Chapter 19
Han
Han watched the planet below get closer as the luxury cruiser, Noble, descended toward Inneeko’s largest port. With a very small fraction of the wealth they’d gotten from selling all the stolen ships, they’d hired the luxury cruiser to take them to Inneeko.
Noble picked them up from the shipyard where they’d successfully sold all the stolen ships, minus the bombs. Those had been disposed of in a convenient black hole.
Traveling on Noble was the most extravagant travel experience any of them had ever had. It had been easy to distract herself during the trip. The cruiser had all kinds of game rooms and entertainment opportunities, not to mention the best distraction: Zeph.
Now they were landing and there was no more avoiding.
“Are you worried about your family being angry over you missing the holiday celebrations?” Tumoro asked. He was standing next to her at the viewing port. On her other side was Zeph.
“It’s not anger I’m worried about,” Han said. “It’s the hurt and disappointment that’s going to kill me. I missed last year and promised Mom repeatedly I’d be there this year.”
“You had an excellent reason,” Zeph said.
“I know,” Han said. “But she already disapproved of my job. When she finds out I went into the Talin Empire when all the humans in the Ilgorian Federation are being warned to stay away, she’s going to explode.”
“The mass warning didn’t start until after we retrieved Rishmun and Lirsum,” Tumoro reminded her. “You couldn’t have known before that.”
“That’s true,” Han lied. She was never going to tell her parents that the broker on Thisher Station warned her before she took the assignment to hunt down Zeph. “But logic isn’t going to make my mom less upset.”
“Would your family disown you?” Tumoro’s voice was so quiet she almost didn’t hear him. His ears went flat and he hugged his arms around his chest.
“No, never,” she assured him, wrapping an arm around his waist to give him a quick hug. Before she could even let go, Malsum was there, pulling the Ugarian into a tight embrace and whispering reassuring words in his ears.
Zeph pulled her close. “You’re sure they won’t be so angry they strike your name from the family and clan records?”
She chuckled. “There is no striking someone’s name out. I’m nervous because I feel guilty, not because my family is going to be livid.”
Turning in his arms, she looked up into his eyes. “I know everyone’s a little worried because without me, none of you will be able to register with the federation and stay on Inneeko permanently. I promise that’s not a concern.”
Zeph let out a long breath. “You’ve said that many times, but the Talin Empire is a strict and unforgiving realm. It’s all most of us have ever known. It’s hard to imagine your family or the Ilgorian Federation welcoming us so easily.”
Han snorted. “It wasn’t that easy! Do you remember the massive number of forms I had to fill out to register the two of us as married and then adopt everyone?
It took almost an entire day. I’ve never been so happy as when I got the message back from the Inneeko Family and Citizen Registry that I’d done everything correctly and I’d never have to do that ever again.
” She shook her head, glancing over to where Rishmun and Lirsum were staring at a shared information square.
“And now I have grandkids at the ripe old age of thirty-one.”
“I’m surprised they didn’t question the ages of your adopted children,” he commented.
“They wouldn’t care about that,” she said. “But they were worried that I only had one husband. They really pushed me to find a second and third husband quickly. Ugarians really like big marriages.”
“No more husbands for you,” Zeph said, making Han laugh. “I’m glad we’re spending one night in the city and then traveling to meet your family. It’ll give us a little time to acclimate."
“Ha!” Han barked out. “There’s no way they’re going to stay home for this. Especially after I told them Sandar is so pregnant she’s ready to burst. We’re really into babies. They’ll be waiting for us at the port.”
The ship shook slightly as it moved into a thicker atmosphere. It wouldn’t be long before they landed.
“I almost wish we’d taken longer to get here,” Han murmured. “But that would’ve been too dangerous for Sandar. I wouldn’t want her to give birth on this ship, even if it’s sleek and pretty.”
“I’m sure my sister appreciates that,” he murmured, rubbing his cheek on the top of her head. The air around them filled with the scent of hibiscus. It helped her relax before she had to face the family she loved but sometimes avoided.
Wasn’t that how all families were?
Zeph
With Han being the first and only human he’d ever met, he had no idea what to expect from the rest of her family.
He wasn’t that much more familiar with Ugarian culture, but he was about to settle on a mostly Ugarian planet.
His future had a lot of unknowns, but he didn’t care.
All that mattered was having Han in his life.
What he didn’t expect was a mob of loud, cheerful humans to surround all of them the moment they stepped onto the large area outside the main port office.
They all spoke loudly, as if each human was trying to get their voice heard over the others.
They were all different, with white, blond, brown, and black manes of all lengths and styles.
They were dressed in colorful but practical Ugarian outfits, and most were carrying baskets, bags, or boxes.
Some had handfuls of bright flowers or containers of sweet foods.
One human stood out among the mass of cheerful faces. She had Han’s sharp eyes and sweet smile. This had to be Han’s dam. Next to her was a man with the same-colored mane as Han, probably her sire.
Overwhelmed by the humans, all the Talins had gathered close and didn’t respond to the many loud, insistent questions.
“Enough!” Han shouted, holding up her hands. “You guys are crowding them. Everyone take a big step back, stay quiet, and I’ll introduce you all.”
The humans laughed and moved back a little. Han started by pointing out and naming all the humans. There were twenty-two of them, including her father, mother, and three siblings.
When she finished with that, she pointed and named off him, Tumoro, Malsum, Sandar, Rensom, Rishmun, and Lirsum. Despite Han’s warning that her family was really “big into babies” he was startled at the way many of the humans focused on Sandar and inquired about her health and comfort.
He could tell she was flustered at the attention.
Han’s dam, Ophelia, stepped forward, then everyone quieted and let her through to Sandar.
“Your back must hurt, and you probably need to use an elimination unit,” she said.
Sandar let out a startled rattle, making a few of the humans jump then chuckle. He heard them murmur about the rattle being louder than they expected.
“That’s all true,” Sandar said. “How did you know?”
Ophelia pointed to Sandar’s protruding belly.
“Because I’ve been in the same position.
We’ve made an appointment for you at the health center.
As soon as Han’s message got to us, we contacted them to prep for a Talin pregnancy.
They said there wasn’t a lot of information, but Talin and Hoquin physiology is similar enough they’re confident they can care for you. ”
“You did all that before even meeting us?” Rensom asked, wrapping an arm around his wife’s shoulders.
Domonic, Han’s father, stepped up to stand next to his wife. “Of course we did. You’re carrying our great-grandchild! I bet they’ll look like me.”
He didn’t understand why Domonic would say that. “The child won’t look like you, Domonic. It will be Talin, not human. We’re not actually related to you.”
Several of the humans laughed, and he realized Domonic had been trying to be humorous. This was going to take some getting used to.
“Enough of that,” Ophelia said, giving Domonic a little shove then turning her attention back to Sandar. “Do you feel comfortable using the health center? If not, we could look for an alternative, but I had my last baby there and they were clean, professional, and kind.”
Sandar hesitated for a submark before answering. “The health center is fine, but would you go with me? I have questions.”
Of course.” Ophelia looked thrilled. “I’ll answer as best I can.”
“I don’t think we can all go to the health center,” Han said. “They’ve got rules about how many non-patients can be in there.”
“We arranged to rent a large domicile next to the health center,” Domonic said. “There’re plenty of rooms for everyone. We have everything planned out.”
“Now I see where Han gets her gift for planning,” Zeph said, making Han laugh, and Domonic gave him a big, closed mouth smile.
Suddenly Sandar gasped, grabbed her stomach, and doubled over. Ophelia didn’t hesitate to start ordering everyone around.
“Rensom, pick up your wife and follow me. Everyone else needs to go with Domonic. Lirsum and Rishmun, I want you to stick close to Yasmin and Kel. They need you to explain all the different kinds of food Talins can have.”
The children nodded and were quick to step close to the two humans who came forward. “We will,” Lirsum promised.
“Good!” Ophelia said, issuing a few more orders, then leading Rensom away with Sandar in his arms.
“I think we’re going to have more babies sooner than we thought,” Domonic said. “Okay everyone, follow me.”
Much later, after they all settled in the rented domicile and ate the food Domonic had ordered, they heard from Ophelia.
The health center had been forced to perform a medical procedure on Sandar. The birth couldn’t continue naturally because she had twins!
“Twin boys!” Domonic said to the cheers and clapping of the rest of the humans.
Zeph sat stunned. “Talins don’t have twins.”
“Did you make sure Sandar knew that?” Domonic answered with a hearty laugh.
Getting up, he danced awkwardly around the room to a tune he was making up on the spot.
“Dad, staaaahp!” one of Han’s siblings groaned. “You’re so embarrassing.”
“It’s like he’s having a seizure,” one of the cousins said.
“While on drugs,” said another.
Domonic ignored them and kept up his dancing for a few more steps before giving them the rest of the information from Ophelia.
“The babies are a little on the small side but perfectly healthy. We’ll be here a little longer than expected, but that gives us time to buy all the things baby Talins will need.”
Domonic turned to face where Zeph was sitting with Han on his lap. “Would you like to know their names?”
“Of course,” Han said.
“Zephus and Hanum,” Domonic said. “I guess they Talin-ized your name, Han.”
“Awww, that’s sweet,” Han said.
Zeph was without words. Looking around at all the smiling faces, he finally realized how humans had managed to be so resilient despite all their hardships and misfortunes. They could build a community anywhere they went.
“The ancestors have blessed me,” he whispered, hugging Han close to his chest.
The excited talking faded into the background as Han rubbed one of her hands over his aching scent gland.
“They sure did,” she agreed, her soft words full of gentle humor. “Because they brought you to me.”
“And you’re going to keep me forever?”
“Forever,” she agreed.
He needed to hear that word again because it was perfect. “Repeat,” he demanded.
“Forever and ever and ever.”