Chapter Seven #3
“They have been in transit for two days. They will be landing at my residence within the hour and here an hour after that. Father loves stretching his wings.”
“Delightful.”
A deep voice came from the doorway. “I think so. Hazor, is this your mate?”
Cloudy kept sipping at her kio. Yvari was imposing, but Vecchin was a first-generation Hmrain. There was power, sex appeal, and a curious and amused woman standing at his side.
Hazor stepped forward. “Grandmother, you are looking as lovely as ever.”
“Your new cousin is adorable. When are you going to produce one?”
Cloudy blinked. “Wow. One-track family.”
Vecchin looked at her with his black eyes hosting a star system.
Yvetha smiled. “Yes, we are, and based on your current clothing, you have joined our merry band.”
Yvari got up and hugged her mother. Hazor did the same, and then Vecchin hugged both of them. She had not imagined he was a hugger.
Vecchin said, “Hazda misses you both. You need to call and visit more frequently.”
“I need to get some extra guardians in place before I can travel for visits. Cloudy, will you enjoy meeting other Terrans?”
“Yes. Why?”
“Well, my aunt is a Terran, and the mate of the other two guardians on Vecchin is a Terran.”
Cloudy blinked. “Two?”
Yvetha laughed. “Abigail said you would be shocked.”
“That’s not why. Hazor has quite a draw on me. Stop smirking, Hazor.”
Vecchin laughed.
“So imagining the pull of two is exhausting to contemplate.”
Vecchin said, “They are both third-gen, and they are careful with her. They watch each other, and if they draw too much, Misty punches them when she sees them at breakfast. Mekked just laughs and plays with the baby. Then he has to fight the housekeeper for the little one.”
The image was amusing. “Mainlander Vecchin?”
“Uplander.”
She laughed. “Right. Great nannies.”
Hazor smiled. “Noted.”
She covered her eyes with one hand.
Yvetha signed Do you speak manual?
Yes. It makes it handy at the food stall. It’s on the dock, and many new deep-sea Vecchin need a little quiet on their breaks.
That is very polite of you.
Making those around me comfortable is important. We are all community now, and some folks are beginning to believe it.
Everyone in the room was watching, and Hazor walked over and wrapped his arms around her. “Do you believe it?”
“I didn’t get this pigment because I am bored. This is home now. It will be what we make of it.”
He kissed her neck, and she leaned against him. His hand slid into her robe, and she said, “I swear, if you cop a feel in front of your relatives, I am going to find a way to break your wrist.”
The folk in the room froze.
Vecchin said, “You are aware that threatening one of my bloodline is a death sentence.”
“Fine. Kill me.” She stepped away from Hazor.
“It wasn’t a threat; it was a declaration of a boundary with consequences if he embarrasses me.
I was told Hmrain had thicker skin, but I am not going to play polite with Hazor.
He needs things explained in no uncertain terms.” She looked at Yvari.
“Did you or Mathon drop him as a child before he could fly?”
Yvari snickered. “No, but I know what you are saying. I crafted two strong-willed children who don’t suffer fools or flattery. You are good for him, and my father was simply stating a general fact.”
Cloudy turned to Hazor and prodded his chest. “Then why didn’t you kill me when we first met, nosey? Lazy? Tired?” She poked him again and again. Her eyes glowed, and she glared at him. He kissed her and burst into flame.
Vecchin snorted. “Ah. I understand. Apologies. It slipped my mind that you have your own active strengths.”
She was holding onto Hazor, and the kiss went on and on.
He finally lifted his head. “Take that, alien scum.”
She burst out laughing, and he pressed his forehead to hers.
There were chuckles around them, and Yvari announced, “I am having an open day for visiting Terrans. If they are nearby for Landing Day, they can join the party.”
Cloudy blinked back tears. “Any of them?”
“If they are nearby, they can come with a five-day visa without question. I am advertising it at all nearby stations.”
Cloudy smiled. “Thank you, and Overseer Vecchin, if you don’t like to hear hostilities, stay clear of my cousin Molly and Arkon. Bess and Morsek are into talking, but Arkon and Molly are scrappy. Protocol would have stopped that courtship before it started.”
Hazor grinned. “They are moving in next week.”
Yvari nodded. “I am interviewing housekeepers and cooks. Nannies can wait for a few months.”
Yvetha grinned. “I never thought there would be the possibility of little ones in quantities. This is very exciting.”
Vecchin looked at his consort and smiled. “It is very exciting. I am happy you are here to share it with.”
She smiled at him with rueful love. “If you are worried about people threatening Hmrain, I beg you to recall our first few days together. I seem to remember cursing you out for weeks.”
Hazor murmured, “And that is why I didn’t take off with you. I don’t have the stamina for that kind of rage. I save it for fun stuff.”
Cloudy laughed.
Yvari said, “Now, Cloudy, what kind of thoughts do you have for Landing Day?”
“Well, we need a national dress that can be versioned across all species. Unifying and identifying all at once.”
Yvari nodded. “We can hold a competition and do a vote on the day.”
Cloudy looked at Yvetha, catching interest, and the planning session kicked into high gear when Molly, Elspeth, Thunder, Bess, Morsek, and Arkon arrived. Sunny had a date with an uplander Vecchin that night.
They would take the plans to the different families, but everything was inclusive enough to be accepted by all. Now, they just had to see if Yvari’s call could bring any Terrans to visit.
* * * *
Cloudy linked arms with Hazor as they walked through the pathways and stalls, and tried all of the fusion food that was on offer.
The strains of familiar music got her moving faster. It wasn’t part of the music archive, it was live, and it was fiddle music. The woman playing with enthusiasm was familiar.
“Ohmygod. I thought she was gone.”
Hazor asked, “Why?”
“They took her away after she stopped a fight on the Education Station. She walked in, and they just slowed and then stopped fighting.”
“A soother? Interesting. That is a very specific mindset.” Hazor smiled. “The Zowoth usually snap them up for their warriors in rut. They can be soothed every few days and keep fighting.”
“What is soothing... exactly?”
“Mental relief. Taking the heat and roaring of thoughts away from the afflicted.”
“Wow. That’s a job?”
“It is offered on space stations in Zowoth space, but the fact that she is here is astonishing. They never release their soothers. They are far too valuable.”
The music swirled and rioted in the square. Dancers whirled and laughed, no matter the species. The fiddle and drums thudded and spurred the feet.
When the song ended, Cloudy was going to walk to the stage, but her father rushed up with his arms open. Aya Merryweather went to hug her brother. Auntie Aya was laughing, and Thunder hugged her and spun her around.
Cloudy was moving. “Auntie!”
Aya grinned, and she pried herself from her brother’s arms. “Cloudy!”
Cloudy rushed up and hugged her. “Auntie. You look amazing!”
“Thanks. Clean living. Forced confinement. You know. The basics.” Aya hugged her back.
“I love the outfit.” The dress was floaty and wrapped around her waist snugly.
“Thanks. In my other job, I was stuck in a tent, another tent, and a cloak. It was heavy and way too warm.”
“What was your job?”
“Ask your husband. He’s looking me up.”
Hazor smiled and shrugged. “There is quite the reward for your safe return.”
“I am not going to be stuck there again. He can jerk off to relieve tension like normal guys.”
Cloudy blinked and then snorted.
Thunder winced. “Amaya.”
“Aya. I am not following the silly family name thing.” She looked at her brother. “I get to be difficult, like the bastard I am.”
Thunder sighed. “Aya.”
“I know, I know.”
Hazor frowned.
Cloudy said, “Aya was conceived by my grandfather and one of his coworkers during an overseas business trip. Her mother was remorseful for the lapse in judgment, but she died during delivery. Her father named her in the family tradition but for the country she was conceived in.”
“Wow, that was polite.”
Cloudy smirked. “I get etiquette classes, or I don’t get to go to work.”
Aya looked at her and burst into laughter. “Well, that does sound like that is what it would take.”
Cloudy grinned. “I have missed that laugh.”
They hugged again.
Thunder asked, “How long are you here?”
“I have to be at the spaceport in three and a half days.”
Cloudy gasped. “What?”
“It is the visitor visa. I have a ship booked to get my butt further into space.”
“Are you running?”
Aya looked at Hazor. “Am I running?”
He inclined his head. “I would say that is wise.”
“I thought so, too. I am getting fitter by the stop.”
Yvari walked over. “Another daughter, Thunder? We could find her a suitable match.”
Aya bowed formally. “A stray family member, Overseer Yvari. Cloudy’s aunt. I am afraid I cannot remain to play naked guardian roulette.”
Yvari laughed. “Interesting mental image.”
Cloudy looked at the overseer. “Is it possible to let her stay for a month?”
Aya held up her hand. “No. I had no idea what was going to come after me. I thought I was a tool, like a drill. Apparently, there is a general that went a little squirrelly without regular soothing. He’s been trying to find another human female to use.”
Yvari looked around. “There are some Zowoth visiting. I will question them.”
Aya blinked. “There are Zowoth here?”
Yvari nodded. “They have Earth-born with them. The ladies wished to join the party.”