by A. C. Katt
“On Earth, they have a culture of celebrity. When two actors join, the media link their names. The actor Brad Pitt got together with the actress Angelina Jolie and they became Brangelina. They now have six offspring.” Mark chuckled.
“We should be so lucky. Although the Earthen fem seem to be giving lie to the former low Sarran birth rate,” Juraens said, smiling fondly at Sara.
“This is going to be like a snake digesting a mouse. A real baby boom. There was one on Earth after the Second World War. It changed everything.”
Tarin appeared thoughtful. “I can imagine it would. All of the offspring and femspring clamoring for bebe beds, bebe riders, and all of the other things young bebes need at the same time. I think after I do Sara’s kitchen, I might do a bit of tinkering with bebe apparatus. I could get together with Bron. Sara, I’m sure you and Syn can come up with dozens of items I can design that would be of use to the Zinnas.”
“The face of the planet will change. What with the offspring and femspring the Earthen fems brought with them, Lunas and Saxon installed a playground on board the Brightstar so the offspring and femspring wouldn’t get bored and therefore into trouble. It’s difficult now that most of them can transport anywhere they want to go. Maybe you could design a monitor for all of the older littles, like Naffie and Michael. Goddess knows, with those two the four aides have their hands full. We may have to get two more aides who just mind the littles. Naffie took Michael to see Castle Water this rising.”
Tarin’s jaw dropped. “That’s halfway across the planet.”
“Exactly…they are coming into their psy young and it’s very strong and may only grow stronger as they age and learn to control it better. However, it’s going to be difficult to control them while they are so young.”
“I’m seriously thinking about staying in the gatehouse until Syn gives birth. She can’t be expected to chase after both of them and at least if they’re together the number of places we have to look is halved.” Sara took a sip of Tierest juice.
“That makes a lot of sense, I’ll speak to Zaron,” Juraens said.
“They’re determined to be together. Michael told me that they will alternate between houses, but will sleep together in the same room every moontine. If Juraens hadn’t assured me that things will not get sexual this young, I’d be petrified.” Sara shook her head and wasn’t quite able to hide a yawn.
“My fox, I think our femspring is weary. Let’s call Midnight and go home to Soarer’s Nest. We’ll teleport Sam’s things next rising. I called Bron after we had coffee and told him I wouldn’t be at the lab for a while until we got settled.”
“He can spare you?” Sam asked.
“He said we have to get settled quickly because the council needs Bron and I to finish testing the anti-breach device. We have until the mixing. Bron said Naffie told him we will find a fem there, so we’re going to have to arrange for the Falling Waters and the Duchy to be refurbished quickly. We can’t bring a fem to Soarer’s Nest. It’s definitely a manor for a WarriorPair, not for a fem or Triad.
“You recently refurbished Castle Water and the Duchy is in the same general area, by the sea. Maybe you could recommend workmen that can get the job done quickly? I believe the structure is sound. Anything built by the ancients is, but the furniture needs to be aired and maybe recovered,” Tarin said to Juraens.
“If we can get it cleaned and fitted out with a new kitchen and baths, we could bring our fem and have her pick out the decorations. I’m not good at that,” Sam admitted.
“I’m good at it, but I agree, our fem should have the final say. If the house is clean and the baths and kitchens are new, we can order linens in the house colors.”
“What are the house colors?” Sam asked.
“The dark blue of the depths of the ocean and the silver of a fish. We linger…let’s call our feline and go home. We can walk to the village from here and you’ll get to see the area.”
::Midnight, are you ready to go home.::
::Yes, I must admit to needing a nap. When we get home I’ll tell you how to make my things.:: Sam and Tarin gave each other a sidelong glance and covered their chuckles under a cough.
* * * *
Soarer’s Nest: 23:30 tines
Sara had fabricated a basket for them to use to carry Midnight and they strolled through the village.
“Next rising we have to get busy. Luckily most of the WarriorPairs on Brightstar are already bonded so the promise rings and Asta glasses can be made right away before the rush after the mixing.”
They reached the manor. Midnight jumped out of his basket and walked in as soon as they opened the door.
::I’m going to take a nap in our slumber chamber, then I’m going out to look for bancs. There will be no bancs in our home. My size makes me an excellent hunter.::
::Thank you, Midnight. While you nap, we will fabricate your things. Someone put a PetSmart catalog in the fabricator, so we’ll have them for you by the time you return,:: Sam assured their very large cat.
Midnight took himself off to the slumber chamber. “How large is he going to be?” Tarin asked Sam.
“From what I understand, the males can be eighteen pounds or more depending on how long they get. They can get as long as forty-five inches.” Sam laughed.
“We’ve taken in a laptard.”
“Maybe he’ll help us hunt them.”
“What are we going to use as our house symbol? Mark says we need one.”
Tarin walked over to what looked like a drafting table but was in fact a holo projector for design. He sketched in the air and showed Sam the design. There was a faint small blue orb for Earth and beneath it ran a silver stream for the Duchy of ClanWater. Beside the water sat a grove of Tierest trees.
“That’s beautiful. How did you come up with that so quickly?”
Tarin’s face flushed. “I’ve been looking at you and thinking about us together all evening long. As delightful as our offspring, femspring, and grandspring are, I longed to be alone with you. But our femspring needed reassurance that I wouldn’t take you from her so we went to her moontine meal. It was the right thing to do.”
::I love you, my Sarran. You are perfect for me. You understood what our Sara needed and generously gave it to her. Let’s get our feline straightened out, then we can get on to more adventurous pursuits.::
They looked through the catalog on the fabricator and nothing seemed quite big enough for Midnight until they looked in the dog section. They found a bed, fabricated scat boxes two sizes larger than the one Zaron originally designed, and found large dishes. The only problem was the cat tree. Once Tarin saw what one looked like, he quickly sketched a sturdier, more interesting design.
“This will be delivered in a quarter-tine from the fabrication center. There are Warriors on duty at the center all cycle long.”
“Sort of like a twenty-four tine Walmart.”
“Walmart?”
“A grocery and dry goods store open every rising, twenty-four tines. It only closes one day a year.”
“Yes, like the fabricator shop. Every Warrior, including the Elder Council, does duty at the fabricator shop. Lucky for us, I did my duty two phases ago and our names won’t come up for quite a while.” Tarin chuckled. “Many a bond began at the fabricator shop. They always schedule WarriorPairs together, but the unbonded get switched around so they have a chance to meet other unbonded Warriors.”
::Can we have some Asta while we wait?::
::Of course, my fox. We have glasses in the kitchen and the Asta is in the library where we spent this afternoon.:: Tarin’s eyes flashed.
::Will it bother you to move away from Soarer’s Nest? This has been your home for so long.::
::No, not at all. This hasn’t been a home since Nezier died. And for us I want something new with no memories for either of us.::
::Can we keep the leather sofa?:: Sam had a sparkle in his eye.
::Yes, as a matter of fact, that’s new and it’s m
ade, not fabricated. I wanted one place to sit without memories. The same for the bed. I’m the only Warrior that has slept there.::
“And now Midnight. There is the door. Our cat tree is here.” It took both men to carry the tree inside. They put it in the library so Midnight could be with them in the evenings until they moved to the Duchy.
Midnight came out of the slumber chamber, stretching. ::Is that my cat tree?::
::Yes, it just arrived.::
::I have superior persons. This is indeed a fitting cat tree for a cat my size. Thank you. I also spy a bed. If you will move that into the slumber chamber, I’ll sleep after I patrol the house and garden for bancs.::
::We’ll probably be asleep when you come home, so good moontine to you.::
::And to you, my persons.::
The door opened and Midnight went outside on patrol.
“Come, my fox, let’s make love.” Tarin grabbed Sam’s hand and led him into the slumber chamber.
The room was done in reds and navy blue. “We can save the navy for the Duchy, the red furnishings and linens are handmade and can be bartered for fresh meat and vegetables.”
They took off their flightsuits and tumbled into the bed.
Tarin took Sam’s face in his hand and began to suck on his lips. He moved his mouth to the fleshy area between Sam’s shoulder and his neck and sucked up a mark. ::You wear my mark this moontine and in the rising we’ll have our rings.::
Sam put his hand between them and palmed Tarin’s shaft. His hand came away wet with slick. “We need to put down a towel.”
“Yes, slick increases in direct proportion to desire.” Tarin got up and retrieved a towel from the bathing chamber and laid it on the bed.
::Come here, my love. My bed has been empty for too long. Lay on top of me. I want to rub against your cock.::
Sam lay on top of Tarin and began to kiss Tarin’s face. Tarin had a light end-of-the-day scruff on his face, which he rubbed against Sam’s chin. Sam groaned in heat. Tarin took Sam’s hands and placed them over his head. Sam obliged.
Tarin ran his hands over Sam’s body again and again, sensitizing the skin so that each caress made Sam shake with desire.
::I love the feel of your naked skin. Your body is that of a hardened Warrior. Like our Elders, you were a Warrior before you went into governance.::
::I admit I identify with your Warrior culture with clear rules and punishment applied equally. The fact that the government doesn’t need to tax its citizens is unbelievable.::
::Once the fabricator was invented, all the things that government needed to build, cost nothing. The Warriors all serve and receive credits based on merit. No one here is advanced in rank because they’re in a certain profession. TeAxit was a gardener before he became an Elder. TeWell ran an eatery. Both Warriors also served honorably against the Zyptz and were at the top of their profession. We don’t pick people for high office because they know how to debate, we pick them because they know how to do.::
Tarin’s mouth roamed down to Sam’s chest. Sam had very few chest hairs. He chuckled, ::If anyone should use the depilatory cream, it’s me. The few hairs I have between my pecs are unattractive. You should be either smooth or have a nice scruff of hair. I have neither.::
::Your hair or lack of it is of no concern to me, love. I’ll take you any way I can get you. The depilatory cream is in the bathing chamber if you wish to use it.::
Sam laughed. ::I may, vanity is one of my besetting sins.::
::Don’t do it for me. I love and accept you as you are. There isn’t anything about you that doesn’t make me want you. Let me nuzzle that small patch of hair while I can.:: Tarin rubbed the scruff on Sam’s chest. Slick poured out of Sam’s cock. It seemed as though it was running out of his cock in buckets but he wasn’t the only one with a plumbing leak.
::I used to think I wasn’t a very sexual being, yet your touch makes crazy with want,:: Sam admitted.
::I was attracted to Nezier and we had a true bond. Back then, he was exactly what I required. My needs have changed since he died. I want something different. I crave you. I’m desperate for your touch. Everything you say, everything you are, fascinates me. I love you more than I thought it was possible to love anyone. Goddess, I survived the loss of Nezier. I would never survive losing you.::
Sam’s eyes were bright with unshed tears of joy. He loved this man. ::This is my gift to you,:: Sam said and completely opened his mind to Tarin. ::This is who I am, all of it, the good, the bad, and the ugly.::
Tarin opened his mind in return. ::I accept your gift and give you that same trust in return.:: The two men looked at each other in awe. They rubbed against each other’s shafts and spilled cum all over the towel.
Sam and Tarin got out of bed and took a shower, jacking each other off again. Just after one tine they went to bed, Sam wrapped in Tarin’s arms. At one-thirty, Midnight came in the front door which, as all the doors on Sarran had been programmed to let the cats come and go as they please.
::You’re finished.::
Sam and Tarin laughed out loud. ::Yes, we’re done.::
::Good. Tigger said I’m too young to listen.::
* * * *
Chapter 6
To simply wake up every morning a better person
than when I went to bed.
—Sidney Poitier
Soarer’s Nest, Vineleaf Village: 9:15 tines
Sam woke up the next dawntine to the smell of fresh coffee with Midnight on his head. ::We thought you’d never get up. It’s after nine.::
::Don’t be a scold, Midnight. Sam had a big day yesterday and he was worn out. I have your coffee, my fox, and a new coffeepot that can make coffee neither you nor I can screw up. I dropped one off at the gatehouse an hour ago.::
::Why did you go there?:: Sam was almost pouting.
::I went to fix a pot so that you’d have your coffee this dawntine and not turn into what your femspring described as a grisly.:: Tarin sent a picture of an ursine creature with big teeth, pointy ears, and tusks.
Sam shuddered. “That’s not like any bear I’ve ever seen.”
“That’s because it’s not a bear, it’s a borad, a Sarran forest animal that tastes something like your pork. Our hunters butcher the meat and cook it and it tastes like pork, or they cure the meat so it comes out like your ham. Syn told me that. She’s right. I tasted both from the fabricator, but borad is better. I went over to consult with Bron on the coffee pot. We decided that Warriors had to learn to make good coffee to serve their fems.”
Sam opened his eyes, “Wait, we have coffee?”
“Kona coffee, I purchased three grun after Bron and I fabricated the pot.” Sam sat up in bed and Tarin handed him a mug. “You said a dollop of cream. I put in cha, Sarran cream. Try it.”
Sam took a sip of the coffee. “Fuck, this is the best coffee I’ve ever had. How did you do it?”
“Precise measurement; the grinder won’t take any more coffee beans than it needs to make a pot. After the beans are ground, the coffee goes into a receptacle to await the water. You can dial weak, medium, or strong and the reservoir won’t take any extra water and will beep at you if you don’t put in enough.”
Sam put the mug down.
“Precise measurement was what was lacking,” Tarin said with a satisfied look.
“My love, you have solved my chief problem with Sarran—having to live without coffee.”
“That will never happen, my fox. I won’t let it. Even if I have to get special permission to grow the beans myself. What do you want for breakfast? We have to be swift, because we have an appointment with the jeweler at ten-thirty and the piercer at ten-forty-five.”
“I don’t have my kit bag; can I use that cream of yours to shave?”
“Let me show you how to use it or you might end up bald.” Sam threw a pillow at Tarin, who caught it midair and lobbed it right back at him. Sam hastened out of bed, used the facilities, and took a shower.” Tarin showed Sam how to use the c
ream with a steamed towel. They got out of the bathing chamber, this time, without any hanky-panky.
“Do Sarrans eat eggs?”
“Yes, we have a type of water fowl, the martinel, who lays eggs. The gatherers keep them in ponds and harvest the eggs. I made that and laptard patties for the dawntine meal. We need a chef.”
Sam didn’t eat very much so they were out the door in a half-tine.
* * * *
Vineleaf Village Square, The Jewelers: 10:30 tines
“These are perfect,” Sam said as Tarin held up a set of rings enameled with a blue orb and the flowing stream Tarin showed him the day before.
::This can’t be a coincidence, love. How did he get your exact drawing?:: Sam raised a brow.
::I must admit I stopped here with the specifications before I went to the workshop to see Bron. You did say you liked it.::
::I did say that, didn’t I. Sneaky, but they’re just what I envisioned when you showed me the drawing last rising.::
::I was leery about going without you, but I wanted them right away in case we find our fem.::
::Why are you so sure we’ll find our fem right away? Other WarriorPairs wait years. We’ve only been together one rising.::
:: The day before I met you the Goddess promised me I would be in Triad soon. I didn’t believe her, but I went to Bron’s anyway; because he is an Elder and runs the workshop where I do my tinkering and there you were. I almost lost it in front of three pair of Elders. I wanted to carry you off; instead I asked you for coffee and went home and thanked the Goddess.::
::I’m curious. Why, love, why didn’t you claim me right away?::
::You were from Earth, I didn’t want to scare you away with the type of instant love a bonding engenders. I wanted you to get to know me first.::
::That lasted all of five mots.:: Sam laughed.
::Ah, but then I found out that you were as eager for me as I was for you.::
::…And took full advantage of that fact.:: Sam kissed Tarin with great passion right in front of the jeweler.
