by A. C. Katt
“We’ll give you that.” Her Warriors embraced her; relieved that she wasn’t angry. “Now it is up to you to tell us what to do.”
“Call Jonal, Tonas, and Anya, as I suggested; we may need moral support. I have enough sausage and meatballs in homemade sauce stored in the freezer to feed an army. I used to make it for the girls at the shelter once a week.” Syn started to head to the kitchen.”
::Pa Chette, I think that in Philadelphia, you are sorely missed,:: Zaron thought as he brought her close for a kiss.
* * * *
Syn had platters of spaghetti, meatballs, sausage and garlic bread on the table along with a Caesar salad and brownies with ice cream for dessert by nineteen tines. The brownies came from six boxes of mix, but the boys wouldn’t know the difference. Neither would Anya for that matter; but she would share the info with her just for the giggle.
Syn reflected that it was nice to have a best friend, for that is what Anya had become to her in their few days of acquaintance. Because of the way she looked; that had never happened before. It was a good feeling.
* * * *
TeAllen and TeWell were impressed by the cook, and her meal. “This spaghetti is Italian food? What is Italian?” they asked.
“Italy is a country on Earth in the geographical location designated as Europe, many of their people immigrated to our country, the United States, and brought along their cuisine, so now the dish is widely served in the U.S.,” Anya answered as she grabbed another piece of garlic bread.
“Immigrants?” TeAllen questioned. He cut a piece of sweet sausage.
“The United States once served and in some places, still does, as a land of opportunity for people from other countries. For the last two hundred years, people have flocked to the United States for freedom and economic opportunity, bringing with them their cuisine, customs, religious beliefs, arts, and crafts. And they pass all these things to the general population of their new home just as I have passed spaghetti and meatballs on to the Warriors of Sarran. It makes for great diversity,” Syn explained, passing the platter of meatballs. “The new Earthen fem could be considered immigrants to Sarran.”
“Maybe we should get an Italian fem,” TeAllen laughed as he took some more meatballs.
“But Syn isn’t Italian; yet she can cook their food. You missed last night’s turkey and ham,” Jonal said, smacking his lips.
“To say nothing of chocolate chip cookies…” Bron, who sat across from Syn, blew her a kiss.
Zaron stood, “I have heard of another Earthen custom, one I’ve seen on their vids. Congratulations are in order, to use the Earthen term, we toast both of our fem for the joy they have bestowed on us.”
The group lifted their glasses but the fem drank Tierest juice.
“Syn has several things to tell us. Proceed, Pa Chette.”
“We should retreat to the study.” Syn stood.
“Concierge,” Bron said, “Tell Garlance we will take our coffee and dessert in the study.”
The group stood and without wasting any time teleported to the study.
* * * *
Syn sat in the overstuffed chair, “You know about the births, they are a matter that must be discussed by the full council. We should run two other matters by you. First, the matter of the PTSD we discussed in council—we need to find some psychologists and/or a psychiatrist among the fem. The Warriors who are suffering from PTSD need help immediately, or more may die. They may become violent and be an unconscious danger to those around them.”
“They could endanger the fem?” TeAllen asked, alarmed.
Syn considered her answer, “Not deliberately; but in a rage, anything is possible. I propose we set up a clinic. Anya, you know the basics of psychiatry from your residency. If you read up on the disorder, could you put in a few days a week?”
“That’s an excellent idea. Hopefully we will have help from a few medical personnel we find on the manifest. Physician’s assistants, nurses, anyone with a background in medicine would, with training, be able to help.
“What about pharmacists? They know the compounds for Earthen drugs used on our soldiers for PTSD. Maybe they can work with the Sarrans toward finding equivalencies,” Anya suggested. She turned and looked at Tonas. “Didn’t Bane work on the antidote to the virus? The team that did that may be able to put something together quickly to stop the suicides and out of control tempers. This must have a high priority. Big men with hair trigger tempers don’t go well together.
“Jonal, you did say there was more fighting that forced you to send Warriors to the Brig during the trip out.” Anya looked at him and Tonas with a question in her eyes.
“Yes, we did have some discipline problems on the way out, more than the usual scuffles. There is definitely something to what you and Syn say, and Mark agreed when I spoke to him this afternoon. We need to set up these clinics soon.” Jonal looked to TeAllen and TeWell who were strangely silent during the discussion.
TeWell began to speak, “I had no idea when we sent Brightstar to Earth what treasures it would bring home. I think my bonded and I will seriously start looking for a fem among the women. You have made a lie of all that was said about Earthen humanoids being inferior. I think if it wasn’t for the unfortunate geography of your planet and the extinction events, you could have been in space before us.”
Anya stood and looked at those assembled, “We are no better or worse than you are. We have the same kinds of faults as you do. What separates our people is the guidance of the Codex and the Goddess Ulna. She doesn’t interfere; yet she watches over her people; which is more than any of our so-called Earthen gods have done in a long time.”
Garlance arrived and brought coffee, then quietly withdrew. “TeWell, TeAllen, will you help us to supplement the wards around the room?”
“Yes, of course.” TeWell frowned. “I don’t think I’m going to like where this is going.”
“Syn, call for the cats and see if they will come to speak with us.”
Duchess and Tigger popped into the room. “The cats can teleport?” TeWell and TeAllen asked in amazement.
Zaron stood. “Please say nothing at all until I give the signal.”
Duchess and Tigger sniffed about the room and began to dig at another loose tile. Bron went over to help and held up a listening device, he then crushed with his boot. “Any more?” he asked the cats.
::No more bugs. Someone close to this household planted this while we were at council.::
“And they also detect listening devices and explosives. They say it sounds like a buzz in their head. The ability first manifested itself aboard the Brightstar. That is in an addendum to the report which we will pass on to you now.”
Bron took out crystal cubes and set them on the table. “It would be best to look at these and destroy them. We know we can trust everyone who sat in council today because Syn and Duchess couldn’t detect any black miasma around the council’s auras.”
“TaSyn, the little beauty, and the Beast see auras? Only those with very advanced psy power can do that,” TeAllen said with amazement.
“Exactly, that is why the information must remain in this room,” Bron said gravely.
“Who else knows about this?” TeWell barked.
“Only the most trustworthy: Juraens and Mark Stern,” Tonas answered.
“Now, to business,” Syn said firmly. “I have a question. Has anyone seen the actual dead body of TeZuff?”
“No, no one has, usually an Elder will lie in state, but TeAngle refused the honor,” said TeWell. “He intimated that with the loss of both his fem from the Zyptz and now TeZuff with his war wounds, he was too debilitated by grief to attend a state function. He went into seclusion.”
“Doesn’t that strike you as strange?” Zaron asked, passing around the Asta.
“It did, but with the landing of the Brightstar and the fems, no one thought anything of it,” TeAllen said, his face showing the dawn of a revelation.
“They are the t
raitors. Fuck, they are probably off planet by now,” Jonal said in terrible anger.
“Yes, Syn did something called profiling. She said she wasn’t really good at it, but from her description of the type of man who would do such a thing, they were the only ones on council that fit the parameters,” Bron told them.
“What were these parameters?” TeAllen was bristling at the thought of a WarriorPair on the council betraying the planet.
“Someone who is very proud, too interested in the formalities of his position, easily slighted, and who raised strenuous objections to the mission. There is more, but it is not necessary to go into it now,” Zaron said.
“Should we call PsyOps to arrest them for treason?” TeWell asked.
“We have no proof unless we see TeZuff alive and kicking,” Syn said with some sarcasm.
“We can send someone to the estate under the guise of bringing the condolences of the council tomorrow morning,” TeAllen suggested, getting up to pace.
“By tomorrow morning they will be long gone. I suspect they left this morning while the council was debriefing. They had help from the Galactic Federation. Septis reported to someone before he took off in the Zyptz ship. That someone was also responsible for all of the supply screw-ups during the war and sabotaging the Brightstar mission by murdering the WarriorPair who were responsible for security. If not for Mark Stern and Juraens, Jonal and I would not have known who to trust besides our bonded and the cats who had no agenda other than keeping Anya and Syn safe.” Tonas poured himself another Asta.
“TeZuff and TeAngle were responsible for supplies. This explains many things. What do we do now?” TeWell asked.
“Notify the rest of the council and then do damage control. Because they were not at the meeting today they know nothing about the cats, save that they were on the manifest, nor do they have any idea of the growing strength of the Earthen fem’s psy.” Tonas put down his glass.
“Is there anything else we should know?” TeAllen asked with some asperity.
“I apologize that we hid the information. It wasn’t until today that we had any idea of who the traitor could be and until we found out; nothing could be said.”
“Of course, it was a need to know situation.” TeWell calmed his BondMate.
“You all lost so much during the war and its aftermath, after such tragedy it was only human to be more concerned with the immediate problem rather than the long term agenda of any council member,” Tonas said with sympathy.
“This gives us much to contemplate,” TeAllen said as he rose. “We must call a meeting of the full council to discuss all three issues. Your fem bring intelligence and wit along with hope to our planet. TaSyn, TaAnya, we are in your debt.
“If we could have permission to search the manifest for medical personnel, that would go a long way to solving the first two issues.”
“We have a quorum, so may I assume that all present vote aye?”
Three WarriorPairs stood and said, “Aye, we agree.”
Zaron said, “We meet in Castle Air next rising to discuss what we found. Send PsyOps to TeAngle’s estate; although I believe it to be an exercise in futility.”
He rose to take his guests to teleport.
“We would like to thank the lovely Syn and Anya for their hospitality and their keen insight. We will meet again. We have much to learn from you.” TeAllen and TeWell bade them goodnight.
“Syn, do you need help with the kitchen? I can clean very well, just can’t cook.”
“No, I’m fine; Brok and Tack will do what is necessary, but thank you for offering,” Syn said as she hugged Anya. “You are a good friend, the best I’ve ever had.”
“Ditto, Syn, ditto. Now we must all go to our beds, in the early days of a pregnancy it is important to get rest.”
“Yes, mother,” Syn said, but as she said it a tear dripped down her cheek. She told Anya, “Goodnight.”
* * * *
Chapter 10
“The best way to find yourself; is to lose yourself
in the service of others.”
—Mahatma Gandhi
A general announcement was made over the com during what passed for Sarran news of Jonal and Tonas’ elevation to Elders and of Juraens and Mark Stern’s being raised to the title of Princes. The Earthen fem were instructed that the formal Te and Ta were to be used for the Elders and their bonded. The news reader congratulated the highest Elders in the land on finding their fem, TaSyn, and the newest Elders for completing their Triad with TaAnya.
Syn brought Naffie and Duchess the next rising to see Anya. Jonal and Tonas provided the manifest and they pored over it, looking for any medical personnel. They found three nurses, two physician’s assistants, a pharmacist, and a psychiatrist. Out of the seven, one had bonded on landing. The others were still single. They contacted them by com.
Syn explained the problem. All of the nurses had done rotations in OB/GYN and one had experience in teaching birthing classes. One of the physician’s assistants worked at a Veterans Administration Hospital with soldiers who had PTSD.
Ellen Macavoy, the psychiatrist said, “I should have known with the recent history of Sarran there would be PTSD; but they seemed so competent, and strong, I didn’t think that they would be susceptible. We forget that they are humanoids and made from the same star stuff from which we all are crafted. I’ll work with you TaSyn, but we are going to have to import more counselors from Earth; even if it is a temporary position.”
“We have to make do with what we can get. Because of the psy, Sarran is a closed planet. We can travel elsewhere but no one comes in without the council’s express permission. Sometimes there are black market ships that land on private estates but it is treason and the punishment is severe. Our only hope for both the births and the PTSD is to tell the WarriorPairs who go on the next trading mission to Earth to actively seek fems in the medical professions,” Syn replied, sighing in frustration.
“Teaching the WarriorPairs how to help their fem give birth shouldn’t be a problem. All of the Warriors are intelligent and as you now know have varying degrees of psy so they will be easy to teach. We also have one male doctor, Mark Stern, who can be teleported in for cases with complications. I’m also a medical doctor and if I have already given birth or haven’t yet; I can also be on call,” Anya added.
Tina Ferrarra, one of the physician’s assistants, had her WarriorPair in their com room. Both of them, Ensign Blot and Lieutenant Panner, were Sarran physicians. “The hanger where the fem were processed is large enough to hold meetings and classes and can be set up with holos. We have a small population on Sarran. There are only five hundred doctors counting the medical officers on board the ships in the fleet,” Panner said.
“Yes, but we could teach the doctors planetside first; and then have them teach groups of WarriorPairs. The graduates of these groups can teach others. We could have all of the WarriorPairs planetside, even those without fem, taught within three tides,” Blot calculated.
“This PTSD, do I have that right; is another matter that is not as simple,” Panner said, “But it does solve the mystery of some of the ailments we have seen in our practice recently and ones that our older physicians have struggled with for the past ten years of war. Can Sarran physicians be trained to prescribe this medication and to do the talk therapy?”
Ellen Macavoy replied, “I was trained at the University of New Mexico Hospital, and I practiced there too. It is a teaching hospital and I was on staff mentoring in psychiatry. I could hold a class for the physicians and the medical personnel we have here. TaSyn specialized in PTSD, so she could guide me in the right direction.”
“Hmm, I believe we have solved the problem without involving the Elders. All we need is approval of the plan. Ensign Blot and Lieutenant Panner, would you be willing to come to council along with the assembled fem to present this plan in say, two risings?”
“If our fem are going to have offspring that quickly, I would go to each of the seven
moons to ensure their safety.” Ensign Blot looked fierce in his love for his bonded.
“As far as the PTSD, it should be as fem Macavoy suggests.” Lieutenant Panner’s mouth set in a grim line. “It is past time to set the planet to rights after the Zyptz. The fem were the first step of which I admit; I was skeptical; but we have our Tina and we couldn’t be more pleased.”
“TaSyn,” Tina Ferrara said, “We heard we have you to thank for programming recipes and fresh Earthen foodstuffs into the fabricator. I made eggplant parmesan last moontine and my bonded were ecstatic. It wasn’t quite the same as fresh but it was as good as any small Italian restaurant.”
“We also need classes in Sarran food and nutrition in addition to the use of Sarran appliances. I don’t intend to spend my time in the kitchen, but I should at least know how to make coffee and boil water,” Ellen Macavoy suggested.
“Good idea,” said Anya. “I can’t boil water and my Warriors will starve if they depend on me to eat. I love the fabricators. But I would like to know how to work the appliances should I get the urge to learn to cook. Besides, babies do better with fresh food.”
Syn knew that as the fem of the WarriorPair who ran the Elder Council she had to terminate the conversation. “We have done very well. I expected only to present the problem; but we now have solutions in hand to bring to the council. They will be pleased. All of you must be busy adjusting, as are we, so we will say goodbye for now and see you at council in two risings.
* * * *
While Syn and Anya commed the fem with the first two, the Elder Council grappled with the third. They didn’t want to draw attention to themselves; so they met at Castle Air.
PsyOps made an early rising raid and found Castle Fire as empty as Zaron and Bron suspected. There were no mourning flags, no fresh urns in the burial plot, it looked like TeZuff and TeAngle left the planet.
“We have to be grateful that TeZuff’s injury made it impossible for that WarriorPair to impregnate a fem or there would be a raid on Earth which would sideline any delicate negotiations we wish to undertake,” TeAwer said as he banged his fist on the table.
