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 "Thats 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."
"Thats 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"
"Thats impossible! He cant 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.
"Whats 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 wont 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 its 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...thats 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 its 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, its 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, thats 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. Thats 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 thats 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 sance. 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. Its 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? Thats 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 didnt 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.