Ghosts 4

Ghosts pt 4

Mahrayne surfaced from a disturbed sleep, snug within the protecting warmth of her Saiyans...
      Her eyes flashed open, contentment evaporating. It wasn't Zorun and Kel she was snuggling in to, it was Nonnia and Pirum, and yesterday, relatively speaking time-wise, she'd given her mother the final rites. Mahrayne closed her eyes again, stifling a moan – suddenly, fiercely, missing her mates. She wished desperately that they were with her, here, not stuck on a transport in orbit above Hassina. For the first time in memory, Mahrayne came perilously close to hating her mother. If Tella hadn't killed herself Mahrayne would be at home now, happy and safe with Zorun and – she frowned – not with Kelapa. If Tella hadn't killed herself, Kel wouldn't have had cause to come back to her – not that she had definitely come back as such... Mahrayne grimaced: dammit she was too sleep-addled to try and make sense of abstracts like that right now.
       Beside her, Nonnia stirred restlessly. Mahrayne hoped her tertera wouldn't wake for a while yet – in sleep was forgetfulness...
       Pirum wriggled out of sleep on the other side of her, bright silver eyes blinking drowsily at her. Mahrayne smiled and gently stroked her little sister's silver hair away from her face.
       "Hello, precious." she said softly.
       "lo, 'rayne." Pirum yawned hugely and snuggled closer. "'m glad you're here."
      Mahrayne kissed the child's forehead, but said nothing. Pirum looked at her, seriously.
       "You don't want to be here, do you?"
      Mahrayne shook her head slightly. "No, precious, I don't, but it's my duty, so here I am."
       "And you'll be going back as soon as you can?"
       "Yes."
      Pirum's bottom lip trembled. "I don't want you to go back!"
      Mahrayne hugged her little sister tightly.
       "I know, Pirum, but my baby is due very soon – I want him to be born on Vejiitasei."
      Pirum sniffled into Mahrayne's shoulder, her words muffled against the plain fabric of her sister's robe.
       "I miss Bu-chan too."
       "Buahan misses you as well," Mahrayne said, "maybe you can come and visit again soon?"
       "I'd like that." Pirum wiped her nose with the back of her hand then pushed away from her sister. "I'm hungry." she declared, squirming out of Mahrayne's embrace. "Hope there's some of the kerkat left."
      Mahrayne grinned, watching the child bounce out of the alcove – she could remember having that sort of resilience when she was young too. She closed her eyes with a sigh, and settled back to – hopefully – get more sleep, she wasn't quite ready to face the rest of the household just yet...

Mahrayne had woken up a little while later feeling – dislocated, and tired. It was an effort to get out of bed, and she only managed to sit upright for a bare few minutes before she had to lie down again.
      "I think Persicum should have a look at you." Nonnia was frowning, concerned at Mahrayne's continued discomfort. Mahrayne nodded, too weary to argue. Vinas should probably 'have a look at her' as well, but he couldn't come in to the female's quarters. Mahrayne smirked: good, seeing the irritatingly self-important biotech would do nothing to improve her mood.
      "Shall I contact the Saiyans?" Dignusia asked quietly.
      Mahrayne shook her head firmly.
      "No, they'll only worry."
      And then they'll want to storm down here and 'rescue' her… She smiled to herself, lovely as that thought was it wouldn't go over very well with her family.

Persicum was an older female, genetically imperfect and therefore unmated and childless, one of Pinguis's first apprentices and almost as revered as her mentor. She had been born into one of the smaller, unimportant households that Marldus held sway over, but through her skills as a teverdia had risen to a position of great respect. She knelt now beside Mahrayne on the bed, gently palpating the younger female's belly.
       "How long did the – medic - say you had to go?"
      Mahrayne paused, mentally converting the Vejiitasei 'thirty or more' days to a Hassinan time frame.
       "Soon after nimalaba."
      Persicum's dusky gold eyebrows rose.
       "I don't think so. Much sooner than that."
       "W- what? How soon?" Mahrayne had to struggle to hear the teverdia's answer over the roaring in her ears.
       "Soon. Your child has settled low down in your body." She smiled broadly. "Haven't you noticed how still he's been?"
      Mahrayne had, absently, and been nothing more than passingly grateful her baby was letting her rest...
       "He can't be born 'soon', I have to get back to Vejiitasei!"
      Persicum was puzzled by Mahrayne's panicky response.
       "He'll come when he's ready."
       "But – "
       "Mahrayne," Nonnia gently placed her hand on the younger female's arm, "don't worry about it now. Just try and rest." Mahrayne obediently lay down, shivering with reaction, as Nonnia thanked the teverdia warmly, giving her a fine silver bracelet. Persicum touched the gift to her forehead then left quietly after gracing Mahrayne with another fond smile.
       "Nonnia, I don't want him born here." Mahrayne whispered to her tertera when they were alone again.
       "You may not have a choice, daughter." Nonnia smiled.
       "It depends on how long I'm here for, doesn't it?" Mahrayne looked hopefully at the older female, realising guiltily just what she was asking for. A shadow of pain passed over Nonnia's face. She gently touched her fingers to the centre of Mahrayne's chest.
       "You know, in your heart, it isn't time to finish the mourning."
       "I know." Mahrayne's eyes brimmed with tears. "But I can hope – "
      Nonnia kissed her forehead. "Everything will work out the way it is meant to, Mahrayne, regardless of our wishes."

Time passed and Mahrayne's panic over Persicum's pronouncement abated somewhat as the days dragged on and nothing happened. The chronometer she'd brought with her (Mahrayne needed it to keep track of 'Vejiitasei' time since she'd too easily slipped back into the ill-determined Hassinan time-frame) told her she'd been there for just on five days.
In an effort to keep herself busy, Mahrayne resumed tutoring Pirum, finding her sister's enthusiasm for knowledge and learning delightfully distracting. And she spent a lot of time in the hot baths; relishing the heat that dissipated the ever-present chill of the planet, and the blessed feeling of relief she got from being near weightless in the mineral laden water. Nonnia was still quietly concerned about her, Mahrayne knew, particularly that her appetite had almost disappeared, though she was still managing to force down the liquid supplement Ayva had insisted she take with her.

Mahrayne fidgeted and squirmed, discreetly, as she half-listened to Pirum translating a passage from a Korijin text. She was so uncomfortable, and she missed Zorun and Kel acutely after waking from a wonderfully erotic dream about them. Mahrayne sighed imperceptibly – Zorun's clean, rain-washed scent seemed to linger in her nostrils, and she could still *feel* Kel's warm, creamy skin sliding smoothly against her own...
       "'rayne?'
      Mahrayne blinked back to the present, and smiled over at the slightly concerned Pirum.
       "Sorry, precious, I was – distracted."
       "Shall I continue?"
       "No, not just yet." she grimaced, "I can't sit still."
      Pirum helped her sister stand and Mahrayne paced around for a little while, hands pressed to the small of her back. She'd had a backache since she'd arrived, but today it was particularly painful – maybe a soak in the bath would help...

"Mahrayne?" Nonnia's voice was gentle. "Are you all right?"
       "Yes." Mahrayne said irritably, "it's just a backache." She gasped and took a deep breath, holding it as the pain flared, spasming tendrils of it curling around her hips. The older female's eyes widened and she pressed her hands flat over Mahrayne's abdomen. She grinned delightedly.
       "He's on his way, Mahrayne."
      Mahrayne stared in horror at her tertera.
       "No!" she wailed. "Not now!"
      Nonnia smoothly took charge, dispatching Dignusia to fetch Persicum, and Peruro to contact the Saiyans.
       "Let's get you to the baths, Mahrayne."
      Mahrayne shook her head, refusing to budge.
       "Not here. Korijin enclave."
      Nonnia was astonished. "Why?!"
       "Because I promised Leteetza – " she gritted her teeth against another spasm of pain, " – that when the time came, Vinas would be there."
      The older female sighed. "And he can't come in here." She pursed her lips. "I don't like it, but we'll go to the Korijin. Pirum?" she addressed the wide-eyed child, "Could you contact the aliens and let them know we're coming?" Pirum nodded and darted off. "And contact this Vinas too!" Nonnia called after her.
       Peruro came back shortly with the news that Zorun and Kelapa were on their way down. Mahrayne was both elated and unnerved by that. She desperately wanted Kelapa with her, but Zorun? Would he want to be there when his son was born? No one was going to be able to stop him if he decided he did, but she was distinctly uncomfortable with the idea…
       Persicum had been disapproving when she found out Mahrayne wouldn't be giving birth in the females' quarters and shocked when told that an alien, and a male at that, would also be in attendance. At least, Mahrayne assumed Vinas was male, she'd never really thought about it before, she realised with vague surprise. Nonnia had sharply given Persicum the option of not being there at all if she was unhappy with it, to which the teverdia replied she'd be insane to give up the opportunity to help birth the first Hassinan fathered by an alien. Not only that, the child's mother was an imperfect female, this was a legendary event! Mahrayne scowled; at this point - holding her breath through another flare of pain - she just couldn't muster the same enthusiasm for the uniqueness of the situation.

Tzegh and Vinas were waiting for them outside the Korijin enclave. The lead female stepped into the supitso and gently picked Mahrayne up. Cradling the Hassinan in her arms, she grinned hugely as she carried her through to the bathing chamber.
       "So your cub is determined to be born now, eh? I'm glad I'm here to witness it." She paused. "If that's permitted, of course." Mahrayne choked back wry laughter. "Why not? Everybody else will be there." Tzegh's rumbling laugh was very comforting and Mahrayne clung tightly to the huge female.
      Frankly, she was terrified; this was hurting so much, and while she'd attended dozens of births, it was very different experiencing it from this side. And what if something went wrong? And what if, ultimately, she wasn't cut out to be a mother? What if? What if?
      Persicum, the vastly experienced teverdia, understood Mahrayne's terror. She hugged the younger female, and kissed her cheek.
       "Everything will be fine." She smiled into Mahrayne's eyes. "You're in good hands - I've done this once or twice, you know." Mahrayne laughed and relaxed a little, allowing Nonnia to help her off with her robe.
       "Excuse me, Lady Mahrayne."
      Mahrayne winced, she'd forgotten about Vinas.
       "I must insist you go somewhere more -" he glanced around at the colourfully patterned walls, "- civilized. There is a small, though well-equipped medical facility here in the enclave…"
       "I'm getting in the fucking bath, Vinas," Mahrayne snapped. "That's where Hassinan females give birth." She glared at the bio-tech. "You just stay out of the way."
      Vinas glared right back.
       "I made a promise to the Lady Leteetza that you would be taken care of - "
       "I am being take care of." Mahrayne growled.
       "You would be better off with proper medical attention -"
       "I'm not leaving here!"
       "What the fuck is going on?"
      Mahrayne almost sobbed with relief at the sound of Zorun's voice. He stalked over to her, enfolding her in strong arms, and glared at Vinas.
       "Well?" he demanded.
      Vinas pursed his lips. "For Lady Mahrayne's safety, and the safety of her child," he said with heavy emphasis, "she should be in a medical facility, not here."
       "'rayne?" Kel had moved to stand close behind her, gripping her shoulder gently.
       "Hassinan children are born in the water, surrounded by family and friends," she looked pleadingly up at her mate, "it's the way we do things."
      Zorun smiled down at her, stroking her face gently.
       "Then that is what we'll do."
      Persicum squeaked when he began to pull off the bodysuit.
       "He's getting in the bath too?" she asked, incredulous, face flaming. Nonnia rolled her eyes.
      "Apparently."
      The teverdia harrumphed, but she too shrugged out of her clothes and climbed into the wide, deep pool, consciously averting her eyes from Zorun's naked form.
      In the end, Zorun and Kel were both in the pool, supporting Mahrayne between them, along with Pirum, Nonnia, Dignusia and Peruro, and Persicum. Tzegh made herself comfortable outside of the bath, Korijin didn't like getting wet, and Vinas - after being allowed to give Mahrayne a brief check-up using a med-scanner - retreated to one side, arms folded tightly across his chest, clearly affronted. Of all the Hassinan females in the pool - save Mahrayne, who was somewhat distracted - Peruro and Dignusia were the least fazed by Zorun being there. Indeed, Peruro made a quiet, unobtrusive study of the big male, raising an appreciative eyebrow at Dignusia.
       "I wonder if I could convince him to come in for some beads?" she murmured to her lover, who smirked and giggled.

It hurt, it hurt like nothing Mahrayne had ever experienced and it just seemed to go on and on... Mahrayne knelt/lay against her mates, facing them, an arm around each of their necks. The Saiyans were sitting shoulder to shoulder in the bath, their strong bodies warm and supportive beneath her, both of their tails stroking soothingly down her back. Pirum reassured the Saiyans that Mahrayne - who'd reverted to Hassinan, amongst other languages - was fine, that Persicum was very pleased with her progress, and no, Mahrayne wasn't in any danger, her sister had just never been very good with pain.
      Mahrayne lost track of time, immersed in her own, intimate little world of agony, only vaguely aware of her mates' attention, or the encouraging sounds from the older females, or the metallic tang in her mouth where she'd bitten down onto Zorun's shoulder hard enough for her sharp, double canines to draw blood. But it would be over soon, she could feel her child's head between her thighs.
      "Almost there, Mahrayne," Persicum murmured, "last push." Mahrayne was exhausted, but she gritted her teeth and bore down…
      She felt the baby slide free of her body at last, and she slumped, sobbing against her Saiyans. Over - it was over. On one side, Zorun nuzzled her neck, his arms and tail wrapping tightly around her - on the other, Kelapa stroked her hair and kissed her cheek, smiling tearfully.

"Oh no."
      Mahrayne's heart lurched: she'd heard that tone at other births. She craned her head, trying to look over her shoulder.
       "What is it? What's wrong?"
       "Persicum, give me the child." Nonnia's voice was pleasant and light.
       "But - " Persicum said worriedly, "it's just not right."
      Nonnia continued with the unhurried, conversational tone, smiling all the while. Mahrayne realised her tertera's performance was for her mates' benefit, not that it made any difference, they could scent something was amiss and both of them had tensed. Heart in her throat, she struggled to turn around so she could see.
       "Don't upset Mahrayne, the Saiyans will kill you. Give me the child."
      Persicum reluctantly handed a small, quietly fretful bundle to Nonnia - Mahrayne caught a glimpse of a plump little hand, and a flash of silver.
       "It's only a tail!" Nonnia's relief was palpable.
       "But it's not natural - "
       "The child's father is a Saiyan, they have tails."
       "I didn't think about that." Persicum grumbled, chagrined.
      Nonnia waded over to the anxious Mahrayne, tears in her eyes.
      "A male, precious - and he's beautiful…"

The new parents and their child - and Kelapa and Pirum - were tucked up warmly in a chamber in the Korijin enclave, incidentally the same chamber Zorun and Mahrayne had used when they'd been reunited at the end of MoonYear. Mahrayne and her child lay cradled securely in her mate's lap, cherished and sheltered within the circle of his arms, his tail wrapped protectively around them as he purred that deep, rhythmic thrum. Mahrayne wonderingly stroked the cub's long and softly spiky silver mane as he nuzzled at her breast, his sturdy little silver tail coiled around her forearm. The Hassinan was gripped by a sense of almost disbelief; this was her child, all hers and no one could take him away from her. Mahrayne felt compelled to touch him, maintain that contact, because if she didn't, she might blink and he'd vanish into a dream. Pirum was unselfconsciously cuddled in next to Zorun - and hadn't the big male's face had been a picture when the young female had done that! - her silver-grey eyes seemingly double their size in her small, pointed face, her gaze never leaving the baby her sister was holding. Kel was on the other side of Pirum, her tail draped over the young Hassinan, the tip very lightly stroking Mahrayne's leg.
       Mahrayne smiled up at Zorun.
       "I still can't believe it." she whispered. Zorun smirked, and lowered his head to kiss her. The sudden upswell of love she felt for him, and their child, brought tears to Mahrayne's eyes.
      Kelapa cleared her throat quietly.
       "I'll, um, go and contact 'teetza."
       "You'll come back when you're done, yes?"
       "Sure." Kel smirked and leaned forward to brush a kiss over Mahrayne's cheek. The warrior ruffled Pirum's hair, then slid off the bed and dressed quickly.

Mahrayne watched the female go, quietly anxious that Kel wouldn't feel she had a place here with them. She did, even Zorun had acknowledged that.
      After Nonnia had handed her child to her, and Mahrayne'd cuddled him close and kissed him softly, she'd shyly passed him to her mate. Father and son regarded each other solemnly for a moment - Mahrayne felt a brief pang of envy, was Zorun *talking* to him? - then Zorun had held the cub up to him, purring quietly, eyes half-closed in bliss as he nuzzled a soft cheek, no doubt breathing in and memorizing his child's scent. The Guard's smile was so wide, so brilliant, Mahrayne's breath caught at the sight of it; but then his smile faded and a ghost of a frown crept over his face. Before Mahrayne had a chance to ask what was wrong, though, Zorun had held out the cub to a thoroughly startled Kelapa. Kel had blinked, and swallowed, then very, very gingerly taken the child from him. She did the same thing that Zorun had done, holding the cub up to her face for a few moments, breathing in deeply, a look of soft joy on her face she was probably unaware of… She'd handed him back to his mother though, soon after, trying to appear nonchalant and unmoved - but her warm brown eyes were shining.
      "Can I hold him too?" Pirum had asked, and Mahrayne grinned and deposited the child into her sister's waiting arms. Pirum had cooed at her newest kin, absolutely entranced with the baby until he'd started to squirm, his little round face screwing up in consternation. Mahrayne chuckled and took him back, settling him to her breast whereupon he'd found what he wanted with impressive speed.
      "Heh, he'll probably have a Saiyan appetite." Kel grinned.
      Mahrayne bit her lip, alarmed. "Oh no. What if I can't keep up with him?"
       "You'll be fine," Kel kissed her cheek. "Don't worry about it."
       Mahrayne settled back into Zorun's arms and watched her baby nurse, singing to him softly in Hassinan. She'd cope, no matter what demands he made of her, she'd cope, willingly, because he was hers.

Kelapa had managed to get most of her composure back before the call to Vejiitasei had connected. Zh'leet's unreadable face appeared on the viewscreen; the brood didn't sound impressed when Kel asked to speak to Leteetza.
       "It is late, Kelapa-san, everyone is in bed."
       "I don't think she'll mind being woken up for this." Kel smirked and Zh'leet tilted her head inquiringly.
       "Mahrayne has had her child?"
      Kel grinned broadly. Zh'leet nodded her head decisively.
       "I'll wake her up."

Zh'leet hadn't given Leteetza an explanation for Kel's late-night call, but the little female easily divined the reason when she saw her friend's face.
       "Mahrayne's had the brat?"
       "Yep."
       "And?" Leteetza demanded.
       "A male. Healthy, strong."
       "Heh, typical male. Couldn't wait to be born somewhere civilised." Leteetza beamed. "How's 'rayne?"
       "Stunned, I think."
       "And Zorun?"
      Kel snorted.
       "Utterly besotted with the pair of them!"
      Leteetza's grin hadn't faded one whit.
       "How was the birth?"
       "Crowded." Kel smirked. Leteetza shook her head at Kel's description of the event.
       "How was the actual birth, though? Any problems?"
      "Mahrayne didn't enjoy it," Kel said, "I couldn't understand much of what she was saying, but some of it had to be Korijin, Tzegh looked fucking uncomfortable in places!"
       "What's the brat like? Does he look Saiyan or Hassinan?" Leteetza asked when she'd stopped chuckling.
       "Bit of both." Kel shrugged, "he's got 'rayne's skin colour, but a Saiyan mane and tail, and listen to this - they're silver, Pirum's colour, cutest thing I've ever seen."
       "Heh, wait 'til Zha'haarak and Ti'aasaan see him - he's going to be spoiled rotten! When are you coming home?"
       "Few days yet. Mahrayne needs some time to recover, it was hard on her."
      Leteetza frowned. "How hard? Wasn't Vinas there?"
       "Yes he was, and itching to get her somewhere where he'd be in charge. But there were no real problems. 'rayne bled a bit more than either of the medics were happy with, but they reckon she'll be fine."
      Leteetza grinned impulsively again. "I'll tell the family - though the brats won't give us any peace until they're home. Have they given him a name yet?"
      Kel shook her head. "Not so far, I think they're both still too overwhelmed to think of practicalities like that."
      Leteetza sobered. "How long have you been on planet?"
      Kel grimaced. "Too fucking long. Almost ten hours and I can feel the effects already. Zorun probably is too. He's not going to want to leave them though. I don't want to leave them." she finished quietly.
       "You don't have a choice."
       "No," Kel scowled, then sighed, "and we can come down to see them again after we've rested."
      Leteetza nodded. "Good. Take care of yourselves, all right?"
      "I will," Kelapa smirked. "Better go, talk to you soon."

Zorun and Mahrayne were alone with their cub, Pirum having been dragged away, protesting, by a smiling Nonnia. They lay facing each other under the warm furs, the baby sleeping contentedly between them.
      "What shall we call him?" Zorun asked softly.
      Mahrayne blinked, surprised; once she'd found out her child was a male she'd given no thought to naming him, that was his father's prerogative after all.
       "I don't know," Mahrayne smiled ruefully, "I haven't given it much thought. Traditionally in our culture, the fathers name their sons." She lifted a hand away from her child to stroke Zorun's mane. "Is there anyone you'd like to name him for?"
      Zorun smirked. "Not without seeming presumptuous. Do you have any suggestions?"
      Mahrayne chewed her lip as she pondered: naming a child was a serious business.
      Zorun put a finger to her mouth, gently pulling her lip away from her teeth.
       "Stop that," he said, "you'll make it bleed again."
      Mahrayne giggled then sucked his finger into her mouth. Zorun's eyes darkened unmistakably with lust, and his tail wrapped around her thigh, the tip teasing lightly over her groin. Mahrayne's own arousal flared, despite her weariness and the bone-deep aches in her body. She wrapped her fingers around the back of Zorun's skull and pulled him to her to kiss...
       "This is all very well," Zorun said huskily a little while later, "but it's not getting the brat named."
      Mahrayne nipped at his lips and sighed. He was right of course and she shouldn't be teasing him or herself like this anyway, not after Vinas's decree that in order to recover completely from the pregnancy and birth she should 'refrain from intercourse' for at least a hundred days. Mahrayne had not been happy about that, and would probably have disregarded the biotech's advice if Persicum hadn't agreed with him. Dammit, it wasn't fair!
      "'rayne," Zorun stroked along her cheek beads with a broad thumb, "it's not your fault."
      Maybe, but she still felt guilty and shamed by her body's weakness.
       "Enough." He kissed her, a light brush of his lips against hers, "Let's name our cub."
      Mahrayne smiled lovingly at her mate; there were more important things to worry about other than not being able to fuck, besides – as she'd told Ientus and Iocor - there was more to making love than just intercourse, time she took her own advice.
       "We'd better, or he'll end up being called 'brat' all his life."
      Zorun smirked. "Any suggestions?"
       "Well," Mahrayne began tentatively, "he's a hybrid – none of the other hybrids have names from their parents' cultures."
      Her mate frowned. "So, what, we make a name up?"
       "No," Mahrayne frowned also, "I don't think so. No disrespect to the hybrids or their parents, but I think a name should mean something." She sighed and kissed her son's forehead - then looked up at Zorun as inspiration hit her.
       "How about 'Kinu'?"
       "Kinu?"
       "It's a Korijin name." Mahrayne was quietly enthusiastic. "He is an important figure in their creation stories - an explorer, a warrior, loving and protective of his family. He's the one who persuaded Kori to build a home for her people, to stop them wandering lost through the stars."
      Zorun's eyebrows rose, though whether at the name or the fanciful story Mahrayne wasn't sure.
       "Kinu." He said softly, trying it out. "Kinu." He nodded thoughtfully. "Yes. I like that, it…"
       "Feels right, yes?"
       "Yes." Zorun and Mahrayne grinned at each other like children.
      Zorun gently kissed his son's forehead.
      "Kinu it is then."