Scerior

by Jilly Bowling

  The rest were reasonably unharmed and Acorus had brought them all back to Scerior, Haaka had been reunited with them last night. Happily for him it had not been his son who had died, and his wife and daughter were well too. Haaka was still very upset over the deaths because one female who had died had been his aunt and the boy was his cousin. The other two females were related to the clan through marriage. All their bodies were being cremated later in the morning, but then Acorus had to decide whether to let them stay permanently on Scerior.

  He explained to Jo that the Chomanay were nomads going from civilised planet to civilised planet. Each clan had their own ship. Old rust buckets usually, which didn’t have the power to take off into space, from a planet’s atmosphere. So a light crew was left aboard and the rest would take small shuttles down to the planet they were visiting. Unfortunately for Haaka’s clan they had been captured in space by the Xenorii. Even the Xenorii’ ships could travel faster than the Chomanay’s. Their home ship, shuttles and everything they possessed had been destroyed. Some of the other clans would help them eventually, but at the moment they were homeless, with no possessions, other than what they were wearing.

  Jo asked Acorus where the Chomanay could live on Scerior. Would they be offered houses in a town or city, were there empty houses, and how could they replace their possessions?

  He laughed and said that they weren’t house dwellers. On whichever planet they were on they put up their own structures, which from Acorus’ description, Jo took to be like the yurts popular with the ‘Greens’ on Earth Acorus told her that after he had eaten he would go and inform the Council and between them they would decide what to do.

  Jo felt so sorry for them that she asked if there was anything she could do, also saying that she’d do anything, collect clothes, pots and pans. Then she asked how they would build their yurts and where they would put them and what about food, were there any babies, and what could she do for them?

  Acorus held up his hand “Stop Jo. You are drowning me in questions that I have no answer to. All will be sorted out once the Council has made a decision”.

  “I’m sorry, it’s just so awful. To be in the hands of monsters, and then be left with nothing” Jo angrily brushed away the tears that had gathered as she thought of that poor ‘peoples’ plight.

  Taking her hand in his he said “That is how you once thought of me. I’m sorry that you went through such pain. I fought against the decision to abduct females from Earth but I had to put the survival of my race against the horror that those females would endure. Hopefully we can make sure that it is not too terrible” and he looked into her eyes hoping for forgiveness.

  Jo squeezed his hand and replied “I won’t lie, it was terrifying. The abduction, life on the ship, the realisation of why I had been taken. The first night with you, and I know now that you took care not to hurt me, well not until my temper provoked you, and you know that was awful. Realizing that I was to have baby after baby, all that, that involves. I am one of the lucky ones. I fell in love with you and, happily, I think you feel the same for me, but what about the girls who aren’t so lucky? Some have died, some have killed themselves. Something more must be done to help them, especially as you intend to bring more here”.

  Acorus let go of her hand and leaned back in his chair, sorrowfully he said “Hearing of your feelings about your abduction, I am even more certain about how lucky I am to have you. No female has had the courage to speak so plainly and with such concern about others. When I have sorted out the Chomanay, you and I will talk about how we can improve things for the females who are brought here”.

  Jo jumped out of her chair and going to Acorus kissed him with all her heart. He pulled her onto his lap and kissed her back thoroughly. When they came up for air Acorus said that if she didn’t get off him, he’d be late for the Council meeting. As she reluctantly got up he asked her to call Keta and Khala, so she went to the door to do as he asked. Acorus went into the bathroom removing his kaftan on the way. Seeing his back view disappearing from sight, Jo, wolf whistled cheekily, at which he turned in surprise, muttering to himself that he always got the problem ones.

  Kheta and Khala hurried into the bathroom and in minutes Acorus came out, looking once again like the monster Lord General. He walked over to Jo and said “I will let you know the Council’s decision about the Chomanay”.

  Jo watched him stalk out of the room, thinking ‘I must be mad; I even want him when he looks like a monster’ then she laughed at herself and calling her Escorii went to have her shower. As she went to take her kaftan off she caught Acorus’s scent on it and held it to her nose breathing deeply, then feeling self conscious she dropped it on the floor and stepped into the shower.

  Chapter 16

  After a shower and massage Jo spent the next two hours practising her mind control and some of the nuances of Sceria. By the time Tchu called an end to the lesson, Jo was beginning to understand how the language of Scerior worked, and was pleased with the success she was getting with telepathy. However she knew it would take many years practise until she was proficient in both.

  When Tchu declared that it was lunchtime she was amazed at how quickly the morning had passed. Wondering what had happened to Acorus, she wandered into the living room, to find Kylie at her easel. When Kylie heard her come in she turned and going to her, cuddled into her. Surprised, Jo asked if she was alright and Kylie told her that she had hardly slept last night, because she was so worried about what might happen next to upset their happy ‘family’.

  Jo hastened to reassure her and as Jo talked Kylie started to look a lot happier. She had thought that Acorus might be upset at Julie’s desertion and Jo took great care, without saying too much, to let her know that he had been happy for Julie to go with Belain. Kylie said that she was sorry for the new babies and had spent part of the morning with them. Jo felt great respect for Kylie, thinking ‘I don’t know if I would feel so maternal after having as many children as Kylie had.

  As the Escorii brought the girls lunch in, the door opened and Acorus came in followed by Belain “Oh good, lunch” Acorus said “you’ll join us won’t you brother?”

  Belain nodded and said “Thank you, I will as long as your females don’t object”.

  Jo looked at him in surprise, surely he wasn’t asking her permission, but he stood by the door looking at her so she said “Of course I don’t mind. You are welcome to eat with us”.

  She spoke for herself and Kylie as she was standing there open mouthed “Come Belain let us remove our armour, we will be more comfortable, and anyhow it doesn’t protect us from females” and Acorus grinned at Jo.

  Within minutes they came out of Jo’s room wearing kaftans. They helped themselves to heaped platters of food and took their ease on a couch each. Jo and Kylie sat side by side on another couch and nibbled at their food as Acorus told them all about the Council meeting.

  If Belain was surprised that Acorus was discussing the Council meeting, not just with him, but also with Jo and Kylie he didn’t show it. However when Jo questioned Acorus on some points and gave her opinion on others, he finally said “Your female has a high opinion of herself. I would have thought you would have suffered enough from Sceriae females, without keeping an earthling who thinks she has a right to interfere in Sceriae business”.

  Jo looked at him askance and Kylie literally shrank into herself. Before Jo could speak, Acorus spoke sharply “Take care brother. Do not underestimate the respect I have for these earthlings, as you call them. If you or I had been treated as the females from Earth have, would we have the strength of mind to accept a completely different way of life, as they have? Would we want to help a society that had ripped us away from our homes, our plans for our future as Jo and Kylie have? They are my mates and friends and I will have them treated with respect”.

  Before Belain could react, Jo quickly spoke up to try and lighten t
he atmosphere, telling Belain that Acorus had spoken to her about the Council meeting and given her permission to ask questions, otherwise she would never have dreamed of entering their discussion. She also said that she didn’t want Belain to think that she that she was disrespectful, that she did in fact know her place and would he please forgive her!

  Then Acorus spoke again “Belain, we must accept that things will change as more females are brought here from Earth. I know that, as I was, you were against diluting our Sceriae genes. But now that I have seen all the healthy female young, learning Sceriae ways, and being taught to live as we do, I have realised that we must change in certain ways. I have come to respect the way that Earth females enjoy mating while still keeping a desire to do as much as they can to make their lives useful and fulfilling”.

  When Acorus had finished speaking there was complete silence, then Belain gripped Acorus’ arm and told him that, he knew Acorus was right. But he had been having difficulty changing his ideas of how male and female interacted. It had always been that male Sceriae lived their lives, and female Sceriae lived theirs, not wanting to mix and discuss things. They had only come together to mate. Since he had known Julie he had been struggling with the need to be with her, not just to mate, but to spend leisure time together, to take food together, even to sleep in the same bed!

  Acorus put his hand on Belain’s hand and told him that he had suffered the same struggle. It was Kylie who had shown him that females could be comfortable, entertaining companions, and now Jo had confirmed it.

  Belain turned to Jo and Kylie and said “Perhaps we can start again. I have spent too many years living with soldiers and it will take time for me to accept a new way of behaving with females”.

  Jo smiled “Friendship comes from respect for each others views and ideas. I’m sure we will be friends!”

  Acorus got up and filled four tumblers and said “Let us drink a toast. To Scerior and understanding”.

  They all raised their glasses and drank, then Acorus told them that it had been decided that the Chomanay could stay and that they would be given a parcel of land in the mountains to the west of the city. They would also be given the materials necessary to build their tents and food to enable them to survive until they could earn money to buy things for themselves.

  Jo said that she was delighted that such a good plan had been put into motion, and Acorus told them that he was going to take the Chomanay to the land chosen this afternoon.

  Wishing she could see the Chomanay’s new home, Jo looked at Acorus pleadingly but didn’t say anything. At last she was learning to bite her tongue.

  Smiling at her Acorus asked “I was wondering if you feel up to coming with us? After all it was because of what you said that I came up with the plan to rescue them”.

  Forgetting herself, Jo flung herself on Acorus saying “I’d love to come, you know I would” “Well then, you need to dress in some street clothes, so call your Escorii and get ready quickly. I have no time to wait while you prink and preen” and he pushed her off him and slapped her bottom.

  “Me prink and preen! I bet I’m ready before you are, and I need no help to dress myself” laughed Jo dashing for her room.

  Acorus leaped up and said to Belain “Hurry brother, she has thrown down a challenge” and the two males hurried through to Jo’s bathroom where they had left their armour. As they passed quickly through Jo’s bedroom, she squealed and held her kaftan in front of her.

  Jo was ready first having thrown on a tunic and trousers, pulled her hair into a ponytail and pushed her feet into her strongest shoes. When Acorus and Belain returned to the living room, Jo was sitting on the arm of a chair nonchalantly swinging a foot. As Acorus and Belain came into the room, Jo simply raised her eyebrows.

  Acorus said “Come on then. We mustn’t be late!” causing Jo to swear under her breath.

  They hurried out of the villa, just in time to see a large floating vehicle pulling up on the drive, with an escort of eight Sceriae soldiers on their black floating motor bikes. Two of the soldiers got off their bikes and handed them over to Acorus and Belain. Acorus turned to Jo and told her to get in the back of the large vehicle. As she went to get into the back she was surprised to see that Ileya was sitting waiting for her. In the front were two more soldiers, and between the front and back was a thick screen.

  Ileya smiled at her and said “Hello my dear, it’s nice to see you again. I’ve heard a lot about you, over the last few weeks. Jo greeted her, saying that it was nice to see her again, and how pleased she was that Ileya was coming too.

  As they pulled away Ileya started to tell Jo about the Council’s decision on the Chomanay, “Really” she said “once we had rescued them we had no choice but to help them. Also it would not be sensible to leave them with nothing, it would be asking for trouble”.

  Jo agreed with her and then asked why she had been included in the afternoon’s business, to which Ileya replied “At long last Acorus and myself have persuaded the rest of the Council that things have to change. I realised years ago that the females from Earth would inevitably change our way of life. Because of the work I do, with, delivering their young and looking after their health I have got to know them. Over all I have found them bright brave and amusing. Only a few have fallen apart, too fragile to deal with what was, after all, a terrifying experience. I have wished that I could understand them more, but I am Sceriae, they are human. Genetically we are very similar, not the same but close enough to breed. However mentally and emotionally we are miles apart. So I have been looking for a solution. I have also seen how you have changed Acorus. I am a lot older than he is. When I was young I chose my own mate, we were polite to each other and had many children, unfortunately all boys, but we had nothing in common. He was a soldier, like Acorus, and was killed on a far planet. When I was widowed I didn’t want another mate but we females are so few, I had no choice. Luckily for me Acorus asked for me. We have been mates for eight years, and good friends the whole time. I gave him five sons before my body changed and I became barren. That did not change how Acorus was towards me. At that time he first took Kylie into our lives and I was hopeful that they’d be good together. However it became clear that Kylie needed delicate care. She was fragile both mentally and physically, Acorus has taken such care with her that she now adores him and because she loves her daughters so much she accepts mating with him. Knowing Acorus you must know how hard he had to work not to frighten her, but he succeeded. As soon as I met Julie I knew they would not be friends, she has no morals sexually and Belain suits her much better. But when Acorus came to me, so upset because he had hurt you, I knew that you were the one to take my place”.

  Jo interrupted Ileya to tell her that she’d never take her place. Acorus needed them both and Jo definitely needed Ileya to guide her. She told Ileya that she was permanently worried that she would do or say something wrong, either angering Acorus or making him appear foolish. She also told her that very quickly she had realised that she loved him, and also she admired the Sceriae and the way they lived. Then she brought up her desire to do something to help the girls from Earth to become happy citizens of Scerior. When she had brought up that idea, she went quiet; worrying that it was too soon. After all she had been on Scerior for such a short time.

  She needn’t have worried, Ileya patted her hand and said that they would discuss that another time; wheels had already been put in motion. And with that she would say no more. They arrived at a large compound surrounded by high walls. At the gate four soldiers stood to attention as their cavalcade moved towards them. As the large vehicle and the bikes came to a stop, one of the soldiers came forward, looked into the vehicle and spoke to the driver. When the driver told him who was in the vehicle he stepped back and saluted. Turning to the others at the gate he snapped out an order and they jumped aside. The gate swung open and the cavalcade passed inside.

  Pass
ing through some well laid out buildings, which Ileya explained were barracks for single full time soldiers, they stopped once again in front of a taller building, all the doors of which were guarded by two more soldiers.

  Beyond the buildings were areas laid out as if they were sports fields or assault courses. In each area soldiers could be seen performing different tasks, and in the distance shouts and bangs could be heard.

  Ileya confirmed that this was the army’s main barracks, and that the building they had stopped at had been the only empty building big enough to house the Chomanay, Acorus had rescued. Jo and Ileya got out of the vehicle and were joined by Acorus and his guards. The soldiers guarding the doors swung them open and the group passed through into the hall which was a gymnasium with lots of equipment pushed back against the walls.

  The centre was fitted with bunk type beds around which the Chomanay were sitting or lying. Children were either playing games, or running around chasing each other.

  As Acorus’ party were spotted, silence descended and a male pushed his way out, of the centre of the throng of people, and approached Acorus. When he reached Acorus he went down on his knees and made a deep obeisance. Acorus said something in a language Jo didn’t recognise, but the Chomanay did. He got to his feet and speaking in the same language led Acorus, Ileya and Jo to the only chairs in the hall. As they sat down nine more male Chomanay gathered round, with everybody else forming a loose circle round them.

  There was complete silence, even the children realising the importance of this moment sat next to their parents quietly.