bed, and Ti'aasaan laid a hand gently on my abdomen. His eyes closed as he frowned in concentration - then looked up at me, expression uncertain.
       "Um... They're hermaphrodite."
       I blinked. Hermaphrodite Saiyans? Radittsu stroked my hair. For a moment there was silence as we all tried to take this in.
       Then I sighed and twisted to look back over my shoulder at Radittsu.
       "Well, you and Zha'haabron had better hurry up and get yourselves sorted out. If you two have offspring as well, between us we'll have the makings of an entire new species!"
       He chuckled and hugged me tightly. "Believe me, there's nothing we'd like more!" He smiled at Zh'leet. "And now that we know what you've been planning, perhaps you could take your samples from us ourselves. And run any tests direct. It might speed things up."
       "Very well. And now that we have the right equipment, I'll be able to get a better idea of whether the Ssii'iin can host or not - and if not, if there's anything we can do to make it possible. You'll need to give us at least three full days of your time: please let Zha'haabron know, so he can make the appropriate arrangements with Vejiita." She turned back to me. "And you, little warrior, will be a lot more comfortable in more - congenial surroundings. I'll have you moved back to your own suite as soon as possible. You'll still need careful monitoring, but I can train one of the apes..." she grinned and winked at Radittsu, who was glaring at her, "... to take over the basic procedures, then you only need to check in here every five days or so. Unless anything worries you - anything at all - in which case I want you back here as quickly as someone can fly you. Understood?"
       I nodded, but Ti'aasaan interrupted.
       "Zh'leet, why can't she stay in our suite? That way I can keep an eye on her - as the sire I'm more in touch with the hostlings than you anyway, especially in these... special circumstances. And if we're all together it will be easier for you to check on us all."
       Zh'leet gazed at me doubtfully. "What about the heirs?"
       Shit! The royal heirs! In all the excitement I'd completely forgotten about them!
       "Uh, how are the twins coping?"
       Ti'aasaan grinned. "A lot better since the Ssii'iin paid Sheftali a visit!" He sobered. "Seriously, we're managing quite comfortably. The consorts have learned how to look after their hostlings perfectly adequately. They all spend a lot of time in the suite, but they don't sleep there any more, which gives us a measure of privacy. And the Saiyan heirs are learning a lot from the little princes." He touched my face gently. "We've missed you dreadfully, though."
       I grinned and took his hand. "Maybe I can do something about that!"
       "Only if you do nothing to tire yourself." Zh'leet glowered at me. "I mean it. The least sign of stress and I'll have you back in here before you can say..." and then she came out with something in R'ren'nkh'ia-go so long and complicated I'd never learn to say it!
       I raised my hands in surrender. "I get the general idea. I promise I'll be good."
       "Very well. If Zha'haabron has no objections?" She gazed expectantly at Radittsu, who somewhat belatedly remembered to *flash* a quick enquiry to his bondmate, then smiled and shook his head, "I'll authorise the move for this evening. But for now - " she scowled around at us all, then focussed on me, " - I want you to get some sleep. You're going to need all the energy you can get!"