Dawning
"I will be very glad when they've finished..."
Hijau winced as the sound of a mechanical drill grated in his ears, even from one floor down and several suites along. Zha'haarak hugged him.
"Leteetza said it should only take them three more days..."
It had only been three days since the Hassinan had left - escorted by two large transports full of Saiyan and Korijin warriors, geological specialists, mining gear and the crews of miners and convicts who would work the Hassinan mines. In that time the children's classroom had been fitted out with low desks and seating, cupboard spaces, twenty terminals linked to the library, and a large monitor at the front of the room for the tutor's use: Mahrayne was delighted with both the room - which was light and airy with a long balcony - and the equipment. And the 'architects' had arrived and inspected the two suites, agreed that the work could be done and discussed how the family would like the enlarged suite to be organised - and then started work, hence the noise. And the dust. And the general disruption.
The whole family had moved down to another suite for the duration.
It wasn't ideal - most particularly there was no main sleeping platform, which meant everyone separating into shifting groups for the nights...
Zha'haarak, however, had been quietly pleased, since it had meant he and Hijau actually had some time for themselves. The gentle zn'hre adored his bedmate with all his heart - but he was under no illusions about their relationship: the fact that he was caught up in a strange half-bond with the flame-haired Saiyan was just - unfortunate. Non-reciprocal bonds were unusual but not that rare on R'ren'nkh'ia; he saw no reason why bonds between R'ren'nkh'ia-jin and Saiya-jin should be any different. He was aware of Hijau's warm affection, and found their physical union deeply satisfying - but resigned himself to the fact it would never be anything more...
Hijau turned to the zn'hre, pressing gentle kisses to the beautiful face, hands sliding down to cup slim buttocks, hot erection rubbing against rigid coldness...
He sighed mentally. Zha'haarak was so beautiful. So gentle. So - wholly adorable. His breath caught in his throat every time he caught sight of the slender R'ren'nkh'ian, unable to fully understand what was happening to him. The depth of his feelings for the zn'hre frightened him, it was so entirely different from anything he'd ever felt for anyone before that he wasn't sure how to deal with it. And the one person who might be able to help was wrapped up in his own concerns right now...
Zha'haabron lay on the examination couch, thighs spread wide, Radittsu at his head holding his hands and staring at Vinas.
Who was doing - something - at the king's groin with some sort of complicated and rather unpleasant looking metal instrument. The big Saiyan growled as his bondmate flinched and gritted his teeth.
"You're hurting him!"
"Sorry your Majesty." Vinas mumbled automatically, his attention fully fixed on whatever it was he was doing. He twisted the device in his hands: Zha'haabron gasped, closed his eyes tightly and gripped Radittsu's hands bruisingly hard, but before the captain could object again he carefully pulled the instrument from the R'ren'nkh'ian's body with a satisfied grunt.
"Good. That should be sufficient."
He hastened over to the sterile area on one side of the room, busying himself with the gametic cells he'd collected from the wall of the king's hosting chamber: Zha'haabron's hands went to his belly as he curled up on his side. Radittsu knelt beside him, alarmed, stroking his face.
*Beloved...?*
The king nodded, his breathing shaky.
**I am all right. It was - painful**
Radittsu hugged him. Vinas looked over his shoulder and frowned.
"Well, what are you waiting for? We have his half of the equation: now we need yours."
The captain blinked. Vinas snorted impatiently and tossed him a beaker.
"Semen. In there. Now."
Radittsu gazed at the beaker, then at his bondmate, expression almost comically dismayed. Zha'haabron chuckled despite his pain, and manoeuvred himself carefully upright.
**Allow me...**
Graceful cool hands worked their usual magic, and a little later Radittsu handed Vinas the half-full beaker. Vinas nodded.
"Good. Now, combining your DNA and creating the zygote won't take long, and we believe that cell division is extremely fast in the early stages. We know that the zygote will thrive best in a protein-rich environment, so while we work on our end of the project, you two should copulate. You," he pointed to Radittsu, "need to ejaculate as often as possible to provide the best possible conditions for development."
Radittsu stared, open-mouthed, then glanced helplessly at Zha'haabron. Vinas scowled.
"Don't just stand there! Get to it!"
The king took his bondmate's hand, pulling him gently to the couch and smiling up into wide, distressed dark eyes.
**Come, zk'vissin** He twinkled, smirking slightly. **Literally, in this instance!**
Smiling weakly, Radittsu slid onto the couch, hesitating.
*But won't I hurt you?*
The king shook his head.
**The pain has already passed. And - think of what this means...**
Radittsu gazed into his love's beautiful golden eyes for a moment, then sighed and gently entered him, shifting subtly, bringing him to climax quickly so that the barbs would be blunted.
And then he set about providing Vinas' 'protein-rich environment'...
By his sixth climax he was relying entirely on Zha'haabron's exquisitely stimulating manipulation of his tail to keep going. Feeling exhausted and thoroughly drained, he knew the king was now supporting his (not inconsiderable) full weight on his strong blue body. And as he came for the eighth time he sprawled across the R'ren'nkh'ian, gulping deep breaths of the sterile air of the medical centre and mentally shaking his head.
*I... don't think I can go on...*
Zha'haabron wrapped strong arms around him, hugging him close and brushing a kiss across his forehead.
**I'm sure that's enough to fulfil even Vinas' demands...**
At that moment the xenobiologist, with a couple of his aides, returned to the room carrying a small vial and an assortment of instruments, including something that looked like a long, thin, blunt hypodermic syringe. He looked very satisfied with himself, and smiled at the pair.
"Good, you've obviously done as I said. If you'd like to move out of the way, we'll proceed with the implantation."
Radittsu slid from the couch, almost landing on his knees as his legs very nearly failed to support him. He dragged a stool to the bedside and collapsed onto it, reaching for Zha'haabron's hand.
"You going to tell us what you're doing?"
Vinas nodded, carefully feeding the syringe into the king's body.
"We were able to examine the other zn'hre throughout their - hostings, and have learned quite a lot about zn'hre physiology, at least as it applies to bearing young. We know, for example, that the hostlings don't attach to the chamber wall, as they do in a Saiyan pregnancy: they float in a protein bath partly produced by specialised cells lining the inner wall of the chamber." He glanced sombrely at the king. "We'll need to inject you with a hormone mix once we've finished here, your Majesty. We need to stimulate the inner wall, firstly, to produce these cells, and secondly, to thicken to form a protective barrier around the hostling, as would happen in a normal hosting. You'll need regular injections of the mix, too, throughout the hosting, to ensure things proceed as normal." He grimaced. "Well, as normal as possible under the circumstances. In a normal zn'hre hosting, the hostling uses another set of specialised cells to absorb its required nutrients directly through its skin - and overcoming that difference between the two species was our biggest headache. However, we've now surmounted it. With care, proper treatment, and a little luck, everything will proceed smoothly."
He made a sudden movement forward and Zha'haabron whimpered.
"Sorry, your Majesty." He glanced briefly up at Radittsu. "There's a - valve - between the top of the female channel and the hosting chamber: it's strong and only works one way until the hostlings are ready to be born, at which point a - surge of hormones loosens and dilates it. Prior to that it's very tightly closed, only allowing semen to pass through it, and only inwards..."
Radittsu gazed down at his bondmate, eyes bright with understanding.
*So, is that why... I mean, there was never any... It all stayed inside you...?*
**Apparently so...**
The big Saiyan grinned.
*Neat. No wet patches.*
Zha'haabron chuckled - then winced as Vinas withdrew the instrument with a pleased grunt. He smirked at the bondmates.
"All done, your Majesty. I want you to stay here overnight to make sure the implantation has taken properly, and we also need to discuss more fully how we're going to handle your monitoring and treatment, though that can wait until tomorrow." He frowned. "Ti'aasaan tells me that when he was hosting his master loaned him to other R'ren'nkh'ia-jin for sex - in which he took what we would call the female role. Did Zha'geekaan do the same to you?"
Zha'haabron nodded, and Vinas inclined his head.
"Hn. Makes sense. I believe that such activity helps replenish the protein-bath surrounding the hostling. I know that both Ti'aasaan and Zha'haarak copulated together frequently while they were hosting here. I also know that we didn't allow the King's Companion to do so, since we were worried that it might cause problems. It may have been her not having a regular influx of semen that led to her poor health." He gazed coolly at Radittsu. "We've adapted the zygote to be able to absorb protein from your own semen as well as the protein produced by his Majesty's body. We'll take it slowly and carefully, but my initial belief is that if you two - uh, make love - regularly it will be beneficial to both the hostling and the king."
He very nearly smiled at the identical beaming delight on both bondmate's faces.
"However..." he cautioned them, "this is all very much an unknown quantity at the moment. I expect you both to be very aware of how his Majesty is feeling, and get here at once if there's anything you're worried about. Understood?"
They both nodded, and Vinas lifted a large hypodermic from the tray held by one of his aides.
"I'm afraid this is going to hurt, your Majesty, but once you've had this initial hormone boost to... kick your body into action, we should be able to devise something much more comfortable." He rubbed a sterile cloth over the skin just above Zha'haabron's hip and lowered the hypodermic, glancing briefly up at the king's face.
"Ready?"
Zha'haabron nodded - then bit back a cry, grabbing for Radittsu as the xenobiologist punctured the sensitive skin and injected the entire contents of the hypodermic into the king's bloodstream. Removing the needle swiftly and precisely, he pressed another cloth over the puncture wound and gazed apologetically at Zha'haabron, who was pale and shaking, held in his lover's arms.
"That's all for today. We've organised a private room for you - large enough for you both, since we assumed the captain would want to stay with you. You must refrain from any sexual activity tonight and until I say otherwise: we want to allow plenty of time for the zygote to - 'settle' - before we take any risks."
Not that there was much risk of that, tonight, thought Radittsu to himself; he still felt drained. Vinas smirked, and the captain could have sworn there was amusement in his eyes. "From my monitor readings, there's enough protein in the hosting chamber to last at least five days... If there are no contraindications by this time tomorrow, we can assume that all is well, and you'll be able to go home."
Radittsu grinned at him, then lifted the king very gently, very carefully, into strong warm arms.
"I'd like to get his Majesty settled, if I may. This is a momentous occasion for us: we'd like a little time together to relax and get used to the idea."
Vinas grinned. Actually grinned!
"Of course. Follow me."
Minutes later Zha'haabron was lying on a large, comfortable bed in a small but warm and well equipped side room, close enough to the main lab to be immediately accessible should there be any problems, but far enough that the pair could feel they had some privacy. Radittsu sat on the bed and stared at his bondmate. Zha'haabron still looked pale, was still a little shaky.
*Are you all right? I *felt* that injection...*
The king sighed and lay back on a heap of pillows.
**Yes... Although I really would rather not have to go through that again** He pressed a hand to his hip, frowning slightly. **I don't understand why this area is so sensitive... Unless... Maybe there are major nerves and blood vessels there...** He shook his head, then beckoned Radittsu close, pulling him into a trembling embrace.
**Zk'vissin... we might be parents...**
Radittsu held him close, kissing his hair, then pulled back a little.
*I know I'm usually the one to say it'll all be fine - but let's wait until tomorrow before we really believe it, right?*
Zha'haabron kissed him, tongue licking delicately along his upper lip.
**Yes, zk'vissin...** He slumped in Radittsu's arms, suddenly realising quite how exhausted he felt. The big Saiyan chuckled quietly and slid into the bed, pulling the king against his body and cradling him close...
... to wake several hours later, Zha'haabron fever-hot and shaking in his arms - and a sticky dampness soaking the sheet below his body. Without stopping to think, Radittsu gathered his bondmate into his arms and flew to the main lab.
Vinas looked up sharply as the captain laid the king down on the examination couch. Grabbing an assortment of monitors he hastily checked the king's shuddering body - then reached for a hypodermic and swiftly injected pale fluid into the skin above his hip.
Minutes later the silently frantic Radittsu breathed a huge sigh of relief as the king's temperature sank back down to normal and he stopped shivering. Weary golden eyes opened - and graceful blue hands wrapped suddenly around his abdomen. But he kept his expression carefully neutral.
"How soon can we try again?"
Radittsu bit down a sob and hugged him carefully.
*Are you sure?*
**Of course**
Vinas regarded him narrowly.
"I want to keep you under observation for a day to ensure there are no ill effects. If not - we can try again in two day's time."
"Something wrong?"
"Hmm?"
Kyuri was frowning.
"You haven't heard anything I've said for the last five minutes. Is something wrong?"
Hijau inclined his head, brows drawn together.
"I don't know..."
It was the truth. He was filled with a vague uneasiness, but unable to pin it down. Kyuri touched his arm.
"Look, things are quiet here, and you're not really due back on duty until tomorrow. Why don't you get back home and check everything's all right?"
"You sure you can cope?"
Kyuri snorted.
"Oh, I think I can just about manage. Didn't do too badly while you were on babysitting duty, did I?"
Hijau scowled.
"Hey, I was ordered..."
She raised her hands, palm outwards.
"I was joking. I can't think of many more important duties than guarding the heirs of the Empire. And you're almost part of the family yourself, now. You have to change the way you think - if you haven't already, that is."
Frowning pensively, nodding slowly, Hijau saluted her.
"Until tomorrow."
"Until tomorrow, sir."
Flying back to the suite, Hijau pondered Kyuri's words. ... part of the family... A sudden warmth flooded through him, and he smiled to himself. He was, wasn't he? He belonged. He was a part of that loving circle. Unsure quite how it had happened, but suddenly very, very happy with the notion, he soared home...
... to find Zha'haarak weeping, silently, in 'their' room. His mood abruptly turning from contented to worried, he pulled the zn'hre into his arms, holding him close and anxiously stroking his hair.
"What is it? What's wrong?"
"It failed."
Hijau cupped a hand under the delicate chin and pulled Zha'haarak's face up to his own.
"What failed, Ssii'irin?"
The zn'hre swallowed.
"Zha'haabron... lost the hostling."
Hijau hugged him, rocking slightly, not knowing what to say. For long moments they held still - then Zha'haarak pulled back, trying to smile.
"I'm sorry."
Hijau stroked his face.
"Baka. Don't be. I just wish I could help." He hesitated for a moment, then asked,
"What... will happen next?"
Zha'haarak rested against his chest.
"They will try again."
"They want children that much?"
The zn'hre gazed up at him through long lashes.
"Yes. It is the Ssii'iin's dearest wish."
Hijau nodded absently, wondering what it must be like to be so driven, to want something that badly...
Zha'haarak watched him, unwillingly *hearing* his thoughts, *aware* of his feelings. Determined not to let his own feelings cause the Saiyan any problems.
Already prepared to lose him, if it proved necessary.
Mahrayne couldn't understand why the zn'hre were so fractious this afternoon! Ti'aasaan, 'haabron and 'tiisaan in particular were thoroughly out of sorts, slumping down on the cushions at the far side of the playroom, hissing at each other in R'ren'nkh'ia-go and snapping at anyone who approached them. In despair she turned to Leteetza.
The little warrior had scowled, hesitating, then sighed.
"Oh well, you'll find out sooner or later. Might as well be sooner..."
Mahrayne had been deeply distressed by the news - until Leteetza had, with uncharacteristic sharpness, told her they needed her disciplined strength right now, not maudlin sentimentality. Radittsu and Zha'haabron were going to try again, and they all needed to focus on positive thoughts - and that meant somehow jolting the hostlings out of their depression and into something a damn sight happier. What did she suggest?
Mahrayne stared, thoroughly startled for a moment, then clapped her hands sharply, twice, and she and the children - even the Saiyan heirs, affected even though they didn't realise it - made a dance of sadness and turned it into a dance of hope....
They retired to the temporary suite for the evening meal in a much more cheerful frame of mind.
As usual they'd congregated in the bath after the meal: Mahrayne was rapidly getting used to sharing the ritual with naked males, although Radittsu's presence could still leave her flushing hotly with embarrassment. Oddly, she felt much less discomfited with Hijau. Maybe because he was so obviously completely wrapped up in his zn'hre - as now. She smiled at them, cuddled together on the other side of the pool, 'raadiin and Kiraz trying to duck each other underwater nearby...
"Will you be all right without me tomorrow morning?"
Leteetza's voice was low, although it was unlikely anyone could have heard her over the noise the children were making. Mahrayne looked up from where she was playfully splashing 'haavok and 'honee and gazed at the Saiyan. The little warrior was frowning slightly.
"Of course. Can I ask where you'll be? In case I need to contact you." the Hassinan added hastily. Leteetza nodded.
"There's a Council meeting, an important one - Vejiita wants to discuss the next phase of expansion. I've not actually been ordered to attend, but I've missed so many in the last year... I feel completely out of touch. Ti'aasaan's going, to represent Zha'haabron since he's still in the medical centre, and I think I ought to go along to keep him out of trouble as well as catch up on what's happening."
Mahrayne's eyebrows rose.
"Ti'aasaan? Isn't that a bit... umm..."
Leteetza grinned.
"...of a strange choice? Yes. But Zha'haarak's far too... timid for something like this. Besides, I don't think he could cope with sitting for hours on the chairs in the main office - it'd play hell with his hip. And Ti'aasaan's not stupid. His memory is very good, and Zha'haabron's taught him a little statecraft, for just this sort of occasion. I've cleared it with Vejiita. He's not happy, of course, but he'll put up with it until the High King's back in commission."
Mahrayne nodded, her insatiable curiosity making her wish that she could sit in on the meeting too... Leteetza chuckled.
"You'd find most of it boring. I'll let you know if there's anything you might be interested in."
The Hassinan rolled her eyes.
"Can you actually smell everything I'm feeling?"
"More or less. Scent is a very revealing thing, you know. When you're itching to know something, you smell..." the Saiyan frowned. How to explain something that subtle to a creature whose sense of smell was practically non-existent when compared to a Saiyan's? She shrugged. "Sharper, I guess. Hn. It's like... adding fruit juice to grittig meat..."
Mahrayne frowned.
"I smell like a grittig?"
Leteetza sighed in exasperation.
"No, of course not. I was just trying to give you an example."
The Hassinan inclined her head.
"What do I smell like?"
The little warrior smirked and kissed her, hands reaching for her breasts, and for a little while nothing more was said...
As they relaxed, afterwards, hands slid around Leteetza's body, strong fingers tweaking her nipples, and a low voice murmured,
"Can't leave you alone for five minutes, can I? Hope you haven't worn my Hassinan out..."
The King's Companion chuckled and leaned back against Kelapa.
"Is it actually possible to wear her out?"
Mahrayne sighed and opened her eyes to see the two Saiyans watching her, knowing leers on both faces.
"I don't know." Kelapa answered Leteetza, smirking at Mahrayne. "I'm still trying to find out!"
Mahrayne mock-frowned at her.
"You're late. What kept you?"
Kel leisurely stretched and shifted to wrap herself around her ward, pushing soft white hair to one side to kiss the tawny-golden neck beneath.
"Sorry. Guard business. Finished now, though - I'm all yours..."
Leteetza smirked.
"In that case, I'll leave you two to it while I get the brats sorted out for bed. Are you having any of them in with you tonight?"
Kelapa groaned. 'tiisaan was almost a permanent nightly fixture in their bed, with 'leesaan often joining them, and sometimes 'haabron too. She still hadn't got used to the coolness of the hostling's bodies - and last night Buahan and Kobis had also squirmed in between them, demanding a story... Mahrayne grinned.
"Let's just see who ends up where, shall we?"
I really wasn't expecting the reception we received from the Council, but I certainly appreciated it. Hijau escorted us, and we were both greeted with a dignified respect and quiet enthusiasm - even Zorun managed to salute without looking sour, and Limau seemed delighted to see us all, which pleased me very much. I'd been worried about his reaction to finding his only son partnering a zn'hre, but he seemed perfectly happy about the whole situation. Of course, Zha'haarak was the High King's sibling, and a prince of his people, and I'm not so naïve that I'm not aware of just how much status matters to some of the lords...
And Ti'aasaan amazed me. He sat, demurely, listening intently to everything that was said, occasionally asking for clarification, and even making a couple of surprisingly helpful suggestions. I could see Vejiita's opinion of the little zn'hre increasing by the hour. It made me very happy.
By noon the meeting was winding down. I'd been asked to do a little research on the next four proposed worlds to be invited to join the Empire, and one which looked likely to pose a threat: I had a contact in the alien quarter who'd recently spent some time there and who'd be able to give me more detailed information on the natives' customs and practises than I could find in the library. Ti'aasaan agreed to report back to Zha'haabron with everything that had been discussed and get his all clear to authorise work on several new narcotics that the king believed would prove useful in the next phase of expansion. All in all it had been interesting and instructive, and it felt good to be back in circulation again.
As the Council members filed out, Vejiita asked me to wait behind for a moment: Hijau and Ti'aasaan moved over to the long window looking out onto the city below to give us a little privacy.
The king regarded me appraisingly.
"How are the brats?"
I grinned.
"They're well, sire. They don't seem to have been much affected by their mother's - demise. They're enjoying their lessons - though that may change once the novelty wears off. But Mahrayne is an excellent teacher, and they all like her very much."
"Hn. I'd like to know exactly what they're being taught..." he raised a hand as I opened my mouth to reply, "... not right now. Bring me a list of what the Hassinan has planned." His tail circled my waist, stroked the tip of my own, and I gasped quietly. "Tonight, perhaps."
I smiled and inclined my head, knowing he'd see the anticipation in my eyes.
"I'll be there at sunsdown, my lord..."
There was a tense air in the suite the following evening. Even Mahrayne felt it, and she'd collared Leteetza as they struggled to settle the cranky hostlings - although she thought she already knew the answer.
"What's going on?"
The little warrior sighed.
"They're trying again."
No need to ask who 'they' were. Mahrayne smiled, a little doubtfully.
"Did you go through all this when you and Ti'aasaan bred?"
Leteetza grinned tiredly.
"No. That was an accident."
Mahrayne stared, completely confused - but at that point 'tiisaan wrapped his arms around her waist and pouted up at her, eyes brimming with tears he was trying hard not to shed.
"'Rayne? Please will you tell us all a story?"
The Hassinan gazed at the unhappy little faces on the makeshift sleeping platform Leteetza and Hijau had hastily assembled out of floor cushions, pads from the other beds, and a heap of sleeping furs (figuring - quite rightly - that they'd all be better off sleeping together tonight, despite the lack of comfortable padding: everyone needed reassurance...) and nodded.
"Of course. I'll tell you stories until you all fall asleep..."
She had, too, although it was close to dawn by the time the last pair of golden eyes had closed. She gazed tiredly at the adults: Zha'haarak looked pale and tense cuddled in Hijau's arms, and Leteetza was cradling Ti'aasaan, who looked exhausted. Mahrayne frowned - it hadn't been that long since he'd recovered from a near-fatal bronchial condition: he shouldn't be tiring himself out like this... She caught the little warrior's eye, speaking just above a whisper, knowing the Saiyan's sharp hearing would pick it up.
"Is he all right?"
Leteetza nodded.
"Tired, but he's tougher than he looks, even now. A decent sleep and he'll be fine."
"And I'll get that once we know how the Ssii'iin is." The little zn'hre smiled tiredly and snuggled a little closer to the Saiyan.
"Warm..."
He closed his eyes and dozed lightly as Leteetza pulled a sleeping fur over his small body.
"You should sleep too." Kelapa laid a hand on the Hassinan's shoulder. Mahrayne sighed.
"It's hardly worth it now."
Kel firmly pushed her down and pulled a light cover over her.
"Don't argue. Sleep."
Mahrayne was too tired to argue.
It had been noon of the following day before Radittsu had been able to sleep, so worried and apprehensive he'd been. He'd watched over Zha'haabron as the king slept, exhausted but peaceful. The big Saiyan had rested a hand on a broad blue shoulder, alert for any change of temperature - any change of anything at all - but his bondmate had remained cool throughout the night and the following morning, and Radittsu had finally allowed himself to dare to hope...
A gentle hand on his face roused him. He opened his eyes to stare up into Zha'haabron's golden gaze.
*Beloved?*
Wordlessly the king took a warm hand and laid it against his abdomen.
Under his fingers, Radittsu felt a strong, bright ki. The ki of a healthy hostling. Oblivious to the tears of joy streaming down his face, he pulled his bondmate, carefully, gently, into a strong, protective embrace, enfolding him in love.
© 2002 March 6th Joules Taylor
