Vengeance pt 3

As the beautiful haunted golden eyes faded and closed, Ry grabbed the zn'hre, lifting the limp pale body - so light, far too light - and sliding him onto the diagnostic bed. Eyes frantic, he glanced at the tz'een.
      "Check him! He's not dead. He can't be dead…"
      Zh'hakra was already there, monitor out and scanning the still body. He shook his heavily crested head.
      "Not quite." He hissed urgently over his shoulder, galvanising his shocked staff into action. Within seconds 'raadiin was surrounded by medtechs, a variety of instruments attached to his body - and Zh'hakra had plunged a long hypodermic into the centre of his chest. Ry whimpered as the already slow, irregular heartbeat seemed to stop.
      "What have you done?!"
      Zh'hakra answered without looking up.
      "Slowed his metabolic rate. It will give us a chance to repair the damage without putting more strain on his system." He glanced up very quickly. "Crude but still effective. You had better leave, Ry-sama."
      "I'm not going anywhere!"
      Zh'hakra frowned, then hissed a sigh.
      "Very well. But you will remain silent and not try to interfere."
      Ry nodded hastily and took up position at the head of the couch, hands gently resting on his aijin's hair…

He'd started off by watching anxiously, but by the time the tz'een had finished opening up the prince's abdomen he'd had to look away, only catching little glimpses from the corner of his eye as the techs removed… he assumed the clots of bloody tissue were what would have become the hostlings…
      "There's some organ damage, Ry-sama."
      The Saiyan swallowed and tried to look at the biotech without looking at 'raadiin, and only partially succeeding.
      "Can you repair it?"
      "I… believe so. This is going to take some time, however. Are you sure you would not prefer to wait elsewhere?"
      "No - I want to stay here…"
      Zh'hakra gave him one long, measured look, then nodded and bent his head to his work…
      Ry gulped and closed his eyes, shutting out the sight of the biotechs carefully manipulating fine lasers, sealing torn blood vessels and easing together the long slashes in the blue and glistening organs deep within the prince's body. There was a world of difference between disembowelling an enemy - or even tending a colleague wounded in action - and watching a loved one being patched up. The one was just part of being a warrior, the other…
      He shuddered. The other was something he was afraid to look at too closely right now. If 'raadiin survived this, they still had to cope with the state of mind that had caused it, not something the Saiya-jin were experienced - or even comfortable - with…
      And yet, to some extent, Ry could understand why his aijin had acted so. He could even imagine how he'd feel in the prince's place, and it was quite possible he'd have done the same thing. Or at least considered it. After he'd torn to pieces the ones who'd made him suffer.
      Which was something else they had to sort out. The rogue lizards were currently incarcerated in the lowest, coldest, darkest caverns, awaiting 'haabron's decision as to their fate - and 'haabron wouldn't act without first contacting the High King. Privately Ry hoped they'd be treated the same way as those past traitors, Dhr'ovaanon and Zha'geekaan. Unless the R'ren'nkh'ia-jin had thought up anything more inventive and painful in the meantime, of course…
      He was indulging in images of how he'd like to make them suffer when Zh'hakra's voice filtered through into his consciousness, and opened his eyes with a start. The tz'een was regarding him sombrely.
      "I believe we have done all we can for now. He will need constant monitoring, and we need to replace the blood lost, but he is stable. Do you wish to stay with him?"
      "Of course!"
      "Good. But I don't wish two patients. You will take a rest now - eat something, sleep if you can…"
       "I don't want to lea…"
      A solid hand on his arm had him glancing over his shoulder into Kiraz' eyes.
      "Go take a break. I'll stay with him. I'll *call* if he wakes."
      "Which is unlikely." The tz'een added. "I do not expect him to regain consciousness for at least twelve hours."
      Ry glanced at the zn'hre's too pale, too thin face, then at Kiraz, and finally nodded reluctantly. He was hungry and tired. And he wouldn't be much use to 'raadiin if he wasn't operating at peak performance.
      "Very well. But I'll be right back."
      Kiraz snorted.
      "Of course you will…"

Although it was an hour before the warrior was able to return to the medcentre: Kobis met him at the nearest eatery as he was piling a platter full of different meats. Ry grinned - he'd always like Kiraz' twin. Kobis smiled back.
      "Will you contact the family before you go back? They're waiting for news - and 'lestrel wants to see you, if only for a moment or two."
      Ry nodded guiltily. He hadn't forgotten his zk'iinan, but he'd been so intensely focussed on 'raadiin he'd lost track of time, and just about everything else… He nodded.
      "Of course. Where's the nearest commlink?"

'lestrel looked tired, he thought.
      "Is everything well, aijin?"
      The Zasshu nodded.
      "We are all well. 'haabron told us that you've found 'raadiin…and that he…"
      Ry sighed and rubbed his forehead.
      "Yeah… The biotechs have operated though, fixed the damage, they think… The physical damage anyway."
      A'lestrel shuddered.
      "The mental damage will not be so easy to repair. For this to happen to 'raadiin, of all of us…"
      Ry bit his lip.
      "I know. I'm… really worried."
      'lestrel frowned, then sighed.
      "I'll check with maazi, but it might be best to get him home as soon as he can be moved."
      "I'm going to do that anyway. I know him well enough to know he won't want to stay here. Though it'll upset 'fallon."
      'lestrel snorted quietly.
      "Most things upset 'fallon. I'm sure he'll manage to live with it."
      Ry bit back a chuckle.
      "Has Vinas been told?"
      The Zasshu nodded.
      "He's waiting for the report on the hostlings."
      Ry frowned.
      "Why?"
      "I don't know. I assume Zh'hakra thought there was something - not right about them."
      That was worrying. He'd have to ask the biotech about it as soon as he could. But in the meantime…
      *And you, koi? You're well, truly?*
      The prince nodded.
      *A little tired - the corps is busy at the moment.*
      *You aren't supposed to be doing too much…*
      A'lestrel growled.
      *I am not doing too much. I wish everyone would stop… fussing…*
      Ry blinked, then laughed aloud. 'lestrel glared.
      *It's not funny! I can't turn around without tripping over Zh'leet or Br'yaan or Jemiin or Vinas…*
      *I'm sorry, zk'vissin. I'm not really laughing. It's just - cute…*
      *'Cute' I can live without.* He sighed, lowering his eyes. *You, however… I miss you.*
      Ry placed his hand against the screen, biting his lip when 'lestrel did the same on Vejiitasei.
      *I miss you too, aijin. I'll be home as soon as I can.*
      A'lestrel pressed his other hand to his belly.
      *We will look forward to it.*

'raadiin was still unconscious when Ry returned, still pale, his breathing shallow, his *self* muted, all but unreachable. The Saiyan ran warm fingers through the hacked-off hair and sighed.
      "He'll hate that."
      Ry glanced at Kiraz and nodded, grimacing.
      "At least it'll grow back."
      "Yeah, but…" The prince brushed the dull, lifeless mess gently. "What a fucking awful thing to happen."
      Ry nodded, knowing he wasn't talking about the zn'hre's hair.
      "I don't know how he's going to react. Kir', he really did want to die… well, he wanted to kill the hostlings and didn't care if he went with them. I mean, this is 'raadiin, for fuck's sake! He loves - loved - life!"
      The prince gripped Ry's shoulder hard.
      "I know…"
      Zh'hakra appeared silently at the bedside, frowning as he ran his monitor over the zn'hre. Ry felt his stomach clench.
      "Something wrong?"
      "Hn. He's developing an infection."
      "Bad?"
      "Not at the moment. But it should not be happening." He reached for a medical atomiser, pressing it gently against 'raadiin's bruised and swollen abdomen and pressuring in - something. "I will keep him monitored."
      "When can he travel?"
      Zh'hakra blinked.
      "Ry-sama, he may be stable at the moment but he is still dangerously ill. I cannot countenance his being moved until I am satisfied his health will not deteriorate."
      "Then you'll let us know as soon as possible."
      "You wish to take him back to Vejiitasei?"
      "Well, yes. The Ssii'iin will want to see him. And to be honest, I don't think he's going to want to stay here, where this all happened."
      Zh'hakra eyed the Saiyans, then - somewhat reluctantly - nodded.
      "I would agree. Very well. As soon as it is safe, I will sanction it."

Lutra watched her bondmate from the corner of her eye, itching to help him but knowing it would only annoy him…
      This… compulsion to carry on as normal wasn't anything unusual, Ti'aasaan had told her. The Ssii'iin was the same, hating being fussed over when he was hosting. The difference was that 'lestrel was Zasshu, not zn'hre, and each of the hybrids had a slightly different physical reaction to hosting. Le'leen had sailed through his, barely noticing it happening. In contrast, Za'jau had had a miserable time of it, needing to spend the larger proportion of the period under Vinas' supervision at the medcentre, his temperature fluctuating dangerously along with his physical requirements. No one knew how 'lestrel would react. He was already tiring easily, though refusing to acknowledge it, and growling irritably at anyone who suggested he slow down.
      She sighed, then grinned as her stomach grumbled. A'lestrel immediately stopped work on the report he was scanning and cuddled in beside her, tail stroking over the prominent bulge of her belly.
      *Zh'leet is on her way…*
      Lutra nestled against him contentedly - if nothing else, this was one way to get him to take a break.
      *… mmmmmmm… Hab'lan, can you stay with me while I sleep? Here I mean, so I can hold you?*
      He glanced briefly back at the monitor, then turned to kiss her. The report wasn't anything that couldn't wait for an hour, and a nap would be welcome. And he loved holding Lutra, *feeling* their child's ki, while she slept…
      *Of course, zk'aida.*
      Zh'leet popped her head around the door, grinning broadly.
      "Ah, good. I've brought a couple of platters to start with - and a beaker of glop for you." she inclined her head towards the prince, scowling as he made to object. "Oh no you don't! I'm not having Vinas take me to task because you've lost too much weight, or your ki levels are too low, or something. You'll drink it and like it."
      It never failed to amuse Lutra that Zh'leet was the only person she knew who could get away with saying anything to anyone - even the king…
      A'lestrel resignedly drank the glop - he had little choice with the brood standing over him, arms crossed and head lowered - then helped himself to a small piece of meat from Lutra's platter. Zh'leet nodded.
      "Good. I'll bring you another in a little while. In the meantime, Ssii'iir Ti'aasaan will bring in another platter shortly."
      Lutra smiled.
      "I don't think I'll need it, Zh'leet-san."
      The brood's eyes widened.
      "Why not?"
      Lutra rubbed her stomach.
      "I think I'm nearly at the end of this phase. At least, I'm nothing like as hungry as I have been."
      A'lestrel kissed her neck.
      "Vinas will want to check you over."
      "I know, but that can wait 'til tomorrow, surely."
      "I'm sure it can…" He sighed and settled down on one elbow, tail coiled on her abdomen, stroking idly, then yawned.
      "Will you get much larger, do you think?"
      She patted her belly.
      "A little. Not too much." She eyed his perfectly flat stomach. "What about you? When will you start to show?"
      He shrugged.
      "I don't know. They're twins, and will probably be quite big, so maybe another fifty days? But we can't really tell. Each hosting is different."
      "I'm looking forward to that, hab'lan," she smiled happily, "I've never seen an alien pregnancy."
      The Zasshu eyed his beaming bondmate then, stifling another yawn, smirked and stretched out fully on the sleeping platform.
      "I'll endeavour to make it as interesting as possible for you, zk'aida."
      Lutra giggled and, as she contentedly chewed on a succulent piece of meat, watched her bondmate fall asleep without a murmur.
      The tenshi dawdled over her meal, partly because she wasn't as consumingly hungry as she'd been recently but mostly to give 'lestrel the longest possible chance to sleep. Her hab'lan was more tired than he'd admit but he couldn't keep his weariness from her. Heh, and if he thought she'd keep letting him get away with that sort of nonsense…! Not accepting any help indeed...
      Lutra's grin faded and she sighed: they'd found 'raadiin, which meant Ry would be returning soon, something she was both looking forward to and dreading. Her bondmate (her bondmate!) had missed the warrior and having Ry back would undoubtedly ease some of the stress A'lestrel was feeling, which was good, it could only help, but still... The tenshi put the platter to one side and eased herself to lie down, moving slowly so as not to disturb 'lestrel. She cuddled close to her sleeping Zasshu, gently covering him with a snowy wing. Ah well, no sense getting tense over it yet, she still had her hab'lan to herself – more or less – for a little while yet.

Ry held the semi-conscious zn'hre firmly but gently all the way back to Vejiitasei, bracing him with ki against even the slightest jar. As they landed he gusted a quick sigh of relief and smirked humourlessly at Kiraz.
      "Any change on the monitors?"
      Zh'hakra hadn't been overly happy about allowing his charge to travel: the infection still hadn't completely cleared, and 'raadiin was very weak. But he'd insisted himself - on the rare occasions he was lucid - that he wanted to go home, and Zh'hakra decided it would be better for his overall health to let him have his way. The tz'een talked about travelling with them, but a couple of minor emergencies had demanded his attention: he'd given Ry and Kiraz a quick but comprehensive lesson in the use of the monitors and made sure Vinas would be at the spaceport to meet them, then, with considerable trepidation, allowed them to leave…
      Kiraz shook his head.
      "No, all stable." He stroked 'raadiin's hair, then glanced unhappily at Ry. "He looks so… small…"
      Ry pulled the emaciated zn'hre a little closer, wrapping the fur a little more tightly around the cold body. Kiraz was right - 'raadiin seemed to have shrunk, somehow, and was so… insubstantial compared to the solid, powerful warrior he had been.
      "He'll get better." Please. You have to, aijin…
      Vinas was waiting for them as promised. He checked the zn'hre quickly, nodding, then gestured towards the palace complex.
      "Get him to the medlab as soon as possible. I want to give him a thorough examination before we even think of allowing him back to the suite."
      Wrapping the prince in a warm ki-haze - deep winter was over, but the cold season was dragging, as was its wont after MoonYear - Ry soon had his zn'hre settled in a warm bed in a warm room, the gravity reduced to a little less than R'ren'nkh'ian norm to take the strain from his damaged organs. Vinas nodded his approval.
      "Thank you, Ry-sama, your highness. You have tended to him with great efficiency and... care. Now let me take a look…"
      They weren't quite sure what arcane procedures Vinas carried out, but after half an hour he stood back and beckoned them close.
      "He is healing more slowly than I would have expected, and that infection is a cause for concern, but I believe we can deal with it." He hesitated. "How much did Zh'hakra tell you about the damage he has suffered?"
      "Not much. We were more worried about his survival than anything else."
      "Hn… Very well. There has been severe trauma to the hosting chamber: Zh'hakra has repaired it well, but we won't know whether his highness will be able to host until all the injuries are healed. The damage to the internal organs was less severe, and as long as we can deal with the infection I foresee no problems there. My main worry is any residual effects from the increased radiation levels to which he was subjected."
      Ry - and Kiraz - blinked.
      "Radiation?"
      Vinas nodded.
      "Yes. Normally it wouldn't be a problem - his ki would have automatically protected him - but with the narcotic mix he was given… Well, I'll have to carry out more tests."
      Ry shoved a hand through his mane.
      "Hang on - radiation? What do you mean?"
      "From what I've been able to tell, the area in which he was kept captive lies above a major node of a raw radioactive element with an unpronounceable name: the Feeodoreean research team onworld are investigating it."
      "And what does that mean for 'raadiin?"
      "… I do not know. This has not happened before."
      "Fuck."
      "We will keep him monitored, Ry-sama. And I have already contacted my colleagues throughout the Empire to gather as much information as I can. I am confident we will be able to deal with any emergencies." He gazed down at the prince. "A pity he put himself through such trauma unnecessarily - the hostlings would have had to be removed in any case. According to Zh'hakra's readings, they not only could not have survived, but were concentrated sources of radiation within him."
      "You mean they'd have killed him?"
      "Possibly… Probably."
      Ry dropped into a crouch, head buried in his hands. This was too much to take in - give him an enemy he could see! Kiraz rested a hand on his shoulder.
      "How long 'til you know? What the damage is, I mean. If any."
      Vinas inclined his head.
      "From my research so far, I believe that any cellular damage will manifest soon. Within the next fifteen days."
      "Can you cure it?"
      A long pause.
      "I will not know until - unless - it appears."
      Kiraz growled dangerously.
      "Vinas, you can cure death if you put your mind to it! You will not let anything happen to 'raadiin!"
      "That may not be up to Vinas-sama."
      Saiyans and Feeodoreean jumped at the sound of the beautiful low voice. Vinas turned and bowed briefly.
      "Ssii'iin…"
      Zha'haabron pushed back his heavy fur hood and stripped off his gloves, giving Kiraz a faintly disapproving glance as he loped forward to the bedside.
      "How is he?"
      "… not well, majesty."
      The king sat on the bed, one hand stroking his sireling's cold cheek.
      **No, you are not well, are you, zk'vissin. But you are strong, and we are strong for you…**
      'raadiin stirred, half-opening suffering golden eyes.
      "… papa…?"
      "I am here, precious one."
      Trembling, 'raadiin weakly stretched out one hand: Zha'haabron gathered the prince into his arms, holding him gently as he wept, soundlessly, weakly, resting against his sire's powerful body.

"I will stay with him."
      'raadiin had fallen asleep again, the brief spell of wakefulness, of grief, exhausting him. Zha'haabron still held him close, rocking comfortingly. Vinas nodded.
      "Certainly, majesty. It won't do any harm, and may do him a lot of good. You represent safety to him, and he needs that at the moment."
      The king nodded, then regarded Ry.
      "I would like you to return to the palace for a little while. A'lestrel has missed you."
      The Saiyan sighed.
      "I know, Ssii'iin. I will, in a minute." He eyed the sleeping 'raadiin, curled limply against his sire, and glanced at Vinas, his faith in the biotech's ability to cure all things undiminished. "How soon can he come home?"
      The Feeodoreean checked his monitor, then frowned at the king.
      "At present I can do nothing for him here that cannot equally easily be accomplished at the suite, if he wears a portable monitor and I advise Zh'leet as to what she should watch for - and being amongst the family will certainly make him happier… By the end of the day, if nothing has happened to dictate otherwise."
      Ry grinned happily. Selfish it might be, but having both 'lestrel and 'raadiin in the same place would make things easier for him: he wouldn't need to split his time between the Guard, the palace and the medcentre. And he could keep an eye on both aijin - something that would make him a lot happier…
      Zha'haabron was nodding.
      "I will remain here until then." He smiled at Ry. "And perhaps I could prevail upon you to carry him back to the palace? He will require a ki-shield."
      "Of course, Ssii'iin!" The Saiyan rose, tenderly stroking 'raadiin's face, then rubbing at his own neck. He hadn't realised how tired he felt. How long had it been since he'd had a decent sleep? Zha'haabron inclined his head, his voice soft.
      "Spend the rest of the day with 'lestrel. Sleep if you can. I'll *call* when it's time."
      Nodding his thanks, Ry took off for the palace, eager to see his zk'iinan - but not looking forward to Lutra's reaction…