Consequences pt 3

Consequences pt. 3

Kel had a lapful of inconsolable Hassinan and she had no idea how to help - other than simply hold her lover until she stopped crying, which didn't look like happening any time soon.
      It had started earlier that afternoon when Zha'haarak had arrived for his dance lesson, with Kinu walking at his side holding the gentle zn'hre's hand and beaming proudly. Mahrayne's anguish had been sharp, bitter, but hastily repressed. Instead she had praised Kinu enthusiastically, making a loving fuss of the little hybrid, cuddling and kissing him, telling her son how proud she was of him. And she was, there was no doubt of that. Kel – who had the afternoon off – could read the pride in her lover's scent, a sweetness that masked the Hassinan's distress. But why was she so upset?
      Kelapa played with Kinu, keeping the little male occupied while his mother took the prince through a series of gentle exercises, grinning as the child babbled happily to her about 'jau, and Zha'haarak, and Hi'ijaa, who was teaching him to fly properly. It was very exciting...
      The warrior blinked, not sure she'd heard properly.
      "You're flying now, brat?"
      "Uhuh! See.." Kinu's pretty little face screwed up in concentration and he slowly, steadily floated up off the cushion. Kel smirked and ruffled his mane, gently so as not to disturb his concentration.
      "Heh, clever thing!"
      Kinu smirked and drifted towards the warrior, landing lightly in her arms.
      "'s fun!"

"Kinu?"
      Kel looked up from the beaming hybrid to Mahrayne, who was frozen in place staring at her son, simply astonished.
      "You can fly?"
      "Yes, maazi!" Kinu, grinning hugely, launched himself out of Kelapa's arms and towards his mother. The Hassinan deftly caught him, snatching the cub out of the air and hugging him tightly, nuzzling his silver mane.
      "I am so, so lucky to have you, dherrumah."
      "Love you, maazi," Kinu snuggled into his mother, twining his fingers in a lock of her white hair.
      Kel scented her lover; Mahrayne's fragile hold on her emotions had dissolved, her pride and love for her son mingling with an astringent sadness.
      "Don't cry, maazi," Kinu was gently stroking his mother's face, "don't cry."
      Mahrayne got hold of herself with an effort, ruthlessly shoving whatever it was that was bothering her to the back of her mind and determinedly set about enjoying the time she had with her son.

Once Zha'haarak had left with Kinu – the child was spending the night with his father – the Hassinan gave up all pretence and promptly fell in a sobbing heap.
      Kel cuddled her lover, stroking her hair and brushing loving kisses over her face.
      "What's wrong, takibi?"
      Eventually, through the tears, Mahrayne was able to tell the Saiyan what the problem was. She felt sad and cheated; Kinu – her son, her baby – had taken his first steps, and his first foray into flight, and Mahrayne hadn't been there to see it.
      The warrior thought she understood why Mahrayne was so upset, though it seemed a fairly trifling thing to get distressed over – maybe it was the Hassinan's moods affecting her again. To Kel's relief, Mahrayne pulled herself together enough to stop crying - until it occurred to her that her son was going to be starting lessons soon and she wouldn't be the one teaching him. The tears started all over again...
      Later that night after they'd eaten and bathed and Kel had made love to Mahrayne, gently loving the Hassinan out of her sadness, Kel snuggled into her mate's back, wrapping her securely around with arms and tail. The warrior had been doing some thinking, and she wasn't happy with the conclusions she'd drawn. As she understood it, Mahrayne was devastated because she'd not been there for what she considered important points in her child's life – and she hadn't been there because Kel had claimed her and they'd had to move out of the suite.

"Takibi," Kelapa, swallowing against a dry throat, murmured into Mahrayne's ear.
       "Mmm?" the Hassinan was drowsing.
       "If I renounced my claim you could probably move back into the suite – so you could be closer to Kinu - " the warrior added hastily as Mahrayne almost violently flung herself around to face her.
      "You don't want me anymore?" she looked stricken and Kel immediately grabbed her, tightly hugging the Hassinan.
      "No, no, never that!" the warrior reassured her lover with fervent kisses.
      "Then what - ?" Mahrayne's scent was shot through with confusion and fright.
      Kelapa cupped the female's face in strong hands and gazed seriously at her.
       "I just thought that if I hadn't claimed you, we would still be in the suite and you would have Kinu with you…"
      Mahrayne stared at the warrior, tears starting in her eyes again.
      "You'd do that? Give me up so I could be with Kinu again?"
       Kel nodded, not sure if she wanted to hear what Mahrayne was going to say.
       "I don't know whether to thump you or kiss you." The Hassinan's golden eyes were soft and it was Kelapa's turn to be confused.
      "Uh – "
      "That you'd even consider it is so generous," Mahrayne sniffled, smiling tremulously, "but while I may be allowed back into the family's suite, you probably wouldn't and I can't contemplate life without you, tahnan. I wouldn't let you do it."
      "Even if it meant being with Kinu?"
      Mahrayne wiped her eyes.
      "I love my son so much, Kel, but he's already firmly attached to Zha'haarak and 'jau, and - and I think my presence is too disruptive to be easily accepted there again. So -" she smiled shakily at the warrior, attempting to make a jest of it, "– looks like you're stuck with me."
       Kelapa buried her nose in Mahrayne's thick, white hair, crushing the Hassinan to her tightly enough to make her squeak her discomfort.
      "Stuck with you for ever, takibi," the warrior whispered hoarsely, "if I have any fucking say in it..."

Sitting at her workspace in the 'project room', Mahrayne watched out of the corner of her eye as Zh'nast – the R'ren'nkh'ian linguist who headed the Zhaneer research – and one of the visiting Hyoujin pored over an ancient document.
The Hyoujin were a fascinating race, Mahrayne thought, surreptitiously admiring the alien's dappled pelt, her (all of the delegation were female, she'd discovered) poised, supple movements, the way her tail coiled and flicked in constant motion. The Hassinan shook herself slightly and turned her attention back to the document she was translating – she really should get on with this...

"Mahrayne?" Zh'nast's soft voice broke into the Hassinan's concentration, "Could we see you for a moment, please?"
       "Of course, Zh'nast," Mahrayne walked over to join the old R'ren'nkh'ian and her guest, well aware of the unblinking, yet non-threatening scrutiny of the Hyoujin.
      "This is one of your translations, isn't it?" Zh'nast tapped a claw gently on the parchment encased in clear silicate. Mahrayne checked then nodded confirmation.
      "It is. Is there a problem?"
       "I just want to confirm something with you," Zh'nast indicated the Hyoujin with a polite inclination of her head, "This is Zaheen, by the way. Zaheen, this is Mahrayne, one of my invaluable helpers."
      Mahrayne chuckled ruefully.
      "The part I play in all of this is very small."
      "Nevertheless," the R'ren'nkh'ian touched her claws to Mahrayne's forearm, a gesture of affection, "it helps further our research." She pointed to the parchment again. "This section here... " then indicated the corresponding section of the translation displayed on the monitor, "are you sure that's correct?"
      Mahrayne studied the document, and nodded.
      "I'm sure. My initial thought was that this – "she pointed to a particular string of delicately curving symbols, " – could be translated as 'the furthest peaks', but if you take into consideration this pattern here –" Mahrayne pointed to another set of symbols a little further down the page, "– the meaning could become 'the broadest peaks', which sets the events listed here in a completely different area. There's a later section that bears the conclusion out." Mahrayne said helpfully.
       Zh'nast peered at the document, then nodded thoughtfully.
      "Ah yes, I see."
      Zaheen spoke, her voice an oddly soothing low thrum.
       "Mahrayne, this may seem an obvious question – but, you're not Saiya-jin?"
       "I'm Hassinan." Mahrayne smiled at Zaheen - the Hyoujin was only a couple of inches shorter than her, she noted. "We've been members of the Empire for a little over a Vejiitasei year."
       "Are there many of your people on Vejiitasei?"
       "Just myself and three others - though there will be many more within a few years." Mahrayne stopped, surprised at herself; she'd spoken that last without thinking.
      *It's the truth, heart's-light,* Alida was standing behind her, glowing, golden arms wrapped around her twin. Mahrayne could feel the fluttering in her breastbone that she knew now meant something she or Alida had predicted was a certainty.
      *I know - I know.*
      "Mahrayne," Zh'nast was smiling at her, "it's time you had a break."
      "You're right," the Hassinan shook her head ruefully, suddenly aware of the slight ache in her lower back from sitting for too long. She laughed, "And I suppose I'd better have some meaty glop too?"
      "Zh'leet has given me strict instructions as to your care," the linguist's eyes twinkled at her, "and I for one don't want to make her angry!"
       Mahrayne chuckled even as her heart constricted. Zh'leet hadn't spoken to her since she left the suite – Mahrayne didn't think she'd been forgiven yet for creating so much turmoil within Zh'leet's beloved family - but the brood was still, remotely at least, watching over Mahrayne's health. The Hassinan chose to think it was because Zh'leet still liked her a little and not because mothering was the brood's biological imperative.
       "'Meaty glop'?" Zaheen asked as Zh'nast led them over to the small, cosy room adjacent to the project area where the translators usually took their breaks.
       "A nutritional supplement," Mahrayne explained to the curious Hyoujin, "to hopefully stop my child draining me dry." She stroked her still flat abdomen and smiled softly at Zaheen. "The child I'm carrying is half-Saiyan. It's not too bad now, but later she will place heavy demands on my body. The 'meaty glop' helps keep my energy levels up."
       "You're speaking from previous experience?" Zaheen asked, vivid, beautiful purple eyes wide and interested.
       "I have a son, Kinu, he is half-Saiyan also." Mahrayne sighed, "It was a difficult pregnancy in some respects. I was constantly tired, basically useless for anything, and Vejiitasei is so much hotter than Hassina - that didn't help."
       "You're expecting similar problems?"
       Mahrayne shrugged.
       "Yes, but this time I know what's likely to happen and can prepare myself for it."
       "Your mate will help you?"
       The Hassinan smiled, thinking of Kelapa, realising belatedly that Zaheen was probably referring to her child's father. Mahrayne weathered the flood of remorse and longing that crashed through her at the thought of the King's Guard.
       "I'll have help, yes," she said quietly.

Mahrayne's life had settled down to be quiet, but steady. She generally spent her mornings in the library helping with the translations, and her afternoons dancing with 'tiisaan - and sometimes Jeice - as well as taking Zha'haarak for his lesson. She saw Kinu for at least a couple of hours every day and he stayed with her and Kelapa on average every third night. Pirum, 'selaan and 'tiisaan were frequent visitors too, often spending the night, and interestingly, 'zhasaan and 'miiron had taken to visiting as well. Mahrayne's suspicions that the little dreamer knew more than he ever let on were confirmed when she was alone in the suite with him and 'miiron one quiet afternoon.
      'zhasaan had looked at her, enigmatic golden eyes serious, and asked how she and Alida coped with being able to see the future. Mahrayne's instinctive reaction was to deny it happened, but 'zhasaan's clear-eyed gaze held hers and she couldn't back away. Her very next thought was to wonder how 'zhasaan knew - she'd been careful not to let anyone know what was going on.
       "To be honest, your highness, I don't know." Mahrayne had answered quietly, "It hasn't happened very often," she glanced at her twin sitting close beside her, "we assimilate the information as best we can and get on with things."
       'zhasaan nodded thoughtfully.
       "It can be disorienting."
       "Less now than at first," Mahrayne said truthfully. She grinned at Alida, "At least now I know what's happening, and why."
       "Why don't you ever tell anyone?"
       "What good would it do, your Highness?" Mahrayne shrugged, "what we've seen so far has no bearing on anyone here."
       The hostling's golden eyes - betraying an age and wisdom at odds with his youth - bored into hers, pinning her to the spot.
       "But what about the people it does concern?"
      "Telling my people what's to come without being able to give them a specific time-frame will cause mayhem." Mahrayne protested feebly.
       "If you don't say something thousands will die." 'zhasaan insisted.
       "Thousands are going to die anyway - no matter if they know what's coming or not!" Mahrayne snapped back. Trembling, eyes wide, she sobbed into her hands, finally, completely understanding the truth of that and grieving for her people. Alida wrapped her arms around her twin, grieving with her. 'zhasaan gently stroked Mahrayne's hair, his light touch soothing to the Hassinan.
       "It's a responsibility, Mahrayne, one you – we – can't shrug off no matter how painful."
       "I'm not just leaving them to it," Mahrayne was defensive, "I've told the Lead Speaker – he believes me, I think. Though he's very cautious –" she looked worriedly at the little dreamer, "– he probably won't believe me fully until – until something happens…"
      *Hassina is already giving warnings, heart's-light,* Alida interrupted, *Marldus isn't stupid, he knows what it presages.*
       "I hope so," Mahrayne said miserably, lifting anxious eyes to 'zhasaan, "because if he doesn't believe me..."
       "Some things are destined," the hostling said gently, "and you can only give counsel."
       Mahrayne gazed at 'zhasaan and nodded, unsettled by how old the hostling seemed sometimes...

The next batch of correspondence from Hassina had arrived. Mahrayne was half-expecting Nonnia to mention her pregnancy in her letter, surprised when she didn't.
      *It's too soon, 'rayne,* Alida reasoned, *it won't have been confirmed yet.*
       Mahrayne looked speculatively at her twin.
      *Unless it hasn't happened yet...*
       Alida shook her head decisively.
      *No, it wasn't the future we witnessed, we were there while it was happening.*
      *I don't understand.* Mahrayne frowned.
      *Neither do I,* Alida grinned, *It's just something else we have to work out on our own.*
      Amongst the correspondence was a letter from Ientus and Iocor who were still on G'geckah with Malum. The hunter was doing very well according to the G'geckan medics - the sisters wrote - there didn't seem to be any complications with his treatment and they were pleased with his progress. They went on to say that they'd been allowed to talk to their male briefly, Malum being brought out of his artificial sleep long enough to hear the news that Iocor was pregnant. She'd not been feeling very well and Ientus had nagged her into going for a check-up. Imagine their surprise when the medic informed Iocor that she was in the early stages of a pregnancy too! It made sense, Iocor had mated with Malum shortly before he'd left to go on the hunt where he was injured. The sisters were ecstatic, and Malum had been lovingly pleased with the news, smiling and lightly gripping his female's hand before sinking back into sleep. Mahrayne was delighted as well, but there was something nagging at the corner of her mind, something to do with Hassinan females on G'geckah...
      A few hours later – after combing through the recently acquired Hassinan records - Mahrayne had her answer but she didn't know what to make of it. She gnawed at her bottom lip; she may not be able to interpret the data but she knew someone who could.
       Vinas had been surprised to be contacted by the Hassinan, and after Mahrayne had assured him there was nothing wrong, she was simply wondering if he could find the time to speak to her, he arranged for her to come to the medical centre later that afternoon.

The bio-tech read through Mahrayne's document, a slight frown on his face.
       "This is statistically... unusual."
      Prompted by the nagging thought Iocor's news had engendered, Mahrayne had made a search through the meticulously documented Hassinan records and discovered that every breeding female that had ever gone to G'geckah over the past five centuries, had returned pregnant. There had been close to a thousand of them...
       "Some I could understand," Mahrayne said, "but all of them?"
       "It seems unlikely –"
       "And there's more. I've traced the family history of as many of the children as I could – " Mahrayne frowned, " – they're all perfect genetically, and their descendants, with one or two exceptions, are all perfect as well. How is this possible?"
       Vinas could think of half a dozen ways to make this possible, but he kept his silence, doubting that Mahrayne would like to hear that her people were in all probability being genetically manipulated by a race they trusted and revered. And also it wouldn't do to make any sort of accusations until the facts had been verified.
       "Lady Mahrayne," there was something that the bio-tech felt he should ask, "I'm curious – why was this not discovered earlier? It's a significant number."
       Mahrayne frowned.
      "Probably because it was only one or two females a year, from different Households, there was no reason to link them, and -" the Hassinan was rueful, "– while we obsessively document everything, the records themselves are rarely referred back to."
       Mahrayne watched Vinas' expressionless face shift minutely to express... agitation?
       "All that information gathered and it's never used?"
       Mahrayne smiled apologetically on behalf of her people.
       "You must forgive our barbarism, Vinas-sama, we're generally too busy trying to survive the present to spend time delving into the past..."

It was after midday, the family had finished their meal and were now relaxing before they went about their afternoons activities. Kinu was snuggled comfortably against maazi Zak, too full to eat any more, and watched the people around him. The little hybrid loved being with the family, loved being surrounded by the warmth and loving affection but it wasn't the same without maazi and Kelapa. He missed the females a lot - and he missed his papa. Kinu glanced thoughtfully towards the balcony door, open now to let the warm, fragrant air circulate through the suite. He'd be seeing maazi and Kel later on, maybe he could go and see papa now? Kinu figured he could fly pretty well on his own, it wouldn't take long – maazi Zak was wrapped up in his bondmate, they wouldn't know he'd gone, and 'jau was asleep... Nobody noticed the little hybrid sneak quietly out to the balcony.
Kinu concentrated, searching for his father's distinctive ki. There! Over the other side of the palace... The cub giggled and lifted himself over the balcony railing.

Kinu floated outside a large window. His papa was inside there, along with a lot of other Saiyans and dada Za'bon, and he wasn't very happy. The hybrid sighed; papa wasn't happy very much at all now, he missed maazi as well – and maazi missed him. It didn't make sense to Kinu; if his parents missed each other, were both unhappy because of it, why didn't they just see each other again? But it was complicated because Kelapa – who was about as important to Kinu as his maazi and papa – was much happier now, where she hadn't been happy when maazi and papa were together. Kinu wanted to make it all better again but he didn't have a clue where to begin.
The little hybrid scowled, 'raadiin had told him it was maazi's fault his papa was unhappy. Kinu generally liked the older hostling but he hadn't liked the sneer on 'raadiin's pretty face or the fact that he'd criticized maazi. He'd growled at the young zn'hre, tail fluffed and lashing until 'tiisaan had angrily hissed something at his sibling then picked Kinu up and cuddled him, soothing the furious cub. Kinu really liked 'tiisaan...

*Kinu?*
      The cub squealed happily at his papa's *voice* and darted in through the window straight into his father's arms.
      "Guardsman?"
      The Saiya-jin-no-Ou - Kinu had met him once and been overawed by the male's strength of presence - was scowling at Zorun but Kinu, peeking out at him from the safety of his father's embrace, could see the hint of a smirk tipping up the corners of the king's mouth.
      "I apologise, sire, I don't know how he found me."
      "Hn." The imposing male folded his arms across his muscled chest. "Take the brat home and make sure he understands the importance of not interrupting a council meeting."
      Zorun bowed to the assembled councillors, as well as he could with his arms full of cub, and took off through the window.
      *Missed you, papa.* Kinu grinned up at his father as they flew back around to the family's suite.
      *Ah, little one,* he cuddled his son, nuzzling the thick silver mane. *I miss you too, but you shouldn't have come looking for me.*
      *Why not?* Kinu's dark eyes were wide and puzzled.
      *Because,* Zorun scowled, *I have an important job to do –* there was a momentary bleakness in his scent that brought a sympathetic lump to the cub's throat, *- and I need to concentrate on it, besides -* he tried a fierce look on his son but Kinu wasn't fooled, * - does Zha'haarak know where you are? He'll be worried.*
      *No he won't,* Kinu stated confidently, *'jau will tell him I'm aw'right.*
      Zorun landed on the family's balcony and looked seriously at his son, stroking the cub's mane away from his face.
      *Even so, Kinu, you can't just take off without telling someone where you're going, ne?* He brushed a kiss over the cub's mane, *You're precious to me, little one, I couldn't bear to lose you as well.*
      *Not gonna get lost, papa,* Kinu sniffed disdainfully, *always know where I am.*
      Zorun smirked and ruffled his son's mane affectionately.
      *Just do as you're told, brat!*
      Kinu heaved a sigh.
      *'K.* He beamed over his shoulder at Zha'haarak who had come out onto the balcony.
      "I'm sorry, Zorun-san, I didn't realise for several minutes he was gone... " The gentle zn'hre was deeply apologetic and still with the strain of worry around his beautiful eyes.
      "No harm done, your Highness." Zorun handed the cub to Zha'haarak. "I must return to the King." He frowned at Kinu. *Make sure you say sorry to Zha'haarak for making him worry.*
      *Yes, papa.*
      The big male stroked his son's cheek.
      *I love you, Kinu.*
      Kinu grinned back.
      *Love you too, papa...*

"Are you sure you want to do this, tahnan? It's going to hurt."
      "Yes I'm fucking sure," Kel, naked, growled as she made herself comfortable on her stomach on the soft mats and cushions in Peruro's work space. "I have to do it now before I get too big."
       "All right." Mahrayne sat cross-legged at her lover's head, stroking the Saiyan's smooth, red-brown mane. She nodded to Peruro who was waiting nearby with several razor-sharp awls and a small bowl of skin-beads. "We can stop if it gets too much."
       Once started, Kelapa didn't call a halt to the bead-setting, even though it must have been an excruciating couple of hours for her. Again Mahrayne marvelled at the Saiya-jin ability to withstand pain; the only sign of discomfort Kelapa gave was holding Mahrayne's hands very, very tightly while the beads went in around the base of her tail...

Peruro sat back with a satisfied smile, absently flexing her cramping hands and fingers.
      "Finished, Kelapa-san."
      Mahrayne leaned over to look.
      "Beautiful." She breathed, impressed again at Peruro's skill.
       Kel now sported a single, continuous line of beads that curved gracefully around the base of her sensitive tail, the ends lazily twining around each other up her lower spine before peeling off to end in looping spirals at the crest of her hips. With an effort Mahrayne stopped herself from reaching out and tracing the beads with her fingertips. The beads would be set within a couple of hours, thanks to the Saiyan's rapid healing but Kel would still be sore for a day at least. Though once she'd fully healed... Mahrayne licked her lips.
       The Saiyan eased herself up to a sitting position, leaning heavily against her lover.
       "How do you feel, jha-tunovahn?"
       "Like I've had a fucking big needle shoved repeatedly into my skin!" Kel smirked. She glanced at the bead-setter.
       "Thanks."
      "My pleasure, warrior." Peruro inclined her head politely. "Thank you for the food."
       "We'll rest here for a little while, if that's all right, Peruro?" Mahrayne smiled at her friend, who nodded.
       "I'll get some food and drink," the pretty Hassinan stood up smoothly and headed down to the food preparation area of the Muruanian's house, leaving the lovers alone.
      Mahrayne wrapped an arm around Kel's shoulders and kissed the Saiyan's mane. Her other hand brushed over the warrior's breasts, smoothing down the creamy body to the barely discernible mound of her belly.
       "Thank you." She smiled at her lover.
       "Heh," Kel winced as she shifted herself closer to Mahrayne, "wasn't entirely fucking selfless." She smirked at the Hassinan, "Going to feel incredible when you touch them."
       Mahrayne laughed.
       "I'll put my years of experience with female beads at your service, yes?" Her golden eyes were warm and promising and Kelapa shivered in anticipation. Mahrayne grinned and kissed the warrior, one hand sliding between the Saiyan's thighs to tease her sensitive nub.
       Peruru returned with a tray of sizeable meat portions and ale. She took one look at the females and smiling, unperturbed, put the tray on the floor nearby and left them to it...