Personally I wasn't bothered by the cold, Ash had shown us a trick for resisting temperature extremes back when we'd first broken out from Citadel's Gene Lab. Unfortunately the horses didn't have the luxury of a freshly evolved metabolism and badly needed cover.
Red Feather (stupid horse!), didn't fancy going inside and gave his head a shake and resisted before finally giving in and following me into the abandoned restaurant.
A week ago, three days after the destruction of the UAVs, Citadel's nuke had dropped on Zanesville, vaporizing the remaining humans and all of my carefully horded supplies. The Great Storm had started the very next day and it had been snowing ever since. It was as if the world itself were rebelling against the mistreatment. Seven days of quarter-sized snowflakes had made travel extraordinarily difficult; the only plus side was that the storm must have grounded any search aircraft that still had fuel.
Once inside, it was evident that the diner was laid out as a series of booths, each with a polished chrome bar over a bench style seat-back, making it pretty much ideal for use as an impromptu stable.
Leading Red Feather to the far end of the main room, I tied him to the chrome bar of the farthest booth and turned to watch as the others led their horses in, one by one, brushing snow from their summer clothes.
Sliding over the counter I rummaged around and got lucky, finding bottled beer and a cardboard box full of packets of peanuts. Once again the Rat Flu was working to our benefit, the diner had had 'RF' spray painted across it, a plague warning sign that no human was going to ignore, even for the chance of unguarded food.
I felt another twinge in my stomach, the lack of regular meals had been getting to me more and more in the last couple of days.
"The pain again?" asked Brook, ever mindful of my needs. I'd scared him badly when we'd first met by promptly lapsing into a magarically induced coma. It could have felt claustrophobic, having someone always looking out for me, but I could see that it was just a symptom of his deep love for me, and that made it just fine.
"Yeah... Its nothing" I replied dismissing it
"We should meditate again, after we've sSsettled" added Massasauga referring to the odd Coluraste technique that was supposed to aid my search for enlightenment. Honestly I'd had little success with it, and was beginning to suspect it was just an excuse for Massasauga to grope me.
From the internet café I heard an exclamation of delight from Flamepetal followed by a familiar computerized fanfare that indicated that there'd been a minor miracle in the form of a working electrical supply, a working phone line and even a working ISP.
Pulling the cap off my beer, I wandered next door to see what we'd found.
"Rooning hell!" Muttered Flamepetal, his fingers running across the keyboard with a speed that seemed at odds with his streetscum origins. "Look at this guys!"
The movie clip consisted of an animation of three concentric circles expanding from some small island off the European coast.
"Big deal.."
"No..Watch!"
The animation switched to a shot from a helicopter desperately trying to gain height as a dark brown waters surged through the windows of the Whitehouse, followed a second later by a cascade of white water breaking over the ancient bullet-scarred roof. In a bizarre twist of events. the flagpole out front was snapped like a twig and carried along, wedged almost vertically in the debris-flow. The Flagpole swept closer getting larger and larger in the picture until there was an alarmed cry, a jiggle of the camera, the fuzz of a lost signal and then a blackness that was replaced with somber music and a caption lamenting the loss of Airforce-Two and with it President Nicholson himself.
"That's just that old movie.. Independence Day or whatsit, the one with the asteroid"
"Armageddon?"
"No, the other one"
"Its real" I replied, feeling the surge of precognition, remembering the remembering of things.
"It says here that it took out the entire legislature" added Flamepetal, wincing due the annoying screen-flicker that only we Wraeththu could detect.
"The entire legislature?" asked Massasauga with sudden sharp interest.
"They were in Washington for the reopening of Congress. The entire executive, Chief's of staff, the whole lot. This message is from a retired Senator in Pheonix, it goes on to order martial law with military commanders to take orders from their local city mayor until the chain of command can be re-established."
"That doesn't make sense, aren't they supposed to have a backup command staff in case a terrorist nuked them? That Cheyenne Mountain place?"
"Now this is just bizarre" replied Flamepetal mostly to himself "The same day the wave hit, some miners were extending one of the NORAD bunkers. It says they drilled into a previously undetected magma chamber; which promptly vented through the entire complex. You couldn't make this up its so unlikely"
I frowned, recalling an often used Oscar Wilde quote "To have one natural disaster, Tiahaar Flamepetal, may be regarded as a misfortune, to have two looks like carelessness... but three? that's surely deliberate"
"Five, not three" replied Massasauga thoughtfully
"Five?"
"Plague, Earthquake, Tsunami, Eruption and this week's blizzard" he counted on his fingers
"You don't think...? Phylarch, could a high caste Wraeththu be causing these events?" asked Brook "Are we that powerful?"
I turned to look at Massasauga, interested to hear his answer.
"I don't think it can be. Our caste training is intended to give greater insights into nature and self. The idea is to create the desired outcome with minimal use of agmaric energy and a correspondingly small change in reality. I could see somehar like Thiede assassinating the Government, but he wouldn't use a Tsunami, it just isn't elegant enough. To use a painting analogy it's the difference between a Da Vinci portrait and tin of Dulux housepaint thrown at a canvas from a distance of 6ft."
I nodded in agreement; Massasauga was making sense and added... "From experience, if a hara tries something too obvious, the universe gives him a good kicking, you've seen how draining some of the things I've tried have been. This... is a different order of shit."
"You hara. You get way too focused on the mysticism" complained Flamepetal "It really isn't important why these things happened. The only fact that's kicking here is the human reaction, they just rooned their civilization. Their nominal leader told them to act like city-states until a new government is installed, right. We couldn't take on a whole nation, we don't have the organization to take on a real army, but a city? That's a nice inception sized chunk, I figure, Just like ol'Zanesville but without the risk of a nuke."
I could see the logic, the surviving troops in City-A wouldn't lift a finger to help those in City-B without orders and City-C probably wouldn't even be aware of a problem if communications stayed down.
For a moment I regretted that I'd told the tribe to scatter. It would have been glorious to see my Tuaththuans sweeping through city after city, rescuing all the young men from their unevolved, mundane half-sexed existences. But then I remembered that actually I'd gone one better, by now there were small groups of Tuaththuan Wraeththu slipping into cities all over Ohio, doubtless they were already helping a few locals to evolve before moving on. It might be less glorious but it was what would win us the world.
A moment later the lights browned out sending the PC to a blue screen of death.
"Damn. Look, if you get that thing working google that Tory Island place, ok?"
"Yes Ladylord"
I felt another twinge in my stomach and winced.
"Enough." snapped Massasauga putting his full authority as a Phylarch of his tribe into his voice. "Brook, get the bedding unpacked and see what else is edible. You, Ladylord, need to meditate. Strip off and get into the seated position I taught you.
"I.."
"No arguments Sixteen. This is essential...to your caste progression"
Sulkily I began to undress, deciding to turn it into a striptease. If the Coluraste wanted a show, so be it. Slowly I unbuttoned my shirt exposing my inhumanly perfect physique.
One of the advantages of being Wraeththu is that your brain is wired up in such a way that you know exactly how attractive you are to others simply by looking in a mirror. There's no more insecurity about whether girls find the package interesting.
Thinking of Brook's powerful ouana glowing like a lightsabre put me in a suitably soume frame of mind as I slowly eased my pants down over my hips.
Massasauga looked on expressionless, his thoughts hidden behind a mask of serpentine calmness. Flamepetal meanwhile had stopped poking at the computer, a voyeristic leer on his face and an easy to identify bulge in his pants. He'd get a slap later.
Gracefully I discarded the last of my clothes and sat in the required cross-legged position, rippling colors reflected on my thighs as my unfurled soume-lam lit up the room.
"Brighter again, I see" commented Massasauga sitting next to me.
I looked down at my magnificent display, setting aside my arousal and looking at myself with a dispassionate frame of mind. Massasauga was correct, my soume-lam wasn't just multicolored flesh; it seemed to actually glow with agmaric light. Thinking back to previous sessions I could see that the patterns and radiance had been growing more intense for several weeks now.
"You think this has something to do with my pain?" I asked nervously
"Hush" he commanded tenderly, reaching out and beginning to run his hands over me.
Knowing the routine from what seemed like a thousand of these meditations I focused on my skin, allowing myself to feel the non-touch of his fingers as they traveled an inch above my skin. The strength of the non-touch increased as his fingers passed over my nipples as if the old erogenous zone gave some agmaric boost to the ritual.
Finally his hands hovered over my abdomen, finally moving in to touch the faint bulge of my sixpack.
As if by some magaric trick the underlying discomfort that I'd not noticed vanished, leaving me slightly light headed.
My eyes flicked open, looking deeply into his for what seemed to the first time. Why had I never noticed that his green eyes had vertical slit pupils? It seemed such an obvious thing. The odd thing was that, looking into his eyes; I could see that under all the layers of Coluraste complexity. He actually cared about me. Seeing me with Brook every day must be like a claw slowly raking at an open wound...and yet he stayed, even though I was unattainable.
He looked away quickly, clearly uneasy with giving me such an insight.
"Thank you" I whispered gently; grabbing my shirt and draping it over my lap.
Without warning the doors to Piotr's Diner slammed open and crowd of bodies charged in screaming "Move!, Move!, Move!," followed by "Stay where you are! Stay where you are!, On the floor! Now! Now!"
I didn't move. There wasn't time, and with my legs hopelessly tangled up under me. There really just wasn't time.
After three months of Security Guards, Home-Sec goons, Streetscum and Citadel Mercenaries I was now faced with the real deal, 82nd Airborne dressed head to toe in white arctic camouflage, faces covered in Filtermasks that immediately reminded me of Imperial Stormtroopers.
clik. "Building Secure." clik
Recalling that I was naked under the draped shirt I began stealthily pulling my pants back up. If the Paratrooper saw what I had down there, things would be getting a tad awkward.
The trooper must have been watching me from behind his black anti-glare goggles.
"Freeze!" he yelled aiming the assault rifle right between my eyes. Slowly he crouched, his aim not wavering as he hooked my shirt with his metal capped boot and shoved it clear.
I guess I wasn't thinking straight at that point, all I could think about was the indignity of it and how I was becoming the whole rooning world's hostage of choice. I mean how many times was this now?
"Do you mind!!" I snapped furiously giving him what I liked to think of as 'The Look'
To my utter surprise, the soldier instantly shouldered his rifle, reached down and handed me back the shirt.
I was, like, 'Huh??'
Reaching up, the Paratrooper removed his mask and helmet revealing a typical shavehead and a very young, cute looking face that seemed never to have needed a razor.
"Sorry Tiahaar. We thought we'd found a nest of males"
That sound? That must have been my jaw hitting the floor. No wonder I'd thought he looked cute, all Wraeththu look cute, its genetic. But... 82nd Airborne ???
"Obviously, you were mistaken." I replied with all the offended dignity I could muster. "I am Ladylord Sixteen Har Tuaththua, leader of my tribe. This is Massasauga Har Colurastes, a Phylarch of his tribe, that, is Flamepetal Har Tuaththua and the har in the other room is Brook Har Tuaththua. Now, who the roon are you?"
"Sgt Casomerianii of The New Variant" replied the Para putting an odd inflection on the 'r' instead of the first 'a'.
*Varrs!* thought Massasauga, in a tightly focused sending intended only for my mind. The word meant nothing to me, but the emotional overtone of severe unease told me to be cautious if I was thinking of getting tight with Caso.
"A pleasure Sergeant. Would you care for some nuts? The bar is quite well stocked" I said, dressing as quickly as I could without seeming rushed. For some reason, I found myself uneasy being naked in front of the Variant in a way that hadn't occurred before. Having my butt admired by various Colurastes had been almost flattering, this wasn't.
Taking my jest with military level seriousness Caso turned to address one of his troops "Kissialala, Teelin find and secure any provisions"
"You're stealing our nuts?"
The icy smile really slammed it home to me. This rooner might be a Wraeththu, but he literally oozed military macho.
"This our territory Tiahaar. All provisions are held centrally and issued according to need"
I desperately wanted to give the cutey a good shake for acting so...so..male. It was obvious that 'issued according to need' meant that The Varriants ate first and well. What annoyed me most was that I would probably have instituted rationing back in Zanesville; the only difference would have been the underlying intent.
A moment later one of the soldiers entered pushing Brook along in front of him. Once within reach, Brook dived into my arms hugging me close sharing his fear for my safety along with a very soume vulnerability. Negative and positive, having Brook radiate a need for strength reinforced that aspect of my own psyche. Hidden from sight I flexed my hand, almost summoning Daananan's etheric spear.
Fortunately, Brook chose that moment to find his own balance, packing away some of the excess soume-ism and becoming strong enough to break the embrace; choosing instead to stand next to me with only the tip of his little finger brushing against mine for reassurance.
"You've scared my Chesnari." I said quietly, dangerously, "That wasn't respectful"
"As I said Tiahaar. We thought you were humans. If you'll follow me, I'll guide you to more appropriate quarters. My Hara will see to the horses and provisions."
I glanced at Massasauga and noted the micro-nod of agreement. I ran a hand through my long hair, instinctively trying to make the unruly mass look vaguely sculpted and presentable. I'd already noticed that it had become 'The' horses not 'Your' horses.
"Lead on then"
* * *
The journey was surprisingly short. By pure blind luck we'd picked a shelter that was within ten minutes of a razor-wire fence. A further five minutes walking along the perimeter took us to an innocuously normal looking gatehouse complete with normal gate guards... Except that both guards had the graceful posture that shouted 'Wraeththu' to those who know.
Beyond the wire were row upon row of prefabricated barracks huts. It was evident that this base was at the serious end of the military scale.
"What is this place?" said Flamepetal
"Boot Camp 102. The military needed more conscripts down in Venezuela than they could officially admit needing. So they set up this place on the quiet. Want to see the best bit?" replied Casomerianii
"Sure, why not" I shrugged
The sergeant led us to the nearest hut. I'd figured out what the 'best bit' was quite a ways before we reached the door. The screams were a dead giveaway.
Inside twenty unhar thrashed around on their bunks, wrists and ankles handcuffed to the bedframe. Disturbingly three of the occupants weren't moving. Nobody had bothered to remove the corpses. Over the last few weeks I'd become quite adept at figuring how far into Althaia an unhar was..these were uniformly about 18hours along and judging from the screams from nearby barracks this wasn't the only batch.
"The best bit, is that there are a couple of nearby cities still sending us a regular quota of conscripts, a hundred a week."
"Fascinating" said Massasauga thoughtfully "But how did you take the base in the first place? The agmara needed to achieve that....."
"None of that mystic powers mumbo-jumbo, that's for sure. A small amount of nerve agent in the water tanks and a lighted match near the fire sprinklers was all it needed." replied the handsome Varriant a slight sneer of contempt on his beautiful face.
Interesting, that. So this new tribe seemed to have contempt for the new ways. I filed the information away for later use. Maybe they'd be unprepared for my magaric tricks when I decided we should make a break for it.
We paused for a moment and watched as what must have been 200 or so New Varriant hara jogged through the snow, bare foot and clad only khaki shorts. They chanted a new version of an old military song as they went.
"We all know what we been told!... ..The human race is dead and cold..."
I gave Massasauga a glance and noticed again the look of deep unease.
I raised an eyebrow.
In reply he looked meaningfully toward the razor-wire fence. I decided I definitely needed to talk to him once we were alone.
Sgt Casomerianii finally stopped next to what had evidently been a block of officer's apartments. Unlike the inception barracks this building had guards standing at the atrium entrance and others patrolling along below the windows.
Keeping people in? Or keeping them out? I wondered.
"If you will wait inside, our Commanding Officer will be along to debrief you shortly." informed Casomerianii
"Take good care of our horses" I instructed "We'll be needing them later"
"Of course Tiahaar" he replied sounding amused because he thought he was keeping the horses.
Inside the building, the atrium had been decorated in lavish silken drapes. Where they'd found this stuff in a grunt camp Daananan only knows. The overall impression screamed 'Harem'; a thought confirmed when the occupants peeked out from various hiding places. It looked like these hara had gotten into a serious Arabian Nights fetish.
"Hi guys" I said and was surprised by the quick scurrying for cover, as if everyone feared contact.
"They won't talk to you darling" said an English sounding voice from behind what had once been a receptionist's area.
When no one emerged from behind the desk I was forced to go forward and peer down at the speaker.
I gasped in shock, the three hara propped up against the row of filing cabinets had been beaten severely. Two of them were garbed in flowing robes decorated with symbols that seemed vaguely familiar. The third was Gyvon Har Tuaththua.
"Gyvon!" I exclaimed vaulting the desk and landing next to my inception-brother.
Gyvon blinked and tried to look at me through eyes that were swollen shut.
I glanced at the others "How did this happen?"
"The Varrs are very hung up on their hara being either ouana or soume. They regard keeping in one role to be a sign of self-discipline. The timid little flowers you see here have been trained from their inception to service their masters." explained the English-har grimly
I nodded for him to continue, my main concentration focused on the worst of Gyvon's wounds, running a hand over them and willing some of my vitality into his damaged cells.
"They get really creeped with foreign hara who don't play along with the single role thing. If you don't spread your legs like a good-girl they beat the ouana out of you until you do." explained the har with bitter-sweet sadness.
I glanced over my shoulder to where my hara stood "Get over here and give a hand can't you"
Massasauga loomed over the two unknowns and crossed his arms, looking about as imposing as he could manage. "I am Phylarch Massasauga Har Colurastes. Do you accept healing given freely without obligation?"
It sounded a bit formal, and I wondered if there was more going on here.
"I am Emissary Galain Har Suhl. On behalf of Tristain Har Suhl and myself we accept your offer of healing without obligation." replied Galain with equal formality, bowing his head gracefully.
Yeah, definitely some 'history' between these tribes.
"Uh, Hi. We're the Tuaththua. I'm Sixteen, these are Flamepetal and Brook. You've already met my tribes-har Gyvon." I said with a friendly grin.
The two Suhl exchanged glances and then glared at Massasauga.
"This is not your concern Suhl" hissed the Coluraste
"You didn't think you'd have exclusivity did you?" replied Galain with acid sweetness, before going on as if explaining to an errant child "Every tribe on the planet has had its Nahir Nuri assigned to the endevour. Its far too big a deal, as you well know Coluraste"
Massasauga looked alternately pained and thoughtful, finally settling on an expression I would have called crafty.
"You'd agree though that the Varrs are not worthy of consideration?"
"I doubt that they can be excluded at this point, given our circumstances."
"Ok...that's enough. Exactly what is it about my hara that's causing you two to dance around a subject like we're rooning elephants in your room!" I snapped finally, putting a hand on each hip and glaring at all the foreign tribes-hara.
The Suhl and Coluraste looked at each other and I could feel them sending privately to each other, a mental sound like a wind ruffling through sheeves of paper.
"I'm sorry Ladylord. We dare not explain, not within earshot of the Varrs. All I can say is that there is no harm involved." replied Galain sounding a heck of a lot more sincere than Massasauga could have managed on a good day.
As a human teen I'd have gone into a monstrous strop about being treated like a kid or something. Fortunately I have a better handle on reality these days. It was clear from Galain's tone that he would tell me at his first opportunity...and that was fine, I could be patient.
It might be good enough for me, but Flamepetal still had a lot of old rough edges. "Dick us about and I'll carve you a new soume-lam"
"Flame!" I snapped disapprovingly.
Beneath my hand Gyvon groaned in pain and I was forced to concentrate on the healing. The New Varriant had chosen the wrong har in Gyvon. The poor har had always swayed toward the ouana side of the scale, even from day one of his althaia when I'd had to bring him back from the edge of insanity. I decided that sleep would be the best remedy and mentally caressed the lobe of his brain that governed wakefulness.
"I assume escape is impossible?"
"We're surrounded by a Varr army, commanded by one of Wraeththudom's most lethal hara. Do we look suicidal?"
I frowned, looking down at the three hara, even if I did find a way out, they weren't in any condition to go on the run...and there was no way I was leaving anyhar behind.
I began to pace the length of the atrium, running through the various times that I'd been held hostage trying to remember some stratagem that would work here.
A half hour later I heard the outer doors open and the tread of metal-booted feet. A tall hara, dressed in the uniform of a Colonel of the 82nd, with a military greatcoat that hung unbuttoned around his shoulders, made his entrance. An entourage of about twenty hara followed him, immediately taking up positions around their leader.
This hara was a Patton, or a Napoleon, or a Hitler. I knew instantly that I was looking at the dread leader of the entire New Varriant.
An aid stepped close and began reading from a folder. "Sixteen Har Tuathtua. Age: approximately 18. Caste progression: Unconfirmed but at least Ulani. Managed to gather a medium sized tribe, in a short period, but somehow provoked nuclear retaliation by factions connected to the US military. Tuaththuan tribe is now routed and is no longer considered a credible threat, Sir"
"Thank you Captain" replied the Colonel, turning his attention to me.
"They're dispersed, not routed" I replied meeting his deep gaze. "Every town needs its own Wraeththu, my hara are busy making sure it happens"
He paused, I could almost see the wheels turning as he analyzed the tactic, seeing where it would take things. Finally nodding in grudging approval.
"Tactically sound, your actions will make my conquests significantly easier. I should thank you."
"You should let us all go."
"Perhaps I will" he lied "Or perhaps you would prefer a position as my consort."
"I think not Colonel...?"
"Ponclast" he supplied, his eyes flashing with a male-like anger that was startling to behold.
With a cold chill I realized that this was a set-up, this har wanted me to reject him. He'd set it up that way, so that he had an outlet for his hunger for conquest.
We'd just danced the first step of his dance, I had offered resistance and that meant he wouldn't stop abusing until I was bouncing on his lap and calling him by a cutesy pet name, as if I were some sort of harish bimbo.
"No." said a voice behind me "You mustn't do this Ponclast"
"Did anyone give you permission to speak Coluraste?" asked Ponclast sweetly
"You can beat me to a pulp later. You mustn't touch Sixteen." replied Massasauga with a degree of commitment that was rather out of character.
Naturally I couldn't let anyhar get hurt on my account. "I don't need a keeper, Massasauga, I can take care of myself"
"The Coluraste is correct. We will not let you defile him" said Galain Har Suhl, struggling to his feet and looking like a half dead English zombie.
My own tribes-hara loyally added their voice to the protest.
At the back of the entourage someone started clapping slowly, with deliberate contempt.
Ponclast's neck reddened with rage as he whirled about, military coat swirling out like a cloak. The Entourage parted, not wishing to get between Colonel Ponclast and the object of his anger.
"Ponclast, Ponclast, Ponclast, what am I going to do with you?" said the figure, a silhouette of deepest black against the background of blinding white snowdrifts.
"What do you want Thiede? I thought we finished this back in New York. This is my tribe, my territory and my rules. You, have no business here" replied Ponclast, clearly unhappy.
Thiede....the name sent a thrill of recognition up my spine. I was still vague about the detail, but I knew with certainty that we were now in the presence of somehar exceptional.
"What do I want? I suppose that I am merely an observer. This day is momentous after all, but for once I am not the centre of attention..and neither are you Pretty Ponclast."
"More riddles? More insults? Can you never say what you mean"
"Very well. I will be blunt then. Today, Sixteen Har Tuaththua is the most important being on this planet. Nothing, will be allowed to disrupt this special time for him. Not even you, my beautiful little maniac, will be allowed to interfere."
Hang on a second said my brain. Lets review that last bit in my head 'Sixteen Har Tuaththua is the most important being on this planet.' well, that's nice to know, but 'what the roon???'
"Umm..excuse me...." I said
As one every head turned n my direction.
"Would somehar mind explaining what in The Aghama's name is going on??!"
"Oh..well you're pregnant of course, you didn't realize?" replied Thiede as if it was the most obviously commonplace thing imaginable.
A moment later my brain caught up again and I suddenly had that weird 'entire universe is watching' sensation where you feel like you are a black hole and everything is zooming in towards you at a million miles an hour.
I absolutely could not have heard correctly. Everything went sideways and I 'swooned'.
* * *
I awoke to find that I'd been moved to one of the Varrs' faux Arabian Night suites. The thousand cushions had made a comfortable bed that one could easily snuggle deeply into.
Pregnant.
I sat bolt upright.
"You always were one of my favorites, always doing the unexpected. I don't think Ponclast will ever forgive either of us you know" said The Aghama conversationally
Certain jigsaw pieces began to fall into place, leading to a rather amazing and logical conclusion. The Aghama, our progenitor dehar, and the mysterious Thiede were the same har.
"Father?" I asked simply
"You might think that, I couldn't possibly comment."
A sizzle of precognition zapped up my spine and I remembered that Thiede had been/would be careful not to be too closely linked to his role as all-father.
"Don't worry, I won't tell." I reassured.
My hand drifted to my hair, here I was facing The Aghama's physical manifestation and I looked an absolute mess.
"Your hair isn't important Sixteen" replied Thiede without turning to face me.
I felt embarrassed and snatched my hand away, before glancing down at myself. I didn't look pregnant, not even slightly, and yet I also 'knew' that it was all true.
"So..I'm a bit pregnant." I said out loud, acknowledging the truth without stepping into the whirlpool of chaotic emotions that threatened to overwhelm me if I thought too hard about it. "What can I expect Tiahaar Thiede? Is it like in humanity? Am I going to be waddling around like a penguin for another seven months?"
Seven months? I wondered, What if it were longer? Didn't an elephant take two years to pop one out.
"I don't know" admitted Thiede with a melancholic smile.
The universe slowed up again as the answer penetrated. I opened my mouth ready to scream something like 'What the roon do you mean you don't rooning know?!'... But Thiede hadn't finished talking.
"That sounds rather careless of me, doesn't it. I start an entire new species without actually knowing how they're going to propagate. To be honest it never occurred to me that it would be so difficult to get one of you up the duff. Eternity knows, you hara take so much aruna you ought to be knee deep in Harlings by now."
He finally turned to look at me and I was happy to see deep love and concern etched upon his strong face.
"Turns out reproduction isn't so simple. To date only one pair of hara have managed it. Naturally everyhara else are very very eager to learn your secret. The Nahir Nuri of every tribe have been searching the ethers for a 'happy event' for almost a year now."
"You mean... But you..I thought you would have"
"Me? Hardly, what would I want with more harlings, when I have you lot behaving like six-year-old humans all over the world." replied Thiede with a slight edge of bitterness to his voice that said that maybe that wasn't the entire story either.
I thought about it a bit more.
"Rooning Hell" I exclaimed slowly and then again with even more aghastness "Rooning. Hell!"
"You're beginning to repeat yourself Sixteen." said Theide patiently "That's never a good sign"
"Sorry"
Outside a commotion started, raised voices followed by the meaty thump and 'oof' of a well aimed stomach punch.
A moment later Brook came surging through the door, his fist still glowing from the extra agmara he'd focused into it whilst doing the hitting.
I was off the bed in a flash and into his arms, there was no way I was going to let him miss out on this latest rollercoaster ride..not when it was at least 50% his fault..or 40%..ok, maybe I had been a bit in charge that day..30%... Yes at least 30% Brook's fault.
Behind Brook's back, I noted Thiede glaring furiously at the Varrish guards. One glance was all it needed for Ponclast's soldiers to sense the need for a tactical withdrawal. Smart hara.
Once the door was shut and Brook's vice-like hug had eased slightly, I turned him around to face Thiede.
"Thiede, this is Brook Har Tuaththua, my Chesnari...the father of my harling"
Thiede swept forward elegantly and kissed Brook's hand.
Brook meanwhile was glancing between us. "What they said..its..its true?"
"Yep. And don't for a minute think that you're not pulling diaper duty" I replied "Share breath with me, there's something else you need to know"
Brook complied, allowing me to replay my conversation with Thiede directly into his head. Once our lips had separated he turned his attention to our progenitor.
"You have my word, I will help Sixteen in every way I can" he said with a grave solemnity that was just sooo cute to hear.
Brook glanced at me again seeking reassurance and then continued "I gather that you don't know what to expect any more than we do...but..well..I figure that you have to be the highest caste hara that there is. So, can you, like, give Sixteen and the harling a health check? Sense if their auras are right or something"
Theide smiled, I got the impression that it wasn't an expression he used often, it was like a sunrise lighting the room. "If you are willing Sixteen?"
"Of course"
Theide began running his hands over my body.
Hang on a second. This was exactly the same as Massasauga's 'Caste Progression' routine! Blind murderous rage rolled through me, the sneaky snake had been scanning my harling every other day for a couple of months under cover of training me.
Thiede paused and snapped "Stop that."
"Sorry" I said out loud and then sent *Flamepetal. Please hit Massasauga and keep hitting him until they pull you off*
*My pleasure, Ladylord*
Satisfied, I did a quick mental calming routine that allowed Thiede to continue his examination, his hands finally resting on the pregnancy that I'd mistaken for a 'slightly less masculine six-pack'.
A feeling of warmth, safety and contentment washed through me and I realized that I was being allowed to feel my harling's emotional state.
Tentatively I sent my love back along the link and was rewarded by a twinge of pain as the harling twitched his limbs in shock as he (it?) realized he wasn't alone in the universe.
Swiftly Thiede broke the connection and stepped backward.
"Well?" I asked, half knowing the answer.
"Good news, both you and the Harling are in excellent health, in fact you appear to be sharing agmara in the same way that a healer does when he heals somehar. I would imagine if anyhar wounded you at the moment you would heal back almost instantly."
"That's a relief..the harling I mean, not the instant healing bit"
"Not only that, I don't think you have to worry about months of inconvenience. The Harling is already wondering what else is out there. I'd take that as a sign that he'll want to be joining us sooner rather than later"
"That's impossible! He can't be bigger than a gerbil right now, I mean look at me, I'm not even noticably with child..with harling..gaah! We're even going to have to invent new euphemisms" I replied feeling instantly protective of my unborn Harling.
"What's this 'we' Tiahaar?" replied Thiede with a mischievous gleam in his eye. "I feel sure that everyhar will adopt whatever new words and euphemisms you can think up. You will be their guide, not I."
I gave him 'The Look' which just seemed to amuse him even more.
"And now I must take my leave. I am sure that you two have much to discuss, and would prefer to do so in private" said Thiede, resuming his stern and serene demeanor.
"You're not leaving us here with that Ponclast maniac??" gasped Brook sounding as alarmed as I would have if I'd thought of it first.
Thiede paused and half turned "He may be a maniac, but he is our maniac. I take your point however, he's not been the most congenial host. Don't worry, I won't allow him to play the role of Herod in your little drama...in fact, I think I shall send a message to a few old friends. They've been looking for you for a couple of months now and really ought to be here. Having a few Kings and Wise-hara to cater for will certainly teach Ponclast how to be a proper host...that or he'll gain the enmity of every tribal Archon on the continent"
"You're..You're turning this into a diplomatic function?" I squeaked
"Well if you are serious about leading a tribe, you'll just have to learn how to entertain, now won't you, my little hostling" he replied turning to leave.
The word 'Hostling' echoed in my precognition infested mind, but I managed to hold a straight face until the great Thiede had left. He wanted me to be a hostling? So be it. And every pregnant hara from now on would be a hostling too!
Brook naturally thought my fit of giggles was a sign of mental instability until I explained it.
After which, the giggles became infectious and we were able to ignore the whole momentous situation for a while.
* * *
I think we must have spent three or four hours in that Harem boudoir, discussing the situation and sharing breath.
Thiede had seemed certain that he could control Ponclast the Perv., but I still couldn't help feeling nervous surrounded by what amounted to a Varr Army.
A tentative knock at the door interrupted a budding debate on whether we should acquire a stroller or one of those backpacky child-seat things.
*Enter* I thought
To my surprise it was Colonel Ponclast, this time attired in the Dress Uniform of a five star General, complete with dangly braidy bits.
He saluted.
I glared.
"It seems I was right. You would have made an exceptional consort Tiahaar Sixteen." For a piece of slime, he sounded genuinely regretful "You should be aware that the tribal Archons of the Kakkahar, Uigenna and Kheops have arrived. There will be a Banquet to celebrate your....condition"
The last thing I'd eaten was a packet of out of date peanuts. The thought of food made my stomach gurgle loudly.
"Clearly your traveling clothes will be unsuitable. My hara will be along shortly with a range of suitable gowns and jewelry." He checked his watch "The Banquet will commence at 22:00"
He turned to leave.
"Wait...all these Archons they can all be here that quickly?"
Ponclast's neck muscles seemed to clench slightly.
"Thiede has access to methods of transport that he's not seen fit to share. He collected them, along with some of your....Tuaththuans" he replied, sounding distinctly annoyed and rather condescending about my tribes-hara.
As soon as their Master had left a group of six simpering faux-female Varrs entered, with a clothes rack clearly liberated from some high quality boutique.
The first selection was entirely of flower-patterned fluff that would have left me fitting the Varr stereotype of a female-caste Southern Belle. I wasn't having that; I rejected the entire rack out of hand. Three racks of very feminine dresses later and I found that I was beginning to enjoy the process, and was actually considering the clothes on their merits.
Finally I spotted something that would work, a white sarong-style wrap that covered me from waist to ankle with a good long slit that gave my legs room to move. Even better it had a knotwork pattern in red and grey that seemed appropriate to our tribe.
I decided to go naked from the waist up, all these Archon types were coming here to see the pregnant mothe...Pregnant Hostling... After all.
Next I moved to the jewelry, by this point I had a definite idea of the image I wanted. I needed to send a message that we Tuaththua could be tough as well as pregnant. It also didn't hurt that it was going to be difficult to find....I wanted a whatsit-called, like a metal arm band from elbow to wrist..and a chain-mail sleeve thing going on also. Like on that film Gladiator.
Frighteningly efficient those Varrs, they actually found what I wanted.
As for Brook, well, he decided to roll over and play dead, (traitor!) letting them fit him out in a bow-tie and Tuxedo.
* * *
Brook opened the door, and it felt as if I was being assaulted by a mental wave of congratulation. Like a hundred voices blasting me with every emotion imaginable. Most hara in the room wished me well, but there was a definite undercurrent of envy and intrigue right along with it.
It also felt as if I were right back in Citadel's Genetic lab, In one sense I was once again 'Specimen 16' a guinea pig for everyhar to study.
Brook exclaimed something and pointed at a cluster of hara off to one side of the horde of well-wishers. Ponclast's comment about Theide bringing my Tribes-hara had gotten shuffled to the back of my mind and I was delighted to see that Thiede had managed to collect several of my inner circle.
Brooks brothers and father were present along with Jasem, Gyvon, Docanton and Bradoc. Brook made a bee-line for his family, I was about to follow when I caught sight of another har that I knew.
"Ash!!" I gasped and barged past several important looking hara to wrap my Inceptor in a bear hug. "What on Earth are you doing here! Why aren't you in Europe?"
"Sixteen" He replied with a lopsided grin. "Europe? Yeah, my body clock says it's eight hours later than it. Timezone lag is just as bad by Sedu as by Jet."
"Sedu?"
"I'll explain later" he winked giving a very deliberate glance in Thiede's direction. "Anyway, look at you! Your own Tribe, getting nuked, becoming a mother...that's going to be hard to top"
"Hostling.. Not mother" I corrected. "in fact that's something I think they all need to know."
I switched to sending and broadcast my thoughts to the entire room
*Thank you all for coming. And thank you Tiahaar Ponclast, for catering for this unplanned event. I only hope that you all don't have to wait too many weeks for me to um...give birth. ...But I'm sure he'll be keen to provide you with guest quarters and entertainment until the special day finally arrives*
Someone spluttered and began coughing. Ah yes, direct hit.
*Tiahaar Thiede has suggested that it's down to me to supply any new words that may need to be made up. Here's the first for you to consider, Humans have mothers...Wraeththu have 'Hostlings'.*
Someone tall and red-headed spluttered and began coughing. Ah yes, another direct hit.
There was a slight pause as everyhar digested my announcement after which the various conversations resumed at a louder, more excited, pitch. They'd all heard the boundless glowy joy infectiously underlying my thoughts.
The party soon became a swirl of introductions and oft repeated questions, some put more delicately than others.
Where the Velisarius Har Kakkahar asked "Have you encountered any ..erm..issues with secondary sexual characteristics"....
Manny Har Uigenna on the other hand asked "So any milk from your titties dude? Koz that'ed be, like, gnarly"
After a while I got fed up with some of it and did another mass sending.
*Ok..lets just cover some basics here...Yes the harling kicks occasionally. No I'm not lactating or experiencing any breast growth expected or unexpected. Yes, it's only been two months, No, I didn't realize. Yes, I feel really great. Yes its instinctive, you'll love it too. No I don't know when the harling is due..everyone got that? Good!*
About two hours into the party I was face to face with Massasauga. I felt a guilty pleasure as I noted that Flamepetal had been rather efficient in carrying out my instructions.
"I...." he said
"You've lied to me every day for two whole months Tiahaar. I don't believe we have anything further to say to each other."
"Sixteen, I know it looks wrong. But you have to understand, without harlings our entire race will be extinct within a generation. Your Harling's mental and physical health is vitally important; it over-rides every other concern. Telling you the truth might have caused you emotional distress, and that might have damaged the Harling. I had to make sure the harling has every chance of a normal term."
"It wasn't your decision to make Massasauga"
"The future of our species, Sixteen. I had no choice but to protect you and the Harling in every way that I could. Every way and...If you need me...I remain at your disposal" he replied sweeping away.
He'd had a tear in his eye, that's why he'd made such a quick exit. I remained annoyed with him. It just wasn't fair that I was now feeling guilty for upsetting him.
What more can I say, the buffet was great, (where did they get bananas this far north?) and after Manny Har Uigenna's rendition of songs from 'The Rocky Horror Show' each tribe seemed keen to put on the best improvised entertainment that they could.
If possible, the revelry lifted my spirits even higher; I was almost able to forget the unsavory Varr Ponclast.
"....Don't you think Tiahaar Sixteen?" said someone politely
I blinked, I'd clearly zoned out. I stifled a yawn.
"Sorry Tiahaar?..." I blinked then finally recognized Ash.
"As I was saying, its time you got some rest Sixteen"
I yawned again "I think you're right. I figure I'll just slip away and let them get on with it"
Over on the Buffet table a hara that looked a lot like Flamepetal was on his back, legs wrapped around a Uigenna that might even have been Manny their Archon. Several Varrs nearby looked as if they were sucking on lemons.
A wave of precognition swept over me, giving me a glimpse of Manny's future as a blood soaked legend called Manticker the Seventy.
"Precog?"
"Yeah, I'd better go before I do a Cassandra on every Archon here"
"Problem?"
"Naaah, Manny's going to have a blast in Seattle. That's all." I replied dismissing it.
I wordlessly I sent *--* to Brook transmitting my need for him.
Naturally it wasn't that simple, I was just getting ready to slip out when someone 'dinged' his wineglass.
*A Toast* Sent Ponclast *Hostling Sixteen!*
*Hostling Sixteen*
I grinned feebly and gave an ineffectual wave of the hand.
* * *
I don't know what grade of aviation fuel Brook had been drinking but that's the first time I've seen a har with a genuine hangover. He blamed it on something the Kakkahar gave him called a hyper-vodka, but it could have been anything.
Where the night before had been all about celebration, this morning was about consequences. Our breakfast was accompanied by an 'invitation' to attend a meeting of Archons and Doctors.
Invitation was of course a polite way of saying 'summoned to appear'.
It was evident that Thiede was subtly on my side. It cannot have been chance that of the few Tuaththua he picked up, two were doctors and the third was a lawyer.
The only other Archon who had Doctors present was Ponclast, of course he owned the medical facility as well. The others, including Thiede himself were limited to what they could glean by sharing of breath and meditations of various sorts.
I tolerated the prodding and etheric scans..right up the point that Ponclast wanted X-Rays (he'd have asked for an MRI but his surviving medics weren't trained in the use of the thing.)
I glanced at Docanton, who was frowning and shaking his head.
"We have no idea what the safe X-ray dose is for a Harling. You could easily damage the DNA" he replied shyly.
In response Ponclast's Doctors burbled about how safe it was and how vital it was to record as much data as we could.
"Humanity didn't know roon about medicine. We can learn more through a simple laying on of hands. We cannot allow it" Galain Har Sul protested
This sparked a heated debate, telling Ponclast 'No' just pushed his buttons.
*I need some air* I sent to my hara.
It was quite telling that the Archons didn't notice my departure, continuing their discussion.
Outside, I leaned against a metal handrail, looking out over the Varr Army base. The blizzard had stopped sometime during the night and the hot sun had begun to reduce the pure white snow to muddy slush.
"I'm beginning to wonder if staying here is a good idea"
"You're not serious!" gasped Brook "what if there's a complication? We have to be near a hospital"
"Do we? No hara knows enough about Wraethrhu biology to do anything meaningful."
"Citadel's Scientists did" replied Brook
"That's hardly useful, I killed them"
"We could try a séance. Ask their spirits what they know"
"No. I won't soil myself speaking to the ghosts of slime like them." I replied decisively.
I heard the door swing behind me and glanced around to see that it was Jasem.
"The Archons come to a compromise agreement"
"Tell them I'm not interested. It's my body. Our Harling needs to come into the world naturally without any taint, or interference. End of discussion"
"They're not going to like it"
"The world is full of disappointments"
The door thudded closed as Jasem went to give them my decision.
A few moments later the door creaked again.
"Sixteen" said Thiede
"Funny, I thought it would be Ponclast demanding that I do my duty for Wraeththukind"
"I've never been one for conforming with the agendas of others Sixteen. And as it turns out, neither is your Harling" Said Thiede conversationally.
"What do you MeaeeEEEEn!" I replied suddenly racked by the most excruciating pain I'd ever encountered, even the moment when my penis burst apart seemed minor by comparison.
Thiede glanced at his watch "There you go, right on time."
The tubular metal handrail made a metallic groaning noise as my hands clenched. (Years later I got word of a carnival going from settlement displaying the deformed piece of steel as a deharic reliquary).
Right then I couldn't care less about what was on time or what I was doing to the street furniture.
"Get. The. Rooning. DOCTORS!" I screamed and sent at the same time.
Brook meanwhile was, like, 'what do I do??'
Thiede, so detached from earthly concerns watched in fascination.
"Pain! Can't. You. Do. Something?" I gritted
"Really? pain is such a human limitation. That was one of the things Caste Training is supposed to alleviate."
The slight softening of my attitude toward Massasauga stopped and went into full reverse. The manipulative rooner had been supposed to teach me pain suppression.
"Nobody. Trained. Me!" I gritted
"Do try to form sentences, there's a good har" replied Thiede completely out of touch with my version of reality
I wondered briefly if he were mortal enough for me to kill.
At that point a flock of Doctors arrived and I was bustled down the steps and into a waiting Humvee.
One whiff of the Medical centre's antiseptic stench and I dug my heals in. It smelled like the Citadel Lab and no force on Earth was getting me in there.
The pains were getting more intense and more frequent. That a good thing, right? That's what is supposed to happen with humans so it should probably be similar.
I looked around searching for some building I could have the Harling in that didn't reek of chemicals.
Movement across the parade ground caught my eye, Red Feather was being led into a vast steel framed garage that was clearly now in use as a stable.
"There. I'm having him in there!"
Someone started wittering about hygiene. I stopped that by the simple expedient of grabbing him and throwing him at a half melted snowdrift.
*Let Sixteen find his own path* sent Thiede sternly *I sense that this is instinctive response; he seeks to find a safe and hidden place. He will be allowed to do so*
Every few feet I had to stop, to endure another wave of pain. It wasn't until I'd fully crossed the parade ground that I realised that everyhar had stopped where Thiede was, a cluster of hara in the distance, leaving me alone.
*Good luck my Harling* whispered Thiede privately
Logically, I knew that I ought to have a full crash-team hovering around saying reassuring medico-jargon stuff. But on the more basic level, I was relieved that I could concentrate fully on what I was doing. Letting instinct drive me, I walked to the far end of the improvised stable and huddled into the furthest corner surrounded by the reassuringly natural odor of strewn hay and horse.
I looked down at myself, the Harling was definitely on the move, and the area of abdomen just above my crotch now had a definite fist-sized bulge. An unhelpful image of a chest-busting alien sprang to mind.
With one efficient tug I removed my wrap-around dress, spread it on the straw and sort of crouched.
The cramping pain increased and became a desperate need to expel. In later years hara tell of labor lasting for hours or even days, I guess reality was giving me a break this first time.
After a brief delirium of pain there was an absence, in my mind it was as if a part of me had gone silent. Had the Harling been reading my thoughts or even guiding them?
Babies cry when they are born. My harling wasn't crying...was it stillborn? A terror-beast grew large in my mind. I looked down between my legs and did an utter double-take.
An Egg?!?! My Beautiful Harling..is a rooning EGG!?!
Beneath the slime of birth-fluid and blood he glistened, a shell with the colour of mother-of-pearl. I guess that explains the whole-shellfish craving I'd had two weeks ago.
So what if he didn't have arms and legs, he was utterly beautiful! Cautiously a picked him up in both hands, lovingly wiping the mess away from his dazzling shell.
Without knowing why, I curled up around him and sent thoughts of relaxation and contentment at him. To my surprise the very same emotions came bouncing back at me.
My son was fully aware.
I must have drifted into contented and exhausted sleep at that point.
Across the parade ground minds immeasurably superior to my own sensed the ending of my pain and began an undignified sprint toward my stable.