by A. C. Katt
“I was skeptical, but the Goddess is alive. She lives on Sarran apart from us deep in the Sarran Ocean,” Ellen said with a smile. She’s not a supernatural being. Just a long lived one.
“The Goddess is real and lives under the Sarran Sea! What genius. We never fully explored the sea because all of the fish we eat are caught near to shore and it made no sense to take a thirty-day trip across the ocean to get to the other side of the continent when you could get where you want to go faster by land without the danger of drowning,” Zaron postulated.
“Because of the position of the oceans and continents on Earth, before we learned to fly, boats were the only way to go between the continents, therefore we explored the sea and are now exploring the ocean floor. Sarran didn’t study oceanography or marine biology. You are a land based culture by the nature of your geography just as we became a seafaring and warlike culture because of ours,” Sam observed.
“Is this something that the Warriors should know now?” Juraens asked, not knowing to whom he was addressing the question.
::The WarriorPairs may be told of the archives upon achieving Triad but not before. They must not become complacent. Take care of my fems, they bring great gifts to Sarran.::
“Justice has been served, but the bebes still need to be fed. If the Ta will accompany me to my sitting room, we will have coffee and tea while the bebes suckle.” Syn gathered the Ta and they walked to the sitting room.
* * * *
Chapter 12
Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act!
Action will delineate and define you.
―Thomas Jefferson
Bron knocked on the door and opened it slightly. “May we join you?”
“You know you’re welcome here anytime you chose. We left the conference room because it’s more comfortable for us to feed the bebes here.” Syn opened the flap of the nursing blouse she fabricated from a design in the fem archives.
“How could we have missed Hilnut and the others?” Bron was disgusted.
“I didn’t like him from the moment I met him. If Garlance and Emot hadn’t been with Naffie and Michael, I wouldn’t have permitted them to go to the kitchen with him the first evening we were here. I should have said something,” Sam said, obviously angry at himself.
“What made you wary?” Tarin asked his bonded.
“I didn’t have a reason, just a feeling. I meant to tell Mark and Juraens, but I met you…” Sam regarded Tarin with soft eyes.
“Don’t beat yourself up Sam, when we met Syn, I couldn’t see anything but her.” Bron patted him on the back.
“It could have been that he had a wavy aura. I became accustomed to seeing them onboard the Brightstar and maybe it struck me as strange that his wasn’t in focus. I don’t know, he seemed off. He offered Sara juice too. Fortunately, she wasn’t thirsty, or the bebe may not have survived even if Sara did.”
Meg and Tarin put their arms around Sam and hugged them hard.
“It’s always that way if you wield power; they go for your exposed flank. Do we have any problems with the rest of the Galactic Federation?” Sam asked.
“There are some who resent that we are a closed planet. During the war the two council traitors, TeAngle and TeZuff were in charge of supplies. There were frequent fuck-ups receiving supplies from the Federation. We think TeAngle and TeZuff had a confederate in the Federation but we didn’t think he was an ideologue. He was more motivated by profit than politics. TeAngle and TeZuff provided him with the opportunity to earn massive amounts of credits.” Tonas looked at Jonal for confirmation. Jonal nodded his head.
“It makes sense now that it was a terrorist cell. The attack on the fems from the first Brightstar voyage was well coordinated. TeAngle and TeZuff couldn’t have accomplished it alone. Unfortunately, we were all occupied with our new fems. The investigation was not conducted with the kind of diligence it would normally have warranted. I blame myself for this,” Zaron stated bluntly.
“Darling, you don’t bear the guilt alone, we all were distracted by finally being able to bond.” Bron put his arm around his bonded.
Syn was burping the baby. She put the baby back at her breast and snapped, “Stop the pity party. What’s done is done. It’s up to us now to exercise due diligence. I have an idea.”
“Go ahead,” Zaron said. “The fems have been better at protecting themselves then we have been at protecting them.”
“On Earth we have something call passports. It’s an identification that shows you are a citizen of a particular country. Have every Sarran Warrior or fem come in over a period of weeks to get one. You can check the auras. If there is a wavy one, you’ve found one of the terrorists who escaped the net.” Syn lay Nara down in the baby carrier Bron had fabricated for her this rising.
“The Earthen fem won’t object. They are already accustomed to the necessity of a passport,” Mark said.
“Do you keep birth, death, and bonding records?” Anya asked.
“A good point. You can use those lists to keep track of the population and cross reference them to make sure everyone comes in for their passports,” Mark suggested.
“I hate the necessity of this,” Juraens spat. “Sarrans don’t spy on each other.”
“I’m a politician. You can sell this as a means of keeping the fem and the unborn bebes safe. If the first wave was any indication, once the bond is made a pregnancy ensures. The Warriors will be very protective of their fem. I know that Tarin and I are already protective of Meg. When the Zyptz attacked last rising, I found it difficult to leave Meg, Sara, and Michael behind and do my duty,” Sam said gruffly.
“If it wasn’t for Meg, half the council would be in mourning and the Zyptz may have breached the shield. Our fleet has built-in passcodes that change daily to open the shield to land on the surface. If the Zyptz would have gotten a hold of a ship of the fleet, they would have had access to render wholesale slaughter on the surface.” Bron said. “We have to find out if there are more security risks. We have more reasons than ever to keep Sarran safe.”
“Wait, I have an idea!” Meg sat up straight.
“Go ahead,” Sam said with an encouraging smile.
“The Warriors already in Triad are not suspect, since the original objection was to bonding with the Earthen fems, nor are the Warrior already bonded into a WarriorPair. Our true pool of suspects is single Warriors. We register single Warriors on the pretext of knowing how many fems we need to bring back on the next voyage. Anyone who refuses to come in to register, gets picked up. There is a duty roster isn’t there?” Meg asked.
“Yes…” Zaron was getting interested.
“From the names on the duty roster you can tell who is single and should register. Then, if they don’t come in, you know who they are.” Meg grinned in satisfaction.
“That way you don’t disrupt the whole planet. For that matter, aren’t all the single Warriors serving in the fleet with the exception of those in the Academy? You wouldn’t even have to bring them down to the surface.” Meg blushed when everyone looked at her.
“That was an excellent idea. We have to refine it, but it could very well work,” Bron said.
“The bebes need to go to sleep. I suggest we digest what was discussed and come with ways to implement Meg’s solution and meet here next rising. I’ll have Brok and Tac prepare a Sarran lunch.” Syn laughed. “I’ll be a little busy.”
“If you need any help, I’d be happy to stay,” Meg volunteered.
“You need to go home with your Warriors. There is nothing to fear. The Goddess will take care of you.” Syn kissed Meg on the cheek.
Meg blushed. It was time to leave. Tarin and Sam took her hand, and they teleported back to the Duchy and Falling Waters.
* * * *
Falling Waters: 03:00 tines
“I see no reason we can’t continue on with our day. Let go over to the tailor and the dry goods store so we can order Meg some clothing and buy material. Bron adapted your sewing
machine?”
“Yes, he did. It’s not a very good one but it’s mine.” Meg sighed.
“If you could have any sewing machine you wanted, why would you buy?” Sam asked.
“Oh, I’ve thought about this. I’ve even window shopped. I’d buy a Brother SE400 Combination Computerized Sewing and 4x4 Embroidery Machine.”
“Do you have it pictured in a catalog?”
“Yes,” Meg said shyly.
“Let me look at your machine and compare it with Sarran machines and see if I can come up with something better. I promised Sara I would see to designing a commercial kitchen for Castle Water, but I think Bron and Zaron already put one in, as they did here, emulating the one in Castle Air that Syn had them build with Sarran ovens, power sources, plus reimagined Earthen appliances,” Tarin assured her.
Sam decided to take the matter into his own hands. ::Sara?::
::Yes, Daddy.::
::Is your new kitchen adequate for the bakery?:: Sam asked his femspring.
::It’s marvelous. Oh, that’s right, I asked Tarin. There may be a few things I need because they’re special to a bakery and have to be industrial sized; but I have all the gadgets they have in the Kitchen Stadium on Iron Chef.:: Sam heard the giggle in Sara’s mind.
::So you don’t need the things right away?:: Sam pressed.
::No, Daddy. I’m going to wait on the bakery until after the baby is born. Although I think pregnancy will be much easier here, I had a difficult time with Michael, so I don’t want to take a chance,:: Sara said seriously.
::Then it would be okay if Tarin works on a new sewing machine for Meg first?:: Sam asked.
::Meg should come first. She’s your fem. I have Juraens and Mark to take care of me and Michael. I want you nearby, Daddy, but my Warriors aren’t Bradley.::
::I should hope not:: Sam’s voice got cold.
::I’d love for Meg to get a new sewing machine. Maybe she could design more one-of-a-kind dresses if she had a new machine. I wouldn’t object to wearing Sarran couture. Meg’s clothing designs are going to be very popular. Michael and Naffie are here. I’ve got to go to see what they’re up to. Bye, Daddy.::
::Goodbye, Pet.::
“Tarin, as you heard, Sara is in no hurry. If you have the time…”
“Of course I have the time. This is a simple project—all mechanical and electronic. When Jonal and Tonas brought all the media from Earth they took everything. We have hospital records, marriage licenses, patents, every bit of data, paper or electronic, Earth produced and archived. We have Warriors going through it and getting rid of most Facebook and Twitter posts, although we’re keeping the ones from politicians and intellectuals. The point being, we have the blueprints for that machine. I can make an improved design in two days.” Tarin smiled at the happiness reflected on Meg’s face.
“Really…” she asked, as if to make sure she wasn’t being too much trouble.
“Really.” Sam and Tarin came over and put their arms around her.
“Now, let’s go shopping. Believe it or not, the best purveyor of imported fabric on the planet is in this village, along with the jewelry store Jone mentioned his fem opened, and the cobbler.” Tarin put on a light jacket.
“The Star of Sarran is gorgeous, but you need some pearls, diamond earrings, bracelets, and gold? Are these import items, Tarin?”
“No, they’re not. I also want to get Meg a fur coat. Put on your jackets, it’s going to be chilly this rising. We are near the end of the Harvest Phase and the Barren Phase is just around the corner. I’d like it if you both got warm clothes before it comes. At moontine, it can get below freezing here.”
“Eh…Tarin, I won’t wear fur,” Meg said adamantly.
“My little love, on Sarran we hunt animals for food. Nothing goes to waste, including its skin. If we were to kill a borad for its skin, I can understand your reluctance, but I assure you, that is not the case. We don’t factory farm animals or crops and we don’t hunt for sport. Although hunting keeps a Warrior sharp.” Tarin put his arm around her waist. “But if you don’t want fur, we can go with something less warm although I wouldn’t recommend it.”
“If you only kill for food, use all of the animal, and let nothing go to waste, I guess my objections to fur are not valid. Let’s go shopping.” Meg put on her jacket.
“Sam do you have anything you don’t want?”
“Yeah…they brought my office and the contents of my home. Some of the things are duplicated from the office to the house. Some things you already have. There is a load of furniture in the attic. Meg should go look. Maybe some of it is usable if it’s recovered.”
“None of it is handmade?” Bron asked.
“I have a few antiques that are, but the rest isn’t. Some things have sentimental value but nothing more.”
“Good, we have things to barter. Some of the merchants won’t take credits.”
They spent the afternoon shopping in the village. Sam and Bron bought Meg some diaphanous moontine gowns, a fur coat, and some jewelry for which they traded some of Sam’s office furniture. She had a few items of clothing made up at the tailors from her own designs and by eighteen tines they were back and ready to sit down for the moontine meal.
* * * *
Meg knew that her WarriorPair planned to make love to her this moontine. They spent the afternoon giving her small touches and kisses. Last rising was the first time she ever experienced desire. She was embarrassed. She knew the equipment and that Tab A went into Slot B, but knowing the mechanics and actually doing the act were two different things. And there would be two men.
Who would have figured that Margaret Mary O’Neil’s first sexual experience would be a threesome? Certainly no one from Ballinagree…
The evening meal was some kind of whitefish fried in cha and covered in a cream sauce with linset nuts and what looked like grapes but tasted more like boysenberries. They had fruit wine and after dinner sat in the library drinking Asta which Meg sipped, being unused to strong spirits. She had all of Earth’s movies to choose from but she wanted to see something Sarran.
“Do you have anything like television or movies on Sarran?”
“We used to have great actors and actresses. But after the fem were taken from us by the Zyptz, it became too painful to watch. But the plays are still on the comm, if you wish to access them.” Tarin was reading what passed for a newspaper on Sarran.
Meg glanced up and read the headlines, then blushed. Her name appeared prominently in the story about the attempted assassinations of the Ta. She tuned into an Earthen chick flick she wanted to see and was yawning by twenty tines.
::Are you ready for the slumber chamber?” Sam asked.
::If you’re still not comfortable, we can wait,:: Tarin assured her.
::If I wait, I’ll just build it up in my mind and get more nervous.:: Meg fidgeted.
::What exactly is making you nervous?:: Sam asked, cutting to the heart of the matter.
::That I can’t please you,:: Meg said in a small voice.
::Little one, you please us by existing. It is up to us to please you. Trust your Warriors. We’ll make sure there is only a small sting when we take your hymen.:: Tarin came and knelt before her.
Sam got up and knelt next to Tarin. ::Are you willing to try?::
::Yes, if you’re sure you want me.::
Sam stood up and swept Meg into his arms. They transported into the slumber chamber.
“Why don’t you get ready for bed and put on one of your new moontine gowns.” Sam smiled.
Meg scurried into the bathroom.
* * * *
“Come to bed, my fox. I want you in my arms.” Tarin held up his arms and Sam crawled into the middle of the bed.
Tarin began to run his hands over Sam’s body to sensitize his skin. “Dearheart, I love you and our fem so much it actually hurts.” Sam lifted his head. Meg stood over them. “Come, join us.”
Sam folded over the cover and Meg crept underneath. Sa
m started to kiss Meg’s face, nibbling on her lips. Tarin moved over Sam and got on the other side of Meg, and pulled her moontine gown under her full breasts, worshiping them, while suckling on her nipples. He blew air over them and they pebbled and peaked. Sam took Meg’s mouth, plunging his tongue into its depths.
Tarin trailed kisses down Meg’s spine, moving her gown down to her waist. She shuddered. Tarin grabbed Sam’s lips with his own. Meg kissed Tarin’s shoulders. The slick began to pour off their cocks; but they weren’t the only ones who were wet. Sam put his hand in the juncture of Meg’s thighs and it came away soaked. Tarin eased her down between them, removing the moontine gown which had pooled around her knees.
Tarin licked the nape of her neck and cupped her ass in his hands, kneading the cheeks. Then Tarin picked her up and laid her on her back. Sam moved down and put his mouth between her legs as Tarin kissed her lips. Meg moaned and started to thrash.
“Oh, oh…I never knew.”
“Little one, we’re going to take you now.” Tarom positioned himself in the middle with Sam behind him and Meg, on her back in front. He moved his fingers to her clit and began to caress it with his fingers. She started to pant. Tarin lined up and Sam lined up behind him. Tarin entered Meg, encountering only slight resistance. She grabbed his mouth and kissed him in a frenzy.
Tarin felt the pressure of Sam’s cock and he opened to take in the head. Soon both he and Sam had bottomed out. ::Can we move, little one,:: Tarin asked Meg as Sam kissed the nape of his neck and shoulders.
::Please, yes. Would you kiss each other for me. I want to see the three of us together, not just the two of you with me.:: Meg’s mind voice was shy.
Sam pivoted his head and Tarin grabbed his mouth, putting all that he felt into that one kiss and broadcasting it to the three of them. He let go of Sam’s lips and started to move.
::This is not going to take very long, I’m afraid I’m on the edge,:: Sam told them.
