Journeys pt 2
"So what did you think of your first Saiya-jin clients?"
Peruro flushed. "They were - interesting. Though I might ask any future clients to come to me alone."
Mahrayne smirked. Radittsu and Hijau had visited Peruro yesterday to - finally - have their penis beads set, and after listening to the males talking about it in the suite last night she could understand why the Hassinan was a little embarrassed. For beads to be spaced correctly, the penis had to be erect for a prolonged period of time, not a problem for Hassinan males but Saiya-jin didn't have the valve-like structure at the base of their penises which they could voluntarily close off to prolong - or prevent - an erection. Radittsu and Hijau had had to do all manner of things to each other - short of actual fucking - to keep each other erect. And having witnessed the two males being intimate before, Mahrayne could quite understand Peruro's blush.
"I was able to ignore all the… activities," Peruro continued thoughtfully, "but I think I might have insulted them when I wondered out loud why they couldn't stay erect."
Mahrayne burst out laughing. "Saiya-jin don't usually need to, they recover very quickly and generally have good stamina."
"Better than ours?" Dignusia said slyly.
"Depends on the individual," Mahrayne was smug, "but on the whole I'd say no."
The three females sniggered over that for a moment or two, then Peruro went on with the story.
"It was strange though, after I said that, they - looked - at each other, then the smaller one - "
"Hijau."
"Hijau - took off, coming back a couple of minutes later with some thin leather straps that he tied tightly around the base of Radittsu's penis and testicles - " she blushed again, " - after he'd gotten him erect again. And that was fascinating - " Peruro went off on a tangent, "when you said their tails were sensitive, I didn't fully understand how sensitive they were! But it worked, between his tail and the straps he stayed up, and things went a lot more smoothly and quickly after that."
Ah - Mahrayne thought - that explains the reference to Jeice in last night's conversation. Hijau had asked the hash'shavven for help. A good choice considering maintaining an erection was an important part of the little alien's skill.
"Did you have any problems piercing their skin?" Mahrayne asked.
"I blunted an awl." Peruro said ruefully, "luckily I had another to hand. It would be much harder, I'd imagine, trying to get through the skin on the less delicate parts of their bodies. But anyway - " the female shook her head, " - despite all that there was only one thing about them that really embarrassed me."
"What was that?" Mahrayne was intrigued to know what could make Peruro cringe.
"Did they both have to strip off completely?" the bead-setter said plaintively, "I wasn't ready for that."
Mahrayne laughed. "It probably didn't occur to them not to!"
Peruro had set beads for a lot of Hassinan males, all over their bodies, but none of them would have been completely naked in front of her - that was reserved for their own females.
"Would you be willing to take more Saiya-jin males as clients?"
"Oh yes." Peruro's quick answer betrayed her eagerness. "They were certainly worth the experience, and they brought us some delicious meat."
Radittsu and Hijau had 'discussed' with Mahrayne the bead-setting process - read: interrogated her about it - and one of the things they'd wanted to know was what would be an appropriate payment for Peruro's services. Mahrayne tried to explain to them the centuries old barter and trade system the Hassinan used, and while they seemed to understand the principle the literal-minded Saiyans still wanted to know exactly what they should give her. Mahrayne thought about it then suggested something that was of use to the Muruanians as well so that Peruro could begin contributing to the household. Food was the obvious answer. The Muruanians were omnivores, they could happily digest Vejiitasei food animals and the Hassinans could use the bones to fashion more beads. Perfect solution.
Radittsu and Hijau had set off hunting very early in the morning...
Mahrayne had to chuckle as she surveyed the enormous pile of dead animals - of all shapes and sizes - they'd returned with; you certainly couldn't fault their enthusiasm!
She quickly sorted out what she deemed an appropriate amount to trade - which still left an impressive stack of carcasses on the balcony. Needless to say, the family had an excellent lunch, and Mahrayne had arranged for some of the more interesting pelts to be tanned.
"They were not pleased when I told them they had to wait before they could make love again."
Mahrayne giggled. "Patience isn't a Saiya-jin trait, and they are both very eager to pleasure their bondmates."
"Thankfully they healed quickly, I think they might have gone off the idea entirely if they'd had to wait for any length of time."
"I don't think that would have happened. Saiya-jin don't have much patience, but once they've decided on something they're persistent."
Peruro smiled at that, then her eyes took on a sort of gleam that Mahrayne had seen before.
"Radittsu - the big one - he was very… um…"
Mahrayne grinned. "Yes, he is."
"I took one look at him and I had to get more beads. I wasn't sure I'd have enough!" Peruro giggled. "Is he typical of Saiya-jin?"
"I think he's one of the exceptions. Though from my limited experience I don't know if there are any poorly-endowed Saiya-jin males." Mahrayne giggled. "There'd have to be, though, wouldn't there? For contrast if nothing else!"
Pirum had slipped easily into life on Vejiitasei. The young female was surrounded by people she liked, and who liked her; there were all sorts of new things to see and do, and best of all she had Mahrayne close to her again. Pirum couldn't begin to tell her sister how much she'd missed her, or how dull it was in the household when she wasn't around. The child did not want to go back to her homeworld, but as with most aspects of her life, it looked like she'd have no choice about this either. Astolan had grudgingly let her go only because the Lead Speaker had pledged her safety: her father, she knew, was not keen for any more of his household to be exposed to unnatural, alien ideas and behaviour. Pirum was intelligent and resourceful, though, and even before she'd had to think about leaving Vejiitasei she was already plotting ways to make enough of a nuisance of herself on Hassina that they'd be glad to be rid of her. After all, Rursus would have plenty of females, he didn't really need her, did he?
Mahrayne wasn't the only reason Pirum didn't want to go home, there was also Buahan. Pirum felt very strongly about the little princess, though she wasn't sure exactly what it was she was feeling. But going beyond that, Bu-chan was Pirum's best friend ever, and Pirum simply loved being with her. They were very alike in a lot of ways, both intelligent and determined; they even thought alike, frequently finishing each others sentences. Buahan wasn't intimidated by Pirum's intellect or her sense of humour either, unlike the other, idiot females her own age Pirum had been forced to associate with at home. Pirum had made her mind up that when she left she was only going to miss Bu-chan a little bit, because she wouldn't be away from her for long enough to miss her a lot.
Pirum was fascinated by the non-zn'hre R'ren'nkh'ia-jin she met; some of them reminded her of the little amphibians the Hassinan hunted for food. Not that she'd ever mention that of course, she may like to stir things up sometimes, but she wasn't going to risk insulting anything as large as these lizards! Zh'leet was an especial source of fascination to the young Hassinan for a couple of reasons. First, the brood didn't seem to mind being plied with questions and she took the time to answer them, and second, she was a healer of sorts. Pirum had always had a fascination with the healing arts. Olla, her mother, had voiced the hope that her daughter might want to become a healer, it was, after all a prestigious line of work. But Pirum had no illusions about herself, she knew she didn't have the compassion, or the caring instincts, that seemed to make for a good healer. No, Pirum's interest in healing was more a morbid curiosity about bodies and how they worked. Olla had years ago banned her from bringing any more dead animals into their alcove when she'd stepped on one too many of her daughter's dissection experiments.
Zh'leet hadn't been able to answer all of Pirum's questions but she'd helped the young female find suitable texts and articles through the library computer's database. Pirum was very grateful - there weren't many adults (Mahrayne was an exception) who took her interests seriously enough to want to help her with them.
One not quite so rainy afternoon during Pirum's visit to Vejiitasei, she'd gone with the other children - and their guards - to the beach. Jeice had carried her there and she'd been intrigued by the different feel of the little alien's body compared to a female's. He was sort of firmer and flatter, and his contours were all wrong. As they flew towards the beach, the hash'shavven hadn't seemed to mind her absorbed, chaste exploration of his upper arms, shoulders and neck. She really wanted to have a close look at his chest - those metal rings she'd glimpsed during bathing were fascinating - but that was out of the question; he was a male, and an adult, and therefore completely off-limits for anything so intimate.
Mahrayne had come on the outing as well, carried by Kelapa, her older sister obviously very happy to be spending time with the warrior. Pirum smiled, she liked Kel too, though not quite in the same way as her sister did!
It hadn't taken long to fly to the beach at all and as the ocean came into view Pirum was totally unprepared for the awe-inspiring sight. There was no surface water on Hassina, and even the largest of the underground lakes couldn't compare to the mind-boggling expanse of open water in front of her now. The ocean was so big it made her feel insignificant, it could just swallow her up and she'd be gone as if she'd never existed…
Pirum - who had never been truly frightened of anything before - whimpered and clutched at Jeice, hiding her face in the hash'shavven's chest.
And then, suddenly, she was suffused with warmth, a comforting, familiar warmth reminiscent of the cosy heat of the household's common room, or from a long soak in the hot baths. Pirum relaxed, looking up into Jeice's pretty face as he stroked her hair.
"Don't be afraid, little one," he smiled down at her, "we won't let you come to any harm here."
Pirum believed him, returning his smile shyly, and within minutes she was with her sister and Buahan eagerly investigating the shoreline, having almost completely forgotten her initial fear.
Mahrayne finally got around to reading the correspondence that had been piling up. The children were all elsewhere, the suite was quiet; she settled herself happily onto the bed - a small platter of meat strips and a jug of bitter ale handy - and began to read.
The letter from Malum wasn't very long, but he did mention that Ientus was pregnant. The letter from Ientus was much longer and much more detailed, her brother's female happily shovelling facts into the gaps her brother had left. Yes, she was pregnant, and absolutely beside herself with joy. Iocor was thrilled for her as well, and Malum was (apparently) almost speechless with pride every time he saw her.
'Every time he saw her'?
Mahrayne was a little confused. Traditionally, once a female was pregnant she had nothing to do with her male until the child was four, unless… Mahrayne skimmed through the next page, giggling with delight when she found out that the teverdias had debated the questions Mahrayne had raised and come to the conclusion that they could see no reason for a female not to go to her male while she was pregnant, if she and her male both agreed to it, though they advised refraining from actual intercourse. Ientus was a little put out by that last directive - she'd really enjoyed mating with Malum - but at least she could still accompany her sister when Iocor went to him. And as Mahrayne had taught them, there was more to mating than just intercourse, wasn't there? Ientus finished up her letter with the news that other pregnant females were beginning to come round to the idea of accompanying their terteras when they went to the males.
Mahrayne was profoundly happy to hear that. While she'd been living on Vejiitasei she'd seen first hand the pride and joy a male could get from watching his child grow within his mate. Mahrayne didn't need to be empathic to see how much pleasure Zorun got when he pressed his hands to her abdomen and felt their child move beneath his palms, his dark eyes softening with love for her and their baby. Radittsu had been the same with his bondmate's hostlings (and would probably be the same with his and Leteetza's child... if the little female allowed him to). Maybe if the Hassinan males could experience the same thing then maybe they could become closer to their females and children? Mahrayne thought it could only help to strengthen the kinship bonds.
Nonnia's letter was written in sections, as if the female had jotted something down while she had a spare moment, then picked the thread up again later. Her tertera briefly mentioned her mother, saying she was 'well' but gave no more details. Mahrayne sighed; Tella wasn't getting any better then. Mahrayne ached for Nonnia, she knew what it was like to watch part of your heart sicken and die. Thankfully Genesia had succumbed to the lung disease quickly, she hadn't had to nurse her lover through years of decline. The wasting sickness afflicting her mother was different though, Tella could live for years yet, needing constant attention, and that would be a terrible thing for Nonnia to have to endure - no matter how much she loved Tella. Her tertera also mentioned off-hand that she'd requested not to go to Astolan while she was looking after Tella. Mahrayne grimaced - she knew that this wasn't so much about Nonnia being concerned for her lover, but frightened of the possibility of becoming pregnant after all this time. Well, it was Nonnia's choice, if - or when - she decided to see if the treatment she'd had on G'geckah had worked, and she'd become fertile.
The letters from Chumie and Testa were long and loving, even if Chumie's were a little egocentric. Mahrayne smiled mistily; she missed her sisters but they sounded happy at least. Not surprisingly neither Astolan or Tella deigned to write, which was fine with Mahrayne; she had no desire to communicate with them in any way.
There was another light and friendly letter from Lord Kurumi, inquiring after her health and describing the wild weather Pankuzu was experiencing. Mahrayne was delighted to hear from the noble; she really liked Kel's father, she'd felt more at ease with him than she'd ever felt with her own father. The wall-hanging she was making for him was almost complete, she could send that along with her reply.
There was also a letter from Pinattsu. She apologised for not replying sooner but she'd been busy with her new son. The female invited Mahrayne - and incidentally her mate and/or Kelapa - to visit any time. Mahrayne was very tempted, she'd really like to witness these wet season storms that lashed the island, and she had to admit, she would like to see Pinattsu again. Now what were the chances she'd be able to get a few days off? And would she be allowed to go on her own if Kel or Zorun couldn't go with her?
Mahrayne was having a wonderful afternoon. The balcony doors were shut tightly against the fierce squally rain outside making it the cosy side of stifling in the common room. The children had gone to their afternoon lessons with Radittsu, Leteetza was in the library, Kel was on duty and the High King was in conference again. That left Zha'haarak, Ti'aasaan, Jeice, the babies and herself in the suite, or more specifically, on the sleeping platform. Tane and Dari were there too, the healers having eaten the midday meal with the family then stayed on to continue treating Zha'haarak. The gentle zn'hre was in a great deal of pain: the wet weather was playing havoc with his injured hip.
When she'd finished eating, Mahrayne had played a simple clapping and counting game with the babies - to their hissing delight - until they grew sleepy again. She hummed as she stroked Za'rayne's emerald mane, the child sleeping soundly in the small amount of lap she had left. The babies were growing so fast! They weren't a hundred days old yet but they were already starting to walk and try to form words. Mahrayne fervently hoped her baby, despite being part-Saiyan, would stay little for a while longer than that, she didn't think she could bear it if he grew up too soon.
Mahrayne looked over at Zha'haarak and the twins. The prince's eyes were shut tight, his discomfort evident even with the soothing ki-warmth Tane and Dari were steadily pouring into him.
"Your highness?" Mahrayne softly called to him. Zha'haarak opened his eyes, turning his face towards her.
"Shall I tell you a story?"
Zha'haarak's face lit up with one of those breathtakingly beautiful smiles of his.
"Please…"
Mahrayne held her audience rapt with another tale from Ellim. Not as humorous this time, but exciting, the hero using his knowledge of the crowded, colourful streets of the large city to help him escape from the brutal, but stupid, gang of thugs he'd inadvertently insulted...
The story was meant to be told over several sessions, each part ending on a note of high drama, but Mahrayne told it all in one go, seamlessly fusing the different parts together without losing any of the tension. At the conclusion of the story, Mahrayne accepted her audience's praise with a smirk and a self-effacing tilt of her head.
"That was marvellous!" Ti'aasaan enthused, handing her a beaker of water. "Could you tell that one again sometime? The Ssii'iin would love to hear it."
"It will be a pleasure." Mahrayne beamed at him.
When she'd finished her drink Ti'aasaan moved around behind her, unclipping the metal bands holding her hair back. Mahrayne gave a little sigh of pleasure as the zn'hre gently massaged her scalp and ran his fingers slowly through her thick hair. Ti'aasaan's hands found their way to her shoulders and neck, stroking and kneading lightly until she relaxed back against him, closing her eyes with another sigh. She wasn't really surprised when she felt his cool hands reach around to cup and knead her breasts gently, the zn'hre's strong fingers stroking her breast beads through the fine fabric, tweaking her nipples erect. Mahrayne groaned with pleasure as Ti'aasaan licked slowly up the side of her neck, his long, cool tongue flicking along her jaw. She felt a delicate movement in her lap and opened her eyes, looking down to see Jeice gently removing the still sleeping Za'rayne. The little alien smirked at her as he placed the baby on the bed beside him, close to Ra'vahn. Mahrayne smiled her gratitude to Jeice then turned her attention back to the insistent zn'hre, who was tugging her robe up past her hips.
Once she was naked, Ti'aasaan put his palms against her shoulder blades, gently, but firmly, pushing her down on to the bed until her cheek was resting on her forearms and her legs were folded underneath her. Ti'aasaan loved her skin beads, loved the feel of them beneath his finger tips and tongue, and he indulged himself now, tracing the lines and swirls of the sparkwing beaded over her back. Mahrayne sighed happily, content to drift for the moment under the little zn'hre's hands - but not for too long. Soon she wanted more than the teasingly light touches Ti'aasaan was allowing her and she rocked back on her hips, pushing her buttocks resolutely against his bare - when did that happen? - groin.
"It's not just Saiyans who have no patience." Ti'aasaan chuckled. Mahrayne smirked back over her shoulder at him, deliberately angling herself so that the zn'hre's substantial erection was nestled between her buttocks. Ti'aasaan grinned and canted his hips slowly back and forth, sliding the cold firmness of his shaft over her groin. Mahrayne moaned and wriggled her knees further apart, willing the little zn'hre to stop teasing her - she wanted him in her now now now! Ti'aasaan smirked and pulled back a little to make it easier to position himself -
"Don't mind us, will you?" Tane's murmur held the barest hint of sarcasm.
Mahrayne started: the twins! Shit! She'd forgotten about them - maybe she and Ti'aasaan should go into her room -
She gasped as the zn'hre thrust into her, promptly forgetting Dari and Tane again as her attention snapped in to focus on the wonderful coolness filling her.
Some time later Mahrayne lay flat on her back, literally humming with sated contentment. Ti'aasaan was kneeling over her, his surprisingly strong thighs spread wide over her shoulders bringing his groin in contact with her face. The zn'hre smirked down at Mahrayne as she licked slowly along the outside folds of his female part; her humming was producing a lovely light ripple of vibration through his genitals and he was erect again.
The twins had gone - Mahrayne had no idea when they'd left; she wondered briefly if they'd gone back to their rooms and were making love even now…
"Oh for fuck's sake!"
Mahrayne peered over Ti'aasaan's pale-blue thigh to see Leteetza standing at the end of the bed. The little female's hands were planted firmly on her hips and she was scowling irritably at Mahrayne and the zn'hre. Ti'aasaan supplely twisted the upper half of his torso so he could look at her without moving his groin away from Mahrayne's mouth. Though she couldn't see his expression, the Hassinan could hear the smug grin in the zn'hre's voice.
"Hello, zvi'ch, have you had a productive time in the library?"
Leteetza growled at him then flicked a glance towards Zha'haarak and Jeice who were feeding the infants some minced meat.
"At least someone is looking after the brats!" she said pointedly.
"Of course they are," Mahrayne said, "when have any of us ever put our pleasure before our responsibilities?"
Leteetza's scowl deepened and Mahrayne could swear the little female was ransacking her memory trying to remember such a time.
"And you!" Leteetza snapped at her, "Aren't you supposed to be resting?"
"I am lying down, 'teetza." Mahrayne giggled. Leteetza said nothing but there was a dangerous glint in her eyes.
"Come and join us," Ti'aasaan offered with a sly grin, "we've a little time before the children return."
Ti'aasaan slid gracefully away from Mahrayne, lying beside her on the bed but leaving a Leteetza sized gap between them. The Saiyan scowled, however she was wavering under the pressure of matched come-hither looks.
"You two are a bad influence." She grumbled, shrugging out of her crop top and briefs before crawling up the bed to lie between the completely unrepentant aliens.
"But you love us anyway." Mahrayne said smugly, nuzzling her neck while Ti'aasaan reached for her tail…
The Hassinan delegation were leaving tomorrow and Mahrayne had requested to meet with the Lead Speaker before he left. In truth, she wasn't looking forward to the interview; his off-hand dismissal of her fears the last time they spoke had stung and she wasn't keen to expose herself to ridicule again. But she had to find out how the talks had gone.
Mahrayne had arranged to meet the Lead Speaker mid-afternoon in the servery closest to the R'ren'nkh'ian wing. As it was within the palace she didn't need an escort, though Kel had offered, and now she waited alone at a table, too immersed in her own thoughts to notice the curious looks she was getting.
"Daughter?"
Mahrayne looked up at the softly-voiced enquiry, suddenly feeling anxious.
"Thank you for meeting with me, Lead Speaker."
Marldus inclined his head politely and sat down opposite her, waiting for her to speak.
"Can you tell me how the talks went? If it's not confidential, of course."
The older male regarded her, his expression carefully neutral.
"It's been agreed that, in future, the aliens will listen closely to our Effodios' advice." He grimaced slightly. "Though 'listening' and 'heeding' are not necessarily the same thing."
Mahrayne waited for him to continue; Marldus shrugged minutely.
"That's all!? After eight days of negotiations!" Mahrayne couldn't help her outburst; she fought down her outrage.
"Daughter - " Marldus, astonishingly, appeared at a loss for words. "It's not the outcome we'd hoped for, but it's a start."
Mahrayne squeezed her eyes shut against her helpless tears.
"Mahrayne -" the Lead Speaker's lowered voice carried a hint of urgency. "We will not let them destroy our planet."
Mahrayne's eyes flashed open and she gazed at the Lead Speaker, realising with a sudden chill that he believed her warning about Hassina's destruction, and he was afraid.
Mahrayne was suddenly suffused with an icy calm - what would be would be, but the Hassinan didn't have to die with their planet.
"You will do everything you can to preserve our people."
Marldus stared at her, taken aback at her tone, then he inclined his head almost -respectfully.
"I will."
Mahrayne snapped back to herself, unnerved by their momentary role reversal.
Who did she think she was, giving him orders? Someone who mattered? She should be appalled and ashamed she'd spoken to the Lead Speaker like that! She looked down nervously at her hands.
"There is one more thing, Lead Speaker, if - if it's not too much trouble."
He waited.
"I would like for Pirum to stay on Vejiitasei."
Marldus shook his head.
"That's not possible at the moment, I'm afraid, Astolan will never agree, but - " he said softly in response to the arguments he could see her mustering, "circumstances change."
Mahrayne frowned - 'circumstances change'? - what was that supposed to mean?
The Lead Speaker stood, smiling enigmatically at her. He'd firmly re-positioned himself in his role as planetary leader, Mahrayne saw, settling almost gratefully back into her own familiar role of subordinate female. She stood and lowered her head respectfully to him.
"No doubt, daughter, I will see you tomorrow morning at the spaceport?"
"Yes, Lead Speaker."
"Don't fiddle with them, Pirum!" Buahan gently pulled the Hassinan's hand away from her newly pierced earlobes. "They won't heal if you keep touching them."
"Can't help it, Bu-chan, they feel so odd."
The princess was acutely aware that this was Pirum's last night on Vejiitasei. Tomorrow she'd be returning to Hassina, a place that Kelapa had feelingly described as a 'shit-hole'. She bit her lip, feeling tears threaten.
"I don't want you to go, Pirum."
The Hassinan stroked her friend's cheek. "I don't want to go either, but I have to. For now at least." she leant forward and quickly brushed a kiss on the side of Buahan's mouth. "I will be back as soon as I can."
"I can have a tantrum!" Buahan said with sudden inspiration, "I can make my kusoyaro father order you to stay! He owes me anyway." The princess said darkly.
Pirum giggled. "I'd like to see that. I'm sure you'd be even prettier when you're angry. Would your father give in, do you think?"
Buahan was intelligent and a pragmatist, and she knew her father well. She scowled and shook her head.
"Doubt it."
The two young females gazed unhappily at each other then Pirum stripped off one of her bangles and held it out shyly to the Saiyan.
"'rayne gave this to me - it's my favourite thing. I'd like you to have it."
Buahan didn't trust herself to speak so she simply held out her wrist for the Hassinan to slip the delicately twisted bright metal bangle onto her arm. Pirum was much bigger than she was and the jewellery was very loose. Pirum gently pushed the bangle up her friend's arm until it sat snugly a few inches below her elbow.
"Thank you." Buahan whispered pulling Pirum into a tight hug. The females held each other for long minutes then Pirum kissed her friend's cheek and pulled away slightly.
"'rayne and Kel are probably waiting for us to go to sleep so they can come to bed."
Buahan smirked. "Or they're off fucking somewhere."
Pirum giggled and lay down, pulling Buahan with her, settling the princess snugly under her chin. Buahan cuddled in, draping her tail over Pirum's waist and within minutes they were sound asleep.
The transport to Hassina was scheduled to leave mid-morning. Buahan had been allowed the morning off again so she could accompany Pirum to the spaceport. The young females stood now in the departure area, holding hands, quietly savouring their last few minutes together while the Lead Speaker took his leave of Manzano. Peruro and Dignusia had come to say goodbye to Pirum as well, and to give her some letters to take back to Hassina for them; Mahrayne had given her a similar bundle of correspondence.
"It's time to go now, perlhia." the Lead Speaker said gently.
Pirum had sworn to herself that when it came time to leave she wasn't going to cry, but the tears began as she quickly hugged Peruro and Dignusia, rapidly developing into a deluge as she hugged her sister and Buahan simultaneously.
"You are coming back, sinam," Mahrayne whispered fiercely, "I will make sure of that."
"You have to come back, Pirum," Buahan gamely strove for a light tone, "because I’m ordering you to, and I'm a princess, and you have to do as I say."
Pirum laughed and wiped her eyes.
"I am yours to command, your highness." She brushed a light, hesitant kiss over Buahan's lips, then planted a firmer one on Mahrayne's cheek.
"'Bye."
Pirum's farewell was barely audible as she pulled away from them. She gave them both a tremulous smile then turned and almost ran up the walkway into the waiting transport before she could start crying again.
Zorun kissed Mahrayne's cheek then helped her sit upright on the examination couch. Mahrayne beamed at him, and at Ayva. This latest check-up had shown that her baby was still healthy and growing well, and that she was in better shape than she had been at the last check-up. Zh'leet's meaty glop was obviously working. Mahrayne basked in her glowing happiness and contentment - and then Vinas came into the room.
Mahrayne didn't know what it was about the biotech, but he irritated her. The mere sound of his voice made her feel like she'd been gnawing on rocks. He nodded to Zorun, and Ayva, barely favouring Mahrayne with a glance. Mahrayne scowled.
"When the time comes I think it would be best," he began without preamble, "to deliver the child surgically."
Mahrayne glared at him. "Why?"
Vinas blinked - as if he was surprised the exhibit had spoken, Mahrayne thought sourly.
"With respect, Lady Mahrayne, being pregnant with a half-Saiyan child is taxing even for a robust species - "
"Hassinan are not as fragile as you all seem to think!" Mahrayne snapped, "I am not a delicate piece of crystal that will shatter into a thousand pieces if you look at me the wrong way! And this child is no bigger than a full-blood Hassinan. I can't foresee any problems with a normal delivery."
Vinas pursed his lips. "We estimate there are at least two hundred days to go before this pregnancy can be considered full term. It is already placing a great strain on your body. It is not going to get any easier for you – "
"No."
Vinas, exasperated, looked at Zorun and Ayva, a transparent appeal to make this awkward female see sense. Ayva spoke quietly to Mahrayne.
"Vinas does have a point – "
"I will not consent to surgery because he doesn't want the inconvenience of an unscheduled delivery."
The female medic smirked. "Believe it or not, Mahrayne, Vinas is thinking only of your, and your baby's, health."
Mahrayne wavered. "I want to have as normal a delivery as possible."
"I understand that, and I agree, but there is a chance you won't be up to it, physically." The medic smiled ruefully. "It hasn't been easy, has it?"
Mahrayne sighed. "No."
"We don't need to make a firm decision now," Ayva glanced back at Vinas, who nodded after a moment, "but it's something we might have to consider."
Mahrayne nodded reluctantly.
"And if you do as you're told," Ayva said with a grin, "rest, eat properly, all of that, we may not need to consider a surgical delivery."
"I hope so." Mahrayne bit her lip. "All right. I'll keep my options open."
Ayva smiled and patted her shoulder. "Good, and I'll watch you closely so we can spot any problems quickly."
Vinas harrumphed. "Well, I'm glad that's settled. If you'll excuse me I have other - " Mahrayne could almost hear his unvoiced 'more important', " - things to attend to."
Ayva smirked when the biotech had left the room.
"I think Vinas will be quite pleased to see the back of you!"
© 2002 July 28th Amanda Mullane
