Chapter 14 #2
Rensom sounded a negative rumble. “We talked about it at length last night. There’s no strategy that doesn't put us in danger. We’d have to wait until the baby is born and old enough to be without us for several marks at a time.
By then we’d have been living on Inneeko long enough for the empire to have discovered we’ve abandoned our research post and are no longer in the empire.
By not registering our move, we’d be under suspicion.
Picking up the children would only make them investigate us further.
It wouldn’t take long for them to realize we’ve scent-bonded.
There’s no hope of getting Rishmun and Lirsum. ”
Han crossed her arms over her chest. “No, I don’t accept this.” She pointed at the rest of the people present. “You’ve got us now too. That means there’s no way we’re letting Rishmun and Lirsum stay in that cresh. We’re breaking the kids out; I just have to figure out how.”
Zeph
After talking with Sandar and Rensom for several marks, Han came up with a plan to get their children.
Zeph sounded a negative rattle. “Normally I’m impressed with your unrepentant determination, but this is a bad idea.”
Han shook her head. “It's not perfect, but I think it’ll work. Especially with how distracting it will be for everyone if I’m there.”
“You’ll have to wear a collar,” Zeph warned her. “And the wrap garment the Committee of Pet Welfare recommends for humans.”
“I wear all kinds of things when I’m home on Inneeko, so a wrap doesn’t bother me.” Han made a face. “The collar, though, ugg! Can we pretend none of them fit me or something?”
Rensom sounded a negative rumble. “I’m afraid wearing a collar is something the Committee of Pet Welfare is adamant about. The collars have trackers. If a human gets lost, they can be found before they get hurt.”
Hope that he could dissuade her from this rose up in him. “Yes, I read that. There is a suggested collar type.”
Unclipping his Ident, he searched the information the Committee for Pet Welfare had sent out. When he found the information about collars, he displayed the type they suggested in a holo and held it up.
“This is what you’ll have to wear.”
Han’s expression twisted into deep distaste. “That looks industrial.”
She touched her throat as if feeling an imaginary collar there.
This was it! Zeph was sure she was going to back out.
He felt bad for Sandar’s children, but they would be raised by the cresh and adopted by another family in their clan after Sandar and Rensom disappeared.
They’d be at a disadvantage, but they wouldn’t be orphaned.
“We could program the collar to your biosignature,” Sandar said. “That way you could take it off any time you felt uncomfortable. If they catch you with it off, Rensom can claim the locking mechanism failed.”
“Yes! I read that’s been an issue with the first collars brought into the empire from Vicper manufacturers,” Rensom said.
Han looked relieved. “That makes me feel a lot better. I can try to keep it on, but this is a good excuse if I can’t handle it at some point.”
Zeph couldn’t take it. “No! None of you will do this! It’s much too dangerous. If Rensom and Han get caught, then she’s trapped for life. On top of that, Sandar, Rensom, and I will all die!” He dropped his gaze to Sandar’s belly. “The baby dies!”
He knew he was being loud because several creatures in the jungle beyond the fence started screaming and yowling. Everyone ignored them.
“Easy, Zeph,” Han said. “I know there is—”
Zeph sounded a loud angry rattle. He stood up, holding Han tight against his chest. “You could be forced to wear a collar for real. What if they try to breed you with another human? They could decide to discipline you because no one could ever break your spirit. You’ll be defenseless and no one will be able to help you! ”
Before anyone else could speak, he ran off with her.
He wasn’t thinking logically except that he wanted to sequester them in some safe place.
Steam from the heat of the day rose up from the ground cover as he got to the little yellow shelter.
He checked his speed long enough to let the door open then dove inside as if someone was chasing them.
Once they were inside the cool, dim domicile, he stood panting, panic making it impossible to draw in a full breath.
Images of the things that could happen to all of them kept his brain from holding onto a single concept long enough to get it out of his mouth. All he could do was stand in the small open area of the emergency shelter holding Han and trying to force air into his lungs.
It took him a few submarks to calm down enough to hear Han talking to him.
“...that means I’m not leaving you. No matter what, I’ll make this work. Besides, Blish is right on the Leemron-Talin territorial line. I’ve worked with a few Leemrons who can break us out for the right price. It’s not going to end with…”
As she talked, she was gently rubbing his scent glands with her little fingers. It didn’t feel sexual, it was comforting.
He sounded a soothing rumble.
She stopped moving her fingers. “Zeph? Are you coming back to me?”
Words flowed from his heart and out of his mouth, bypassing his brain. “Please don’t leave me. Not in this life or the next.”