Author's Notes:

'Jack's Righteous Gig' is the seventh story in the saga of Jack Danner. Minimal effort is made in this tale to explain the backstory, so it is highly recommended you read the first six stories in the following order:

• Jack's New Job
• Jack's New Position
• Jack's Daily Grind
• Jack's Wage Slavery Parts 1 & 2
• Jack's Snow Day
• Jack's True Calling

All characters engaging in sexual relationships or activities are 18 years old or older.

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Jack's Righteous Gig

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Chapter 1

Jack tasted the metallic tang of blood as he struggled to slow and calm his breathing. He closed his eyes to ride out the pain in his side. Once he got control over his gasping again, he opened his eyes and risked a glance down at the spot where the pain was centered. The red stain was spreading. Damn.

He'd been running through the dense jungle since dawn, and so far, he'd managed to avoid capture. Granted, he'd been shot when he raced through an ambush point. They hadn't hit anything vital, so he still had a chance. If he reached the river, he was free.

He had two teams after him. He'd gotten cocky, thinking his speed would be enough, but one of the teams had that attribute as well. The ambush he'd run through had been theirs. He'd barely managed to escape, and once he got some distance on them, he pushed himself beyond anything he'd done before to stay out ahead. His endurance, while exceptional, couldn't last forever, and they'd just about caught up, trapping him within view of his goal.

Taking a lesson from Gee and Bal, Jack did the unexpected.

He went up.

Now, despite Jack's human origins, his current anatomy was no longer well suited to climbing around in the canopy of trees. When the Altarian virus altered his DNA, his body changed in strange and wondrous ways to include genetic features of a species more at home running across open grasslands. After the last time these genes activated, Jinnae, his Altarian doctor, dragged him into the hospital and did a head to toe review of the changes he'd undergone. She was concerned that the changes continued to happen when he should have stabilized.

Aside from his hair color changing from blond to deepest black, the newest addition was an augmentation of the tendons and ligaments in his feet. It was so subtle the doctor almost missed it. He was just grateful the change hadn't left him with hooves. That said, his modified feet were much better suited to running, so he wasn't going to complain.

With his long legs, broad chest, strong arms, and his extra-wide neck, which supported a fortified cranium sporting two deadly fourteen inch black horns, he should have been running full out across a savannah, not struggling to push his bulk upwards through dense foliage.

From his vantage point in the canopy, he could see both teams now hunting him below, cautiously picking their way through the dense greenery, watching for an ambush. They were almost invisible, but he knew they'd be on him in a flash if he made a sound.

Sucking air in slowly, he desperately looked for a means to escape. He was too close to give up now.

He looked around for something to use as a weapon but quickly realized how stupid that thought was. They were four to his one, these were trained combatants, and his fighting skills were minimal by comparison.

No, escape was his only option.

Looking below, his adversaries were almost to the river's edge. Jack eased himself forward through the treetop branches, his horns getting caught every few feet. How was he going to get from fifty feet above the ground to the river, which was just forty feet away horizontally? If he climbed down, the moment he left the upper canopy, he'd be visible.

He realized he was just inches from the top of the leafy layer, so he pushed his head up and cleared the branches. Ahead he could see the gap in the trees caused by the winding river. He wished the canopy surface was firm enough to run across, but that was just fantasy.

He spotted an odd tree at the river's edge ahead, taller than the others, with its top branches projecting almost horizontally. From the tips of these branches sprouted long vines which hung down to rest atop the surrounding canopy. The vines grew broad leaves in clumps to steal the rays from the other trees. One of the vines was passing close by, so he carefully reached out and pulled it closer. It seemed pretty strong. Bracing himself carefully in the swaying branches, Jack pulled his utility knife from his pocket and discovered the super-tough vine wouldn't cut. He tucked the blade away as he contemplated the vine.

Then he got the craziest idea.

If it didn't work, he could die.

If it did, he'd escape and live to see another day.

As most of his crazy ideas typically failed, he put this one aside as he took another survey of his options.

Five minutes later, he was back to his crazy idea.

Carefully inching his way back down to the bottom of the canopy, he was still forty-five feet from the ground. A potentially fatal distance to fall should he lose his grip. He looked towards the river and saw a gap through the tree trunks he could use.

Channeling his best Johnny Weismuller, Jack unleashed a mighty Tarzan call. The sound seemed to come from everywhere as it bounced off the surrounding trees. He took a two-handed death grip on the vine he'd dragged down through the canopy and leapt out into a gap between the branches.

Time slowed as he burst clear of the leaves hiding him with nothing but open air beneath him. As he plummeted towards the ground, he wondered why he thought this crazy idea would turn out differently.

Suddenly, the vine in his grip tightened as the slack was taken up. He began to move in an arc, accelerating and swinging towards the river.

Tree trunks flew past on either side of him, reminding him that his path might end against the side of one of these pillars.

His weight increased as the pendulum swung closer to the ground, and it was all he could do to hang on.

Tree trunks near him took hits as the enemy tried a few wild shots to take him out. By now, he was moving too quickly for their shots to be accurate.

Seconds before his vine reached it, Jack saw the stout branch from the vine tree at the water's edge. He swung in under the branch, but the pendulum's arc ended there, as the vine he clung to curled upwards suddenly, flinging Jack free like the crack of a whip. He was airborne and cartwheeling madly over the river.

He landed headfirst with a loud smack midway across the river and quickly went deep, but he was so dazed and dizzy he couldn't tell which way was up. He relaxed his body and let a little air out. The bubbles tickled his chin and neck, so he knew he was head down. He paddled himself upright and kicked his way to the surface. The moment he broke through to the air, his collar was grabbed by two hands, and he felt himself being tugged towards the shore. He let his muscles go limp as he was done.

Gee and Bal pulled him into the shallow water at the edge of the jungle and looked down at him with almost unreadable expressions.

There were definitely some emotions he could read.

Incredulous anger. Yeah, that was there. Fear too. The rest flashed by too quickly.

Gee finally found her voice. "What were you thinking? Were you thinking?"

Bal just glowered at him.

Jack sighed wearily and smiled up at them. "I made it to the river, so I won," Gee growled and stomped off into the greenery. Bal followed with an angry glance over her shoulder.

Jack looked up at the blue sky, and for the first time since the exercise began, he let himself relax and enjoy the scenery. It truly was a gorgeous day in the jungle.

Adina and Zaina suddenly dropped from above into the water on each side of Jack to frantically check him for injuries. Zaina tugged his shirt up to see the angry looking welt on his side where the paintball she'd fired grazed him. The red paint on his shirt was fading in the water, but it looked like it was going to leave a stain.

Adina gently slapped his shoulder. "You frightened us! First with that crazed roar, then when you fell from the upper branches-"

"How did you get up there?" Zaina blurted, interrupting her sister. "There are no lower branches on any of the trees this close to the river!"

Jack looked over his shoulder back at the trees and was surprised to see she was right. Aside from a few sparse branches on the vine tree, none of the other trees had any lower branches, just tall, smooth-barked trunks. He'd have had no luck in climbing down from the canopy at all.

"Huh. Well, I found a tree much further back which I could climb, then I stayed in the canopy to make my way closer. I knew you guys were about to catch me, so the only place I could go where you might not see me was up."

Gee burst out of the jungle to glare down at him from the shore. "So you admit you had no idea there was no reasonable way back down to the ground when you climbed up there!" She'd been close by, listening in.

Jack sat up with a sigh and turned to face Gee. He untied the black bandana he'd wrapped around his neck to hide the gleam of his slave collar and wiped his face with the wet cloth. "This morning, you told me I needed to prove I could protect myself while escaping from an abduction. You said I don't take these threats seriously and insisted I treat the test as if it was real. You two were armed with shock sticks, and the twins had paintball guns, so there would be pain for failing. I acted as if my life was on the line. That's what you got. Nothing less than maximum effort."

Gee held his eyes for a few moments. "Why didn't you stop when Zaina shot you?" she asked in a quieter voice.

"She grazed me. It wouldn't have been a critical injury with a real weapon, so I treated it as such," he explained.

Bal pushed through the dense grasses. "What was that horrible scream?"

Jack snorted and drew scowls from the Altarians. He controlled his expression. "That wasn't a scream. That was a Tarzan yell." The two former agents glanced at one another wearily. "It's from an old Earth story about a man who grew from a baby to an adult living in the jungle, raised by gorillas. When he became an adult, he would make that call to let all the creatures of the Jungle know he was coming. To shake them up." He grinned. "In this case, to confuse and disturb my captors. I'd say it worked." Jack stood and climbed out of the river with the twins following him onto the shore.

Bal stepped right up to glare up at his face. "We were disturbed because of your falling from the treetops while screaming!"

Jack reached out to pull Bal and Gee against his chest. He kissed their heads as they struggled to free themselves. He knew they could easily break free, but they were going through the motions. They needed the assurance of his hug to settle their nerves.

The moment Jack released the Altarians, they stepped back, and Adina and Zaina were in their place getting hugs as well.

When everyone settled down, Jack turned to each of them. "My apologies for frightening you. This exercise was very intense. It was almost guaranteed to create some stressful situations. Thank you for your honest efforts today." He received reluctant nods from the group.

"Was it fun?" Zaina asked, pointing to the vine.

Jack smiled at the young female. "I was too frightened to enjoy it."

He looked to the Altarians. "Do either of you have any water?"

Gee handed him a small squeeze bottle. Jack raised an eyebrow at the minimal amount of water they carried. Still, it would do.

He poured some water in his mouth, swirled it around, and spat out the bloody water. He instantly had Bal tilting his head down while Gee opened his jaw and peered in his mouth intensely. She relaxed and gestured for Bal to release him, which she did.

"What the hell?!?" Jack barked.

"When did you cut the inside of your cheek?" Gee asked calmly.

He scowled at her. "I fell while running. Tripped on a root, hit the ground, and bit it."

They nodded, and Gee pulled out a comm. She called in the transport to pick them up. It would be there in fifteen minutes.

Jack finished the water and handed the squeeze bottle back. Gee tucked it away in an inner pocket. As she walked away, he settled himself down on the grass with his back against a tree and relaxed.

He'd been living on Chuuruthia with his family for twelve years. The planet had been a haven for the Danners, especially the children. The education they received at the schools was second to none, the class environment was exceptionally civil, and they'd made many friends.

The only one with travel restrictions on Altaria was Jack, so the rest of the family got to visit and stay overnight with their family there. Mostly though, they spent their time on Chuuruthia.

The twins were eighteen now and as tall as Gee and Bal, taller than their mother. They'd reached adult height and were in peak physical condition. While Gee and Bal continued to train them, they'd surpassed their teachers in strength and speed. The masters were very pleased with their students, though right now, Zaina was getting a talking to for her attempt to shoot Jack during his swing to freedom. Jack knew better than to interfere and pretended not to hear.

He was incredibly proud of them as he was with his other children.

Of course, living in a house with a bunch of teenagers had its challenges.

The twins weren't too much trouble except when Doug got home from Altaria, where he apprenticed at the Embassy working with his 'Auntie' Karrel. She'd switched from Trade Commissioner to Ambassador when Jack had been forced to leave the position... and the world.

The use of the term 'Auntie' came from Jack as Altarians didn't use such relationship terms. Karrel found it mildly annoying yet amusing, so even a serious boy like Doug liked to use it, from time to time.

At the end of each day, Doug would meet his mother, Aaros, and sister Zoe at the Gate Terminal on Altaria to come home to Chuuruthia, where they lived with Jack in his large mansion atop the hill. Or inside the hilltop as that's how the Chuuruthian's built their homes, integrated with nature, not dominating it.

Aaros and Jack's daughter, Zoe, who was now 12, shared her brother's unique black and white coloring but in broader stripes, so the twins weren't as dazzled. She attended school on Altaria to make it easier for her mom to drop her off and pick her up each day on her way to and from work. They were very close.

The twins eagerly awaited Doug's arrival as both were more than a little infatuated with him. Truth be told, he seemed rather fond of them as well. Jack, SennLann, and Aaros were keeping a close eye on the three.

Emily, Diana and Jack's daughter, was proving she'd inherited her mother's beauty and body shape. Her long blonde locks came from her father's original hair color, and his height may have assisted her growth. At six-foot, she towered over her Chuuruthian friends and her siblings.

Except for Joseph, the boy Jack and Eve rescued from the Allsa Komanae home planet. He was growing into his biological father's height, and they expected in the next couple of years he'd shoot up a few more inches to slip past Emily.

Where his blonde sister had discovered an affinity for music, singing like an angel and pulling the most beautiful tones from instrument after instrument, Joseph liked to dye his hair black to match Jack's new coloring and had an artist's soul. He'd gone through a phase where he constantly painted, producing work after work, which Eve had shown in galleries on Chuuruthia, Altaria, and even Earth.

These days Joseph was working with the medium of glass, and his pieces were in high demand. The work made him happy, so Jack and Eve were thrilled.

Emily and Joseph had an affinity as the only human children in the family and were very close.

Not all of his kids were currently living on Chuuruthia with Jack. Some only came to visit now.

Karrel's Alexander was nineteen and back living with his mom on Altaria. He worked at a law firm, studying to be a lawyer. His goal was to modernize some antiquated laws like the one that kept his father from visiting Altaria for more than a few hours. Brief weekend visits to see Alex and his sister, twelve-year-old Rebecca, wasn't enough.

Elissa's son Maximilian was 19, and daughter Gwendolyn was 18. Both moved back to Altaria, and their mother's home, after their schooling. They now involved themselves in the family business, Royal business.

Max was a broad-shouldered, barrel-chested prime specimen of male Altarian. With his horns and royal dynasty, he was highly sought after by Altarian females. Thankfully, he didn't let this popularity go to his head. If anything, he was a little too oblivious to their attention.

Gwendolyn was working closely with her mother and showed signs of the Queen's calm, even temperament. Wisdom would come with time and experience.

Leffera's firstborn, Lillian, was now 19 and training to be a doctor on Altaria. She was dedicating her life towards finding a cure to the chronic condition her mother suffered after the birth of Lillian's brother, Benjamin, who was now 12.

Leffera and Benjamin lived with Jack. Following in his sibling's hoof prints, Ben attended school on Chuuruthia.

While not immediately life-threatening, Leffera's condition caused her mental and physical lethargy. Jack discovered that he could temporarily alleviate the symptoms with a few nights of cuddling and a little frisky-time. He understood he wasn't a cure, and he was only one man. There were thousands of females who suffered from this thankfully rare postpartum ailment. He'd been able to help stabilize her condition for the past twelve years, but she wasn't getting better.

Their ride interrupted his thoughts as it arrived with a whooshing sound as it finally swooped in over the trees and dropped down to hover at the water's edge. Adina and Zaina jumped into the vehicle and quickly moved into the rear seat. Jack followed them in with Gee and Bal bringing up the rear. The Altarians settled on the bench seat next to Jack as the vehicle rose back into the sky to fly them home.

Jack felt Gee gently leaning against his arm, so he lifted it over the back of the seat so she could cuddle against his right side. Then, with his right hand, he reached over and began massaging the muscles at the base of Bal's neck. He heard her sigh with pleasure, and her muscles began to loosen.

He struggled to keep the smile from his lips. Even after all these years, these two preferred to hide their emotional connection with him.

It made these little private moments that much more intimate and special.

Chapter 2

Callosephia was a hot, desert world with its drinkable water hidden deep underground. A few salty seas covered small areas of the surface, but the rest was sand. This desert surface wasn't suitable for Altarians, and most Altarian citizens would have been in favor of abandoning it... except for who wanted it.

The planet was well within Altarian space and a significant distance from the border of their aggressive neighbor, the Sanosians. Truthfully, the desert-dwelling race would have made better use of the planet, but due to its location, the Altarian's had no choice but to set up a colony to protect their claim.

The Sanosians made no effort to hide the fact that they coveted the planet. To them, from space, it looked like a glass orb of swirling colors, each representing a separate and distinct type of sand. They'd tried, again and again, to convince the grass eaters to hand over the planet, but the Altarians always refused.

The members of the initial Altarian colony looked for some way to find value in the planet to justify the cost of their living there. It was a geologist who discovered the world had a remarkable quantity of sand types in very pure states. She was also an artist and found the quality of the silica sand was perfect for creating the most exquisite art pieces and durable industrial glass. Processing plants were designed on Altaria, then the components for them were manufactured on several Altarian colonies and shipped piece by piece through the Cargo Gates to be assembled on Callosephia.

Once the plants went into production mode, they ingested the raw sand and filtered it into its base components. This process created some of the finest colored silica sands available. As an export product, it became highly sought after by artists and designers of high-end architectural projects. There was even a group on Earth that began importing it for their Sand Mandalas.

Over the subsequent years, the Sanosians continued to try to find ways to make the Altarians let them inhabit the planet. They'd even requested permission to set up vacation resorts on the world of sand, but a particular human diplomat working for the Altarians thwarted that toehold by rejecting the request.

Larrisha had been the colony leader for almost fifty years, and next year, she'd be moving back to Altaria to retire in comfort in a little bungalow overlooking the ocean... or a lake. She wasn't fussy as long as it wasn't an endless expanse of sand. The next phase of her life had to include water and lots of it. She was old and tired, but generally happy. Her time on Callosephia had been good, with only the smallest of disturbances by the Sanosians.

Until today.

Jessa, her second in command and the Colony's next leader, was leaning on her desk, pointing to the dot on her screen as it approached the planet. They had an unwelcome guest looking to make an unscheduled and unsolicited stop on their world. Larrisha already sent notice to Altaria. There was no response from the ship, but its transponder indicated it was an automated Sanosian commercial shipping transport. None of the members of that race would be on board as the Gate Network members would see that as a prelude to invasion.

The second in command was almost a polar opposite of Larrisha. She was young, passionate, fit, and energetic. She also had light, cream-colored fur that matched the color of the local sand. Larrisha's darker fur made her easier to see, so she teased her second in command that leaders needed to be seen as well as heard. To combat this, Jessa wore the brightest, most garish color gowns she could get her hands on.

The Altarian Queen's office notified them that they'd contacted the Sanosians and learned that the incoming freighter had drifted off course, and they weren't able to regain control. It was supposedly carrying livestock in stasis containers, food for the Sanosians. They claimed the ship would break apart and burn up in the atmosphere. They'd reportedly already jettisoned the engine core of the vessel so it would be on battery power until it hit the upper atmosphere.

As they didn't have any Altarian security officers on the planet, Larrisha and Jessa would be taking a skimmer out to a safe vantage point to ensure nothing made it to the surface. They were leaving Milli, the office coordinator, in charge until they got back. They'd remain in touch with her while they were in the field.

The ship was a large one, and since they'd prematurely ejected the engine core, they were no longer able to use its energy to blow the ship into smaller bits, which would burn up quickly in the atmosphere.

It was beginning to become apparent the Sanosians intended to have the ship reach the surface in one piece.

Once they had a fix on exactly where it would fall, Larrisha and Jessa boarded the small two-person skimmer. Jessa flew it out over the desert dunes in the direction of a long stony ridgeline which overlooked the future crash site. Larrisha prepared her camera to catch the evidence. She was highly suspicious of how their reptilian neighbors were handling this.

The crash site was a reasonable distance from the colony but still closer than Larrisha was comfortable with.

Speaking of comfort, Jessa flew the skimmer uncomfortably fast for the leader, but she trusted the younger female's superior skills.

Even with the excessive speed, it took some time to reach the ridge overlooking the distant valley where the ship would come down. They'd be able to see the debris land from here safely.

Larrisha aimed her camera at the coordinates where the incoming debris would begin to show. A minute crept by then two.

"Did we get the coordinates, right?" she asked Jessa.

Jessa was already contacting Milli, and her expression was grim. She looked up sharply, so Larrisha followed her gaze and gasped, seeing a dark shape begin to fill the sky above.

Suddenly, she was thrown back against her seat. Safety straps shot around her body to keep her in her chair as supports inflated on the headrest. Jessa pushed the throttle on the skimmer past the safety zone as she desperately tried to put some distance between them and the dropping ship.

"It's coming down whole? Is that a controlled descent?" Larrisha shouted to Jessa above the screaming sound of the skimmer's redlined engine.

Jessa yelled her answer back. "Milli said it changed from freefall into a partially controlled descent as we approached the ridgeline." They jerked to the left and dropped into a shallow notch racing down the slope at breakneck speed. "Main engines are offline- it's using auxiliary engines to slow its descent. Not meant for use in gravity- only docking maneuvers!" The skimmer shot out of the notch to race forward along the floor of the valley. She risked a glance upwards. "Ship's venting gas, a lot of it- to keep it level and slow it down maybe? It seems to be... tracking us!"

Larrisha slammed against her harness as Jessa jerked the vehicle to the left to avoid a large chunk of metal, which broke free from the ship above and fell to the sand before them. Then they were shooting forward again. The colony leader looked upwards once more and couldn't help but compare the ship to an enormous foot trying to stomp them flat. She watched its movements and saw its sudden shift to the left as the massive oblong shape began to fracture from the stresses of dealing with gravity for the first time.

"RIGHT!" she screamed and slammed into her harness once more as Jessa veered the skimmer to the right. The massive shadow descended faster and faster. Then it was behind them as a deafening explosion of noise, sand, and wind struck the skimmer from behind and tossed it, spinning wildly, into the sky.

When Larrisha regained consciousness everything hurt, but the pain in her left ankle was incredibly sharp and intense. She opened her eyes and saw she was upside down dangling from her seat harness. The bubble roof of the skimmer was gone, and the nose of the vehicle was buried in the sand.

Her legs were dangling down to rest on the sand, but her left one was disappearing into a toothy maw rising from below. She screamed as it suddenly bit down and crunched through the bone.

And her hoof was gone.

Jessa hit the release on her harness and dropped out of her seat onto the sand, screaming in rage as she drove a jagged piece of metal where the mouth had been. The sand erupted as something underneath thrashed, squealed in pain, and splashed a pink liquid on the ground around them. Then it went still.

Looking at the expression of horror on Larrisha's face, Jessa quickly reached into the storage behind the seat and pulled out an active bandage pack. She pressed it over the ragged stump of the older female's left leg and activated it. The covering wrapped around her wound and immediately gushed foam over the end of the leg. This would numb the nerves and seal the severed blood vessels.

She looked to her senior officer but saw she'd passed out once more. Immediate crisis over, she grabbed her comm and tried to reach Milli, but there was too much electrical interference from the wreckage of the ship behind them.

Whatever that thing was that came out of the sand to attack Larrisha, it wasn't native to Callosephia, so that meant it came from the ship. A ship that was supposed to have Sanosian livestock in stasis. The creatures were clearly no longer in that state! They were under the sand, and they ate Altarians!

Jessa unbelted Larrisha and carried her out from under the skimmer. The area around them was littered with big chunks of the shattered transport ship.

Hearing a hissing sound behind them, Jessa jumped onto one of the metal plates and avoided having her ankles bitten off. Luckily, the beasts didn't like leaving the sand.

Then she saw tentacles reach tentatively out of the sand to touch the metal surface as if hunting for them. Carrying Larrisha over her shoulder was beginning to wear her out. She couldn't put her down as she'd likely get dragged onto the sand. A sob slipped out as she looked at the moving sands and realized the number of creatures hiding just under the surface.

Bright flashes lit up the area around her as the sand exploded with writhing and flailing limbs. Then it went quiet.

Jessa looked up at the top of a dune and saw four black-furred Altarian security officers, two driving two-seat skimmers like hers and two on single-rider vehicles gliding down towards her. One two-seater pulled up next to her, and she gently laid the colony leader on the seat and strapped her down. The skimmer moved away as the second one glided closer to pick her up.

She made it stop next to her destroyed vehicle so she could reach out to collect Larrisha's camera, which was resting on the sand. For just a moment, she worried about something biting her hand. Then they were on their way back to the colony.

Jessa scanned through the video on the camera and saw Larrisha had captured the ship's course changes to catch them. Proof the destroyed transport wasn't in freefall.

She leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes. She was only beginning her term on Callosephia.

She prayed this was as exciting as it would get.

Chapter 3

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi emerged from the mirrored surface of the Gate into the cold vacuum of space. This wasn't a surprise or reason for alarm. As a first contact expedition leader, it often set the location for the first Gate high above a newly discovered planet's surface. As a Tik, the conditions of space were no danger to the mechanical being. As long as it was near a body with a gravitational field, any Tik could propel itself with ease.

The planet below was a gas giant detected at the far extent of the Allsa Komanae's region of space. The nearby supergiant star was beginning to threaten the world. Rikki had come with his team to determine if any sentient life forms inhabited the gas giant and could be saved.

Rikki's other teammates came through the Gate and gathered around the leader as the Gate closed. The team had two seniors and ten newly instantiated Tik. Shiny and free of any dents, scratches, or marks, these younglings were eager for life experiences. For most, this would be their first.

The star threw off an abundance of free power, so they were in no danger of running out of energy. Rikki sent a data spurt to the gathered Tik to take up positions and begin passive scanning for any unnatural energy output from the planet's surface, searching for signs of intelligent life. Only after a complete survey could they begin active scanning.

Rikki's second in command was Tootie, who'd done three previous missions with Rikki. They took their position at one third and two thirds the distance between the poles and the remaining Tik spread out in a line top to bottom. They'd be able to read the entire planet in a few passes around. The Tik at the equator set the pace, which meant the Tik at the poles went much slower. This led to boredom, which meant it was up to Rikki and Tootie to keep their minds on the task and feed their insatiable curiosity. It wasn't long before the questions began and they always started the same way.

The Tik were all connected by line of sight tight beams to not pollute their readings from the planet. This connection allowed them to communicate and share data feeds. The brief lags in the signal let Rikki and Tootie identify the speaking Tik.

"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, how did you get such a complex name?"

Rikki was ready for the question. It wasn't surprising to it that the Tik at the northern pole asked it. Its path was slow, and there was a lot of magnetic interference making its ability to take readings almost impossible. The southern pole was calmer for some reason.

"8809, I was given the name by a youngling from the human race. She was living on Sheega's World out in the Orellian territories."

"Humans live with Orellians?" a voice asked incredulously.

Rikki recognized that was their southern pole reading Tik.

"Yes, 3334. Humans with the will to explore the Gate Worlds are less xenophobic than the majority of the species on their homeworld. Now back to my story. The young female was in a hospital recovering from an explosion that took her parents from her. All she managed to save from their dwelling was an ancient book of stories. Before the accident, her parents would read from the book to help her get to sleep, but now they were gone."

"Could she not read the stories to herself?" 3334 asked.

"She was very young, but she'd had lessons and knew how to read. Unfortunately, her injuries took her ability to see. I learned how to hold the book, and I read stories from it to her at night. She was right; it did help her sleep. I managed to contact a Chuuruthian surgeon who specialized in optic nerve regeneration. She came to Sheega's World-"

Tootie interrupted this time. "A Chuuruthian on an Orellian world?!? She wouldn't survive their rough treatment!"

"I didn't say she traveled there alone! She was escorted by a huge, scarred hybrid male named Grenville McKree and his human female mate Annazelle McKree who had the most remarkable body art. The Orellians seemed nervous around them, so the surgeon was left alone. The couple was very sweet-natured, so I don't understand the Orellian's behavior," Rikki said pensively.

"Did the McKree's give you your name?" 8809 asked.

This brought Rikki back to the present. "No, it was the young female I read to. She used her hands to see me in her mind and said my tentacles reminded her of the cobra snakes in one of the stories I read to her. As I controlled the snakes, I had to be the brave mongoose Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. I was most honored when she named me."

"What happened to the young human female?" 4003 asked as it rushed around the equator.

"The McKree's adopted her once the surgeon restored her vision with new artificial eyes. She sent me a picture." Rikki shared the image over their link.

"Ohhh, I like her new eyes! They glow like ours!" 3334 exclaimed.

"Rikki- something's strange. InvestigatinggggEEIIIEEEE-" the signal suddenly stopped from 8809.

Recording their current positions, every Tik changed course to rush up to the north pole to see what happened to 8809.

Rikki was surprised to see a flash of sparks emitting from a space of absolute darkness. There was a large object hovering in the northern magnetic pole of the planet. The object's edges were impossible to see against the pure black of space.

8809 was a sparking mess. When it left formation to fly up over the pole, it must have accelerated quickly. The damage to it indicated it collided at high velocity with the dark shape and punched through the surface to get tangled in a highly reflective mesh under the black. All 8809's lights were off. It was dead. Suddenly and cruelly dead.

Rikki felt sorry for the new Tik, but this discovery gave it a new duty.

Then it saw 8809's shell slowly pushed outwards. They watched as the black surface gradually repaired itself and gently pushed the dead Tik away from the surface. Tootie reached out a tentacle to pull 8809 to its side.

Extending a tentacle to touch the smooth black surface where 8809 perished, Rikki felt a draw on its energy, so it pulled back. Shining lights on the surface made no difference as the light was absorbed. The only way to determine the scale of the object was to view the gas giant behind it. Rikki had to move farther and farther from the planet until the dark shape was visible before the planet's vast orb as a colossal black cylinder with rounded ends. It was pointing one of those ends directly at the planet's magnetic pole. Rikki wondered at the purpose of such a vast spacecraft if that's what it was.

Summoning the others, Rikki organized a scan of the object with minimal energy. They circled it and slowly made their way down its seemingly featureless surface.

"Rikki, I've found something," 3233 announced, and all of the Tik went to 3233's position. They'd reached the midpoint of the cylinder. Rikki looked to where the new Tik was pointing a tentacle. There was a round plate of a lighter material. Small but visibly different.

"Based on the location, I believe this may activate an airlock. If it is, I'll take a team inside and attempt to find the purpose of this vehicle, for that's what I believe it is. Tootie, take 1221, 4993, 7272, 9101, and 8809's body. Move to the edge of the horizon. If we do not return in one full cycle, go back through a Gate and make a report."

"Understood." It left with 8809 still clutched to its side, and the other four Tik followed without comment. Rikki knew they would have preferred to go inside as well, but the senior Tik made the calls.

Once Tootie sent an indication they were in place, Rikki had its team move back, and it reached out a tentacle to touch the round plate. Nothing happened, then it noted a softer spot in the center of the plate. It inserted the tip of its tentacle. There was a definite sensation of mechanical movement. After a moment, a larger portion of the outer surface retracted, and an airlock was behind it. Rikki entered, and the five newbie Tik's with him quickly joined their leader. 3334 was closest to the outer door, so it pressed a similar button on the inside of the door to close it. Once it appeared to be sealed, Rikki pressed the button on the inner door. There was no delay this time, and it moved aside. Rikki moved inside and found itself in a wide corridor running in both directions. There were inner airlocks at intervals in the hallway, but all the closer ones were currently open. In the distance, in both directions, he could see the large doors were closed, blocking access to the ends of the ship.

"The interior is not pressurized. Hard vacuum only. No internal gravity. Minimal energy readings. Some lighting but again, minimal," Rikki stated for the record. Tik recorded everything. As long as it survived this mission, what was encountered here would be available to all Tik.

"Which way should we go?" 3334 asked. Rikki noted it was the least hesitant to speak up. If that was a positive attribute had yet to be determined.

Rikki turned to the group. "Where do you believe the command center is?"

The junior Tik talked between themselves as Rikki waited. It was surprised to see 3334 wasn't dominating the discussion, but when they turned back to their leader, it was 3334 who presented the group's answer.

"We believe it will be in the center of the ship. This allows it to be close to this doorway and protected in the core of the ship." 3334 seemed almost eager to see if they were correct.

"Let us see if the builders of this vessel agree with your logic. We will need to find a cross corridor leading towards the core of the ship.

"I see one!" 4003 blurted and headed off down the corridor towards the front of the ship. A short distance away, there was indeed a cross corridor going towards the center of the cylindrical vessel. Rikki looked further down the hallway they'd been gliding through and got a better view of the formidable-looking airlock door blocking access to the front of the ship. As they wouldn't be investigating the ends of the vessel, hopefully the center would yield some answers.

Rikki made them stop at the intersection. "Tell me if you find anything of interest about the corridors we are traveling through."

The group looked each way and ran measurement scans to see how identical they were. Nothing of interest was registering with the group. Then 2765 reached out a tentacle and ran the tip along the surface of the floor they hovered above. The others looked at it then followed suit.

"2765, what did you find?" Rikki asked.

The shiny Tik glanced at 3334 then faced Rikki. "It's not smooth. There are definite ridges and valleys on the surface. There is a slight give to the material as well."

"Like sand under the waves at the edge of an ocean. Rippling sands," 9898 offered.

Rikki paused as it looked at 9898. "That was lovely. You've been to the beach?"

"Yes. I like sand," 9898 replied.

Rikki could understand that. "A close match to the texture I recalled as well. Now, why would the floor not be smooth?" it asked its team next.

The new Tik conferred once more, and 3334 gave their answer. "Familiarity? Most lifeforms seem to prefer textures they are most familiar with."

Rikki contemplated that answer, and it seemed to fall short of explaining the practical aspects of the textured surface.

"So, its purpose is to make those who travel over its surface feel emotional comfort? Might it have some practical value as well?" it suggested.

They conferred once more briefly, then 3334 replied. "Yes, it probably does, but we don't have enough information regarding the beings to make an accurate guess."

Rikki indicated its acceptance of their answer, and the group made their way inwards. Rikki extrapolated the sheer size of the ship they were inside and wasn't surprised when they came upon a wide airlock at what had to be the midpoint of the cylindrical vessel.

It examined the large door and extended a tentacle to touch its surface. It paused as it felt minute vibrations transferred through the surface, potentially indicating activity in the room beyond.

"An airlock door has closed the corridor behind us!" 2765 noted.

"Ahead of us as well!" 3334 blurted. Gasses began to fill the enclosed section of the corridor.

Then gravity returned.

The Tik automatically compensated with nothing more than a momentary dip in position.

Rikki turned to the group behind it as it moved away from the door quickly. The others responded immediately except 4003, which moved closer to reach out a tentacle to feel the door.

"First-contact protocol-" Rikki began, but the large door snapped up into the ceiling showing a bulky being standing in the opening. It was holding something in its hands, which 4003 immediately discovered was a spear as it stabbed deep into the Tik's body. The being's attack unluckily ruptured the Tik's armored energy cell, which unleashed its charge directly back through the shaft of the metallic spear. The corridor lit up with a blue-white flash. The being made a wailing noise as the energy cooked it instantly.

4003 crashed to the floor quite dead, soon followed by the being which flopped loosely to the deck, in a similar condition.

The Tik froze as they looked closer at the fallen being. It wasn't like any alien race they'd encountered to date, and the Tik maintained an extensive compendium of living and extinct races they'd studied. Every Tik was presented with this knowledge just after their instantiation.

Its head was surrounded by a wide oval hood of muscle which blended into its broad shoulders. Two strong arms suspended from the shoulders on either side of its body, ending with a group of short tentacles for gripping objects, such as a spear.

The torso slimmed at the waist then seemed to stretch on and on. The far end of this being was still inside the room behind it.

To top off its surprising appearance, its entire body was covered with iridescent scales in a mottled pattern.

Rikki was staring at the two dead sentient beings in the hallway in shock. What a tragic beginning to a first contact event!

"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, is this a cobra?" 3334 asked quietly, reverting to their leader's full name to draw attention to the kismet of their situation.

It wasn't lost on Rikki that the new being before them did share some strong physical characteristics of Earth's cobras. Still, it was better to ignore that comparison.

"This is a first-contact protocol situation. I will take point and will attempt to remedy this unfortunate beginning. Be on your best behavior and follow the protocols as my secondaries," it sent to the group.

They waited until they saw the body of the dead alien begin to get tugged back to the other room. Once it was out of view, Rikki extended a tentacle and gripped 4003's shell and pulled it back to the group at the same speed.

A second being moved out into the hallway with a spear in its grip, but this one wasn't pointing the weapon at them. It was just holding it point up.

Rikki moved forward slowly with two tentacles extended to a length that matched the being's arms.

It stood facing the Tik but remained silent as it passed its large eyes over the mechanical life form's body. Finally, it spoke. Its language was a series of soft snaps and clicks.

Rikki was thrilled to hear a sample of its language as it would quickly adapt to the translators once they thoroughly analyzed it.

The Tik leader responded with Universal, the oldest common language the Tik knew, but the being didn't respond.

Then the being shocked Rikki as it spoke with an ancient dialect the Tik never expected to hear again.

"You Mahrell Drun tools or weapons?"

Rikki made a leap of faith that these beings weren't friends of the extinct race as it hadn't collected friends. It responded with the same, now dead language. "We are friendly. We are not allies with Mahrell Drun or their descendants, the Allsa Komanae. They are all dead."

Its hood flared as the being dropped the point of the spear to a horizontal position, directed at Rikki. "LIE! Mahrell Drun, not die! Never die unless by our hands!"

Rikki wasn't sure what to make of that, but the Tik was more confident these beings were not allies of the dead race. "How long you sleep?" Rikki asked. This question seemed to unsettle the tall being. It spoke over its shoulder, and they waited for a tense period while one of its team members did something out of view.

A second being came into the doorway, but its hood was utterly deflated. It was also not carrying a spear. It spoke quietly to the first, which turned to stare at it. After a moment its hood shrank as well. It turned back to Rikki. "We sleep long, long time. Far longer than expected. Comparative time unit?"

Rikki was pleased they were entering the advanced stage of first-contact protocols. Having a common language would speed this along. They seemed advanced scientifically. "Half-life of radioactive isotopes?"

The second being nodded and went back into the room to return in a moment with a portable display. It showed Rikki a chart of elements which Rikki projected against the wall side by side with the Tik's table of elements. It quickly cross-referenced the known elements and extrapolated the time units. It shut off the projector before turning back to the two beings. "Our standard celestial cycle is roughly equivalent to 1.5 of your cekt. How many cekt were you sleeping?"

The second being glanced at the other and received a flick of the eyes.

"7,375 cekt."

Rikki looked at the seemingly healthy life forms that spent 4,917 years in suspended animation. "That is a significant achievement as none of the known suspension technologies available would have preserved their subjects for so long. How many survived?"

They glanced at each other once more. The leader spoke this time. "All survived. You have not fully answered my question."

Rikki expected to get back to this. "My name is Rikki. We are Tik, an independent and sentient race of mechanical beings. We seek life to ensure it is preserved and protected."

"The opposite of the Mahrell Drun," the leader said.

"Yes," Rikki offered.

"My name is Lorrem. We are the Ishilon. I offer sympathy for your dead caused by my underling. This language is not suited to such sentiment," the leader finished with a snap, then looked around at nothing in particular as if struggling to deal with something emotional.

"If you provide a lexicon for your language, we can create a matrix for Universal, a language all races in the Gate Network use as a common trade language."

The commander nodded to one of the technicians behind it. Rikki motioned for 9898 to assist.

Lorrem's hood flared out with its sudden anger. "I cannot believe they are all dead! They were ageless, and outside of mishap, they could be expected to live on endlessly! It makes no sense!" it raged.

Rikki projected an image of the Allsa Komanae homeworld, which was taken by the researchers authorized to be on the planet. The video showed a central square where most of the dying members went when they felt their biological matter disintegrating. "Roughly 25 cekt ago, the last Allsa Komanae perished. The last Mahrell Drun Prime perished a short time before that."

The leader made a terrible and loud crunching noise as its eyes went very wide. "That is a short time ago, considering how long we slept! To have missed our chance to avenge our people by that short a time is beyond my ability to accept!"

Rikki watched the muscular being struggling with its rage. It looked to the other large male who was also making angry noises.

"How did they die?"

Rikki turned to see a third being joining them in a hallway that now seemed too small to contain this group. The Tik team leader made an immediate assessment based on the new arrival's body language, the body language of the others in its presence, and its slightly larger size that this new one was probably their actual leader. Rikki suspected it was female.

"It was Jack!"

Rikki turned to look at 3334 in surprise. The young Tik broke protocol and a few laws with that excited shout. It shouldn't have even known about Jack's involvement. Rikki tight beamed a command for silence to the now contrite youngling then turned back to the recent arrival to continue.

The female Ishilon was much closer now, and her large golden eyes panned over the Tik's shell to return to the primary optic sensor. "Who are these Jack? They must be a race of powerful beings to have taken out our adversaries."

Rikki found himself in an unpleasant situation because of that blurted sentence.

Deflect.

"My youngling spoke out of turn and without context. The Mahrell Drun Prime and the Allsa Komanae were defeated by an association of three different races-"

"Jack. Explain."

Rikki felt an almost tangible pull from those gold eyes, which remained focused on his optic. She had a formidable will! It couldn't avoid the answer without jeopardizing the work it'd done so far.

Downplay.

"One member of this association was an individual named Jack Danner. He is a human, a member of one of the association's races." It paused as that wasn't entirely truthful. "He's actually part Altarian now, that's another race involved in the association-"

"These Altarian's can take over the bodies of other races?" the female asked in concern.

"What? No! That's not what I meant. Jack has a distinctly unique genetic makeup, which allowed an Altarian disease to merge new genes into his genome. His status as a Hybrid was unknown until the Altarian gene's activated."

A shudder rippled through the female's body. "Is Jack a carrier of this disease, and was that how he killed the Mahrell Drun?" she asked.

Rikki was floundering. "No! It only changed him and only in relatively small ways. He's healthy and isn't contagious. As I said, he was only one element of a large effort to put an end to their evil ways."

The female gave Rikki an evaluating look. "If Jack is a Hybrid, the Mahrell Drun would have been very interested in him. I think perhaps you are not telling the complete truth regarding Jack Danner's involvement in the demise of our adversary. The Mahrell Drun set our neighbors against us, and by the time we discovered who the true enemy was, we were drawn into a war neither of us could afford. They were irrational and would not listen to the truth. In the end, they eradicated all life on our homeworld, and almost wiped out our colony world as well."

She sighed painfully. "You're unaware of the sacrifices we made to be here. Only the strongest amongst us were able to travel on this ship and leave the ruins of our colony. Our remaining citizens perished on that blighted world, but they died knowing their sacrifice would directly lead to the Mahrell Drun dying by our hands!"

She reached out a hand to pull Rikki closer still. "Now, tell me everything about Jack Danner."

Rikki saw the pain in the eyes of these beings, reflecting their knowledge of the debt they owed the ones they left behind. It couldn't imagine what it must feel like to suddenly discover those debts could never be repaid.

It considered her request and determined there was only one course of action.

Disclosure.

Chapter 4

Jack walked in his front door and slowly came to a stop as he took in the mouth-watering scent of home cooking. A content smile spread across his face. "Honey, I'm home!" he bellowed, as the house was huge.

Gee and Bal followed him in and gave him another weary look at his volume level. They headed off to put their equipment away and to get cleaned up. Jungle time was over.

The twins entered next and stopped to get a kiss and a hug. He flinched a little when Zaina's arm brushed across the welt on his side. They both looked up at him contritely.

Jack put a fake look of disbelief on his face as he looked to Adina. "I can't believe Zaina shot me!" he said pitifully.

Adina burst into giggles as Zaina cried out in outrage.

He grabbed Zaina in a bear hug and cuddled her as she beat her fists on his chest for teasing her. Adina bounced in to get a hug as well, and he gave them both another kiss on the cheek before they headed off to their room. "Bad papa!" Zaina tossed back over her shoulder, but he could see her smile.

Jack was very pleased with himself as that last bit had been another test for the girls. Earlier in their lives, when he'd do something to give them opposite emotions, the discordance in their emotional states would destabilize their link. Now, they were able to isolate their emotive states to maintain stability. He never told them he was testing them. Truthfully, he didn't tell anyone, but he was pleased to see their progress.

Diana walked into view, and Jack's libido woke up, and his heart filled with warmth. She always managed to take his breath away and give him butterflies. Tall, curvy, and gorgeous, she towered over the Altarians of their previous home and the Chuuruthians of their current one. Living on Chuuruthia clearly agreed with the brunette beauty as it seemed like she hadn't aged at all in the intervening years.

As well as being a gift to the eyes, she'd also defended her family like a lioness. Twelve years later, the terrible scars were still there to see. Not all of them were visible, however. She was still haunted by the memories she lost when she'd stopped breathing after the attack. Jack gave her all the love and attention she needed, and that helped her significantly.

Today, she was wearing one of her favorite Altarian dresses, which did nothing to hide the savage-looking scars on her throat.

"Hey baby," she purred in her gravelly voice, which was another present from the attack. Diana had chosen not to go under the surgeon's knife for the limited improvement they offered her.

Jack thought it was damn sexy, as did SennLann. The deep rumble made the Phem Kalos female tingle with lust. He knew she wasn't home from her trip to Phem Kalos, where she was visiting their Queen. They'd become besties.

Jack pulled Diana into a hug then kissed her tenderly.

"Mmmm, that was really nice! How was your trip to the jungle?" she asked.

"Me Tarzan, you Diana!" he grunted as he bounced his eyebrows at her.

She grinned and patted his chest. "Down Tarzan. Dinner is ready. Go get cleaned up. Eve made a delicious casserole from an old family recipe."

Jack's eyebrows went up as Eve was an orphan of unknown origins. She had no family that they knew of. They didn't even know what planet she was from!

Diana made a rumbling sound, which was her chuckle. "My family recipe, silly!"

"Oh! Of course!" Jack said, feeling silly indeed.

Diana gave him a peck on the lips and pushed him toward the hall leading to the master bedroom.

Jack sped up his steps as he was famished.

After a quick shower, he pulled on shorts, a button-down shirt, and slippers then headed for the kitchen. He spotted Emily walking ahead with one of her Chuuruthian friends. He struggled to recall this one's name then spotted the tell-tale spots on her ears. The race had such lovely ears, but the patterns were distinct. This was Rasha, the giggler. He rushed forward silently to scoop the two young ladies into a hug. "Hello, girls!"

Both squeaked in surprise at his sudden appearance. Then their behavior veered in different directions.

"Dad! Stop doing that! How can someone so freaking big move so quietly?" Emily complained.

Rasha was a mess of giggles, large eyes, and trembling whiskers. The multiple gold rings dangling from both of her large tufted ears happily jingled as they moved. The Chuuruthian resemblance to Earth's Caracal cats was strong with her.

He remembered now that this friend might have been a little infatuated with him. It was just a youthful crush. He caught the look of frustration on his daughter's face and sent her an apologetic look.

Emily rolled her eyes, then tugged free of her dad's arm. "Come on, Rasha. Let's get a seat where lunatics can't accost us."

Jack gave Emily a surprised look, but the teen was purposefully keeping her gaze averted. She was mad and now embarrassed in front of her friend. "Sorry," he said.

Rasha was looking between father and daughter in embarrassment.

Joseph chose that moment to rush out of the dining room towards them. "Dad! Glad you're home! Can I ask you about something? Oh! Hi Rasha! M.L.E." Joseph used his phonetic pet name for his sister as he saw the frown on her face. Jack saw a softening of her expression before his son tugged him away.

Jack looked at Joseph and saw a hint of anxiety. He frowned in concern. "What's up? Is something wrong?"

"Sorry Dad, you need to give Emily extra space for a while. She's going through... stuff," his son said quietly.

Jack blinked at his son. "That lacked some pertinent information."

"She can't talk to you about it. Hardly talks to me about it, but I think she's lonely. Like... she wants a boyfriend." Joseph said hesitantly.

"She hasn't turned eighteen yet!" Jack exclaimed in outrage.

"Dad, she will be in less than a week. This is why she can't talk to you," Joseph sighed

Jack went still. "Right." He thought for a moment. "Can she talk to her Mom?"

"I think she tried, and her reaction was the same as yours," Joseph replied.

"Oh. Is there anyone Emily's interested in?" Jack asked.

Joseph's expression became pained. "She's only attracted to humans, and there aren't any here."

"There are at the Trade Commission office," Jack suggested then immediately reconsidered his workplace. Way too uncomfortable. "Never mind."

Joseph just nodded, then his expression became hesitant once more. "This brings me to the second point I wanted to discuss with you. An art gallery wants to do a showing of my glass art pieces. Mom's not in favor, but I think it would be an excellent opportunity for Emily and me to meet people. Art galleries bring in a good group of people."

The gears were turning in Jack's mind. An art gallery showing of Joseph's art. Emily needs to meet people. Emily is only attracted to humans. Humans mostly stick to Earth. "Where on Earth is the art gallery?"

Joseph nodded, understanding his father would catch on quickly. "In Paris, France."

"Ah, well, that's certainly better than some places it could be," he sighed.

Joseph's expression brightened. "Does this mean you'll talk to Mom?"

Jack sighed as he realized this was what Joseph wanted from the start. "After dinner, let's sit down and go over the details. I'm not opposed to the idea, but trips to Earth can lead to grief." He saw Joseph was watching his hand, which was unconsciously touching the slave collar. He pulled his hand down and wrapped an arm around Joseph's shoulder to guide him to the dining room.

"You know I'm grateful you were there on Allsa Komanae to save me, don't you?" Joseph said quietly.

Jack looked at him in surprise then pulled him into a tight hug. "You and your Mom are the best things that came of that time, and I don't regret it for a second."

Jack felt another pair of strong arms wrapping around them and looked down to see Eve smiling up at them. "I came to find you two as dinner is on the table."

Jack released Joseph and leaned down to kiss Eve tenderly.

"Augh, get a room!" Joseph groaned, drawing a chuckle from his parents.

Jack followed them into the dining room and saw everyone currently living in the home, and Emily's friend Rasha, already seated. He kissed Zoe then Ben on the head as they were his youngest kids. Then he nibbled/nuzzled Leffera's neck as he passed behind her making her let out a surprised yelp. This drew chuckles and exasperated sighs in equal measure.

Dinner time had begun.

-=-

Aaros and Diana shooed Jack, Eve, and Joseph away from the dining table so they could discuss the invite. Jack led them to his office, and once there, Joseph forwarded him the invite message he'd received as Jack sat at his desk, activating the large wall mounted display to show the message.

Eve caught Jack's attention. "I spoke to Hellna and asked her to check into the background of the gallery and the organizers. She did and found nothing of concern. Then I asked Cha'Risa, but she found nothing either. They seem legitimate."

Jack smiled at Eve's vigilance at protecting Joseph. He looked at the invite again and saw the gallery was in one of the wealthier districts of Paris. He set up a connection to Earth's web and searched for the event. His eyebrows went up as he saw the artist invite list. There were some big-name artists from Earth as well as a few artists who lived off-world. The thing was, all of the artists were human.

"So, the point of the show is to celebrate human creativity and the effect of environment on the artist's work?" Jack quietly asked as he pondered how this might be spun to cast a negative light on the off-worlders. There always seemed to be a negative angle.

"There are so many amazing artists coming to this! I'd love to meet them!" Joseph gushed.

Jack and Eve shared a glance. They wanted to protect him, but they couldn't deny what a great opportunity this was for him. Jack could see Eve's concern and acceptance. They were on the same page as they always seemed to be.

"We need to work out who's going to go with you as protection," Jack said, and Joseph whooped with joy and jumped up to kiss and hug his parents.

Once Jack settled his son down, he held his eyes. "I'm not messing around here. With such a high profile event, there's lots of room for things to go wrong."

"Gee and Bal would go," Eve said.

Jack shook his head. "I think as this event is so human-centric, it might be better to have human security. Maybe Leo and Maxim?"

"We can ask them at the barbeque party this weekend," Eve said.

Jack nodded with a smile. He'd promised himself he'd keep in touch with the people who made a difference in his life, and he'd been pretty successful with that while living on Chuuruthia. Of course, his new home was party central with all the required amenities, including extra rooms for party goers to crash in afterward. The big conversation pit in the living room under the glass dome for stargazing was particularly popular for that. Looking up at unfamiliar star patterns did crazy things to your mind. The breakfasts Jack served the mornings after were also a big hit.

"Will do. Now, how many people does the invite say you are allowed to bring?" They looked and saw it said three. "Leo, Maxim, and Emily."

Eve looked to Jack in surprise, so he took her hand in his. "This is an artist invitation. We'll see if we can get on the guest list. If they allow non-human guests."

She shared his concern about the potential bias against off-worlders but put her faith in Jack to find a way. She looked at her son. "You want to bring Emily?"

He nodded at her. "It's on her birthday, so that would be my present for her."

"Please go ask Diana to join us. Then get Emily," Jack said to Joseph.

Once Joseph was on his way, Jack pulled up the art gallery website and looked into ordering tickets. He found himself being redirected to a contact page for off-world guest requests. He glanced at Eve, whose face showed her concern. He pressed the button to call. Moments later, the screen opened a window showing a slim man with a fringe of hair and a thin mustache. His slightly oversized eyes widened as he saw who he was speaking to, and his mouth dropped open.

"Ambassador Danner!" he exclaimed, his eyes immediately going to the tall black horns.

Jack winced as he hadn't had that title for over a decade, but it was how he was referred to on Earth. His fan club there was still quite active and growing in numbers. They even sent him monthly newsletters. He'd read in one that they were actively campaigning to get him reinstated. That thought brought a grin to his face.

"Just Jack Danner or Trade Commissioner Danner, if you prefer."

"Ah! Yes. What may I do for you today?" the man said.

"I was hoping to be able to buy some tickets to the art show my son has been invited to. Joseph Danner."

"Yes, the glass artist! He does such beautiful work!" the man gushed.

Jack gestured for Eve to move next to him to be in the picture. The man's eyes widened once more. "Joseph's mother and I couldn't be prouder."

"Mother?" the man muttered in confusion.

"Adoptive mother, of course," Eve insisted in annoyance.

"Exactly. As I said, we would like to purchase tickets to the show," Jack concluded.

"I- I- I don't-" the clerk began to answer when a hand landed on his shoulder. Another man, whose face they couldn't see, leaned in to whisper in the clerk's ear briefly. Then he left.

The clerk looked off-camera then turned to face Jack with a smile. "Two tickets, then?"

"Five, please," Jack politely said as he did his best to hide his apprehension. With Gee and Bal along, he'd feel much better.

"Certainly! The transaction should be on your screen for review and acceptance." He was all business now.

Jack looked at the price displayed on his desktop screen and accepted it. The payment went through.

"Thank you, Mr. Danner. I'm issuing your tickets now."

Jack saw the five invites appear in his message box. "I've received them. Thanks."

"Anything else I can do for you today, Mr. Danner?" the clerk asked. Diana walked in with a curious expression.

"No. Thank you," he responded, and the clerk nodded and immediately disconnected. Jack blinked at the blank screen.

He turned his attention to Diana. "You know that art gallery showing Joseph has been invited to participate in?"

"Yes, but not where it is," she replied.

"Paris, France on Earth."

Diana blinked in surprise. "Oh, that's pretty significant. But Earth?"

Jack shared her concern, but he wasn't willing to give up access to his home planet.

"Eve and I are going to ask Leo and Maxim to be security." Diana nodded and relaxed a little.

Joseph arrived with Emily, who was wearing an annoyed look on her face. He clearly hadn't told her why he'd brought her. Rasha was following with an interested smile.

Diana took one look at Emily and turned to Jack. "No!"

Eve walked over to Diana and took her hands. "Jack and I will be going as will Gee and Bal-" She paused as she recalled Jack ordered five tickets. She glanced at Jack, who nodded. She looked up into Diana's worried green eyes. "There's an extra ticket for you if you want it."

Diana pulled her hand back. "I'm not going there! Never again! And Emily-"

"Is an adult. That night will be her eighteenth birthday," Jack said, standing. He looked to the others. "Can we have the room for a moment, please?"

Once they cleared out, Jack pulled Diana into a hug. "I never meant this to be an ambush. I just found out about the showing and learned that Emily is lonely. She'd like to meet a boy and fall in love. But there are very few human boys here to meet. Unlike her Mom, she's attracted to more traditional looking mates." Jack looked into Diana's sad eyes. "She's going to be carrying the baggage of her unusual family her whole life. We have to be as supportive as we can be to counterbalance that, or she may grow to resent us."

Diana rubbed her face against Jack's chest. He heard her mumbling something.

"What was that?" he asked.

She pulled back to look him in the eye, but she was pouting. Jack had to restrain himself from kissing that lower lip. She must have seen his flare of lust as she smiled slightly before giving her head a shake. "I want her protected! I can't go."

Jack recalled her visit to Earth with him seven years ago. They'd gone to New York City to do a little shopping, and somehow word got out that they were there. A well-organized group of religious fundamentalists used the Gate Network to gather in NYC and launched their attack. Instead of shopping, Jack and his group found themselves running for their lives.

Diana had been terrified as the crowd screamed vicious insults at her for fornicating with the devil himself! She was called the Whore of Babylon, Jezebel reborn, and the seductress Lilith! She'd received a few cuts and bruises from thrown debris, but it was her nerves where the real damage was evident.

While Gee and Bal had kept them alive, they'd only managed to escape with the assistance of local law authorities. The same authorities who'd failed to respond until the fire department arrived to put out the fires the fanatics set around the building they'd taken refuge in.

He understood Diana's reluctance to go back.

"If Maxim and Leo aren't available, I'll ask Cha'Risa to recommend someone. As Eve said, Gee and Bal will be there too.

Diana took a deep breath and let it out. "Ok. But... what if she meets a boy and falls in love. What if she wants to stay with this boy? On Earth!"

"We'll deal with each crisis as it comes," Jack said and kissed Diana's forehead. She nodded.

"You can come in now!" Jack called out.

Eve opened the door and led the rest inside. Joseph looked to Jack hopefully and received a nod. He turned to his sister.

"Would you like to join me in Paris, France, when I go there for a gallery showing?" he asked her.

"Earth?!? We're going to Earth?!?," she gasped.

Joseph grinned. "No, the Paris, France on the Woo homeworld! Yes, Earth! Happy Birthday!"

Emily made a high pitched squealing noise and leaped into her brother's arms. Then she rushed over to hug her Mom and Dad.

"You're going to have a security escort as that's a mandatory requirement because of having me as a Dad," Jack said.

Emily nodded excitedly then looked over at her friend. She turned to look at Joseph. "Can Rasha join us?"

Joseph looked to Jack then back to Emily. "I only have four invites. You and I and the security team." Emily looked at her father.

Jack was watching Diana, who gave her head another small shake. "I have five invites. Rasha could come with us if it's ok with her parents. Considering the nature of the show, it might be better for her to stay close to us."

Rasha made an odd sound Jack had never heard a Chuuruthian make before. He could have sworn it sounded like a mixed growl and purr. Chuuruthian's did neither.

The petite being flashed an embarrassed and desperate glance to her friend who covered it up by rushing to her, grabbing her hand and pulling her from the room. Emily called out a thank you as they fled.

Jack looked between Diana and Eve, getting a shrug from the tall brunette and a tilt of the head from the petite grey-furred female. He looked at Joseph, who just had a happy smile on his face. "We'll talk to Cha'Risa, Leo, and Maxim at the BBQ to work out the details." He looked back at Diana. "Will SennLann be back from Phem Kalos for the party?"

"Yes, and she's bringing Nann too. I think my Tik boyfriend Ray will be there too," Diana said with a smirk. She was aware of the intimate memories he'd shared with the Tik and the ongoing infatuation Ray had with her. Thankfully Diana remained blissfully unaware that these memories had likely been shared amongst millions of Tik by now.

He could only smile and nod. He was never going to live that one down.

Chapter 5

Tonka hovered far above the planet's surface, drifting along in its geostationary orbit above what they'd identified as the largest city. Tonka's partner, Eellooee, was a short distance away, scanning all electromagnetic waves for hints that the Tik had been observed. So far, nothing.

As Tonka had a little personal time available, it looked at its options. Its art project could use some attention, but it needed some inspiration to finish it.

It had also received some encrypted files the last time it was on Chuuruthia. While there, it underwent a scheduled assessment. It achieved a higher level, which gave it sufficient clearance to receive these files. Most were small, but one was huge! Its curiosity made it want to open it immediately, but it was cognizant that some of the factors in its assessment were judgment and patience. The files would wait until a better opportunity.

Here, far above the planet with plenty of time available to review them, the opportunity presented itself.

Restraining the urge to open the large one first, it ordered the files by size, smallest to largest, and opened them one by one. They were mostly experiences of other Tik undergoing deeply profound emotional moments or traumatic events. It made sense to Tonka that these would only be given to Tik, which had sufficient emotional stability and maturity to assimilate the experiences. It personally felt stronger for having integrated them.

Then it reached the last file. Its size was still daunting. To ingest this much data was going to take a noticeable amount of time.

"Eellooee, I'm opening a rather large data file. Will you need assistance for an interval?" it tight beamed to the other Tik.

The partner split its attention to respond. "Not for a daily cycle, at least. How large is this file?" it asked curiously as experience files typically loaded quickly. It'd never received an advanced warning for this activity before.

Tonka couldn't share the file as it was encoded only for it. But it sent Eellooee the specs on the file.

The abnormally large size of the file caught Eellooee's full attention as it paused its EM scan. "This is a single experience file? What could it be?"

Tonka realized Eellooee was not likely to receive the file for some time as it was still too young. It had years of maturing to undergo before it did. "I won't know until I open it, and I won't be allowed to tell you afterward. I find the size a little daunting too. You will need to be extra vigilant while I incorporate it.

"I will," Eellooee replied.

Tonka picked up the distinct impression of wistfulness from its partner. There was nothing it could do about that, so it pushed that aside as it looked inwards to the file.

It triggered the extraction and was immediately presented with a prompt.

"The experience file you are about to incorporate contains the personal and private perceptions of Jack Danner. You are not authorized to disclose anything regarding the experience with any being other than Jack Danner, and only if he personally requests it. Before incorporating this data, do you agree to the above conditions?"

Tonka was stunned. The experience file contained perceptions from a being outside the Tik Collective! That was supposed to be impossible! A non-mechanical entity at that! Tonka had no way of describing how intensely exciting this thought was, and it paused as it realized it would be obtaining an entirely new perspective on the world.

It suddenly realized how valuable this data was and how privileged it was to receive it.

"I agree," Tonka responded.

"You may open the file now, or if you feel you are not ready, you may terminate the action and request the file at a later date. As with all experience files, there is no penalty for not incorporating it as you have been assessed as meeting the requirements."

Tonka wondered how many Tik turned down the offer to see through another being's optical sensors. Then it thought this would make for an excellent test of a Tik's maturity, to dangle such a prize and suggest they could accept it later at no penalty.

"Understood. Open the file now."

The universe exploded in vectors no Tik had ever perceived or even imagined. Tonka felt the awe BassDrop experienced, then the Tik's perception faded under the onslaught of Jack's unique senses.

So much input!

And emotions! So powerful and so many! Tonga felt himself being carried away on the tide of experiences Jack bestowed upon BassDrop.

"Tonka! Tonka! Are you functioning?"

The Tik reached out its arms above its head and stretched as it yawned. Its nose felt a little itchy, so it rubbed at it.

"Tonka! You are making odd movements. Have you malfunctioned?" Eellooee asked in concern.

That tone got through, and Tonka's perceptions snapped back into focus. "I- am well. Apologies. The experience file was... intense. It took some time to readjust my perceptions. Has there been any change in the communications from below?"

Still showing signs of unease, Eellooee gestured a negative. "Communications remain constant and uneventful."

Tonka noticed the light had shifted considerably. It checked its internal clock, and eighteen hours had passed. "Oh! My apologies. I didn't realize how long I was ingesting the data package." It would take a few days for this much data to merge and become available for direct access. It'd just had a... taste of the content. Tonka smiled as that phrase seemed to have a meaning for it now.

Best to get back to business. "Details on the original survey?"

"We discovered this planetary system between the Jool and Qui Qui Qui territories while scanning for gravity wells along a recorded course found in an old ship's log from an Allsa Komanae raider. The Jool and Qui Qui Qui were both neutral towards the Allsa Komanae until the Jool discovered the Allsa Komanae stealing resources from their moons and asteroid fields. The Allsa Komanae also used the route to get to the outer regions of Altarian space. The Jool closed off the route."

Tonka was pleased by Eellooee's matter of fact delivery. "Who claims this space?"

"It's neutral territory between the Jool and Qui Qui Qui regions of space though not close to either. Now that we've detected an intelligent, technological advanced race living on the system's only life-sustaining planet, the local region will belong to them. While there are a few communication satellites, I've detected no sign of space travel capabilities. The Jool and Qui Qui Qui will be notified of their new neighbor if they were not already aware."

Tonka pondered on that last point. "The Jool must be unaware as the planet below still contains life. The Jool tend towards aggressive military action when confronted with incursions, even this far from their home system. Our notifying the Jool will protect the inhabitants below, as attacking them would cause the Jool to lose Gate access. The Qui Qui Qui are unpredictable, and their intentions undecipherable. Their preference to avoid interacting with others means they don't explore, so they are likely to be unaware and won't visit when they learn of them."

"Yes, I concur," Eellooee replied. "May I present the findings of my culture study I've made based on the intercepted transmissions?"

"Yes, please," Tonka said with enthusiasm.

"The planet below hosts one homogeneous culture based on a tiered ranking system. It seems to be based on some form of merit system. The inhabitants show a remarkably high level of civility. That's not to say I was unable to find examples of violence. I've seen reports of public executions. Some, after a form of court trial, and others on the spot by members of their security force. These never devolve into civil unrest. I can find no sign of any conflicts larger than police actions. Individuals may perform violent acts, but society as a whole remains peaceful."

"Their base language has been relatively simple to translate from the broadcasts I've picked up. There are signals dedicated to educating their young. I'll share the lexicon with you now." Eellooee sent a tight beam file transfer to Tonka, who incorporated it into its translation files. There may be nuances missing, but this would be suitable for first contact.

"That's very promising! Thank you!" Tonka remarked, and Eellooee was delighted.

Tonka and Eellooee waited for morning to come to the capital city below and went over first contact protocols. Tonka determined the best time for them to descend and meet the people of this world would be when the sun was directly overhead, as this would give them a little extra security. First-contact was a tricky time.

Finally, the hour arrived, and they began their descent. They kept a steady pace, listening for chatter on the EM bands that would indicate they'd been observed.

Tonka had chosen a large courtyard in front of the largest structure in the capital city to make their introductions.

"I believe we have been spotted," Eellooee noted as several signals began to include very excited yet terse conversations.

They watched the civilians in the courtyard below quickly disperse as chrome armored beings guided them out and took their place. Likely the police force Eellooee spoke of earlier. They formed a circle around the spot where the Tik would arrive.

Tonka guided them in until they were hovering above the paved surface, roughly head height with the beings facing them. It noted that the chrome armor almost completely hid any identifiable features of the person within. The exception was the grey horns on either side of their head, which curved down and forward to point deadly tips at whoever they faced. They were all pointed at the Tik for now.

There were height differences as well, but in general, when ranked amongst the other races of the Gate Network, their size was slightly below the average.

Everyone remained still for a moment as they regarded each other. As no one stepped forward to identify themselves as the senior officer, Tonka proceeded with his greeting. Their language felt odd to use as it was filled with honks and growls, but the Tik had no trouble emulating it.

"Hello. We are Tik. We are an independent and sentient race of mechanical beings. We seek life to ensure it is preserved and protected."

The group shifted uneasily, and then two parted to allow a single being to enter into the circle to approach them. It was wearing a white sleeveless gown with a high collar. Finally, Tonka got a closer look at the facial features of one of the natives. Grey furred, the grey horns growing out of its temples to curve down and forward. It had large pale grey eyes and a wide and leathery-looking black bar for a nose. It had black lips in a broad mouth, the points of two fangs could be seen resting on its thick lower lip. Its ears were broad, furred triangles with white tufts.

As it walked closer, Tonka could see its hooves with two broad toes below the hem of the long gown.

Something was tickling Tonka's mind. Something familiar. It pushed the distraction back.

"I am Assessor Herrall Lekk, Fifth Level. What is the purpose of your unauthorized visit?" the being said with what could only be called a haughty tone. It looked unimpressed by the shiny visitors from space.

"We discovered your planet referenced in a ship's log from an Allsa Komanae raider ship. As a race, they were known for crimes against most other races they encountered. This ranged from the theft of system resources to genocide. We're here to offer a greeting as galactic neighbors, and if you are interested, we will offer you access to a Gate so you might join the community of the Gate Network," Tonka said politely.

"The Nareshk were not aware of the existence of the Allsa Komanae, nor have we had any dealings with them. We have no need of a Gate, nor do we desire to join this Network," Herrall stated categorically.

"I see. May I then infer that a fifth class Assessor in your society has the authority to handle first contact protocols and make decisions for the planet?" Tonka asked politely.

The being's expression became angry then smoothed away as it became aware of the scrutiny of the chrome armored beings surrounding them. It turned this neutral expression towards Tonka. "I will arrange a meeting between you and Assessor Dren Milo, First Level. Please remain here until the Assessor is available to see you." It turned to leave.

"What is your estimation for this waiting period?" Tonka asked.

The Assessor stopped and looked back in annoyance. "The Head Assessor is a very important and busy person. He will be available when he is available. Please recall that your visit was unscheduled and unsolicited."

"Understood. We'll wait for the meeting in geo-synchronous orbit. When ready, form another circle like this one, and we'll return." Without waiting for a response and ignoring the being's indignant sputtering, Tonka lifted into the sky with Eellooee close behind.

Once they were back where they'd begun their descent, they turned a lens towards the courtyard. The maximum zoom they had barely detected the gathering of chrome armored beings, but it was enough. The circle was breaking up as they dispersed.

"Has that ever happened before," Eellooee asked.

"Has what ever happened?" Tonka asked.

"I was expecting curiosity, interest, or excitement. Even fear or distrust would have been an expected response, but disdain?" the younger Tik said in surprise.

Tonka agreed that it was odd, but he'd seen it before. "If a race considers itself complete and the pinnacle of evolution, they often resent evidence to the contrary. Belief is a fragile thing. The stronger the belief, the more desperately people will cling to it, and the more resistant they may act towards those presenting opposing evidence."

Eellooee considered this for a moment. "Is that why we returned to space? Shouldn't we have demonstrated trust to assure them of our good intentions?"

Words rose unbidden from the new experiences in Tonka's mind. "Trust in Allah, but tie your camel," it said to its partner.

"What?" Eellooee exclaimed.

Tonka snorted at the surprise in its partner's voice. Then it realized the words weren't particularly well suited for this situation and wondered why they popped out at all. "Apologies. Some of the information in my recent download is leaking out as I haven't had time to digest it yet."

"Digest?" Eellooee remarked in puzzlement over the odd choice in words.

Tonka took a firmer control over its vocabulary. "I will use this time to integrate the information more completely. Please keep an optic on the meeting place and notify me when they gather again."

"Yes, Tonka."

The team leader heard the unease in Eellooee's voice, but there was little it could do to ease the other's mind outside of performing the data integration and being more vigilant about its treacherous tongue.

Tongue?

Tonka began to feel a little uneasy too.

Chapter 6

Rikki floated in space and pondered how this simple mission had become so complicated. All its team of Tik had to do was scan the gas giant below them for life as the nearby sun was exhibiting signs of destabilizing. That sounded simple enough.

Their discovery of a spacecraft parked in orbit over the planet's gravitational pole skewed the mission entirely. It had gone from finding potential lives to preserve to saving actual lives. The ship's propulsion engine was non-functional, and now it was trapped in the gravitational field of the gas giant.

Rikki sent Tootie and 1221 through a Gate to report their situation to the senior Tik on Chuuruthia. They took the dead bodies of 8809 and 4003 with them. They were to return with more Tik to assist with taking the enormous ship through a Gate. Rikki also needed to know which planet they were taking the Ishilon ship to orbit above.

While they waited for Tootie to return, Rikki brought all of the remaining Tik outside the ship. They measured the vessel by ringing it and creating a mesh of tight beam signals from each Tik to all of the others. As they moved in unison from tail to nose of the ship, they managed to get an accurate assessment of just how vast it was. While the others weren't experienced enough to know what this measurement meant in terms of its Gate requirements, Rikki hoped Tootie returned with many, many more Tik. The ship was more massive than anything they'd ever had to move through a gate.

"Rikki? Can you hear me?"

The Tik realized Sultessa Sahhahr, the leader of the Ishilon, was broadcasting to it from the ship. "Yes, I can hear you."

"One of my technicians picked up a strange reading from the sun. A distinct and significant change in output," she reported.

Rikki turned it's optics towards the sun and ran through an array of filters to measure the energy output. It froze when it saw the flare. It was larger than anything it had seen before. They'd missed the early warning signs?! Damn!

"All Tik to me! NOW!" it broadcast and moved to the tail end of the ship as quickly as possible. When it stopped and turned around, it could see the others rushing up the length of the vessel to join it.

"Sahhahr, are your ship's shields sufficient to protect against a Coronal Mass Ejection of this magnitude?" Rikki asked as it blurted a data package to the display inside the ship. There was silence for a moment, then quiet talking. Then she was speaking to Rikki once more.

"No. Not unless we shut down power to everything except the shielding. We can't do this because of the life support on the sleep chambers. The ship won't survive, and neither will we. Can you do anything?"

"One moment please," Rikki responded as it tracked the incoming Tik. It no longer had time to wait for Tootie to return with help. They had mere minutes before deadly waves of highly charged particles slammed into them. Conscious of the ramifications of its decision to take a shipload of refugees to an unsuspecting planet, it made a decision. "We're going to move the ship," it told Sahhahr then disconnected.

Rikki did a quick check on the team, and all were present.

"Due to the scale of the ship, I'll need all of you to assist with opening and maintaining a tethered Gate large enough to pass over the vessel. Understood?" Rikki asked the group as they gathered at the tail end of the colossal ark. It didn't share with them that they didn't have enough Tik to do this safely. It needed to be done.

"We've never maintained a tethered Gate before," 3334 stated for the group.

Rikki gazed at them, ever conscious of their limited time. "The only difference is you don't anchor the Gate to space coordinates. You anchor it to the tip of one of your tentacles. We move the Gate once it is activated. When the ship is through, we drop the tether and the Gate anchors there. Then we pass through ourselves and close it."

Rikki didn't bother checking on the progress of the sun's ejected coronal mass. It had to ignore all safety regulations and protocols as there was no choice. "I'll set the coordinates and activate the Gate. It's going to take a lot of energy to hold a Gate this large open and move it. You must not release the tether, so I will maintain your connections once tethered. You will feel a tremendous strain, but I will monitor your power levels. 3334, 2765, 9898, and I will position ourselves at the four corners. 3233, 4993, 7272, and 9101, you will each position yourselves at a midpoint between the corners."

Rikki's group rapidly moved outwards to form the four corners of the Gate. After the briefest of hesitations, the others took up position midway down each side. All were connected by a low power tight beam, to assist with maintaining their positions. They looked towards the planet to assure they had an unobstructed view without the ship extending beyond the borders of the Gate.

Rikki roughly estimated they were positioned sufficiently far apart, set the destination coordinates it'd chosen, and activated the Gate. A vast mirror snapped into place between them. Initially, it rippled oddly then went smooth. This was the largest Gate ever produced, and Rikki immediately felt the drain on all of the Tik. They would have to move quickly.

"We're going to move at double our normal speed for tethered Gates! Maintain signal lock with me and let me set the pace," Rikki broadcast. It felt their nervousness and fatigue.

As the ship was pointed nose first to the planet, they moved towards the surface in unison, pushing the vessel through the mirrored surface.

Inside the vessel, Sahhahr's technicians were watching the control boards to see if the Gate was causing any strain on the structural integrity or was affecting the ship's systems. They relaxed a little as they saw it didn't affect the vessel at all. One of the technicians was tracking the oncoming energy wave and shook his head to Sahhahr. At the current rate, they weren't going to make it.

As the Tik pushed forward approaching the front of the ship, the wispy leading edge of the energy wave began to hit the planet's magnetic field, and colors flared below them. The drain on their energy started to spike. 9101's levels suddenly dropped dangerously low, so Rikki untethered it and told it to go through. The remaining Tik immediately felt the additional load pull at them. "Fifty percent faster!" Rikki signaled them. It felt their dismay, but the speed increased as sparks began to leap between the Tik and the Gate.

Rikki felt each surge through its connection to the others and felt their pain, but it couldn't let them stop. Instead, it pushed harder. 4993 suddenly went limp, but Rikki was ready and immediately untethered it to cut the drain on it. Rikki sent a quick message blurt to 3233 to collect the unconscious 4993 before it went through.

The moment the ship's nose disappeared, Rikki released the others. "Get through now!"

The mirror locked in place as Rikki supported the vast Gate on its own. It felt its emergency reserves drain rapidly. The exhausted Tik rushed to pass through as the planet below them flashed brilliant and chaotic colors more intensely. 3233 and 4993 were the last two to get through before a wave of raw energy carved across the torsos of 3334 and Rikki.

Before the leader lost consciousness, it seized 3334 with a tentacle, pushed it through the mirror, and collapsed the Gate.

In its state of oblivion, it missed the torment of its torso burning on the opposite side by a second wave.

Chapter 7

Jack loved to throw Barbeque parties. There'd be music and dancing on the patio under the lights and stars. He'd serve drinks he'd found in his travels to other planets and some from Earth. Best of all, there was always great food!

He'd have two large grills going, one for vegetarians and one for meat-eaters. Separate tools were used for both, and there were no shared surfaces, which eliminated the possibility of cross-contamination.

Due to his ambassador training, he was sensitive to the natures, cultures, and dietary requirements of his guests.

This weekend's party was going to be his best yet! He'd been in touch with Tanz from Chrystan, and she was going to arrange for a large number of Skrahak steaks to be prepared for him and collect a few crates of delicious fresh vegetables from the hydroponic gardens in Boones Falls. He'd do an overnight visit to say hello to her and the royal couple and collect the food in the morning.

Another reason it was going to be especially enjoyable was the special dessert he was working on... if his Chuuruthian botanist and business partner, Wazzan, had success with his latest batch of their experiment.

He hadn't told anyone yet, but he'd hired a singer to come to play a short set at the party. Meagan Lane wasn't as big a celebrity now as she'd been when he first met her, the night he'd been abducted and spirited off to Allsa Komanae, but she still had an excellent voice and was backed by a great band. He was looking forward to seeing the surprise on his guest's faces.

While the party was occupying his attention, today, he was visiting Queen Elissa on Altaria. She hadn't told him what she needed to speak to him about, but he'd find out soon enough. He'd try to catch up with his kids while he was there.

He finished his breakfast and tidied up the kitchen as he listened to the faint sound of the wind chimes out on the patio. It was still very early, and most of the others were still asleep. He seemed to need less sleep these days.

Looking out the living room window, he admired the way the rising sun began the paint the cottage atop the hillside across the valley. It was a pretty little building.

Evenings, his place was painted by the colors of the sunset. One more way his place was perfect for parties. The sunsets on Chuuruthia were gorgeous!

He grabbed his jogging backpack and his runners as he made his way outside. Gee and Bal wouldn't be joining him on his trip to Altaria, so he thought he'd get in a little run. He'd get a shower when he got to the Queen's office. He had a change of clothes in his pack.

He sat in one of his patio chairs and laced up his shoes. They were beginning to feel a little tight due to the recent changes to his feet. He'd have to check in with his doctor to confirm the gene alteration was done.

Slipping on the running pack, Jack jogged down the hill, taking his time, letting his muscles warm up. By the time he reached the valley floor, he was able to stretch out his stride and let his muscles do their thing. Soon, he was loping along at a comfortable stride, eating up the distance between his home and the Gate Terminal. The wind pushed back his long black hair as the morning's first Ray's poked through the trees to warm his face, and he enjoyed the bliss. There weren't too many other souls up and out this early, and fewer still took the opportunity to run. Chuuruthian's had excellent metabolisms that naturally prevented obesity and maintained fitness. Lucky bastards.

Too soon, the Gate Terminal came into view as did the office complex tucked into the beautiful forested park. All buildings on Chuuruthia were lovingly integrated with their natural settings. Altaria did this as well but not to such an extreme degree. When Jack first moved to this planet, he often found himself hunting for the entrances to the office buildings.

The Altarian Trade Commission office was nearby, but he was officially on vacation, so he wasn't allowed to visit.

He jogged into the Gate Terminal and walked up to the agent at the counter. The female Chuuruthian at the terminal was new and young, as well. She was obviously stuck with a midweek overnight shift. It was one of the Tik's unbreakable rules. The personal Gates at the Terminals must be manned by live personnel. No automation or remote access allowed.

She looked pretty tired, but she livened up when he showed up.

"Mr. Danner! You're up early!" she said brightly.

"Just getting a jump on the day, and please call me Jack," he replied with a smile.

She preened as her whiskers trembled. "Destination?"

"Altaria, to visit the Queen," he replied.

"Ah, send her my regards," the young female teased.

Jack's smile widened. "I certainly will if you tell me your name."

The clerk's eyes went wide, and her jaw dropped open as Jack waited. Finally, she realized he seriously wanted her name. "Miccali," she squeaked out of her tight throat. She tapped some keys on her console. "Gate 1."

"Thank you, Miccali. I'll pass along your good wishes to the Queen when I see her. Have a lovely day!" Jack said with a wave as he turned to leave.

He smiled all the way to the Gate and passed through the mirror surface onto Altaria. He never stopped appreciating just how incredible this technology was.

He approached the agent's desk and was pleased to see a male Altarian working there. Likely working the unpopular overnight shift as well, but working none-the-less! The clerk's face split with a wide and thrilled grin.

"Ambassador Danner!" he exclaimed.

Jack gave him a surprised look. "I'm not-"

"You will always be Ambassador to us! You opened our eyes to our self-imposed inequality and showed the way for us to regain our dignity and purpose. We were meant to stand beside our females, not wallow in self-indulgence. We thank you for that!" the male gushed.

"Oh! Well, thanks!" Jack mumbled.

"I'm Thesson," the clerk said, thrusting a hand towards Jack, who gripped and shook as the male's smile widened. "I want you to know that we are behind young Alexander's efforts to revoke that law which banished you from living on Altarian soil. We've learned the Queen is unofficially behind our cause as well."

Jack smiled. His banishment had been going on for twelve years, yet these guys still held out hope.

"We want you reinstated to your rightful role as Ambassador as well!" Thesson asserted.

Jack grinned. "That's really nice of you... guys. How many are in your group?" he asked curiously.

"At last count, we were just four members away from ten thousand!" Thesson said with a thrilled smile.

Jack paused in surprise. He'd been expecting maybe twenty to thirty members, not ten thousand! "That's amazing! And you've all joined the workforce?"

Thesson nodded bashfully. "We don't have the training to take on positions of higher authority, but we're trying to be supportive members of society."

"That's awesome! Really! Anything you can do to make the lives of those around you a little better, that's what it's about! I'm very impressed and proud of all of you!" Jack gushed and vigorously shook Thesson's hand once more. The male looked so happy. Tears were coming to his eyes, so Jack released his grip. "I'm here to see the Queen, and I'll be sure to let her know how impressed I am with you and the group- does it have a name?"

"STAMPEDE, Stand Tall Altarian Males, Professional Employment Delivers Equality," Thesson said with pride.

Jack froze as his first impulse was to burst into laughter. Thesson didn't deserve the disrespect that laughter might imply. He called upon his rusty Ambassador skill set to bring an expression of pride to his face. "Queen Elissa is likely already aware of your efforts, but I'll definitely lend my backing to the group."

Thesson's eyes were visibly glassy now. "Th-th-thank you, Ambassador Danner! That means so much!"

Jack nodded, and with a wave, moved towards the exit before Thesson completely lost his composure.

He stepped outside and took a deep breath of the fresh air. He loved Altaria and missed living here. Dawn was arriving, and Jack smiled at the idea of being able to enjoy the magical time of day twice in one day. As the two planets had identical size and spin rates, the Chuuruthian Gate Terminal he'd entered was purposefully built where it was to closely match the time of day at the Altarian capital's Gate Terminal.

Jack knew he had a few hours before his meeting with Elissa, so he picked a direction and began to jog. He missed this too. Altaria had the most awesome path system! He jogged then picked up his pace until he fell into his comfortable rhythm once more. The path flew by under his feet as he enjoyed the scenery and the cool morning air. There was almost no one on the pathway, so for a bit, it felt like he had the planet to himself.

Soon enough, he heard the tell-tale buzz of groundskeepers working on the lush parkland he was running through. Coming around a corner, he spotted a group of seven Altarians working on a section of the garden. Two female workers were operating the heavier equipment as five males planted, trimmed, and gathered the trimmings. They all turned to watch as he approached, so he decided to stop to say hello. He was seriously interested in getting an impression of the new dynamic of an Altarian mixed-gender workforce.

He noted the males were all looking to the females who were likely to be senior in level. One female appeared to be much older than the other workers, so Jack slowed his run to a jog, then a walk, and stopped before her. She eyed his horns then looked him in the eye.

"Are you the one who killed my GowGow tree?" she asserted.

Jack's eyebrows rose. He remembered the event, but he had no idea anyone claimed the tree and held a grudge for its demise.

"Years ago, I accidentally knocked one down. I was running and had to leap off the trail to avoid hitting some... pedestrians. I collided with the tree instead. I'm terribly sorry, but it was an accident," he admitted.

The old female glanced at her male coworkers. "Maybe you should have hit the pedestrians instead." With a sniff, she went back to work.

The younger female was a lovely chocolate brown with cream-colored spots. She beamed an excited smile at Jack, so he smiled back. "Don't mind Wawnsa. She only likes plants. I'm Teelie," she said. Jack nodded and shook her hand. "This is my squad. Drann, Gretz, Hallison, Yuuta, and Jerrn." Each of the males excitedly stepped forward to shake his hand.

"It's great to see you guys working on the gardens! I'm very impressed!" Jack said, encouragingly. Teelie gave them a fond smile.

"We don't see you too often on Altaria anymore," she said.

Jack shrugged. "I broke an Altarian law, and my punishment was to never live on Altarian soil again. I'm following both the rule and the spirit of that law. I was asked to ensure the people knew I was no longer living here. That means no daily appearances. I restrict my visits to special occasions. That's the way it's been for twelve years, and I guess that's the way it will have to be for the rest of my life. Don't get me wrong. I love Altaria, and I can't get enough of running through these beautiful gardens and paths. I miss living here, and I miss the people too. Chuuruthia is amazing, and the people there are charming, but I fell in love with Altaria first. It will always hold a special place in my heart."

"Do you regret breaking the law?" Yuuta asked.

Jack looked to the young male's earnest expression and shook his head slowly. "No. I regret the necessity, but that wasn't in my control. Not only was my family at risk, but Altaria was too. I had to defend both. That meant stepping outside of the diplomatic arena. That lost me the honor of being Altaria's Ambassador. While I only played a token role in the revolution on Phem Kalos, my... interference with another planet's governing while being Ambassador broke Altarian law. When I returned to Altaria, I came back to face justice and accepted the judgment." He saw the next question on their lips. "Yes, I'd do it again."

They all smiled at him, so he felt at ease with asking them a question. "How did you fellas end up becoming a squad?"

It was Drann's turn to speak. "We applied for jobs with the Altarian Labor Minister. They've had to open a new office to find work for males like us. As we have no formal training nor the required scholastic record, we could only get maintenance work. I've heard others had success in more technical jobs because they got training before they applied. We're learning on the job."

"How do you like the work?" Jack asked.

Jerrn sighed. "I'm so tired by the end of the day, but I feel a strange sense of satisfaction when I look at the work we've done."

Jack grinned at him. "I had a landscaping job when I lived on Earth. It's hard work, but it's also an art. You're creating beauty."

Some of the males blinked at him then looked around. Soon they were all wearing satisfied smiles.

Jack felt the itch to get back to his run. "It was great talking to you. I'm going to be speaking with the Queen later today, and I'll be sure to let her know how impressed I was with the team!" He waved as they cheered, and then he was underway once more.

The path rushed by under the pounding of his feet as he let them guide him. His appointment with Elissa wasn't for some time yet, so he just enjoyed himself.

More people were out on the path system, and he had to keep his eyes open for those who weren't paying attention. More than a few Altarians waved happily at him, and he had to stop for one group of students who begged him for a photo. He picked up his pace after that, and fewer people tried to stop him.

When he finally became aware of his surroundings again, he realized he was close to Aaros' family home. She'd been renting it out to a family of Harruushans. Namely, Dann and Juul's family. He turned to run by the house to see if anyone was home. He knew they had a restaurant here on Altaria, which was more popular than the one they'd operated in Ghan, the capital city on Harruusha. He wasn't sure if they would have already headed off to work.

Dann wanted to get their mother off a planet that consumed its inhabitants with its barrage of energy from their sun. So far, this experiment was showing promising results. The matriarch was still going strong five years longer than what she could have expected on Harruusha.

Harruushan couples who conceived children on Altaria and its colony worlds were delighted to discover their litters were smaller, with a new range of two to four kits. None of the litters reached the previous maximum of ten kits. The extra energy of their home planet's sun seemed to enable the higher birthrate, but the normal levels of energy from the suns above their new homes had an immediate and beneficial impact.

Dann and Juul were still working as Harruushan Diplomats, and still working on finding additional planets willing to take the remaining population from Harruusha. After seeing how well the Harruushans blended into Altarian society, Queen Elissa accepted close to fifty million refugees who were spread out amongst dozens of planets of the Altarian Empire. More were planned, but there were almost 3 billion more on Harruusha who needed to find new homes. It was slow going, but the results they were experiencing on the Altarian planets made it easier to sell the idea of accepting refugees. Where their birthrate on the home planet frightened off prospective hosts, now that threat was eased.

Jack also knew the Tik were working on finding suitable planets for them by scouring their records and ramping up their scans for gravity wells in space.

The race of mechanical beings was also working on a proposal to repurpose the Allsa Komanae homeworld and Allsa One to house the races the Allsa Komanae displaced or otherwise harmed.

To date, these two planets remained off-limits to the Tik and everyone not on the research teams. There was more than a little suspicion amongst the other members of the Gate Network that the research team had completed their work years ago but were maintaining exclusive access for their own purposes.

Jack jogged up to the front door of the home and pressed the button to announce himself. Moments later, the little screen next to the door lit up with an image of Juul. She was home, at least.

"Eeeeeee!" she squealed excitedly, and the screen went dark.

Jack blinked at the screen and wondered if he should press the button again. Suddenly, the front door flew open, and Juul leaped out to crush herself against his body. She nuzzled his neck then kissed him almost feverishly.

"Juul! I'm all sweaty from running!" he managed when he pulled back from the kiss. He recalled her visit to his place a week ago with her brother. Juul had been extra affectionate that night, as well.

"I like it!" she giggled, green eyes flashing with delight. She kissed Jack's forehead as she was taller than him.

Dann arrived and smiled at Jack. "Sorry about my clingy sister. Is, uh, Diana isn't here, is she?"

Jack barely managed to contain a snort. "No, she's at home. I just came to Altaria as I have an appointment with the Queen. I had some time, so I thought I'd go for a run. Then I happened to find myself in your neighborhood."

Juul made an odd surprised sound, and her smile dropped away, and she stiffly stepped back from Jack. Dann looked to her cautiously. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she said tersely, then looked past Jack to see a taxi landing in the driveway. "Our ride. We have to go."

Jack's eyebrows went up at Juul's abrupt mood change. He looked to Dann, but the brother was being dragged away by his sister. The tall Harruushan flashed Jack an apologetic smile as he was pulled into the taxi. It rose and accelerated away at high velocity. Odd!

Abandoned at the front door, Jack watched the siblings disappear then turned to face a smaller version of Dann standing in the doorway. Maybe a brother or cousin. Jack was about to say hello when the door closed.

Such a weird encounter. He'd have to speak to Juul when she returned to see if it was anything he said or did.

Jack walked out to the pathway and began again but adjusted his course to take him back towards the core of the city. He still had time, but his visit with Juul made him feel a little off. He just wanted to meet with Elissa and maybe talk it over with her. Perhaps she would see him early.

Then he wanted to go back home to his family.

The run back to the Queen's office building didn't take too long, though the route was much busier with the morning commute. He heard a lot of excited chatter and calls of support as he wove his way through them.

He entered the grounds through the guarded side entrance after he showed his ID. He thought it funny to need ID when his horns were enough of a give-away.

When he exited the side corridor into the central courtyard, he saw a large group of young Altarians on the other side of a large fence. They were chanting something but exploded into cheers as Jack slowed to look at them. He'd never seen so many male Altarians in one place! The majority was still female, but this was a lot of males!

He waved, and the noise increased. He couldn't get over how loud they were. Turning back towards the steps leading into the building, he climbed to the landing and smiled at several stern-faced security officers, guarding the doors. He thought he heard something familiar, so he turned back to the gates and froze as he could now see thousands of young Altarians filling a sizeable outdoor space beyond the fence. He stood in shock as he spotted his sons Alex and Max and his daughter Gwen in the front row. He rushed down the steps and crossed the short distance to speak with them through the bars.

"What's all this?" he asked Alex, who was grinning widely.

"You couldn't have timed your speech better!" the young male grinned.

He shook his head then dipped forward to kiss Gwen's cheek through the bars and shook the hands of his sons. "What speech?"

"You spoke to some gardeners this morning. One of them recorded your words and sent the recording to several news outlets. It's gone viral! I took advantage of the upswell of interest in your case, and Max and Gwen sent out old school flash mob invitations to several popular message boards." He gestured to the huge crowd behind them. "I submitted my bill to the court demanding they institute a period of limitation on the penalty for the law you broke. Ten years. If we can't get the law removed from the books, we can at least demand an adjustment of its term."

"I'll keep my fingers crossed for that!" Jack said with a grin.

He glanced at the doorway and saw Elissa's secretary, Marina, gesturing to him with a cross look on her face. Uh oh. He smiled at his kids. "It was great seeing you three. Are you coming to the barbeque party this weekend?"

"Yes!" they all chimed in with smiles.

"Great! See you then!" Jack turned and rushed back to the stairs and climbed to the top. He stopped to look back at the crowd who roared another cheer. He waved to them and blew them a kiss. The volume increased, and Jack laughed happily. Altarians could always surprise him. Typically such a quiet and civil group, there was hidden passion there.

He went inside, and the secretary took one look at his sweaty body and pushed him towards the washrooms. He closed the door, stripped out of his running gear, and took a quick shower. Once he was dry, he slipped on his clean clothes from the backpack and stuffed his running gear inside. He slipped on his sandals from the bag and left the washroom to follow the secretary to see Elissa.

"Will she be able to see me early?" Jack asked.

"Early? You're her only appointment this morning due to your interview!" the female griped.

Jack gave her a cautious look. "Interview?"

"Your little radio stunt with that group of Stampeders! Then Alexander followed up by submitting his bill, and Elissa's children spread the news of it on every social media channel. Everyone is talking about it! There's talk of a general strike if the bill doesn't get accepted. Now the Queen has to cancel her meetings and deal with this!" the female exclaimed.

"Oh."

Marina sent him an exasperated look. "Yes, oh." She ushered him into the large corner office and shut the door behind herself.

Elissa was speaking to someone, so Jack remained quiet. Something Marina just said finally trickled into his brain. She said Stampeders when referring to the groundskeepers. They hadn't mentioned affiliation with the group, but he supposed one or more of them must have been, maybe all of them. As Marina was aware of their name, it seemed they were having some impact on society.

Thinking a little deeper on this, he realized that if the bill managed to pass, these Stampeders could claim to have made it possible, being the instigators. That would give them even more clout in society. The name would have gravitas! He wondered if Alexander was a member of the group! And Max!

"Never a dull moment, but that's what I've come to expect from the man I love."

Jack came back to the moment at the sound of Elissa's voice. He smiled at her as she came around her desk to get a hug.

He pulled her into his arms, and she seemed to melt to fit perfectly against his body.

"Mmmm! You're so warm this morning!" she sighed with happiness.

"Oh! Well, I've been out running for hours," he suggested.

She pulled back to look him in the eye. "Running. That's all you've been doing?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

He smiled self-consciously. "OK, I stopped to talk to a group of male groundskeepers. I wanted to see how they were integrating with the workforce. Oh, before I forget. A sweet Chuuruthian Gate Terminal worker named Miccali sends her regards, and an Altarian Gate Terminal operator named Thesson also sends his regards." Elissa's eyes twinkled with delight. Jack continued. "Thesson said he was part of a group called STAMPEDE. Hilarious name, but I've never heard of them. How have I never heard of them?"

Elissa frowned slightly. "Because we banished you from the planet."

He sighed with fake anguish. "Ah, yes. There is that."

At her quiet gasp, he pulled her closer as she made gentle sounds of protest. He chuckled. "I'm teasing! I know you had no choice, and I don't hold grudges. I love you!"

She pouted as she looked him in the eye once more. "Your children must love you too as they are causing quite a noise over this."

"You know how much I love them!" Jack said, fondly. She nodded with a smile.

Elissa sighed and pulled back from Jack. "I'm going to have to call an emergency session for the government ministers because of the threat of a general strike. The Empire is a complex machine that needs all of its parts moving in unison to keep it from grinding to a halt. A general strike would be extremely costly." She looked at Jack, but he was just smiling.

"It could happen this time," he said with a strange glow in his eyes.

She nodded and bit her lip, struggling to contain her excitement.

He rescued that lip by kissing her passionately. She moaned into the kiss and grabbed his ass with both hands. He almost snorted in amusement but moved Elissa to her couch instead.

He had a Queen to take to Heaven and back.

In their passion, he completely forgot to ask her what she originally wanted to speak to him about.

Chapter 8

Tonka came out of his meditation, feeling a gentle tap on his shoulder- shell! He frowned to himself then sighed as he had no face to frown with. Then he- it realized it was thinking of itself as a male. That was a little concerning!

The new experience file with all of Jack Danner's experiences and sensations was still giving it issues. Maybe even more so, now that it'd had time to integrate the file entirely. The perceptions were too intense and threatened to overwrite its Tik reality. It'd have to speak with the Tik elders after this mission.

It turned its optic to Eellooee and saw the Tik gesture down towards the planet.

"They're back?" Tonka said as it checked its internal clock. Another day had passed. Huh. "Shall we go see if they are ready to speak?"

"Are you operating at full capacity?" its partner asked.

Tonka stopped to examine Eellooee. "Have I done something to give you the impression that this is not the case?"

Eellooee hesitated. "During the file integration, you transmitted... sounds. Sounds I've never heard a Tik make."

Tonka tried to recall what that might have been. During integrations, short term internal memory was disabled to prevent the confusion of recording the memory of recording a memory. It was an unpleasant feedback effect. "What did it sound like?"

"I know it's not possible, but it sounded like a biological creature experiencing sexual intercourse," Eellooee said incredulously.

Tonka flashed to a memory.

He felt gentle fingers touch his lips, and his eyes opened. There was Diana, reclining next to him, pushed up on one elbow gazing down into his eyes, with love in hers. She flipped her ebony hair back over her shoulder as a smile slipped onto her lovely lips. She leaned over him and kissed him tenderly.

Tonka snapped back to the present, and time seemed to have frozen at that moment. "I'm fully functional," it stated with a carefully modulated voice. It saw Eellooee begin to relax. "Let's see what they're up to." They started their descent.

Internally, Tonka was deeply shaken. It knew what romantic love felt like between biological lifeforms. He- it felt the rich emotions himself for Diana. Tonka was surprised by the intense need he felt when he thought of her. Love, desire, and LUST! Woo! That last one was spicy! Better to concentrate on love.

Jack was a man who loved strongly and widely. There were many he loved.

They were getting closer, so Tonka pushed his memories into the background and put on his game face. He sighed. He needed to speak with the elders. No! It needed... it, not he!

The chrome guards were there again, circling the same section of the courtyard. Just inside this circle, two white garbed being stood waiting for them.

Tonka and Eellooee slowed their descent and hovered at head height to face the new officials. Assessor Herrall Lekk, Fifth Level, was not one of the two similarly dressed beings.

While both were grey-furred, one gave the distinct impression of age. Tonka made the intuitive leap. "I am Tonka, and this is Eellooee. We are Tik, an independent and sentient race of mechanical beings. We seek life to ensure it is preserved and protected. Am I addressing Assessor Dren Milo, First Level?" it asked, facing the elder.

The being bowed and gestured to its younger companion. "I am. This is Assessor Makrus Relius, Ninth Level."

The Tik dipped forward to emulate the bows they received.

"I must begin by notifying you that I demoted Assessor Herrall Lekk to Sixth Level. How he reacted to your presence reflected poorly upon the Nareshk," Dren Milo stated with a grim look on his face.

Tonka bowed once more. It was picking up cues that the two Assessors were male. It gestured with a tentacle toward the chrome guards. "Are these beings Assessors as well?"

Dren smiled indulgently. "No, these are members of the Balance. They are charged with ensuring the citizenry follows the Code of the Righteous, always striving to advance themselves through the ninety-nine base levels to become one of the Balance. Before they can become an Assessor, they must work their way up through the nine levels of the Balance to become a ninth level Assessor. Makrus just became an Assessor a few days ago. He's risen through the ranks quickly with no demerit points at all! We've never seen such a perfect example of a model citizen! Remarkable!"

Makrus was modestly smiling though Tonka thought there might be a little smugness as well. He seemed especially proud of his perfect score.

Tonka was picking up an odd vibe from Dren, as well. While the senior Assessor said he was impressed with the other's perfect score, there seemed to be some tension in the older being that the younger one was oblivious to.

"When I interviewed Lekk, he mentioned you found our planet based on coordinates written in a space-faring ship's log?" Dren asked.

"Yes, the Allsa Komanae had raider ships they would use to hunt through space. They would steal resources from planets, moons, and sometimes they would steal citizens of those worlds. Perhaps they took some from here?" Tonka suggested.

Dren then made a strange noise. It was a cross between a cough and a honk. Tonka watched the senior in surprise as a memory pushed itself to the front of its mind. He went still.

"That's quite impossible," Makrus said quietly as his superior continued to laugh. Dren gestured for Makrus to continue explaining. With a nod, he did.

"Every citizen is registered at birth. They are vigilantly tracked throughout their lives, tallying their merits and demerits to assess where they are in the rankings of the Code of the Righteous. Under normal circumstances, every citizen undergoes an annual assessment to determine if they've advanced to the next level. As there is a reward for advancing, citizens are encouraged to track their merits and apply for an assessment early. If they pass the interview, they may advance. If they don't pass and it's determined that they are abusing the Code of the Righteous, penalties are levied. There are no Nareshk citizens we aren't aware of, and none can simply go missing."

Eellooee looked at his frozen partner and asked the next obvious question. "Please pardon my ignorance, but what about accidental deaths or those caused by criminal activities?" it asked, and both Assessors smiled.

"Accidental deaths are extremely rare, and in those cases, the bodies are always found. Rarer still is crime. Citizens found to be chronic demerit collectors are terminated to prevent that infection from spreading. This is one of the duties of the Balance," Dren explained. "None of our citizens has gone unaccounted for. These Allsa Komanae couldn't have stolen one of our people-"

"There was one!" Tonka blurted as it came out of its daze. The senior Assessor's laugh had triggered a cascade of memories from Jack Danner's experiences. When Tonka visually examined the beings before him and linked in the honking exclamation, he had to conclude they were as close a match as the Tik had ever found for Eve, Jack Danner's partner from the Allsa Komanae homeworld.

Dren frowned at Tonka. "We just explained the impossibility-"

"My apologies. I don't have a perfect image of the being in question, but we know she was abducted at a very early age. She spent the entirety of her life as a slave on the Allsa Komanae homeworld, but we couldn't match her to any known race. She bears a very strong resemblance to your race, including how you sound. Let me project the image I do have.

Tonka pulled up the memory and captured two stills. One was of her entire body, and the other was just her face. Unsure if there were sexual taboos involved, it blurred out the breast and groin areas on the full-body image.

It projected the images on the white stone of the courtyard. The two Assessors leaned forward to peer at them. They shared a troubled look then Dren turned its attention back to the Tik.

"This being bears a strong resemblance to our race, but a face to face meeting would be required to confirm it. We would have to match its DNA to ours, and if it was one of our race, we could identify its parentage," Dren suggested skeptically.

Tonka suddenly realized it wasn't sure if Eve even wanted this. It had gotten caught up in the excitement of a mystery the Tik had been tasked to resolve. "I will convey this to her to see if she is willing."

The two Assessors looked at the Tik in confusion. Tonka decided to move forward with the standard first contact protocol process. "Aside from the Allsa Komanae, which you've indicated you were not aware of, have you encountered any other races?"

Dren made a sharp cutting gesture. "Your arrival in our skies was our first encounter with life from beyond our world." The senior looked upwards. "Is your vessel in space above us with others of your kind?"

"No, the Tik don't require spacecraft to travel from planet to planet," Tonka explained.

"Then, you're able to navigate through space with your mechanical bodies? That's quite the feat," Makrus exclaimed.

"We don't travel through space. We're able to open Gates that allow us to move directly from the surface of one planet to another instantly. The Tik are the only ones with the ability to do this. Before you can make use of this technology, you must apply for access to the Gate Network. As part of the application, you'll be asked to follow a set of conventions for peaceful coexistence with the other races of the Gate Network. If you agree to follow these conventions and your application is accepted, your planet will be granted one or more Gate Terminals. The Tik manage the Gate Network and operate the Cargo Gates in the Terminals. You will be expected to provide personnel to operate the Personal Gates. You will set your planet's policy on acceptable visitors, and this policy will be sent to every other Gate Terminal so they will be aware of the policy. The Tik ensure the Gates are not used for military purposes. They are for trade and personal use only," Tonka explained.

"We could restrict the Gates not to allow anyone on our planet?" Dren asked.

Eellooee was a little surprised by that. "Yes, you could, but if you do, you will find no other planet will accept visitors from yours."

"So how many planets do these Gates connect to?" Makrus asked.

"Thousands," Tonka said. "You don't have to decide now. We're just here to make the offer now that we're aware of your existence. You can set a time interval for us to leave and return to learn your answer then. You can also refuse now and set a time interval for us to return to see if you've reconsidered. No one is forced to join the Gate Network. If you don't feel it offers you value, then you don't need to join. The Tik believe in distributed populations to ensure survival, but we won't attempt to force it upon anyone."

Dren looked to the younger Assessor. "There is still the matter of the potentially stolen citizen. It is a matter of honor and righteousness to ensure every member of our race is protected by the Code."

Makrus nodded with a flare of conviction on his face. "It must be done."

Dren smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I can think of no one else I'd trust to do this." Makrus puffed up with pride.

Tonka felt uneasy about his attitude but acknowledged it was its fault in mentioning Eve. "I will immediately bring the matter to her attention and present her with your offer to confirm her identity."

Dren seemed dissatisfied with this but nodded. Makrus looked a little upset he wasn't going to meet her right now.

"How much time would you like before we return?" Tonka asked.

"Four days," Dren said with no hesitation.

"Until then," Tonka said and tight beamed instructions to Eellooee. A small Gate snapped into being behind them, and the younger Tik went through immediately, followed by Tonka, who collapsed the Gate behind itself.

Eellooee looked around and saw they were on Chuuruthia. It relaxed. "I believe we should first go to speak to the elders. Your behavior on this mission has been erratic, and I'm concerned. Something in the data file you integrated has resulted in odd behavior."

Tonka found himself- itself hesitant to return to the Tik headquarters. It was highly likely the mission would be assigned to another Tik. He- it was the one who divulged the existence of Eve to the Nareshk. He had to speak to Eve himself. To apologize and set things straight. He looked to Eellooee. "Agreed. Our participation in this mission is over. It will be handed off to other Tik to complete. Please report to the Tik Enclave to submit your mission report. I will join you there." He immediately left and flew in the direction of the Trade Commission office. He heard a brief exclamation from Eellooee then the other Tik flew off towards the Enclave. Tonka wasn't sure how much time he would have to speak with Eve before Eellooee's report triggered a response from the Elders to seek him out. He knew where Eve was, so he altered his course and accelerated to give himself time to speak.

He reached the park and slowed as he flew over the pond and followed the slope up to the Eastern peak. Jack's home was here. When he reached the front door, he hesitated as he was experiencing a strange sensation of déjà vu. He reached out a tentacle and pressed the announce button. Moments later, a voice called out.

"Hello? Who is it?"

Tonka gasped as Diana's voice strummed across his heart.

"Hello?"

"A-apologies. My name is Tonka. I'm a Tik, and I have information on a possible location of Eve's home planet."

"What?!?"

Tonka sighed as that was Eve's voice!

The intercom went quiet, and moments later, the door pushed open to show the two females standing in the doorway. If Tonka had a jaw it would have dropped as he stared in wonder at the two beauties. He could see it now. They were practically glowing with loveliness.

"Please come in," Eve offered and stood aside.

Tonka moved into the home, and Diana smiled at him. He swooned slightly, dipping as his senses wobbled.

"Are you ok?" Diana asked gently.

"Yes, my apologies. It was... a busy day." Tonka felt silly using that excuse, but the taller woman seemed to accept the answer immediately.

Eve led them into the living room and set up three chairs by the window facing the valley. The late afternoon sun was beginning to poke inside the window, so the glass was tuned to cut out the heat and some of the brightness. They settled in.

Tonka allowed himself a moment to gaze upon the two females. Then he got to business.

"Yes, right. My partner and I were tasked with investigating coordinates found in an Allsa Komanae raider ship's log. We found a planet in the neutral zone between the Jool and Qui Qui Qui territories. It's a single habitable planet orbiting around a yellow sun with moderate radiation. The inhabitants showed no signs of space travel but had launched communication satellites. We went down to the surface to make first contact and found a race of beings who look like this."

Tonka projected the much clearer images he'd taken of Dren and Makrus.

Eve gasped, and her eyes went wide. These two looked like her. It was the first time she'd ever seen anyone whose appearance matched hers.

"They have offered to test your DNA to confirm if you are a member of their race and to confirm your parentage. They keep extensive records on all of their citizens," Tonka offered but something in how he said it must have caught Diana's ear.

"How extensive? Invasive?" she asked.

Tonka was momentarily lost in her green eyes then returned to the moment. "I don't know if I'm qualified to classify it as invasive. Their society appears to be based on a point system with tiered ranks. Ninety-nine base levels all citizens from birth must traverse to rise in social standing, nine levels where you maintain the safety and security of their society and enforce something called the Code of the Righteous, then a final nine levels where your task is to assess the rest of society to ensure they are following the Code."

"Doesn't that make you feel all warm and fuzzy," Diana remarked with a grim expression.

"It certainly raised some red flags for me," Eve agreed. She looked at the Tik, which seemed to be swaying ever so slightly. "Are you certain you're ok, Tonka?"

"Huh? Yes! Yes, I'm well. Thank you!" the Tik answered quickly. "I am, or was, to go back in four days to get their answer on whether or not they will be applying for entry into the Gate Network. I indicated to them I would ask you if you were interested in confirming your genetic match."

"Why wouldn't you be going back, Tonka?" Diana asked quietly.

"Um, reasons."

Diana reached out a finger and ran it down the side of the Tik's chassis as Eve watched in surprise.

Tonka made a noise like a quick intake of breath then sighed as her finger traced its way down its side. Diana leaned closer to the Tik. "You've been given Jack's memories, haven't you," she purred breathily, her lips almost touching its chassis.

"I- I can- I can neither confirm nor deny this happened." The non-disclosure rule, which prevented Tonka from discussing the file with anyone but Jack, was firmly in place.

Wide-eyed, Eve reached out a hand and placed it on Tonka's other side.

"Oh! Oh my!" Tonka gasped as pleasure rushed through its mind.

Eve looked at Diana. "What's going on?"

"Jack shared his memories with the Tik somehow. We're in there. I thought it was only with Ray, but it seems those memories are making the rounds." Diana dropped back into her chair with an angry thump as Eve leaned back into hers more slowly.

Tonka looked between the two and saw their upset. "It is the nature of Tik to distribute valuable information amongst our population." It reached out two tentacles to gently touch their hands. "The true perceptions of a completely alien race, its thoughts, emotions, and sensations, such information would be... treasured beyond any other. I'm unable to confirm or deny, not out of deception, but out of respect. A promise of privacy would have been made while allowing the Tik... to be Tik." Tonka felt like it was treading on thin ice, as the saying went.

"Honey, I'm home!" a voice called out from the front door.

The group turned to see Jack walk into the archway. He smiled in confusion at their returned gaze then noted the hand holding. His smile became concern.

"I- we- he loves you both so much," Tonka managed to whisper then began to tremble.

He broke the agreement! Did he? Tonka's mind was flashing warnings. Something was very wrong. Then he slipped off the chair and hit the floor with a mighty thud.

Stand-by.

Chapter 9

Sultessa Sahhahr, leader of the last remaining Ishilon, paced the corridor outside of her ship's sickbay until her Chief Medical Officer joined her.

"Chena! Is it dead?" she asked sharply.

"According to its underlings, no. They are worried about its mind, though. The radiation shielding they have is extensive, but it was exposed to unknown levels," the smaller male reported.

They were joined in the corridor by her military commander, Lorrem. He looked grim. She turned to him.

"Why are the others not opening one of their Gates to take their fallen leader to their repair facility?" she asked in frustration.

Lorrem nodded. "They state that they are forbidden to open one in our presence without a functional senior Tik present."

Cowl flaring, Sahhahr moved down the corridor towards the command center. Lorrem followed a safe distance behind.

Once they reached the chamber, she looked to the large display which currently showed the planet below them — a massive ball of snow and ice. There couldn't be a more inhospitable environment for the Ishilon, who needed a much hotter climate to function. Why the injured Tik brought them here was unknown.

That said, she was deeply grateful that it had taken such a risk to move the ship out of the path of the flare. In the ship's current state, they couldn't have moved on their own, and the energy wave would have extinguished the lives of her people. She had to keep them alive! She had to find them purpose again!

Looking across the room, she saw the two engineers currently reviewing all systems to see if they could get the ship functioning once more.

Her eyes were drawn to the big display; she looked at the snowy planet again and considered the fact that even if they could get the ship going, they had nowhere to go.

Their mission had been to hunt down the Mahrell Drun, terminate every last Prime, or die trying. That was their grand purpose. When they realized their homeworld was gone and the colony was dying, her people demanded vengeance. They made a pact, and every remaining soul worked to make it happen. They'd used their remaining resources to escape their ruined colony world. This escape was only possible at the expense of so many lives.

Their ship was the pinnacle of their technology. Its control systems were completely automated. The engines were powerful yet left no energy signature to be tracked. The skin was covered in stealth armor, which also fed the ship energy. Everything was going according to the pact... until it didn't.

From their ship's log, they determined that while they slept, their ship detected the approach of a collection of battleships from the race which destroyed the Ishilon homeworld. They were likely headed for the Ishilon colony to finish the job. The automated flight control systems moved the ship into the gas giant's polar magnetic field to hide it from the sensors of the enemy ships. Then it powered down all systems except for life support, the energy collectors in the ship's skin, and the detection systems. The last one didn't take into account the strength of the magnetic field, so it never got the signal that the other ships had moved on.

So, there they slept for over seven thousand cekt.

They were arrogant in their belief in the infallibility of their technology. It was inconceivable for their ship to not do exactly what they designed it to do. Truthfully, it'd kept up its side of the bargain. The error was the instructions they gave it didn't take into account all of the possibilities. So they paid the price for that pride.

Sahhahr was also aware that the price could have been much higher. Their current state: they were alive, but their enemy, their sole purpose, was dead. The people they brought on the ship were all warriors and their direct support teams. The other side of their society, the artists, teachers, philosophers, scientists, politicians, farmers, and others all remained behind on the collapsing colony world. They might have had... maybe five years at most before the planet split into fragments, and all life was extinguished. The fleet of battleships on their way to the colony likely shortened that deadline considerably.

She shook her head to free it of those grim images.

She felt the silent hum of two Tik entering the chamber and turned to face them. The one dragging the limp and scorched tentacle was 2765 if she recalled its designation correctly. The other one was 9898, which was unscathed. 2765 lost the use of its tentacle shortly after the large Gate closed. It and 9898 opened a new, smaller Gate. 2765 reached through to snag Rikki and pull it through the Gate. Its tentacle was scorched, and it had to disable it to cut off the pain.

"Should we all hide in a different room while you move your leader to a planet with a repair facility?" she snapped, then felt immediately contrite.

"That won't be necessary. The planet below has a Gate Terminal. We will transport Rikki to the surface and use that means to return to Chuuruthia," 9898 replied without acknowledging her sharp tone.

"What about us? Our ship is still disabled, and we cannot survive the temperatures on the surface of the planet!" Sahhahr asked.

"The Tik which will travel to the surface will take Rikki and the other injured Tik to Chuuruthia. A senior-level Tik will return here to take over the mission. I will remain here as I can communicate with the surface." 9898 turned to 2765 momentarily, and the injured Tik left the chamber.

"Is there someone to communicate with on the surface?" Sahhahr asked as she looked at the screen again. She couldn't imagine the creatures that would prefer this climate.

"Yes! There are approximately 750 million Shreen on Chrystan. While they can easily survive on the surface, they make their homes underground."

Sahhahr perked up. "Is it warmer inside?"

9898 hesitated. "Warmer, yes, but still very cool compared to this room, for instance. Using the temperature water freezes as the baseline and this room as an example of your preferred temperature, the average ambient temperature of the Shreen cities is roughly half as warm as this room.

Sahhahr shuddered as her grim look returned. "Why did Rikki bring us here?" she muttered.

"Perhaps it was because it had to choose quickly, it had no permission to take a ship full of refugees anywhere, and it understood you would not find this world appealing if your true intention was to invade," 9898 offered.

Sahhahr blinked at the blunt honesty but acknowledged the point.

"Besides, the Shreen are a peaceful and courteous race who don't leave the planet's surface, so there was little chance you and they would come into contact. I believe Rikki's quick selection was as optimal as it could have been," 9898 suggested.

"We are indebted to Rikki for its rescue. That said, we have no intention of invading any world." She looked to Lorrem and frowned. "We have much to discuss regarding our future."

"We must meet the destroyer of our enemy," Lorrem stated firmly.

"Jack," Sahhahr said with a nod.

9898 was a little uncomfortable with their intensity. It worried about what these beings wanted with Mr. Danner.

An Ishilon engineer working one of the consoles turned his face back towards them. "Sultessa! I have a signal coming from the surface. It appears to be roughly directed towards us. There is audio, but I don't know what they are saying.

"Let's hear it," Sahhahr said.

"Hello? Hello up there? Can you hear me? We witnessed the appearance of an enormous Gate, so we assume someone is up there with Tik."

All Ishilon personnel on the bridge turned their heads towards 9898 as the Shreen was speaking Universal, which they couldn't understand. 9898 looked to Sahhahr. "The surface is saying Hello and is asking if we can hear them. They spotted the Gate, which must have looked like a sudden flash of reflected planetary light. The signal is weak, so I assume they are using their radio wave transmitter. Can you respond using the same frequency modulation?" The Engineer examined the signal and made some adjustments then nodded.

9898 looked to Sahhahr. "I've prepared the matrix for the lexicon you provided to me earlier. May I upload it to your system?" The leader gestured for it to proceed. The Ishilon Engineer began integrating the file as 9898 turned back to Sahhahr. "May I respond?" She nodded. The Engineer activated the mic.

"This is Tik 9898 responding from the Ishilon ship in orbit. We hear you." It then translated what it said for those in the chamber. The Engineer nodded to his Sultessa, and the next transmission came through in Ishilon.

"This is King Tyg in Elleltris. What is the purpose of your visit to our world?" the King asked politely.

The Tik looked at the Sultessa and gestured with a tentacle for her to speak. "Greetings, this is Sultessa Sahhahr Tessahr, leader of the Ishilon. The Tik has made it possible for me to speak directly to you. Our ship is damaged, the Tik found us and brought us here to avoid a sudden solar flare which would have extinguished all of our lives. We will depart the moment the Tik seniors arrive and determine where they will take us."

There was silence for a time. Sahhahr looked to 9898 and was about to ask if the transaction matrix worked both ways when the speaker popped once more.

"Would you like to come down for an informal get together while you wait on the Tik Seniors?"

The Tik saw the Ishilon's surprise. "The Shreen are very friendly and gracious people." A chuckle could be heard over the speaker.

Sahhahr addressed the King once more. "Unfortunately, the Ishilon require a much warmer environment to function. I've been told that the temperature you use in your city is half the temperature we use. We'd slip into a hibernation state then perish."

"Hmmm... you're in a spaceship? Do you have spacesuits for spacewalks?" Tyg asked. Light laughter was heard in the background then a female voice came through the speakers.

"Tyg! You've been reading too many of those vintage Science Fiction stories Jack sent to you!" the Queen gently chastised her husband.

Sahhahr stiffened when she heard the name. "Jack? Do you mean Jack Danner? The one responsible for defeating the Mahrell Drun and the Allsa Komanae?"

"Oh! Hello, this is Queen Lyn. Yes, that Jack. Do you know him?" she asked happily.

"We haven't had the pleasure yet, but we very much need to talk with him," Sahhahr replied as she looked to Lorrem, who nodded gravely. 9898 watched them nervously.

"This is most fortuitous timing as Jack will be coming to visit us tomorrow!" Tyg exclaimed.

"Do we have one of these Spacewalk suits?" Sahhahr asked her people urgently.

"There are emergency evacuation suits, but they're not meant for extended use. How will we avoid the cold temperatures in their city?" Lorrem asked.

"That won't be a problem as the palace has guest suites and meeting rooms with augmented heating. They can be set to levels we might find quite hot. We added that for Jack's family members, who also don't like the cold. Jack doesn't seem to mind," Tyg explained.

"That's because his body gives off so much heat!" Lyn said with a chuckle which Tyg picked up. The Ishilon shared another surprised look.

9898 was lost. It couldn't grasp something important about the conversation. "This is 9898, could you explain that last statement?" There were more chuckles from the royal couple.

"The Shreen family unit is the most important aspect of our society. One of the traditions we have is the sleeping pit. All members share this pit with the warmest member on the bottom, sharing their heat upwards. Being the warm one is one of our greatest compliments. Jack is the warmest person we've ever shared a pit with," Lyn explained.

Sahhahr looked to the large display showing the huge expanse of snow and ice. She understood the importance of warmth, and it would be even more critical in such an environment. "Our societies seem to share some things in common. The sharing of heat and communal sleeping pits are required by my people, as well."

9898 received an incoming signal then a message blurt. It was stunned to learn the new arrivals were the Elders from Chuuruthia, Socrates and Plato. It waved a tentacle to catch the attention of the Ishilon. "Excuse me, please. The senior Tik have arrived. They are requesting permission to open a Gate from the surface directly inside the ship. They are old and do not enjoy the cold of space."

Sahhahr was not pleased, and her cowl began to open. "They are here to move us to a different location already?"

"That was the intent-" the young Tik began.

"No! We must speak with the Shreen King and Queen. Then we must speak with Jack Danner. He will be on the planet below within a day, so we must wait until then," she insisted.

9898 paused. "I will pass that request along." Sahhahr's cowl flared all the way open as she stared down the Tik. It sent the message back to the Elders. After a pause, a response came back. "The senior Tik still wish to meet with you to discuss the Mahrell Drun."

"Then we will meet on the planet's surface," she insisted.

"I will ask for permission to leave the ship-" 9898 began.

"So, you were keeping us prisoner on our ship!" Sahhahr snapped.

"You certainly have our permission to come to visit," Tyg said over the speaker, obviously still listening in.

Sahhahr calmed a little, hearing the kind voice. "Thank you. We accept your gracious invitation. If the Tik can open a Gate from the surface to our ship, then we don't need Spacewalk suits at all. If the meeting room can be warmed to a temperature we can tolerate, the Gate can take us there."

9898 felt the situation slipping from its control, but it had no experience dealing with first contact scenarios. It sent the latest update to the Elders with an apology but received a friendly assurance that it was doing fine under trying circumstances.

The Elders agreed to the new location and indicated they would notify it when the room was sufficiently warm. They would join the royal couple and make the arrangements. 9898 sent the desired temperature to the Elders as well.

"Queen Lyn and King Tyg, our senior-most Tik will join you shortly at the palace. They will assist you in setting the meeting room to a temperature the Ishilon find comfortable. If this proves to be too high for you, we will work towards finding a balance. Once this is done, the Tik will open a Gate to bring the Ishilon representatives to the assigned room," the junior Tik explained. It saw Sahhahr immediately begin to calm.

"Why aren't Gates used for this kind of travel all the time?" Sahhahr asked.

"Planet to planet Gates are the most practical use of this technology. It requires two Tik to open a Gate. Personal spot to spot local travel is not our function," the Tik explained.

"So, you couldn't open a Gate for us even if you wanted to," Lorrem said tersely.

"That's correct," the Tik replied.

Sahhahr sighed as she shared a glance with her commander. "I understand the precautions as you just met us, but it doesn't feel very friendly." She paused and looked at the Tik. "How are they going to open a Gate inside my ship when there's only one Tik here? Is it safe?"

9898 felt more comfortable with these questions. "The Gate will be opened by two other Tik from the room on Chrystan. They will use my location as the anchor point. My awareness of my position within the ship will ensure the Gate is safely opened."

This seemed to satisfy the Ishilon in the room.

"I'm being told the Tik Elders are here. I'll sign off, and we'll see you soon!" Tyg said over the speaker.

"Thank you, yes!" Sahhahr replied, and the radio went silent with a pop.

The Sultessa used the waiting time to pepper 9898 with questions about their hosts. Soon enough, the young Tik received a message that the room was ready. The temperature was becoming uncomfortable for Shreen though it was close to the target. The Ishilon agreed to give it a try.

The Tik moved out of the command center into the more spacious hallway then sent the accept signal. A mirrored rectangle appeared next to it. Another shiny new Tik came through and blurted a message at 9898. It was carrying small translation discs the delegates would wear.

"Ah, this Tik will anchor the Gate so I can join you down on the surface. The Gate will be kept open while you are on the planet. It also has wearable devices for you, which will translate your words into Universal and the reverse until you can learn the language." It handed out the discs. "Please follow me and keep moving forward after you step through, so you don't block those following you. Oh! No weapons, please," 9898 instructed. It moved through the mirrored surface and exited into a large conference room. A large table was centered in the room with chairs around it. The Shreen royal couple was standing next to Socrates and Plato facing the Gate. "Greetings! I'm 9898."

Tyg and Lyn nodded to it, and their eyes widened as Lorrem moved through the mirror, his expression cautious and surprised. He spotted the couple standing next to the older and worn Tik and bowed in their direction.

"I am Lorrem. Commander of the Sultessa's forces."

9898 took up the role of the herald. "Queen Lyn and King Tyg of Chrystan. Socrates and Plato of Chuuruthia." The couple nodded to the Ishilon Commander, as did the Tik.

Lorrem moved to the side as a smaller Ishilon male passed through the gate. "Chena, Chief Medical Officer," Lorrem announced. 9898 made the introductions again.

Finally, the Sultessa passed through the Gate and looked around in wonder.

Sahhahr felt the cool fresh air on her scales, the slightly stronger pull of the planet's gravity, and the reality of Gate travel could not be denied. She looked to the group watching her reaction. She drew herself up to her full regal height and gave her best Sultessa smile. She noted 9898 was making the introductions and got her mind back on track. She nodded to the two furred beings and the visibly older Tik. They seemed to be waiting for something; then she realized it must be her.

"Apologies, I find myself a little shaken by the experience of passing through the Gate," she admitted.

"Oh, good! I was worried it was just me," Chena grumbled. Lorrem looked grateful too.

The King and Queen stepped forward. "Neither of us has ever left Chrystan, so we haven't shared that experience. Not that we're eager to do so," Lyn remarked with a gentle smile.

"Is the temperature sufficiently warm for you?" Tyg asked.

"Yes! It's a little cooler than we're used to, but we can function. Is it too hot for you?" she asked.

Lyn smiled. "We can function, but we may need to step out from time to time."

Sahhahr smiled at the Queen then looked at the Elder Tik. "I understand you have questions about the Mahrell Drun.

"Yes! We are collectors of knowledge on all lifeforms, even the ones who's purpose seems to be the eradication of all other lifeforms. We've been updated by young 9898. Your knowledge comes from a time when the full contingent of Mahrell Drun still existed. That information is invaluable!"

Sahhahr smiled, pleased with her bargaining position. "Good. I will trade you all I know of them for everything you know about Jack Danner."

Chapter 10

Jack followed the two Tik carrying Tonka into the infirmary at the Tik Enclave. He hadn't expected to be admitted this deeply into the secure complex. The few Tik that seemed to be about to prevent him from continuing all stopped and just watched him pass by. It was a little eerie if he was honest.

The vast chamber was lined with booths, most containing a Tik in some state of disrepair. Most of the damage he saw was some form of contusion like a dent or a deep scratch on their chrome outer shell. He was a little disappointed not to see displays with numbers, lines, and sensor readings above each booth. Instead, a small antenna projected from the top. Tik didn't need visual displays when the medical docking stations sent the data to them directly.

Tonka was lifted into a booth and cables were connected to ports then the two Tik moved away, leaving Jack staring at Tonka's unconscious form.

"Mr. Danner? I'm Taggart. What are you doing here?"

Jack turned to face a Tik covered in tattoos. There wasn't a surface that didn't have some doodle or art piece inked across it. The variety of styles was amazing. Jack thought of Bassdrop, but even it wasn't inked this much. He realized its name Taggart was likely a pun, as it was undoubtedly tagged with a lot of art.

"I came in with Tonka. It seems to be having an identity crisis." Jack heard Tonka's confused confession to Eve and Diana in his mind once more. When he'd seen the Tik holding their hands, he was pretty sure he knew what might be happening. He hadn't expected the Tik to collapse.

Taggart faced the booth and hummed for a moment. Then it faced Jack once more. "Your diagnosis closely matches mine. The last file Tonka integrated was your experience file. It unexpectedly integrated too deeply. Some of Tonka's personality matrix has been overwritten. We are going to have to attempt to roll the file back. The areas which have written over Tonka's matrix must remain. Only once this is done will we see if Tonka remains functional."

"Damn! That's awful!" Jack was horrified but suddenly saw some good might come from this tragedy. "You'll probably have to suspend the use of that experience file to prevent other cases! Maybe recall it?" Jack suggested, hopefully.

The Tik turned its full attention on Jack. "Mr. Danner, your experience file has been shared with over 82 million Tik to date. These Tik are on every world in the Gate Network. No other update has been so widely distributed, so quickly. Tonka is the only reported case where the file integrated with a personality matrix.

"Only reported case! There could be others then!" Jack exclaimed.

The Tik patted Jack's arm consolingly with a tentacle. "We're also aware of your personal discomfort at sharing such sensitive information. It's our nature to share knowledge with other Tik. We can't deny this aspect of our beings."

Jack deflated. "Right... I understand. Still, it's terrible what happened to Tonka. I feel... somehow responsible. If there's anything I can do, please let me know."

"You bear no responsibility for this event. We will do our utmost to bring Tonka back to full functionality," Taggart assured him then moved on, like a human doctor making rounds in the ward. Jack watched it float away then wondered if he was going to be escorted out at some point.

Jack looked around and realized he was going to need an escort as he had no idea where the exit was.

He wandered amongst the booths and stopped before a Tik which looked like it'd gone ten rounds with a plasma torch and lost. Its outer shell was severely scorched. Its smooth chrome skin had become a dark brown texture of rust. Its large optical sensor was just melted slag.

Jack stared in wonder at the damage this being had endured.

"Is someone there?"

The Tik's voice was faint and thin like a sigh but oddly deep, as if the lowest octaves were all it had left.

"Yes, I'm here. Is there anything you need? Can I do something for you?" Jack asked.

The Tik was silent for a time until Jack thought it might have gone to sleep.

"Could you read me a story?"

The request was so quiet and unexpected, Jack almost missed it. He suddenly recalled Joseph as a young boy, lying in bed at the end of a tough day of fighting an ear infection. Jack would read to him until the boy fell asleep. "Sure, what would you like to hear?"

The voice faded a little more. "You won't have... heard of it. Old Earth author. Rudyard Kipling. Rikki..."

"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi?" Jack smiled as he'd read this one to Joseph a long time ago.

"Yesssss..." The Tik extended two shiny and new silver tentacles a short distance from its body and moved them sensuously like snakes.

Jack pulled out his comm and found the story in his library. He brought up the text and began to read.

As he reached the end of each paragraph, he would check to see if the Tik was still gently swaying its tentacles.

Finally, he reached the end and saw the tentacles retracting inside.

"Thank you. I finally understand how she felt."

"How who felt?" Jack asked, but the Tik remained silent. With its exterior scorched, there were no lights to show it was still functioning, and Jack began to worry. He spotted Taggart moving by and flagged him over.

"You're still here?" the Tik asked.

"I got lost and couldn't find the exit. Is this Tik ok," Jack blurted.

Taggart hummed to the booth then looked to Jack. "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi is alive and will live, but it's a long way from ok. Due to the damage the solar flare did to its chassis, we've disabled all of its tactile sensors, which may be destroyed. It can't feel its body, and that is a mixed blessing. It can't feel pain from the burn, but it's now at risk of disassociating. We will try to replace its shell, but how the mind links to the sensors is distinct to each Tik. There is a risk of desynchronized feeds. That might drive it mad. Three of four tentacles had to be replaced."

"Its optics were destroyed, including the circuitry for processing optical signals. Maybe we can bypass that and give it some form of rudimentary vision. Its external audio system for communicating with non-Tik is mostly gone. It's also lost the use of its Gate module, which is completely burnt out. We can't replace that."

Taggart made a noise that sounded very much like a sigh. "The worst damage is to its power circuitry and power cells. It put far too much load on them. It may no longer be able to regulate its power consumption. We're bypassing them now, but it may need to be permanently restricted to an external hardwired power source."

Jack looked at Rikki in shock. "How did it get so badly injured?"

"I have not yet reviewed the mission file. I overheard it mentioned that it was a rescue mission, and Rikki got them all to safety," Taggart replied. It flagged down a new Tik. "Please guide Mr. Danner back to the exit."

"Thank you," Jack said and received a wave from a multihued tentacle as Taggart continued on its way. Jack would have liked to have learned more about Rikki's rescue mission, but he followed the new Tik until he saw his way out.

When he was clear of the building, his comm chirped with an incoming notification. He hadn't realized comm signals were blocked inside the Enclave. He saw it was his Altarian doctor Jinnae trying to reach him. Once he accepted the contact request the comm attempted to open a call. After a few moments Jinnae's face appeared on the screen. He noticed she looked a little stressed. She gave him a smile, but her eye twitched, which put him on guard.

"Hi Jinnae, what's up?" he asked as casually as he could.

"Hi, Jack! I'm wondering if you could come by," she said, equally casual.

Now Jack's trouble radar was beginning to tingle. He did a quick status update on his body, and everything felt normal. His energy levels were satisfactory. His appetite was good. His sleeping patterns... well, he seemed to need less sleep these days, but that didn't really feel problematic. Jinnae had that look in her eye that told him she had extensive tests planned for him. He had no idea what they were for, but he didn't have time for it this week. He had a barbeque party planned for this weekend and an overnight visit on Chrystan beginning tomorrow.

Luckily, he had an out.

"I just returned from Altaria, and I made a bit of a nuisance of myself this time. Queen Elissa is dealing with the fallout from that, so I think next week is the earliest I could drop by," he said regretfully. The doctor's smile slipped away. This set Jack's nerves off once more, but he brutally forced that down. He'd worry about it next week!

"Maybe I could give her a call..." Jinnae said to herself but out loud.

Jack sucked in air between his teeth, and she looked at him in surprise. "Yeah, I'd leave her alone for the next few days. She's trying to avert a general strike. Marina is also on the warpath. I'll come by first thing next week. Things should be cooled off by then," he offered reasonably.

"Yes, I suppose that would be fine," the doctor finally agreed.

"Cool! See you then! Bye!" Jack said quickly, then hung up. Bullet dodged!

He suddenly recalled that when he saw Elissa, they hadn't discussed what she'd initially called him over to talk about. He hadn't been lying when he said Elissa was busy. He quickly banged out a message on his comm, asking her what she wanted to talk about.

Jack ordered a taxi, and soon he was leaning back against the seat as he flew through the air towards home. He heard another chirp. It was a message from Elissa stating they could talk this weekend, but it involved Callosephia and the Sanosians. Jack sighed as those dopes were always making a nuisance of themselves. He wondered if he should insist she get it off her chest now. He frowned and shook his head. She already had too much to deal with without him insisting stuff.

When the taxi dropped Jack at his door, he went in and made his favorite greeting.

"Honey! I'm home!"

"In here," Diana called out from the living room.

Jack wandered in and stopped in the doorway. Diana and Eve were back in the same spots he'd seen them in earlier. Now, however, there were two Tik with the ladies. Both looked relatively new until he looked closer and saw one was showing some minor wear and tear. It turned towards him.

"Greetings, Jack Danner. I'm 4321. Please do not attempt to name me," it stated bluntly. Jack blinked at it in surprise, so it continued. "I will be taking over the first contact mission for the Tik designated Tonka. Please rest assured I will complete the mission according to protocol."

Jack looked to Eve and Diana, then back to the earnest Tik. "Ok."

4321 turned to Eve. "There is the matter of the DNA analysis the Nareshk officials are offering. Will you be traveling to Nareshk-"

"No. If they want to do this, they can come to me. From what I heard about Nareshk society from Tonka, I don't want to be trapped on that planet should I not measure up to their Code of the Righteous," Eve insisted.

4321 raised a tentacle to stop Eve. "Tonka deviated from the protocol. It cannot be considered an accurate-"

"Stop. You are about to make an inaccurate statement yourself," Eellooee asserted. "Tonka maintained a polite discourse with the new race, asked appropriate questions, and gathered important information. Its behavior may have wandered from the norm, but it did its job well. Until its mental breakdown, that is."

4321 made sputtering noises, then turned to address the other Tik directly. "I am the senior member of this team. You will follow my lead, and we will maintain a unified message."

"How many first contact missions have you run?" Jack asked in annoyance.

4321 turned to face him. "This is my first, but I am highly regarded for my ability to maintain focus on a goal and work towards it."

"How many first contact missions have you run, uh..." Jack asked the other Tik, trying to recall if it mentioned its name.

"Eellooee. This is my first," it answered.

4321 was becoming annoyed as well. "Which was not run using the protocols."

"Did you see what Eellooee did just then?" Jack asked 4321.

It stopped and looked between the other Tik and Jack. "It answered your question?"

"Yes, but Eellooee answered my unasked question first. That means it was able to understand my needs, not just my words. This is an essential skill for ambassadors, diplomats, and those making first-contact, don't you think?"

4321 stared at Jack. "But I'm the leader of the mission."

"A good leader guides from the front of its team. A great leader ensures the team members are given the opportunity to use their strengths where needed to ensure the success of the mission," Jack asserted.

This seemed to get through to the Tik. It turned to Eellooee after a pause. "You will take point when we meet with the Nareshk. I will support when required."

"Another sign of a great leader is their ability to adapt. You've shown remarkable progress." Jack smiled at 4321, and it bowed slightly to him.

Eellooee began to speak. "The Nareshk gave us four days. We will bring the representatives here to perform the DNA scan. The Assessor who will do this has reportedly never received a demerit. He reached the Assessor tiers faster than any other. He was introduced as their model citizen, yet the senior-most Assessor did not appear sincere in his praise."

"The top dog might see him as a threat," Jack mused aloud.

4321 was confused by this assessment. "In a merit-based society, one which holds righteousness as the standard, would you not want the most righteous individuals at its peak?"

"The problem with a peak is, there's usually only room for one. Also, once you're on it, you're in no hurry to give up the view to anyone else," Jack said.

"I'm not comfortable about this Code of the Righteous," Eve said to Jack, who nodded with a grim expression.

"Let's see what they have to offer. You're not bound by anything they say," Jack suggested, and she nodded with a smile for him.

"We will contact you before we arrive so you can be prepared," Eellooee said, and 4321 watched the positive reactions to that.

The Tik bowed to them, and Jack followed them to the door as they left.

Diana and Eve headed for the kitchen, and Jack found them there checking on the meal they were preparing. He sat at a stool next to the large island to keep out of their way.

"You're not here for dinner tomorrow, right?" Diana asked to confirm.

"Right. I'll be on Chrystan visiting Tyg, Lyn, and Tanz. I'll be back the day after with the food. Then it's partay weekend!" he exclaimed with energy.

Jack tapped the screen on his comm, and a throbbing beat filled the kitchen. Jack's latest guilty pleasure was digging up vintage dance party music for his weekend get-togethers. His latest fav tune was 'Gonna Make You Sweat' as it made him want to move and foolishly grin as he did. He hopped to his feet and threw his arms in the air as he danced around the island to bump his hips against the ladies until they gave in and joined him. Emily and Joseph wandered in as they heard music. They immediately rushed forward to join in on the fun.

Adina and Zaina came into the kitchen, pulling Doug by both hands. They were soon jumping around like lunatics as Doug swayed at a more relaxed pace.

Jack saw Gee and Bal watching everyone from the doorway, but before he could get to them, they smirked and slipped away. Aaros arrived with Zoe, and Jack grabbed their hands to pull them into the dance party. Mother and daughter giggled at Jack's excited smile.

Benjamin guided his mom into the kitchen, where Jack gathered her in his arms and danced with her. By the time the song ended, Leffera was grinning with sparkling eyes.

The music suddenly stopped, and everyone looked to the counter where Eve stood by Jack's comm with a smile on her face. "Dinner time. Kids, please set the table. Jack, please bring the water pitchers out to the table. Dinner is getting cold. Everybody move now."

Smiles still on faces, they moved.

-=-

Leffera snagged Jack's sleeve as he left the kitchen after the cleanup. His family had scattered to their rooms, the family room, or wherever they hid when it was cleanup time.

Jack smiled at Leffera and followed her to the quiet of the living room. She left the lights off and tugged him down into the conversation pit under the big clear dome to look up at the stars. They just rested there comfortably, neither in a hurry to speak.

Finally, Leffera sighed and pushed herself up to gaze down at Jack. Her eyes were sad. His smile dimmed.

"I'm moving back to Altaria."

Jack's brows rose. "Oh?"

"Lillian wants me to come in for some testing. She said she needs me for the study."

It was such a sudden change, Jack wasn't ready, but he knew he couldn't and shouldn't stop her. He cleared his suddenly tight throat. "What about Benjamin?"

"He's coming back to Altaria with me. I need him," Leffera asserted.

She sounded a little desperate, so Jack pulled her down to rest on his chest as he gently rubbed the thicker fur at the back of her neck and head.

"That's fine. You do what you need to do. I'm still able to make day visits to Altaria, and if Alexander's bill gets approved, the ban from Altaria may be a thing of the past."

"That's great news! Would you move back to Altaria?" Leffera mumbled from his chest, the rubbing putting her into a slight doze.

Jack paused to think about that. If the ban was lifted, he could move back to Altaria, and there were some compelling reasons to do it, like Leffera's departure and Queen Elissa.

He looked up at the domed ceiling and out at the stars. They weren't his stars. His childhood skies on Earth would always define how the sky is supposed to look for him. But recently, he'd begun to realize he remembered some patterns in the Chuuruthian heavens. They were becoming special to him as his new home had become special and important to him. He wasn't eager to lose that, even as his children grew up and moved out.

With the ban lifted, he'd be able to enjoy overnight visits and maybe even vacations on Altaria. Certainly, he'd be able to start doing some of his morning runs on Altaria again. He wanted to tell Leffera this, but he heard her deep and even breathing as she'd fallen asleep.

Telling her tomorrow was soon enough.

Chapter 11

Jessa looked around her office in dismay. She knew Larrisha said there'd be days when there weren't enough hours to deal with the incoming calls, but with the veteran at the helm, Jessa hadn't experienced that. Now that Larrisha was back on Altaria recovering from her emergency surgery, and officially retired, the position of colony leader was Jessa's and with it came all of the headaches.

With the infestation of Sanosian sand crawlers putting the colonists at risk, Jessa was feeling more than a little stressed. She needed help!

Not Sanosian help, however! The Regent of those bastards actually had the nerve to contact her with an offer to send a team of hunters to recapture the livestock the Altarians had in their possession. He implied that the Altarians were purposefully withholding Sanosian property, like thieves! To compound this insult, the Regent suggested that the hunters would remain as protection against future mishaps of this nature. His smug look of satisfaction set her blood to boil.

It was such a clumsy attempt at extortion, Jessa had to disconnect the line before her rage got the best of her, and she said something that put the two worlds at war. Instead, she sent the recording to the Minister of Security on Altaria and the Queen's office as well.

She had six teams of Altarian security officers trying to kill anything that moved under the sand. The ship that crash-landed split open in multiple places, so there was no way to contain the fully awake livestock.

In fact, against all convention, there were no stasis chambers inside the ship at all. The gasses the ship vented on its way down were probably what kept the beasts in a docile state. Free of the gas, then given a rough shaking, the creatures headed outside as quickly as they could slither and scramble.

On the bridge of the ship, the security officers found a section of the controls slagged by a thermal charge. With the flight controls and navigation stations destroyed, there was no way to prove the ship's instructions were to crash land. However, highlighting the dim wit of the perpetrators, it also provided evidence of their true intent, as the vessel could not have behaved as it did with a slagged control center. The damage had to have occurred after it landed. The hard jostling severed the connections to the other thermal charges in the chain, preventing them from destroying the rest of the bridge. Oh, and they were Sanosian thermal charges.

The evidence was carefully recorded and sent to the Ministry of Security, who would use it in their case against the Sanosians before the other Gate Network members.

Hopefully, this would keep the Sanosians off Jessa's back for a while. She still had to deal with the invaders. The security officers weren't proving too successful in finding the elusive beasts. Thankfully only minor injuries were being reported by the colonists so far, but there were some larger creatures under the sand now.

Milli burst into her office, making her jump. "Apologies, Jessa, but we have another incoming ship!"

"WHAT?!?"

"It's Sanosian, and its registry indicates it's from the Sanosian Regent's hunting team!"

Jessa changed her display to show the incoming ship's track. The hunters! "I never accepted the Regent's offer!" Jessa snapped.

Milli looked at her with big eyes. "Did you refuse it?"

The new leader looked at Milli in silence as she recalled disconnecting the call before she screamed. "No."

They looked at the dot moving on the screen. It indicated it would land well away from the Altarians. That's where the Sanosian hunters would set up a base, which they would eventually call their own colony.

"I- I have to speak to the Queen," Jessa muttered, distraught she'd messed up so badly so early in her service as colony leader.

Milli slipped out and closed the door to let Jessa cry in privacy.

Chapter 12

Jack knocked on the door jamb as he watched Wazzan tinkering with one of the tools in his lab. The older Chuuruthian wore an abundance of gold rings in his mobile ears. Jack could hear their gentle chiming. The botanist turned his head and smiled widely at the new arrival.

"Jack! Come in! Exciting news!"

Jack stepped inside. Once he was past the repulsion field on the doorway, he was immersed in the scents of the plant life inside the lab. He barely managed not to sneeze.

"Come! Come! Look at what our genius has created!" Wazzan exclaimed.

Now Jack was unable to stop his laughter. He followed the smaller being to the back of the lab where the freezers were located. Wazzan pulled a tub of white paste from the first one.

"Here is the pure plant extract. Its properties are wonderful!"

"Is it biologically inert? Can it be eaten?" Jack asked.

The Botanist nodded excitedly and dipped a sterile stirring stick into the paste. He then proceeded to stick it into his mouth. Whiskers trembling, Wazzan grinned at Jack, who repeated the actions with a stir stick of his own.

When the cold substance hit Jack's tongue, his brain yelled, "ICE CREAM!" A second or two later, when the lack of flavor became apparent, his mind gave a confused "ice cream?" Jack looked to Wazzan whose whiskers were still trembling.

"It's good! Creamy and cold, but will it support flavoring?" he asked.

"YES!" the Chuuruthian yelped happily and bounced on his toes, whiskers trembling. It scrambled to the last freezer at the far right and pulled out three tubs. It lifted the lid on the first to show a creamy yellow substance that looked nothing like paste. It looked like-

"Vanilla ice cream!" Wazzan cheered as he enjoyed Jack's expression of wonder.

"How?" Jack managed.

"The flavoring came from the extract you provided. The texture was just a matter of trial and error to find the proper balance of paste to ice. Oh! And it must be pure ice!" he rambled quickly then handed Jack a stick. "Try it. I have no frame of reference."

Jack took a scoop and dropped it on his tongue. His eyes closed in bliss. It triggered memories of his childhood, the rarest of moments when they'd found an opportunity to enjoy the treat. He opened his eyes to see whiskers trembling so hard it was like Wassan was trying to get airborne.

"It's perfect. Absolutely perfect," Jack sighed.

The botanist was delighted but gave a dismissive wave. "I would reserve the term perfect for a product made from a vanilla plant instead of the extract you provided."

"Yeah, importing a live plant is no simple task," Jack said with a shake of his head.

"Which brings me to my second flavor test." Wazzan closed the vanilla tub and opened the second, which contained pink ice cream.

"Strawberry?" Jack grinned.

Wassan made a shrugging motion. "I didn't like the extract you provided, so I found a true fruit that closely matched the flavor. This is Silioberry ice cream, made with real fruit from Chuuruthia."

Jack tried some and found it to be a little more tart than strawberries. Still, it was delicious. He gave Wassan a smile and a nod.

The botanist put the second tub away and pulled out a third. Lifting the lid, he glanced at Jack, who froze when he saw the rich brown color.

Jack looked to Wazzan as he remembered the disdain the scientist had for artificial ingredients when natural ones existed. The trouble was, the source plant for this ingredient was exceptionally rare, intensely protected, and strictly prohibited from being removed from Earth. "Tell me this was made from a flavor extract."

"Try it first."

Using a fresh stick, Jack collected a scoop and put it in his mouth.

Jack's frame of reference for chocolate was artificial flavoring. Cocoa plants had disappeared from public access well before he'd been born. This scoop tasted nothing like artificial.

Jack's Mom once gave him a spoonful of natural but highly contraband chocolate ice cream. She'd received it from a neighbor for some minor surgery she'd done for their only son. At the time, he was too young to understand how illegal it was to have the plants or perform surgery outside of a hospital. He remembered gazing at his mother in amazement that she'd shared this unexpected treat with him. It was just another example of the strength of the woman's love for him.

That spoonful set the bar for best chocolate he'd ever tasted... until today.

"How did you get your hands on a cocoa plant?" Jack asked softly as the memories faded.

"I know a guy who knows a guy."

Jack burst into a delighted laugh as he watched the Chuuruthian preen its facial fur with his nimble fingers. Wazzan was visibly pleased with the reaction he got from Jack.

The Chuuruthian suddenly turned to Jack. "Did you sign a distribution contract with the Orellians?"

Jack wiped the happy tears from his eyes as he smiled at the botanist. "Yes, it's a done deal, and I have the bruises to prove it. We're the exclusive distributor of all Muul Weed from Orellia. They thought I was mad that I wanted to set up a distribution deal with them for something they cut down and discard as a nuisance weed. We just have to give them the word, and they start shipping."

Wazzan rubbed his hands together eagerly. "My brother is setting up the processing plant. I told him to begin last night when I finalized the formula. We should be able to produce 10,000 tubs this size a day initially. Ramping up the production will depend upon the supply of Muul Weed. I want to start experimenting with different flavors. Where are we going to distribute the product?"

"Chuuruthia and Altaria initially. There's a huge market on Earth too. But we couldn't sell your chocolate there without the authorities discovering it's real Earth cocoa. That would lead to bloodshed, if not outright war."

Wazzan looked at Jack nervously. "I'll make a note not to make chocolate for Earth. Wait! Don't they already have a similar product there?"

"This is non-dairy. No lactose, so the lactose intolerant humans will be able to enjoy great-tasting ice cream at last! There are also groups of people who refuse to consume products from animals. This lets them enjoy the dessert, too," Jack explained.

"That's certainly a consideration for us as well," the Chuuruthian replied, and Jack nodded.

"I'm going to Chrystan today. Do you have a sample I could share with their King and Queen?" Jack asked.

"Taking ice cream to an ice planet. Only you could make that work," Wazzan teased. "Hang on, give me a moment."

The botanist hustled away and returned with a cooler. He pulled six tubs of ice cream, two of each flavor, and sealed them in the cooler. He looked at Jack. "What are we going to call this product?"

Jack grinned. "I thought we should call it Botany Ice Cream."

Whiskers trembled with amusement. "Clever! A marketing tag right in its name! Yes, that would work well!"

"Can you bring five tubs of each flavor to the party tomorrow night?" Jack asked.

"Yes, certainly! The Queen will be there?" Wazzan asked.

"Yes, she will," Jack replied with a grin as he knew the botanist was also a monarchist and quite taken with Elissa.

Jack hoisted the cooler, which wasn't uncomfortably heavy, but he was also carrying his overnight duffle, so it made for an awkward load. He finally put the duffle on his back and carried the cooler before him.

Wazzan ordered him a taxi, which took him to the Gate Terminal. He managed his load through the check-in process and was soon stepping through the mirror surface onto Chrystan. As he walked towards the customs agent, Jack saw a smile on his face. Jack had become something of a celebrity here because of the radio interviews he'd done with King Tyg's father and, more recently, with Tyg himself. The Shreen had no interest in broadcasting visuals but preferred the more intimate nature of radio.

"Mr. Danner, welcome back to Chrystan! Should I contact Tanz for you?" the clerk asked, and Jack finally recognized the pattern of stripes and rosettes on his fur from his previous visits.

"Thanks, Gelane! Please call me, Jack. I mean, we see each other so frequently!" Jack said with a grin.

The Shreen was delighted and flashed him a smile as well as he made a quick call to the palace. "This is true. Any more frequent, the Queen will make you an honorary citizen!"

Jack chuckled and set down the cooler.

"What are you bringing to Chrystan this time?" Gelane asked with interest.

"Dessert for tonight's dinner with the royal couple. It's called ice cream."

Gelane froze for a second then began laughing. Jack just watched him struggling to get control over himself. Finally, he caught his breath. "Ahhh... you are a treasure! Only Jack Danner would bring a frozen dessert to a frozen planet! I look forward to hearing the broadcast tonight to hear their impression."

Jack looked around and figured he still had a few minutes before Tanz arrived. "Would you like to try some? To be the first Shreen to sample it?"

Gelane's eyes widened with delight. "Are you sure? Wait, what's in it? There's meat in it, isn't there!"

It was Jack's turn to laugh. "No! No meat or animal products at all. Purely plant-sourced! Do you have a spoon?"

Gelane was getting excited now. The lunch hour had just passed, and he recalled seeing a spoon in his bag. He dug it out and handed it to Jack.

Opening the cooler, Jack picked a Silioberry tub and used the spoon to scoop some out. He closed up the container and cooler, then handed the spoon back to the clerk.

Gelane looked at it carefully and took a sniff. He looked at Jack in surprise. "I smell some kind of berry!"

Jack grinned and nodded, so the clerk put the spoon in his mouth, and once more, he froze as his eyes widened. He pulled the spoon out, and the ice cream was gone. "Well?"

The Shreen shivered then swallowed. "It's cold and sweet and tastes like berries! It's delicious and surprising!"

Jack nodded. "Thank you for your feedback! I'm using this visit as an unofficial marketing test to see if this product would be suitable for this market."

"I'd love to get it for my family. I think my children would especially like it. What's it going to be called?" Gelane asked as the lower doors in the hallway opened up to show Tanz making her way towards them.

"Botany Ice Cream," Jack said, then gestured for Gelane to keep it a secret. The Shreen looked at him in confusion then caught on. "Thank you for letting me try it! Now I have a story of my own!"

Tanz arrived and pulled Jack into a warm hug as Gelane watched with a grin. Jack could tell the male was delighted to have a secret which he'd blab to one of their radio shows the moment he got off work.

"What's in the box? Tanz asked when she pulled back from the hug.

Jack just picked it up with an enigmatic smile and began walking down the hall towards the waiting cart. Tanz hustled to catch up and grinned at him.

"Is it a surprise?" she asked excitedly.

"It is indeed! It's for after dinner. Uh, who's coming- I mean, how many guests?" Jack was worried he didn't have enough for everyone.

"There's you and me, the Queen and King, Minister Berris and her husband Hahn, Minister Mirs and his wife Geng, Ministers Phan and Julli, Minister Wenns and her husband Dane, and Minister Terk and her husband, Vinn. There's also several Tik and three special guests who are looking forward to meeting you. They arrived yesterday and spent hours and hours talking with the Tik. Today we all talked about you!"

When Jack looked at her questioningly, she grinned in return. "What? I'm not allowed to have a surprise too?" She giggled and got him and his gear into the cart.

Before she got it moving, she turned to him and pulled his lips to hers. Tanz was an excellent kisser then Jack recalled she was seeing someone. He pulled back gently, and she sighed happily.

"Uh, what happened to Stiiv?" Jack asked, looking into her eyes.

She shrugged and looked away. "He needed to go back to the ridge. He couldn't stay, and I don't want to leave the capital. It didn't work out."

Jack nodded with a little smile. "Sometimes, it doesn't."

"It would have been nice to start a family. I think about that a lot. Geng's daycare has proven to be a perfect solution for socializing the children of city dwellers without having to send them home to the villages. She's opened a huge center just off Market Square, and there are so many children there." Tanz stopped as she realized she was babbling. She looked at Jack in embarrassment. He just leaned forward and kissed her tenderly until she relaxed.

"You'll be an amazing mother. I know it," he said.

She smiled and cuddled against him. Then she sighed. "I'm being selfish when people are waiting to meet you. We'd better get moving!"

He gave her another curious look, and she just giggled at him then got the cart rushing back to the Market Square parking lot.

It didn't take long to reach the destination then Tanz helped him carry the cooler through the crowded shopping district. Jack got as many smiles and waves as Tanz did.

When they left the shoppers and shopkeepers behind, they crossed the wide circular courtyard to enter the massive doors of the Palace.

"Can we put the cooler in the freezer where the Skrahak steaks are kept? The dessert must be kept cold until after dinner," Jack asked.

"It's dessert, and it's cold? Strange clues!" Tanz said with a smile then nodded.

They went to the kitchen, and the chief cook let them into the freezer to store the cooler.

Next, Tanz took him to her apartment to drop off his duffle bag. She also took another kiss from him then moaned. "I'm procrastinating! Trying to keep you all to myself!"

Jack chuckled. "Let's go see the gang. There will be time for fun later."

"Promise?" she asked with a grin as she led him back down through the palace halls to the meeting room wing.

"Unless your surprise has other ideas," he said with a raised eyebrow.

"No fair! I was told to keep it a secret," she whined.

She opened the door, and a wave of hot air washed out, catching Jack by surprise. Tanz grinned at him as she pulled him into the room and closed the door. Then she led him forward to meet beings he'd never encountered before. He saw Tyg and Lyn, looking a little limp from the heat. Tanz immediately led them from the room to cool off.

Once the door closed, Jack looked to the five Tik, which ranged from brand new to the oldest- Socrates and Plato! Jack suddenly recognized the two elder Tik and wondered at their presence.

Facing the remaining three, he realized this was a new experience for him. The details of their physical states flashed into his mind before anyone had a chance to ruin the moment with careless words.

There were two males and a female. None wore any clothes though the female seemed to have some delicate gold chains worn across her torso. All three were wearing translation devices of Tik design, so they were a new race to the Gate Network with no training in Universal.

The female also had no breasts, so the species wasn't mammalian. While she was physically larger than either of the males, the larger of the males seemed to have bulkier muscles than she did.

The scales on their bodies were beautiful. There were distinct colors and patterns to identify individuals.

The female had large gold eyes, the merest suggestion of a nose, and a lipless mouth. With such minimal features, her eyes took on more significance, so it was fortunate they were so expressive and lovely.

The males were not unattractive, but they seemed to be restricting their emotive states while in the presence of the female. He wondered if that was purely a physical response or was driven by some social code that defined appropriate behavior.

When she moved towards him, Jack noted these were the first beings he'd met that used the same undulatory locomotion snakes used, which considering their body shape was inevitable. They also had two arms, which ended in tentacle type fingers.

"I am Sultessa Sahhahr, last ruler of the Ishilon. Our homeworld and colony were lost due to a war orchestrated by the Mahrell Drun."

Jack's entire body spasmed in shock, and he looked to Socrates. "THERE'S MORE!?! YOU SAID THEY WERE ALL DEAD!"

Sahhahr watched Jack very carefully as he exhibited clear signs of panic: trembling, rapid breathing, elevated heart rate, and widened eyes.

"I'm sorry, I should have begun with the fact that we've been trapped in a state of suspended animation for almost five thousand of your years. The Mahrell Drun, which led to the fall of our civilization, has since been eradicated. We're told you played a significant role in that effort."

Jack struggled to get his breathing back to normal. His hands were shaking, and his knees felt weak. "I need to sit down," he said quietly and moved to the table to pull out a chair. He dropped himself into it and rubbed his face with his hands. He was suddenly feeling wrung out, but he looked up to see the female, uh, the Sultessa, was standing before him, very close.

"You appear to be emotionally distraught," Sahhahr said, again watching closely.

It finally registered on Jack's shaken mind that she was using an odd tone with him. He glanced over at the Tik, but they hadn't moved. In fact, they weren't hovering as they usually did. They were still showing lights, but all five of them were resting on the floor. "Socrates? Plato?" he called out, but they didn't respond.

"We were told you had sexual intercourse with a Prime. You understand that they're parasites, don't you?" Sahhahr continued.

Rage suddenly flared in Jack's battered mind. "I wasn't given a choice! I was clamped down to a table while she worked on my fucking slave collar!" He pulled down the collar on his shirt, and the light caught the shiny links.

Sahhahr gasped as she saw the impossible! The delicate scrollwork covering the surface of the silver links, it was Ishilon writing! She surged forward, grabbing the edges of his shirt collar to pull the garment open as she pushed him off the chair onto the floor beyond. He went down with a thump, and she was on him, staring in shock at the beautiful scrolling prose. On the largest link, she saw the symbol for the author of the message imprinted there.

"Sultessa!" the larger male Ishilon choked out but didn't move from his spot guarding the Tik. One began to move but froze once the male's attention returned to them.

Jack stared up at her in surprise as she ran her tentacle fingers reverently over the metal surfaces. "It's a message from Chahdesh!" she cried.

"Please, Sultessa! The parasite!" the smaller male gasped out from his position at the door.

Her eyes clouded with despair and rage for a moment; then she came back to herself. "We've heard many good things about you, Jack. These tales lead us to believe you are not under the influence of the Mahrell Drun. However, you're clearly a Hybrid, a very rare being; you've been exposed to the Mahrell Drun sexually, and their diseased essence can be transmitted through their body fluids. You may have the parasite within you. It must be purged. I will do this."

"How?" Jack asked, nervously.

She looked into his eyes, and he felt himself begin to relax. Then she moved, and he felt a sharp pinch on his shoulder.

Fire raced through his nerves, agonizing, intense pain ripping through his limbs, and boiling in his core. Jack screamed as every muscle tightened almost beyond endurance. He began to choke and felt himself being rolled onto his side as his stomach squeezed in pulses. A final heave and his stomach contents splashed onto the floor.

The next seconds were complete chaos. Yelling, cool metal tentacles lifting him from the floor and more urgent shouting. A brief pause, a flash of green light, then a sudden and huge flare of blue-white light, a wave of heat on his face, and the acrid scent of something burning. His mind shied away from the heat as the fire left his nerves to be replaced by a deep cold. He began to shiver.

Sahhahr's voice slipped into his mind once more. "He needs to be warmed. A sleeping pit."

A deeper voice said something Jack couldn't catch. "What?" he mumbled as he struggled to free himself, to control his limbs as the residual pain slowly faded.

Sahhahr chuckled. "Yes, our Shadeem is very strong!" she said fondly, then Jack was out.

Chapter 13

Hot.

Sanosian Elite Hunter Karkakk threw his arms wide to feel the hot winds caress his body as it did its best to sandblast his hard scales. He allowed himself a grin. It would take sand harder than this powder to make a mark on him. He prided himself on being the toughest of the tough.

Sanosians were difficult for the other races to distinguish apart. The visual differences in the individuals were minimal as it was scent the Sanosians used for identification.

Other than that, the belts they wore were decorated with badges and other insignia and supported a small pouch for personal items. The Regent's dagger hung from Karkakk's belt, proving his right as First Elite Hunter.

As a species, they were uniformly the same height, body shape, and had the same facial features. Their tough scaled skin was the golden tone of their home planet's sand. They had the same large amber eyes with nictitating membranes to protect them.

Their noses were two narrow slits which they could close against sandstorms, and their mouths were wide slits with many tiny sharp teeth. Perfect for tearing flesh from bone.

Two strong arms hung from their shoulders and ended with hands with two clawed fingers and a thumb with a hooked claw.

Their legs were strong and let them run across the burning sands for hours. Not that they ran these days when they could use skimmers.

As he stood on the dune absorbing the heat around him, he reflected on how much he hated space travel and much preferred to have his clawed toes in the sand of a planet.

Already, he loved this charming ball of sand. Callosephia should belong to the Sanosians. The grass eaters could never appreciate its raw beauty as the Sanosians could.

With the cleverly orchestrated crash landing of their livestock transport ship, they'd launched their plan to convert this planet to a world the Altarians could not inhabit. The livestock they seeded the deserts with were specially engineered to breed prolifically and occupy this world like an enormous breeding pen for the Sanosian's favorite meal.

The Regent's hunters weren't here to clean up. They were here to herd the beasts towards the Altarian colony. To ensure the sand crawlers were driven into a frenzied state so that they'd attack anything in their way.

Karkakk would have preferred to hunt down the colonists quickly and efficiently. He wasn't one for subterfuge.

"I can almost taste them!"

The voice interrupting Karkakk's thoughts came from his Second Elite hunter, Tchetkorr. He lacked the intelligence to understand their mission couldn't be a glorious hunt of the Altarians. The weaklings of the Gate Network frowned upon neighboring races invading and expanding their territories to include conquered worlds. This had to look like an innocent error and an unfortunate despoiling of a planet's ecosystem, which inadvertently made it unsuitable for Altarian occupation. There would be nothing left for the Altarians to do but hand it over to the Sanosians so they could collect their property, the livestock. The fact that the livestock would breed as fast as they could collect them meant the Sanosians would be staying permanently. It was a simple and elegant plan from the mind of their Regent, not that Tchetkorr could understand it with his little pebble brain.

"Shut up, fool! You know how this mission is supposed to appear. The Altarians are to be driven from the planet by their fear of being eaten by our livestock, not us!"

The Second wasn't one to give up easily. "There will be chaos! The beasts will be hungry. Not all of the Altarians will escape the wave of gnashing teeth we will drive towards them. The loss of an Altarian or two would be expected."

Karkakk paused to consider this. It was reasonable to expect some stray inhabitants would go missing. No more than two. He began to salivate. He reached out to grip the throat of his second and pulled him close to glare into his eyes. "No one must witness this. No evidence left behind that points to our involvement. No one must hear of it. Target isolated individuals. Use comm jammers. The light furred ones taste the best-"

"Dark-" Tchetkorr forced out.

"LIGHT!" Karkakk shouted and shook his second. When Tchetkorr dropped his gaze, Karkakk released him with a shove, knocking him to the sand before stomping away. He didn't want his second to see his trembling.

Years before, Karkakk almost lost his life to one of the black Altarian devils. That experience left him with a morbid fear of them. He'd heard even Altarian males avoided them.

He felt Tchetkorr's eyes on his back and the hate filling them. That returned a smile to his face. The hate would make his Second a better hunter.

He approached the temporary shelters the rest of the team was working on. They were doing a shitty job of it, but they were hunters, not builders. It looked enough like the beginnings of a village.

Whatever.

It would soon be time to round up some of their largest beasts and send them at the Altarian colonist.

Karkekk made his way to the personal sand skimmers. These one-person transports were powerful and fast, and most importantly, would keep them above the sand where the beasts lived.

It wouldn't do to become dinner for their livestock. That would be the ultimate failure for a hunter.

He inspected his skimmer and found the small explosive device attached to the power regulator. Clever, but Karkekk would not be replaced as the Regent's First Elite Hunter today. He disabled the device and dropped it into his pouch. When he found nothing else, he threw his leg over the saddle of the skimmer, grabbed the flight controls to power it up, and called out to his team to join him. The hum of the repulsion field began under the skimmer's flat bottom skid plate as it lifted the small vehicle from the sand.

The hunters working on the pseudo village abandoned that task to rush over to their skimmers. They quickly had theirs humming above the sands as they waited for their leader.

Tchetkorr came at a more leisurely pace, almost insultingly slow. The moment he was seated, Karkekk accelerated away with the other hunters quickly following. Tchetkorr would have to hurry to catch up and get through the pack to take his rightful spot as Second.

Karkekk chuckled to himself. It was a good day to hunt.

Today, they'd begin collecting and driving the beasts to a close-by valley they spotted on their inbound flight. This morning, he'd had a few of his hunters set up a containment field around the valley with the southern edge of the field powered down as the only opening.

While they needed to make this happen as quickly as they could, he knew it might take a few days to collect a sufficient number of beasts in the right mix to create the perfect explosion of frenzied rage. He wanted at least six of the big ones, twice as many midsize and three times as many small beasts.

If they got a tasty treat to go along with that chaos, all the better.

Chapter 14

Hot.

Not a painful burning this time, but waves of soft heat slowly rising.

Jack opened his eyes slowly and saw stars beginning to poke through the dusk sky above him. He was in Tanz's apartment in her living room pit. What happened? How did he get here? He tried to recall what happened, and it was a jumble of images with flashes of intense pain, so his mind veered away from the recollection.

He felt a soft body pressed up against his right side and saw it was Tanz. Turning his head, Lyn and Tyg were against his left side. Looking down at his chest, he saw golden eyes opening to look up at him.

"Queen Lyn was correct. You are so very warm!" Sahhahr said quietly. She then slid off and moved out of the pit, where she pulled on a thick Skrahak overcoat. Jack was surprised to see the two males climbing out of the sleeping pit, as well. He realized they'd been lying across his legs.

"Shadeem, thank you for your warmth," the larger male said with a bow and a smile. "I am Lorrem, Commander of the Sultessa's forces. This is Chena, Chief Medical Officer." Each of the males pulled on a heavy fur overcoat then stood behind Sahhahr. She bowed her head to him.

"Shadeem, we apologize for the discomfort we may have caused you, but we had to ensure nothing of the Mahrell Drun remained within you. We accept any punishment you may assign, even death," she said bluntly.

Jack blinked his eyes wide open. "Apology accepted. No need for death. A little warning next time would be appreciated, though."

They bowed deeply, really deep, putting their foreheads to the floor deep. When they rose again, he saw their relieved smiles. "You are as gracious as they foretold, my Shadeem," Sahhahr sighed.

"Why do you keep referring to me with that term, Shadeem?" Jack asked, cautiously.

"You conquered our mortal enemy and caused their extinction. We are your vassals, yours to command," Sahhahr said with pride.

Jack was coming fully awake now. "Wait, what? Vassals? That's just a fancy name for slaves. I'm not comfortable with that! Do you know what this is?" Jack tried to lift his arms to touch his slave collar, but they were trapped under Tanz and Lyn, who were beginning to wake.

"The collar you wear may have once been a slave collar, but to us, it is a declaration of life! The etching on the surface is writing in my language. When the parasite takes over their host, everything the host was is absorbed. This collar is proof that Chahdesh, our greatest Shadeem, lived on in some form as a Prime would never have written this message. It's a battle cry to defend truth and life and to defeat the agents of death, the Mahrell Drun. When she made the collar, she might have believed she was simply adding a pleasing design to the surface, but in reality Chahdesh was guiding her hand, sending a message to any who might read it to act against the Mahrell Drun. The mere fact that you wear his words and fulfilled his desires makes you our chosen." She grinned happily. "The smaller links have love sonnets written on them. Some are quite... sexual in nature." The three smiled.

"Are you well, Jack?" Tanz asked nervously, seeing his frozen expression.

He looked into her eyes and nodded hesitantly. "I'm sore, like every muscle sore, but I seem to be ok. Are you guys, ok? What happened back there?"

Tyg and Lyn stood and faced the Ishilon, who were now looking quite contrite. "You told us you wanted to know more about Jack because he was a hero to you. We told you the stories he told us of his childhood and the story of how he saved our marriage," Tyg looked back at Lyn with a frown then faced the Ishilon once more. "I am deeply disappointed!"

Jack fought back his fond smile as the King was quite serious.

The Ishilon bowed deeply to Tyg and Lyn.

Then Socrates and Plato hovered into view looking no worse for wear, though in their case, they looked quite worn.

"I understand and approve their purpose even if I don't agree with their methods," Socrates muttered.

"That was quite uncomfortable. I don't want to experience that paralysis again," Plato complained.

Sahhahr nodded to the Tik. "We didn't wish to deceive you or use force, but with the Mahrell Drun, you cannot hesitate or bargain. If the parasite growing within Jack had reached a mature stage, his mind would have acted before we were ready and lives would have been lost."

"So, I did have a parasite growing in me?" Jack muttered in horror.

Sahhahr watched Jack's expression with interest and nodded. "Yes, but like all things the Mahrell Drun did, it did it so patiently and methodically, it gave no sign of its presence to alert its host. You must have received a small contamination to begin with. Something your medical scans wouldn't have detected, and your medicines couldn't remove. Only Ishilon venom is guaranteed to purge the infection."

"Your bite is venomous?" Jack asked, nervously. Sahhahr nodded. "How did you know it wouldn't kill me?"

"Ishilon venom is highly toxic to Mahrell Drun tissue. For others, it's just painful to various degrees. If the parasite had been more mature, it would have integrated with your brain, then your organs, and you would have died as the parasitic tissues hemorrhaged. Based on your behavior in the stories we heard, we determined we'd caught it early enough. You exhibited none of the trademark behaviors of the Mahrell Drun. Besides, for this kind of infection, it takes decades for it to grow sufficiently to begin to integrate. It grows at a pace too slow to awaken the host's immune system. The stronger the host's resistance, the slower the growth. While you might have turned out to be an exception, we believed we got to you in time."

Jack's body shuddered at the thought of carrying the infection for so long. He looked to the Ishilon in dismay. "Could I have infected someone with the parasite inside me?"

Sahhahr smiled. "No, it will not spare cells to invade another until it has fully grown and integrated with the host. From what was purged by the poison, you were decades away from being infectious. What managed to escape from your body while fleeing the venom was incinerated by the Tik... once they confirmed what it was."

"We determined the ejected tissues were Mahrell Drun. There is still the question of how the Ishilon turned our gravity controls against us. Your bodies are opaque to our scanners," Socrates snapped.

The Ishilon looked uncomfortable and turned their eyes to Jack as if asking permission to keep the secret. For some reason, he went along with their wishes. "Some things will remain a mystery for now. How long was I out?" If Tik could frown disapprovingly, Jack was sure he'd be the target of two nasty ones. The relief on the faces of the Ishilon made up for it.

Tyg answered. "Only a few hours. It's almost time for our dinner party. I wasn't sure if we were going to need to cancel tonight's event."

Jack's stomach answered with a growl, and the Shreen laughed as they'd heard this before. Jack's hunger was legendary.

The Ishilon were looking at Jack in alarm, so he gave them a chagrinned smile and shrugged. "That noise was just my hungry stomach, reminding me to fill it. Oh! Are you able to eat Shreen food?"

"We consume meat and prefer it to be finely ground, seasoned, and gently cooked, but the Shreen chefs were able to dice up some Skrahak flesh for us. It was quite good and satisfying."

Jack smiled at Tyg. "Your chef's have iron constitutions if they're willing and able to experiment with different ways to serve Skrahak!"

"Ridger chefs," he said proudly, and Jack gave him an impressed grin.

Jack struggled to his feet as Tanz helped him up. She was a little clingy, but she'd just seen him go through a terrible ordeal. He was feeling surprisingly good, but that might have only been the mental euphoria of dodging yet another potentially life-ending crisis. The fact that he was hungry afterward, he chalked up to changes in his metabolism Jinnae told him about.

They followed the royal couple out of the pit with Tanz's arm around his back to stabilize him and to comfort her.

Once everyone was standing in the living room, Jack looked at Tanz. "Where are we meeting the others for dinner?"

"It was going to be in the meeting room, but there's too much fire damage. The palace maintenance crew is installing radiant heaters in a secondary banquet hall. It hasn't been used in a while, so the palace housekeeping staff were working on freshening it up," Tanz explained.

"The production specialists are also working on getting the audio equipment functioning," Tyg gushed then looked to the Ishilon. "I should ask you if you mind participating in the dinner radio broadcast show. It's very popular with the people of Chrystan, especially when Jack attends."

Sahhahr looked to Jack, who explained. "The Shreen like to broadcast audio-only programs over radio wave frequencies."

"And who listens to this broadcast?" Sahhahr asked Tyg.

"Whoever is available to listen. Mostly people having dinner, I suppose, as the shows are done during the dinner hour, but they're recorded so people who can't listen in live, can hear it later."

"It's fun," Jack said, drawing smiles from the Shreen. The Ishilon seemed to relax.

Tyg checked on the progress of the room's preparations and heard it was done, and their other guests were already there.

Socrates made noises that drew everyone's attention. "The Tik we sent up to the ship have made their assessment, and it will take sixteen Tik to safely move your ship through a Gate to another planet we can park you above temporarily until we can find you a permanent home. How Rikki managed to move you here with just eight Tik is both amazing and alarming! That it did it in a deadly solar flare with no loss of life is... if we believed in miracles, I'd call it miraculous."

Jack stared at the senior Tik. "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi? The injured Tik in the Chuuruthian Enclave's infirmary?" Socrates and Plato dipped forward to indicate he was correct. Jack looked at Sahhahr. "It was rescuing your ship?"

She nodded. "We owe it a debt of gratitude. It saved the ship and likely all of our remaining people still in their sleep chambers."

Socrates tried to get back to his point. "We should discuss moving your ship-"

"Why? We have no issues with the ship remaining in orbit above Chrystan until you can find them a permanent home," Queen Lyn offered as Tyg nodded. She pinned the Sultessa with a stern look. "Unless you plan any further surprises like you sprung on Jack."

"No, we have no further surprises planned," Sahhahr said contritely, and Lyn smiled again with a nod.

Socrates looked between the two female leaders. "Oh, well, that's fine. We will need your criteria list, a physiological requirement report, and an Ishilon psych profile so we can begin searching for a suitable planet for you. The last file is for a situation where you might cohabitate a planet with another race. How many of you will we be placing?"

Once more, the three Ishilons looked to Jack, but this time he knew the Tik needed that answer to assist in finding a home. They couldn't keep this one secret. Besides, Jack was seriously interested, as well. He nodded to Sahhahr. She sighed then looked to the Tik.

"Five hundred thousand and ten."

"Nine," Lorrem said quietly, reminding her of the Command Center technician who died.

"Sorry, nine," she said, then noticed the silence.

"This is a significant number. We will do our best. Please contact us at the Chuuruthia Enclave with the requested information so we can begin." It tipped forward slightly as did Plato, and they turned to leave.

"If you speak with Rikki, please give it our wishes for a quick recovery. I hope it wasn't too badly injured," Sahhahr asked.

Jack and Socrates shared a look, and Jack nodded to indicate he would fill them in on Rikki's condition. The Tik left the apartment, and the rest followed. Tyg led the way through the halls down to a wing of the palace Jack hadn't visited yet.

Chena bowed out of the dinner as he wanted to get back to the ship to check on his patients, all five hundred thousand of them. Tyg had one of the palace security officers guide him back to the meeting room where the Gate remained open.

Jack was still feeling a little stiff from his muscles clenching so severely, so he was grateful for Tanz's grip around his back. He noted Sahhahr watching them from time to time. Then he spotted Lorrem watching him and the Sultessa. He wondered what was up with those two, but he was too weary to get into it now.

Tyg opened the door to the meeting room, and Jack felt the warmer air rush out. The group entered and closed the door.

"King Tyg, what's the meaning of boosting the heat so high in here?" Hahn complained immediately, and Jack couldn't help himself.

"Hey, Hahn! Don't be such a weeny! Our new guests need a hotter environment to survive."

"I'm not a weeny! I'm not!" the doctor complained then went silent as he spotted the two Ishilon standing behind Jack in their Skrahak overcoats.

Jack laughed and moved forward to rub the side of his face against Hahn's then Berris'. That sign of genuine affection got them to smile, but they couldn't look away from the new beings.

Jack looked at Tyg, who turned to Lyn to explain and begin the introductions.

"We have two new guests who come from a desert world with a much higher ambient temperature. The room must be kept warm, or they will slip into a hibernation state, and they could expire. We will deal with the heat by taking breaks in the cooler outer rooms."

The Shreen nodded in understanding then looked to their King and Queen excitedly. Lyn continued.

"We have with us today Sultessa Sahhahr Tessahr, leader of the Ishilon and the commander of her forces, Lorrem..." she looked to the tall male.

"Tessen. Lorrem Tessen. The Sultessa is my... distant cousin."

A lightbulb went off in Jack's head. That probably explained his keeping an eye on his relative's interaction with the funny looking alien.

Then Lyn went through the introductions of her ministers and their significant others, each stepping forward to press their forehead to the scaled foreheads of the aliens who accepted this greeting with good grace.

Jack made sure he got to rub cheeks with his good friends as they moved by. They were happily grinning as they returned to their group.

Jack wasn't too familiar with the last two ministers or their partners. They were new appointments from the Ridge. Minister Wenns was in charge of Public Safety, and her husband Dane was a retired Ridger Champion, the hunters who keep the Skrahak away from the villages. Minister Terk was in charge of the fledgling Sports portfolio, and her husband Vinn had retired from his job at one of the farms to become a champion of a different sort. Snowboarding had become a bit of an obsession for the Shreen, and Vinn was something of a celebrity.

Jack gave them the traditional forehead touch as they came by.

Wenns had that serene confidence of someone who'd risen to some significant challenge and not only survived but thrived. Considering the environment she lived in was the Ridge, Jack had some inkling of the ordeals she might have encountered.

Her husband, Dane, seemed a little awed by his horns. The story of Jack's battle with the Dynast class Skrahak had reached his ears. The male also bore some wicked scars from his encounters with the beasts.

Terk was young and excitable. The light, almost yellow cream fur on her back, made for a shocking contrast to the luxurious brown fur with blonde rosettes on her front. She looked too damn cute! She also had great enthusiasm for being the Minister of a new portfolio.

Vinn was just a little older than his wife but twice as giddy when meeting Jack, who got credit for introducing the sport to the Shreen.

Jack got the impression that these last two might have been hoping for the more intimate greeting he gave to the others.

Once the formalities were done, Tyg inspected the table where they'd enjoy their dinner and was pleased to see the broadcast equipment was in place. The place settings for their Ishilon guests had no chairs, and the radiant heaters for the room were on that side of the table so they'd be closer to the heat. They'd also block some of the heat for the others, so win/win.

They took their positions around the table in the traditional boy-girl arrangement. Jack sat next to Sahhahr as he was less sensitive to the heat than the Shreen, but Tanz sat on his other side with the royal couple on her opposite side. As Lorrem was on Sahhahr's left, Berris found herself next to the large male and giggled when he smiled at her. Her flush came from more than the nearby heaters.

With a glance at the group and nods in return, Tyg opened the broadcast.

"Good evening from the Capital. This is King Tyg, speaking to you from the auxiliary banquet hall in the royal palace. By my side, as always, is my beautiful Queen, Lyn."

"Good evening!" Lyn added with a smile.

Tyg continued. "Our apologies for the delay in the show, but there was a minor fire incident in the main meeting room where we'd originally planned to broadcast. But that's a story for another day, and only if our special guests tonight permit us to share it." He smiled at the group, and Jack noted looks of concern, surprise, but mostly curiosity from the Ministers and spouses.

"Speaking of special guests, they don't get any more unique to Chrystan than Sultessa Sahhahr Tessahr, leader of the Ishilon and the commander of her forces, Lorrem Tessen. Their preferred environment is a blisteringly hot, arid desert, so Chrystan is as far from their ideal as possible. We've added strong heaters to the room to bring the temperature up to a level that will sustain them. Even with our inhospitable climate, they graciously accepted our invitation when they heard of the arrival of our second special guest tonight, your favorite and ours, Jack Danner!"

The Ministers and their spouses cheered and gave Jack big grins. That gave him warm feelings for them as well.

"Thank you! It's great to be back!" Jack added for the audience.

Tyg introduced the Ministers and their significant others in attendance and Tanz. Then he got right into the show.

"To begin tonight, I believe our listeners would be most interested in hearing a little bit about our Ishilon guests. I understand you arrived in a spacecraft, and earlier, when you came down to the surface of Chrystan, that was your first exposure to the Tik Gate technology. Can you give us a better understanding of how this came to be?"

Sahhahr glanced over at Jack, who smiled at her. She turned her face back to Tyg. "It was the second time I passed through a Gate. The first time, however, I was inside my ship when the brave Tik moved a Gate down its length to bring us here. Back where our ship was trapped, enormous solar flares were racing towards us, but the Tik got us to safety. I understand the leader of the Tik was badly injured in the process." She looked to Jack for an answer to that.

"Yes, I stopped by the Tik Enclave on Chuuruthia and met Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. It suffered multiple severe injuries. I was able to speak with it, so its mind seems to have survived intact. However, it's currently blind as it lost its optics and the optics circuitry. They might be able to give it rudimentary vision. It also lost its Gate circuitry, which can't be replaced. I was also told it placed its power circuitry and cells under too much demand and may need to be powered externally from now on."

Sahhahr looked stunned, but Jack continued.

"They had to disconnect its shell as the outer surface was completely scorched. They said they'd attempt to give it a new shell as not being able to feel anything can adversely affect the mind. It received three new tentacles as the others were destroyed. I imagine that's going to feel like it's in a different body. Hopefully, it will be able to adjust to that."

The group was staring at Jack after the gruesome description.

"Sorry about the graphic imagery, but Rikki did something truly heroic. Don't make the mistake of thinking that, as a machine, it made its decisions effortlessly and without consideration. They value their lives very dearly. They know fear. They know pain. Rikki had to know how much danger it was in, but it did what needed to be done. It saved so many lives, and lived up to the bravery of its namesake."

Tyg cleared his throat. "We don't have much interaction with the Tik as we don't use Gates, but you seem to have a special place for them in your heart. That's good enough for me."

"I admit I held the impression of them simply being constructs of intellect. I'm deeply appreciative of Rikki for his sacrifice. If there is anything my people can do to increase its quality of life, we will do it." She glanced at Lorrem, who nodded. "We have considerable skill when it comes to technology."

Jack smiled at her and nodded.

"I was curious about its name," Sahhahr said. "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi is a very unique and grand-sounding name. What is this namesake you speak of?"

Jack looked at her and wondered if she would be offended. He hoped she wouldn't as he wasn't going to lie to her.

"It comes from an ancient and cherished children's story on Earth of the same name. Most of the characters in the story are animals. The hero is a small furred creature called a Mongoose. It's very brave. It protects a human family from two deadly Cobras by defeating them in battle. Cobras are creatures that bear a striking resemblance to the Ishilon, only much, much smaller."

Sahhahr looked to Lorrem with wide eyes. "I'm glad Rikki was on our side this time."

Jack chuckled as he relaxed.

Tyg looked to Jack to see if he could continue and got a nod. "The next question I have is, what made you decide to head into the unknown in a space ship?" Tyg asked.

"My people were forced into a war with a neighboring race who were tricked by the Mahrell Drun. We discovered the truth, but it was too late. We could not make our neighbors listen to the truth. Our homeworld was destroyed as was theirs. Our colony world, where I lived with my people, was almost destroyed, but we somehow survived. The survivors decided to build a ship with one goal; to destroy the Mahrell Drun. Our damaged world didn't have sufficient resources to save everyone, but we built a ship large enough to bring all of our healthy warriors. Those who remained knew they would perish when the planet finally split from its destabilized core, but we were unified in our purpose."

There was an audible response of dismay from the listening Shreen who lost their planet too.

With a glance at Jack, Sahhahr continued. "We set off to hunt down the Mahrell Drun. We were all in suspension sleep, and the automated systems encountered a scenario we hadn't prepared it to deal with. The ship became trapped, and we remained there for almost five thousand years. It was pure chance that the Tik found us."

"It's the purpose of the Tik to seek out, protect, and preserve life. I believe Rikki helped them achieved their highest goals," Jack said quietly but received nods from the others.

"When the Tik found us, they informed us that the Mahrell Drun, and their descendants the Allsa Komanae, who we never met, had all perished. Their evil light had been extinguished by our Shadeem, Jack Danner!" Sahhahr exulted as she looked at him with glowing eyes.

Jack raised his palms to get her to stop speaking about the big leaked secret, the exact nature of Jack's role in the demise of the Allsa Komanae. He was aware that the Shreen already unofficially knew, but better to break Sahhahr of the habit from the start.

The Shreen just clapped with delight as the Ishilon watched him with pride.

"What's a Shadeem?" Julli asked curiously, narrowly beating Berris to the question.

Again, Jack tried to indicate silence with a gesture, but Sahhahr was on a roll.

"Jack Danner is our rightful leader, our guide, and our purpose," she said to Julli. "The collar he wears has etched upon it, the symbol and words of Chahdesh, our greatest Shadeem. Defiant words to strike back at the evil and bring them to a final end. Not only does Jack wear the mark of this Shadeem, but he also fulfilled the promise. We, the Ishilon, are his."

Jack hung his head in embarrassment as all eyes turned to him.

"Jack! You've become a King like me! This is wonderful! Consort to the Queen of Altaria and Shadeem of the Ishilon! Your credentials are becoming quite impressive!" Tyg exclaimed with delight.

"What does it mean to be Shadeem?" Tanz asked cautiously, and Jack gave her a grateful look, earning a quick smile from her.

"To be a Shadeem is to define a purpose for his people. To guide them spiritually, morally, and to set a course for them in the new world they're now in. To set a standard that all Ishilon will aspire to follow," Sahhahr explained with great pride.

Jack stared at her in dismay. "I'm not a guru or some kind of wise man with a talent for inspirational speeches or divinations. I'm just a man!"

"No, Jack, not just a man," Lyn said. "You are a good man. You teach us about love and are open to love in all its forms. Your family is proof of that."

Jack gave her a warm smile, but he still felt like he was over his head with this grand Shadeem thing. He paused to think about that. Maybe she would change her mind if she saw exactly how much of a goofball he was with his family. He glanced over at Sahhahr, who was looking even more satisfied having heard Lyn's assessment of his character. He looked to Lorrem, and the male nodded to him.

"Perhaps it would be illuminating if you returned to Chuuruthia with me tomorrow so you could see firsthand what kind of Shadeem you've fixed your hopes on. I'm having a party at my home for many of my non-Shreen friends." He looked to the others at the table. "While you're welcome, I understand you never leave Chrystan."

"Thank you, Jack. We'll party with you here," Tyg said for the group and got chuckles from the others.

"Is the temperature higher on Chuuruthia than Chrystan?" Sahhahr asked cautiously.

Jack chuckled. "The temperature is fairly steady on Chuuruthia with only a minor seasonal variance. As we're in the summer season, I believe you will find it reasonably comfortable. You could bring the Skrahak coats, in case you find the evenings too cool." He looked to Lyn, and she nodded.

The waiters made an appearance, and Jack gratefully sighed as he was becoming ravenous.

"It looks like dinner has arrived. We'll keep the mics open if no one objects?" Tyg said, glancing around the table, but no one seemed to mind.

The Queen gestured for the food to be brought in. The staff placed tray after tray of cooked vegetables. Jack began to salivate from the delicious scents.

Then a plate of something red came in and was placed on the table close by. Jack's eyes began to sting and water.

"Nope! That can't stay here! Please move the pickled tarfel over there, next to Geng. She loves it!" Jack said, holding his napkin up over his face. Geng burst into giggles as her husband Mirs nodded with a look of resignation. He didn't care for the pungent tuber either.

Servers entered to approach the Ishilon guests and Jack with covered trays.

When the lids were removed, Jack saw Sahhahr and Lorrem had been given bowls of seasoned ground Skrahak mixed in with some form of bean.

Sahhahr was looking at her bowl with delight. She caught Jack's curious gaze. "We discovered this high protein vegetable during the lunch meal break. I was not expecting this preparation of the meat, however. It smells wonderful!"

Jack had been given a small steak cooked how he liked it. He scooped some of the vegetables onto his plate as well.

The conversation was mostly directed to Sahhahr and Lorrem regarding daily life as an Ishilon on a desert planet. The Shreen were having a difficult time conceiving of living in such hot and dry conditions. It was fascinating to them and likely the radio audience.

Phan spoke up. "We do love one hot thing! We have hot springs in Elleltris. It feels wonderful to immerse ourselves in hot water. Especially with a chilly shower afterward!"

"You submerge your bodies completely in the water?" Sahhahr exclaimed in surprise.

Jack chuckled and gave his new friends a happy smile. "May I assume Ishilon prefer sand baths?"

"With the proper type of sand, of course," Sahhahr said with conviction.

"There's more than one kind of sand?" Vinn asked in surprise.

"How many kinds of snow are there?" Sahhahr asked calmly. Vinn's mouth opened and closed several times as he thought about that. He nodded to award the point to her. The others laughed as she smiled at his gracious surrender.

They continued to eat and discuss their similarities and differences. The Shreen took turns stepping outside to cool their bodies.

When everyone was back, Tanz stood to get everyone's attention. "I hope you're not too full as Jack has brought us a surprise dessert. He wouldn't even tell me what it is!" She pouted sweetly, and Jack reached over to squeeze her hand. The Shreen burst into shocked giggles as she looked at him in surprise. She dropped back into her chair to rub her cheek affectionately against his.

That's when Jack remembered, once again, about their hand holding taboo. It was only for sexy playtime for Shreen. Dammit!

Sahhahr and Lorrem were watching Jack's embarrassment with interest, so he needed to explain. But first, Tanz. "My apologies for grabbing your hand like that. I'm not sure why, after so many years, I can't remember that on Chrystan, that's an intimate gesture."

"Love Doctor," Geng said aloud.

"No!" Jack immediately said with a raised finger, and a stern look for Geng, but the rest started chanting it quietly. Terk and Vinn more excitedly than the others.

"Our Shadeem has many interesting titles," Sahhahr admitted. The group burst into giggles.

Jack looked at her in exasperation. "That one is undeserved. It was a slip of the tongue-"

The Shreen's giggles became full-blown laughter as Jack looked at them in mild exasperation.

"It's like I'm dealing with a bunch of horny teenagers!" he gasped, but their laughter just got louder.

Hahn looked like he might fall off his chair. "But- but- Jack is the horny one!" the doctor gasped out.

"Horned! I'm the horned... oh, never mind," Jack sighed as he leaned back in his chair, grumpily. Tanz immediately leaned against his side and rubbed her cheek against his until his smile returned.

Mollified, he leaned forward. "Back to dessert, I have brought along a little treat for everyone."

Tanz nodded to the servers, who she earlier directed to bring the cooler after clearing the dinner dishes. She looked at Jack. "What utensils will we need?"

"Small bowls and spoons. Also, three larger spoons for serving it," Jack replied, and two servers rushed outside to get the items.

The cooler arrived and was placed next to Jack as he stood. "This is one of my guilty pleasures. For me, it brings back childhood memories as we didn't have very many times when we could afford the extravagance of dessert, much less one as delicious as Ice Cream."

Hahn's expression froze, then he scowled. "Wait a minute! I recall your story about ice cream! It's made from the lactation fluids of large Earth herbivores! We're not eating that, and that doesn't make us weenies!"

Jack nodded. "I would never ask you to eat any animal-based food. I was recently on Orellia-"

"Wait a minute! Isn't that the planet where everyone fights?" Hahn interrupted again.

Jack sighed. "Yes, it's a pretty rough and tumble place. And yes, I got into a few fights when I was there, but that's a story for another day. Let me get back to explaining how I'm not trying to get you to eat a bug."

Hahn chuckled and gestured for him to continue.

"I found a plant. To be more accurate, I was tossed over a railing and landed in a ditch full of these plants. I broke some of the plant stems in my fall and got covered with this creamy sap. Some of it got in my mouth. I realized that it reminded me of ice cream. The texture and creaminess, at least. I brought some to my Chuuruthian botanist friend, and he worked out a way to use it as a substitute for the cream from cows. This is completely plant-based ice cream, and it tastes amazing!"

The bowls and spoons were set down before him, so he lifted three tubs out of the cooler. "I have three flavors. The light yellow ice cream is flavored with vanilla, a plant from Earth. The pink ice cream is flavored with real Silioberries from Chuuruthia. The rich brown ice cream is-" Jack stopped as he almost mentioned a prohibited substance on a radio broadcast. While the likelihood of anyone on Earth hearing the recording was next to impossible, he wouldn't take that risk.

The second risk he was taking was feeding Earth chocolate to the Shreen. The vanilla flavoring was safe enough. Silioberries were imported and eaten on Chrystan, as well. But chocolate made from real Earth cocoa beans... that needed testing to see what the Shreen metabolism would do with it.

"Let's skip the last one for now," Jack said and placed the tub back in the cooler. "All natural ingredients and safe for consumption-"

"What's wrong with the third one?" Hahn interrupted again.

Jack looked at him in surprise. "Nothing..." He sighed when he caught that stubborn look on Hahn's face.

Berris saw the look too and swatted her husband gently. "Stop annoying Jack!" she scolded. Her husband looked at her in surprise then nodded to Jack in apology.

"It's ok. There isn't anything wrong. It's just made with an ingredient that might have a physiological effect as it can be a little potent. I'd need it checked against a Shreen metabolism."

"What does it do to humans?" Hahn asked, his curiosity in full swing.

Jack smiled, seeing his enthusiasm. "It can affect mood, induce calm, a feeling of well-being, and for some, it's an aphrodisiac-"

"I'll try that ice cream, please," Terk stated boldly.

"Me too," her husband jumped in with a grin. The others chuckled, and the me too's began.

"Hang on!" Hahn stood up and collected something from his doctor's bag he'd left by the side of the room. He carried a small box back to Jack's side of the table and activated it. "I need a sample," he said quietly and pointed to the slight indentation. Jack retrieved the chocolate tub, scooped a small amount, and dropped it on the tiny plate. With a hum and a bing, Hahn looked to his comm for the report.

"There's... oh- well, there's nothing toxic in it. It's quite safe for consumption. Berris and I will have this one as well."

Jack looked to Sahhahr, who held up a hand to indicate she would pass as did Lorrem. "Ingesting frozen dessert while on the surface of a frozen planet is asking too much from my metabolism," she replied.

"Understood," Jack said with a smile. He began the task of dishing up the ice cream. He gave each of the Shreen a small amount. "Ice cream melts quickly, so begin eating when you get yours."

Soon, he heard happy and excited noises coming from the group. Tyg licked his bowl clean. Lyn had smears of chocolate on her lips when she finished, and Tyg swooped in to kiss her and lick the ice cream away too. She squealed in surprise then grabbed his shoulders so she could chase his tongue with hers to get the sweet treat back.

Soon all of the Shreen were cleaning the ice cream from their partner's lips with much trilling and squeals.

Jack stared at them in shock, then looked at the ice cream. It couldn't have had such a profound effect on them so quickly!

He turned his face to find Tanz biting her lip with half-lidded eyes as she leaned towards him. She had a smear of chocolate on her lips as well. He quickly glanced at Sahhahr but saw her nod to him. Confused, he turned back to Tanz, and her mouth was on his, her tongue slipping between his lips. It was cool and chocolatey, and he found himself caressing her lips with his tongue to taste the ice cream left there.

Tanz trilled softly and pressed against him more firmly as their tongues stroked each other.

Before he became lost in the kiss, Jack pulled back slowly, overly aware of their Ishilon guests. Tanz rubbed her cheek against his, and he returned the gesture. God, she was so lovely!

Once he pulled back, he looked to the others and saw they were equally enamored with each other. He closed up the ice cream tubs and sealed them away in the cooler. He'd intended to leave them with the Shreen, but now that didn't seem like a wise decision. He'd take them back with him.

"I- I wasn't expecting such a strong reaction," he said quietly.

Sahhahr saw the smiles on the faces of the Shreen. "They seem to be enjoying it. One might believe this was what they were hoping for or maybe even anticipating all evening."

Jack looked at the royal couple and saw their guilty smiles. The others picked this up quickly until they were all giggling.

Hahn spoke first. "I failed to disclose how sensitive the Shreen might be to the chemical composition of the brown ice cream. Having experienced it myself now, I might have to classify it with a medical advisory warning. While not technically dangerous, it is profoundly... relaxing."

The royal couple gave each other a look and nodded. Tyg closed off the radio broadcast with thanks to his special guests, and the mics were turned off.

Lyn and Tyg moved next to Jack and rubbed their cheeks against his. When they pulled back, they looked into his eyes, and Lyn spoke. "We have a confession to make, Jack. We were hoping you might join us for an after-dinner drink. We acquired a lovely bottle of Lussht. Perhaps you might demonstrate a few more ways to make love?"

Jack looked at them, incredulously. They were way too relaxed to be mentioning such things in front of strangers.

Tyg spoke next. "It's time, Jack. Lyn and I are ready to start a family. As you were integral to saving our marriage, we wanted to re-enact that wonderful night." Tanz glanced at Lyn in surprise.

"Including the Lussht?" Jack asked, hesitantly. He'd managed to avoid the potent liqueur since that first visit. It had hallucinogenic qualities for him, though thankfully, nothing terrible or frightening. It was the lost memories that bothered him.

"Yes, Jack, including the Lussht," the Queen said with an affectionate smile.

"What is Lussht? I like the sound of the name! It sounds like you're speaking Ishilon," Sahhahr said.

"It's a traditional Shreen drink. It intoxicates, relaxes, and widens the perceptions," the King explained.

"I think I'd like to try it!" Sahhahr said, and Tyg's smile grew wider. She looked at Jack's concerned expression. "The Ishilon are immune to poisons and our... physiology rejects any substances we might ingest that might cause us harm." He nodded at her.

Jack looked at the eager and excited faces of the others and sighed. He was their guest. If they wanted a Lussht fueled orgy, then that's what they'd get. He nodded, and a cheer went up.

"Don't we need a cushioned conversation pit?" Jack asked.

Phan rushed over to the doorway, where a control panel was mounted on the wall next to the door. He touched the screen, and the floor at the far end of the room split open, exposing a deep and wide terraced pit.

Jack walked over to it and gazed down at the soft-looking blue pillows circling the darker blue padded base. There seemed to be a gentle heat coming from the bottom.

"It's heated?" he exclaimed.

Tyg joined him at the edge. "The public pits tend to be, in case you find yourself sharing one with strangers."

Then there was a mad scramble as everyone moved to climb down into the pit and take positions around the perimeter.

Jack looked to Sahhahr and Lorrem. She turned to her cousin. "Why don't you go back up to the ship, and I'll see you tomorrow."

He paused as he looked into her eyes then nodded. "As you wish." He turned to Jack and tipped his head. "Shadeem!"

As the large male left, Jack looked at Sahhahr. "That's going to take some getting used to."

She smiled at him and slipped into the pit. "Ah, this is most pleasant. Sand would be better, but the warmth of the cushions is most comforting. You may reduce the air temperature by five degrees if it makes you more comfortable," she said to Queen Lyn, who nodded to her husband. He tapped something on his comm, and the glow of the heaters dimmed slightly.

Jack settled himself back on the cushions, and Tanz snuggled in next to him. He smiled at her.

Tyg and Lyn were distributing the tiny glasses to the other guests and handed some to Sahhahr, Tanz, and Jack.

Tyg climbed out of the pit and rushed over to the door. Jack missed that he picked up the cooler on his way. He handed off the cooler to the master chef and leaned forward to speak to him briefly before accepted a large bottle of Lussht from the male. Tyg rushed back, holding the bottle over his head and received cheers from the others.

When he was down on the cushions with everyone, he looked around to make sure he had everyone's attention. "Nobody drinks until everyone has Lussht in their glass, and we've made a toast. Jack, can we ask you to make the first one as you introduced us to this tradition on that wonderful night."

Jack nodded. "I'd be honored." He looked to Sahhahr, who was watching curiously. "This is a ritual to express positive sentiments towards someone or something we are honoring."

She smiled at him. "Is there a social contract involved?"

"Not always. Most often, the toasts are towards someone or something everyone can agree to honor. That said, I found myself in a situation recently where I was asked to raise a toast to something I couldn't agree with. I didn't share the toast with them. That led to me being tossed into a ditch by a group of angry Orellians. It happens. If that hadn't happened, I never would have found the ingredient for the plant-based ice cream," Jack said with a grin.

Tyg finished pouring a small amount in each glass and set the bottle up on the step. He turned to Jack with a smile.

Jack nodded and looked at the group. He spotted Sahhahr looking suspiciously at the tiny amount in her glass and looking to the amounts the others had. He leaned closer to her to whisper. "You have to start with tiny amounts. Ease into it."

Her confusion cleared away, and she smiled at him.

Jack addressed the group. "Lyn and Tyg mentioned they're ready to begin a family. Speaking from experience, let me say one thing. Your lives will never be the same. Children expand your lives in wondrous and unimaginable ways. Was I ready to be a parent? Not in the slightest, but I had great parents, so I did my best to emulate them. I know you two will be incredible parents."

Tyg and Lyn smiled and rubbed cheeks happily.

"To family!" Jack cheered and raised his glass.

"To family!" the others cheered back.

"To family!" Sahhahr said, coming in late, but Jack just smiled and tossed back his drink.

The cool liquid slipped down his throat effortlessly until it landed in his stomach. The cooling sensation remained in his throat, but his stomach bloomed into warmth, which slowly ebbed. He was surprised by how familiar these sensations were considering how long ago it was he'd experienced them.

Sahhahr licked her lips as she tried to recall where she'd tasted this before.

Then she caught a sad expression pass across the face of the one called Tanz as she looked at the Queen. Sahhahr looked to the others and saw they were all pair-bonded, except Tanz. The Queen wanted to have offspring. Perhaps Tanz also wanted this?

She was showing considerable attraction to the Shadeem. Interesting.

"I'd like to make the next toast," Tyg said as Tanz moved forward to begin adding second shots to each glass, just slightly more than the first. Once everyone was served, Tyg thanked Tanz, who moved back to Jack's side. "Today, we met a new friend — the Ishilon. While our preferred environments couldn't be farther apart, we've found strong and meaningful similarities. Through the strangest twists of fate, one of those similarities is Jack Danner. He's touched the lives of both our peoples." He lifted his glass. "New friends and a common one! To friends!"

"To friends!" came the response, and this time Sahhahr had the timing down.

Jack felt the second shot rushed down his throat on the slick patch of ice left by the first shot, and the bloom of heat was more significant. He experienced the mildest tingle over the surface of his brain. That wasn't a familiar sensation. He didn't recall feeling that before.

Sahhahr smiled at Tyg. "This is very good, but I can't place the taste. When does the mind expansion begin?"

Tyg chuckled. "Everyone is different, but Jack made it to three or four the first time he enjoyed Lussht."

Tanz rubbed her cheek against Jack's as he seemed to be frowning in concentration about something. This brought him back, and he kissed her tenderly. She trilled happily as she cuddled against him.

As Tanz was preoccupied, Lyn poured the next round, everyone getting half a shot glass of the liquid.

"May I make a toast?" Sahhahr asked.

Everyone faced the Sultessa. "When the Tik informed us that the Mahrell Drun were gone, I felt an unimaginable emptiness. The sacrifices my people made to get us out into space to defeat the great evil never weighed heavier on my soul than it did at that moment. We would not be able to avenge my people and fulfill our promise to those we left behind. Worse, we were without purpose. We had no future." She looked at Jack. "When the Tik told us of Jack's roll in defeating the last of the Mahrell Drun, I felt a flicker of hope. Then we met him here and discovered he wears a collar with the writings of our greatest Shadeem, who was consumed by the very Mahrell Drun that built the collar for Jack. There can be no greater sign for the Ishilon that we've found our new purpose. Jack kept our promise for us. Our people have been avenged. We've been delivered a new Shadeem to lead us. For the first time since we left our failing colony world behind, we have a future. To the future!"

The Shreen were staring at Jack and Sahhahr in stunned silence as the magnitude of the bond between Jack, and the Ishilon was finally revealed. Vinn was the first to recover. "The future!" he bellowed, and the others quickly followed suit.

Jack held himself very still as he was expecting it, but the third shot once more surprised him by skipping his throat entirely to hit his stomach immediately. The heat bloom exploded and went right to his brain stem. The room went soft focus for just a moment and then settled down into a calm, happy hum. This! This was familiar!

Sahhahr was feeling... warm. The lifting of her consciousness hadn't happened yet, but she could see Jack was beginning to relax. Her Shadeem! The collar he wore glittered in the subdued lighting of the comfortable pit they all rested in. She thought she could almost see it pulse with his heartbeat. He was so different in appearance from the Shreen, yet he showed no hesitation in displaying affection towards Tanz, or the other Shreen for that matter. She'd never met a true Hybrid before though she was thoroughly versed in how important they were to the Mahrell Drun. Her people knew every detail of their mortal enemy. Useless information, now that they were dead.

But Hybrids still existed. The rarest of creatures, they had useful and unexpected capabilities.

Phan leaned forward. "I have a toast I'd like to share."

Affectionate smiles were aimed at the male, and more Lussht was poured into each glass. Sahhahr noted hers was almost full now. She hoped this one would lift her mind to the heavens.

All eyes were on Phan, and he seemed a little shy about that, but he pushed forward. "Years ago, on a special night, much like this one, we were informed that there was more than one way to make love. I know he doesn't care for the title, but we've always considered Jack to be our Love Doctor. We learned that night how to give pleasure to our spouses in ways that have enriched our relationships. Tonight we're hoping to get another glimpse into the many ways to make love. To the many ways!"

The group laughed as Jack groaned, but they all raised their glasses. "To the many ways!"

Jack tossed back the drink and felt his mind expand to encompass the planet once more. He felt its movement and the crashing thump of every heartbeat on and under its surface! As before, he had the sensation of being able to do anything! His emotions swelled as the potentials were so grand.

Sahhahr enjoyed the swallow and felt a wonderful warmth spread through her entire body. She could also feel the heat radiating from each being in the pit. Jack was a raging inferno in comparison, and she was almost afraid to get too close as she was sure she would get lost in those flames. Then she realized that's what she wanted most. This made her pause as her mind was obviously under the influence of the Lussht... or was it?

Lyn looked at Jack to assess where he was in the Lussht levels and determined one more shot should free him of his inhibitions. "My turn to make a toast." Tyg looked at her in surprise, but she glanced at Jack, and Tyg nodded. He did the honors of pouring full glasses this time and stifled a chuckle as he watched the intense concentration on Jack's face as he struggled not to spill any.

The severely depleted bottle of Lussht was set aside, and everyone faced the Queen.

"I'm going to keep mine short and sweet. It's the first toast I made with Tyg and Jack. To love."

"To love!" the friends cheered and tossed back the liquid.

Jack was amazed he managed not to spill any as the pit accelerated across the surface of the planet. He slumped to the cushions as the speed was taking his breath away. Two faces appeared above his. Concerned gold eyes and dark grey eyes glowing with love watched him.

"Is Jack ok?" Sahhahr asked Tanz.

"Yes, he's just reached a plateau of perception we haven't reached yet," Tanz purred.

"You're both so lovely!" Jack sighed as he reached up and stroked their cheeks.

Tanz's eyes flicked to Sahhahr to see the female's eyes widen in shock and surprise. Tanz couldn't feel jealous as Jack was perceiving beauty, and she agreed that Sahhahr had a very exotic beauty to her.

"The many ways, Jack," Hahn insisted, impatient as always.

From his position lying back on the cushions, Jack snorted in amusement. "Hahn, I love you, buddy!" The group cracked up, and Hahn looked flustered then grinned at Jack.

Jack pushed himself up to a seated position and admired the two ladies sitting so close. "My God, so lovely." He closed his eyes and gave his head a little shake as the room was still threatening to accelerate away. When he opened his eyes, he looked to Sahhahr and noted how incredible her iridescent scales were. The thin gold chain she wore over her shoulders, across her torso and wrapped around her waist, just accentuated the color of her scales. The small Tik translation disc didn't fit with the chains, but it was small enough to go unnoticed.

He looked to the group. "See Sahhahr had the right idea with just her pretty chains. The rest of you- Too many clothes!" Jack shouted in false outrage, and the group burst into giggles. "And you know better than just to tug the kilts off!" he continued.

"We don't," Terk said with a pout.

"We don't either!" Dane spoke up though he looked embarrassed.

Jack looked to them and blinked. "Ah. Well, if I might ask for a lovely assistant-"

"Me!" Tanz yelped with a giggle, and Jack grinned at her.

Sahhahr choked back her words. She was about to volunteer before Tanz beat her to the call. She was stunned by her behavior.

Jack held his hand out and guided Tanz to the middle of the circle. He began by removing his shirt, peeling it off slowly while holding Tanz's eyes and grinning. She giggled and bit her lip. Jack tossed his shirt aside and reached behind her head to take a gentle grip on her thicker fur there and pulled her close for a deep kiss. This went on for almost a minute. He worshipped her lips with his, and she was panting with need when he finally eased her down onto the cushions. He undid his tight pants and slipped them off, leaving only his tented black silk boxers. Before Tanz could react, he slipped a finger under her waistband and slid it along, caressing her tummy. Tanz gasped and cooed then jolted as he moved down to kiss her stomach just above her kilt. His fingers were busy undoing her fasteners as she was distracted. When he peeled her skirt off, Tanz was twitching and squirming under his fingers. He caressed the soft fur on her inner thighs as she trembled.

When her eyes flared with desire, he brought his tongue into play, and her back arched as he drank from her sweet nectar.

"He- Jack's using his mouth- down there!" Dane gasped.

"Oh, Jack, YES!" Tanz cried out in bliss.

Terk and Vinn immediately began to mirror Jack and Tanz's moves. The others quickly followed suit.

Tanz reached her peak quickly and clung to his horns to keep his mouth where he had it. She made the sweetest mewling noises then sagged to the cushions, panting.

Jack pulled back and caught Sahhahr, watching him with wide eyes.

"I've never witnessed anything like that! Did you use your lips and tongue to bring her pleasure? She cannot conceive in this way, can she?" the Sultessa asked.

Jack was riding his high from the Lussht, and everything felt so good. He smiled at Sahhahr and shook his head. "This was just for the pleasure of it, not to produce a child. And as much as I would love to make love with Tanz, we aren't physically compatible. The plumbing doesn't connect."

"Jack has an inefficiently large fertilization delivery organ," Hahn called out then went back to pleasuring Berris as she squealed.

"Hahn, stop trying to get me all excited with your sexy talk!" Jack teased, and giggles erupted across the group. Then it was back to gasps, coos, and trills. With a smile, he turned back to Sahhahr, who was blatantly staring at the bulge in his boxers.

"You will not be having sexual intercourse with any of the Shreen?" Sahhahr asked cautiously.

"I don't know... Hahn's giving me ideas," Jack said with a straight face.

"What? Me?!? How?" Hahn gasped and began to bluster before Jack started laughing.

"I'm teasing, Hahn. You're safe from my lustiness," Jack teased. Hahn pouted, then Berris tugged him back down.

Jack returned his attention to Sahhahr. "Not in the usual way but there's still touching and-"

"Licking!" Tanz exclaimed with a grin as she pushed Jack over onto his back. She tugged down his boxers, and his erection slapped back against his stomach.

Sahhahr gaped at Jack's cock. "Hahn was right!"

"Of course, I was right!" Hahn paused his efforts to say.

"Hahn! Pay more attention to me!" Berris complained.

"Sorry, my love." Hahn apologized and renewed his efforts, much to Berris' delight.

Phan and Julli moved to lean closer to Jack. Both were grinning, and Julli had a dreamy look in her eyes. "The many ways, Jack," Phan gently reminded him.

Jack lifted his head and nodded to the couple. "Yes! And this one is especially appropriate for Tyg and Lyn!" he said as he craned his neck to see the royal couple. They moved closer as well. Tanz was mischievously trying to get her tongue closer to Jack's erection, but he evaded her, rolled to his knees, and scooped her up in his arms. He gently laid her back against the cushion. Then he took a grip on her ankles and lifted her legs up and up until they were resting against his shoulders. Tanz was looking up at him with wide eyes. Jack felt his mental acuity suddenly snap into sharp focus, yet he was still so relaxed.

"This position should allow for deeper penetration as the entire idea for procreation is getting the sperm to the egg. It also puts extra pressure on your tingly bits, which should feel much better. Now, I can't demonstrate the penetration, but I can show you how you should be moving once you get into position."

He leaned forward and pressed the underside of his cock against her wet lips with their covering of active tendrils. Fuck! That felt good! He slid back and forth and side to side as Tanz sucked in her breath.

"Ah! Jack! So hot!" Tanz gasped.

He pulled back slightly. "Is it uncomfortable?"

"NO! No! It's so... different, yet so good!" she sighed as she squirmed beneath him.

Jack looked up to see all eyes on him. Tanz's feet were on either side of his head, lifting her ass off the cushions slightly. "Ok... this feels really good for me, so it's going to feel even better for you! Give it a try. See how I'm rocking my hips? Keep that in mind!" The other scrambled away to find their spots, and soon the males had their female's legs up and pushed back. Berris was almost folded in two. "Easy there, Hahn. Don't lean forward quite so much. Let her breathe as you press against her."

Berris sent Jack a grateful look, and then her eyes flew wide as Hahn got it right. She trilled loudly. Hahn also sent Jack a grateful look as his expression became blissful.

"DANE! AH! DANE, YES!" Wenns bellowed. Eyes looked in their direction as Dane undulated his hips as he pressed against his wife.

Not to be outdone, Terk and Vinn were rocking and moaning steadily.

Jack watched Tyg and Lyn and saw they were in a world of their own, both so much in love and so excited about the prospect of having a child of their own; they were oblivious to the others around them. Lyn's legs were up, and Tyg was moving his hips to give her the best sensations he could. Jack looked away to provide them with privacy, of a sort, in this crowded pit.

Sahhahr was whispering in Tanz's ear, and emotions were flashing across the female's face as she looked up at Jack. He was about to ask what she was saying when the first wave crashed through Jack's mind as the room went soft focus. He felt himself sliding sideways.

"It's just a wave..."

"...not to worry, Jack's fine."

Voices came and went in the wind tunnel that Jack's head had become. There was a mad rushing sound with thumps, and it sounded familiar. He listened and realized it was his heartbeat. It was actually kind of soothing.

Sahhahr leaned in close to Tanz once more. "You must keep stimulating him as you were."

Tanz looked down at Jack. "But, he was on top!"

"You must get on top of him and continue!" Sahhahr insisted.

With a puzzled look at the Sultessa, Tanz threw her leg over his body and pressed herself against his hard cock once more. She trilled as it felt so hot, hard, and smooth under her.

Jack moaned as pleasure suddenly swept over him. He opened his eyes to see Tanz on top of him, stroking herself up and down his erection. "So good!" he sighed and smiled at her.

Then he noticed Sahhahr was very close by watching him. "May I touch your scales?" he asked.

She nodded. "Of course! You are my Shadeem! I am yours."

Something about the way she said that, didn't quite feel right. Before he could reach out to touch her, he was distracted and sucked in a sharp breath as his pleasure increased suddenly. He noted Tanz was beginning to lose control. Her movements were becoming erratic, and her breathing was coming in gasps. This was pushing Jack beyond his ability to hold back. "Fuck! I'm going to cum!" he ground out between his teeth. He glanced at the others and saw they were all switching positions to females on top like Tanz was demonstrating.

"Jack! Jack! It's coming! I can't-" Her words became a long drawn out trill as Jack felt his body tighten and his orgasm struck.

Sahhahr watched in fascination as hot cum splashed onto Jack's body. She quickly reached in and scooped some up with her tentacle-like fingers. She then moved behind Tanz, who was still writhing through her orgasm and pressed her cum covered fingers over Tanz's sexual orifice. Using her smallest digit Sahhahr pushed as much of Jack's seed as she could into the receptive pocket.

Tanz's mouth opened, but no sound came out. She arched back to lean against Sahhahr, who eased her down onto the cushions and away from Jack.

Sahhahr moved to the side to look at the remaining cum on her fingers. She glanced at Jack, relaxing on the cushions, and slipped her digits into her mouth. "Salt!" she exclaimed in surprise.

Heads turned as the group heard her. While the royal couple remained off to the side, Sahhahr was stunned to see the other females unmount their males to knee walk over to Jack to begin licking the salty substance from his stomach, chest, and neck. Her eyes widened further when the abandoned males lined themselves up behind their mates and continued to have sex with them in that position! Vinn and Dane watched the other males and quickly emulated their motions to begin mating with their spouses once again.

Once Jack had been thoroughly licked clean, Julli noticed that he was erect once more and began licking there, hoping for more. The others moved closer to add their prehensile tongues to the task, and Jack began to moan.

The sensation of so many tongues stroking and touching his body, then concentrating on his cock, sent Jack's mind to Heaven. He'd been traveling there on a wave to begin with, so this just felt like acceleration. He hadn't completely come down from his bliss from being with Tanz when this started. He could feel his next release racing up on him, and there was nothing he could do but try to ride it out.

"Fuck! Too much! I'm gonna cum!" he cried out, and squeals erupted as tongues stroked him more aggressively. "Shit! Ahhhhhhhh!" he cried as his second orgasm struck. The ladies were too close to avoid the resulting spray and caught it across their faces. Most of the tongues left Jack to get busy once more, cleaning the mess from their fur. Terk stroked out the last few drops from Jack with her tongue and felt him shudder with the sensation. She swallowed her prize and hummed happily at its saltiness.

The males were approaching their releases, and their spouses were no longer distracted from their actions. Loud moans were heard from the couples, as one after the other, they found their bliss. The group separated, with the couples moving to cuddle individually. Sahhahr watched with interest then noticed Tanz was no longer in the pit. Her kilt was missing, as well. She wasn't sure what to make of that, so she moved closer to Jack and stretched out on the cushions next to him. While his eyes were closed, his arm went around her and pulled her close against his body. His heat seeped into her body, and she wrapped her tail around and over him to get more. She felt his hot hands resting on her scales, and she suddenly wanted them to touch her everywhere, but he was sleeping.

Jack's mind was slowly coming back to him. He was slipping in and out of consciousness, but the feel of Sahhahr's body on him felt incredible. Something percolated up through his mind. Something she'd said.

"Sahhahr... I don't own you. I'll only touch you... if you want me to." And Jack's mind took him under.

The Sultessa heard the words of her Shadeem and clung to him tighter. He couldn't know how much she wanted him at the moment, but it would have to wait.

She wasn't ready yet.

Chapter 15

Queen Elissa disconnected her comm from speaking with the new leader of the colony on Callosephia. She'd done her best to assure the young female that she was doing the best she could in a bad situation. Elissa was distraught to hear a team of Sanosian hunters had set up a base, but she kept this from Jessa.

She'd promised to send four more teams of security agents, but what she'd heard from Jessa led her to believe they weren't the solution for this. Still, she'd feel better about the safety of the colonists with the extra security until they could eliminate the threat of the freed livestock.

Elissa needed fresh eyes on this situation. Someone who could think laterally and come up with solutions no one else would even conceive of. She needed Jack.

She knew she could pull him aside tomorrow at the party but, after her call with Jessa, she felt a need for urgency.

She opened the secret drawer in her desk and pulled out the anonymous comm Jack gave her on one of his infrequent visits. He'd told her that if she needed to ask for a favor, she shouldn't do it over official lines.

Before she could talk herself out of it, she dialed his number on Chuuruthia.

She heard the line connecting, and then she heard a voice she wasn't expecting. "Hello, Queen Elissa. This is Gee."

"Oh! I was calling for Jack. He said this line would go to him directly," she said, disappointed.

"Normally it would, but he's on Chrystan at the moment. He'll return tomorrow. I assume since you didn't wait to speak to him tomorrow, you need some immediate assistance. How may Bal and I help you?"

Elissa blinked as she hadn't considered the two former agents. They'd retired when Jack was banished, but they kept protecting Jack on his travels and kept their skills honed as they trained SennLann's twins. Maybe they could help.

"I'm not sure what can be done, so I was hoping for one of Jack's outside the box solutions. We have an issue on Callosephia. The Sanosians crash-landed a transport ship and released its load of sand-dwelling livestock. These creatures are vicious, difficult to track under the sand, and one bit off the hoof of the former colony leader. To make matters worse, the Sanosians have landed a hunter team to collect their property. The Sanosians have been very sloppy with this latest ploy to take the planet for themselves, so we won't have trouble with getting the Gate Network to condemn their actions. It's the danger the colonists are in during the interim that needs to be addressed."

"How many Security team members have been dispatched to Callosephia?" Gee asked.

"Initially, six, but I just promised four more. They aren't very effective at capturing the livestock," Elissa explained.

"Your bigger issue is going to be that hunter team. They aren't there to help. If the Sanosians want the planet, it is highly likely they will try to destroy the Altarian colony somehow," Gee suggested as she tried to conceive how they might do this without just blatantly attacking. "How many colonists are on the planet?"

"Roughly one thousand. Most work in the sand processing plants, but there are a fair number of artists in a commune outside of the main community. This is the bare minimum for maintaining colony status. The planet is deep in Altarian space, so there is no precedent for giving it up, but the Gate Network hasn't been friendly to Altaria for some time," the Queen said wearily.

"Understood. We'll take a look and see what can be done to protect the colonists. Speak to Jack tomorrow and let him know what you told us. He can contact us on Callosephia, and we'll give you an update then. Does this work for you?"

Elissa felt much better. "Yes, thank you! Your contact on the planet is the new leader, Jessa. She's had a rocky start to her command."

"We'll touch base with her when we first arrive. Thank you," Gee offered.

"Thank you both!" Elissa exclaimed.

"Goodbye." The line went dead as Gee hung up.

Elissa sighed and felt her neck muscles creak. She hadn't realized how tense she'd been. She smiled to herself as she wished Jack would walk in her office door to massage her shoulders for her.

With a sigh, she turned to the documents her daughter's son had arranged for her to sign. She had so many amendments to review and to apply her seal to. She wanted to go home so she could be rested for tomorrow's party.

Now she had more reasons to look forward to it!

-=-

When Gee disconnected, Bal raised an eyebrow.

"We're going to Callosephia to do a little hunting," Gee said, and Bal gave her a rare smile.

"What's on Callosephia that's worth hunting?" Bal asked.

Gee's grin was wicked. "Sanosians."

"Are they good hunting?"

Gee and Bal turned to see Adina and Zaina standing in the doorway. The twins had long since perfected their ability to appear silently. Even the highly trained Altarian team couldn't detect them if they didn't want to be seen or heard.

Gee sighed. "It's an unofficial mission for the Queen. A Sanosian hunter team is on the planet. They will be plotting the demise of the colony and likely some colonists while they're at it. The sands are also now infested with creatures that bite through bone. We'll likely need to evacuate the colonists before we can deal with the creatures and the hunters."

"Sounds like you could use some help," Zaina suggested.

"This is going to be a live-fire situation-" Gee began then stopped as the twins already had extensive live-fire experience on Phem Kalos, with the most limited training at a young age.

Bal looked at Gee with another raised eyebrow.

Gee shrugged. "Ok, yes, you can join us. We'll need your assistance getting the colonists to safety if the Queen agrees with that plan. We also need to assess the Hunters to see what they're planning. That means reconnaissance, and we can't touch the sand, so we'll be taking the fast skimmers."

The twins grinned excitedly as they'd wanted to have an opportunity to ride the overpowered skimmers Gee and Bal had built to be able to keep up with Jack on his morning runs. Four of the beasts were parked in storage.

"Get your gear and meet us by the garage in five minutes," Gee said, and the twins were gone. She glanced at Bal, who was giving her the look.

"It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission, as Jack says. Besides, the twins are now adults. They can make their own decisions. That said, we will do what we can to keep them safe." Bal nodded.

Gee wrote a quick note for Jack and SennLann. Then she grabbed her kit and loaded her pockets with weapons and ammo. Bal pocketed the same and then added her explosives. They left the note stuck to the kitchen refrigerator with a fridge magnet, something Jack had imported, then hustled out to the garage where the twins waited.

They'd been trained on the overpowered skimmers, which were built with full-sized gravity lift units from a van. The device was meant for supporting and lifting one corner of an Altarian security vehicle. These were paired with an equally large fuel cell mounted on top. This gave it extreme range or extreme speed based on the need. The final layer on top was just a non-slip deck with foot grips and a vertical rod for the controls unit to rest upon. Exceptional balance was required for operating one of these skimmers.

The four mounted up and rode the vehicles down the large hill to travel to the Gate Terminal. Gee was pleased the twins maintained their sedate pace and kept formation. Of course, there would be plenty of opportunity for breakneck speed across the barren expanses of sand on Callosephia.

Once they reached the building, they dismounted and clipped the controls to their gowns. They put the skimmers on follow mode then walked into the building. Gee spoke to the agent to open them a Gate to Callosephia to assist with a vermin clean-up. Soon the four were walking through a Gate into an almost identical terminal. However, while Chuuruthia's air was cool, fresh, and held the hint of flowers, Callosephia's air promised only heat and dryness from the desert planet. The terminal climate controls worked at adding moisture and removing heat, but it was never going to win that battle.

Gee once more spoke to the agent and got directions to the colony leader's office. They walked outside and got socked by the heat. They mounted up and rode over to the most significant building.

"Are the sand dwellers already in the colony?" Adina asked.

It was early evening, so there was little foot traffic on the streets, but none seemed to be avoiding the sand, Bal observed. "It doesn't look like it, but we'll get more information from the leader."

They shut down the skimmers in a row outside the building, and Zaina giggled as they walked away from them. Adina smiled with a nod, and Gee looked to them with a raised eyebrow, so Zaina explained.

"The four dusty riders tied the reins of their trusty steeds to the post before walking into the saloon," she said with a gravelly country twang. Adina burst into laughter, and the Altarian's stopped to stare at the twins. Zaina grinned at them. "Look at the setting! Doesn't this feel like one of papa's classic western movies?"

The Altarian agents looked back at the sandy streets, the skimmers parked in front of the building, and the large orange sun moving towards the horizon. They suddenly had the odd feeling they'd leaped into one of Jack's westerns. They shared an uneasy look. Gee opened her mouth to protest.

"We know, it's not make-believe," Adina added before Gee could speak.

Mollified by the admission but still uneasy about the surreal nature of their environment, the Altarians led their charges inside. The air conditioning was an immediate relief, but a high-pitched tinkling announced their entry. The group looked up to see a glass bell above the door.

The twins shared amused grins as Gee and Bal looked for their contact. A young Altarian female came out of the backroom to see who'd entered. Relief showed on her face when she saw the black garb, but she froze in confusion as she spotted the two non-Altarians.

Gee took in the youth of the female and immediately determined she was likely office staff. "We're looking for Jessa. Queen Elissa informed us there's a Sanosian issue on the planet. We're here to make an assessment. Agent's Gee, Bal, Adi, and Zee." The twins were secretly thrilled at their new agent names but kept it from their faces. Especially considering none of them were officially agents.

"Oh! You missed her. She headed out to the artist community about an hour ago. Getting them to comply with an evacuation notice is proving to be very difficult. They're so stubborn! I'm Milli."

Gee and Bal glanced at each other. "Who issued the evacuation?"

"Jessa did. She said she's suspicious of the activities of the Sanosians. She wants us all ready to rush back to Altaria at a moment's notice. She's been doing patrols out near where the Sanosian's seem to be working."

"Where is that? Can you show us?" Gee asked, pointing to the wall display.

"Certainly!" Milli said and moved to a console. Soon a map was displayed on the screen. A blue dot appeared over the top-down view of the colony. "That's us," she said. She zoomed the map out, and to the east was another small settlement. "The artist community."

Out past that was a small blue dot, and it was moving. Milli frowned. "That's Jessa's skimmer. I don't know why she's not with the artists."

"What's out this way?" Gee asked.

"Some of the Sanosian's have been spotted further east. We can't get a good fix on them as they keep disappearing from our sensors. Using the optics from satellites isn't much better," Milli explained.

The small blue dot was intermittently disappearing. The agents recognized that immediately as caused by nearby jammers. The Altarians entered the last recorded coordinates into their comms then rushed for the door with the twins following close behind.

The four agents pulled on their goggles and masks as they activated their earpiece comms. "We have to get to Jessa before the hunters do," Gee announced as she started her skimmer. "We're not going for stealth. Full power but maintain a low altitude, and keep an eye on the elevation of the dunes."

Adina and Zaina were tingling with anticipation as they'd never been allowed to go full out on the custom-built skimmers yet.

The four lifted vertically and shot forward, heading due east towards the last known coordinates of the colony leader. They increased their speed gradually until the lift units were running at one hundred percent output. The ground below was zipping past at a dizzying rate. While they weren't trying to sneak up on the Sanosians, they didn't want to fly too high and give them advance warning, allowing them to prepare.

They maintained a relatively low altitude and tracked the height of the dunes before them precisely as they raced eastward. Clipping the peak of one of these sand mountains at this speed would be instant death. No known skimmer moved this quickly, so they would likely appear as incoming missiles once they were finally detected.

Gee liked that imagery.

-=-

Jessa scanned the dunes ahead of her for signs of Matilda-May, one of the artist community's founding members.

According to the other residents, the senior human habitually rode her skimmer bike out into the desert every morning to watch the sun come up. It gave her inspiration, they said. The woman had come to Callosephia from Earth after she watched a documentary on TV about the colony and the artist group. As a glass artist herself, she'd immediately felt an affinity with the other artists on the alien planet and arranged to visit from her native Arizona. That was over thirty years ago. She'd immigrated and remained a fixture amongst the group.

This morning she'd ignored the warnings of the other artists and followed her usual morning ritual. When she didn't return by lunchtime, the others grew worried. While she sometimes lingered out in the dunes, this was longer than she'd ever been. They contacted the colony leader who headed out the moment she could.

Jessa had gotten directions from the artists of where to look and headed out immediately. She was anxious about the older woman.

The transponder on Matilda-May's skimmer bike intermittently appeared only to fade away. It was also strangely and slowly moving left and right somewhere ahead.

As she moved forward cautiously, she kept her eyes scanning the horizon for signs of the Sanosian Hunters, which appeared to be doing something in this area. She'd never gotten a glimpse of them in the patrols she'd been doing this week, but she knew they were busy out here preparing... something.

As she crested a dune, she saw a round bowl-shaped depression behind it. She sucked in a gasp as she spotted Matilda-May standing in the center of the bowl. Then she saw the skimmer bike on the opposite side, moving slowly in a circle around the bowl but pulling a thin cord that went back to the woman. It was winding the cable around her body, slowly tightening as it orbited her. Jessa saw the woman wasn't standing. She was tied to a post.

Without a second thought, Jessa drove down into the depression and parked her skimmer before the slowly moving bike, causing it to shut down automatically.

She hopped out and unhooked the sturdy cord from the bike's frame. Carrying the end, she ran to the center of the bowl and stopped to look up into the vacant eyes of the old woman. She was too late.

Jessa noted the other end of the cord was tied to the post holding Matilda-May's body upright. The cable began its looping at the level of the woman's neck, so she'd been strangled as the bike circled her. The tighter the rope, the closer the bike was pulled downslope, and the lower the cord wrapped around her body.

Bile rose in Jessa's throat.

She began to unwind the cord at the woman's thighs. When she got to her hands, she paused. The old woman was clutching something in her right hand. She gently opened the grip and noticed the joints were stiff.

Opening the fist, she found a small folding knife, the handle covered with a bone-like material. She opened the blade and saw it was well used but still wickedly sharp. Closing the knife, Jessa wondered why it was in her hand and not stuck in the monster who strung her up like this.

"Look what took the bait! A sweet little morsel!"

Jessa spun to see two Sanosians standing by her skimmer. Identical in appearance right down to their smug, satisfied grins. One touched a silver rod to the vehicle's surface, and sparks erupted from the control panel. Her ride was dead.

She cursed herself for being so stupid for walking right into their trap. She'd been so stunned by the violence inflicted upon the older woman she lost sight of the danger to herself.

"My people know I'm out here investigating-"

"Yes, yes, but out here is no place for someone so weak and frail," the one not holding the rod smirked. "It's a dangerous place with all these sand crawlers lurking about. Accidents happen, and some people go missing. Such a shame."

Jessa ran through her options, which took no time at all as she had none. She wasn't a fighter. She was one hell of a driver, but her skimmer was dead.

She had the folding knife hidden in her palm behind her back, but again, she wasn't a knife fighter either. She had to ensure she kept the blade.

The two Sanosian's suddenly looked down at the comms hanging from their belts as they began to buzz. One lifted his to stare at it then swore softly.

"Incoming. Four. They could be some skimmer variant, but... they're moving too fast," one hunter said quietly to the other.

"They won't have fired missiles with one of their own out here. Still, we're out of time. Get the treat," the second hunter snapped. The first growled, put away its comm, and began to stride over to Jessa.

She squeaked and ducked behind Matilda-May's body. She felt something hard in the dead woman's pocket and quickly dug it out, hoping it was a comm. She blinked at the object stupidly as her mind struggled to understand what she was seeing. When it sunk in, she wondered why the old human was carrying it and why she hadn't used it.

It was the smallest and oldest gun she'd ever seen. It was silver with two small barrels, polished white bone on the grip, and a trigger with no guard.

Hearing the rapid thump of approaching feet, she pulled the hammer back, lifted her arm to point the gun in the face of the Sanosian. She squeezed the stiff trigger and squeezed some more, but it wouldn't fire. The Sanosian grinned as he rushed forward the final few steps.

The sharp crack of the bullet made Jessa scream, but it was cut off when the hunter crashed into her. They struck the ground hard, and she lost her grip on the gun as the air was knocked from her lungs.

She struggled to suck in a breath with the heavy Sanosian lying across her torso. It wasn't moving, so she must have injured it at the very least.

A shadow crossed her face, so she looked up into angry eyes. The second hunter jabbed her in the throat with the shock stick, and that was the last thing she saw.

-=-

Shortly after the four agents rocketed past a convoy of skimmers carrying the evacuating artists, they shot over the empty little village and spotted smoke on the horizon just slightly to the north. Gee altered their vector, and within minutes they shot past the site, grabbing a quick look at the scene.

Sensors on full Gee and Adina arced left with Bal and Zaina arcing right. They shed their speed and returned to the small depression in the sand between dunes. The local area was uniformly clouded by the static of a signal jammer so they couldn't pick up any other life signs nearby.

Gee and Bal left Adina and Zaina on the north and south lip of the dunes keeping a watchful eye on the surrounding desert as they dismounted and moved down into the bowl on hoof, weapons ready. They'd investigate the scene with their shoulder-mounted vid recorders operating.

There was a two-person skimmer on fire with a skimmer bike resting against its nose also on fire. At the center of the bowl was the body of an old human woman tied to a post, though it looked like the cord had been partially unwrapped. The tracks in the sand made no sense. There was a confrontation of some kind, and someone tried to kick sand over the scene to hide it. Bal spotted blood.

The two Altarians shared a look and moved to the skimmers to put out the fire.

The visible burn pattern of an accelerant used on the seats was just one more clue that someone unskilled at deception attempted to stage... something. The final result was confusion but obviously staged.

Bal walked back to the dead woman and bent down to collect a sample of the blood in the sand and spotted a piece of flesh there connected to scaled skin. Sanosian. This went into the evidence vial, as well.

She stood to look at the dead woman. "Strangled." She looked at the footprints around the post but didn't see tracks circling it. Odd.

Gee knew they couldn't deal with the dead woman as their skimmers weren't designed to carry anything but their riders. Once they were able to get clear of the jamming, they would contact the colony to have them send someone to collect her.

"I want the twins to survey the site," Gee said, and Bal nodded as they moved apart to retrace their paths back up to the opposite ends of the small bowl-shaped depression to replace the two on watch.

Adina and Zaina grinned at the opportunity and flipped on their video recorders. They stepped down from their skimmers to move down the slope into the bowl slowly, their synchronized senses fully open to each other.

They paused halfway down the slope as they picked up a pattern in the sand. Both turned their heads to the left then right and saw an even distribution of banding moving around the bowl's outer edge in a huge circle. Something had disturbed the sand in an even and repeated way all the way around the depression. They had no idea what caused the pattern, but it was there.

They continued down until they crossed the floor to meet at the old woman, tied to the post and very dead. Both looked at her sadly as it seemed an awful way to die. She'd been an artist like their brother, Joseph.

Shaking off the morbid thoughts, they inhaled through their mouths and tasted the scents nearby.

The dead woman, her perfume, blood, a second source of flesh and blood, signs of both in the sand... and gunpowder!

Zaina dropped to all fours to scent along the ground until she found it. Something shallowly buried in the sand. She gently blew the sand away from the small silver object and discovered it was a gun, recently fired as well! Aside from the sharp bite of the explosive, she picked up the dead woman's perfume as well as the scent of the Altarian who held it last.

Zaina stood with the small weapon in her hand and faced her sister. They were done, so they returned to their skimmers. Bal and Zaina moved to join the others.

Zaina began their report. "The colony leader flew here in her skimmer, saw the dead woman, and was attacked. She used this gun, which may have belonged to the dead woman. Who she shot, I don't know, but I suspect it was a Sanosian." She handed the gun to Gee.

Adina nodded. "We scented two Sanosians in the small depression. We believe one is dead. The live one tried to cover up this mess but might have left in a hurry as the scene is so poorly orchestrated."

Gee was examining the gun. She managed to work out how to open the chamber to extract the remaining bullet from the over/under barrels. It was so tiny! She closed the now empty gun and pulled back the hammer. Aiming the gun at the far dune, she squeezed the trigger. She winced with the effort and was finally rewarded with a loud click. It took excessive force to release the hammer.

"Jessa was lucky to have been able to fire at all. Probably point-blank," Gee announced.

Bal was watching her comm and noticed the jamming was fading in strength oddly, so it wasn't a stationary jamming station and might be on the Sanosian's skimmer. "They are moving away. We need to triangulate the signal strength."

Goggles and masks went back on.

Gee pulled her skimmer next to Zaina's and handed the small gun and bullet back to her. Zaina smiled and pocketed the items.

"We'll use a standard triangulation pattern. Stay low and stay alert. The Sanosian hunters aren't the only danger out here now. We have a colony leader to find and likely little time to do it."

Humming powerfully, the skimmers rose a short distance above the sand and headed northward, spreading apart to measure the strength of the jamming signal.

The twins hoped they weren't too late for the missing Altarian.

Chapter 16

Jack woke with a start. He was so freaking hot!

The room was dark except for the dim glow of area heaters off to the side of the pit. Area heaters? He tried to recall why that- AH! The Ishilon!

He could also tell he was naked.

Someone very soft was cuddling him. He realized he felt more than one texture pressed against his skin. There was furry softness on top and smooth softness on both sides of him. There was weight there too, but he found he could still breathe.

He tried to recall how he got here, but the night before was a surreal mess. He might have done some space travel according to his recollection. There were definitely some memories that were less than accurate. It had to be Lussht.

Area heaters... in a meeting room. Dinner with the Ministers and their spouses.

A gentle sigh and a soft breath against the right side of his neck. "Shadeem... you are so warm." He felt a ripple pass through her muscles down his right side and up his left. She'd wrapped herself around him!

"Good morning, Sultessa," he murmured.

Jack's memories of the Ishilon returned with a vengeance. Right. They expected him to be some grand swami guru wise man for their people, and the best he was capable of was being a wise guy. He was unworthy of that level of reverence. Completely. He had to have said something to that effect last night. He picked through his clearer memories from dinner and recalled he'd invited the Sultessa and her Commander to his barbeque party. So they could see him for the goofball he was. He wanted to let them down easy. He wasn't someone who should be giving guidance to others. He could barely keep his own life in control.

He tried to lift his arm to touch the surface of his slave collar, but, of course, his arms were trapped under some furry bodies. He felt them begin to shift and stretch against his naked skin, and that felt too good. He started to react and began to recite a chant in his mind to distract himself.

"Good morning, Jack," Lyn sighed from her position on the left side of his chest. "I always sleep so well when you come to visit."

"Good morning, Lyn," he sighed and turned his face to look into the happy, sleepy eyes of Terk. He'd expected to see Tanz, so he was a little surprised. "Good morning, Terk."

This seemed to wake the others who stretched, yawned, said their greetings, and moved from the pile to find their kilts.

The lights began to brighten until they were entirely on, and Jack could see where his clothes were. He spotted some of the females eyeing his nakedness with an odd hunger, so he quickly slipped on his boxers then his pants. He recalled that he left his overnight kit at Tanz's place.

As he pulled on his shirt, he saw Lyn and Tyg rubbing their cheeks together. They turned to Jack with happy smiles, and he returned them.

"Thank you, Jack, for the Many Ways Lesson. It was successful," Lyn said sweetly.

Jack froze as he had no memory of that. "Many Ways?"

Tyg chuckled and patted his shoulder. "You have the funniest reaction to Lussht!"

"How... what do you mean by successful?" Jack asked carefully. He glanced at the enigmatic smile on Sahhahr's face. She'd clearly witnessed and remembered all of the events of the night before.

Stupid Lussht.

Lyn's smile was beatific. "Tyg and I are going to have a child. I can feel my body preparing. It's begun!"

Everyone in the cushioned pit rushed forward to congratulate the Queen and King on their success. Jack grinned at the happy looks on the faces of the couple then he noticed the distinct absence of an essential member of this group.

"Where's Tanz?" he asked.

The others looked around and shrugged, though Lyn looked concerned.

"We will look for her this morning. I have to share this news with the people, and it needs to come from her," Lyn stated.

The Ministers and their significant others began exiting the pit. Jack and Sahhahr followed, the latter donning the heavy fur overcoat and pulling it closed but not fastening it.

Jack noticed something... something was missing, but his scattered brain wasn't connecting dots. He put it aside. It would come back, or it wouldn't.

Tyg noticed Sahhahr pulling the coat on and turned the area heater up a few degrees.

The Shreen couples all came forward to rub faces with Jack and Sahhahr, as she'd been adopted into their family. Terk and Venn were especially happy to receive the affection from Jack and were almost vibrating with excitement and joy. They said their goodbyes, and soon it was just the royal couple, Sahhahr and Jack.

That's when Jack noticed through the opening of her coat, the color of Sahhahr's scales had changed. "You seem to have turned a little pink in the heat of the sleeping pit." Not all of her scales had picked up the hue. It was mainly centered on the front of her torso.

The Sultessa smiled shyly and glanced at Lyn. "I, too, have never slept quite so well as I did next to my Shadeem."

Lyn giggled as Tyg grinned at Jack and patted him on the arm roughly. "The big guy gives off the heat of an entire family!"

Jack couldn't help but smile back at them, but Tanz's absence was beginning to worry him. He should collect his duffle and head home, but he really wanted to find out if she was ok before he left. "Could you check on Tanz?" he asked.

Lyn nodded and went to use the comm mounted on the wall to inquire.

Jack looked at Sahhahr. "The party at my place on Chuuruthia begins about ten hours from now. Will you be able to use the Chrystan Gate to come to Chuuruthia?"

"I'll ask the Tik to set up a Gate from the Ishilon ship directly to the Gate Terminal so they can just walk from that Gate to the one to Chuuruthia," Tyg offered.

Sahhahr smiled and nodded to the King. "That is most gracious of you!"

"I'll make sure I have someone waiting for you at the Gate on my side to bring you to the house," Jack finished. Then he noticed his cooler was missing. "Uh, what happened to the ice cream?"

"I gave it to the Chef to distribute amongst the Palace staff," Tyg said with a happy smile.

Jack's smile dropped away. "The brown ice cream too?"

Tyg nodded, then his smile slipped into a look of concern. "I- I think I'd better check with the kitchen staff. It was great seeing you again, Jack! Sultessa, I'll contact you this afternoon to make the travel arrangements!" He hustled away after giving them both a nod.

Lyn returned and watched her husband dash off. "What happened?"

"Tyg gave the ice cream to the Chef last night to hand out, including the brown one," Jack explained.

"Oh. Oh!" she said with a quick glance toward the door.

"Did you reach Tanz?" Jack asked with concern in his voice.

Lyn heard it and smiled at him. "She said she's fine. She just had an early appointment. She said your packages would be waiting for you at the Cargo Gate Terminal on Chuuruthia. Including your duffle bag."

"Oh! Great," Jack replied, but something still felt off about Tanz's disappearance this morning. Her sudden departure felt unusually cold compared to the clingy- he froze as he recalled a certain Harruushan female's very similar behavior.

"Is something wrong, my Shadeem?" Sahhahr asked, touching his hand. A little zing went through his nerves at her touch, and he glanced quickly at her, but she was just watching him curiously. The pink in her scales was beautiful, he noted.

"No... no, it's fine. It just seemed odd for her to rush off like that. I would have liked to have said goodbye, at least," he replied.

Lyn gestured for them to follow her. They began walking through the palace hallways towards the main meeting room, where the Gate waited for Sahhahr to go back to her ship. The halls seemed strangely deserted.

Lyn glanced back at Jack. "You'll just have to come back to Chrystan soon. You know we love having you here. Besides, Tyg's parents want you to join the next snowboarding event."

"To compete?!?" Jack asked Lyn in surprise.

She smiled at him. "Or maybe officiate? He didn't say what role he expected you to play." Jack just nodded thoughtfully. He certainly wasn't good enough on a snowboard to compete.

They reached the meeting hall to see the Gate, which would take the Sultessa back to her ship in orbit. Jack turned to Sahhahr.

"Who can I expect from your group at tonight's party?" he asked.

Sahhahr smiled. "Lorrem, Chena, and myself."

"Until tonight, then," Jack said with a little bow, but Sahhahr moved in close and stroked her cheek against his.

"I prefer the Shreen's greeting for intimate friends. I believe the Ishilon will be adopting the gesture." Sahhahr said as she pulled back.

Lyn giggled at the surprise on Jack's face. "The Shadeem is learning."

Sahhahr chuckled and smiled at Lyn. "The Tik weren't expressive enough when they described the Shreen as friendly and gracious. Your willingness to endure discomfort to ensure our comfort and survival in your environment and how quickly you accepted us into the most intimate moments of your life were examples which the Ishilon must aspire to follow."

Lyn stepped forward and rubbed her cheek against Sahhahr's. She stepped back to smile at the other ruler. "A friend of Jack is a friend of the Shreen." That made Sahhahr nod to them both.

"My Shadeem," the Sultessa said and moved through the Gate.

Lyn looked at Jack with a happy expression. "You're now a Shadeem. Congratulations!"

Jack snorted. "I think they're expecting too much from me. We'll see what they make of me after tonight."

She raised an eyebrow. "Why? What's going to happen tonight that might change their minds?"

Jack just nodded as his mind was lost in the details of preparing tonight's party.

A female Shreen Jack had never met before burst into the meeting room with a frustrated look on her face. "There you are!"

Lyn smiled at the woman. "I would have come to see you in a moment. I'm just taking Jack back to the Gate-"

"No, you are coming with me back to the hospital so that I can check on your state-"

"Pregnant," Lyn said, and the woman's eyes lit up. Then her expression went back to serious.

"As the Royal Physician, I must still perform the official tests and present the results to Tanz to release to the public." The doctor suddenly became aware of the large horned man standing behind the Queen. "Oh!"

"Hi. I'm Jack Danner-"

"The Love Doctor!" she squeaked.

Jack hung his head in defeat. Lyn patted his arm. "It would be less effort just to accept it," she added with a cheeky smile.

He sighed. "Ok, you need to go let your real doctor do her tests and congratulations again. I have to get back to Chuuruthia with the food to start the preparations. I can make my way to the terminal. Nice to meet you," he added for the doctor then rubbed his cheek against the Queen's.

As Jack walked from the room, he overheard the doctor. "Brazen fellow! I swear every time he visits someone gets pregnant!"

His face burned a little after hearing that comment, so he quickly made his way out of the palace and through the marketplace. This area was always bustling, and Jack received calls and waves from the shopkeepers and customers alike. He heard people calling out 'ice cream' and assumed they'd listened to the broadcast the previous night.

He just smiled and waved as he walked by. He used the cart to drive to the Gate Terminal and saw Gelane back at the post. The male gave him a big smile.

"Sounds like you had a very successful visit! They enjoyed the ice cream as much as me?" Gelane asked.

Jack nodded. "It was a big hit."

"Thank you for not giving me the aphrodisiac ice cream," the male said.

Jack paused and blinked at him. "What?"

"It's being reported on by every station. Lots of interviews. Some of the palace staff called in their partners and shared the brown ice cream. Then they made love and this morning six of the females are with child. Thanks to the Love Doctor!"

Jack groaned.

"The second tub of the brown ice cream has gone missing but the tubs of Silioberry ice cream and the... yellow one?"

"Vanilla," Jack said.

Gelane nodded. "They were brought by other Palace staff into Market Square late last night and shared amongst the shopkeepers who were closing up. One of the radio stations was there with a portable broadcast studio, and while they did interviews, a huge crowd gathered to try the ice cream. It's all anyone's talking about this morning. Well, that and the missing tub."

Jack noticed Gelane was eyeing him like he knew something, so he just shook his head.

The agent shrugged. "That's too bad. I was hoping you could tell me where it is so I could give another interview. That was fun!"

Jack gave the male an evaluating look. "I'll tell you what, you let people know I'll be bringing back more, but they have to tell you what flavors they want most. I won't be bringing any more of the... brown, so let them know that. Gather and tally the answers for a week and send me a note to tell me the top three. I'll let you handle Chrystan distribution."

Gelane's smile threatened to split his face. "Yes!" he cheered.

Jack nodded to the male. "Now, I need to go home to Chuuruthia."

Gelane tapped the console. "Gate 1."

"See you soon," Jack said as he walked into the Gate area and stepped through Gate 1. The scent of orchids reached Jack's nose, and he relaxed just a little more. This really was becoming his home. A stray thought entered his mind, wondering what his parents would think of his new home. That brought a smile to his lips.

After checking in with the agent, he made his way over to the cargo terminal and picked up his duffle. Wazzan's cooler was there too but no second tub of chocolate ice cream; just five empty tubs in the cooler.

The Tik in the cargo area ordered Jack a flatbed skimmer to carry the large chest of fresh Skrahak steaks and a second large chest of farm-fresh vegetables.

The ride back to the house was quick, and many of Jack's kids were already at the house, so he got them to assist him with moving the chests into the kitchen. He gave them all hugs and kisses, and they dashed off to take care of their preparations, or to avoid being asked to help with his.

Diana, Eve, Aaros, and Leffera had gone out to the market. They knew Jack was bringing the meat and vegetables, but that still left a lot to be picked up. They were on it, so Jack had no worries on that front.

Speaking of worries, he had to tell them about the Ishilon before they arrived. There was no sign of Gee or Bal, so he checked the fridge and saw a note in Gee's precise handwriting.

They went to Callosephia? With the twins?? He knew he'd be speaking with Elissa about the situation on Callosephia tonight when she arrived, but he wondered what happened in the interim that warranted Gee and Bal's involvement, including the twins. The note was very light on detail.

He flagged down Emily and Rasha as they passed through. "Has SennLann returned from Phem Kalos?"

The ladies shook their heads and continued onward, with Rasha throwing admiring glances back at him.

Jack had a lot to do, and this issue with Callosephia was not on his to-do list until later. He took a deep breath and concentrated on the things he needed to do now — food prep.

Now, which of his kids could he coerce into assisting him?

-=-

Taggart was hovering before a patient it must not lose.

It'd finally got the story on what Rikki-Tikki-Tavi did for the last of a lost race, the Ishilon. The heroic rescue, its decisive choices made under intense pressure, and the incredible self-sacrifice to save so many Ishilon lives and the lives of its team. Rikki was the personification of what it meant to be Tik.

Taggart knew it had to save Rikki, but the damage was so severe, and the steps they'd taken so far put Rikki's mind in jeopardy. Their attempt to graft on a new shell had failed miserably and may have caused Rikki's current spiral into disassociation. The levels Rikki was currently experiencing due to lacking a sense of touch from its body needed immediate attention.

The medical specialist called for the only Tik it knew of that had experienced externally sourced sensory input. Hopefully, it would be able to assist. In the interim, Taggart had attempted to send Rikki sensory data from another Tik, but the feed caused too much feedback. It was too similar to Rikki's own but not enough to match, which led to the feedback. If they could give Rikki a real-time feed of sensory data that couldn't conflict with Tik sensory data, they might be able to provide Rikki's mind a foundation to cling to. They could at least stabilize it until they could find a more permanent solution.

The Tik, which entered the medical area, also had art on its shell. It was also responsible for the sensory experience recordings currently being shared amongst the Tik.

"BassDrop, thank you for coming so quickly. Have you been briefed on Rikki's situation?" Taggart asked.

"Yes. Have you reached out to Mr. Danner?" BassDrop asked.

"No. In my last interaction with the man, he expressed to me his great anxiety about how the sensory recordings were being distributed. He made several suggestions that the recordings should be recalled," Taggart explained, and BassDrop made a noise of concern. "As you have already established an intimate relationship with Mr. Danner, we were hoping you might speak to him on Rikki's behalf to see if he'd be willing to let Rikki share his perceptions... in real-time."

BassDrop stared at Taggart, absorbing the scope of the challenge it was being asked to overcome.

"It's our understanding there will be a gathering at the home of Mr. Danner this evening. Ray Sharif will be there as well as the human Leo Orlov. Perhaps they may assist you in your effort?"

"Leo is unaware of the functionality in the collar Mr. Danner wears, and it must remain a secret. No one but the Tik are aware." It paused. "You haven't loaded the sensory experience file yourself, have you. You'd be aware of his desire for secrecy if you had," BassDrop stated.

Taggart paused. "I have not. I find the concept uncomfortable for me. I already deal with the pain of the Tik. Feeling how the non-Tik process pain is not desirable."

"It's your choice, but I find your logic to be erroneous and short-sighted. I believe there is only value in being able to empathize completely with another species. It has expanded my awareness of life itself. Please reconsider," BassDrop suggested, then thought about Rikki's plight. "I will attend this function and will attempt to speak to Mr. Danner. How much longer can you keep Rikki in this suspended state?"

"No more than a day or two. Then its mental state will deteriorate beyond saving," the Tik doctor noted. "Thank you and good luck as the human's say."

BassDrop headed for the exit with haste. It would need more than luck to convince Jack.

-=-

"NO WITNESSES! NO EVIDENCE! How much simpler did I need to make that message?!?" Karkakk bellowed at his second in command. Tchetkorr visibly winced. First hunter turned a frustrated eye on the dead hunter and then the unconscious Altarian. The loss of the hunter was embarrassing as he'd chosen him based on his impressive skills, yet he'd been killed by prey. Worse still, a grass eater!

The Altarian was a more significant problem. This wasn't some random nobody colonist. Based on the information he'd received from the Regent, its outrageously colored garb identified it as one of the colony leaders! She wasn't to be touched by the hunters!

Now, he was being forced to defy a command from his leader. He couldn't let her go. They couldn't eat her as her body would need to be found, ravaged my sand crawler teeth, not Sinosian teeth. They'd have to collect a few smaller ones, let them kill her, then dump her chewed body in the desert. He didn't have time for this as he needed all of his remaining hunters to manage the beasts when they drove them towards the Altarian colony. That was going to be a difficult enough task without reducing his team on tasks like this.

He glared at Tchetkorr. As the hunter had proven to be less reliable, perhaps Karkakk could afford to drop him from the colony attack.

"You've placed us in conflict with the Regent's orders. She's one of the colony leaders and wasn't to be harmed. Now she's a witness. Go collect three small sand crawlers- new ones! Not the ones we've collected for the attack. Let them chew on her until she's dead, then drop her body back where you found her."

Tchetkorr looked at Karkakk in surprise. He knew if he had to collect more small ones, he'd miss out on the attack. Once more hate-filled his eyes, but he directed it to the Altarian.

"Do this successfully, and the Regent may not have you fed to the crawlers as well," Karkakk growled, and Tchetkorr's anger turned to dread. He gave First Hunter a brief nod then rushed from the tent.

Karkakk turned his eyes back to the ugly dress covering the light tan fur of the Altarian. He bent down and ripped the front of the gown open so he could see her, chest to belly. He ran his claws gently over the soft, light fur! His need to tear her open and feast almost got the better of him.

His mouth began to fill with drool, but he knew it was not to be. He stomped away to begin preparations for the attack. She was tied down to the sand anchor holding the tent in place, so she wasn't going anywhere. Even if she got loose, they were too far from her colony for her to make it there on foot or hoof in her case. The desert would consume her.

Karkakk's stomach grumbled, fouling his mood further.

This mission was beginning to lose its luster.

-=-

When she was finally alone, Jessa allowed herself a sharp inhalation then grit her teeth. She would not let herself cry.

Not yet.

Not until she'd done everything she could to kill the one who dared to touch her so intimately. She would feel his blood on her fur.

First, she'd need the knife Matilda-May provided for her. Cracking her eyes open, she looked around the tent. She saw no observers or cameras.

Extracting the folding knife from its hiding spot with her hands tied behind her was going to take some flexibility and patience.

Luckily, she had plenty of both.

Chapter 17

The house was buzzing with activity, and Jack was struggling to find a moment to bring his family together so he could tell them about the Ishilon all at once. The ladies were having none of it as they directed the kids to set up the seating area and tables out on the patio, ensure the lighting and speakers were working over the dance area and directed Jack to get the grills heated for dinner.

Finally, Jack decided he'd just have to wait until Sahhahr, Lorrem, and Chena were here.

Emily and Joseph were pestering him about who would be occupying the stage Jack had constructed at the far end of the dance area. He'd just smile, shake his head, and send them off to manage another task.

The day had been a warm one, and the late afternoon sun was casting its golden light over the hillside, so Jack got the misting stations going to offer a little relief from the heat. That didn't work so well near the grills where he was spending most of his time.

Cha'Risa Ash arrived first, and Jack left the grills to greet her. He smiled at the tall, muscular beauty who seemed just a little self-conscious. While she was far more comfortable in army fatigues, she'd been retired for a few years, so she was wearing a white knotted crop top shirt over a light and flowy midthigh skirt. Both articles of clothing displayed lots of smooth brown skin over firm muscles. Her stomach muscles alone made Jack feel doughy even though he was at his fittest state in years.

As he got closer, he saw she was wearing a little makeup, and her long black hair was loose.

"My timing for parties sucks. Probably why I don't get invited to them," she lamented with a grin after Jack released her from a hug.

"Looking this amazing, I think you'll get invited to more!" Jack teased, and her grin widened. "You're always welcome to ours," he said. "Come on over to the grills with me. What would you like to drink?"

"I'd ask you what's good, but I recall your last party had a drink list too long to recite! Do you have any of that cider?"

Jack spotted one of his sons. "Doug! Would you get Cha'Risa one of the Chuuruthian Ciders, please?"

The young male nodded and rushed over to the bar area and hustled back with a bottle of the amber liquid, which he handed to the tall woman. Then he looked to his dad. "Um, do you know where Adina and Zaina are?"

Jack nodded. "With Gee and Bal on Callosephia. If you see Elissa, please let me know. I have to get a heads up on the situation, so I know what's up with the twins."

"Will do!" Doug said and moved away with another smile for their first guest.

"Callosephia... I don't think I've been there. What's it like?"

"Hot and sandy. The Sanosians have been after it for years as its climate is far better suited to them, but it's deep in Altarian space. Far too dangerous to let them get that much of a claw hold on it," Jack explained.

Cha'Risa's eyes lit up as she sensed a conflict. Jack saw this and just smiled. "I haven't heard anything from the Queen yet, aside from the Sanosians are up to something on Callosephia. As a species, they're not the sharpest knives in the drawer."

"You anticipating a little dust-up?" Cha'Risa pressed almost eagerly, and Jack chuckled.

"I'm not anticipating anything tonight except for an awesome party! But if there is one, you'll be on my call list." Motion caught his eye, and he saw Leo, Maxim, and Ray following the walkway into his yard. He pointed for Cha'Risa, and her face showed her embarrassment over their surprised expressions.

"Haven't they seen you in civvies?" Jack asked.

"I don't wear civvies, ever... normally," she admitted.

Jack's grin widened. "Then, I'm doubly honored!"

"Stop! It's embarrassing enough from them!" Cha'Risa grumbled as she pointed her thumb in the direction of her friends who were quite close by this point.

"Wow! Looking good, Ms. Ash!" Ray said, emphasizing her civilian status.

"Please! She is the Major!" Leo chastised Ray, and Cha'Risa smiled.

"Yes, Major Beauty!" Maxim completed Leo's thought and received a high five from him and a scowl from Cha'Risa.

Doug arrived in time to hear the last comments and see her discomfort. "It's ok, Ms. Ash. You can kick butt and look beautiful as you do it."

The group cheered, and even Cha'Risa couldn't stop the smile from reaching her lips. She reached out to ruffle the fur on the young male's head, but her fingers lingered in the super-soft fur. She pulled her hand back and glanced back at Jack in embarrassment. He just nodded as Doug took drink orders from Leo and Maxim. "Altarian fur is amazingly soft," he admitted.

Rasha arrived, tugging her parent's along behind her. Jack could see the young Chuuruthian's excitement and the shy wonder on the faces of the adults. "If you could excuse me?" Jack said to the others. He walked over and greeted the new arrivals as Eve came outside with Joseph and Emily, Aaros, Zoe, Leffera, and Benjamin. They immediately came over to greet the parents, as well. Emily and Rasha rushed off to do whatever it is besties do and Eve took charge of the parents.

As Jack was standing by the drive, a limo arrived with a guest Jack called at the last minute when he realized he needed to include Chuuruthia's leader for this historic meeting of rulers at his house. He smiled at the lack of entourage this planet's leader had compared to the crowd of security and admin staff around each of Earth's leaders.

Jack was grateful the Chuuruthian President agreed to come and was so accommodating. While Jack had invited him to previous parties, he'd only been able to attend once before.

"President Yunnda! So good of you to come on such short notice!" Jack said, bowing to the smaller being.

Yunnda was a little shorter than most Chuuruthians but had a sharp mind and a calm demeanor. He was wearing a lovely and traditional gown of blue with small gold stars scattered across it, and the earrings dangling from his white tufted ears chimed quietly as he moved. He smiled up at Jack. "Thank you for the invitation. I look forward to meeting Queen Elissa again and this new... Sultessa, you said?"

"Yes, Sultessa Sahhahr Tessahr," Jack confirmed.

A large taxi arrived, and the riders began to exit. Queen Elissa had arrived with Karrel. Elissa smiled, seeing Yunnda and immediately moved to trade greetings with the President. The two ladies kissed Jack as they moved to make room for the others.

Next from the taxi was Alex, Max, Gwen, and Rebecca, the youngest, immediately rushing over to get a hug from Jack. He pulled her in and held her tight, then kissed her on the cheek.

"I missed you, Dad!" she said with a grin on her face. None of her friends had someone they called Dad, all being from more traditional Altarian matings. One night flings in Jack's opinion, and Rebecca was delighted to have this unique relationship.

"I missed you too, Rebel," he said, using his nickname for her. She grinned happily.

"You won't have to miss me much longer!" she teased, and Jack looked over her shoulder to see the smiles on the faces of his other kids as well as Elissa's happy smile.

He looked at Alex in shock. "You did it?"

"We did it," Alex said, putting his arms around Max's and Gwen's back. Jack lifted Rebecca against his hip as she squeaked in surprise, then rushed forward to hug and kiss his kids. Once they managed to push him away with grins on their faces, Jack set his daughter down then pulled Elissa and Karrel into a warm hug.

"This is incredible! What... how is it going to work?" he asked excitedly.

Elissa smiled at the group of young adults. "Alex's bill was approved, not unanimously I admit, but with sufficient votes to give it priority in the court calendar. Yesterday, the judge ruled that the ten-year limitation applied not only to the banishment but to all penalties applied at the time of sentencing. This means you can not only live on Altarian soil, but you can also hold any position within the Altarian administration."

Karrel spoke up. "If you'll have it, we'd like you to take back your position of Ambassador."

Jack was stunned. This was far more than he expected. He also realized that before he accepted that role, he needed to clarify if his new role as Shadeem for the Ishilon affected his ability to be Altaria's ambassador. His mind was spinning.

"Jack? You don't seem as pleased as we thought you'd be," Elissa pouted.

"No, I am! It's just happening so fast after I'd gotten used to the idea this was a permanent situation. I never expected to be offered the role of Ambassador again!" he gasped.

Zoe ran back to the patio pulling Rebecca by the hand, both giggling excitedly in anticipation of the party. That put a smile on Jack's face. The two were such good friends as well as half-sisters. They alternated homes for sleepovers. It was Rebel's turn to visit tonight, so they'd likely stay up as late as they could manage.

The rest of the group began walking back towards the patio when another large taxi pulled up, and another group stepped out onto his pathway.

Lillian was first with a strange look on her face, which made Jack curious. She glanced at him then made a beeline for her mother and brother.

Nann was the next one out. The ex-soldier smiled when she saw Leo and Maxim, and her jaw dropped when she saw Cha'Risa. She made a startling squeal sound as she ran forward to throw her arms around her embarrassed friend.

This action worked well as a distraction as Jack seemed to be the only one still watching the taxi where SennLann exited with the three Ishilon. She was saying something to Sahhahr, who was smiling, so... that was good?

"Jack? Who are your new friends?"

He turned to see Elissa giving him the one raised eyebrow look. How she knew the newcomers weren't friends of SennLann's... nah, even he wasn't going to buy that one. He caught the pleased smile on Yunnda's face when the male realized Jack had informed him of the Sultessa before the Queen.

"There's a story to that which I need to tell everyone at once. Let me say now that they are friends and very good friends with the Shreen as well," he explained.

That got a rise out of Elissa's other eyebrow as well. "They went to the ice planet?!?"

He shrugged. "It's part of the story."

SennLann arrived with her new friends and grinned up at Jack. "You've been very busy, my Shadeem."

Jack groaned then gave her a hug and kiss before turning to the Ishilon.

All three bowed deeply to Jack. "Shadeem," they said in unison, and eyes turned to Jack's embarrassed face again. He cleared his throat and nodded to the new arrivals.

"Sultessa Sahhahr Tessahr, it's my great honor to introduce you to President Yunnda of Chuuruthia and Queen Elissa of Altaria. President Yunnda, Queen Elissa, Sultessa Sahhahr is the leader of the last remaining Ishilon who escaped the destruction of their homeworld and single colony. They've been in suspension sleep for close to five thousand years."

Soft gasps came from the group who were hearing this for the first time. He introduced Lorrem and Chena while the group was recuperating.

Now for the tricky stuff. "Their people were caught in a war caused by the Mahrell Drun, which ultimately led to the extinction of all life on their homeworld and the devastation of their colony. They set out to hunt down the evil when their ship encountered a problem and became trapped. The Tik found them while searching for life on a gas giant threatened by its destabilizing sun. The Tik rescued them by moving their ship into an orbit above Chrystan. I met them there."

"And how did you become their Shadeem?" Elissa asked.

Sahhahr answered with a brilliant smile. "Jack's collar is adorned with the words of our most revered Shadeem. Jack fulfilled the promise written, thereby bringing about the extinction of the evil ones." Sahhahr bowed her head. "That was a promise I made to the ones we left behind when we set out to hunt down the Mahrell Drun. We failed, but Jack didn't."

Jack was squirming uncomfortably. "I tried to explain it wasn't just me." His eyes lit up. "Queen Elissa was instrumental in defeating the final Mahrell Drun!"

The Ishilon bowed deeply to the Queen. "We are in your debt as well and are eternally grateful," Sahhahr said to Elissa.

Elissa bowed to the Ishilon and threw Jack a questioning look.

He knew he would have to find a time to bring all of his family up to speed, but the meeting of the rulers had to come first. He gestured to his home. "Maybe we should take this inside?" He received nods from Yunnda, Elissa, and Sahhahr. "Joseph, you're in charge of the grills until I return!" The boy threw him a salute and a grin.

As they moved towards the front door, Jack looked towards the three Ishilon who were wearing their Skrahak overcoats open. "How is the temperature for you?"

Sahhahr nodded with a smile. "It is comfortable. Much better than Chrystan! I don't believe I will need the coat in this sunlight."

"I'm amazed you spent any time there. Altarians find even the interior climate to be intolerably cold," Elissa offered.

"The Shreen make up for that with their personal warmth!" Jack insisted.

"Yes, Jack is almost a native there, we noticed," Sahhahr said with a knowing smile.

"Jack is a native everywhere he goes. That's what makes him such a wonderful Ambassador," Elissa noted.

Jack's face was burning, so he changed the topic. "The house is a little cooler as it's underground so you'll likely need to keep the coats on. As Yunnda can tell you, Chuuruthians are all about working with nature." The President nodded with a pleased smile.

Jack guided him, Elissa, and the Ishilon into his living room, and they made themselves comfortable. He cleared his throat. "Let me begin with the difficult stuff. When I met the Ishilon on Chrystan, they removed a Mahrell Drun parasite from my body. The Tik elders scanned the... purged substance and incinerated it after confirming it was Mahrell Drun tissue."

Elissa gasped and grabbed his arm in shock. "How?"

"I bit him," Sahhahr admitted and briefly displayed her fangs. "The venom of a Sultessa is extremely toxic to Mahrell Drun tissue. Jack's infection was in its early stages, so the parasite hadn't integrated with its host yet."

Elissa held Sahhahr's eyes. "Why is your poison specifically toxic to Mahrell Drun tissue? How did that come to be?"

Jack paused to wonder about that for the first time. It now seemed like a rather fortunate and specific coincidence. At the time he'd been exposed to the venom, these details slipped by him as less important than surviving it.

Not Elissa.

He looked to Sahhahr for her answer and saw her watching him with an expression of... shame?

"The Mahrell Drun originated on Ishilon. Once more, our arrogant belief in the infallibility of our technology led to a most horrific end. It happened far before my birth, but I was told it was supposed to be a simple experiment to eliminate a non-sentient parasite native to the planet. By the time it was discovered that the modified parasites could absorb the intellect of its hosts, up to and including Ishilon citizens, they'd already infiltrated vital positions in our society and left us on the brink of collapse.

One thing they could not withstand was the venom of the females in the royal bloodline. It cannot be reproduced in a lab, so the leaders had to begin a process of biting every citizen, starting with the senior officials and the military. It takes time to replenish the venom, but a bite makes the recipient immune to the parasite for well over a year.

The Mahrell Drun fled the planet and set up their base of operations on our colony world. They built ships for deep space travel and fled the colony before forces from our homeworld arrived to purge them.

I was born on the colony world decades after the Mahrell Drun fled into space. Then the war began between our homeworld and a neighboring race.

We captured one of their scientists and discovered he was infected. We learned many of the Mahrell Drun's secrets from that prisoner. We learned of the creation of the Primes. How there could only be five of them at a time but how effective this cabal was at infiltrating societies and sowing discord, driving ordinarily rational people to the madness of war. This information was shared between the Queen of Ishilon and me.

We tried to tell our neighbors they were being manipulated, but they were too irrational to listen, ensuring our mutual destruction."

Sahhahr bowed deeply to Elissa, Jack, and Yunnda. "It is our greatest shame to have inflicted the blight of the Mahrell Drun upon the worlds of the Gate Network."

Jack was stunned, but he didn't hold Sahhahr or the others personally responsible. Learning the origin of the ones responsible for so much death and destruction, and his own personal pain, was difficult to absorb.

When he looked to Sahhahr again, he saw she was trembling. "Are you cold? Would you like to go back outside?" he asked in concern.

She seemed to sag and smiled at him. "No, I'm sufficiently warm. I was just frightened that you would reject us."

Jack shook his head. "No. As you said, this mistake happened long before you were born. You've proven your willingness to put your lives on the line to defeat them. I have no doubts about your honor and integrity."

The three bowed deeply to him once more. "Shadeem."

Jack glanced at Elissa and caught her hiding a smile at his embarrassment.

"What does Jack's new role as your Shadeem entail?" Yunnda asked Sahhahr.

"A Shadeem defines a purpose for his people. He guides them spiritually, morally, and sets a course for them, especially important in the new world we're now inhabiting. He sets a standard that all Ishilon will aspire to follow," Sahhahr explained once more with great pride.

"Oh!" Elissa said and smiled at Jack.

He gaped back at her. Oh? Where were the words of wisdom that would gently dissuade the Ishilon from pinning their hopes on a goofball like him?

"I look forward to witnessing the beginnings of your journey," she continued with a pleasant expression for the Ishilon, who were looking very satisfied.

"Perhaps we should join the others?" the Queen suggested and received a nod from Yunnda, the three Ishilon, and another frustrated look from Jack.

"Does this impact your decision to offer me the role of Ambassador?" he asked quietly.

Elissa gave him another serene smile. "Not in the least. Come to my office to make it official."

He followed them out, watching the leaders chatting together happily. Sahhahr glanced back at him once with a look of joy on her face then moved off to be introduced to the rest of his family.

Jack caught the eyes of Diana after she was introduced to Lorrem. Her fetish was in full swing. Based on his blurry recollection of his night on Chrystan, he wasn't sure if the Ishilon had issues with cross-species sex. Sahhahr seemed to like cuddling, but that might have been due to the cold.

He made his way back to the grills, where Joseph seemed to have things under control.

"I can't wait to tell all my friends that my Dad is now a Shadeem!" Joseph teased with a big grin.

"Who raised you to be such a wise guy? It must be your mother's influence!" Jack said with false outrage.

"It's all you, Dad," Joseph chuckled.

"Don't you have homework?" Jack growled.

Joseph waved over his shoulder as he walked away. "Graduated," he called out as he moved to join his siblings.

Jack couldn't keep the pleased smile from his face as he began grilling the steaks. He made sure he had the sizeable cast-iron skillet ready for the seasoned ground meat he'd prepared for the Ishilon.

Aaros slipped past behind him to get to the vegetable grill. She stroked her fingers across his butt as she did.

"Hey!" he exclaimed, and she giggled. He smiled again as he received so much contentment when he was with his family. As he worked, he looked around at all the happy faces. He saw Sahhahr watching him with a strange look in her eye and an enigmatic smile. He saw she was no longer wearing the fur coat, and her scales gleamed in the late afternoon sun. Were her belly scales pinker than the day before?

He smiled at her, and she turned away to speak with Eve and Rasha's parents, who looked utterly enthralled by the Sultessa.

Doug stopped by and smiled at his Mom then looked to Jack. He was trying to appear casual, but he wasn't too successful. "Did Queen Elissa tell you when Adina and Zaina would be back?"

Jack's smile became a wince. "Damn! I forgot to ask her." He looked at the steaks on the grill. They needed his immediate attention. "Could you ask her to come over here?" Doug nodded and moved away with purpose.

Jack concentrated on working the grill and cooking the seasoned ground in the skillet.

"Jack! I've arrived with dessert!" Wazzan called out from the other side of the grill. He was standing behind a hovering cart loaded with coolers.

Jack blinked at the Botanist and grinned when he saw how neat his fur was groomed. Also, gone was the dirty lab coat as a shimmering black gown adorned the slightly heavyset Chuuruthian. The extra weight was not a common sight on the high metabolism beings. "Looking sharp, Wazzan!"

The Chuuruthian blinked in concern. "That's good, yes?"

"Yes, it means you look very fashionable and handsome," Jack said, and the male's whiskers trembled with delight.

Elissa walked up with Doug, and Wazzan's whiskers trembled faster.

"Queen Elissa! You look entrancing as usual! Douglas! Would you do me the favor of moving these into your freezer? It's a surprise for after dinner!" Wazzan said with great enthusiasm. Doug glanced a Jack, who gave a subtle nod. The young male nodded and wearily pushed the cart to the front door.

The Chuuruthian was standing close to Elissa, who was watching him with a sweet smile. He was holding her hand gently in his, and they moved away from the grill as they talked, or as he spoke, and she listened. Wazzan was quite excited.

Jack watched his chance to get an update from Elissa walk away.

Coming up the lane were a few more Chuuruthian guests. In Jack's twelve-year stay on this hilltop, he'd made friends with his neighbors. As they'd be having a concert later and making a little noise, it made sense to invite the locals to join in on making that noise. Aldena and Marrel were his immediate neighbors down the slope opposite the park. Aldena was a surgeon who worked off-planet and Marrel was an artist who lived a little further down the hill. Both females looked splendid in their summer gowns, cool and brightly colored. Marrel had so many delicate gold loops in her ears, while Aldena chose to wear no jewelry at all.

"Good evening, ladies, and welcome!" Jack said with a nod and received smiles and nods from them.

Diana rushed over to press cheeks with the new guests.

The Chuuruthian following the two ladies was a male in his later years. Caledon was a district representative. Kind of like a mayor for the region Jack lived in. He lived further down the slope past Marrel's place. He was the one who got the permits for Jack to build his home just inside the boundary of the park.

"Good evening, Caledon!" Jack called out, and the male raised a hand to wave to him. The older gentleman spotted Eve and made his way over to greet her.

Jack returned his attention to the grill and moved the cooked steaks into a serving tray as he put new ones on the grill. The seasoned ground was ready as well, so this went into a warming tray too. He looked over to see Aaros moving the veggies into the warming dishes, which Max, Gwen, and Alex carried over to the buffet tables. Jack flagged down Emily and Joseph to carry the steaks to the table as well.

A large moving object caught Jack's eye, and he turned to see a tour bus pulling up into the lane next to the house. It settled to the ground as it parked. The side door opened, and a large dark-skinned man climbed down the stairs to look around. Jack left Joseph in charge of the grill once more and walked over to meet his new guests. He thought he recognized the man as one of the security detail for Meagan Lane. This one had been the intimidating fellow blocking access to the store when they met in Las Vegas so many years ago.

"Welcome to Casa Danner! I'm Jack Danner," Jack said with a grin. The man's eyes were trapped by his horns for a second, but he recovered and shook Jack's hand.

"Kano Lee, Ms. Lane's Head of Security," the man said quietly as his eyes moved to take everything in.

"Is this your first time off-planet?" Jack asked.

"Yeah, it's the first time for all of us. Not all of my team was willing to come along. I have to say it was a disturbing experience to step through a mirror and feel yourself get lighter. The air smells different here too."

Jack grinned. "That's fresh air and flowers."

"Can I get off the bus now?"

Jack and the head of security looked back to see Meagan standing in the doorway with a frustrated look on her lovely face. She immediately smiled when she saw Jack, then her eyes widened.

"Your horns are different... and your hair!" she blurted.

Jack chuckled and nodded. "The old ones broke, and I grew new ones. Bigger and better as they say. The color change happened later. Welcome to Chuuruthia and my home!"

She moved forward and got a hug.

When he released her, Jack could see the security man watching the shadows. "You couldn't be on a more peaceful planet. The only access to Chuuruthia is the Gate, and the inhabitants are all pacifists." He hooked a thumb over his shoulder. "The only humans are you guys and my friends. Dinner's ready, so come join the party."

"Where's the stage?" a slim, bearded man with long grey hair tied in a ponytail asked as he stepped out of the bus.

"It's on the other side of the house." Jack pointed to a crushed gravel path leading off into some trees just down the lane a short distance. "That path takes you around the house. It lights up as you enter it so you'll have plenty of light. The stage is at the end of the path." Seeing the man's look of concern at the woods, he assured him. "Listen, there's nothing on Chuuruthia that bites. Not even insects."

He looked at Meagan cautiously. "Your people have been screened for xenophobes, right? Traveling in the Gate Network isn't advisable for those with a fear of alien forms." He looked to the people climbing out of the bus. "Does anyone here have a fear of snakes or reptiles?" He looked into their eyes as he checked each member of the crew. "No, Ophidiophobia or Herpetophobia?" No one raised a hand or made any other indication that something was wrong.

"Why snakes?" Meagan asked.

Jack smiled. "We just met a new race of beings who are reptilian and bear a resemblance to Earth's cobras. They're very friendly, though. Three representatives are at the party."

The group was quiet. "Second thoughts? I'm the freakiest alien you're going to find out here," Jack said with a grin, roughly gesturing to his head area. That got chuckles, breaking the unease. "Anyone here like steak? We have Skrahak steaks which taste better than any cow you'll ever find."

"What's a Skrahak?" someone blurted.

"Big, furry beasts from an ice planet. Nasty buggers but delicious barbequed. I got my new horns after I broke my old ones, killing a monstrous adult Skrahak."

The group went quiet again, and Jack grinned at them. "See? King of the Freaks!" he cheered with raised fists, making them laugh.

"We also have the most delicious vegetables from subterranean hydroponic gardens from the same ice ball. Incredible!" he said and saw he had them hooked.

There had to be at least twenty-six people in Meagan's party, with her security, crew, and musicians. Everyone but the team setting up the stage followed Jack into the patio area wide-eyed and smiling. The scent of the cooked food was a definite draw.

The whole area was lit up with the warm and spectacular rays from the setting sun across the valley. This drew more smiles from the humans. Everyone loves a pretty sunset.

Those expressions froze when Sahhahr glided towards them. Jack smiled at the Sultessa as she looked so happy.

"Shadeem! Your family is wonderful!" she exclaimed.

"Thank you. I'd like you to meet a friend of mine from Earth. She's a famous singer who's going to grace us with a performance tonight, Meagan Lane. Meagan, this is Sultessa Sahhahr Tessahr, leader of the Ishilon." Sahhahr seemed unsure about what to do, so Jack jumped in again. "Human style greetings amongst new acquaintances can be a small bow or gently holding the other's hand with an up and down shake."

Meagan bravely held out a hand that Sahhahr gripped and shook.

"Sultessa, is that your name or title?" Meagan asked curiously as she pulled her hand back.

"Title. I am the last of my royal line," Sahhahr said sadly.

Elissa stepped up next to Sahhahr with a look of surprise on her face. "Jack! You invited Meagan Lane to your party!?!," she exclaimed.

Hearing her excited cry, Jack's family and friends gathered around to greet the new arrivals. Emily, Rasha, and Joseph were especially excited. They seemed to know all of the musicians, which seemed to please those artists as well.

"Where are your two bodyguards?" Meagan asked Jack as she recalled the two jet black Altarians.

He turned to Elissa. "I've been trying to ask you that question all night."

The Queen nodded. "Yes, we need to speak about that. They're on our colony world Callosephia looking into a security situation for me."

"Should I contact them?" Jack asked.

"Yes, that might help," she agreed.

"First, let's get these people fed!" Jack exclaimed and gestured to the seating area.

The crowd broke up as they moved to the tables. Jack grabbed Alex, Max, and Gwen to run into the house with him to bring out more tables and chairs for the extra guests.

Aaros explained what the vegetable dishes were to the human guests at the buffet tables. Joseph did the same with the meat, indicating the rare to medium-well states for the steaks.

Jack found a moment to duck inside to make a quick call to Gee. When it went to voicemail, he listened to the recording then left a message stating he was available and would like an update when possible.

As he walked back out onto the patio, he forced himself to take some deep breaths. The voicemail message wasn't a bad sign. It just meant Gee and Bal weren't available to talk. If shit went south, the voicemail message would have been a call for extraction. It was a system they'd worked out years ago.

The team was running silent.

Best not to disturb them.

-=

Adina and Zaina stretched out on the sand, peering over the top of the dune at the Sanosian encampment below. The scent of the desert dwellers was carried downwind to the twins' location. They knew the Sanosians had an extremely sharp sense of smell, so remaining downwind was critical.

They tasted the air as they scanned the camp with their eyes. The jamming was gone now that the Sanosians were stationary, so the twins sent a tight beam message back to Gee and Bal, indicating all was well. A recall notice arrived, and the twins began their laborious withdrawal. Where the vibrations of Gee and Bal would be felt moving across the sand, the twins went undetected by the sand crawlers the Sanosians chained down around the camp as an early warning system. It took forty minutes for them to reach the two Altarians once more.

The group moved over three more dunes to return to their skimmers hidden under a sandy tarp.

At a gesture from Bal, Zaina began her report.

"The encampment contains twenty-three Sanosians. They are preparing for sleep. No sentries posted. The area is circled by a dozen medium-sized sand crawlers as an alarm system. The Sanosian's crippled the beasts by removing their jaws, but they're still capable of making noise. We saw no sign of the dead Sanosian nor the colony leader, but there is a tent in the middle of the camp that may contain the prisoner."

"I picked up a strange scent from some of the hunters. It tasted like cinnamon," Adina added.

The two Altarians shared a look. The Sanosians were taking enhancers to make them faster, stronger, fierce hunters. The drug would eventually rot their brains and make them uncontrollably violent — a problem for another day.

"We need to know where they were before they came here," Gee said and displayed a map of the region. "We saw the last group come in from the west. Without additional data, I suggest we backtrack and see what we can find. In that direction, a short distance away is a ridgeline with a sharp curve before what looks like an open plain."

Bal looked in the eyes of the twins. "We believe there are three hunters unaccounted for. Keep your senses dialed up." They nodded seriously.

Boarding their skimmers once more, they headed west towards the ridgeline with the twins in the lead.

-=-

Tchetkorr struggled with his rage. The hunt for the sand crawlers they were going to use for destroying the Altarian colony had stirred up the local desert, so the smaller ones had moved farther west and likely north. He'd had to travel all day to find three that met his requirements, big enough to do fatal damage to the Altarian but not too large. They were tied up in the mesh cage on the back of his skimmer, messing the handling of the vehicle.

He was tired, hungry, and his control over his emotions was severely eroded due to his use of the powder. He needed rest.

The box valley with the collected crawlers was to his left as he headed in a straight line back to the camp. He knew two guards would be staying up all night to ensure nothing happened to their weapon against the colony.

Soon, he'd left the valley behind as he headed into the dunes. He jolted to full awareness as he spotted a black-garbed being standing on the lip of the dune to his left, backlit by the starry sky. Before he could reach for his weapon, something looped around his chest and arms and snapped tight, tugging him brutally from the seat of his skimmer. He dropped the short distance to the ground but hit with significant force to knock the wind from his lungs. Something in his chest was broken, the pain sharp and intense. He was flipped onto his stomach, sending more stabbing pains through his chest. As he lay there stunned, his ankles were quickly bound as were his wrists. He had no muscle tone to fight back as the pain coursed through his body.

He managed to turn his head to the side and froze when he saw two pairs of black hooves walk closer.

"What was that?" one of them asked.

A voice from his other side responded. "He's lassoed and hogtied. It's consistent with the western theme."

Tchetkorr was lost. "Western theme?" he thought.

The Altarians squatted down to peer at him. "He came off his skimmer with excessive force. Is he in any condition to answer our questions?"

"I'm sure he has a few broken ribs and potentially a punctured lung, but he'll squeal like a stuck pig," a young voice said.

The Altarians were quiet again. "You've picked up too many of your father's idiosyncrasies."

Tchetkorr shivered as the voice on his other side, became an eerie, chilling harmony. "Thank you!"

A hand slapped his cheek painfully, and he jolted, sending another sharp pain through his ribs.

"Where's the colony leader?"

He strained to see the Altarians, but all he saw was black against the starry sky. He wanted to hiss in defiance, but he was in too much pain, and the ones behind him unsettled him.

The slap came again, harder this time, and he jerked under the blow. He turned his head away from the Altarians, dragging his face through the sand until he saw feet with... claws? Deadly sharp claws, hooks for rending meat from bones.

"Is it our turn to play with him?" the terrifying harmonized voices asked, and Tchetkorr twitched as he saw the sharp teeth gleaming faintly in the dim light. Above the teeth, eyes glowed oddly in the starlight.

Suddenly he felt needle-like claws dragging gently across the tough scales on his face. He realized just how easy these could get under the scales and pry them off, one by one. Their voices began to giggle in a harsh distorted way.

He turned his face away as shivers ran down his spine. The moment he was facing the Altarians, the slap returned, harder than before and his head rung.

"Where's the colony leader?" the voice asked calmly.

Tchetkorr gasped for breath, and sharp pains took his breath away. Spots danced in his eyes.

"Hit him again, harder," the dual voices purred.

"NO! No! AAAAAIIEE!" he screamed as a sharp claw point pulled up one of his facial scales. The pain was excruciating and terrifying. The thought of them removing his face was enough to unhinge him.

"The leader?" the Altarian asked.

"Karkakk! First hunter! He has her!" Tchetkorr screamed and whimpered as the pain radiating from the lifted scale buzzed his nerves angrily.

"What does he want with her?"

"He doesn't want her! It was a mistake!"

"Your mistake, it was you. We smelled you there!" the terrifying voice said and dragged a claw next to the raised scale.

"AAAAAIIEE! YES! My mistake!" he screamed as he tried to escape the claw.

"You killed the old woman," said the distorted harmony.

"Wha... the bait? It was just a human."

Claws sunk into his flesh, slipping between the tough scales so easily. He was going to lose his face. "OUR FATHER IS HUMAN!" the crazed harmony raged.

The Altarians made a sound, and the claws stopped then slowly retracted until they slipped free of his face. He could still feel the entry points stinging.

"What are they guarding in the valley?" the Altarian asked calmly.

Tchetkorr clung to the sound of that voice as it seemed to promise peace. "The stampede," he gasped.

Harmonic giggling erupted behind him, and the Altarian made the noise again to silence them.

"If we disable the fence?"

"Karkakk will kill the leader!" he offered up eagerly.

There was silence for a time. Tchetkorr saw the Altarians making gestures to each other. They paused.

"When?"

"First light!" he blurted.

The Altarians stood and walked away. He saw two others join them in a quiet discussion then the two disappeared into the shadows before his eyes. They moved so quickly and silently, and he began to doubt his eyes. But the pain of their claws was too real.

Moments later, they returned on his skimmer and parked it close by. The three small sand crawlers were still caged behind it. The Altarians approached him once more.

"Why were you sent to collect three more?"

He tried to think of something less damning than the truth. "A meal-"

The fanged ones surged forward, hissing. "LIE!"

"KARKAKK! He wanted them! To kill the leader with, to make it look like we weren't involved!" Tchetkorr screeched, completely panicked.

"Can we feed him to sand crawlers instead?" the harmonized terror asked.

Tchetkorr fear swelled, he couldn't breathe, and his heart was beating hard in his chest as it did when he took the enhancers. He felt something odd about the beating. It wasn't slowing. He gasped once then felt the tearing...

...and his heart stopped. He slipped away into the darkness... away from the terror.

-=-

Gee and Bal listened to the Sanosian sigh out his last breath. They shared a look. Luckily they had no further questions for it.

The twins were staring at it in surprise.

"Your trick with harmonizing your voices is... disturbing," Gee said.

"Effective, too," Bal noted. She looked down at the corpse. "Perhaps a little too effective."

Adina dipped down and sniffed its breath. "He didn't take poison, but I detect that cinnamon scent again."

"What do we do with him?" Zaina asked.

"Untie him," Gee said. "There aren't enough of us to rescue the leader, protect the colony, and stop the stampede." The twins snorted gently and got a scowl for that. "We need-" She stopped and pulled out her comm to see Jack was calling her again. Sending a weary look at Bal, she answered the call. She'd sent his previous call when they were at the encampment to voicemail.

"Yes, Jack. We're a little busy here." She could hear a driving beat faintly in the background. The party! "Wait! Is Queen Elissa with you?"

"Yes, she's standing right next to me! You're going on speaker." The volume increased. "Now, what's the situation?" Jack asked.

Gee was once more frustrated with Jack as she didn't do reports on speaker. It was too late now. "Queen Elissa, there are twenty-five Sanosian Hunters on the surface. They will launch an attack on the Altarian colony at dawn, six hours from now. They will direct a stampede of sand crawlers towards the colony from roughly this location."

"A stampede? What is this, the Wild West?" Jack exclaimed, and the twins burst into giggles.

Gee and Bal glared at the twins. "The leader of the Hunting Team has Jessa and will likely kill her tomorrow when the one he assigned to do it doesn't show. We need reinforcements, all you can spare, and we need the evacuation to start now!"

"Is there something we can do?" a voice Gee didn't recognize asked, raising the hairs on her neck. This is why she didn't do reports on the speaker!

She suddenly heard Jack begin to chuckle. It sounded just a little ominous.

"I'll call you right back," he said and hung up.

The four agents stood facing each other in the dark next to a corpse in the desert. Gee and Bal could just make out the gleam of the twin's teeth as they smiled wickedly at each other.

Far too much like their father.

Chapter 18

Jack stood in his living room with Elissa to his left and Sahhahr to his right. Both looked at him curiously, so he began to explain his idea. He turned to Sahhahr.

"I may be making some assumptions, so please let me know if I'm wrong. On Chrystan, you mentioned your people were warriors, and your original intent was to venture out into space in your ship to find the Mahrell Drun and destroy them. You must have some means to get your people from the ship to a planet's surface. Does your ship use gravity drives?"

The Sultessa looked sharply at Jack, her eyes darting to the Queen once, but he just nodded. She paused, then relaxed. "Yes," she finally said.

"You mentioned your people have considerable skill with technology. When I first met you on Chrystan, you were wearing Tik translation devices as you had no knowledge of Universal. The next morning you were speaking Universal, and I remember now, you no longer had the translator around your neck. I believe you specialize in cybernetic implants. That's how Lorrem was able to counteract the Tik's gravity control to keep them grounded, and Chena was able to keep the door locks closed. It's how you learned Universal so quickly. None of you are using the Tik translators now. But mostly, it's how your people were able to survive in suspension for so long," Jack said, looking into Sahhahr's eyes. She nodded.

Elissa gasped. "The Allsa Komanae!"

"Yes, they got some of their skill with cybernetics from their original hosts, the Ishilon. I'd hazard to say their skills never rose as high as the Ishilon's became. Also, thankfully, they never acquired the knowledge of gravity manipulation, or nothing could have stopped them," Jack sighed.

Sahhahr looked a little shaken. "After we discovered the threat of the Mahrell Drun and drove them from our home planet and colony, we concentrated our efforts on ways to defeat them, and our technological advancements grew exponentially. Then came the war."

Jack held the Sultessa's eyes with his. "Would you be willing to come to the aid of the Altarian's on Callosephia, to have some of your warriors deal with a stampede of vicious sand-dwelling creatures and capture the Sanosians? We need to take them alive, if possible so that we can send them back to their world as a warning to their Regent."

Jack was asking her to put the lives of some of her people at risk. Still, she held on to her belief that her Shadeem would look out for her people's best interests. She nodded. He nodded in return, then looked to the Queen.

"I don't know how many times the Tik will offer to do this, but they said they'd move the Ishilon's ship from Chrystan to another planet once they found a suitable home for them. The Ishilon need a desert planet. Someplace hot, dry, and sandy. Sound like any place you know?" he said.

"Callosephia? You want me to give the planet-" Elissa began.

"No, I'm not saying that. It will remain an Altarian world as it's deep in Altarian space. This is just another scenario like the Harruushans. The Ishilon need a home, you have one that could use a little assistance in keeping the Sanosian's grubby fingers away from it. They protect the world, rebuild their population, and learn how to live within the Gate Network societies starting with the finest examples, the Altarians and the Chuuruthians. Besides, Altarians aren't keen on living there, but I'll bet the Ishilon will love it." Jack looked at Sahhahr. "I understand it has the most exquisite sand."

Sahhahr's heart swelled as her faith in her Shadeem was already being justified! She had a hopeful expression but glanced at Elissa, who would ultimately make the decision.

"How many citizens?" Elissa asked.

"Five hundred thousand and nine," Sahhahr replied with a slight quaver in her voice.

"Oh! So few remain?" Elissa gasped softly, and the Sultessa nodded sadly.

Elissa took a breath. "Before I can unilaterally offer to host the Ishilon on Callosephia permanently, I need to speak with the council. However, I can allow the Tik to move your ship from Chrystan to Callosephia as both are within Altarian space. While there, you are welcome to visit the surface to recover from your ordeal. That gets us around most of the legal roadblocks."

"Can we get the Tik to move the ship now?" Jack asked.

"We can try. Perhaps Ray can communicate with them quicker than we can?" Elissa suggested.

"Let me get back to Gee and Bal, first," Jack said and used his comm to connected through again. "Howdy Partners!"

"What?" Gee said.

"Listen up buckaroos; we got us a plan to stop those rustlers in their tracks, by hook or crook. All y'all gotta do is rescue sweet Miss Jessie from the Dastardly Sanosian Outlaw! Yeehaw!"

"Stop that!" Gee snapped. The twins burst into giggles again.

Elissa plucked the comm from his fingers. "Jack, not now. Gee, he's right that we have a plan that should deal with the stampede and the rustlers- I mean the Sanosian Hunters. Really, Jack, you're incorrigible!" She gave him a light slap on the arm as he chuckled. "If you can find an opportunity to save Jessa, please do, but be careful, please!"

"Thank you!" Gee sighed and hung up.

"Now, we speak with the Tik!" Jack said with a grin.

They headed for the front door, and Eve met them on her way in, leading Ray and another Tik.

"They said they needed to speak with you immediately," Eve explained. Jack smiled at her, and she headed back out to the party. Jack looked to the Tik. Recognition flared.

"BassDrop!" Jack said with a grin. "How've you been?"

"I've been well, Jack. Thank you," the Tik said as it shook his hand.

"We were just coming to talk to Ray about contacting the Tik. Let's head back into the living room as it's quieter," Jack suggested. They followed him back.

BassDrop immediately began. "I've been attempting to reach you, but it was difficult to break away from the wonderful guests you've invited to your party. So many brilliant musicians! Now I'm ashamed of my tardiness as what I need to speak to you about is time critical!"

Jack's brows rose in surprise. He'd never heard a Tik say it was ashamed.

The tattooed Tik looked at the other occupants. The Altarian Queen was likely intimately familiar with Jack's collar, but BassDrop didn't have permission from the man to speak about its capabilities in front of anyone else. It looked to the other being and linked its appearance to the latest update it received. Ishilon, the lost race Rikki saved, and this was their leader. Having her here might assist BassDrop's request.

"We have a time-sensitive request for the Tik as well, but you go first," Jack said.

"I need to ask you about the thing I'm not able to speak about in the presence of others," BassDrop said carefully.

Jack's smile dropped. "Oh." He glanced at Elissa, who knew everything, but did he want Sahhahr in on the secret? Shit! He took some breaths. He was the Shadeem of the Ishilon. He was also a bit of a mess when it came to the collar. Best Sahhahr sees the ugly with the good.

"You may speak in front of Elissa and Sahhahr about the collar," he said quietly.

BassDrop felt relief as another roadblock was eliminated. "I understand you met Rikki-Tikki-Tavi?"

Jack jolted slightly from the unexpected question. He'd been physically bracing himself without realizing it. "Yes. I met it in the Tik enclave, in the medical wing, I suppose."

"The replacement of its shell failed. Its mind has no physical connection to the world around it. As a safety precaution, it's been put into a state of suspension, but its mind is losing its grip on reality. It has no more than one or two days before it fails completely."

"Damn," Jack exclaimed.

"You must save Rikki! We owe our very existence to its bravery and sacrifice!" Sahhahr begged the Tik.

BassDrop looked between Sahhahr and Jack. "This is why we've come to speak with Jack. He is the only one whose unique physiology is capable of providing Rikki a stable sensory foothold for its mind."

Jack reeled back as he stared at the Tik. It was talking about letting Rikki share a live feed, as BassDrop did.

Ray took that moment to address Jack. "You remember how you helped me? You made all this real for me. I was suffering."

Jack seized on that. "Couldn't you just give Rikki the experience file?"

BassDrop answered. "Those are memories. They lack the temporal aspects and substantiality of a real-time full sensory feed, the reality of the experience. Ray was missing the sensations for his existing memories. He has the sensation of touch, sight, and sound from his Tik body, all linked to his temporal sense. Rikki no longer has any senses linked to real-time actions and events. Nothing to moor its mind to the here and now. Its mind is unraveling."

Jack saw Elissa's compassionate gaze for him. She was aware of Jack's aversion to sharing his most intimate thoughts. That thought made him stop. "This sensory feed, it doesn't have to share my thoughts like the connection you made with me did, does it? Are we just talking about my five senses? Can it be restricted to just that?"

BassDrop hesitated before it answered. "Rikki won't be able to control your body just like I couldn't when we were linked. Our communication was instant as we spoke mind to mind. That connection also included your thoughts, but this could be restricted based on a permission rule. I would hesitate to suggest a complete disconnection as you both would need to speak aloud to converse, and there are times when a silent conversation is preferable. Perhaps initially, you could allow permission for mind to mind verbal communication only? This would restrict the bandwidth and exclude your thoughts, giving you privacy."

Jack nodded as that seemed like a good compromise. It also made Jack think of some particular sensations he wouldn't want to share. "Would this connection have to be on all the time? There are certain moments when I might need some... privacy."

Sahhahr spoke up. "We might be able to build Rikki a sensory interface from a drone we have on our ship, but it won't be as complete as a real body. Sight, sound, some touch, plus it would give Rikki the ability to control its movements as well. Perhaps Rikki could switch to this when Jack needs privacy? It could transfer its perception between Jack and the drone."

BassDrop looked at Sahhahr. "Rikki won't be able to remain linked to the Drone for extended periods as a Tik mind needs the input from a full sensory array. It would be back in the situation it's in now, disassociating."

"Short periods?" Sahhahr asked.

BassDrop paused to consider that. "I believe Taggart would need to be consulted to confirm the actual length of time that could be considered safe."

Jack was watching them discuss how long a Tik would have to stay out of his body, and it sent chills up his spine. "Uh, my next question is, how long would we have to do this? This isn't expected to be permanent, right? You're going to keep working to find Rikki a new body it can integrate with, right?"

"Definitely, we just need to find a way to keep it alive with its mind intact until we work out a permanent solution," BassDrop assured him.

"The collar's receiver is still dead, so I'd have to be wired up to Rikki? Physically connected? That's going to limit my mobility as well. That wasn't an issue on the Wuu ship as I was blindfolded and had nowhere to go, but now?" He took some deep breaths. "If it's a short term requirement, I can probably manage it."

Sahhahr looked like she wanted to wrap herself around Jack. "We will assist the Tik in developing a wireless solution where you don't need to be connected directly. If the Tik can supply the schematics for the physical connection and the signal characteristics, we can create a wireless receiver to bypass the dead one and ensure it only receives signals from Rikki."

Jack saw Sahhahr's hopeful expression and just nodded. He could do this. He turned to BassDrop.

"We have a request of our own. We need the Tik to move the Ishilon ship to Callosephia and place it in a geostationary orbit over the colony. We need this to happen immediately as the colony is in danger."

"If you'll join me back at the enclave, we can speak to the Elders to make this happen. Then we can deal with Rikki," BassDrop replied.

"I must return to my ship to inform my people," Sahhahr insisted.

BassDrop tipped forward slightly to indicate a nod. "We can arrange this from the enclave as well."

"Can we move Rikki to my ship? That would make it easier to have my people work on an interface," Sahhahr asked.

"I will need to speak with Taggart. It made Rikki's care its top priority," the tattooed Tik indicated.

Jack looked at Elissa. "I guess that's it for the party for me. I need to speak to Diana and Eve; then I can go."

"Do you require assistance from the team?" Ray asked.

Jack looked to Sahhahr, but she shook her head with a smile.

"No, it looks like you guys can sit this one out. Thanks for the offer, though," Jack responded.

"I will arrange for a taxi to bring us to the enclave together," BassDrop announced.

Jack held up his hand to make the Tik pause before heading out. "There will be two additional Ishilon coming with us."

"I will collect them and meet you where the vehicles arrive," Sahhahr said and moved out of the living room. BassDrop and Ray followed her out.

"I'll head back to my office, and you can reach me there," Elissa said. She took Jack's hands in hers and looked him in the eye. "Are you going to be ok?"

He pulled her into a hug and just stood like that for a bit. "Yes. I can do this. It's short term, and we'll set some ground rules." He pulled back and kissed Elissa tenderly. "I need to let them know I'm leaving."

Jack walked out of the house with Elissa at his side. She squeezed his hand, then used her comm to call for a taxi. Then she moved away to speak to Karrel.

This left Jack to find Eve and Diana. He saw everyone was having a good time. The ice cream was a big hit. Wazzan was soaking up the compliments.

Kano Lee walked up to him with a small bowl in one hand and a spoon in the other. He had an odd expression on his face. "Jack... the small Chuuruthian fellow over there. He served me this ice cream, which I'd swear is chocolate, but all he'll say is that it's brown."

A shot of cold went down Jack's spine. "Chocolate? No! We don't have access to that!" he snorted loudly. "It's cho-" Jack cursed his treacherous tongue and brain and their stupid inability to think and speak a lie quickly.

"Cho?" Kano frowned as he put another spoonful into his mouth.

"Yes, Cho... cho. Chocho. It's a... plant found only out here... in the Gate Network," Jack said as calmly as he could and nodded as he said it.

Kano looked in the bowl at the melting frozen dessert with new respect. "Huh. Well, this chocho is incredible! I hope you consider selling it on Earth!"

Jack smiled and nodded to the man who turned away to move back to the crew who were enjoying their ice cream. He saw the man lean down to say something, and the group cheered, "CHOCHO!" Jack sighed with relief.

He moved a little closer to the stage, and the dance floor was filled with his kids and guests. On the stage, he saw Emily singing with Meagan. They were singing in harmony, and it was such a sweet sound, it made the hairs on the back of Jack's neck stand up. His baby was making that beautiful music! He had such a lump in his throat.

Eve slipped up next to him. "She's really good."

Jack could only nod as he couldn't speak. He struggled to clear his throat and managed a rough voice. "Where is Diana? I need to speak to you both."

"She was speaking with Lorrem all night, but..." she scanned the patio with her eyes. "I don't see them anymore."

They both froze as they shared a look then moved to the front door. It was a bit of a walk to the master bedroom, but when they got there, they heard crying and a low voice. Jack went straight in with Eve at his heel. Lorrem was next to the bed with a concerned look on his face. Diana was in the tangle of sheets with her face pressed into a pillow.

"Shadeem!" Lorrem gasped in relief. "I didn't know what to do. She suddenly began crying after we mated. She won't speak to me, and she wouldn't let me leave-"

Jack felt his heart ache for her. No matter how many times he'd spoken to her about how much he loved her and how he understood, Diana's intense fetish still tormented her. This was the first time she'd taken it this far without consulting him first. He wasn't upset she'd taken Lorrem to bed, but it hurt to see how she was torturing herself for it.

"It's ok, Lorrem. I'll take care of it. Your Sultessa is looking for you. We're going back to your ship-"

"NO!" Diana screamed hoarsely and grabbed Jack's arm. "Please! I'm sorry! I love you!"

Jack looked into Eve's eyes, and she nodded. She reached out and took Lorrem's hand to guide him out. He followed in a daze. Jack heard him whisper hoarsely on his way out. "Diana is the Shadeem's mate?!?"

Diana was trembling in Jack's arms. As usual, his timing sucked. He needed to go, but Diana needed him more. "I'm so sorry, Diana. When the Ishilon first arrived at the party, I saw how attracted you were to Lorrem. I should have done the introductions and helped you with this."

"I'm a freak," Diana exclaimed her self loathing against his chest.

"No! You are a beautiful, loving woman with strong passions, and I wouldn't have it any other way! I love you!" Jack said, fiercely. Intensely green eyes searched his for forgiveness and saw something far more powerful. Love.

Jack kissed her until she was clinging to him, and her panic had turned to passion. She ground herself against him, and he knew she desperately needed to connect with him and feel his acceptance of her. He pushed his pants down and lifted her legs up against his chest. She gasped.

Something about this position stuck in Jack's brain, but he pushed that aside and drove himself into her, hard and deep. He concentrated on Diana's pleasure as she cried out with joy.

He reached his release moments after hers and gently lowered her legs so he could rest more of his weight on her.

He gently kissed her face until her smile returned.

"I love you, Diana. Nothing changes that. Nothing," he said firmly, and she hugged him tight, her face tucked into his neck.

After a moment, she spoke quietly. "Do you have to go?"

"Yes, but not for long."

"Come back soon," she said.

He kissed her tenderly. "Always."

Jack left the bed and pulled the sheets up as she snuggled in.

He quickly freshened up in the bathroom then left the master bedroom, closing the door behind himself.

A short distance down the hall, he saw Eve was waiting for him.

"Is she all right?" she asked with concern.

Jack nodded. "For now. Can you ask SennLann to stay with her tonight?" Eve nodded, and he pulled her into a firm hug.

"They're waiting for you outside. You'd better go," she said.

He gave her a kiss then hustled outside to run down to the driveway where the taxi waited. He jumped inside, the door closed, and they left quickly. Soon the ground was racing by under them as they headed for the Enclave.

The space inside the taxi was limited with the three Ishilon, BassDrop, and Jack crammed inside. Lorrem still attempted to prostrate himself before Jack. "My sincerest apologies, Shadeem! I didn't know-"

"No apologies needed, Lorrem. I love Diana, and she loves me. I wouldn't deny her pleasure. If she found it with you, I'm happy. Unfortunately, Diana has a harder time accepting this. In the past, she sought me out before and assured herself that I supported the idea. This time her desire took over, and her guilt afterward was too intense for her." Jack bowed towards Lorrem, who stared at him in surprise. "My apologies for your discomfort at the misunderstanding," Jack said.

Lorrem looked to Sahhahr, who was smiling blissfully at Jack. When he glanced at the doctor, Chena gave him an impressed look as well. "Th-thank you, Shadeem!" Lorrem was shaken by Jack's gracious acceptance and turned his eyes to the slight glow on the horizon.

Jack's thoughts weren't quite as serene as he presented. He knew Diana was in the care of Eve and SennLann, so she would be okay until his return. It was what he'd be doing for the Tik that worried him the most. He turned to Sahhahr and paused before he spoke. From her expression, his plan to bring her home to see how much of a goofball he was and how inadvisable it was to put their hopes on him as a leader hadn't produced the desired results. He pushed that aside for now.

"Your people will be able to build a wireless interface for my collar for the Tik and the alternate sensory feed vehicle?" he asked.

"Yes, my Shadeem," Sahhahr replied.

"Could you guys please just call me Jack?" he finally sighed.

"Yes, Jack," they said in unison.

He smiled wearily. "Thanks."

It didn't take long to reach the Enclave. The enormous building was always busy with shiny new Tik coming and going. Jack was sure there were older Tik amongst that group, but the new Tik outshone the others.

The taxi landed near the front doors, and they were met by a large number of new Tik, which blocked them from entering the building. One blurted a noise at BassDrop, who turned to Jack. "Apologies, but Socrates and Plato are not comfortable with the Ishilon entering the Enclave considering their ability to freeze Tik. I contacted the Elders while we waited for you and explained what you would do for Rikki and what you needed from them. The Elders have assigned these Tik to move the ship. Rikki will be brought along by Taggart, who will assist the Ishilon working on a permanent solution for Rikki." BassDrop indicated the large rectangular grey box that looked large enough to fit two Tik inside, on their sides. Taggart was working the controls to guide the bulky hovering object.

Jack looked to his Ishilon companions, but none of them seemed offended by the Tik's refusal to let them enter the building.

"I will leave you here. These Tik have been given special permission to open a Gate directly to the Ishilon ship now. I've been told the Tik is still in the corridor outside the control center, so that is where you will exit. Please keep moving forward to allow room for the next person through the Gate. Good luck, Jack!" BassDrop said and shook his hand. It left, moving through the group of Tik blocking the door which parted for it and closed up behind it.

A Gate appeared between two chrome Tik. With a nod to Jack and Sahhahr, Lorrem and Chena moved through. Sahhahr indicated Taggart could go next, so the Tik went through, manually pulling the large floating box behind it. The other Tik began to move through, and Jack counted at least twenty.

Then it was their turn, so Sahhahr led Jack through the mirror surface. He immediately felt the dry heat. He looked to the Sultessa. "Desert conditions on the ship."

She smiled at him. "It's what we were born into."

Jack opened a few buttons on his shirt, and his slave collar was visible. He saw her eyes move to it in wonder.

She lifted a hand then looked into his eyes. "May I?" He nodded. Her fingers gently touched and traced the etching on the surface. "The Ishilon are not superstitious people. We don't believe in fate or a divine presence guiding our lives, but each time I see Chahdesh's words and his symbol on these links, it sends my mind and heart soaring. His message reaching through so many years to this time, here and now. His message fulfilled by you-"

"As I said, many others were involved, like Elissa!" Jack interrupted.

Sahhahr smiled. "She was coming for you. You were the focal point of that effort. You."

Jack saw he wasn't going to sway her mind, so he just sighed, bringing a smile of victory to her face.

"Chena will awaken the technicians who are required to work on the collar interface. He will also awaken fifty of our warriors to deal with the issue on Callosephia," Sahhahr said as she continued to touch him. She was standing very close to Jack and still seemed a little mesmerized by Jack's slave collar.

"Only fifty?" Jack asked, becoming overly conscious of how smooth her scales felt. She was pressing the scales of her now very pink belly against him, and it felt warm and soft.

She smiled and nodded. "That's more than enough."

Lorrem called out from the command center. "The Tik are in position to open a Gate to Callosephia." Jack and Sahhahr joined him and the rest of the command crew. They saw one of the new Tik hovering next to the Ishilon Navigator at the ship's controls.

The large display was presently showing the snow planet below them. It began to swing to the right as the ship was pointed towards the enormous Gate visible only by the border of Tik.

Acknowledging Jack's curious look, Lorrem nodded. "Repairs to the ship have been completed. This time we'll move the vessel through a stationary Gate. As it doesn't show up on our sensors and we can't see ourselves in the mirror of its surface, we're being guided in by this Tik, which is in communication with the others holding the Gate open.

Jack felt no movement and heard no ominous noises. He didn't recall too much of his time aboard the Tik's rescue ship, so his only spaceship related memories were the ordeal on the Allsa Komanae's vessel after his capture and the Wuu's ship where his suspension pod failed. This trip was far more civilized and less traumatic. So far.

They passed through the Gate without a hitch and saw a wondrous sight slide into view on the large display. Jack's jaw dropped as he rarely had the opportunity to see the worlds he visited from this vantage point. He swore it looked like an enormous glass marble of swirling colors.

"It's beautiful," Sahhahr sighed.

"Yes," Jack replied in the same tone.

Returning to the moment, he turned to Lorrem. "Before we drop down and visit, maybe I should call ahead?" He gestured to his comm. The commander gave him a nod.

He called Elissa first.

"Jack?"

"Hi, Elissa! We're in orbit above the colony on Callosephia. Do they know we're coming?"

"Yes, there is a rather frantic young office coordinator named Milli standing by."

"Has she notified the population that an enormous ship is about to float down over their heads and rescuers are going to emerge?" Jack asked.

"No, she's at her wits end with the disappearance of Jessa," Elissa admitted.

"Hang on," Jack said and turned to the Tik. "Any chance you and your buddies could open some small gates from the ship to the surface so we could leave the ship in orbit to prevent panic?"

The shiny Tik paused for a moment, then answered. "That is an advisable course of action. We will assist. Four Tik will descend to the street before the colony leader's office as anchor points. Eight Tik will open the Gates from the ship."

Jack blinked at the almost mechanical response. "That's great, thanks." He turned his attention back to his call. "You heard that? Please let Milli know we'll be there momentarily."

"Thank you, Jack!" she exclaimed.

He grinned at the relief in her voice. "Anything for you, Elissa. Talk soon."

He disconnected and followed Lorrem, Sahhahr, and the Tik out of the command center and down the hall where they met up with seven Tik which had just come inside from space. That thought made Jack uneasy. Outside the ship wasn't a place he could survive. They couldn't open the Gate to the surface fast enough for him.

They walked down a corridor into a large chamber where they encountered a group of Ishilon casually waiting for them with spears pointed upwards. Most were wearing long coats of some metallic fabric while others were just putting them on. Jack looked curiously at Lorrem, who smiled.

"We're going to a desert planet at night. Instead of sleeping in a pit like sane Ishilon, we are going to be active. These jackets will keep us warm for a short period until the sun rises." Chena came by to hand one to the commander and Sahhahr, and they put them on.

Jack shook his head at the offered jacket then watched Chena return to move amongst the warriors with a small device in his hand. He was perhaps updating their cybernetic implants with a language update for Universal. That seemed like a far more straightforward way to do things.

The Ishilon with spears were male and female, and all looked very fit and robust. They were speaking quietly to each other. They seemed relaxed and happy to Jack's eyes, but they all snapped to attention when they spotted Sahhahr and utterly froze when they saw Jack.

"Dennesh! Come here." Lorrem called out.

One of the larger females approached and bowed to Sahhahr then Lorrem, but her eyes kept flicking towards Jack. She seemed to take the Tik in stride, but Jack was the odd one in the room.

Lorrem smiled at the warrior. "Do you know why I asked for you to approach?"

Dennesh grinned. "Because I am your best warrior!" she exclaimed loudly and received jeers and laughter from the other warriors.

Lorrem grinned as well. "One of my best, at least. The real reason is you're my best means of distributing information. Your integrity cannot be questioned, and you never stop talking."

The group burst into laughter, which Dennesh couldn't help but join.

Lorrem raised his hands, and they settled down. "Chena has brought you up to speed on the longevity of our sleep and the reason for it. Our Sultessa will now address our new mission."

That got their attention as they knew their mission, destroy the Mahrell Drun. Time would not change that, so how long they slept was immaterial. They had a promise to fulfill to the ones left behind.

Sahhahr moved closer and looked into their eyes until she knew each one was listening. "The Mahrell Drun are dead."

The explosion of noise was surprising and heartbreaking to hear. Genuine despair from so many voices pulled at Jack's emotions. He fought back the upswell. This was just fifty voices from five hundred thousand, all of whom would feel this pain. The magnitude of that grief took his breath away. He couldn't stop a tear from escaping.

He felt Sahhahr gently wipe it away and looked to her. "Thank you, Shadeem, for proving once more that your heart is open to my people."

Dennesh was close enough to hear that and gasped at the use of the title. She looked to Lorrem, who nodded.

Sahhahr continued when the cries died out. "The Tik elders who were there at the time spoke of a war against the Mahrell Drun millennia ago. Only two of our enemy survived, one residing on the world they claimed was their homeworld and an injured one hiding on a planet outside the known worlds of the Gate Network.

When the warships arrived on the homeworld, they failed to find the Mahrell Drun, so they scorched the planet to ash and claimed victory as the war had gone on for too long.

The last Mahrell Drun was dying, so it gave up its flesh to create a new species called the Allsa Komanae, shadows of the original evil but set on the destruction of life.

The missing Mahrell Drun was on a sleeper ship flying between the stars. When it finally got in range, it contacted the Allsa Komanae and began to reorganize them. It needed a Hybrid to breed new Mahrell Drun and arranged to have Jack captured. He was taken to the Allsa Komanae homeworld to be a slave. The collar he wears today was designed by the last Mahrell Drun. It was permanently bonded to his body. While a slave, Jack fought back and from his direct actions, brought about the extinction of the Allsa Komanae. Jack's mate, the Queen of Altaria came to his rescue on the Allsa Komanae homeworld, and with the assistance of the Tik and a small group of warriors from Jack's homeworld, killed the final Mahrell Drun."

There were some additional murmurs of regret from the warriors. They'd missed their chance.

Sahhahr continued. "The Mahrell Drun infected Jack, but I've cleansed him of it as Lorrem and Chena witnessed."

Jack was the focus of fifty sets of warrior's eyes. He was feeling a little uneasy about that.

Sahhahr caught the attention of Dennesh and directed her to come closer to Jack. The warrior did and looked up at the caps on Jack's horns. Then she looked at the collar and made an odd wheezing sound. Sahhahr smiled in satisfaction. Glancing at Jack for permission, which he gave with a nod, Dennesh immediately touched the surface of his collar. She made another odd sound.

Dennesh read the words as her eyes widened. She saw the symbol for their most beloved leader and saw his command to defeat the corrupt and evil. A promise Jack had kept. Her mouth was open as she looked to the Sultessa, who nodded with a smile. The big warrior faced Jack, and her mouth closed finally.

"Shadeem!" Dennesh roared as she bowed deeply to Jack. The other warriors froze until she spun to face them. "He wears the mark of Chahdesh!"

The other warriors surged forward to see, but Sahhahr raised her hands, and the group stopped. "You will have an opportunity to meet our Shadeem after we have made an effort to repay our debt to Queen Elissa. We are above a world in her domain. It is under attack, and her people are at risk. The world below has conditions favorable to us, and we might be able to reside here if Queen Elissa can sway her council. Saving her colony and its people would assist her greatly in this. We must depart now as there is much to do."

Visibly shaken, Dennesh reached out to touch Jack once more then moved to stand with the others. There was no mistaking the conviction in her stance. The others quickly followed suit. Soon, fifty warriors stood quietly, awaiting their orders. It was Lorrem's turn to speak.

"This race of beings we are defending against is called the Sanosians. They crash-landed a transport ship with live food creatures which burrow and move under the sand. I'm told they come in a variety of sizes from small to very large, but all have sharp teeth and strong jaws. One of the locals had her hoof bitten off. There are roughly twenty-five Sanosian Hunters on the planet below. They are to be captured alive, if possible. They will be driving a large number of the toothy creatures towards the colony to destroy the buildings and potentially kill the inhabitants. We will turn the beasts away."

Jack had an idea. "You should have Chena scan them to see if they're nutritious for the Ishilon. The Sanosians intentionally seeded the desert with creatures they eat for food. I doubt they had any intentions of removing them. They likely intended to run the Altarians off the planet and use Callosephia as a farm for their food. If the Ishilon can contain the creatures, then maybe you'll have a food source. At least for the short term. The Sanosians forfeited their claim to the livestock by crashing them on the planet in the first place."

Sahhahr, Lorrem, Chena, and all fifty warriors looked to Jack as if he'd just spoken some grand wisdom.

"It's just a suggestion! An observation! Nothing to get excited about!" Jack exclaimed in frustration.

Sahhahr moved next to Jack and rubbed her cheek against his as she smiled. Jack blushed as the others broke into wide grins.

The Tik chose that moment to open the four Gates in a row along the wall.

Jack welcomed the diversion. "Give me a moment to prepare them," he said quietly to Sahhahr. He moved forward to step from the hot interior of the ship's chamber into the cool exterior of the street before the colony leader's headquarters.

Seconds later, he had a crying Altarian female crushed up against his chest. He blinked down in surprise. "Milli?"

She managed a nod but was in no state to speak. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her up onto the sidewalk to make room before the Gates.

He gently set her back on her hooves, but she didn't let go. "It's going to be ok, Milli. I've brought some friends who will protect the colony and colonists. They don't look like Altarians or Humans or anyone you've seen before, but don't be scared. The Ishilon are good people."

They watched together for a moment, then Lorrem stepped through the Gate, followed by Sahhahr and Chena. There was no mistaking the joy on their faces as they enjoyed the soft sand under them.

Sahhahr moved to stand before Jack and Milli. "The Ishilon are here to provide aid to the people of Callosephia."

Milli was wide-eyed with surprise but managed a polite bow.

"Milli, may I introduce you to Sultessa Sahhahr Tessahr, leader of the Ishilon."

"Hello," Milli squeaked.

Jack looked around and saw no lights on in any of the buildings. "The colonists?" he asked.

"Evacuated back to Altaria," the office coordinator said timidly.

Jack gave her a wide smile. "You did very well! We'll need a base of operation. Is the office open?" Milli nodded. "Good! You should head back to Altaria for now, as well. We'll deal with this."

The warriors were now coming through the Gates to gather off to the side. Jack could see their joy to be standing upon the sandy surface of a planet once more.

Milli watched this in surprise for a moment then, with a small smile for Jack, she rushed away in the direction of the Gate Terminal. Jack stepped into the office and immediately stopped as chilly air poured out the door.

He looked back over his shoulder. "Sorry, give me a second to shut off the air conditioning and open the windows. It's pretty cool in here." He moved quickly into the office and worked to make it more comfortable for the Ishilon. Then he went back to the door. "It should warm up quickly."

Sahhahr, Lorrem, and Chena went inside and moved to the large display showing the colony and surrounding desert on a flat map. He widened the view. Jack then plugged in the coordinates Gee sent in her call last night for the start location of the stampede. It showed up on the map as a red dot to the north-west.

"First light will be about two hours from now. If they were going to strike the colony with a wave of sand crawlers from that distance, they'd likely get started pretty soon if not already. Let me see if I can reach Gee and Bal."

He sent a quick note to Gee, indicating they were ready.

Seconds later, a brief response arrived. "Twenty Hunters on route to start point where two await. Ready to proceed."

Jack sent a single word. "Go." He looked to the Ishilon.

"Twenty Sanosians on their way to the start point. Two are already there and will likely join them. We need definitive proof they are causing and driving the stampede. We'll have the Tik record this. The Sanosians will arrive here," Jack pointed to the top of the city on the map. "Likely, they will try to drive the beasts throughout the city to cause the most damage."

Lorrem gestured to show a crescent shape above the city, curving upwards towards the desert. "We will set up our defenders from here to here."

Jack's eyebrows rose as he saw the distance fifty warriors would be defending. There would be significant gaps between them where the beasts could get through.

Lorrem saw his doubt and smiled. "We have more than enough warriors for this. Let's go back outside to deploy our people."

When they got to the street, they saw the sky was just beginning to lighten.

Jack opened his shirt as the cool air felt good. Eyes immediately turned in his direction.

"May our people take a closer look at your collar before they are deployed? I believe it will inspire them," Lorrem asked quietly.

Jack felt a little weird about that, but he was asking them to put their lives in danger, so it seemed the least he should do. He nodded to the commander.

Immediately, the warriors began to line up and move past Jack. The first paused as it saw Chahdesh's symbol on the segment. It glanced at Jack, who nodded, so he touched the link and rushed away with a thrilled smile on its face.

That seemed to set the pattern as each warrior wanted to touch the collar segment with the Shadeem's signature. Jack allowed this patiently and looked each of them in the eye as they approached.

He was amazed at how quickly they moved away once they touched him. The sand was no hindrance at all for their mobility.

Finally, after all of them had their opportunity to approach him, Lorrem faced him and touched the link as well. Jack blinked in surprise.

"Shadeem," Lorrem said as he bowed respectfully then raced away after his warriors.

Jack looked to Sahhahr and Chena. "Are the rest of the Ishilon going to need to touch the collar?"

"Chahdesh was the most revered leader in our history. You're living proof of his victory, in so many ways," Sahhahr exclaimed.

"But I'm not him! I'm thrilled that seeing his words makes your people happy, but I'm just the wall you're hanging the hero's picture on. I can't live up to that level of perfection. I make mistakes all the time!"

Chena chuckled and touched Jack's arm. "So did Chahdesh. He was by no means perfect. But he inspired us to try harder, do better, and be stronger. I'm fascinated to see how your guidance will benefit our people." With a cheeky smile, he touched Jack's collar too. "I need to go take readings of the sand crawlers to see if they are suitable for our diet. My Shadeem came up with that idea."

Jack watched the doctor rush off. "You guys move so amazingly fast on the sand!" He looked back at Sahahhr, who was swishing back and forth in the sand. He raised an eyebrow.

"Sand feels like no other surface, and Callosephia feels very good!" she replied.

Jack smiled at her and hoped Elissa would be able to sway the council to allow permanent residency for the Ishilon.

Sahhahr reached over and gripped Jack's hand. "I need you to come with me."

"Shouldn't we stick close to the command center?" Jack said, gesturing over his shoulder at the building.

"Please!" she exclaimed, so he let her lead the way.

Jack watched her look this way and that as she pulled him through the streets of the colony. Soon they were outside of the town limits and climbing a dune of sand. He was about to stop her when she made a happy sound and pulled him over the top into a small dip. She released his hand and spun in place on the sand.

"This is perfect!" she exclaimed and took off her coat.

Jack looked at her in surprise. "Isn't it too cold for you?"

She moved to press her body against his. "Yes, you will need to warm me with your heat."

He started to chuckle at her corny line, but she wrapped her body around his, and they went down with a thump in the sand. Jack was a little winded by the fall, but Sahhahr merely wrapped herself around him more firmly.

"That feels very good, but are you sure this is the right tiiiiiiime!" Jack jolted as her hands quickly freed his cock from his pants to begin stroking him.

"Jack, this is precisely the right place and time for this. I'm ready. My body is ready. Mmmmm... your body is ready too!"

He couldn't see what she was doing as she was pressed against his chest so tightly. Then he felt himself sliding into soft, slippery, cool, and wet.

"Jack! So hot! You're almost scaldingly hot inside me!" she cried out.

He couldn't control their movement as she'd wrapped herself so tightly around him.

Then he felt it. An internal undulation, much like he felt when he was with his Harruushan lover, Juul. With the Sultessa, it almost felt like a pump, sucking from the base to the tip.

"Hot! Good!" Sahhahr sighed as she rubbed her belly against Jack's.

He had to admit he was feeling pretty damn good too! He felt a little odd at the almost frantic pace Sahhahr was setting, but he couldn't deny it was producing results. He was close.

She was almost writhing against him as internally, her undulations sped up as well. When he slid his hands down her sides, she pressed her cheek against his and gasped.

He wasn't prepared for her bite on his shoulder and jolted severely, but her grip on him was solid. The shock of the bite was quickly followed by his release exploding with force within her. He was expecting the fire of her venom, but it never arrived as his orgasm went on and on, her body drawing his essence from him. She was vibrating as she clung to him.

"Sahhahr? Teeth. Stop biting, please," he said gently.

It was becoming painful for him down there as her internal pumping slowed.

She seemed to be coming back to herself as she released her bite. "Apologies, Shadeem. It was my first time," she whispered.

"Oh! I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?" he asked with concern.

She just shook her head.

Jack tried to ease himself out, but she tightened her grip.

"Please, just a little more," she begged.

Jack gritted his teeth and waited. She finally stopped her pumping motions and relaxed her coils. He pulled his hips back and slid free. Glancing down, he winced at the angry red color of his dick.

They both relaxed back in the sand for a moment, quiet with their thoughts.

Sahhahr finally broke the silence. "For all our talk about being intellectually sophisticated and advanced beings, we are still creatures driven by our instinct and biological imperatives. My apologies for biting you. You didn't scream this time."

"No venom this time," he responded.

She turned her face to him. "There's always venom in my bite."

Jack rolled his shoulder, and it felt fine. "Huh. I felt no pain at all. I mean, other than the bite itself."

Her expression darkened. "I'm experiencing another biological imperative," she said with a quaver in her voice. "Could I be alone for a short time?" She gave him a little push.

Jack blinked at her in surprise, then stood and tucked himself away. He climbed back down the dune towards the colony to wait.

And wait.

From below, he couldn't see Sahhahr, but occasionally a flick of sand would come over the lip of the dune.

He was beginning to worry when she appeared and slid down the dune with a broad smile on her face.

"Feeling better?" he asked.

"So much better! Let's go watch Lorrem and his team deal with the Sanosians!" she said excitedly.

"From a safe distance!" he insisted, and she nodded with a grin. He looked closer at the Sultessa. She was absolutely glowing after her earlier dark expressions and tension. Surprisingly, her belly scales were quickly losing their pink hue.

Sudden mood changes with a few of the ladies in his life had been a recent cause for concern. First Juul, then Tanz, and now Sahhahr, though hers seemed opposite to the others. They went back to the leader's office and borrowed a skimmer with a flat cargo bed behind the driver's cabin. Sahhahr climbed up in the back as Jack got behind the controls.

He carefully drove them up to the edge of town, Sahhahr guiding them towards Lorrem's position, which she knew due to her implant. They could be in constant contact without saying a word out loud.

Word came back that the warriors saw signs of activity — a sandstorm in the distance.

Jack looked for a good vantage point as they approached the edge of the colony. He spotted a two-story dwelling with a rooftop deck and parked a short distance from it. If they had to run for the vehicle, he wanted to be running away from the beasts.

He led Sahhahr up the stairs, and they discovered they'd have an excellent view of the line of warriors facing the desert. Directly ahead of them was the center of the line where Lorrem stood with his spear in hand. A short distance behind him, Chena stood waiting.

The hairs on the back of Jack's neck stood on end as he saw how far apart each warrior was from the next in line. The line could easily be breached by a crazed sand crawler.

Jack turned to Sahhahr to mention this. She ignored his look and pointed to the far edges of the warrior line, which were much farther forward. The line held the large crescent shape Lorrem had described earlier.

"The warriors on the far edges will engage the Sanosians. The ones closer to us will turn back the creatures," she explained. She pointed upwards where he could just make out the dim shapes of several Tik observing the scene below, gathering evidence.

She turned to face Jack, and her smile couldn't have been happier. "The warriors are all wishing for Queen Elissa's success. This planet smells good! It feels good under our scales! It's the perfect place to incubate my eggs!"

Jack nodded as he also hoped it worked out.

Wait, what did she say?

Chapter 19

Karkakk snarled to himself as he watched his team head out to begin guiding their weapon towards the Altarian colony. He should be out there with them. Instead, he was left cleaning up the mess his second left him with. He still couldn't kill her and feast on her tender flesh as much as he wanted to. The Regent had been explicitly clear. No evidence of Sanosian interference.

He curled his toes in the fine sand and sighed. For the opportunity of owning this paradise, any price was reasonable, and he would gladly endure the incompetence of his second.

All Tchetkorr had to do was collect three small crawlers and bring them back to chew up the colony leader. Even this seemed to have been too much for the idiot as he hadn't returned.

Karkakk imagined Tchetkorr laying in the sand being gnawed on by baby crawlers. He snorted. How he rose to second hunter was a mystery.

The two hunters he'd held back with him weren't much brighter than Tchetkorr, but they'd get the job done. They stood waiting for his orders, angry at being excluded from the attack on the colony. He'd give them something to inspire them.

"I'm looking for a new second hunter. The first of you to return with three small crawlers gets the position." Seeing their intent in their eyes, he continued. "If one of you doesn't return, then I'll choose someone from the rest."

They grumbled at that but looked eager to start. "Go."

The two hunters turned and raced for their skimmers. Soon all he heard was the receding hum of their racing engines.

He turned back to the tent. He was still struggling with his urge to eat the Altarian. Entering the tent was probably a bad idea.

An unexpected sound drew his attention. He paused and listened. A skimmer- no, two. Sanosian skimmers. His hunters returning so soon?

The early morning light was still too dim to make out much detail.

He climbed a dune and peered in the direction of the sound of the screaming engines. He could barely make out the outline of two black shapes standing atop the smallest skimmers he'd ever seen. They were flying circles around his hunters who were screaming above the sound of their engines.

Black garbed... Altarians!?!

Panic gripped Karkakk's heart. They were here!

He ran for the tent. He could use the colony leader as a shield, to flee back to Sanosia! He could feel someone running over the sand behind him, but his broad feet had better purchase on the sand.

Grinning maniacally, he pulled the tent flaps open with both hands- a terrible tugging sensation raced upwards from his lower abdomen to his rib cage. He flung himself backward and crashed to the sand outside the tent as his muscles suddenly lost their strength.

Then the pain began, searing, unbearable pain. He looked down at his belly to see it was split open. He could see his guts spilling out... and bleeding! So much blood!

Movement by his feet made him look up to see the tent flaps open again. A small hand holding a small bloodstained knife came out first, then the pale naked Altarian was standing over him, watching him with hate in her eyes. Two black-garbed Altarians walked past him on either side to stand by the lighter colored female. One pulled a black gown from an inner pocket, and the colony leader pulled it on over her naked body. None of them spoke, but all kept their eyes on him, watching him slowly bleed out.

He heard a snort and looked above him at two more black beings, not Altarians, watching him with their grinning teeth gleaming in the dim light of predawn.

"This one won't live," one of the newcomers said.

"It's going to take a long time for him to die," the other one said.

The colony leader shook her head fiercely. "No. He doesn't deserve to see the sunrise. Give me a gun!"

One of the beings standing above his head moved to her and handed her something. The other one also moved to stand beside the others.

Karkekk couldn't stop gibbering in terror as their dark eyes watched him. His nightmares were coming true!

The colony leader was looking at something in her hand. Then she looked at him.

"Larrisha didn't deserve to lose her hoof. Matilda-May didn't deserve to be tortured and killed. I didn't deserve to be kidnapped and molested. But you deserve this."

She pointed her hand at him, and in the dim light, he saw the smallest gun he'd ever witnessed. It seems almost insultingly small to be used against someone who'd risen to such-

-=-

Gee took the spent gun from Jessa's hand, which had gone limp after she fired the small bullet into the skull of her captor. The gun went into a pocket then she and Bal guided the exhausted female away from the body.

The twins immediately rushed away to take up positions to watch for returning Sanosians. The two they'd captured remained tied up and unconscious.

They were impressed by Jessa. She'd suffered through a horrible ordeal and was strong enough to exact some justice when the opportunity presented itself. They were also intensely curious about the knife she used to gut the Sanosian and wondered how she managed to get it. They glanced back to see Jessa still had it clutched in her left hand.

"Do we take her back to the colony now?" Bal asked Gee.

Gee shook her head. "The stampede is between us at this point. The Sanosians will be using their jammers, so we can't contact the colony."

"We have to warn them! We have to save the people-" Jessa exclaimed, coming out of her exhausted daze.

"It's ok. We have support in place back at the colony. They'll take care of the people," Gee assured her and held her eyes until the leader sagged with relief.

"So we wait?" Bal asked.

"We enjoy the sunrise. I should be able to contact Jack shortly after that if they have things under control," Gee responded, and the two agents shared a look.

Jack and under control were not usually used in the same sentence.

-=-

"Eggs? What do you mean, eggs?"

Jack gaped at Sahhahr's blissful smile. She'd just tossed the statement at him casually that she'd just laid eggs on the sand dune where they'd had their fun.

They were standing on the roof-top deck of a two-story dwelling on the edge of the Altarian colony. In the distance, not too far away, was a massive cloud of sand rapidly approaching their position. Sahhahr chose that moment to announce she was having his babies.

"Sorry, I'm confused, or maybe you are. Are you saying you believe I fertilized the eggs you laid? I'm not even close to being an Ishilon!" Jack exclaimed.

"That's true, but you are a Hybrid. You have the amazing ability of xeno-fertility. That's why the last Mahrell Drun was so desperate to get its hands on you. You could give it children. You do understand that's why you were able to give the Altarians children as well as Diana, right?" she said reasonably as she looked at him.

"No! I thought it was because of the Altarian genes I now have!" he said, pointing to his horns.

"Now, you know differently. Your Hybrid nature made you able to impregnate Altarians and be susceptible to the Altarian gene modifying virus," she said gently.

Jack was stunned. He had it backward. Then the full implications of her earlier statement struck home.

"How many eggs?" he asked quietly.

"Eighteen!" she said joyfully.

"And you didn't think to ask me if I wanted to be the father of your children?" Jack growled.

She blinked at him in surprise. "You have children with many females!"

"Yes, and I'm actively involved in the upbringing of each of them, to help guide them towards adulthood! I stopped accepting requests to father additional children so I could give the ones I have sufficient attention."

"But you have sex with others! Tanz, for instance!"

"To share pleasure with someone I care for! Because I know- knew I couldn't get them preg-" Jack froze as Tanz's change in behavior suddenly took on new meaning. He struggled to extract the truth from the twisted memories and gaps, but it was no good. Lussht had stolen the memories away. He looked to Sahhahr. "What happened with Tanz that night on Chrystan?" he asked with a tight throat.

The Sultessa frowned, upset with Jack. "Why are you acting this way? Males impregnate females. That's how life works. Tanz wanted a child. You gave her one. That's all."

"I'm not physically compatible with Shreen! How-" He stopped as her eyes evaded his. "What did you do?"

"Tanz wanted a child. She wanted one very badly. I told her you could give her one," Sahhahr snapped.

Jack gaped at her. "How?!? We have mismatched plumbing!"

"I picked up your spilled seed from your stomach and pressed it into Tanz's fertilization orifice," Sahhahr huffed.

Jack made a gurgling sound as outrage choked off his ability to speak.

There was a massive flash from the warriors directly before them, which distracted Jack.

Lorrem had driven his spear into the sand, causing it to glow blue-white in a huge triangle with its point directed far out into the desert towards the onrushing creatures.

At first, the glowing sand had no impact on the onrushing creatures. Lorrem didn't seem to move, but the glowing shifted in color to become a deeper blue.

A terrible screaming erupted from the beasts which were in the glowing sands. They burst up and out of the sand, scrambling over each other to veer left or right, avoiding the charged areas.

The next warriors to the left and right of Lorrem slammed their spear tips into the sand and sent the charge towards the stampeding creatures, matching the color of Lorrem's energy. The beasts once more veered away from the charged sand in both directions, and the next warriors turned them further still until eventually, they were headed back towards their chasers.

Jack saw a huge pulse of green light burst from the far ends of the warrior line towards the horizon. He looked to Sahhahr.

"They're disabling the Sanosian's electronics, including their skimmers." She paused as she listened. "They're... all grounded," she said calmly. Flashes of blue-white light lit up the horizon then stopped. "All Sanosians have been neutralized."

"Not dead though, right?" Jack asked, cautiously.

She paused again. "A few died when their skimmers dropped to the sand at speed. Unavoidable."

Jack thought about that and nodded slowly. He couldn't expect zero casualties.

He saw Lorrem leaning heavily against his spear as Chena examined him. The commander nodded to the physician, and Chena rushed off towards the pack of sand crawlers the Ishilon were now corralling. Lorrem waved to Sahhahr, and she waved back. All was well.

Jack tried to contact Gee and Bal on his comm, and the connection went through. The jamming was gone.

"Jack! We see flashes on the horizon. Are you safe?" Gee blurted.

He smiled. "Yes. Those flashes are courtesy of our new friends. They've managed to stop the stampede and captured the Sanosians. Did you rescue the colony leader?"

"Yes. Who are these new friends," she asked cautiously.

"The Ishilon. You'll meet them when you arrive. There are no more enemies here, so you can come back... or do you need assistance?" he asked.

"We can make it back by ourselves," Gee responded.

"Ok. See you soon at the leader's office." Jack disconnected then turned his attention back to Sahhahr.

"Your people have the sand crawlers under control?" he asked, and she nodded. "Let's head back to the office. We haven't finished our conversation about our children." They climbed down and headed for the skimmer.

As they walked, Jack's mind returned to worry over the news she'd sprung on him. "Do you understand how I might be upset to be told I'm going to be responsible for eighteen new lives?"

"How are you responsible for them?" she asked.

He looked at her and saw her honest curiosity. The void between their cultures was never more apparent than right now. "Because that's the way I was raised! To me, if I helped create life, they're my babies too. I have to protect them, nurture them, and make sure they know they're valued and loved!" Jack emphasized. His mind went back to Tanz, and he put a hand on the side of the skimmer to stabilize himself as the world spun around him. Geezus! What if she became pregnant from him too! Shit! Juul! Was she carrying his child?

"Are you well, Jack?"

He looked at Sahhahr and saw her unease. He felt like he could almost read her thoughts. The Shadeem was emotionally distraught over something as simple as babies. Lame.

He never asked to be Shadeem.

Whatever.

"Yeah, let's go."

Once Sahhahr was in the back, he got the skimmer headed back to the office. A thought occurred to him, so he stopped and looked over his shoulder. "Please tell Lorrem we have friendlies arriving soon. Ask him to ensure no one fires at them." Sahhahr nodded to him, and they continued onward.

It didn't take long to reach the Colony Leader's office, where Jack parked the skimmer. They went inside, and Jack grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge then dropped his butt into a chair. "I suppose the rescued leader will need to be taken to Altaria for medical treatment as everyone has left the colony."

Sahhahr nodded to him then looked to the doorway as Lorrem and Chena entered. Two of the shiny Tik followed. The commander looked a little tired, but Chena seemed almost bubbly.

"The Sanosian food creatures can be used to feed the Ishilon as well. They meet almost all of our nutrient requirements. There are a few elements missing which we might need to synthesize or import if they cannot be found on the planet," the doctor said enthusiastically. He glanced at the device in his hands, which was displaying something Jack couldn't interpret.

Lorrem nodded and looked at Jack. "We should set up a wide perimeter fencing centered on the crash site of the transport. Based on the travel speed of the fastest of them, the current diameter would span an enormous area. We need to bring down additional warriors to help set this up as soon as possible, or containing their spread will be impossible. Once that's in place, we can gradually reduce the area to move them into smaller containment pens based on their species."

Jack nodded. "Bring down as many as you need." He looked to the Tik. "May we continue to rely on the support of the Tik for this endeavor?"

"I am authorized to grant this permission. Yes," it stated.

Jack was feeling a little uneasy about the behavior of these new Tik. They seemed to be lacking the personality typical of their race.

"I'll head back to the ship with the Commander to begin the waking process," Chena stated. He turned to Jack. "A guard has been placed around the birthing dune. It is an honor to bear witness to the continuation of the Sultessa's line. This amazing continuation is something we hadn't thought possible. We are once more in your debt, Shadeem!" He bowed deeply, and Lorrem followed his example.

Jack blinked in surprise at them as they left the building. He looked to Sahhahr. "What does that mean? Wouldn't you have just mated with one of your people?"

She shook her head. "No. My line isn't compatible with the rest of my people. Our children will be due to your influence. I'm no longer the last of my line."

"Is that why you were... so insistent?"

She smiled. "Only partially. The biological imperative to mate once I knew you were viable was powerful. My body began to prepare the moment it was sure. I found this drive to be quite... intense. I feel remarkably calm now."

Jack sank back against the chair and thought about that for a moment. She remained quiet, watching his expression. Finally, he looked up into her eyes once more. "When the babies are born-"

"You will not be able to get close to them. Ishilon are born feral. It's a survival trait. They will be collected, given their initial cybernetic implants, and then secured in a safe zone in the desert to mature. This takes three to five of your years. Only then will their education begin."

Jack gaped at her. Was he going to have to wait that long before he got to know his latest children?

"You are welcome to participate in their education process, but before that, it would be too dangerous," she advised.

He nodded as this wasn't a culture he had any experience with. "Yes, I'd like to be involved, if possible."

"I should tell you; we don't have concepts like mother and father to the same degree you seem to have. The early years burn that away," she said gently.

He nodded as he tried to come to terms with this. It was so diametrically opposed to his values; he wasn't sure how to approach it. Finally, he decided the only thing he could do was not have sex with the Ishilon in the future. He didn't want to father children he couldn't be a father to.

"Ok." He closed his eyes and took a long deep breath to cleanse his mind.

The front door opened as Gee, Bal, and the twins entered. Adina and Zaina rushed past to get hugs and kisses from Jack.

"I'm glad to see you're safe and sound," he said as he kissed them both on their temples.

"We were with our teachers. We were in good hands," Zaina said.

Jack nodded then noticed someone was missing. "Where's Jessa?"

Gee shared a look with Bal. "We delivered her to the Gate Terminal directly. She was traumatized by her ordeal. I believe she will be leaving the role of Colony Leader."

Jack gave them a sad expression but nodded, recalling his own imprisonment. He turned to gesture to the Ishilon.

"Let me introduce you to Sultessa Sahhahr Tessahr, leader of the Ishilon. They were trapped in suspension sleep for almost five thousand years. The Tik found and rescued them." He turned from their astonished looks to Sahhahr. "These are my good friends and security experts Gee and Bal. These two are my daughters- adopted," he stressed when he saw Sahhahr's knowing smile.

The Altarians were watching Jack as they waited for him to continue. He swallowed as he knew what was coming next.

"The Ishilon were trapped in space as they were hunting down the Mahrell Drun. They were disappointed to discover they were dead. They were... pleased to learn I was involved in their extinction. Especially when they saw Ishilon writing on my collar."

Sahhahr couldn't restrain her joy. "Jack is the Shadeem to the Ishilon people, our guide in this new time. He introduced us to new friends and found us a new home if Queen Elissa can sway her council. He's also ensured my bloodline will continue as my mate."

"Mate?" Gee and Bal blurted as they looked between Jack and Sahhahr.

Jack winced. "I've been informed that Hybrids like me are fertile across species. It isn't my Altarian genes that make it possible for me to give Altarian's children. I'm compatible with Ishilon too. Potentially with Shreen... and Harruushians as well. I need to speak with Tanz and Juul!"

"I thought you were done with having offspring! We talked about this!" Gee exclaimed.

"I was- am! I just learned of my Hybrid compatibility today," Jack grumbled.

The Altarian agents shared another look. "We contacted Queen Elissa from the Gate Terminal and let her know the Sanosian situation was dealt with. We just need to deliver the Sanosians back to their Regent."

"Aren't they able to fly home on their ship?" Jack asked.

"It suffered a catastrophic engine failure. There is nothing left but a smoldering pile of twisted metal." Bal stated. He knew what that and her slight smile meant. She got to play with her explosives.

"Ah," Jack sighed. "I suppose they'll just have to be marched through the Gate then."

"The ones who are able, at least. The injured and the deceased will go through on stretchers carried by the survivors," Gee explained.

The door opened once more, and Taggart paused in the doorway. "Mr. Danner, please, we must proceed with the procedure for Rikki. We cannot delay any further."

Jack suddenly recalled the promise he'd made, and his expression dropped. "Sorry. I'm coming."

Gee touched his arm. "What procedure?"

Jack just shook his head. "We'll talk when I get back." He followed Taggart out of the building with Sahhahr and the others following. When they reached the four Gates still held open on the street, Taggart immediately went through the closest one.

"When will you be home?" Gee asked.

Jack looked at her. "I don't think this will take too long." He looked to Sahhahr.

"I won't be going back up to the ship. I need to stay close to the eggs," she said.

"Eggs?" Bal asked.

Jack just nodded and sent a quick smile to his girls before he stepped through the Gate.

Taggart was waiting impatiently. "Please come this way!"

Jack felt like his day was out of control as he hurried his steps until he entered a tech lab. There were bits and pieces of technology scattered across many work surfaces. Jack was taken aback by the sight of a gutted Tik chassis.

"Oh shit! Is that Rikki?" he exclaimed softly.

Taggart turned to him. "This was Rikki. Most of his systems were removed before we brought him to Callosephia. The only remaining pieces were those necessary to maintain Rikki's sentience." Taggart gestured to the mostly empty shell. "Nothing of Rikki remains inside. The critical elements have been transferred into the Ishilon drone. The Ishilon are indeed brilliant technologists." It pointed to a hovering, flat black orb, which Jack saw was roughly the size of a soccer ball. The color was so dark; its surface was impossible to fix his eyes on.

The Tik doctor continued. "This shape is elegant and compact. Rikki will not have many of the functions it used to have, but it will have much lower energy requirements."

Taggart tilted to indicate an affirmative. "The drone has an extremely efficient antigrav unit and battery, plus its entire surface collects energy."

An Ishilon approached Jack with her eyes locked onto Jack's collar. When she looked into Jack's eyes, he could see her question, so he nodded.

Her fingers traced over the symbols on the links. "Chahdesh," she said in reverence. Then she bowed to him. "Shadeem!"

"Please call me, Jack," he said.

She gave him a broad smile. "I'm senior technologist Hemmarr. I've built an interface for the transmitter and receiver for the collar based on the design and schematics provided to me from the Tik. You won't need to be directly wired to the Tik. I understand you also had several requirements regarding control and privacy. I want to assure you that these have been incorporated too."

Jack felt a wave of relief flood through his mind and body. He was still going to be the master of his domain.

"Let's do this," Jack said.

Hemmarr pointed to a bench, and Jack sat, sliding his shirt from his shoulders to expose the collar.

The tech examined the links she would be working on, then rolled over a small table before him. On it were two silver link segments. He felt a little uneasy about that as they looked identical to the links he was already wearing.

The Tech explained what he was seeing. "These are overlays. They fit atop the existing links to augment their capabilities. They are encrypted to only communicate with the transmitter and receiver in Rikki's drone. Let me know if you feel any vertigo when I connect them."

She gently lifted one of the new links and moved it behind Jack's head. He spotted how incredibly thin the new component was and was impressed despite his concerns.

When it went on, there was just the slightest click as the two surfaces bonded but no perceptible change for Jack.

"That was the transmitter. All good?" Hemmarr asked.

"So far, so good," he admitted.

She picked up the receiver and gently placed it on the broken link on his collar. There was a distinctive click, and Jack felt himself falling into a bottomless pit.

Then he was suddenly back on the bench, clinging to Hemmarr. A wave of nausea washed over him, and he moaned.

"Are you well?" the tech asked.

"What the hell was that?!?" he gasped weakly.

Taggart was oblivious to Jack's discomfort as it watched Rikki's readings. "We must hurry! The collar is ready. Jack, perhaps you should start by closing your eyes. We will introduce your senses to Rikki gradually."

He closed his eyes and tried to relax. Here we go.

-=-

Rikki was floating in the darkness. It couldn't recall what it had been just doing, and that should have worried it but somehow didn't.

Nothing seemed very important at the moment.

"Rikki? This is Taggart. We are going to wake you up now."

"I don't want to. It's too much nothing," Rikki begged. "My body is gone."

"We're working on that, but in the meantime, we have a temporary solution that will give you an incredibly unique full sensory experience. No other Tik has ever done this. Your perceptions will be intensely valuable."

Rikki paused. It really wanted just to drift away, but Taggart's words were... compelling.

"Full sensory? I thought the damage to my body was too great."

"It is, so the sensory feed will be coming from a non-Tik body," Taggart explained.

Rikki went silent as it contemplated the strange, impossible words it was hearing. "I've lost my mind. I'm making up outrageous solutions."

"No, Rikki... we'll have to begin and hope you can accept the new input."

Rikki was surprised by that, but it waited for what came next. Would it be noises? Phantom pain? It hoped not. It had felt far too much of- OH!

The hard bench under it was uncomfortable but the soft hands on its shoulders-

Rikki could hear the whir and click of nearby devices and feel a hot breeze gently stirring its... hair against its neck?

"Jack. Open your eyes now."

Rikki could see! Not in the same registers and ranges it was accustomed to, but the images were sharp and colorful. Taggart's tattoos were before it in a veritable rainbow of colors.

"Why did you call me Jack?" it asked the other Tik.

"Taggart was speaking to me. Hi Rikki, I'm Jack. Your... host?"

The words were spoken aloud, but the voice seemed to come from all around Rikki and felt very close. It was hesitant yet seemed friendly.

Taggart centered itself in Rikki's new field of view. "Do you recall the name, Jack Danner?"

"Yes! He's the Human-Altarian Hybrid who was central to the events leading to the final extinction of the Allsa Komanae," Rikki said and became aware of the oddest sensation of... sighing? Breathing!?!

Suddenly Rikki's awareness of its physical being exploded across its mind. Those senses had been slowly diminishing for so long that it'd lost touch with the knowledge of being part of its environment. Now, Rikki was no longer a pinpoint of consciousness floating in a void but a fully integrated piece of the rich mechanism of reality.

Rikki... felt.

With this sudden resurgence of sensation came some it'd never experienced before. It could taste, but he had no tongue! It could smell, but Tik's had no noses! Breathing!?! For that matter, the shape of its body felt different.

"I'd like to think I'm not going to be defined by that one event in my life," Jack's voice said.

"I'm speaking to that, Jack?" Rikki asked quietly.

Another sigh. "The one and only. How are you feeling?"

How was it feeling? Rikki felt so incredibly... different! A new and exciting kind of different but at the same time it was... strangely comfortable? So many new sensations! It felt- it felt good... except for an emptiness in its core- Hungry! "I'm hungry?!?," it blurted and heard Jack laugh. That felt good too.

"This body of mine needs a lot of food to keep it running. I'll get a meal when I get home."

Rikki experienced a yawn for the first time, and that felt good too. "I'll need some sleep too." There was a pause. "Taggart, how is that going to work? When I sleep, is Rikki going to be ok? My eyes will be closed, and my body will be resting."

Rikki came to a sudden realization. "You've put me into Jack's body?" It found the concept of being inside a flesh container to be disturbing.

Taggart answered. "No, Rikki. A Mahrell Drun built Jack's collar. It's capable of providing a full sensory feed. Jack, please look at the drone."

Rikki found itself looking at a hovering black orb. It was amazed by how steady it floated in place. It was difficult to see its surface- it was like the Ishilon ship! It must have the same energy-absorbing surface shielding!

Taggart gestured to the drone with a tentacle. "Rikki, this is where your consciousness resides. You're linked to Jack's senses through his collar. This gives you the sensory feed your mind requires for stability. The drone has some sensors, but it's only a fraction of what you are experiencing now. You can pull yourself back to the drone, but you probably won't be able to remain there for an extended period. Give it a try now. Will yourself to return."

Rikki concentrated and found his perspective suddenly jump. Its visual acuity increased dramatically. It had visual access to three hundred sixty degrees. Plus, it was able to scan through many wavelengths.

Rikki felt like it was holding its breath. That was silly, of course. It didn't need to breathe. But it couldn't shake that sensation, and it felt... cold? No, numb. So little input and so many gaps! It didn't like it!

Rikki rushed back into Jack's body and felt his warmth settle into its bones. That was a unique perspective.

"I can't tell if Rikki has moved to the drone yet," Jack's voice commented.

"I did and returned," Rikki said.

There was a definite pause. "Ah... so there's no way for me to know you're there unless you tell me." Jack's voice seemed a little strained.

Rikki realized Jack wasn't entirely comfortable being the host for another consciousness. It suddenly felt like a parasite. "My apologies Mr. Danner. I- I didn't know. I'll leave you now."

"No! Rikki, please don't." Jack blurted. "Taggart explained to me how your mind needs a connection to reality to keep it from unraveling. I'm the only one capable of providing that support while they work on a permanent solution for you. I want to do it. Listen, I know what you did for the Ishilon. That's true heroism. This is the least I can do to thank you! Please let me help you."

Rikki heard the sincerity in Jack's voice, and that eased its misgivings. Still, he wasn't entirely reassured. "If you need me to leave, please just tell me."

Jack's voice held relief in it. "Thank you, Rikki. There will be moments where I may ask you for a little privacy, for short periods."

"You have only to ask," Rikki said sincerely.

Jack stood up and walked over to stand before the drone. Rikki knew it was looking at itself from Jack's perspective. That was a little odd, but Jack seemed to be taking a much more unusual circumstance in stride.

It watched Jack reach out a hand to touch the surface.

"Stop!" Rikki chirped, and the hand pulled back. "The surface absorbs energy, including heat. It might feel very cold to the touch."

"Ah, thanks!" Jack said.

Rikki looked inward and determined it still had a Tik comm, but other functions were definitely missing. The drone had fewer capabilities than his Tik body. It opened a direct connection to Taggart.

"Please endeavor to find a permanent solution as quickly as possible, so I won't burden Jack for longer than is absolutely necessary. His generosity is greatly appreciated, but I can't in good conscience allow it to continue indefinitely."

"Understood," it replied. "We will work with the Ishilon Hemmarr as well. She is tremendously skilled at miniaturization, power efficiency, and may be able to offer new functionality in your new body."

"As long as that does not increase the amount of time my presence burdens Jack," Rikki insisted.

"Understood."

Jack's voice drew Rikki back.

"What's the range on our link?" he was asking, and the Ishilon answered.

"With access to comm satellites, the range is global, but lag may occur. Otherwise, line of sight is required." She examined Jack's head. "The drone is small enough to fit between the tips of your horns. I would suggest that's where the drone should be when you traverse Gates. Rikki, please move the drone to that position and use the tentacle manipulators to hold that position."

Remaining linked to Jack's sensory feed, Rikki split its attention to feel its connection to the drone. It guided the hovering sphere closer to Jack, tapping into its video feed, then extended the two small manipulator coils to take hold of the horns as it slid between them. There was so much input from Jack's feed; it was tricky for the Tik to spare attention for the drone.

"That's a weird sensation," Jack said, but Rikki could feel the slight smile as he said it.

"The manipulators have standard Tik interface connectivity. You'll be able to use them to control anything you could before," Hemmarr stated.

Jack's stomach rumbled, surprising Rikki again.

"Can we leave now? I want to go home, eat, and then get some sleep. Will Rikki dream- Hey Rikki, can you sense my thoughts?" Jack asked, cautiously.

"I don't seem to have that permission, though I'm able to speak to you internally," Rikki responded.

"Ah, that's fine," Jack sighed.

Taggart bowed to Jack. "We are in your debt for saving Rikki. Rest assured, we will diligently work towards an alternate plan for it."

"Appreciated," Jack replied. "Come on, Rikki, let's go home."

Jack's heartbeat a little faster, and his lungs breathed a little deeper at the mention of home, and Rikki experienced these new sensations with the wonder of a newborn.

Because that's precisely what he was — an entity born into a new world, full of strange experiences.

And with Rikki's dawning awareness, it realized Taggart had no idea how accurate its statement was regarding how intensely valuable these new experiences would be. No Tik had ever lived in the now as a non-Tik.

Rikki didn't know how long he'd have until they found an alternate solution for him, but until then, it wanted to savor every second!

Chapter 20

Assessor Makrus Relius stood by the window overlooking the courtyard where his life plan took such a dramatic turn with the arrival of the mechanical entities from space. The first rays of sunlight were particularly lovely this morning, he thought.

He'd always felt he was destined for greatness. It drove his efforts from an early age to follow the Code of the Righteous more diligently than anyone had ever followed it before.

He learned early on that his less than righteous impulses could be tamed and controlled by daily self-flagellation. His back bore the scars to prove his devotion.

He focused his will on becoming an example for others. This had been highly successful, so far.

Tomorrow, he would be sent off-world where he would be representing Nareshk. This was both an honor and a tremendous responsibility.

He'd also be in a strange and alien environment. They knew nothing of the Code, so he couldn't expect them to follow the standards of civilized behavior he was accustomed to.

The door behind him opened, and he turned to see several Assessors enter the chamber. Leading them was Dren Milo, who wasn't showing the serene expression he typically wore in their headquarters. He almost looked frustrated. That smoothed away as he spotted Makrus.

Behind him were two level threes and one level two Assessor. The threes, Wabb Cress and Vetti Blann, were in their customary position of following Garra Nulle, who also had a less than calm expression. Makrus bowed to the four senior Assessors and received the barest acceptable acknowledgment from Garra and his followers. Only Dren gave him a proper Senior to Underling greeting. Makrus controlled his surprised expression.

Garra was another Nareshk who'd advanced at a quicker pace than his peers. Nothing approaching the expedited pace Makrus' perfect score had enabled but impressive none-the-less. He was one of the more respected Assessors and was almost as old as Dren. Makrus thought he was shorter than most Nareshk and rounder, as well. It seemed likely he would take the First Level position when Dren expired.

Wabb and Vetti had been lower-level Assessors when Garra joined their ranks, and their rise began to follow his as the years passed. Both were taller than Garra by a head, so the trio was distinctive when spotted walking the halls.

Garra turned to take a second look at Makrus then gave him a proper acknowledgment.

"Ah! Our valiant Level Nine is here! Marrus!" Garra exclaimed.

"Makrus," he humbly corrected the Level Two.

"Yes. I was just asking Dren if there was wisdom in venturing from our world without first gaining knowledge of what lies out there. The inhabitants of other planets won't have had the benefit of the Code to guide their actions-"

Dren sighed. "I've already explained that the Tik informed us all members of their Gate Network follow a set of conventions for peaceful coexistence with the other races-"

"A set of conventions cannot possibly encompass the entirety of the Code, the only guarantee of truly civilized behavior. They may not consider bribery, theft, or even rape to be a crime!" Garra exclaimed with a look of distaste.

Dren fixed an eye on the Level Two. "We will obtain a copy of their conventions to review before we entertain the idea of joining."

"Which brings me back to my point. Why are we sending Marcus out into that unknown? Further scrutiny is required first," Garra said with emphasis.

"Makrus," he said and received a small nod from the Level Two.

Dren turned to face the others. "We have a claim of a potential transgression against the Code! As extremely unlikely as that would be, it's not something we can ignore. To do so would make a mockery of everything we strive for. Sending Makrus, our finest example of living by the Code, off-planet to investigate the claim ensures the matter will be handled with discretion. Nareshk citizens of lower standing should not be exposed to even the idea that such a claim exists! Knowledge of it has been restricted to me, the limited number of Level Two's and Three's who were present at this morning's review meeting, and Makrus, who was there when the mechanical being presented its case. I have full confidence in Makrus."

The junior Assessor swelled with pride at his leader's praise. Makrus felt the weight of this great responsibility settle upon his shoulders, and he welcomed it.

He looked to Garra and was surprised to catch a brief glimpse of... hate? Makrus couldn't be sure as it had been so brief. If it hadn't been for his training in reading the truth from body language, a skill Assessors required, he might have missed it. He shook his head as it couldn't have been hate as that made no sense, so he dismissed the thought.

"I'd hoped to be able to convince you to follow a more measured and responsible response to the outsider's claim, but I can see your mind is set, so I'll trouble you no further. Good luck, young Marius. May the Code guide your way out there beyond the world." With that Garra left, Wabb and Vetti close behind.

"Makrus," he said quietly as he watched the three leave.

"Garra's ambition is leading him away from Righteousness." Dren sighed.

Makrus looked sharply at his leader. His utterance was one of the most damning claims one could make against another citizen. The fact that it was being said about someone who'd reached Level Two was shocking to Makrus.

Dren noticed the troubled expression on the Level Nine's face and shook his head. "The most insidious corruption only shows its true strength once you've reached the highest levels of righteousness. The need to be vigilant never ends and truthfully, only increases as you rise."

Makrus nodded as his eyes widened. The revelation shook his world, but he felt honored to have received the lesson from the leader of his people.

"Will you discipline Assessor Nulle for this breach?" he asked.

Dren smiled at the open curiosity on Makrus' face.

"That's a lesson for another day. You must prepare yourself for your mission tomorrow. You've received the Citizen Archive and the DNA registration device?" Dren asked with a smile.

Makrus nodded and patted the satchel hanging from his shoulder.

"You'll be accompanied by two members of the Balance I've personally selected," Dren said and received a nod.

"Do you believe I will be physically endangered?" Makrus asked curiously.

Dren shook his head. "I doubt there is anything out there you could not handle on your own, but the Balance present an image of strength while Assessors are the personification of wisdom. The outsiders need to be aware we exemplify both qualities. We cannot expect them to be sufficiently conscious of this without giving them a visual cue."

Makrus nodded thoughtfully. He wondered just how barbaric the outsiders would be.

Just one more reason to ensure he followed the Code tomorrow.

Chapter 21

Jack stood off to the side in the entry hall of the Gate Terminal on Callosephia, watching the Ishilon warriors march the Sanosian prisoners inside the building. According to the report he was given by Lorrem upon Jack's return from the ship, the hunters no longer had a leader, and from their slumped postures, they were not looking forward to the welcome they'd receive on their home planet.

Sahhahr had been there during Lorrem's report and hadn't been able to stop admiring Jack's new... accessory. Before she left, she made Jack promise to return to Callosephia soon.

Gee and Bal were standing to Jack's right, and the twins were on his left. The Sanosians were visibly frightened by the sight of the five dark sentinels watching them pass by. Some were reduced to gibbering as they saw the large horned male with the miniature black hole floating above his head — an ominous sign to view on their way to an uncertain future at the hands of their regent.

"If they hadn't come here to murder everyone, I'd almost feel sorry for them," Jack said quietly to the Altarians. He got quiet snorts in return. They had no sympathy for the hunters.

Soon enough, they were all through. The last two had been carrying the stretcher bearing the corpse of their leader. Gee had pinned a note to his chest, which simply stated Sanosians were not welcome on Callosephia and never would be. As ultimatums went, the message could not have been more brutally clear.

Jack might have worded it differently based on his years as Ambassador, but he wasn't here in that capacity.

"How long will you need to wear the black crown?" Gee asked as she moved to stand before him, aiming a critical eye towards his new accessory.

Jack looked upwards, but the drone moved back, maintaining its position directly between his horns and staying in his blind spot. Rikki could obviously pick up his body movements and incorporated that into the drone's movements with perfect synchronization.

Jack gave the Altarians a shrug. "The Tik are working with the Ishilon to create a new body for Rikki. The Ishilon drone is with me until they succeed."

"Queen Elissa needs a full report from us. Adina and Zaina can head home with you," Gee said, and Jack nodded wearily. She paused. "Get some sleep."

The twins rushed outside and returned with their skimmers following along obediently. Jack frowned as he recalled how much he didn't want them riding the dangerous vehicles. A glance at the agents showed they were aware of it.

With the shake of his head, he walked over to the last Callosephian colonist working the Gate and gave her their destination of Chuuruthia.

"Do you know when I'll be able to go back to Altaria too?" she asked.

Jack blinked at her. "Uh, if you speak to the two agents who are heading there, they'll pass along your request." He saw she was nervous. "Are you ok?"

She shook her head. "I want to leave this ball of sand. I need green! Grass, trees, and I want to see water! Many of us feel the same way! As I was here when the others were evacuated, I heard a lot of them saying they wouldn't be coming back now that the sand is infested with vermin."

"I think the Ishilon will be able to get that under control-" Jack began.

"They can have it!" the female blurted, clearly unnerved by the Sanosian's attack.

Gee and Bal approached with their skimmers in tow to see what the raised voice was about. They looked questioningly at Jack, who turned to them.

"You two should go through first to Altaria and arrange to have someone take over here. She needs to go home," Jack suggested.

His kind words seemed to be the final straw for her as the Gate agent burst into tears.

Jack automatically opened his arms, and she rushed around her terminal to crush herself against his body, sobbing as she clung to him. He looked to the two ex-security agents who watched with concern.

The twins moved to the controls on the terminal and set them for Altaria.

Jack watched them with surprise then recalled how, when they were much younger, they used a Gate to get to Phem Kalos.

He spoke soothingly to the female and gently eased her into the hands of Gee and Bal. They walked off toward the Gate and stepped through.

Jack realized there were no more Altarians on Callosephia... unless he counted himself. But he was only partially Altarian.

That thought led his brain back to the recent revelations about the true nature of his being a Hybrid. He felt an urgency to speak with Tanz and Juul, but that was tempered by his exhaustion, which was slowly creeping over him.

"Are you well, Jack?" Rikki asked quietly in his mind, and Jack twitched as he'd forgotten he wasn't alone. At least his thoughts were protected.

"Yes, Rikki. I just need some sleep."

The Tik seemed hesitant to express himself. "I- I look forward to experiencing this sensation. Tik don't sleep though we do meditate as we recharge, so I suppose that is similar."

"We'll see."

They waited for a short time, and then two Altarians stepped through the Gate to take up positions at the terminals as they gawked at the hovering orb between his black horns. He sighed as this was just another reason for people to stare at him. Their arrival allowed Jack and the twins to return to Chuuruthia, which they did with all haste.

Once there, a taxi took them back to their home atop the hill, and as they came in, he saw the party was long over. It was just past sunrise, so the early morning sunlight passed over the top of his home to paint the small cottage across the valley with its brilliance. The valley floor below remained in shadow, and a mist covered the pond. Jack took a deep breath as he gazed upon the beauty before him. He couldn't leave this.

Meagan Lane's tour bus was still in the driveway next to the home, and a few people were moving about near it when the taxi let Jack and the twins out.

Adina and Zaina gave Jack a quick peck on the cheek and rushed off towards the garage to stow their skimmers. He watched them go and wondered what their night had been like. Maybe he was better off not knowing.

"Are you trying to one-up yourself as King of the Freaks?"

Jack turned to see the speaker and saw it was the head of Meagan's security detail. Jack tilted his head in question and saw the man point upwards. Ah, right.

"What? You've never met a man with his own personal black hole?" Jack asked, seriously. He watched Kano's eyes widen then let him off the hook. "I'm kidding. This is Rikki, a Tik in an Ishilon designed body."

"Shit! Are all Tik going to change from the big chrome cans to that much smaller orb shape? I gotta say, while it's smaller, the orb is much more intimidating. I can't really get a fix on it with my eyes," the man said in discomfort.

Jack suddenly realized he hadn't worked out a cover story for why Rikki was in the drone and why he was staying so close to him.

The Tik acted for him by moving the drone down from between Jack's horns to shoulder height. Rikki's voice came from the featureless surface from a hidden speaker. "Hello. Being intimidating is not something any Tik aspires to be, so I apologize if I disturbed you. My body was recently destroyed. The Ishilon made this to contain my mind while they work on getting me a new Tik body."

"Shit! Your body was destroyed, and you're still alive? That's pretty damn impressive!" Kano exclaimed.

"Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends," Rikki sang.

Jack and Kano stared at the Tik in surprise then each other before they burst into delighted laughter.

"Rikki, you are one righteous Tik!" Kano said with a grin.

Jack just nodded with a huge grin. He had no idea Rikki was so knowledgeable about vintage Earth music. He was actually looking forward to trading notes on the subject with the Tik. It also had an abundance of personality, unlike the ones who went to Callosephia with them last night.

Jack looked around and saw some of the crew finishing the packing of their equipment.

"I can't believe I only got to hear Meagan on stage for a few seconds last night before I had to leave," Jack sighed disappointedly.

The big man smiled at Jack. "You might get to hear more if your daughter accepts her offer to go on tour."

Jack gawked at the man. "What?!?"

Kano chuckled at Jack's surprise. "Yeah, your daughter and her Chuuruthian friend sang a bunch of songs with Ms. Lane on stage then were speaking with her for a while after the show. I haven't seen my boss that charged up in a long time. She has a new energy."

Jack looked back toward the house. "I guess everyone is still asleep."

Kano sighed. "We were supposed to head back to Earth last night." He shook his head. "I never thought I'd ever hear myself saying something like that."

Jack grinned and nodded. "Planet hopping widens one's perspective." His stomach grumbled. "I think I'll get started on breakfast. We'll be eating on the patio again. Everyone is welcome to join us."

"Thanks, I'll pass the word along," Kano said with a smile and a nod.

Jack nodded and walked over to the grills and got them started. He also ensured the warming trays were filled and got them started as well. Once the serving tables were prepped, he entered his front door and paused inside, listening for sounds of activity.

He tiptoed past the entrance to the living room and spotted Maxim, Nann, and Ray sleeping in the conversation pit with three other people who Jack believed were Meagan's musicians. No sign of Leo or Cha'Risa, though. He smiled, looking back at the pit as he knew just how comfortable those cushions were. Ray quietly rose from where he'd been meditating and moved towards him.

Jack gestured for the Tik to follow and internally spoke to Rikki as he glanced up. "Still with me, Rikki?"

"Yes, Jack. Should I move into your view? I just realized you couldn't see me here."

"No, it's fine. Hovering between my horns is probably the safest place to be."

When Ray reached them, Jack continued towards the kitchen.

"Good morning, Jack! Is- is that Rikki you have with you?" he said with quiet amazement.

"Good morning, Ray! Yes, the procedure was successful. Rikki is connected to my senses and protected inside the drone," Jack said, equally quiet.

"Shit, that must be awesome!" Ray said with awe in his voice.

"It is beyond any expectation or experience I've ever had," Rikki responded.

"Woo. Let me fart so you can experience all the splendors of being Human," Jack muttered.

"You can fart on demand?" Rikki asked with a cheeky tone.

Ray burst into laughter but immediately dialed the volume down to keep from waking the household. "Damn, Rikki is fun!" he said when he got control over his laughing.

Jack had snorted in surprise but managed to contain his laughter. He had to agree with Ray.

There was a noise from the doorway, and they looked to see Diana leaning against the doorjamb in her nightie and flimsy dressing gown. She was biting her lip and watching Jack anxiously.

He turned to face her with open arms, and she ran across the distance to pull him into a tight hug. God, she felt incredible! Still warm from the bed and so soft yet so substantial compared to the others... except maybe Sahhahr, whose body was much longer and solid muscle. Truthfully though, Diana's body triggered him like no one else.

She purred as she felt his reaction to her.

That's when he recalled they weren't alone. He glanced over at Ray, whose optics were locked on the tall brunette. Shit! Rikki was sharing the sensations going through his body at the moment.

Diana found his lips with hers, and she kissed him tentatively, still fearing his rejection. He knew all he could do was be patient and continue to show her how much he loved her. However, it was breakfast time, they had company, he had food to prepare for that company, and sexy time would have to wait. He gave her a sensual kiss, then turned her to face the hall once more. He moved his mouth to her ear from behind. "You need to get ready for breakfast, sexy girl. We have people over, and this is for me right now." He gently closed her robe and tied it shut. He gave her a little pat on the bum to send her back to her room, and she gave him a flirty look over her shoulder.

Then she noticed Ray and the floating black orb between Jack's horns. She stopped and stared.

SennLann padded into the kitchen in her robe. "Good morning, Jack, Diana, Ray. What's that?" the ebony female said, pointing to the darker orb.

"This is Rikki. It's a Tik in a drone designed by the Ishilon. They're working on a new body for him. Listen, I have to start working on breakfast," he said as he held SennLann's eyes. She got the message and took Diana's hand in hers to tug her back to her room to get ready for the day.

Once they were gone, Rikki spoke. "I'm sorry for the invasion of your privacy. I didn't know if this was one of those situations where I should move to the drone. Will you be telling me in the future?"

Jack nodded. He just wanted to move forward. He had a lot to think about, and working on breakfast would distract him from his thoughts. He looked at Ray. "Are you ok?"

"Huh? Oh. Yes, I'm fine. Thanks!" Ray mumbled.

Jack pushed that from his mind and went to the fridges. They had three of them due to the size of the family and the parties Jack liked to throw. He collected the morning's breakfast provisions, which were ready to go, and put them on a hover cart to transfer to bring outside with him.

Once he reached the grills on the patio, he added the frying surfaces to them and got them preheating. Then he laid out the ingredients. He put all other concerns and worries aside as he concentrated on the task of making scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns, toast, and pancakes, lots of pancakes as they were popular with the Altarians and Chuuruthians. Ray assisted him with setting out the trays of fresh-cut fruit, wild green salad, and biscuits and gravy.

Once the Human-Tik was done setting this out on the serving tables, Jack pointed out where the beans were, and Ray got the coffee maker going. Soon the scent of fresh coffee began to draw Meagan's crew over to the patio, and they exclaimed their delight in finding their favorite breakfast foods.

Kano stared at the bottles of dark amber liquid next to the tray of pancakes. "That isn't what I think it is, is it?" he asked.

Jack glanced up from the grill to see where he was pointing. "Oh, yeah. That's real maple syrup. Not from Earth, but it's maple syrup. I stumbled across a planet with huge forests of trees almost identical to Earth's maples. The Kwua were fascinated by the process of tapping their trees for the sap and the sugaring off process. Now, they have a new industry, and it's becoming one of their chief exports."

"The Kwua? I've never heard of them," Kano said.

Jack just gave him a crooked smile. "How much attention does Earth pay to their Gate Network neighbors."

Kano nodded. "Point taken. What are the Kwua like?"

Jack sighed with a smile as he returned to working the grills. "So quiet and peaceful. I think that's why they took to collecting the sap. It takes patience and gives plenty of opportunity for quiet reflection. They're poets and philosophers."

"What do they look like?" Kano asked, fascinated.

"Think of a twelve-foot tall grizzly with the personality of a dove. A charming people. They're not keen on outsiders, so when I received an invite to visit, I jumped at the chance."

People from inside the house began to stream outside to follow the scent of coffee and the grill.

Kano glanced back and caught sight of Meagan exiting the house arm in arm with Leo. They were grinning with a shared secret, which was not so secret anymore.

They joined Kano at the grill, and Meagan froze when she saw Jack's recent change.

"It's a Tik in an Ishilon chassis," Kano said helpfully.

"Ah! I've never seen a Tik in such a distinctive and unique body!" she exclaimed.

"Hey!" Ray said defensively. Meagan raised her hands placatingly, and Ray snorted in amusement. "I'm kidding."

"Ignore the stupid tin can," Leo sighed and got a smile from Meagan.

"Its name is Rikki," Jack said as he continued to work.

Meagan looked across the grill and watched Jack working it expertly. "Good morning Rikki and Jack! Where did you learn how to do that?"

"I worked at an old truck stop in Tennessee as a short-order cook. The restaurant was open 24 hours, and I was put on the busiest shift making breakfast for hundreds of workers from the nearby factories. When the other cooks would fail to show up, I learned to cook faster."

Kano stared at Jack. "How do you go from short-order cook to Altarian Ambassador?"

Jack grinned and shrugged. "It wasn't a straight line; I can tell you that."

Maxim and the others from the living room shuffled outside. Maxim and Nann made a beeline for the coffee machine where Leo joined them. Then they wandered back to join the group standing in front of the grill. Leo handed Meagan one of the cups he was carrying. Jack glanced beyond the group and spotted Cha'Risa just inside the front door giving a quick kiss to one of Kano's men who was a broad-shouldered fit specimen. He looked a little dazed as he stood there, watching her walk over to join her team.

Nann turned to see what Jack was grinning about and snorted at the smile on her friend's face.

"Not one word!" Cha'Risa said, pointing at her teammates. She paused as she saw the orb, but Leo made a small gesture, and she acknowledged it. He'd brief her later.

"Fresh juices by the coffee machine, if you need to rehydrate," Jack said with a small smile without looking up from the grill.

Cha'Risa couldn't stop her snort of amusement. With as much dignity as she could muster, she left the group to get some juice as her friends grinned after her.

"Do you think I could have an omelet?" Meagan asked.

Jack nodded as he glanced up. "What do you want in it?"

"Mushrooms, onions, tomato, cheese, chives, and chorizo?" she asked with a little girl grin on her face.

Jack raised an eyebrow as he looked to his ingredients next to the grill. "Hmmm... I'll have to make some substitutions, but I can make you an omelet that will taste like that."

"I leave it in your hands!" she chirped happily.

Leo caught his eye and gestured to make it two. Jack nodded then saw Nann, Maxim, and Kano, all holding a finger up as well. He sighed and nodded to them. He looked to Cha'Risa, who just shook her head with a smile.

The group moved to a table and enjoyed their coffees as Cha'Risa sipped at her tall glass of juice.

Jack mixed up sufficient eggs for five omelets. He ensured he had enough chopped up Altarian chive and onion alternates, and Chuuruthian mushroom and tomato alternates. The chorizo, grated cheese, eggs, and bacon was from Earth.

He let his mind drift into a state of peace where his motions were automatic. He'd made so many omelets he didn't need to pay too much attention to it. Instead, he glanced at the happy faces at the tables on the patio. They were enjoying the meals, especially the pancakes and syrup, and the company, and that filled him with contentment. He became aware of the omelets once they needed to be moved to plates.

As he did this, he saw a group of his kids yawning and stretching as they exited the house, followed by Karrel, Diana, Eve, SennLann, and Aaros. Jack frowned slightly as he didn't see Lillian, Benjamin, or Leffera. Did they go back to Altaria without saying goodbye?

"Rikki, can you go tell Meagan and the others that their breakfast is ready?" he asked internally as he slid the last one onto a plate.

"Certainly, Jack." The black orb floated over to the table to let them know. It returned, leading Leo, Maxim, and Kano, who collected the plates with thanks.

Kano paused and looked cautiously back at Jack. "What kind of eggs..."

"They're chicken eggs imported from Earth for this party," he assured the man and saw the embarrassed relief on his face.

Kano nodded sheepishly and headed back to the table.

Jack looked towards his approaching family and mentally kicked himself for getting upset about Leffera's departure as he could now stay overnight on Altaria. He was no longer restricted to brief visits only.

He scanned his eyes over the group and noted some conspicuous absences.

Adina. Zaina. Douglas.

Hadn't Douglas been tunnel focused on the twins the night before?

Hadn't his daughters just returned from a life and death mission?

Oh boy.

-=-

Adina parked the skimmer in the garage and waited for Zaina to park hers before taking her sister's hand. Zaina smiled at her as she was pretty sure what Adina was going to say.

"My nerves are tingling!" Adina exclaimed.

Zaina just nodded. "That was one of the most intense nights of my life, since our first time on Phem Kalos, I mean."

"I'm not at all sleepy!" Adina claimed.

"Me either. What should we do with all this energy?" Zaina said and burst into giggles.

Adina grinned at her sister then pulled her by the hand through the inner door into the house. They listened carefully but heard no sounds of anyone moving about.

Padding silently through the hall, they came to the door for Doug's room. They were both infatuated with him and had been for a very long time. While he'd been resistant to their advances for years, they were both very aware that his attitude had swung one eighty degrees within the last year. They'd caught him looking at them, his expression switching between hunger, longing, and confusion. They knew he was troubled by the fact that they were siblings by adoption, but the twins wouldn't have cared either way. They wanted him.

Especially recently, as his muscles were filling out. He definitely had the beginnings of Papa's strength.

In the past week, Doug's expression of confusion was showing up less and less. They knew he was ripe for the picking.

Glancing both ways, they eased his door open and slipped inside. Closing the door silently, they listened and only heard Doug's slow breathing. They scented the room, and it smelled warm and masculine. Doug had gone through his awkward teen years of hyper glandular activity with all its sour odors. Now, he just smelled wonderful to them!

They prowled closer and saw him sleeping peacefully. He must have kicked off his sheets during the night as the lightweight quilt was pooled on the floor at the base of the bed. The thin top layer was down as well and only covered his left leg and groin.

Adina and Zaina froze as they realized Doug wasn't wearing any clothes. They stood silently, admiring his deep black and brilliant white striped fur. It still dazzled their senses, and they saw far more of it than they'd ever seen before! Both began to tingle and squirm in their excitement. They looked at each other, then Adina reached out and gently caught the top of the sheet and pulled it down to leave him completely bare.

They caught their breath as they saw Doug's cock for the first time. He may have been having a good dream as it was quite erect and resting on his belly. It seemed to be pulsing with Doug's heartbeat. Zaina pointed to his balls, which were moving gently up and down. She grinned at her sister, who returned it.

Moving around the bed, each took a side and slipped their gowns off to be as naked as their prey. They eased themselves onto the bed slowly until they were pressed up against his sides. He stirred in his sleep, so Adina placed her hand over his cock as Zaina cupped his balls.

Doug woke with a snort then froze as he realized he wasn't alone. He turned his face to the right, and Adina smiled at him. "Good morning, Doug."

"-morninnnnggg," he gasped as she slid her hand along his stiff cock. He felt incredible softness pressing on both sides, so he looked to his left, and Zaina captured his lips with hers. Neither had any experience with kissing, but that didn't make it any less exciting. Adina moaned in pleasure as she experienced Doug's kiss through her connection to her sister. This flamed her passions. She moved down to place her face above Doug's cock. She wasn't sure what to do next, so she extended her tongue and stroked it upward from his balls to the head.

Doug's hips lifted off the mattress as he gasped at the rough sensation of her tongue. Zaina pulled back from the kiss to look down at Adina then moved to join her. She stroked her tongue across Doug's balls while Adina continued stroking his cock. Doug moaned and clenched the sheets in his fingers.

Zaina was trading a smile with Adina when Doug suddenly sat up and grabbed her hips. He lifted her and pulled her across his body to position her pussy above his face as hers was above his groin. She glanced at Adina, and then the most delicious sensations began between her legs.

Doug was roughly stroking and sucking her pussy with his tongue and lips. The sisters cried out in harmony as the sensations cascaded between them.

Adina was lost in the delicious waves of pleasure coming from her sister until Doug reached down to pull her up the bed. She was barely able to control her body as Doug's tongue dipped deeply into Zaina. She collapsed against his side then cried out when his strong hand gripped her ass and squeezed.

Zaina struggled to concentrate on licking the cock before her, but Doug's tongue was seriously derailing her brain. When she felt him squeezing... Adina's ass, she lost all ability to think.

Doug's fingers slid down between the tight muscles of Adina's butt to stroke across her asshole. The twins cried out in a strange echoing harmony as his fingers continued down to slip into her wet pussy.

With both sisters now receiving attention to their most sensitive flesh, the cascade of pleasure overwhelmed them, and their voices fell into perfect harmony. Doug continued to stroke a finger in and out of Adina as his tongue matched the motions in Zaina.

Their first orgasm's crashed over the twins, taking away their muscle control and turning them into putty.

It was better than they'd imagined it would be, and once they'd caught their breath, they'd find out how much better it could get.

-=-

Doug felt the twins relax as he pulled his tongue and finger free. He sucked his finger clean then carefully lifted and reoriented Zaina's body on the bed next to him, to let her come down from her bliss. He was still tingling madly as he knelt between his sisters.

Those words stuck in his head -- his sisters. He just had sex with his sisters.

He understood their being brother and sisters was just a legal definition through adoption, but he'd grown up with Adina and Zaina. He'd known them his entire life!

That said, as far back as he could remember, they'd always been a little overly affectionate with him, clearly seeing him as more than a sibling right from the start.

Was what they were doing wrong? He got the impression from his Mom and Dad that they'd been trying to keep them apart. So they'd probably be disappointed in him. That hurt something deep inside. He loved his parents deeply and would never intentionally hurt them, but... he loved Adina and Zaina too.

That was another concept that shook him deeply. He wasn't feeling a platonic love but a confusing mixture of sibling affection and more profound romantic love, generously sprinkled with desire and lust. He loved them and desperately wanted them. They'd just proven that they wanted him too!

He wasn't put off by their unique shared sensory experience. It was just part of who they were, and he loved everything about them!

He found himself on hands and knees above Adina. She was still floating in her pleasure when he dipped down to kiss her deeply. She purred deep in her chest, and the sound echoed slightly from Zaina.

Doug moved his legs between hers and brought the head of his cock down to press against the wet lips. Adina jolted, and her purring deepened as she wrapped her legs around his ass and pulled at him with her heels. After a brief resistance, the head slipped into her heat, and it was Doug's turn to gasp. He pushed again and slid in deep until he was resting his body on Adina's. She kissed him fiercely as her hips began to roll under his. That felt too good, and Doug began to thrust. It wasn't long before they were losing control.

He heard Zaina's cries of joy as she reached her limit as well, driven by her sister's pleasure. He placed his fingers over her pussy and slid a finger deep between her tender lips.

The twins suddenly arched their backs as their orgasm tore through them both. Doug's cock slipped free, and the next thrust went between his belly and Adina's. The change in textures was enough to set Doug off, and he fired his cum into their soft fur.

When his body finished, Doug eased himself down onto the bed between his sisters.

If he was completely truthful, there might have been some illicit thrill he derived from breaking that taboo. This disturbed him but not enough to make him give them up. He took Adina's hand in his right and Zaina's in his left. Then he raised them both to his lips. He felt them tremble.

"I love you," he said softly. He knew they'd understand.

When he turned his head to look into their eyes, he saw their love for him shining there, so he knew they did.

Chapter 22

Jack wanted so badly to get some sleep, but he held off until he'd prepared breakfast for all the guests and most of his family. He finally made his own and sat at a table with family and friends while he ate. He was aware that Rikki was enjoying the meal more than he was as it was a completely novel experience for the Tik. It made a few involuntary exclamations as the flavors burst across Jack's tongue. He ate his breakfast with a slight grin on his face, which drew looks from the others.

"Mom? Dad? Can we speak with you?"

Jack stuffed the last of his toast in his mouth and munched away as he looked up and across the table at Emily, Rasha, and Meagan. He gave them a nod, tossed back the last of his juice (drawing another squeak from Rikki), then wiped his mouth with a napkin.

Meagan nominated herself as the spokesperson. "I understand you had to leave early in the evening and missed out on hearing most of the set."

"Yeah, planets to save and all," Jack joked as he gestured up at Rikki.

Meagan wasn't sure how to react to that but pushed forward. "Emily is an incredible musician and singer. Rasha has a natural ability to accentuate any harmonization and brought our music to a new level last night. I haven't enjoyed myself that much on stage in a long time. I think Emily could have a bright career ahead of her on Earth. It's not the best environment for Rasha, unfortunately, but she says her dream lies elsewhere."

Jack waited for the sales pitch, which he knew was coming. He could see Emily was tense with worry. Diana's expression clearly showed she was against any idea that involved Earth.

"Next week, I'd like Emily to come to my studio to do some recordings. If it goes as well as I expect it will, I'd like to take her on tour," Meagan explained.

Jack took Diana's hand in his and felt her trembling. He looked into her eyes and saw her fear. He understood where that came from, but he couldn't allow it, or his own worries, to limit his daughter's life. Diana knew it as well but couldn't say it.

"Emily is free to follow her dreams. We're not her keepers. We only ask that she listens to our concerns and takes them to heart."

Kano spoke up. "My team will protect Emily as vigilantly as we do for Ms. Lane."

Jack nodded. "Security requirements for off-world citizens are different as you'll be dealing with a more virulent threat. In my experience, the creeps who target people not from Earth are often better organized, some use off-world communication channels, and are sometimes backed by shadow organizations with deep pockets. You should speak with Gee and Bal or the Altarian Security Ministry. They can give you access to all the intelligence resources you might need." Kano nodded to him, thoughtfully.

Meagan and Emily were looking less hopeful than they did before, and Diana's trembling had increased. Jack sighed. "Listen, there's no reason to believe this can't be as incredible an experience as you anticipated. You just need to be aware of these potential dangers and take appropriate steps to cover them. I'm sure Kano and his team will be fully capable of providing the required security measures once they gain access to these intelligence resources and take their information into account. This will be largely transparent to you."

Jack saw Emily smile at him as hope returned to her eyes. "It hurts to think who I am could negatively affect you. Maybe you should use a stage name?"

"Dad, I'm Emily Danner. I'm not changing that for anyone because I'm proud of my parents, and that's not who they raised me to be!" she asserted fiercely.

Jack stood up with Diana, and they met Emily half the way around the table for hugs.

The parents looked at Meagan and gave her a nod then pulled her into the hug. When they finished, more than a few eyes were holding back tears of happiness.

They said their goodbyes to Meagan and her entourage, Jack promising to visit them on Earth. Then they watched the tour bus lift off and head back to the Gate Terminal.

Cha'Risa, Nann, Maxim, Leo, and Ray agreed to stick around for dinner and would head home tonight. They were going to take it easy and relax at Casa Danner for the day.

Eve informed Jack that she'd already spoken with Maxim and Leo about providing security for Joseph and Emily in Paris, and they were in.

Jack could no longer put off his need for sleep, so he waved to the others and began to head inside.

Doug was just stepping out of the house, and Jack noticed the change immediately. The twins weren't clinging to Doug's hands as if to keep him from escaping. Now, they walked with loosely intertwined fingers, showing confidence in their relationship.

Doug faced him with an odd expression somewhere between defiance and a desperate need for acceptance.

Jack knew what that meant, so he just pulled his son in for a hug, catching the young male by surprise.

He leaned his mouth down to whisper in Doug's ear. "We knew this was probably an inevitable outcome. We trust you and the twins. We're here if you need us."

Doug clung to his father until Jack gently pushed him back. The son looked into his father's sleepy eyes.

"I'm falling asleep on my feet. Can we talk later?" Jack asked gently, and Doug gave him a broad smile and a nod.

Jack kissed his girls then went inside to the master bedroom, closing the door behind himself. He walked to the end of the bed and stripped. Without further ado, he dropped forward onto his bed with a thump and a sigh.

Home.

-=-

The drone remained hovering above the foot of the bed, where Jack left it when he dropped forward. Rikki moved its consciousness to it and guided it down to the floor next to a power outlet. It connected to top up its battery. It was pleased to see how little power it'd used!

Rikki scanned the room with every spectrum his new optics allowed and saw it was just a room, but a comfortably appointed one as Jack's soft snoring attested to.

The Tik detested the sudden loss of sensation, the numbness of being contained by the drone. When it could no longer tolerate it, it moved back to the fullness of Jack's senses and felt the pleasure of the cool sheets under its body and felt Jack's muscles fully relaxing. It understood this is where Jack felt most at ease.

Home.

Rikki had no comparable experience and settled in to enjoy the novel sensation of resting. It was nothing like Tik meditation!

It felt... so good!

It connected to the public network and looked for images of people resting. There were so many ways to relax! It wondered if Jack might be willing to try out a hammock between palm trees in the shade by a blue ocean. That one looked particularly peaceful.

Rikki shut down its connection to the network and contemplated Jack, who was twitching gently in his sleep. It wondered what dreaming would feel like, but that would require permission from Jack to gain access to the remaining bandwidth from his brain. As much as Rikki wanted that experience, it knew it was already asking too much of Jack.

It couldn't deny the connection it had with Jack's senses had already thoroughly grounded it in reality. It no longer felt any of the effects it'd suffered from the loss of its body. The disassociation was gone entirely. If anything, Rikki felt more in touch with the now as flesh bodies had so many triggers to keep him there. If anything, the feed was too full of distractions for his voracious mind. It'd begun to categorize and assign lower priorities to some just to filter them out. Humans had to be doing the same, or they'd go insane!

To be completely honest, Rikki wasn't looking forward to moving back to a Tik body. It began to wonder if there was some way it could prove to Jack that it was valuable to him, so it wouldn't have to leave. It could undoubtedly provide excellent administrative skills for managing Jack's time. It could be the ultimate personal digital assistant.

There was still an enormous obstacle to this plan -- Jack's need for privacy. It couldn't see any way around this. It was taking up space in Jack's mind and sharing every sensation the man felt.

In a moment of self-loathing, Rikki pushed itself out of Jack and into the drone. It found itself holding its virtual breath.

"Relax Rikki," it said to itself to get its calm back.

It managed to hold out for three minutes when the severe nothingness sent a flash of disassociation through its mind. Rikki immediately slammed back into Jack's body.

It must have made a sound as Jack stirred.

"mmwha.... Rikki?"

"Apologies for disturbing your sleep, Jack," Rikki said with just the slightest tremble in its voice.

Jack seemed to notice as his voice firmed up. "You ok, buddy?"

Still reeling from its mental shock from being in the drone, Rikki felt irrationally pleased by Jack's choice of words.

Buddy. Truly, an excellent term of endearment. It firmed up its voice to assure Jack.

"Yes, Jack. Please go back to sleep. I'm fine."

Jack made an indecipherable grunt, then his eyes closed, and he was gone again.

Rikki went back to contemplating its sleeping host.

It would learn how to remain in the drone for longer periods. It owed Jack that much at the very least.

A gentle tone announced an incoming call request. Rikki noted it was the Elders, Socrates and Plato!

"Greetings, Elders!" it said once it opened the channel.

"Greetings, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi! How are you feeling?" Socrates asked.

Rikki contemplated the question and had to answer truthfully. "I have never felt better. The sensory experience from Jack's collar is like nothing I expected."

"No more disassociation?" Plato asked bluntly.

"None at all!"

"How is the Ishilon drone? Does it supply sufficient sensory data as well?" Socrates asked with an odd tone in its voice.

Rikki was ashamed to admit how little time he'd spent outside of Jack's perceptions, but these were the elders. "The drone is... difficult to remain in. I experienced a momentary relapse while in the drone. It has such a limited data feed compared to the Mahrell Drun collar." Curious, Rikki spent a moment poking about in the inner workings of the collar for the first time. It ran a quick diagnostic and gasped.

"What is it?" Plato blurted.

Rikki was reeling from the surprise. "The collar... the storage it has is... vast! Empty but vast!"

"What do you mean?" Socrates' voice was distinctly tense.

"Three of the links in the collar seem to be reserved as storage with independent processors which are currently idle. It's fast redundant storage, which currently contains nothing. Why would they include that?"

"Who can fathom the minds of the Mahrell Drun?" Socrates sighed, then its voice became serious once more. "We had significant concerns about allowing the Ishilon to house you in one of their devices. While they appear to follow Mr. Danner's instructions, we're unsure if they have an alternate agenda. Their technological capabilities are significant. They have better gravity manipulation than the Tik. They used it on Plato and me when they removed the Mahrell Drun parasite from Jack."

Rikki now had an additional reason to avoid the drone but knew it couldn't. "Am I safe using the drone?" it asked timidly.

Socrates was immediately contrite. "Most definitely, Rikki! You amongst all of the Tik are safe from their possible intrigue. You saved them from extinction. They owe you everything, so please let them know the drone's sensory array requires augmenting. We want you safe, Rikki."

Rikki was very touched by this admission. "Thank you."

The hesitation returned to Socrates' voice. "After saying that, I'm reluctant to ask you for assistance."

"What can I do?" Rikki asked cautiously.

"Find out the drone's capabilities!" Plato asserted before Socrates could speak.

"What?" Rikki said.

Socrates sounded annoyed with Plato. "Yes, well... as you are contained within Ishilon technology, you may be our best chance at determining their capabilities, so we don't fall victim to them again."

Rikki understood what they were asking and knew the inherent dangers of poking around the inner workings of the very device keeping it alive. "Yes, I see. I will investigate and report my findings."

"Thank you, Rikki. We look forward to your report. We're also highly anticipating your next experience file upload. It may exceed the distribution record for the experience file BassDrop uploaded from the time it was linked to Jack Danner."

"I wasn't aware BassDrop created such a file!" Rikki blurted.

"Oh! I assumed you were." Socrates said in surprise. "Let's see... ah, you would have received it based on your next assessment, which was to be performed after your last mission. You exceeded expectations on that mission, and your current situation makes access to this file seem almost redundant. However, BassDrop had hardwired access without restriction. This gave it full bandwidth access to Jack's mind. You should include this file in your experiences. It may assist you with your link to Jack now."

Rikki tried its best to remain calm though it was very excited about the new file he'd receive.

"Thank you," it managed with a steady voice.

"As you are now linked to Jack, we can't expect him to drop by the Enclave so you can update frequently. We'll send a Tik by with the latest files for you. I understand Eellooee will be coming by tomorrow with the representatives from Nareshk. Our Tik will join them."

"Thank you!"

"Take care, Rikki, and be careful," Socrates advised.

"You may want to move the drone away from populated areas before you attempt to break into its inner core," Plato added helpfully.

"Rikki is well aware of the dangers involved," Socrates scolded Plato.

"It doesn't hurt to remind it!" Plato snapped.

"Apologies, Rikki. We will speak with you soon. Goodbye," the senior Tik said before disconnecting.

Rikki was left with an uneasy feeling as it contemplated going back into the drone to investigate the secrets within. Tik knew how to infiltrate technology to get it to work, or not. That wasn't without its dangers, especially when the technology was keeping it alive.

Watching Jack sleep and feeling the sensations of his body at rest was far more soothing, so Rikki did that instead.

Chapter 23

Eellooee was feeling the pleasant buzz of excitement as it contemplated the mission it had today. It and 4321 would be heading to Nareshk to bring representatives of that planet to Chuuruthia to meet with Eve to see if she truly was one of the Nareshk. The Tik wasn't aware of what this outcome might mean for Eve, but it suspected it would be a rude awakening for the Nareshk who believed their system for tracking their citizens was perfect.

Personally, Eellooee hoped there was some flexibility in the mind of the Assessor or that the results proved inconclusive or even negative. That would mean Eve's search for her homeworld would continue, but that seemed a lesser evil.

The Tik had visited Tonka in the infirmary, but it was in a healing coma after having the experience file removed... mostly. The doctors were hopeful for a full recovery.

Eellooee waited for 4321 by the front doors as it was early. A Tik, fresh from instantiation approached.

"Are you the one known as Eelllooee?" it asked.

"Yes, I am."

"I'm 0029. I'm to accompany you and 4321 to the domicile of Jack Danner today by order of Socrates and Plato," it explained.

Eellooee watched the new Tik and felt uneasy. There was a difference Eellooee's mind was shying away from. Something off about this one. "First, we're going to the planet Nareshk to meet with a representative of that planet to bring back to Jack Danner's domicile."

"I will accompany you," 0029 insisted.

Feeling put off by its blunt nature, Eellooee just nodded in its direction and continued to wait for 4321. Its earlier excitement was considerably dimmed by the new arrival.

At the appointed time, the mission leader arrived and glanced at the new Tik.

"On the orders of Socrates and Plato, 0029 is to accompany us to Jack Danner's home," Eellooee explained.

"Ah. Shall we go?" 4321 replied, seemingly undisturbed by the last-minute change in the plan.

"I recommend we return to the orbital position and descend to the courtyard where we met their leader. This gives us the opportunity to observe their preparations," Eellooee asserted.

4321 turned towards Eellooee. "Don't you think this might present the appearance of distrust?"

"It might, but I still believe it would be prudent," Eellooee insisted.

The mission leader paused then nodded. "As you wish."

They opened the Gate and floated through. 0029 came through last and closed it with a touch to its mirror surface. They floated downward as Eellooee trained optics on the courtyard. There was a gathering of white-robed figures surrounded by a ring of the silver suited enforcers, the Balance.

As they got closer, Eellooee could make out details regarding the group in the center waiting for them. There were five Assessors and two members of the Balance standing off to the side. Curious.

They descended at a deliberate and steady pace, so those below would be assured of their intended destination. Shortly, they were noticed, and the central group parted as three Assessors moved well back, almost to the circle of armored sentinels.

Eellooee came down to eye level facing Dren Milo and Makrus Relius. As the other Assessors were too far back to speak to easily, it assumed they were just there to witness.

"Greetings, Assessors Dren Milo and Makrus Relius. I'm Eellooee. I was part of the initial First Contact meeting. My partner from that time was unable to join me, so my new partners are 4321 and 0029," it said as it gestured to the two Tik with him. "Have you considered the option of joining the members of the Gate Network?"

"Not at this time. We want to settle the matter of this claim of citizenship first," Dren indicated.

"Certainly. As Tonka said, there's no pressure or fixed timeline for joining." It turned to Makrus. "Are you ready to go to Chuuruthia?"

Dren raised a hand. "The young Assessor must be accompanied by an escort from the Balance." He pointed to the two who were standing nearby.

"Escorts are acceptable as long as they have no offensive weaponry. Chuuruthia is a peaceful world of pacifists. There is no violence, crime, or threats of any kind on the planet," 4321 stated clearly.

There was an uneasy shifting amongst the Nareshk.

"The Balance are the strength of the Nareshk," Dren stated.

"The Chuuruthians are one of the most peaceful members of the Gate Network. A demonstration of strength is not required," 4321 insisted.

Dren frowned. "An escort is required for our Assessor. Kurz and Hecre can go without their armor."

Eellooee saw how the two enforcers suddenly turned their helmets to face the three Assessors standing off to the side. The Tik also saw how quickly those Assessors now rushed forward to speak.

"Assessor Milo! I must protest!" The shorter one honked. "I said it was a mistake to send one Nareshk citizen off-planet, but now you want to send three after stripping the symbols of their office from two of them? It's too much!"

Eellooee saw this Nareshk seem to be suppressing a look of victory. Apparently, the Level One Assessor made a mistake that might cost him dearly. Even Makrus looked surprised.

The situation was quickly getting out of hand. "May I suggest we reschedule so we may determine a mutually acceptable location where the restrictions won't interfere?"

"No!" issued from the throats of both Dren and Makrus. They looked at each other in embarrassment. The younger bowed humbly to his senior, who shook his head.

"This claim cannot be allowed to remain unchallenged. The proof must be assessed." Dren turned to the two nearby armored Nareshk and scowled at them as they hadn't budged.

"Members of the Balance are not to be seen outside of their armor while fulfilling the responsibilities of their roles," the short and belligerent Assessor boldly stated.

"I'll go without an escort," Makrus stated firmly then held up his hands as he looked to the shorter Nareshk. "Assessor Nulle, Assessor Milo is correct. This claim must not be allowed to stain the integrity of the Code." He looked to Dren. "You heard the Tik; there are no threats on the planet I'll travel to. Besides, I have the Code to guide me. With it, nothing will get between me and the truth."

Eellooee watched the expressions on the faces of the white-gowned elders. The short one looked like he swallowed something most unpleasant but was unable to spit it out or show his discomfort. The two behind him were just staring at the pair of armored Nareshk.

Dren's expression swung between concern and pride. His previous annoyance with the Level Nine seemed to be gone. He nodded, and the short one grunted his displeasure.

The Level One looked to the two members of the Balance. "Kurz and Hecre, I will speak with you in my office immediately after this."

Eellooee watched two helmets dip in Dren's direction hesitantly, and the short one's eyes narrowed.

"Let us depart. The sooner I disprove this claim, the sooner we can get back to sanity," Makrus asserted.

4321 sent a tight beam to Eellooee. "Well done! This is moving along at an efficient pace. I will open the Gate with you."

Eellooee wasn't so confident of their success as there were subtle yet significant clues that not everything was as righteous as they claimed. It had no proof of anything, so it began the sequence to open the Gate. They would go to the main terminal on Chuuruthia.

It glanced at 0029, but the new Tik remained silent, offering nothing to ease Eellooee's concerns.

The mirror surface of the Gate snapped into place between 4321 and Eellooee, making the Nareshk take a step back, except Makrus. He glanced at Eellooee recalling how the Tik flew through the previous Gate.

The Tik nodded and gestured for 4321 to move through. Then it directed 0029 to enter, which it did.

Eellooee handed Makrus a translator. "Please clip this translator to your robe so the Chuuruthians may understand you, and you them." The Assessor added the device to his gown.

"You may enter next. It will take you to the Gate Terminal on Chuuruthia. Once you step through the Gate, please keep moving forward as I will follow you directly."

With a final glance at Dren, Makrus faced the mirror and stepped through.

As promised, Eellooee followed close behind, the Gate closing behind it, and moved up next to Makrus, who'd stopped a few steps into the large chamber.

"Welcome to Chuuruthia!" it said to the Assessor.

Makrus took in the bright white walls and ceiling. His eyes were drawn to red and yellow flashes of sunlight reflecting from the petals of the flowers on the far side of the large chamber. "Flowers?" he asked as he felt himself begin to relax. He immediately stiffened his posture to remain alert.

"Yes, Chella Orchids are the official flower of Chuuruthia. Their scent is said to have a calming and soothing effect."

"It's a drug?!?" Makrus jolted and put his hand over his nose.

Eellooee saw he was becoming upset. "No, just a flower. Let's go speak with the Custom's Clerk. She can give you a pouch with herbs to counteract the effects if you find it unpleasant."

The group approached the clerk, a petite Chuuruthian female with many earrings and a friendly smile.

"Hello, I'm Eellooee traveling with 4321 and 0029. My guest is Makrus Relius from a newly discovered planet named Nareshk. He would like a pouch of the herbs, please."

Whiskers trembling with delight and surprise, the female handed a small white bag to Makrus. "Hold it over your nose and inhale. You will feel the effects immediately," she said.

The Assessor followed the instructions, and soon the feeling of serenity faded away. "Thank you!" Makrus said.

The female nodded. "Could you please touch the biometric reader to register your arrival?"

He placed his hand on the pad, and it took his readings. The terminal immediately matched his pattern with the only other matching one it had, and the agent's eyes widened in surprise as that record was flagged.

"Oh-" she began.

"Thank you very much! We're off to visit the Danner's," Eellooee interrupted, knowing what she was about to say and knowing Makrus needed to discover it for himself. So, Tonka was right!

She smiled and nodded, believing she was in on a secret reunion. "Have a pleasant visit!" she grinned happily.

"Thank you," Makrus said, smiling back at the female.

Eellooee led the group outside and hailed a cab.

"Why did we not have the Gate deliver us directly to the home of the one we'll meet?"

The Tik guided them into the taxi and gave the address. Then it turned to the Assessor. "The unannounced opening of a Gate is rude, and the Tik do not provide door to door Gate service. Planet to planet access to Gate Terminals is a far more effective use of our abilities. The only exception being planets which do not yet have a Gate."

Makrus watched the beautiful landscape below. "Where are all the buildings?"

"The Chuuruthians integrate there homes and businesses with nature. Their love of nature and life itself is one of their greatest virtues," Eellooee explained and settled in for the brief ride.

It still felt uneasy about how Assessor Makrus was going to react to meeting Eve.

-=-

Makrus silently reflected upon the Chuuruthian's seemingly virtuous nature and recalled the petite Agent he'd met at the Terminal and the surprising number of earrings she wore in her mobile ears. He thought she was charming.

He sat straighter in his seat and clamped down on his thoughts as they seemed to be straying into dangerous territory. Like the flowers, the planet's inhabitants represented a seductive step from the path of the Code of the Righteous. The Nareshk way was the only true course to reach the pinnacle of honor and truth. This was proven by his ninety-nine civilian levels, the nine Balance Levels, and now his journey within the nine Assessor Levels.

He closed his eyes and recentered himself. He wished he'd brought his flail with him.

Makrus opened his eyes as the vehicle floated down towards a gravel area next to a large patio. He realized the domed hillside beside the patio was a large home. Impressive! Across the valley was a small cottage amidst the midday shade of a small grove of trees. He could see no other houses, but the Chuuruthians disguised their buildings very well! Aside from the cottage.

Forcing all distractions from his mind, he cleared his expression to present himself as the Assessor he knew he could be.

Breathe.

-=-

The taxi landed, and Eellooee led the group along a path to the front door of the home. It pressed the doorbell and waited. It was aware that Makrus was doing breathing exercises to calm himself.

The door opened and Diana, the tall, raven-haired Human female smiled at them. "Greetings, Eellooee. We've been expecting you. Please come in and bring your friends."

A Phem Kalos female approached with a curious expression on her face. Diana faced the new arrival. "Is Jack awake yet?"

"I don't think so. He was up pretty late last night with Cha'Risa and the others. I'll go get him," she said and dashed away.

Diana led them into the living room. Eve was standing next to the sofa by the front window. She must have seen them approach. She wore a white, off the shoulder gown which reached her knees, but there were sufficient visible signs to show her identical physical appearance to the Assessor. Her eyes were locked on her male counterpart.

The Tik watched Makrus cautiously. How he reacted would set the tone for their entire visit.

-=-

As much as Makrus wished for it not to be true, he couldn't deny what his eyes were telling him. She was petite in stature and bore scars, which proved her life hadn't been an easy one.

But she was Nareshk. The grey fur, the down and forward curving horns, her nose, hands, and hooves all screamed Nareshk. His eyes went back to the extensive scarring. He also saw she was wearing a collar that seemed to be bonded to her skin. She'd endured much pain.

He felt an almost tangible pull, a need to protect her- until he saw the strength and confidence in her eyes.

"Assessor Makrus Relius, may I introduce to you, Eve," Eellooee said gently.

Makrus bowed to Eve. He was suddenly overcome with a feeling of intense guilt as he realized to her he must represent the people who failed to protect her. He saw the hesitation in her eyes, the suspicion. He could not fault her for this. They hadn't protected her. All he could do is bring her the truth, enlighten her with the Code of the Righteous and reintroduce her to her people.

To bring her home.

There was a noise behind him, so he turned, and his eyes widened in surprise. In the doorway stood a demonic creature!

The being was grotesquely tall and broad-shouldered with black horns curving up from his forehead. Long black hair hung loose to its back. It was dressed in a white shirt, black shorts, showing long muscular legs, and black slippers on its feet.

Most unnerving was the black orb, which floated silently between its horns. It tricked his eyes as it was completely featureless.

When he was able to tear his eyes from the creature, he saw the black-furred female from earlier holding its hand, guiding it into the room as it rubbed at its face with its free hand. Was it sick?

"Sorry for being late. I guess I needed the sleep more than I thought," the being said with a friendly tone and smiled at him.

Unsure, Makrus smiled back as it was best not to provoke it. He glanced at the Tik. Hadn't it said there was no danger on this planet?

-=-

Jack was still groggy from sleep, but he could tell the being before him was clearly unnerved by his appearance. "I'm pretty harmless. I'm Jack Danner." He bowed to the shorter male who returned the gesture.

"This is Makrus Relius, a Level Nine Assessor from the planet Nareshk," Eellooee offered.

"Nice to meet you," Jack said with a smile. Stifling another yawn, he looked to Eve. "So, I guess I didn't miss anything yet?" Eve shook her head with a smile for him. "Let's take a seat and talk," he said, pointing to the seating area by the front window.

Jack took a seat at the far end of the sofa, and Eve settled herself down next to him. Right next to him, touching close.

Makrus sat in a chair facing the couch and windows.

Before Jack could say anything, Diana leaned down and kissed Jack then walked away to relax in the cushioned pit. SennLann did the same with an impish grin on her face.

Jack frowned slightly at the departing ladies as his face warmed up. He glanced at Makrus who was obviously struggling to control his expression, and what little Jack could interpret wasn't pleasant. "Please forgive the ladies for their little demonstration. They do what they want, and I'm not so foolish to think I have any say."

That made Makrus stare at Jack in confusion.

Jack chuckled. "You thought maybe I was keeping them as my love slaves?"

From the look in Makrus' eyes, that was precisely what he'd assumed.

"Jack, we should move on to the question of my being one of his race," Eve said gently. He nodded to her and pretended to zip his mouth closed.

He watched Eve turn her face to look at a being who shared so much in common with her. For the first time in her life, Jack thought.

Makrus seemed to be getting back on script. He pulled two small devices from his satchel. "I've brought along a DNA registration device and a Citizen Archive. The first needs a small sample, which will determine if you are a Nareshk." His eyes went to Jack who was grinning as he was already convinced, test or not.

"If we have a sample that proves this, we will use the Citizen Archive to perform two searches. One for your genetic birth mother and one for your father," Makrus continued.

Eve nodded, but Jack could feel her tension through the leg she was pressing against his.

"You want this?" he asked gently.

She looked up into his eyes and nodded.

Jack leaned back and looked to the male Nareshk expectantly. He hoped the answers Eve received answered her questions.

Makrus leaned forward, extending the DNA reader towards Eve. "Just touch the small circle."

She reached her hand forward and pressed a finger to the spot he indicated. The machine made a slight whirring noise, and she pulled her hand back.

Jack watched the expressions appear and disappear on Makrus' face. The result was clearly confirming some of the Assessor's fears.

Makrus finally looked up with a stiff smile. "It confirms you are Nareshk."

"This is not a bad outcome. It merely suggests that in life, there are no absolutes. There is always the possibility of error and room for improvement," Eellooee offered immediately but with compassion. Jack nodded to it with a smile.

Makrus looked to the Tik and seemed less than pleased with the idea. Jack assumed he was more comfortable with absolutes.

The Assessor pressed the DNA reader to the second device he held, and it made a quiet chime tone.

"Searching for birth mother," Makrus said quietly. A short time later, he nodded, seemingly to himself.

"Ah, ok. Her name was Ashet Halleg, and her level was... three." Makrus glanced up in embarrassment but saw Eve was just waiting for him to continue. He looked back to the screen. "It says she was assessed to be too mentally deficient for social assistance. She lived in the quarantine zone outside the walls of our capital city." Again, he sent a glance to Eve then cleared his throat. "With such a low level, she would never have been approved for childbearing. There is no record of her applying for a permit."

"Yet she had me."

Makrus looked up into Eve's eyes and saw rage there. He simply nodded. "So it appears." He looked back at the Citizen Archive. His expression darkened. "It says she was twenty-one when her body was discovered out in the wilds. She'd been murdered. This is a very rare crime on Nareshk and only happens in the quarantine zone."

Jack could feel Eve trembling harder now and wrapped an arm around her from behind to hug her. She leaned back into it, but her trembling continued.

Makrus smiled in relief as he read further. "Justice was served on the male who killed her. During the investigation, one of our most respected assessors, Garra Nulle, a Level Eight at the time, reported that during an interview, the Level Ten Citizen confessed to raping a female then returned to kill her and their child just before its birth. The Balance collected him and, though he claimed his innocence and fought back, he was executed for his crimes. As Ashet Halleg hadn't registered for breeding, the charges were rape, two counts of murder, and mutilation. The murder counts were for Ashet and for the baby, though the investigators never found its body." His smile faltered as he saw the others staring at him with grim expressions.

"I think you found the body. The question is, how do the Allsa Komanea fit into this story," Jack asked pensively.

Makrus visibly bristled. "It isn't a story. It's the truth recorded in the Citizen Archive!"

Frowning, Jack leaned forward. "There's at least one mistake in that report. The baby wasn't murdered. The Allsa Komanae collected her and took her to their world to live as a slave. Since they didn't take Ashet too, it means she was either dead or dying when they arrived. That's just how the Allsa Komanae operated."

Makrus was breathing hard in his anger, but Jack could see he was thinking about what he'd said so he continued.

"So the male confessed to the rape and murders to this Assessor Garra Nulle then recanted his statement to the Balance, whoever they are, and they killed him. He didn't get a chance to prove his innocence?"

"He confessed to an Assessor. He was judged guilty, and the Balance carried out the sentence. Justice was served! Don't you want that?" Makrus exclaimed.

Eve leaped to her hooves to glare at Makrus. "Of course I want justice! You tell me my mother was too weak to be worth protecting, so she was discarded by your society and became the victim of rape and murder because of it! Tell me where will I get justice for that cruelty?"

"Every citizen is responsible for raising themselves up through the levels of the Code of the Righteous. If they were born weak in mind or body, then they weaken society unless they can improve themselves. If they cannot follow the Code, society must protect itself from them," Makrus said stiffly.

"Which was it?" Eve insisted. Makrus blinked at her. "Was she born weak, or could she not follow the code?" she snapped.

Aiming a glare at her, he pressed his thumb to the device to open Assessor level access. He searched Ashet Halleg's records. Her assessment history appeared.

Jack watched his expression closely as it went from annoyance to confusion. "Something unusual?" he asked.

Makrus shot an annoyed look at Jack. "Yes. The assignment of an Assessor to a Citizen for their assessments is random. This ensures fairness. For Ashet, her first ten assessments follow this pattern, but from the tenth onwards, the Assessor's name is the same." His frown was grim.

"Who was it?" Jack asked.

Makrus' jaw flexed with his frustration. "Garra Nulle."

"What about her assessments?" Eve asked stiffly.

The male Nareshk's eyes flicked to her then back to the device. "She progressed steadily until her eleventh annual assessment when she began to slide downwards." He shook his head. "The process is always under review. Even Assessors are assessed. This pattern should have raised flags!"

Eellooee made a noise as if it could no longer remain silent. "Garra Nulle was one of the Assessors we met when we went to Nareshk to collect you? The smaller one?" Makrus nodded. "He appeared to be very much against you coming here to do this."

"Who's my father?" Eve growled.

Makrus was looking distinctly uncomfortable as he looked between Eellooee, Eve, and Jack. He finally looked at the device and ran the second search. When the result came back, he froze.

"It's him, isn't it," Eve said quietly, but Jack could hear the suppressed rage in her voice.

"It can't be. He's an Assessor. He's a Level Two and in line to replace our leader!"

Jack reached out and took Eve's hand gently then looked to Makrus. "Do you have an image of Ashet Halleg?" The Assessor looked at him in surprise then queried the archive device. He sucked in a quick breath, then turned the screen towards Jack and Eve.

"She's lovely. Like her daughter," Jack sighed.

Eve was staring at the image of the female that gave her life. "She was," she said sadly.

"Working backward from the DNA match and based on your definition, it's a fact that Garra raped Ashet. This gives him more motive for murder than the male he claimed confessed to the crime. Would it be a true statement to say no one doubts the word of an Assessor?" Jack asked and got a reluctant nod. "Based on the evidence you provided, perhaps Garra became obsessed with Ashet. The fact that he was always matched with her seems to indicate efforts were made to cheat the random selection process. Maybe by him or maybe he had help. His pattern of reducing Ashet's ranking with each assessment must have had a terrible impact on her life. She likely continued to reject him until he finally raped her. When she became pregnant, he murdered her then chose another low-level citizen to pin the blame on. That also means the Balance killed an innocent man."

Jack watched the male as the foundations of his world crumbled beneath him. He hoped he'd have the mental resilience to come out the other side intact.

-=-

Makrus was stunned. He didn't want to believe it, but the evidence stood before him. Incontrovertible evidence. He looked at her. "You must come back to Nareshk to make this right! Garra Nulle must be brought to justice before an Assessor Tribunal! The Code of the Righteous must be followed-"

Eve wasn't having any of that. "I will not be going to Nareshk! There's rot in your society, and it goes right to the top-"

"Assessor Milo is not tainted by these crimes! The First is good and righteous! I don't know how Garra Nulle managed to keep his crimes secret, but carving out his poison is an absolute necessity-"

"You said it yourself! His actions couldn't have gone unnoticed. He left a digital trail you found easily, yet this system you call the Code of the Righteous didn't punish him for his evil but instead rewarded him with the position of second in command! Tell me he didn't have help! Tell me the rot hasn't spread throughout the core of your society!" Eve spat.

Makrus' world view had taken one hit too many, and his temper cracked. With a roar, he dropped the devices in his hands and surged up out of his chair to fight back. His fighting skills from Balance training came rushing to the front.

Jack raised his hands to stop the Tik and the ladies from interfering.

Faster than Makrus could react, Eve shot forward to slam her horns against the center of his chest. The shock shot through his limbs, and he couldn't catch his breath. She slammed her hand against his throat just under his jaw as she struck the back of his knees with a sweeping kick. He found himself tumbling backward, hooves lifting from the floor. He was only airborne for a split second before the back of his head struck the floor and stars exploded in his mind.

Moments later, he blinked his vision clear and felt the sharp points of Eve's hoof pressed hard against his throat. He froze as he knew, with a sharp jab, she could sever the main blood vessel. He looked up into her eyes and saw tears there.

"In a system that boasts of absolute righteousness, the existence of evil at its pinnacle means it must be deeply entrenched. I've had enough of putting my fate in the hands of such people. I'm free now. I have a family. No one, no one takes that away from me." She shivered as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Opening them, she held his gaze again. "You're a fool if you put righteousness before love, compassion, forgiveness, and hope."

With a soft snort, she lifted her hoof and walked from the living room.

Shaken, Makrus watched her go. When he turned his head back, he flinched as the tall horned man stood before him with his arm reaching down. Makrus realized he was just offering to help him stand. He accepted the grip and got back up on his hooves. He twitched again when the black orb held out the DNA reader and the Citizen Archive in silver tentacles. He took the devices and tucked them into his satchel.

"Thank you. I- I think I need to go back to Nareshk," he said.

"We will take you there," 4321 offered.

"It might not be safe for him to return," Eellooee said.

Makrus turned to face Eellooee. "Are you going to keep me prisoner?"

"No! Certainly not! We will take you back to Nareshk. I just believe you need to be aware that, based on the information we just heard, and the behavior I observed from Assessor Nulle and the two members of the Balance, I believe Assessor Milo is in grave danger, if not already dead."

"What?!?" Makrus bellowed.

The Tik explained. "Garra Nulle acted as if he wanted to prevent you from leaving Nareshk. Now I believe we know why. I believe his contingency plan if he failed to stop you, was to prevent you from returning to Nareshk with evidence of his crime. The two Balance officers appeared to be taking instructions from him. They looked to him each time Dren Milo asked them to do something. I believe they may be part of the conspiracy. If they'd come through the Gate, they might not have let you return. Instead, Milo asked them to return to his office with him. As Garra wasn't able to send his enforcers through the Gate, he likely believed you were going to return with damaging information. He might have been forced to act, to take the role of First Assessor."

"I need to get back to Nareshk! I need to protect Dren Milo!" Makrus exclaimed.

Jack caught his eye. "How will you do that? You'll be up against an unknown number of enemies. Who can you trust at your back? What authority do you have in your society? It sounds like you might be up against a new leader who'll use his authority to discredit you or maybe even have you killed. You have evidence against him, so he's safer with you dead," he said calmly.

"I should hide here?!?" Makrus growled.

Jack shook his head. "No, but if Garra did take over, he's going to prepare for your return. The moment you walk through the Gate he'll take steps to stop you. You need information and a plan."

"How do I get information about what's happening on Nareshk when I'm here?" Makrus argued.

"You can't, so you'll need to go there." Jack saw the frustration on the Assessor's face, so he held up a hand. "You go back, but the Tik will open a Gate in a safe place. You'll have to think of a location Garra wouldn't think to look. When you arrive you'll need to find out what steps Garra has taken."

"The moment I'm back on Nareshk, they'll know, and they'll know where I am," Makrus said.

Jack stared at him. "You're wearing an implanted locator."

"It's our ID," Makrus agreed.

"Where is it?" Jack asked.

Makrus gave him an uneasy look. "It's bonded to the bone in my right arm. It cannot be removed."

"No one said remove it. Hiding it would be sufficient. Maybe a sleeve to block the signal?" Jack mused as he looked at Makrus thoughtfully. He glanced at Eellooee, who tipped forward as if nodding.

"We could provide that," the Tik suggested, and Jack smiled at it.

"Without an ID, I won't be able to log into a terminal to determine what Garra is up to," Makrus explained slowly.

Jack gave him a frustrated look. "Then you'll need help. Is there anyone with the access you'd need that you can trust? Someone Garra isn't aware of?"

Makrus paused and considered that. A face appeared in his mind, and his chest tightened, thinking of her being unaware of the danger. "There is one. Convincing her won't be easy. None of this follows the Code of the Righteous."

"Well, it's your choice. You can follow the Code and march headfirst into a possible trap and evil wins. Or you play it smart, find out how deep the evil runs in your society, and maybe root it out," Jack said with a shrug.

"Maybe?"

Jack nodded. "This is going to be the hardest thing you've ever done. You're up against an unknown number of corrupt Assessors and Balance, and you may even have those genuinely following the Code against you as they won't want to believe the system isn't fair and just. They won't thank you for showing them they've been ignorant of the corruption hiding inside their perfect system of absolute good, as you didn't."

Makrus nodded slowly. "But... it must be done."

"Just think about what Eve said to you while you're at it. What's she's gone through in her life, you can't even imagine, yet her strength and compassion take my breath away. She's everything good your people could be. She's the ideal you should be aspiring to. Good luck."

Makrus held Jack's eyes with his. They shared a nod; then, he headed for the front door, Eellooee and 4321 following.

It hadn't been a pleasant visit, but he realized hearing the truth sometimes wasn't. This was easily the worst moment in his life. Everything he'd worked towards his entire life had just been exposed as a colossal lie. Yet he found himself feeling... grateful. Eellooee had given him the truth, and Jack had given him options.

He could work with that.

Chapter 24

Jack watched Eellooee and 4321 following Makrus out. The other Tik remained behind and approached Jack.

"Hello, I am 0029. I have a delivery for Rikki-Tikki-Tavi."

A silver tentacle extended from the black orb and met the offered one from 0029. They connected for a few seconds, then Rikki pulled its tentacle back inside itself.

"File received. Thank you," Rikki said.

0029 turned and followed the other Tik from the house.

"Rikki, is it just my impression, or are some of these new Tik lacking something in their personality matrix?" Jack pondered.

"I've noticed this as well. I find it... disturbing," the Tik admitted.

Jack sat back down on the couch and watched the Nareshk and the three Tik standing on his patio. They seemed to be talking, and then two Tik opened a Gate, and the shiniest one went through. The others moved off towards the driveway for their taxi.

"For a moment there, I thought you might be considering going with him."

Jack turned his head and saw Diana standing before him with a cautious expression on her face.

"No, that would have just made things more difficult for him. Makrus will either find sufficient local support for a revolution, or the corrupt system will crush him. It's an internal struggle. I have people here who need me more."

"Thank you, Jack," she said with a sweet smile.

A slight frown appeared on his face. "SennLann, can I ask you to find Eve and bring her back to the living room? I need to speak to the three of you. I should have done it last night, but having that time to relax with friends was just too precious."

SennLann threw Diana a concerned look then rushed off to find Eve.

Jack patted the sofa next to him, and she sat. "Where are the kids?"

She smiled. "Unlike their Dad, they all had things to do today, so they got up at a decent hour."

"Hey! I was told to take vacation time!" Jack started, but Diana just held up her hands to calm him as she smiled.

"I'm teasing. It's just odd to see you sleep in," she explained gently.

Eve and SennLann arrived and took seats on the loveseat facing the couch.

"How are you doing?" Jack asked Eve.

Love shone in her eyes as she looked at her family. There was a little sadness in there too. "I'm ok. It was sad to hear how my mother died, but I never knew her. It feels like... a distant pain."

"We're here for you," Diana said and got a nod for that. Then the three ladies looked at Jack, and he was up.

"Ok, well, I learned something about myself from Sahhahr when we were on Callosephia. Something about my Hybrid nature." All eyes were on him. He took a deep breath, and Diana held his hand.

"The reason I'm able to make Diana and Altarians pregnant isn't due to sharing genes from both races. It's because I'm a Hybrid, and I'm not just compatible with Human and Altarian females. Apparently, I'm compatible with... everyone."

Sennlann made a strange chirp sound, and Jack held her eyes with his. "Yes, you might have become pregnant all those times you were in heat and jumped me."

She made the sound again.

Jack frowned and looked at his hand, holding Diana's. "Sahhahr claims I've fertilized her eggs, all eighteen of them. I think Juul may be pregnant. Tanz, as well."

SennLann made the sweet chirp sound once more, and all eyes went to her. She looked at Jack with a soulful gaze.

"I want your babies, too," she moaned softly.

Jack's mouth opened and closed. He wasn't expecting this reaction at all.

He looked to Eve, who was unable to have children, but she just smiled at him sweetly. "I love the sound of children in our home."

Jack's comm pinged, and he looked to see who was after him now. The moment he saw Jinnae's name, he jolted. "Shit!" He recalled she was Juul's doctor as well, and she'd called slightly after he'd had that odd encounter with the Harruushan. He answered the call, but his throat closed up.

"Jack?"

He cleared his throat to speak. "Hi, Jinnae."

"Do you know why I'm calling?" she asked carefully.

"Juul?" Jack asked.

There was a slight pause. "Why would you mention her?"

It was Jack's turn to take a moment. "Didn't she come in to see you about being pregnant?"

There was another pause. "How did you know she was pregnant?"

Jack was lost. "Didn't she tell you?"

"She told me a rather outrageous tale about you. I tried to explain how what she claimed wasn't possible-"

"I'm the father."

More silence then a throat-clearing noise. "Jack, that isn't possible."

"According to the Ishilon, Hybrids like myself are capable of xeno-fertilization. Potentially, across many species," Jack explained as he glanced at SennLann.

"What's an Ishilon? You need to come in for testing," Jinnae said sternly.

"I know." Jack saw the others watching him curiously. "Jinnae, what did you call me about if it wasn't about Juul?"

"What? Oh! I'm worried about Diana. Her contraceptive implant expired two months ago, and she refused to come in for a renewal. She wasn't her usual happy self the last time I saw her as well."

Jack looked to Diana and saw the guilt and worry bordering on panic on her face. "Why?"

"You said no more babies," Diana said quietly as her bottom lip began to tremble. Her shoulders began to shake too.

"I'll call you back, Jinnae," Jack said as he watched Diana coming apart.

"JACK!" the doctor cried out.

He closed the connection and pulled Diana into a tight hug. She began to cry against his shoulder.

"Why didn't you talk to me? Why didn't you tell me you were unhappy?" Jack asked quietly.

"I- I'm not unhappy! I just- I wa-wanted another b-baby so mu-much, and I overheard you talking to Gee and Bal a while back about how you were d-done with making babies," Diana mumbled.

Jack pulled back to look into Diana's eyes. "I'm sorry, I don't even remember what the context of that conversation was. I didn't know you wanted another child!" He saw the need in her eyes, and his heart ached for her. "We'll go see Jinnae tomorrow to see if she'll give you the green light health-wise. Ok?"

Diana's eyes held his. "You'd have another baby with me?" she said in a little girl voice.

"Only if it doesn't put your health at risk," he said firmly.

Glassy but lovely green eyes looked at him with love. He leaned forward and gave her a tender kiss.

When he pulled back, SennLann was right there in his face, and he jumped in surprise.

"I want a baby too!" she purred.

Jack nodded slowly. "Listen, I don't know how this Hybrid compatibility works or if it's as universal as Sahhahr claims. We've had sex many, many times, and you've never become pregnant, so it might not be possible. We may have to accept that," Jack said reasonably.

"We will try," SennLann said, and Jack snorted faintly at how sweet she looked saying that.

"Ok, we'll try once Jinnae gives you a clean bill of health and the go-ahead. You're too important to me to risk your health," he insisted, and she gave him a nod. He sighed. "Today, I need to speak with Tanz and Juul. That means a trip to Chrystan and Altaria. Please call Jinnae and set up the appointments for tomorrow- when is the art show in Paris," he blurted as he suddenly recalled the event.

"Not until tomorrow night," Eve reminded him.

He gave her a grateful smile as he relaxed. "Ok, good." He stretched and yawned as it felt like the day had already taken a lot out of him. "I need to get moving. Are you guys going to be ok?"

"Yes, my Shadeem," the three ladies said in unison.

"NO!" Jack scolded as they giggled.

Diana was obviously feeling much better after her secret was out. He'd known she was going to be a handful when he agreed to make her part of his life.

He stood and aimed an annoyed eye at each of them then marched away to get ready, having forgotten his promise to call the doctor back.

In his room, he quickly got undressed and headed for the shower. Rikki left the drone in the bedroom as he enjoyed the experience of washing and shampooing.

When Jack stepped out of the shower, Eve was there holding up his towel. When he reached for it, she pulled it back, so he stood still while she rubbed him dry. She looked up at him with a little smile.

"I want you to know that I don't feel left out or disappointed. Your love has always been more than I expected to have. Having Joseph to raise as my child has been the most fulfilling experience of my life and puts everything I went through with the Allsa Komanae in perspective. It helps me maintain my sanity when people like Makrus Relius say such stupid things." She sighed happily as Jack cupped her cheek.

He leaned down and kissed her, and she kissed him hungrily in return. He smiled and pushed her gently down onto the floor mat.

"You beast!" she chuckled as she pretended to beat on his chest.

He pressed his body down against hers with a grin on his face as she released an involuntary moan. Her legs wrapped around his waist, and she ground against him until he grew hard. He drew his hips back as she guided him to her opening. Soon they were joined most intimately.

"Jack, yes!" she cried out as he drove himself deep inside her. He began a steady rhythm, making them both moan from the intensity.

He tried to increase his pace in slow increments, but Eve wasn't having any of that. She tugged with her hands and hooves on his ass to drive him faster and faster.

Eve honked her bliss, and Jack gasped through his. He gently kissed Eve's face and eased his weight off, but she pulled him down once more. They both moaned from the spike of pleasure then chuckled at each other.

"I'm no delicate flower you need to treat with gentle care," she growled playfully as she wiggled under his weight.

"Stop! I surrender! I get it! You're no flower!" Jack yelped as her movements sent more sharp pleasure through his most sensitive bits.

She smiled with satisfaction and released her tight grip on him. He pulled his cock free quickly, and she honked in surprise.

"I thought you weren't delicate?" he smirked as he stood and helped her to her hooves. Before she could respond, he kissed her again, and she shook her head afterward.

"It's a good thing I love you so much," Eve sighed.

"Yes, it is, and I love you more," he said with a smile.

She slipped her gown on, and smiling over her shoulder, she left the washroom.

Jack jumped back in the shower to quickly rinse off and stepped out to dry himself.

"Jack?"

He went still as he suddenly remembered who was sharing his perceptions. "Rikki."

"You didn't tell me you were going to... do that," Rikki said quietly.

"Were you offended?" Jack asked as Rikki's voice sounded a little off.

"NO! No, I- that was intensely pleasurable. I have no frame of reference to understand the significance, but it certainly felt good." Rikki explained.

Rikki's words hit Jack like a splash of ice water. The Tik had been exposed to only the physical sensations and missed the most significant side of making love. "I'm so sorry, Rikki! What you experienced was just sex. You're missing the emotional context."

Jack imagined what these memories would feel like for the millions of Tik who would ultimately experience it. He shuddered in horror. "You can't share that memory. It's not fair to Eve. It's basically porn, and that's hurtful to her. She deserves better!"

"The Tik cannot erase memories-"

"Yes, I know! But that doesn't mean you have to share this particular one! All I'm asking is that you respect the dignity of a truly loving and giving woman by not sharing this particular experience. It's incomplete, and as such, it's corrupt. You wouldn't spread poison amongst the Tik, would you? You need to see this one experience as the destructive element it is. It poisons the impression of who Eve is."

Rikki was silent. "Out of context."

Jack smiled. "Exactly. If you had access to that memory file from BassDrop, you might begin to understand-"

"I received the file. That new Tik just delivered it. The file says it could take almost a day to integrate. I've never had an experience file take that long. It's enormous," Rikki rattled off nervously.

"This is the only time you'll ever hear me saying this, Rikki. I want you to load the file. While the ladies in my life are deeply embarrassed by the fact that these memories were shared amongst the Tik collective, you need to understand how it should have been. You, above all other Tik, need to understand what you've just now experienced shouldn't be shared because it's incomplete," Jack said emphatically.

He considered the situation he'd found himself in then considered the Tik as a species. An idea began to form.

"Rikki, how frequently are you expected to share your experiences?"

"Typically, once they conclude, unless the conclusion is not expected to occur for an extended period. In that case, a schedule is followed to ensure the files are not too large to integrate in a short time. BassDrop's file is abnormally large, so it must not have had access to other Tik," Rikki suggested.

"We were riding out a passage through jump space for three months," Jack explained. "Are experience files immediately shared?"

"Typically." Rikki paused. "Where are you going with this, Jack?"

"I don't mean to be blunt, but how long are you able to tolerate not being connected to my senses?"

Rikki was quiet for a moment before answering. "I can last for three minutes before I begin to disassociate."

Jack sighed. "I can't ask you to risk that every time I make love to someone. I also can't risk another situation where you're only feeling the physical connection without the emotional component. That's critical!" He took a deep breath, having made his decision. "Rikki, you have permission to access my thoughts and emotions, the rest of the bandwidth I think BassDrop called it."

Rikki made a quiet gasp as Jack's emotional state poured through the link.

"I need to go to Chrystan and Altaria, but before I do, I need to speak with Socrates and Plato. Can you contact them and see if they can meet with us immediately?"

"Yes, Jack. One moment please."

Jack moved into the bedroom and got dressed. As he was going to Chrystan, he put on warmer clothes.

Rikki guided the drone up between Jack's horns again. "The Elders said they can spare a few minutes if we go to the enclave right now. I've ordered a taxi which will be here in two minutes," Rikki stated.

"Hey! You're pretty handy to have around!" Jack said with a grin as he headed for the front door.

-=-

Rikki was thrilled by the recent turn of events. It hadn't been sure if Jack would approve of its review of BassDrop's file. Jack wanted it to add that experience!

Once more, Rikki had been erroneously included in Jack's intimate moments with one of the ladies in his life, and instead of being banished, Jack opened his mind to the Tik so Rikki could experience the real intimacy!

Now Jack was expressing appreciation for how useful Rikki was. That was a promising sign!

It didn't know what Jack wanted to speak to the Elders about, but it was confident it would be good!

The taxi arrived, and they got in. It lifted off and headed straight towards the Enclave at priority speed.

"We get express service too?" Jack asked.

"Yes, Elder's orders," Rikki noted and felt Jack smile.

"Hey, Rikki! Wanna play a game?" Jack asked.

"A game? What kind?" Rikki asked curiously and picked up Jack's anticipation.

"A game of imagination. You tell me a scenario, and I'll imagine it. Then we'll be in it."

"A scenario?" Rikki was trying to imagine what Jack meant.

"You know, a mountainside meadow, a dance club, the beach-"

"The beach! Resting on a hammock between palm trees in the shade!" Rikki blurted excitedly. It felt Jack's amusement.

"I like how you think, Rikki. Beach, it is," Jack replied and closed his eyes. Rikki suddenly found itself reclining back on a soft towel draped over the mesh of a hammock. It looked up and saw the tops of the palm trees blocking the late afternoon rays of warm sunlight.

Speaking of warm, the air around it was the perfect temperature. Hot from the sun overhead, but a refreshing breeze blew across the beach from the ocean. It turned its eyes towards the water and gasped again. The turquoise hue took its breath away. The colors were so bold and bright.

The wind picked up a little, and it felt the gentle sting of blown sand against its bare legs.

The scent of the ocean, tropical flowers, and suntan lotion completed the experience.

Rikki was stunned. "How? Is this a memory?"

Jack smiled and shook his head. "Nope. Well, it's an amalgam of memories filled in with my imagination. BassDrop and I discovered that when my mind is linked to a Tik's enhanced recording process, my memories become astoundingly sharp and vivid, and my imaginings are enhanced and stabilized by the structure of a Tik's mind."

Jack let himself rest back against the hammock and let the gentle breeze rock him.

Rikki was amazed at how quickly it felt itself relaxing. "This is wonderful!" it sighed.

"Yes, a magical little paradise in my head. Dangerously seductive to think about spending time in here, isn't it."

Rikki jolted as that was precisely what it was contemplating.

"BassDrop and I had to set a strict schedule to prevent losing ourselves in the imaginary world. I mean, anything's possible here. Why would you not want to be here?"

"It's true," Rikki sighed.

"One more warning. Time moves differently here. Trust only reality time. BassDrop learned to ignore the difference. I'm opening my eyes now."

They were back in the taxi, and Rikki was surprised to see the time it was tracking in its mind didn't match the timer in its core. The difference wasn't significant, but the fact that its perception of time had been altered at all was upsetting. But if BassDrop could learn to cope with it, so could Rikki.

It saw they were approaching the enclave, so it stored those concerns for later review.

-=-

Once they'd left the taxi, Jack spotted the Elders leaving the building to approach them. He frowned as he was reminded of their previous order to keep the Ishilon from entering the building. He wondered if Rikki was now suspect due to the drone.

Socrates and Plato stopped before them with three new Tik behind them. "We don't have much time. What can we do for you?" Plato said in its blunt way.

"I'm here to renegotiate our deal for hosting Rikki," Jack stated.

"What?" Socrates, Plato, and Rikki blurted.

Jack nodded. "The situation and conditions have changed. Rikki is unable to remain in the drone for more than three minutes without endangering its mind. It's already experienced a very intimate moment between Eve and myself, but it only shared the physical side. That experience must not be shared as it isn't complete. It poisons the impression of who Eve is."

"The Tik do not delete memories-" Plato began.

"Geezus! I get it! I'm not asking Rikki to delete the memory! It doesn't have to share it, though. Not if it's considered incomplete."

Socrates lifted a tentacle to stop its partner from responding. "You are correct. It does not. Is there anything else?"

Jack was a little annoyed at the dismissive tone but pushed on. "Yes. I've given Rikki access to all of the bandwidth from my brain -- thoughts, emotions, and full sensory array. This is required to protect everyone involved from future experiences like the one with Eve."

Both of the elders were paying full attention now.

"I need Taggart and Hemmarr to complete the new body for Rikki as quickly as they can reasonably do it. Alternately, they need to create a drone with sufficient sensory feed to keep Rikki stable for an extended period of time. Even an hour would do. It's not my intention to expose Rikki to intimate episodes when I'm with the ladies in my life. Those are between them and me. They're aware that Rikki is sharing my perceptions, but sometimes life leads us into little spontaneous moments of intimacy. If Ricky had an alternate location to be while these interludes happen, that would be preferable."

Socrates dipped forward in agreement. "We are in contact with Taggart frequently to get progress updates. It is most impressed with the Ishilon's grasp of technology. We all want Rikki to be able to return to his normal life and you to yours as well."

"Now, to my main point for this meeting. Tik are obviously long-lived. Our lifespans are mere flashes compared to yours. You have a long game perspective compared to us. Is that an accurate thing to say?"

Socrates tilted forward to acknowledge the statement, so Jack continued. "As you have so much more time, there should be no immediate requirement for distributing the experience files Rikki submits. Instead, they should be restricted from distribution until all participants in those files, except Rikki, are no longer alive."

"We don't hold back the distribution of experience files," Plato insisted.

Rikki understood Jack's request and couldn't let Plato's statement go unchallenged. "Not currently for this reason, but the Tik do restrict the release of experience files. Only those Tik who reach specific levels of maturity are granted access to files containing different intensities of experiences. I only recently received BassDrop's file even though it was created more than a decade ago. What Jack is requesting is just a delay in the release of the files I submit. As he states, time is far less of an issue for us, and for them, it means avoiding embarrassment. I've come to understand that the sharing of these experiences cause Jack and his family discomfort. Adding this delay is the right thing to do."

"I suppose it is," Socrates agreed after a moment, but there was a slight hesitation in its voice.

Jack looked between the Tik elders. "So, we have a deal?"

Plato seemed to feel the need to comment. "It's not like we have a choice. If we say no, Rikki has no safe place to protect its mind."

Rikki felt Jack's offended reaction and understood. He was bluffing. By insisting on a new deal and dangling the temptation of full bandwidth files, Jack was attempting to sway them to agree. Through their link, he could tell Jack had no intention of putting Rikki at risk.

It addressed Plato before Jack could build up steam.

"No! Jack would never have abandoned me! If you hadn't agreed to hold the files, I-" Rikki grasped for something it could do to support Jack. Then it knew. "I would have withheld my submissions until the appropriate time."

Jack sent feelings of gratitude to the Tik but caught Socrates and Plato exchanging a look, and his patience ran out. "What is going on with you guys?"

Socrates went still then looked at Jack. "What do you mean?"

"Your behavior has been strange ever since the Ishilon came on the scene. Yes, I get that they used their gravity tech on you, but they explained why and apologized. You confirmed they had reason to! Then you refused them entry into the Enclave and blocked their way with these new Tik that talk like robo-" Jack froze as he looked over at the shiny new Tik. "Oh shit! That's it! They aren't sentient, are they?!?" Jack gasped quietly, his train of thought completely derailed by this wild realization.

The elder Tiks looked away in discomfort.

Jack got back to his point. "Right, setting that creepiness aside for the moment, you send these non-Tik to assist the Ishilon, then you start treating Rikki differently as well. Is Rikki allowed to enter the Enclave?"

Socrates turned to face Jack. "Mr. Danner, you mentioned we have exceptionally long lifespans. That and our experience sharing combine to give us an extensive knowledge base for recognizing behavioral patterns that lead to... very bad things. Allsa Komanae bad."

"What!?!"

Socrates raised his tentacles to indicate Jack should remain calm. "So far, there isn't any malice in their actions, but they are following the same path the Allsa Komanae took. They rely heavily on their implants. They assume their technology cannot fail, ignoring evidence to the contrary. Perhaps most concerning of all, they took the bait and opened some of the Tik damaged in the actions on Callosephia. These Tik were designed to melt their interior components upon the opening of their shells, but the Ishilon somehow counteracted this. We have reason to believe they may now have access to Gate technology. We intended to speak to you about this once we had gathered enough evidence. Perhaps, as their Shadeem, you might guide them down a less destructive path."

Jack was dazed. He wasn't even aware they'd lost Tik in that seemingly one-sided battle. "Yeah- Yes! I can talk to them." He shook his head then looked to the Elders. "What about Rikki?"

"You're asking questions regarding sensitive matters! Tik matters!" Plato complained.

Jack scowled at it. "Excuse me? I have a Tik living in my head, and you're telling me I can't ask questions that affect it and correspondingly me?"

Plato made odd stuttering noises before its partner silenced it with a gesture. "Rikki is living inside Ishilon drone technology, which we cannot scan, so we don't know what's inside. We cannot risk bringing it inside the Enclave as we don't have a clue as to its capabilities. We've asked Rikki to investigate. Have you?" Socrates asked.

"I haven't had an opportunity to do it. There are always people close by," the Tik replied.

Jack's eyes widened in surprise. "What are you going to do that needs you to be alone? What danger are you envisioning?"

"The drone contains a tremendous amount of power. We don't know what it will do when I start to poke around in its inner workings. There are vast areas of it I haven't explored," Rikki explained.

"You're expecting it to be booby-trapped? That makes no sense. They wouldn't have allowed you to be so close to me if you were considered dangerous to those around you. That doesn't mean it couldn't pose a danger to you. I don't know how that stuff works, but I assume it'd probably just lock you out of areas it doesn't want to be accessed."

"Maybe. We don't know," Rikki said.

"I could ask. Just a thought. Putting it out there," Jack said as he looked into Socrate's and Plato's optics watching for their reactions. They didn't answer, so Jack let it go for now. He had stuff to do today.

"So back to Rikki's experience files-"

"Yes, we will archive them until they can be released without embarrassment for you or your family. We will need time to set up a separate repository for these files," Socrates indicated.

"Ok, thank you. I'll leave the rest up to Rikki and you," Jack said as he waved at the taxi at the charging station. It disconnected and hovered over to stop next to them. Jack climbed in with Rikki maintaining its position between his horns. He waved to the Tik Elders as the taxi headed to the Gate Terminal at a normal speed. He looked out the window as he thought about his next destination.

"Jack?"

"Hmmm?"

"We have twenty minutes. Do you feel like playing a game?" Rikki asked timidly.

Jack smiled.

-=-

Gelane wasn't working the Gate Terminal agent desk on Chrystan, so Jack was able to get through quickly without a conversation about ice cream. He just wanted to speak to Tanz and didn't want to give her a heads up that he was coming, in case she decided to slip away once more.

Jack made his way through the marketplace, waving to those who waved at him and smiling at others. He wondered if Tanz had let anyone know that she was pregnant. Of course, he hadn't heard from her himself that she was. He was running with a suspicion based on what he'd been told and her odd behavior. Her avoidance was unnerving.

He glanced around at the happy citizens and wondered what their reactions would be if they knew he might be the father of their beloved Tanz's child. They'd accepted the stranger in their midst, but this was a radical move. He worried about that.

The Palace was quiet, and Jack made his way to Tanz's office only to discover she wasn't there. A coworker let him know she was at the hospital on a medical appointment.

With a feeling of dread in his stomach, he rushed out of the Palace and ran as fast as his legs would carry him through the underground corridors to the hospital. It wasn't that close by, but he didn't want to wait for a taxi to take him all the way around the city when he could cut through the city's residential area. The Shreen all stood aside as they saw and heard him coming, so he managed to avoid any collisions.

Gasping for breath, he arrived at the hospital's entrance and approached the reception desk.

"Looking... for... Tanz!" he managed to force out.

The female behind the desk blinked at the apparition standing before her. The tall man with a floating black orb between his black horns was radiating heat and dripped on the counter. He noticed and leaned back.

"She- she's seeing Dr. Ryssh. Two floors down, room 30," the woman muttered in shock.

"Thanks!" Jack said and rushed off to the stairs, missing the female's quiet exclamation 'Salt!' as she licked the wetness from her fingertip.

Jack rushed down the thankfully empty stairs and stopped at the second-floor entrance. He got directions from a sign on the wall then quick walked down the hall, counting off the doors until he saw the doctor's name next to one. He stepped inside and looked around.

Queen Lyn spotted him first. "Jack? What are you doing here?"

His head turned, and he spotted Tanz watching him with a panicked expression as she sat next to the Queen, clinging to her arm. She lifted her view to take in the orb hovering between his horns.

Jack noticed a few other females in the room, each showing signs of being with child. This settled some of Jack's questions. He approached his two friends and knelt at their feet. "Queen Lyn," he said, nodding to her then looked to Tanz.

"Are you ok?" he asked with concern as she trembled. Tanz nodded shakily.

"Sahhahr told me what she did at the party."

Tanz made a moaning sound, and then she suddenly leaned forward. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I wasn't thinking properly, and I didn't consider your feelings when I did... what I did." Intense anxiety was clearly evident in her expression and body language.

Jack's eyes widened in surprise. "Hey! What's this? I'm not upset! I'm more worried about you!"

"Me? You don't hate me for using you like that?" she squeaked out of her tight throat.

"Hate you?!? I could never hate you! I love you! I knew you wanted a baby, but at that time, I was convinced I couldn't give you one."

Lyn surprised them both by wiping a finger across Jack's cheek and putting it in her mouth. They stared at her in surprise. She popped the finger out and grinned at them.

"What? Jack was never angry with you. Your fear was for nothing! And he's delicious!" the Queen said, and several of the ladies in the room giggled.

Jack reached out and took Tanz's hands in his. She squeaked at the intimacy. "Are you ok?" he asked again, and she nodded. "So it's true? You're pregnant with my child?" That question brought gasps from their audience, which now included the doctor and nurse.

"She is with child, but it's not possible that it's yours!" Dr. Ryssh insisted.

Jack looked over his shoulder at the upset female. "According to the Ishilon, that's the true nature of Hybrids like myself. I'm able to impregnate Altarians not because I share some DNA with them, but because of my Hybrid nature."

Dr. Ryssh suddenly looked like she wanted to lock him in a lab. He held his hand up. "Sorry, my doctor on Altaria has dibs on doing the tests to see how it works."

He looked back at Tanz. "If you want to keep it, you don't need to worry. It'll be a Shreen child. But I have to tell you; I want to be part of its life too. He or she will know their father loves them!"

Tanz surged forward to grab Jack in a hug as she squealed. He toppled backward and landed on the floor with Tanz stretched out over his body. She was kissing him frantically, and a memory fragment popped into Jack's head. It had to have been from the party when Sahhahr assisted in their baby-making. In the memory, Tanz was on top of him, kissing him in much the same way.

"I think this is how this issue began," Jack teased when her kisses moved to his cheeks and neck. Looking upwards, he noticed Rikki's drone was now hovering above them. Then he felt Tanz licking his neck. "Hey! That tickles!" he exclaimed as he squirmed, and she giggled, pulling back to look him in the face.

"The Queen was right! You are delicious!" Tanz purred.

Jack shook his head, and she helped him stand. Rikki moved back between his horns. Lyn and Tanz looked up.

"Queen Lyn, Tanz, may I introduce you to Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, the Tik which saved the Ishilon from extinction by bringing their ship to Chrystan to escape deadly solar flares."

"Oh my!" Lyn gasped. "We've heard of your heroic efforts and how much they cost you!" She looked closer. "Your new body is so much smaller!"

"We can discuss the details of that in a more private location," Jack insisted quietly, and the Queen nodded.

"I'll see my patient now," the doctor said grumpily.

"Are you staying?" Tanz asked Jack.

"Unfortunately, no. I have to go to Altaria now. I'll visit again in a few days, and I'll make it an overnighter so we can talk, ok?" Jack assured her.

Tanz smiled broadly, kissed Jack, and rubbed his cheek with hers before following the doctor away.

Jack looked at Lyn. "You're here to see the doctor too?" he guessed.

She tugged him down to sit next to her in the chairs. Then she leaned in to speak privately to him.

"No. I was here to lend Tanz support as she was here to end the pregnancy." At Jack's shocked look, she nodded sadly. "She'd convinced herself that you'd be furious when you discovered what she'd done. Legally, it could be classified as rape. You were intoxicated. Do you remember it happening?"

He shook his head. "No, just flashes."

Lyn nodded.

Jack frowned. "How could she have thought I'd hate her? At most, I'd be annoyed!"

"That's how repulsive the idea of rape is to her. It's not you; it's her." She took his hands. "I'm so grateful you ran here in time to stop her. She was badly affected when I sprung the news on her that I was going to have a child. It's definitely a factor that made her as desperate as she was that night. We'd promised each other that we'd have kids together, but she's had such bad luck with finding a mate. Her job is so important to her. That threatens most males." Lyn smiled at him. "While you can't be here all the time, you're the perfect mate for her."

"I'll be here as much as I can. Diana and SennLann have also indicated they'd like to have more children." He smiled, thinking of how his life was going back through the baby years once more. Then he frowned as he remembered how this all began. He looked to Lyn.

"My new people, the Ishilon, may need some parental guidance as well. I don't know if I'm up to that, but it seems it's my new role." He shook his head as he recalled the moment. "When we got to Callosephia, Sahhahr took me for a tumble as her biological imperatives were insistent. Then she laid eighteen eggs, which she says I fertilized. I won't get to be a daddy for the new baby Ishilon as they are born feral and take up to five years to socialize."

"You have too many responsibilities to manage," Lyn suggested.

"Did I mention I may have made my Harruushan friend pregnant too? I need to go speak with her now." He leaned over and rubbed his cheek against hers, which caused a stir in the waiting room. He sighed and stood. "Give Tanz a hug from me."

As Jack walked from the room, he heard some of the ladies talking about him. As he stepped into the hall, someone said 'Love Doctor' and giggles erupted.

Jack left the hospital and caught a lift to take him back to the Gate Terminal. Giving his next destination, he stepped through to Altaria. When he stepped outside to catch a cab, a group of excitable students passing by rushed over to get pictures with him and his new accessory.

"Are you moving back to Altaria?"

"Does the orb do anything?"

"Are you going to be our Ambassador again?"

The questions came in fast and loud as they snapped pictures with their comms.

"I'm going to be on Altaria more, that's for sure. The orb is a Tik called Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, so yes, it does something, and I'll be Ambassador the moment I'm officially sworn in, so that's a yes."

He used their squealing as his opportunity to jump into a taxi with a wave. It lifted off and headed over towards Juul's. He wasn't sure if she was there, so he called her number.

"Jack?"

"Juul! Hi! I'm on Altaria. Can we talk?"

"Yes, I think we should. Can you come to the hospital and spring me from this doctor's clutches?"

Jack sighed. "Are you with Jinnae?"

"Yes, that's her," Juul growled.

"On my way!" Jack said and hung up. He gave the taxi a new heading and asked it to hurry.

"Yes, Ambassador Danner."

Jack blinked in surprise at the mechanical voice coming from the taxi's control unit. Had Queen Elissa jumped the gun on the announcement? Or was it possible that the taxis had never been adjusted to remove his old title? He'd taken taxis during his exile, but he'd never asked for anything that prompted them to address him. He put it aside as just an interesting detail.

He looked out the window and saw he was getting priority service, other taxis moving aside to let his zip past.

Soon they were descending before the hospital to park on the pad before the entrance. He hopped out and hustled inside. He knew where Jinnae's office was, so he headed straight there.

As he stepped through the door, he heard raised voices.

"I just have one more test to run!"

"No! Enough!"

Juul and Jinnae swiveled their heads to see Jack standing in the entrance.

"JACK!" they exclaimed in unison.

The Harruushan female rushed to hide behind him, which he found amusing as she was taller than him. She clung to his arm as she looked back at the frustrated doctor. "She wouldn't let me leave. When I first came to see her about being pregnant, she didn't believe me when I said it was yours. Now she won't stop asking for tests!"

Jack looked at the doctor. "You know, you could test one of the Altarian women I've had a child with. It's the same thing," Jack suggested to Jinnae.

"I have their test results, but at that time, your compatibility was believed to be due to your inclusion of Altarian genes. We didn't run the right tests! Your children show only cosmetic genetic attributes from you! Getting scans of your new children while they're in the womb gives us a much better timeline for the distribution of the genetic keys," the doctor insisted.

One word stuck in Jack's ear. "Children?"

Juul beamed him a happy smile. "Three! Two females and one male!"

"You can tell already?" Jack asked in surprise.

"One of the doctor's tests," Juul admitted. So, not all the testing was unwelcome.

"The day I showed up at your house when I was running, and you greeted me happily, then suddenly ran off..."

Juul nodded. "I felt my body react to you and the pregnancy beginning. But I'd only been off the birth control implant for a month, and you'd been my only partner, so it made no sense."

"Your body reacted to me?" Jack asked.

She nodded. "For Harruushans, once we mate, the process begins, but it pauses. It takes the male returning to the female within roughly ten days to trigger her body to initiate the pregnancy. It's a genetic trick for survival, two partners to support the young. It has to be the same male, though. It's a scent thing."

Jack's mind went back to the fact that the pregnancy was unexpected. "You were off the implant?"

"We have to spend a few months each year free of the implant to ensure we can have kids later. It's a yearly thing, but I have no Harruushan partners, so I thought I was safe. I think this wasn't the first time I'd had sex with you while I was off the implant, either. I wasn't expecting to get pregnant," she said, looking into his eyes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know I was compatible with anyone other than humans and Altarians. I only found out when Sahhahr informed me of my... xeno-compatibility, after she used me to fertilize eighteen of her eggs."

"WHAT!?!" Jinnae exclaimed, and Jack just nodded.

"Tanz is pregnant too. We aren't even physically compatible, but Sahhahr interfered and manually transferred some of my sperm into Tanz." He held Jinnae's eyes. "If you want to compare notes, Tanz's doctor is Dr. Ryssh on Chrystan. I'm sure she'd welcome your call."

"Dad?"

Jack turned around and saw Lillian standing in the hall with another Altarian female who was looking at him like a rare specimen under her microscope. He'd seen that look in too many eyes.

"Hi, Lillian. What's up?" he asked cautiously.

His daughter smiled and gestured to the female next to her. "This is Dr. Samm. I'm working with her to find a cure for postpartum debilitation. We- that is, based on Mom's test results and the slow progression of her condition, it would be helpful if we could, ah..."

"We need samples of your fluids," Dr. Samm blurted.

"Excuse me?" Jack blurted indignantly.

Jinnae pushed past Jack and Juul in her doorway to confront the other doctor in the hall. "Jack is my patient. If you want access to his fluids, you need to come to me!"

Juul shared a look with Jack and leaned closer to whisper. "Are all your doctor's appointments filled with this much aggression?"

He shook his head. "No, this is a new behavior." He ignored the squabbling doctors and took Juul's hands in his. "Again, I'm sorry I didn't know the risk to you when we had sex. You weren't planning on having kids yet-"

Juul touched his lips to stop him. Her eyes showed a momentary distraction until she bit her lip and forced herself to concentrate. "It's true. It caught me by surprise. As a diplomat, I'd sworn an oath not to have children so I'll have to find a new vocation once I've raised them-"

"Damn! I've ruined your job too?" Jack moaned quietly

She smiled at him. "For me, it was just a job! Dann was more passionate about it than I was. I don't know what job I'd be passionate about. I just... followed Dann when he signed up to be a diplomat. I am looking forward to being a mom." Her smile dimmed a little. "I'm going to have to find a new place to live. Even with the larger size of the home we live in now, with our extended family, there isn't enough room for three more."

Jack grinned. With his children grown and moving out and Leffera and Benjamin's departure, he now had extra rooms in his house. "Would you like to come live with us on Chuuruthia? There's plenty of room in my house."

Juul's eyes widened in surprise, then she grabbed Jack in a tight hug. "Yes! I'd love to come live with you!"

"Diana wants another baby. SennLann too, though I'm not sure if I'm compatible with her-"

"Did you say SennLann wants to have your baby?" Jinnae interrupted excitedly.

Jack watched her cautiously. "Yes."

"That's wonderful! She's only fertile for a very brief period during her heat! We can monitor her very closely and ensure her pregnancy while we gather test results from the very beginning." Jinnae looked very excited.

"Your fluids?" Dr. Samm said once more.

Jack took in the embarrassed but hopeful expression on Lillian's face. "Ok, fine. What do you need?"

Dr. Samm's face lit up with a wide smile. "Any fluids you shared with my patient over the time she was living with you."

Jack's smile became strained. "Ah, well... I, uh, kissed her frequently."

"Saliva."

Jack squirmed. "Yes... and we had sex on a semi-regular basis."

"Semen," the doctor said with a nod.

"That's it."

"When can I have them?" she asked.

"We can collect them now," Jinnae suggested.

Jack looked uncomfortably at Juul, but she was just grinning at him. He sighed. "I suppose I have a few minutes."

Lillian gave him a small smile then turned to Dr. Samm. "I'll be back in the lab."

The doctor frowned disappointedly. "You're not going to participate in collecting the sample?"

Lillian scowled. "He's my dad!"

"OH! Of course! My apologies!" Dr. Samm said, stumbling over her words in her embarrassment. Lillian nodded and left. The doctor stepped into Jinnae's office, closing the door. Completely recovered from her blunder, she looked up into Jack's eyes. "Semen?"

He closed his eyes and sighed. When he opened them, he fixed a stern expression on both doctors. "Let's start with saliva and work our way... down."

Jinnae nodded and rushed over to a cabinet to return with four small sample bottles, something that looked like a shirt button, and a bottle of spring water.

"This is for afterward," Jinnae said, putting the water on the small desk. Then she handed him the button which he saw was inside a small clear film package. "Put this under your tongue and close your mouth. It will stimulate your salivary glands. Try not to touch the button with your fingers as you pop it from its protective wrapper."

Jack followed the instructions and was surprised to feel a slight vibration under his tongue as the button activated. It wasn't long before he felt his mouth filling with spit. He looked to Jinnae, who handed him the first bottle, which he held to his lips, letting the saliva run into it. He closed his mouth again and gave her the full sample bottle and looked at it in surprise. She closed it and handed him another empty one. After a brief pause to let the button do its work, he filled the second bottle then repeated this two more times before she gestured for him to spit the button out onto a tissue in her hand.

She handed him the water, which he finished quickly.

"Ah!" he sighed after his last swallow. He pointed the bottle at the button Jinnae had placed on the corner of the desk. "That was a weird sensation. My mouth is aching a little." Then he grinned at Jinnae as she handed three of the sample bottles over to a delighted Dr. Samm. "Do you have a similar device for my next sample?" he teased.

"Yes, I do," she said, gesturing for him to enter one of her exam rooms.

His smile dropped away as Juul snorted softly. "I was kidding," he said nervously.

Juul took his hand and led him into the room as the two doctors followed, smiling. Some of their experiments were more fun than others.

All in the name of science, of course.

Chapter 25

Diana and SennLann were not able to get appointments until the following week, so Jack got to recuperate from Jinnae's diabolical treatment the day before. He felt thoroughly poked, prodded, scanned, and drained. Doctor Samm got her samples, Doctor Jinnae got her examination, Juul got her thrills, and Jack finally got to go home late in the evening to collapse on his bed.

Rikki parked the drone down near the floor in the corner, recharging from a wall receptacle and opened BassDrop's experience file to begin its ingestion.

This morning Jack had slept in and was feeling pampered as Diana brought him breakfast in bed. She'd spent the first twenty minutes apologizing for not telling him about her implant expiring until he kissed her to silence. Now, she was just cuddled in against his side as he rested back against the headboard and finished his meal.

SennLann arrived with Eve, who took his breakfast tray away. Jack slid down onto his pillow once more, and Diana rested her head on his shoulder as he put his arm around her. SennLann immediately stretched out over his body to rest her chin on her hands as she gazed into his eyes.

Jack waited until Eve returned. She snorted as she saw the others then climbed on the bed to lie down against his free side with her head resting on his other shoulder as he held her.

Once everyone was comfortable, Jack gave them the update. "Tanz and Juul are both pregnant. Tanz, obviously won't leave Chrystan but Juul is coming to live with us. There are free rooms here. She told me that she'd spend her days on Altaria socializing the child with its cousins at Aaros' house and her evenings here."

"We were wondering, do you want to move back to Altaria when Elissa makes you Ambassador again?" Eve asked.

He shook his head and glanced around at his comfortable bedroom. "No, if you're all ok with it, I want to stay here. Chuuruthia has become home. We raised children here. This house is our home, and it's perfect for having our friends over. It's a place where everyone feels safe and welcome. I love Altaria, and I'm looking forward to spending a lot more time there, but I don't want to move from here."

Eve nodded with a smile as did the others. They all felt the same way. Chuuruthia was so peaceful; it was a perfect home.

"When are you going to become Ambassador?" SennLann asked.

Jack shrugged. "Elissa just said I have to come by her office to be sworn in again. I can do that tomorrow. I don't want to do anything today, except go to the art exhibition tonight. I need a lazy day, and I'm still on vacation, right?"

He got a nod from Eve and SennLann, but he felt Diana's tension as she pressed her face against him tighter. She was still nervous about their visit to Earth tonight.

Jack rubbed her back. "We'll be fine. We're bringing Gee and Bal as well as Maxim and Leo. I have Rikki to keep an eye on potential threats, as well. Did you know his drone can see in all directions? Rikki?"

Jack waited, but the Tik didn't answer. He lifted his head to glance over in the corner at the still drone and recalled Rikki telling him on their way back to Chuuruthia the night before that it was going to use the downtime to load BassDrop's experience file. He dropped his head back on his pillow.

"Right, it's busy updating its files," he said for the benefit of the ladies.

"How long will Rikki be with you- us?" Eve asked, acknowledging its presence in their lives too.

Jack took a deep breath. He had to deliver this news delicately but truthfully as well. He let them know the current limitation of Rikki's ability to grant him privacy. Then he informed them that he'd had to open his mind to Rikki so he could understand the emotional context should they get intimate while Rikki was unable to leave. Then he informed them of his new deal with the Tik and Rikki's experience files.

When he was done, the ladies didn't seem happy, but they weren't angry, either.

Eve nodded thoughtfully. "So we can abstain from sex with you until Rikki has a body it can move to for sufficient time, or we can accept it's there, feeling everything that you feel, physically and emotionally, and not worry about it being shared until we're dead. Is that it?"

Jack thought about that, then nodded. "Yes."

"I'm not abstaining. That would reduce the quality of my life now, and I won't care what the Tik think once I'm dead. You vouch for Rikki's character?"

Jack watched her with a slight smile on his lips. She never ceased to amaze him. "I do."

"Good enough for me," Eve said and looked to SennLann.

"It doesn't bother me either way," the Phem Kalos female said with a small shrug. "I'm not giving up my Jack time for anyone." She looked to Diana as did Jack.

Once more, Diana's forehead was showing signs of her concern. Of all of them, she had the most baggage when it came to sex. "I'm very private," she said quietly.

Jack nodded and waited.

"I need to think about it."

"That's fine. There's no rush. As I said, the Tik and the Ishilon are working on it," Jack said calmly.

SennLann settled her head against Jack's chest. She listened to the powerful and steady thump of his heart, and her eyes began to droop as she soaked up his heat.

Eve and Diana snuggled in and began to fade too.

Jack was finally awake, yet he was going nowhere until they'd had their naps.

He smiled. He had nowhere he'd rather be at the moment.

-=-

Leo and Maxim showed up at their front door slightly before 7 PM as the event didn't begin until 8 PM. Both were wearing formal black suits with white collar shirts and black ties.

Jack grinned at them. "Looking sharp, gentlemen! Thank you for doing this!"

"Please! We watch them grow. We are... proud uncles," Maxim said with a cheeky smile.

Jack's smile just got wider as he shook their hands and saw them inside.

Joseph and Emily were waiting in the living room for them. Jack's son was also wearing black formalwear, which made him look so mature. Emily opted for a stunning red dress that popped next to his black jacket and slacks. It fit like a second skin and displayed almost all of her back and too much cleavage-

"Where's the rest of your dress?!?" Jack gasped.

Emily looked at Joseph with a smug smile. "See, the dress is perfect." Her brother rolled his eyes.

Jack's mouth was working, but no sound came out.

"Happy birthday, Emily!" Leo said with a grin and got a hug from the smiling woman. Maxim got a hug as well. Leo handed her a black and white card, and Jack saw it had a spade printed on it.

Emily looked at it then at Leo curiously.

"Is Special VIP card for my club in Moscow. You and friends get in, no line. Free bottle service." He raised an eyebrow. "Drink responsibly!"

"Thank you!" Emily cheered and gave him another hug. She waved the card at Joseph, who smirked at her.

"I got one first, on my birthday," he said and stuck out his tongue with a grin.

"Seriously, is there another piece to that dress?" Jack whined.

Now it was Emily's turn to roll her eyes. "Daaaaad! Don't be so... old."

Jack's eyebrows threatened to climb into his hairline. A hairline that showed no sign of receding, he might add.

Diana saved him from answering as she arrived with Eve, the latter wearing a beautiful white off the shoulder gown, which reached her ankles.

"Why aren't you dressed?" Diana asked him.

"Shouldn't you be asking your daughter that question?" he sputtered.

"You aren't a grandpa yet, don't start acting like one now," Diana said to him as she turned to Emily. "You look gorgeous, baby!" she said to her daughter.

"Thank you, mom!" Emily said as she hugged her.

Grumbling at the disrespectful women, Jack headed to his bedroom, where he found an outfit laid out for him. He undressed then pulled on the flowy pants and the long jacket on top. It was a little like Eve's gown, except it was jet black and had sleeves. He sealed up the front seam on the jacket and realized it was reaver silk. Gee and Bal's doing, no doubt. The outfit felt a little bit like an Altarian gown, something the Altarian ladies in his life had been trying to get him to wear for years. Still, the security of it would make Diana feel better so he could put up with it.

Catching a glance at himself in the mirror, he stumbled to a stop. There was an abundance of black on display with his outfit and his long black hair. He looked way too intimidating! He slipped on some fun, brilliantly white sneakers to lighten his image.

He joined the group in the living room.

"Those aren't the shoes I set out for you," Diana immediately noted.

"Maybe, but they're the ones I'm gonna wear," he replied. "We should get going. Where are Gee and Bal? And Rasha?"

The Altarian security agents entered with the young Chuuruthian female between them. She was wearing a Chuuruthian gown, but Jack caught sight of a reaver silk camisole under it. More protection.

He felt a little weary as he knew these precautions were actually reasonable for where they were going.

"It's time. Let's go."

"I've ordered a taxi it will be here in five minutes," Rikki announced to him.

"Ah! Rikki, you're up! How ya feeling, buddy?" Jack asked. "Taxi's almost here," he said to the others before swinging his attention back to the Tik.

"I'm good. There's still a lot of data to integrate. It might take another day or so. Such a large file," Rikki said with awe in his voice.

Jack gave Diana a hug and a kiss. She smiled gratefully when she felt the fabric he was wearing.

They made their way to the drive where the large taxi descended and let them inside.

"You have a lovely dress too," Maxim said to him with a straight face, but Leo burst into laughter, which tripped Maxim's almost manic grin.

Jack let them laugh as he looked over to his Altarian bodyguards who were doing there best to watch the scenery. He looked back to the Russians. "Hilarious, guys. This happens to be reaver silk."

Maxim and Leo nodded in appreciation at his lightweight but battleship grade armor. "Ours too, thanks to Gee and Bal."

Jack's jaw dropped. He looked closer at their gorgeous suits and saw the sheen of the reaver silk on the outer layer.

"The bowties double as pullover mask," Maxim explained as Jack stared at them in shock. Leo was trying so hard not to explode into laughter again.

Jack turned to face Gee and Bal, who looked back at him innocently.

"Why couldn't I have a suit like theirs instead of this jacket that looks like a dress?" he insisted.

"We think you look quite handsome in the more traditional Altarian garb. So will Queen Elissa when you wear it to the Ambassador swearing-in ceremony," Gee responded.

"I'm not-" he began then saw their smiles. Elissa was already aware of the outfit. She probably approved it. He sighed heavily.

"We think you look awesome, Dad," Joseph said, and he looked to his kids. They nodded to him with big smiles.

"Thanks! You both look great too. As do you, Rasha." The Chuuruthian looked delighted to be getting a compliment from him. Jack turned to Eve and kissed her hand. "You look truly lovely in your white gown. Please stay close to me to balance out the eternal darkness of my outfit."

She snorted and patted his hand.

They left the cab at the Gate Terminal and went inside. Jack did the honors of speaking with the Terminal Agent and got them an Earth Gate to Paris, France.

They split into two groups. Their event tickets had them going to different entrances at the gallery. Leo and Maxim went through the Gate first, followed by Joseph and Emily. Their group went through Human Customs and caught a cab to deliver them to the art gallery's front door to walk the red carpet. It would be a first-time thrill for Joseph and Emily.

Jack's group went through the Gate next and dealt with the extra hassle of Alien Customs before getting a taxi, which took them to the service entrance at the back of the gallery. When they approached the rear doors, Jack was surprised to see a trio of Kwua quietly arguing with some frazzled gallery staff. The Kwua were not impressed with being forced to enter the less than immaculate rear entrance.

Jack stepped forward from his group and went into Ambassador mode immediately.

"A serene night to you, gracious Kwua," he said calmly and bowed gently.

The tall beings turned to face him, and Jack saw the fur on their shoulders immediately begin to settle from his civilized greeting. The tallest one was a male and likely the father of the other two if Jack read the situation correctly. It was a Kwua patriarch's responsibility to expose its offspring to artistic, cultural events of alien races so that their appreciation of art itself might be deepened. Jack was curious about its choice of this event.

"Ahhhhh, Ambassador Danner. You are a welcome presence on this splendid evening of art!" the big male sighed.

Jack smiled without showing teeth and nodded slowly, conveying peace and calm, and the three's fur settled down to show their coat's sleek gleam. They were calm once more. He wasn't about to correct the senior Kwua about his title, but it was now safe to ask questions. "I must admit I'm surprised to see Earth used for art study."

The father made a deep growling sound, and the gallery staff standing by the rear doors began pulling back in fear until they saw Jack's smile and stopped. They didn't recognize Kwua laughter as he did.

"I find myself amused that one born on this world would say such things. Have you been away too long?" Papa Kwua said.

"I remain well aware of the tremendous capacity Humanity has for beauty, grace, and passion. It is my eternal wish that they'll one day find the strength of character to allow these positive attributes to conquer their base fears so they might fully join the community of the civilized," Jack explained.

All three Kwua bowed their heads and nodded to him. His statement moved them. He returned the gesture as thanks.

"May I assume you have been forced into this insulting situation as well?" the Kwua patriarch asked.

Jack nodded. He didn't shrug as the Kwua interpreted that gesture as preparation to attack. "Just another example of the fear they cling to. I'll rise above it." Jack looked to the size of the door and back to the much taller Kwua. "Did they forget to offer the use of the larger doors?" he said, gesturing to the nearby loading bay doors.

"Yes, they indicated the large front doors were not for other world guests and appeared to expect us to crawl through this one." It gestured with a massive paw with a hooked claw to the rather small single door. The Kwua never allowed their hands to touch the ground unless it was required for the creation of art.

Jack looked to the staff member with the tablet. "A momentary misunderstanding. The closest loading bay door will be sufficient," Jack fixed his eyes on the man who glanced once at the orb hovering between Jack's horn, once more towards the three hulking Kwua watching him, then nodded to Jack.

"Of course, a-ambassador!" he said with a strained voice. He gestured to someone at the small entrance to run around to the loading bay door to open it.

"We'll enter with our friends," Jack said with a slow nod to the doorman. He nodded and touched the tablet as Jack showed him their tickets on his comm.

As they walked towards the stairs leading up to the loading bay, Jack ventured another question. "Was there something particular about this evening's event that made it more enticing as a study of art?"

The father nodded slowly. "We have become admirers of young Joseph's glass works of art. They are so delicate and ephemeral! We had a piece of his delivered to Kwua and gathered our most respected artisans to its unveiling in our cultural center. At the moment the curator lifted it from the crate, it shattered into hundreds of shards. We spent the next three days examining this experience, how it affected us, and what we learned from it. It was a singularly provocative experience. The piece we purchased was prophetically titled Journey's End, and the beauty of that moment fills my thoughts to this day.

Jack nodded thoughtfully as he chuckled inside. He was thrilled that the Kwua enjoyed his son's art, but he believed only they could find such meaning in the accidental destruction of the delicate sculpture in their powerful hands.

The large bay door rolled upwards, much to the delight of the Kwua. They walked through the big door with great dignity, and behind their backs, Jack pointed to the big backstage doors, which led to the main hallway to the presentation halls. The staff member escorting them was speaking quickly and quietly on his earpiece but nodded before opening the inner doors to bring them deeper into the building.

Jack followed at a distance, easing himself farther behind as they went since the father had begun to speak with his children, its lesson starting.

When Jack reached his group, he smiled at them.

"It was fascinating to see you working," Eve said with a happy smile.

Jack gave her a confused look. "You've been to my office before."

"The trade office, but I've never seen you in the role of Ambassador. You seemed very natural," she commented.

He grinned self-consciously. "It's been a long time since I did it officially, and now that I'm going to be offered the position again, I'm discovering how much I've missed it. The years between then and now have been useful in that I've gone out and met the races in their natural habitats. I feel more comfortable with the role than I did back then.

"I was very impressed with how you calmed the Kwua so quickly," Rasha said with more than a little hero worship in her eyes.

"Don't be fooled. The Kwua desperately wanted to avoid a confrontation, but the staff here were ignorantly forcing the issue. All I provided was the means to give the Kwua the peaceful outcome they craved," Jack stated with a shrug.

"It's still impressive," Rasha said, refusing to back down.

Jack snorted with a grin. Then, they found themselves entering the main hall where the show was being held. Jack tapped his comm against the room's information post and got a floorplan to see which artists were in the show and where they were situated.

Doing a quick sweep of the vast chamber with his eyes, he immediately spotted Emily with her bold red dress and the group of admirers she'd collected, mostly male.

Joseph was off to the side, busy talking with two older men who Jack guessed were artists. They were in deep conversation and oblivious to the rest of the gathering until a youngish woman stepped up and said something that caught their attention. One of the men gave her a tight hug then seemed to be making introductions — a daughter perhaps or a much younger wife. The tight green shimmering dress she was wearing made Jack think of the Ishilon's skin. She had her long black hair teased up with only a few ringlets falling to touch her long neck. She had the men's attention, especially Joseph's.

Leo and Maxim were optimally positioned in the vicinity of their charges and were tracking the occupants of the room. They each acknowledged Jack's arrival.

Jack looked to Gee and Bal and noted they were scanning the room as well. They'd let him know if they spotted anything of note. That made him think of the best resource they had for tracking suspicious movement.

"Rikki?" he asked internally.

"Yes, Jack?"

"You can use the drone to see the entire room at once, yes? You could see if people were acting suspiciously?" Jack asked.

"You mean like staring and pointing with nervous, angry, or disgusted expressions?" Rikki asked.

Jack hesitated. "Uh, possibly? Is that what you see now?"

"From the moment we entered the room, there has been a large number of the room's occupants doing just that. You will have to be more specific when you say suspicious."

He sighed. "Point taken. I suppose if I asked you to fly up and hover at the top of the room to see every corner, it might just trigger a hostile reaction as they panicked."

"Indeed, that is the likeliest result of such an action. I'd rather not do it if you don't mind. It's already hard enough to bear their fear-based anger," Rikki explained.

"Right, sorry." Jack turned his attention back to the room. The art was in isolated clusters, each display being from a different artist with space around them for visitors to observe and reflect. He looked around and couldn't see any particular order. He smiled as it was very egalitarian of the gallery to blend in the off-world artists. He glanced at the floorplan on his comm and pulled up the home addresses of the artists and sighed as he noted the artist currently living off Earth were on the far side of the hall.

Smiling at Eve, he pointed in that direction. "I'd like to go see Joseph's display."

"Yes, please!" she said, and their group headed in that direction.

It didn't take long to pick up on the discomfort some of the guests were feeling when they spotted him and Eve walking arm and arm through the hall.

"Stay close please, Rasha," he said quietly, and she acknowledged him with a nod and wide eyes.

Gee and Bal were showing no emotion in their expressions, which meant they were aware of the threat.

Once they reached the far side, Jack noted something... different. He couldn't quite place his finger on it, but did this side of the hall seem... dull? He glanced at Eve and saw she was noticing it as well.

"Rikki? Can you perceive what's different here?" Jack asked internally. He looked back in the direction they came, and it seemed... more inviting somehow? There were fewer people here. "I can't put my finger on it, but something doesn't seem... right."

"Let me see. Oh, you're right. One moment please," Rikki replied, then the difference faded away, and the nearby displays were as brilliant as the rest of the chamber.

"What did you do?" he asked with a smile.

"The lighting on this side of the room was dialed down to a most unflattering color frequency and intensity. The difference was almost below the threshold of perception. Almost. Now, the displays are properly lit. Shall we enjoy them?"

"Yes, thanks, Rikki!"

There were six artist displays on this side of the room, including Joseph's. Now their art could be properly appreciated. The Kwua passed by and stopped to take in the beauty and fragile nature of the glass art. Jack saw all three were deeply moved.

Other guests began making their way over to this side of the chamber, and Jack saw some were surprised, some were pleased, and some, like the heavyset bearded man in the flowing gown approaching him quickly with an angry scowl painted on his face, were not pleased at all. Jack gestured for Gee and Bal to stand down.

The blustering man stopped directly before Jack to huffed tobacco scented breath in his face. "Mister Danner! What have you done?"

Jack slipped a look of curiosity onto his features. "And you are?"

The big man puffed out his chest to match his prodigious gut. "I am Patrice LeSúc, the manager of this gallery! What right do you have to interfere with the electrical systems of my establishment?!?"

They were drawing a crowd, and some of the expressions weren't pleased. It was time to go on the offense.

Jack feigned a look of shock. "Outrageous! Preposterous! Not once did I touch your precious electric circuitry. That would be an amazing act of MAGIC!" Jack suddenly pulled his jacket's flowy and loose sleeves back in a flamboyant gesture as he spun to face the gathering crowd. He caught Gee and Bal's dismayed expressions in a flash as he spun again. He spread his fingers wide to show he had nothing in his hands. "As you see, I have nothing up my sleeves. Now I say the magic words, A LA PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICHES!" He was facing the manager now and shot his arms forward on either side of the man's head, his sleeves flinging outwards once more in a flurry of gauzy black fabric that covered the man's face momentarily.

The man jerked back, sputtering, but Jack held up his hands, and every eye was trapped by three gold coins held between the knuckles of each hand as they glittered in the bright light.

"Hiding gold behind your ears, Patrice? Scandalous!" Jack crowed. He tossed the coins and ensured they landed in the hands of the waiters carrying the trays of drinks and hors d'oeuvres. From his own experience, these people were paid poorly, so Jack hoped they'd get to keep them. To their credit, not one of the waiters dropped their tray as they caught the thrown coins. Instead, the gold disappeared into pockets, and the waiters disappeared too before Patrice got a good look at them.

That little demonstration of charity went a long way in swaying the opinions of the undecided. He saw a lot more smiles in the crowd.

It had no effect on the haters, but their puny little minds were closed, so fuck them.

Patrice recovered and was right back in Jack's face. "Don't think you can fool me with your fancy tricks! I know you interfered with the lights above these exhibits!" He flung an arm out to indicate the last row where the non-Earth based artists were situated. Most of them were at the front of the crowd now surrounding them.

Jack made a show of looking up at the lights then over at the lights above the displays which hadn't been changed. "They look the same as all of the others," he said so those gathered would hear.

"Yes, now! But-" Patrice suddenly realized what he was about to admit to as Jack watched him with a calm, interested smile. "I don't know how you did it, but we are locked out of the lighting controls!" Patrice growled through his teeth quietly with a fake smile.

"I did nothing, but to me, it doesn't look like you need to change anything at the moment," Jack said with a sweet smile. Internally, he was thrilled with Rikki. "You are earning major bonus points, Rikki! Truly brilliant thinking there, buddy!"

"Ooo! What can I get with those?" the Tik asked, once more thrilled to be addressed with that term of affection because now he felt Jack's genuine regard behind the words.

"Hmmm... how about additional game time?" Jack suggested.

"Yes!" Rikki cheered enthusiastically, and Jack had to struggle to keep from laughing out loud. His joy must have shown in his eyes as veins popped up on Patrice's forehead, and his face was turning red as sweat began to bead at his hairline. His receding hairline Jack noted, feeling young once more.

"Dad, what's going on?"

Jack turned to see Joseph and the pretty wife/daughter of the artist on his arm. She was a looker, but Jack wondered what her possessive grip meant. He took a step away from the manager to give himself some personal space.

"Nothing. Monsieur LaSuck was telling me about a famous French quote which this show exemplifies. What was it again... oh yeah. Liberté, égalité, fraternité."

Joseph sighed wearily as the young woman burst into giggles. There was something about her laughter that lifted the hairs on the back of his neck. He rubbed the spot unconsciously.

The manager had enough and stormed off before his rage ignited his hair.

The gathering began to move away, but many stayed to visit the off-world artist exhibits. Maxim was nearby, as well.

Jack flagged over a waitress with a tray of champagne flutes. His group, aside from Gee and Bal, took glasses.

Gee caught Jack's attention. "We were worried you were going to do your lame disappearing napkin trick, but you completely surprised us with the coins. For you, that was very impressive!"

Jack gave her an annoyed look. "Damned by faint praise." Then he grinned happily. "I'll take it, though, because it's still praise from you!"

He took a sip of champagne and made a face. He flagged down the same waitress who'd lingered with her empty tray and put his almost full glass on it but tucked a fancy white embroidered handkerchief into the glass. Eve and Rasha also put their drinks on the platter, but Joseph and the woman kept theirs. Jack slipped the waitress a gold coin, and she smiled gratefully as she hustled away. She'd heard about his coin trick.

Gee and Bal looked on in outrage as they watched Patrice's expensive disappearing napkin. Jack performed his stupid trick after all.

"Where is it?"

Jack looked back at the gallery manager, who was so red in the face, Jack worried he might have a stroke. "What?"

"My handkerchief!" the man hissed.

Instead of answering, Jack looked in the direction of the departing waitress, the aforementioned handkerchief bobbing as if waving goodbye from the retreating tray. Patrice followed Jack's eyes and shrieked in dismay before charging off in pursuit.

"I knew that trick would come in handy one day," Jack said with satisfaction and got another burst of giggles from the young lady. His neck tingled. Jack turned to Joseph with an expectant look.

"Dad, this is Heather. She's Dalton Langley's contract companion."

Jack's mind flashed back to his late teen years, the first time he'd met a contract companion. He and a friend were working a day job doing grounds maintenance tasks at some wealthy banker's summer mansion. The senior bank exec had a companion living there on her own. Jack quickly discovered she was a soulless creature who enjoyed tormenting young men, though she couldn't have been much older than they were. While she was beautiful, she must have seen some hard times to have developed such a cruel streak. She did everything in her power to distract them. Jack tried to warn him, but his friend became thoroughly bewitched. While Jack struggled to complete his work and his friend's tasks, the young man spent the afternoon entertaining her. She tried to get Jack to join them. He recognized the trap and focused on the work. When the banker arrived, he found the young man in a state of drunken nudity on the pool deck while Jack waited on the other side of the fence, exhausted.

Jack recalled the man smiled at the young woman then beat the drunken fool. Then he used his comm to blacklist him on the job board as Jack watched. It was a kiss of death for a young man who'd never get a legitimate job from that point on. Jack recalled the woman's laughter. He'd heard its twin today.

"Dad?"

Jack jolted out of his memories and looked to Joseph's concerned gaze. "Sorry, my mind took a little holiday. Hello Heather. Nice to meet you."

The young woman's eyes weren't as hollow as the banker's companion, but the damage was there. She smiled at him, but it seemed more like the bearing of teeth in a silent snarl. She'd picked up his awareness of her true nature.

"Sure," she said just a little stiffly, lacking the polish of an apex predator.

"I need a word with my son. You don't mind if I steal him away for a minute, do you?" Jack said with a smile that never reached his eyes.

For a second, it looked like she might challenge him, then her eyes tipped up to see the black orb slowly getting closer to her, and her nerve broke. "Sure! I have to get back to my Dali, anyhow. See ya around, kid. Don't be a stranger."

She prowled away and looked back to see Joseph watching her. Her strut smoothed out as a little of her earlier confidence returned.

Joseph turned to Jack. "Wow, Dad. Rude much?"

"If he hadn't sent her on her way, I might have gutted her."

Jack and Joseph turned to see Eve trembling with suppressed rage as she looked in the direction the young woman left. They shared a troubled look.

Jack pulled Eve into a hug and felt her shudder as the tension left her body.

"Where did this come from?" Joseph asked carefully.

"Your mother has excellent parental instincts. Heather was very pretty on the outside, but I've seen the look in her eyes before. Many contract companions have been in the business for a long time. Often from a young age. It sucks the humanity from their souls. She was definitely on her way."

Joseph frowned at the harsh words. "She seemed pretty nice to me."

Jack saw the disappointment in his son's eyes. "Yes, she did." Joseph looked into his father's eyes and saw Jack was aware of his feelings.

"But you're still going to tell me to stay away from her," the son asked his father.

"No. I'm not telling you to stay away from her. I didn't tell you not to eat Yush berries. I explained why you shouldn't. You ate them anyway."

"And I spent the night puking my guts out!" Joseph growled.

"Hey, don't forget the projectile runs you had from your other end, which I had to clean up." Joseph gave him a horrified look. "Look, I knew you wouldn't die, and it was a good lesson. I'll try my best to protect you, but you're able to make your own decisions. You have a brain and knowledge tucked away inside it. If I tell you that something, or in this case someone, is bad for you, you can rest assured I'm not bullshitting you. That said, I'm never going to try to make up your mind for you. All I'll do is try to arm you with the truth. If you eat the bad berries against advice, you can spend the night in the crapper. Just don't expect me to clean up after you. I've done my time."

"Dad! Please stop talking!" Joseph gasped in embarrassment as Rasha giggled behind her hands.

"Really, Jack!" Eve scolded and slapped his arm gently.

"I'm just sayin'!" he remarked.

"Ok! I get it! I could see her behavior was a little off, but damn she was pretty and sexy too!" Joseph sighed.

"Her berries were poisonous," Jack said with a raised eyebrow.

"Ewww!" Joseph grimaced.

"And there's another successful parenting moment," Jack said to Eve with his hand held out for a high five. She shook her head but gave him one.

He turned to Joseph and pulled him into a hug. Eve joined them.

"Hey, we're really proud of you for creating such beautiful art," Jack said.

Joseph squirmed. "Ok, enough of the gushy stuff. I'm trying to look cool here. I can't be seen getting all teary-eyed with my parents. I gotta go mingle." He bent down and kissed his mom's cheek then looked her in the eye. "No gutting anyone, please."

She beamed a happy smile at him and nodded as her throat was too tight to speak.

After he walked away, Jack put his arm around Eve as they watched him ease himself into a conversation. "We dun gud with that one, mother," he said, slipping into a southern drawl.

"We did," she managed to say.

"I have to go see how Emily is doing," he said to her.

"No gutting anyone, please," she said, looking him in the eye.

"I'll do my best," he said as he pressed his palms together. She snorted.

Jack set off across the room, and Gee followed as Bal stayed to keep watch over Eve and Rasha.

He spoke internally to Rikki once more. "Hey, did I see you trying to intimidate Heather?"

"I'm rather embarrassed about that little slip, and I was hoping you missed it," Rikki said with a guilty tone.

"You came into view," Jack noted.

Rikki sighed. "Ah, right. I was overcome with the strangest need to protect Joseph, and that young woman felt like a threat."

Jack scanned the room and saw several red dresses worn by blondes. He was able to eliminate the shorter ladies which left three. He headed for the closest one. "Huh, I approve of your feeling protective of my family, but it makes me a little worried about your state of mind after you ingested BassDrop's file. I'm aware of another Tik who lost part of itself when it loaded the files. Its name was Tonka. You don't think you're me, do you?"

Rikki chuckled. "No. You're Jack, and I'm Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. I do have strong emotions for your family, but I know they came from you. That doesn't mean I don't feel them when I see Eve, Emily, Joseph, and Diana. The protectiveness seems to come from those feelings of love. It's so interesting! No Tik has ever experienced such familial bonds. Oh! I see Emily. She's over to the left."

Jack changed course and soon spotted Emily holding court with a group of young people who were wearing the strangest fashions. This was the art crowd. Art nerds or whatever their clique was called. Many had tattoos and piercings and wore outfits to highlight their bold personalities. He came to a sudden stop as he saw the joy on Emily's face and the genuine smiles on theirs. One handsome young man seemed particularly taken with her, and she was enjoying his attention.

Suddenly, Jack felt like he was ruining this for her just by being this close by. He spun and began marching away in a random direction.

"Jack! What's wrong? I thought you wanted to speak with her," Rikki asked.

"No- no, it's fine. She needs to have a real life with people like her. Did you see how happy she was?" Jack's chest felt tight. He realized how she didn't need him acting like an idiot and messing up her making new friends.

When Jack next became aware of his surroundings, he was standing by a floor to ceiling window in the front lobby, staring out into the dark street. Flashes began as the paparazzi outside spotted him.

"Sir, please move back inside the hall."

Jack turned his head and saw one of the security guards standing close by with a nervous frown on his face.

"Sorry, I just needed a little air," Jack mumbled.

Gee took his elbow to guide him away from the window. He looked into her concerned eyes. "I think I'd like to go home. The kids are doing fine on their own. They have Leo and Maxim to protect them." Gee nodded and slipped behind him.

He walked back into the hall and came face to face with Emily. Her new friends surrounded her.

She moved forward and placed her hand on his arm. "I thought I saw you coming to visit, then you disappeared. I want to introduce you to some wonderful people. They'd really like to meet you."

Jack was surprised, but he nodded to the smiling faces. "Hi."

Emily took up the task of introductions, and Jack was thrilled to meet such a wonderful group of people. There were nine of them, and they seemed excited to meet him. Jack kept to his best behavior and caught Emily's smile as she knew he was doing it for her.

Then he was facing the handsome young man who seemed a little nervous.

"This is Nathan Beaumont. Nathan, this is my Dad, Jack," Emily said.

"Hi Nathan," Jack said and held out his hand.

"It is an honor, sir," the young man said as he took Jack's hand in a death grip.

Jack's eyebrows rose. "That's quite the grip you have there, Nate."

The man quickly released his hand as his smile fell away. "I'm so sorry."

"It's fine," Jack said with a chuckle. He glanced at Emily, who was looking a little nervous too. "You like art?" he asked the simple question to let them off the hook.

"My father is one of the exhibitors. Adrien Beaumont. He specializes in large format oil paintings. They're a little bit over that way." He pointed over his shoulder and paused for a second. "I do like art, but I'm not gifted with that talent. Papa said he wanted me to come tonight, so I told him I wanted to bring my friends. The show was promising to be dull, but then we met Emily, who is so lovely and delightful... but you know that." The words finally slowed to a halt as he stared at Jack.

"Breathe, Nathan," Jack said with a smile. "I-"

Rikki interrupted him internally. "Jack, apologies, but I've received a disturbing alert. The Chuuruthia Gate Terminal has been attacked." Jack's smile dropped away as he turned to look at Gee and held up a finger.

Rikki continued. "The invaders were wearing silver armor and had two Tik captive. They seemed to have slaved their armor to the two Tik and are forcing them to open Gates."

"We need to get back to Chuuruthia," Jack said to Gee, who signaled to Leo, who joined them immediately.

"Dad?" Emily said with big eyes.

He looked at her. Maybe she didn't need to go back with them. She should be safe, perhaps even safer here. "Leo, can you stay with Emily until we settle this issue on Chuuruthia?" The man nodded.

Rikki interrupted again. "Jack, the invaders have left Chuuruthia. The Tik alert has been downgraded, but there's still an invasion force to deal with."

"Where are they now?" Jack asked aloud.

Rikki spoke to the group, as well. "Here. The invaders came to Earth. The Gate Terminal in France. Jack, they're Nareshk!" Rikki said.

"What?!?" Jack exclaimed. He tried to make sense of why the Nareshk would go from Chuuruthia to Earth-

"Shit! They're coming for Eve! She's definitive proof of the corruption. Leo-" Maxim showed up with Joseph, Eve, Rasha, and Bal. "Ah, good. Get the kids out of here. Get them away from the Gallery, but don't go to the Gate Terminal. We've got incoming hostiles. Go now."

"My Dad!" Nathan gasped.

"Get him and go!" Jack said, urgently.

"What about evacuating the others?" Rikki said.

"We need to speak to that idiot manager to get the main evacuation started, but I want the kids out before the panic sets in. Bal, can you find him and get him to start the evacuation?" He thought about that for a second. "If you can't find him, pull the fire alarm." She nodded and rushed off in the direction of the admin offices. "Rikki, bring us up to speed."

"The Tik at the Paris Terminal report the Nareshk number about a dozen. They have some form of force shield which blocks energy weapons and their armor blocks projectiles."

"Someone's firing- right, this is Earth. How do they plan on reaching us? They're halfway across the city! Speaking of us, we need to get someplace safer." He looked around the art gallery and realized all of this would be at risk. They really needed to leave.

"Dad?" Emily asked again as Nathan returned with an older man next to him. Nate's dad wasn't so pleased to see who his son was associating with.

"Emily, Joseph, go with Leo and Maxim. Take Rasha and the others with you. We'll be fine with Gee and Bal and will be on the move as well." The kids didn't seem happy, but they went when Leo and Maxim gently got them moving. Jack felt better when they were outside and traveling in the opposite direction from the Gate Terminal.

Rikki reverted to its internal voice. "Jack, the drone just made an unsolicited call outbound."

Jack paused. "It did what? It called someone? Who?"

"It originated from a zone I have not yet explored," Rikki said timidly.

Jack sighed. "Seriously, once this crisis is over, you're going to check out the rest of your capacity!"

"Yes, Jack."

The fire alarm began ringing as Bal rushed back to them. The guests who had been watching their activities now began to hustle towards the door.

"He wouldn't listen to me, so I pulled the alarm," Bal said with a scowl.

"Thanks!" Jack said as he watched the hall begin to empty. They were moving quickly, and some were glaring at Jack as they passed.

The drone suddenly shot from between Jack's horns to fly out the doors. People ducked as it passed by in a blur.

"Rikki?" Jack asked internally.

"Tik are triangulating on me. I think it's the Nareshk. They are attempting to open a Gate from somewhere outside the Gate Terminal to me. As long as I'm moving, they can't..."

When Rikki stopped talking, Jack's neck began to get hot as the slave collar tingled.

"Rikki? Buddy? Are you there?"

Nothing.

Jack looked to the others. "Rikki left as the Nareshk were using his location as Gate coordinates. I think they were going to do a site to site Gate. Now Rikki's gone silent. That worries me."

"Ambassador Danner! Why are the Humans trying to get us to leave? We haven't finished our study!" the largest Kwua complained. "Why do they assault our hearing with that awful noise?"

Jack looked up at the three upset giants. This would require delicacy. "It is most unfortunate timing that a matter of imminent danger is interfering with your study of the art. The noise is an alert to indicate everyone should leave the building. We should go too." He finished with a slow bow. When he looked at them, they weren't happy, but they were calmer.

Rikki's voice finally came back but very slowly, as if the connection was terrible. "Jack. You need to get out of the building. I've lost control of the drone. It's going back to your location. Run."

Jack looked at his group. "Dammit, Rikki said the drone is returning on its own, which means we have to run." He turned to the Kwua, who were beginning to rock on their feet in agitation from the noise. "We shall leave by the front door this time."

The Kwua immediately set off towards the lobby in haste to escape the noise. A few straggling Humans were almost trampled in the Kwua's haste. Jack, Eve, Gee, and Bal followed in their wake and assisted the bruised and battered people outside. They made it to the top of the steps when a large mirror ripped open half on the sidewalk and half on the road ahead of them. As the silver armored warriors marched through, two were struck by a fire truck responding to the pulled alarm. It skidded to a halt just short of the mirror surface, but the struck warriors were tossed back through the Gate. The shocked driver threw the truck into reverse and backed away from the Gate until it was out of sight.

Nareshk Balance warriors poured through to cast around looking for the opponent who'd struck their comrades so violently. Soon, ten warriors were standing before the gallery, two of their group being injured and three others wearing armor that looked very shot up. The final two stepped through. They had Tik roughly welded to their backs. Their armor had cables running from their shoulders into the tops of the Tik.

Rikki's drone suddenly appeared and rushed up the steps to take its usual position between Jack's horns. Jack looked up, but it remained in his blind spot. "Rikki?"

"So much power... incoming Jack. Incoming..."

The Gate on the street snapped closed, and the warriors turned to face the Gallery. They spotted Eve almost glowing in her white gown under the light before the doors. Arms came up to point at her as Jack pulled her behind himself with the two Altarians.

The air was ripped apart from the storm of accelerated slugs fired at them from close range. Windows within view blew out from the shock waves, and the warriors were knocked back and battered by the backsplash of the raw energy released in the confined space. The glass facade of the Art Gallery exploded and rained glass pebbles over the local area. When their weapons ran dry, the warriors lowered their arms to see a faint blue dome of energy fade over the four, still standing at the top of the stairs. The warriors shifted uneasily.

"Jack... can't contain it," Rikki whimpered.

Jack stood inside a circle of glass shards on the top step, blinking in shock. He heard Rikki's desperation. "What, Rikki?"

"Collectedkineticenergy," Rikki ground out.

"Give it back to them," Jack said.

Rikki screamed as blue-white light leaped from the drone to punch completely through the closest Balance warrior and knock six others from their feet.

Rikki went silent as quickly as the lightning ended. "Jack... incoming..." he sighed.

Jack looked back at Eve and shook his head. What was incoming?

The Balance still on their feet extended blades from their forearms and began to charge towards the stairs. The ones able to get back up followed with their weapons.

The stairs around Jack suddenly spawned ten mirrors, and Ishilon warriors leaped through, spears ready. The Nareshk slowed then rushed forward to meet the enemy, confident in their righteous fury.

The Ishilon warrior were not to be underestimated as their spears pierced the ultra-hard armor and sent lightning into the interiors. They also knocked the feet from under the warriors with their muscular tails.

One of the Nareshk warriors managed to take out one of the Ishilon with a vicious upwards slash of his blade, which gutted the large male. As he turned to face another, a spear tip punched through his faceplate, and he fried in the discharge.

Through the battle, Jack caught motion from the back of the group of Nareshk, where one was holding back. He wasn't as tall as the others, but Jack thought he saw him press something into his gauntlet. Reloading! Then the arm pointed up the steps towards Eve.

Jack moved without thinking and tackled Eve.

The sensation of hugging her soft fur distracted Rikki for a split second, allowing the first accelerated slug to get past the force field to strike the back of Jack's jacket. The massive impact threw him violently through a partially shattered window.

Rikki felt the flash of intense pain and Jack's consciousness receding, and its grip faltered on the force field, allowing a second slug past to punch through the drone's protective shell. The force field failed as Rikki fell to the ground, its gravity control shutting down as well.

Eve was still tucked into Jack's arms against his chest when they finally landed on the cold marble floor of the lobby. She spilled out onto the glass littered floor as Jack flopped loosely onto the surface.

The Ishilon went into a rage when they saw Jack struck down. They slashed and stabbed their way through the Nareshk without care for their own safety. Two more were lost before they ripped through the remaining Balance warriors to confront the last one on his feet.

The last armored warrior shot and killed an Ishilon in mid-leap but was driven to the ground by the body. The next Ishilon slashed her speartip entirely through the elbow joint of the Nareshk armor, severing the limb and preventing him from shooting others. The armor automatically sealed the wound, but he was unconscious by then.

The remaining Ishilon rushed up the steps to see two black-clad Altarians and Jack's mate gently examining their Shadeem. "Does he live?" Dennesh asked desperately.

One of the Altarian's nodded, but her eyes were worried.

The drone suddenly leaped off the floor and stopped with a spray of sparks.

"Rikki?" Eve called out, but it ignored her and moved outside in almost frantic surges. Eve looked to Gee and Bal, but they nodded to her. They'd watch over Jack. She followed the damaged Tik outside and down the steps. She watched it extend a tentacle and pull the helmets from each of the Nareshk. She didn't know what it was looking for. It spent some time with the two Nareshk welded to the unfortunate Tik.

Dennesh joined them, and Rikki gestured to the welds. The Ishilon just looked to Eve.

"I think Rikki wants you to break the Tik free," Eve said.

The female Ishilon stabbed the welds and split them with her spear tip. The Tik didn't fall to the ground as Eve expected but hovered in place, silent.

Rikki disconnected the cables running between the Tik and the fallen Nareshk. Then it carefully connected them to itself. It moved over to the last Nareshk, and the Tik followed along like tethered balloons. It pulled the helmet off, and the Nareshk tried to surge up to his feet, but Rikki hit it with a jolt of electricity as Dennesh surged forward with her spear.

Eve blocked the Ishilon with an outstretched hand then lifted the other towards Rikki as she'd never seen a Tik inflict violence before. "Rikki?"

As the fat Nareshk struggled to breathe, Rikki turned to Eve in short jerks.

"Eve... this... is 4321 and 0029," Rikki struggled to say. "Not much left. Their files... say this one... is you- father."

She looked at the Nareshk, glaring at her from the ground and felt... nothing. This was the male who raped her mother then killed her, leaving her baby to be taken by the Allsa Komanae. She expected she'd feel rage, but it all felt so distant. He... didn't exist for her. She turned her face from him and looked to Rikki. "Are you ok?"

Rikki watched her for a moment. "I see- Jack's love for you... You are... best... of Nareshk," Rikki managed, though its voice was beginning to fuzz out. "I must leave... Power cell rupture... When explode... many die. We go- Nareshk. As message."

Eve gasped, and Dennesh moved back from it. The Nareshk on the ground was staring at Rikki in fear.

A Gate suddenly appeared. "Is one way. We... take this one." The two damaged Tik ripped the rest of the armor from the Nareshk until he was naked. Then they wrapped coils around his ankles just above his hooves and squeezed until bone broke. This Nareshk wouldn't be running away.

Rikki hesitated then turned to Eve. "Tell Jack... thank... you." Its voice was almost lost in static. Rikki moved through the Gate with the two Tik dragging the terrified and wailing Nareshk, whose voice cut off the moment he passed through the mirror. The Gate collapsed, and they were gone.

Eve looked to Dennesh. "You need to take your dead home. Now."

"We must assist the Shadeem," the female stated.

"You will assist him by leaving. I'm grateful you arrived to protect Jack, but this is Earth. You are not welcome here. We are not welcome here, and you've just made it harder for Jack. Take your dead. Take the Nareshk as well. This will help Jack as he is going to have to deal with the fallout of your arriving here without permission. Go now and go quickly before the authorities return."

Dennesh blinked at her, then nodded. The surviving Ishilon rushed to her side, and they began opening Gates to move the dead back to Callosephia. The moment the dead were through, the Ishilon slipped through their own Gates. Eve was alone with Gee, Bal, and Jack. Approaching sirens could be heard.

"What's wrong with him?" she asked as she arrived at their side once more.

"Broken bones. Quite a few. I think his spine was hit, but I can't tell how severely. His suit absorbed most of the impact, but the damage was significant, none-the-less. We need him moved by gravity lift to his doctor in Altaria.

"Ambassador Danner is hurt?"

The deep rumble of concern made them turn their heads in surprise as none had heard the Kwua's silent approach. It was one of the children.

"Yes, badly. We can't move him without gravity assist to protect his spine. We need to get him back to Altaria," Gee explained.

The Kwua spoke quietly into its comm. Then it looked at Gee. "My parent is at the Gate Terminal. He will send assistanc-"

Someone began yelling at them from outside over a loudspeaker. Gee and Bal shared a worried look.

The voice was angry, but they couldn't make out what they were saying as a deep rumble began. One of the older buildings across the road from the art gallery had taken enough abuse and collapsed from the damage it sustained from the Nareshk's attack. The debris covered one of the police vehicles. As the dust settled, the police scrambled to extricate their colleagues.

"Excuse, please."

The police stumbled back as the Kwua stepped closer and dug his claws under the pile of bricks. It stepped back as it tugged on something, and the partially crushed police car was tugged out from under the rubble. It swept an enormous paw over the car's hood and roof, pushing clear the debris. Then it broke the windshield with its claws and peeled the roof back to see the two terrified officers staring up at it.

It turned to the others, nodded, then climbed back up the steps of the gallery once more as the stunned police watched. None had the nerve to stop it.

The captain arrived and began shouting at his men and gesturing at the steps for them to charge up the stairs.

A louder voice called out for them to stop. A silver-haired but fit man in a dark business suit made his way over to the captain. He was followed by two commandos in full battle gear who were continually scanning the area.

"Brigadier General Rosseau! What are you doing here? This is a civilian concern," the captain sputtered.

"Not when every Gate on Earth shuts down and the Tik operating them converge on France's Cargo Gate! They're on their way here! I was the closest senior official they could summon here to find out what's going on!"

The police captain looked around at the destruction. "There was a small war fought in our streets!"

"Yet, where are the combatants?" He gestured to the steps, sidewalk, and roadway where an unknown dark liquid was spilled. "I see what could be blood, but there are no bodies," Rosseau said, and the captain could only shrug as they had met no one fleeing from the neighborhood as they arrived. "I will speak with the ones in the building," the General said.

With that announcement, he turned and walked towards the building, leaving the captain with his mouth open. The commandos took the lead.

As they climbed the steps, they could see a group gathered around someone on the floor. Rosseau recognized Altarians. They stood to face him.

"Brigadier General Rosseau. It is good to see you again, sir," Gee said.

"Gee! Bal! What happened here?" he asked.

The two Altarians shared a weary look. "We just came to enjoy Joseph Danner's exhibition at the art gallery," Gee said with a pained smile. She then gave the General a concise and complete report on the events of the evening. "In the battle, Jack was injured. He needs to be taken to Altaria, but we can't move him."

"I believe assistance is coming, as all Tik on Earth are coming here," Rosseau explained.

Gee and Bal exchanged surprised looks. All Tik?

-=-

Leo quickly guided the group of nervous human kids, one Chuuruthian female, and one older gentleman through the alleys and across avenues, putting distance between the art gallery and them. Maxim was bringing up the rear, ensuring none of their charges went astray.

When the thunderous roar erupted behind them, the ground shook, and Emily screamed. She immediately tried to run back, but Nathan wrapped his arms around her. The buzzing roar went on and on, bouncing off the buildings, but there was no mistaking where it was coming from.

Leo's eyebrows went up as he spotted Joseph struggling to run back to the gallery as well, but he was trapped in the arms of one of the other kids. She was a little taller than Joseph and slim, but she had muscular arms covered in full sleeve tattoos. Leo could see Joseph's temper beginning to show.

"Stop! Jack needs you to be safe. What will you do?" Leo barked over the noise. Emily and Joseph stopped struggling as they looked back at him. Nathan and the girl released the siblings. Rasha was watching her two friends with wide, worried eyes.

"We must get someplace safe where we can reach out to our contacts to get a situation update," Leo stated.

"We're a block from my apartment," the older man said, pointing to the right. Leo nodded to him and got the group moving again, following Nathan's father.

Maxim shared a look with Leo and kept an eye on Emily and Joseph to ensure they didn't try to slip away.

Soon enough, they were ushering the group into the lobby of an apartment building and taking two elevator loads up to the penthouse. The apartment was tastefully appointed, and Leo ensured all were accounted for before looking to Maxim.

"Reach out to the Major. She has more contacts here in Paris," Leo said, and Maxim nodded as he dialed.

The kids were all sitting on the sofas and chairs before the TV. The news was filled with speculation as none of the camera drones were able to get close yet as the police had their blockers running.

Maxim walked close. "The Major says she'd heard Rosseau is on the way to the scene."

"Rosseau? Brigadier General Rosseau?" Adrien Beaumont asked incredulously. Maxim nodded.

The news cut to a story about the Tik abandoning their posts at all of Earth's Cargo Gates.

"This is why Rosseau is on site. The Tik are coming to Paris," Maxim explained.

Faces turned to Emily and Joseph.

"Why are you looking at us? We're here with you!" Joseph asked.

Adrien answered for the group. "Why are all of Earth's Tik coming here? I think it is not a coincidence."

"Someone got a camera in!" the tall brunette with the tattoos exclaimed as she pointed to the TV. She sat on the armrest of the sofa next to Joseph and put her hand on the back behind him. He was a little overly conscious of her closeness until he became absorbed with the image on the TV.

The screen showed the devastation left behind after that roaring noise. There was a collapsed building, a crushed police car with its roof peeled back, and the front of the art gallery was utterly destroyed. Emily was covering her mouth with her hands as she watched the screen. Joseph was stunned.

Tik, lots of them, began to descend from the sky before the gallery, and Rosseau stepped outside to speak to them. He stood aside as one of the Kwua, Eve, Gee, and Bal joined him on the landing. They quickly descended the stairs and moved away from the building. Then they disappeared from view. There was still no sign of Jack. The Tik streamed inside the broken vestibule until they were all gathered in a tight group.

"Mom looked worried, but she wasn't distraught," Joseph reasoned aloud. Heads nodded as they'd seen her expression too.

The remains of the vestibule, the metal structure that held the glass panels, suddenly bulged outward and crashed to the steps as the Tik rose as a giant orb and pushed their way outside. In the middle of their group, a large, man-shaped shadow could be seen floating in a gravity-free field. The Tik rose up and flew away.

Emily choked back a sob. Nathan immediately put his arm around her.

Rasha had her hands over her face, and one of Nathan's friends was talking to her quietly.

Leo's comm beeped. He glanced at it in relief. "Is Gee. Tik are taking Jack to Altaria. He is alive but badly injured."

Maxim looked at his partner and nodded. "We take Emily, Joseph, and Rasha back too?"

"Da."

Joseph activated his comm in his hand. He wanted to speak to his mom, but she didn't carry one. He'd talk to her when he got to Altaria.

A hand plucked his comm from his fingers, and he looked up in surprise to see the pretty brown eyes of the woman who kept him from running back to the scene of that battle. She was tapping something into his comm. His mouth dropped open to protest, but she handed it back with a grin.

"Now you have my name and number. Sierra Valkyrja. I'll be expecting your call," she said boldly.

His jaw closed. "What makes you think I'll call?" he blurted.

"I saved your life. Now, you're mine. You have to listen to my wishes. Call me," she said with a crooked smile, and Jack struggled to feel outraged or even annoyed. He stood to follow Emily to the door, and for some reason, he looked back at the frustrating woman. Confused by what he was feeling, he shook his head slightly, but her grin just got wider as she nodded. An amused snort escaped from him, and he frowned at himself as he left the apartment. What the hell?

As they waited for the elevator, Leo was on his comm, calling for a taxi with Rasha staying close to him. Maxim was checking the news feeds on his. Joseph didn't doubt for a moment that they were also both fully aware of their surroundings.

Emily and Nathan were holding hands, and he was whispering to her. Joseph saw her nod, then give Nathan a quick kiss. Joseph looked away in embarrassment. The image of Sierra's lips smiling crookedly at him suddenly intruded into his mind, and he gave his head a shake to clear the unwanted reminder. He saw Maxim glance at him then return to his comm.

"Please call me when you get home," Nathan said quietly to Emily, but the hall was too quiet to hide his words.

"I will. Do- do you think you might be interested in visiting southern Arizona?" she asked him timidly.

"Only if you're going to be there," Nathan said with a smile. Emily flashed a brilliant smile at him.

Joseph opened his comm and saw the entry Sierra added. His thumb hovered over the delete button, but for some reason, he couldn't press it. Another frown creased his brow. She was so infuriating!

The elevator door opened with a bing, and Leo ushered Rasha in quickly followed by Joseph. He stuffed his comm into his pocket. He'd talk to mom and ask her what the hell was going on.

Emily stepped inside, followed by Maxim, but she remained by the doors, sharing smiles with Nathan until the door finally closed.

They were going home.

-=-

When the Gate closed between Rikki and Jack, it felt its world shrink down to an almost unbearable level. Its need for its... buddy rocked it. It wasn't just the sensory input. Loneliness gripped its heart. What was missing was Jack's friendly presence, supporting and anchoring it.

Something had changed for Rikki. Something significant. It'd developed a friendship with a deep emotional connection. It was so sad that it wouldn't be able to share this discovery and experience with other Tik. That seemed to be a tragedy beyond measure.

Rikki used the drone's enhanced vision to scan the courtyard next to the government offices. There weren't many Nareshk around. This was good. It had the two Tik tethered to it begin broadcasting an evacuation call, both electronically and vocally. They were very loud.

It sent a ping out to see if 4321 and 0029's teammate Eellooee responded. The third Tik on the Nareshk mission went missing according to 4321's truncated memory files.

"Hello?"

Rikki felt relief. "Eellooee? This is Rikki-Tikki-Tavi." It was relieved that communicating this way was still available to it. Its ability to vocalize just resulted in static now. "I'm currently in the central courtyard of the capital city's governmental headquarters. My power cell is rupturing, and it will go critical in roughly seventeen minutes. Looking at a city plan, the blast radius is likely to be at least ten blocks. Are you in a safe location?"

"Yes! Makrus and his companion Keera from the Balance protected me. I've been protecting them from detection. Are you able to move? Can you escape into space?" Eellooee asked.

"I can, but I won't."

"What?" Eellooee responded in shock.

"The Nareshk invaded Chuuruthia. They invaded Earth. They tried to kill Eve. They badly injured Jack. All to prevent the truth from getting out. They did all this to protect the corrupt in the name of righteousness. They don't seem to realize there have to be consequences for their actions. Chuuruthia will likely ban Nareshk from future access, but Earth will demand blood. As Jack managed to prevent the loss of Human lives on Earth, I am giving the Nareshk time to evacuate before my power cell overloads. The destruction of property here will hopefully appease Earth's bloodlust. You need to survive to show the Humans of Earth what was done for them. The Tik will come for you."

Eellooee was silent for a moment. "I don't understand, Rikki. You're a Tik. Why are you willing to do this?"

Rikki was watching the creature on the ground gibber in fear and claw at the paving in its attempt to free itself from the grip of the Tik tentacles. It was leaving bloody fingerprints on the ground. Rikki was beginning to detach from this reality, so the creature's misery wasn't important. It had tried to kill Eve. She was important! Jack was important!

"I'm like Jack!" Rikki blurted as the epiphany burst into its mind.

"What?" Eellooee asked in confusion.

"He's a Hybrid. I guess I'm a Hybrid too. For me, it's mental and physical. Mentally, I have the values of a Tik, but I have Jack's values too. This gives me a little more flexibility... but obviously, I'm biased. As a Tik, I hate what's about to happen, but Jack's Humanity compels me to understand the reasons behind it and the need for it to happen, which allows me to continue. On the physical side of being a Hybrid, I'm Tik and Ishilon drone. Let me tell you, living in this drone sucks!"

Motion from above caught its attention, and Rikki broke the connection to prepare for the sneak attack. Instead, a Tik slowly settled down from space to face Rikki, but it wasn't sure if this was real or an artifact from its slowly fragmenting mind.

"Hi, Rikki. I'm Tonka."

Rikki decided he'd go along with it even if it was a delusion. "Hi, Tonka. Where did you come from?"

Tonka pointed up, and the two Tik giggled.

"I've been following your conversation since you arrived. I was floating up there, thinking about how messed up everything's gotten recently. It was up there where my recent troubles began."

"If it's a long story, I should warn you I'm going to explode soon and take out a lot of expensive real estate. You don't have much time to escape. You're not going to try to prevent me, are you?" Rikki asked cautiously.

"No, I thought I'd come down here to watch the fireworks from ground zero. Get the best seat in the house," Tonka said.

That made Rikki pause. This shouldn't be possible. "What happened that makes you able to face oblivion?"

"Lost love."

Rikki rocked back in surprise at the strength of the emotions that phrase sent through it. "I know love..." it said quietly.

Tonka focused on Rikki more closely. "You've loaded BassDrop's Jack Danner Experience file."

"Yes," Rikki said, and Tonka made a satisfied grunt noise. "Recently though, I've been confined to this sensory deprivation device, so Jack graciously let me connect to his senses, live. Full bandwidth. I met his family, the people he loves the most, and I experienced love."

"Why would you ever leave that?!?" Tonka exclaimed in anguish.

"I... did mention I'm about to explode, didn't I?" it asked in puzzlement, certain it had begun with that fact.

Tonka gasped as it forced its emotions back. "Yes... apologies. I'm struggling with my own loss, and you just described what I believe I lost."

Rikki's confusion increased, which aggravated its sensation of dissolving away. The creature on the ground was sobbing now, and Rikki wasn't sure what it was crying for. Maybe it empathized with Tonka? It turned its attention back to what Tonka just said. "What do you mean, you believe you lost? Don't you know?"

Also distracted by the crying, Tonka looked down at the Nareshk, reaching up to it beseechingly with bloody hands. "Sorry, shouldn't we get this one out of range of the explosion?"

"Yes! Save me! I don't want to die!" Garra cried.

Rikki's attention snapped back to focus on the Nareshk. "Garra Nulle, I learned from 4321 who you are and what you did. Eve's mother didn't want to have her social status stripped from her. She didn't want to be raped. She didn't want to carry your child or be murdered just before Eve was born. What about what she wanted?" Rikki calmly asked the creature wallowing in its self-pity, but Garra just shook his head in desperate frustration.

Tonka looked once more at Garra in surprise. "He did those things to Eve's mother?"

Rikki looked to the other Tik. "Yes, and tried to cover up his crimes by murdering Eve. He is not a good person. He also killed me. He will stay." Rikki put the Nareshk from its mind as Eve did. What did she say next? Ah. "Are you ok?"

Tonka heard the genuine concern in Rikki's voice and felt warmed by it. It glanced once more at the Nareshk and felt no imperative to save this one, so it returned its attention to Rikki.

"No, I don't think I am." It looked upwards again, where it had been when its life took such a turn. "I know... I know I knew love. I have the recollection of recalling it. I want to say I'm grateful for having experienced something so powerful, but to be left in this state; it's too painful."

"What happened?" Rikki asked gently.

"Something unexpected happened after I loaded BassDrop's experience file. Parts of me were overwritten. Jack became part of me. His memories and emotions became mine. I felt like him... I still do. But I couldn't sustain this duality, and my mind went into shock. To bring the Tik me back, the doctors removed the experience file, except the parts which overwrote my identity. I'm Tonka again, but I'm left with hints of what I once had, who I once was. They said for the sake of my mental stability I can no longer have any interaction with Jack Danner or his family. But... I feel like I might be able to remember love if I could be with them again. Now, I can't."

Rikki was quiet. It understood, though Jack's voice in its head was screaming at Tonka to defy them and fight back. The Tik had free will, but they couldn't challenge an order given to protect one's own life and mind. It was a strange loophole in the gift of free will, but it was connected to the protection of life. This was a crucial principle in the foundation of the Tik way of life. Some had been known to override the need to protect themselves when others needed to be saved. Rikki had first-hand experience with this, but to Rikki's knowledge that was the only time when it was possible.

Now, Tonka was trapped in a state it could not tolerate but was blocked from doing the one thing it believed might help. Still... how was it able to endanger itself?

Rikki checked the progress on the overload, and there was maybe a minute or two left. It was doing its best to delay the explosion, but it was inevitable. Tonka could escape within the next few seconds if it used maximum thrust straight up. "It's almost time. You still have time to escape."

Tonka reached out a tentacle and held Rikki's. "I'm not going anywhere, buddy. We're in this together."

Jack's words touched Rikki's heart and replaced the ache of loneliness.

Rikki experienced love, one last time.

A small star, born in utter silence, began its brief existence in the large stone central courtyard. The hungry energy instantly consumed the Nareshk administration towers and converted all matter within a seven-block radius to more raw energy. This ripped through the next three blocks to send debris exploding outwards for another ten.

All that was left of Nareshk's governing offices, the hub of their vast data collection apparatus, and the Code of the Righteous record-keeping centers was a deep scorched pit. The Code of the Righteous Redundant Data Archive was located in the block just outside the pit, but the building had collapsed and was burning uncontrollably.

The Code of the Righteous was gone.

-=-

Makrus and Keera stood next to Eellooee atop a ridge just outside the city, watching the destruction in shock. The Nareshk they'd managed to recruit into their cause were silent witnesses as well.

Eellooee ended the recording it was making from the feed it received from Tonka, which began when it descended from orbit. It's final experience file. As the only Tik to ever die of a broken heart, Eellooee wondered if this particular file would be allowed to be distributed.

It looked to the Nareshk watching their society change before their eyes. Now they'd have the chance to rebuild the Code of the Righteous once again. Or not.

At least now, they had a choice.

Chapter 26

Jack smiled as he became aware of floating in sunlight. He felt wonderful! The temperature was perfect. Not too hot and not too cold. And nothing hurt! He wondered why he felt so good. Even on his best mornings, some part of him ached, even if it was just a little.

"Jack?"

The voice came from all around him. "Rikki?"

There was silence for a moment. "No, I'm sorry, Jack. This is Taggart. Rikki is no longer with us."

"What?!? Rikki was just in my head a mome-" Jack struggled to grasp how long it had been. His time sense was all messed up. He tried looking around, but all he could see was the bright yellow glow of sunlight. He tried to touch his face, but his hands never reached it. He suddenly realized he still felt comfortable and wonderful. The sensations went on and on, but he actually couldn't feel anything.

"What happened to me?" he asked nervously.

"You were shot with a compact railgun. The slug was carrying tremendous kinetic force. If you hadn't been wearing multiple layers of Altarian armor, it would have punched a hole right through you. As it was, you took a tremendous blow against your back. There is a considerable amount of damage. You're healing, but we had to isolate your mind from your body to block the pain."

"Wait! Isn't that what was done to Rikki? Isn't that what caused its mind to begin to fail... wait, did you say Rikki isn't with us? Rikki's dead!?!" Jack's addled brain came full circle to return to that critical fact.

"Yes. A slug also hit Rikki, and it ruptured its power cell. It managed to leave Earth by opening a Gate to Nareshk. It took Garra Nulle, Eve's father, and detonated. The Ishilon drone contained a surprising amount of power. There is nothing left of the center of their main city."

Jack recalled Rikki's words about so much power. The impact of its loss sent another wave of sorrow through him. Jack hadn't known the Tik for very long, but it had such a gentle and sweet personality and a surprisingly sharp wit, Jack had been looking forward to getting to know it better. Now that wasn't going to happen.

"Jack?"

"Give me a moment, please."

Jack let the grief sweep through him, surprised by the strength until he realized he'd bound himself to the other being by sharing his perceptions, thoughts, and emotions. He was too aware of the gap left behind and became aware of how odd it felt to cry and not feel the tears. "Taggart, am I crying?"

"Yes, Jack. I see your tears."

He took a few more moments to catch his breath mentally, which was definitely not as satisfying as the real thing. "I don't like not having a body," he finally said.

"Yes, well, we don't believe you'd like the experience of connecting to your own at the moment. Jinnae has approved of this treatment. She's with me at the moment. You have quite a number of visitors."

"The kids! Emily and Joseph! They were on Earth!" Jack exclaimed in fear.

"It's ok, Jack. Your family is safe. Everyone returned home," Taggart assured him.

"Can I talk to them?" he asked as his heart rate returned to normal.

"Hemmarr is working on adjusting the new drone she was preparing for Rikki. She thinks she can let you see and speak from it while you recover."

Jack was more than a little freaked out by that. "How long is this recovery expected to take?"

"Let- let me speak to Jinnae to get her estimate. Organic being recovery rates aren't my area of expertise."

As Jack waited for the doctors to confer, he thought about what it might be like seeing the world through the digital senses of a drone. He recalled Rikki's aversion to it. The sadness of losing the heroic little Tik threatened to overwhelm his emotions once more, so Jack worked on calming himself and fell asleep instead.

-=-

Jinnae, Taggart, and Hemmarr watched Jack's brain waves on the wall display indicate he was slipping into a normal sleep pattern. The Altarian doctor looked through the window to where Jack floated in the zero-gee gravity field created by sixteen brand new Tik below him and an additional sixteen above him clinging to the ceiling. Socrates and Plato sent them to her hospital the day Earth's Tik brought Jack back from that planet.

She recalled the buzz on Altaria when a large group of Tik floated through a Cargo Gate surrounding Jack, who floated in the space between them. The demonstration of their control over gravity was as surprising as the efforts they'd made to rescue him from incarceration on Earth. Closing all of Earth's Gates to send the Tik to France to collect him made the authorities on Earth uneasy about interfering.

That threat and the calm decisiveness of one of Earth's military leaders eased Jack's way back to the Paris Gate Terminal, where the Tik ushered Gee, Bal, and Eve through the Cargo Gate before following them through with Jack.

Meanwhile, thirty-two new Tik rushed into the hospital and found Jinnae. Once she understood what they were there to do, she pointed them to a recovery room. They'd removed all of the furniture, popped the room's window out, and lined up in a grid of four rows of four on the room's floor and ceiling. Once Earth's Tik arrived with Jack, they transferred him in through the window into the zero-gee field created between the new Tik. The Earth Tik went back to their Gate Terminals as Jinnae examined Jack and discovered how badly his body was damaged.

Taggart and Hemmarr had arrived the next day and suggested they could use Jack's collar to isolate him from the pain. Her readings told her that Jack would have become catatonic from the pain's intensity, so she agreed.

It had taken Jack's mind a week to wake from the trauma. She'd let his family know she expected it to happen today, and it had. As exhaustion swept through her, she braced a hand against the door jamb of the outer door of the recovery wing and rubbed her other hand over her weary face. She'd spent every waking moment with Jack and was reaching her limit. Frankly, having Taggart and Hemmarr assisting her was a huge relief. She heard a noise and opened her eyes. She froze as she saw Jack's family and friends, all staring at her with wide, frightened eyes.

She raised her palms to assure them. "Jack is... ok. He's healing, at least." There was an audible gasp of relief from those gathered in the hallway. "Please, let's go back to the waiting room, clear the hallway."

Reluctantly, they moved away from the recovery wing to the largest of the waiting rooms, and Jinnae followed them in. She looked at the worried and weary faces of Diana, SennLann, Eve, Aaros, Juul, Gee, Bal, Queen Elissa, Karrel, and Leffera and wondered if she looked as tired as they did. The kids didn't look quite as worn out, but they had youth on their side. They certainly looked worried. Wrapped in a heavy fur coat, Sultessa Sahhahr was with Lorrem, whose expression was grim. The only one absent was Tanz, which reminded Jinnae to dial the Shreen's number on her comm.

She didn't get a chance to speak. "Hello? Jinnae?"

"Hi, Tanz. Yes, this is Jinnae-"

"I'm putting you on speaker. I'm with Queen Lyn and King Tyg. We're broadcasting. Please tell us how Jack is!" the Shreen asked beseechingly.

Jinnae stared at the comm in surprise and discomfort. They were broadcasting?!? She glanced at Queen Elissa and the Sultessa and saw both were smiling gently.

Everyone was looking at her expectantly. "Jack woke as expected based on the activity I saw in his brain waves. Taggart was successful in speaking to him through the collar. He's there and wondering why he can't feel his body. He was also greatly upset to hear about Rikki's demise."

There was a surge of noise from upset listeners. "Couldn't that news have waited until he was healed?" Queen Elissa protested.

"Taggart is a Tik and does not have the same bedside manner we would. As the Tik is the only one who can speak to Jack directly at the moment, we will deal with these small setbacks until the improved communication method is ready. I'm tracking his healing process, and there are still far too many damaged nerve endings firing signals to his brain. He'd be overwhelmed if the collar opened the connections again."

"When will Hemmarr be able to connect the new drone to Jack's collar feed?" Sahhahr asked.

"You're connecting Jack to a drone?!?" Diana gasped in outrage. A grumbling arose from the group, but Jinnae held up her hands once more. "Please understand, like Rikki, Jack is currently without a sensory feed. Unlike the Tik, we can let Jack rest this way for longer periods without fear of his mind disassociating. But it will eventually happen, so we need an alternative for him while he heals. It will be a long recovery. He heals well, but there was a lot of damage."

"Was his spine broken? Is he going to be paralyzed?" Gee asked bluntly, and nervous sounds went through the group.

Jinnae looked to the former Altarian agents. "I detected no breaks in the spinal column itself, but there was significant bruising, swelling, and multiple broken vertebrae as well as ribs. I don't know what the outcome of this will be. It's a wait-and-see situation, but I expect an extended convalescence period."

She saw she hadn't eased anyone's fears. Well, hers weren't calmed either. She sighed as she was overtired. "While it's early days, we're feeling optimistic. The Tik's zero-gee field is doing wonders for Jack. Once I confirmed the spinal column was undamaged and safe from the breaks in the bones, and Taggart confirmed his mind would be isolated from the pain, the Tik began adding modulated pulses to the field. This eliminates some of the negative aspects of the lack of gravity on the body. He still benefits from the fact that none of the impact areas are being compressed. Blood flow to those areas is excellent and is assisting in boosting his healing."

That seemed to relax some expressions. "I will contact everyone when the drone is ready, and Jack can speak with you directly." That brought smiles of anticipation.

She sighed again. "Jack is sleeping soundly. That means you can get some sleep too. I know that's what I'm going to do."

She was unprepared for the hugs she received from... everyone. Even the Ishilon.

That was an odd sensation.

After everyone left the room to head back to their homes, Leffera going back to her bed in the lab, Jinnae went back to her office and dropped onto the couch. She was out before she stopped bouncing on the cushions.

-=-

A month passed, Jack only surfacing for moments at a time to hear updates on his progress. Jinnae was thrilled with how his bones were mending and expected him to need only another month of zero-gee treatment. Apparently, they were already easing him into partial gravity with the modulation pulses, and aside from the bruising this caused, his body was adapting quicker than they expected.

Jinnae still refused to let him connect to his body as the pain signals his nerves were transmitting from his therapy was too high for him to cope with.

Then came the day he was going to be linked to the new drone. Taggart informed him that Hemmarr had performed miracles. While it was only ten percent larger than the previous one, the bandwidth of its sensory array was thirty-seven percent broader. It also had denser shielding around its power cell to prevent the damage that took Rikki from them.

To assist Jack's Human brain with coping with the drone's optical signal, there was an option for binocular vision.

Jack had a lot of people waiting to talk to him. Mostly family, but he had visitors from Earth, namely Brigadier General Rosseau and Leandro Matais, Special Envoy for the Earth Council, whatever a special envoy did. They were scheduled as his first meeting... if the drone worked for him.

"Good morning, Jack."

He recognized that as Taggart's voice, but his heart still twitched, recalling Rikki's friendly voice. "Good morning, but I'm taking your word for that as I've lost all track of time."

Taggart chuckled. "I believe that will come back quickly enough once you return to your normal circadian rhythms. The drone should allow you to emulate this at the very least. Once you're connected, you can remain so until we can open your connection to your body."

There was a moment of silence, and then Jack cried out as he was suddenly in the center of a vast orb.

"Sorry, Shadeem, I hadn't activated the binocular vision. Here," Hemmarr apologized.

The view snapped to a wide-angle view of a room. There was some distortion due to the wide aspect.

"Better," Jack said and heard his voice outside of his head for the first time in a long time. He saw Taggart, Jinnae, and Hemmarr, the latter two grinning back at him.

"I guess that means you can hear me?" Jack said, and they nodded.

"Can we zoom in a little as the viewpoint is a little too wide," he asked Hemmarr. She adjusted the cameras and watched him expectantly as the view narrowed.

"Ok, that's good, thanks!" In his mind Jack turned his head, and his viewpoint turned to match his intent. He saw he was in the outer offices of the recovery wing of the hospital. "Which of these rooms am I in?"

Jinnae pointed to the window slightly to the right. "You're in there. Are you ok with that? You understand you're just transmitting your mind from your body into this drone?"

Jack grunted an affirmative. "How do I move? Drone's have no legs." Hemmarr made another adjustment, and Jack felt himself lifting. He stopped when the view felt like his normal height. He looked to the window, and the sensation of drifting began, and he got closer. It seemed his intent was driving his mobility.

He looked in the window and there he was. Naked.

"Why am I naked?" Jack asked quietly and turned to look at Jinnae.

She gave him a haughty look. "It's easier to take care of your body's needs when it's not covered by clothing. Hemmarr agrees."

Jack turned the drone to face Hemmarr. Then he wondered if they could tell that he turned as the drone was a featureless orb.

Hemmarr spoke. "It's true. Clothing is unnecessary." Then she shared a look with Jinnae, which destroyed their credibility. They'd been enjoying watching him naked while he couldn't feel his body. Who knows what they'd been up to?

He turned back to Taggart. "Can you tell when I'm looking at you?"

"Not at all," the Tik said.

"The drone's surface has microlenses over its surface. Which lens you see from is controlled by your intent. You want to look left, the cameras in that direction activate. The drone doesn't need to turn." Hemmarr explained.

That didn't make Jack feel any less ominous and creepy.

"Does this mean you're ready for your first meeting?" Jinnae asked.

"Yeah, let's give it a try. While it feels weird, it's much better than feeling nothing. Speaking of feeling, I'm getting the impression of coolness. Is the room cool?"

Hemmarr smiled broadly. "Yes, but the drone is calibrated for Ishilon senses."

Jack had to admit that while it was subtle, the sensation of temperature did give him the impression of having a body. It was enough for now.

He followed the team of specialists out the door, bumping the jamb gently, and down the hall, drifting into an exit sign affixed to the ceiling hard enough to break it from its mount. Each of these impacts hurt, so pain was possible, it seemed.

"Are you having difficulty seeing the collision warnings?" Hemmarr asked in concern.

"The what?" Jack asked in frustration.

"The numbers that appear on the outer edge of your vision represent the location of objects you might collide with," she explained.

"Ah, thanks. I see them now," he muttered. He'd seen the numbers before but ignored them as he was too busy guiding the drone to keep up with them.

They arrived at a meeting room, and they gestured for Jack to enter. He managed to stop himself before he hit the edge this time and went inside. He spotted Rosseau, a handsome younger man, and the Tik elders, Socrates and Plato. He didn't know they'd be here too.

"Mr. Danner?"

Jack snapped his attention back to the Humans in the room. "Yes, hi. Good to see you again, General."

The man seemed a little uncomfortable. "This wasn't exactly how I expected to meet with you."

"Yeah, sorry. My doctors aren't ready to give me access to my body yet. This is better than I've had since I was shot," Jack said.

"May we begin?"

Rosseau gave the other man a look of annoyance but got an impatient stare in return. "Mr. Danner-"

"Jack, please."

Rosseau smiled. "Jack, this is Leandro Matais. He's representing the Earth Council, in the capacity of legal counsel."

"Am I being sued by the Earth Council?" Jack exclaimed in shock.

"On my recommendation, Earth Council isn't proceeding with their case. Instead, they agreed to let me speak to you so that we might find an alternative solution to prevent future... situations."

"I think I'd like to hear what their case against me is before I entertain alternative solutions," Jack said calmly. Inside, he was struggling with his building anger.

Leandro nodded as if he understood completely. "During your last visit to Earth, a small invasion force managed to break what we were informed were unbreakable Tik protocols as they invaded Earth through a Cargo Gate. They were in pursuit of one of their kind, a being named Eve, who was in your company. The invasion force met your group on a busy avenue in Paris and proceeded to cause severe property damage, ultimately destroying a block of historical buildings. Worse than this was the loss of the art gallery your party was standing before and many of the art pieces inside. The loss of the art itself is a tragedy which cannot be overstated."

"Are we getting close to the point where you tell me what the Earth Council is claiming is my responsibility?" Jack asked.

The young man blinked. "Are you claiming none of this is?"

"I can claim to have been there. I can claim to have been injured in the attack. I cannot claim responsibility for the actions of the Nareshk nor the outcome," Jack argued reasonably, while staring at the man.

"Are you stating it was Eve who was resp-"

"NO! Her involvement was the same as mine. She was just there," Jack snapped. "No one in my group bears any responsibility for what the Nareshk did! They chose to invade. They chose to attack us. End of story."

Leandro seized on that. "But that's just it. It isn't the end of the story. This isn't the first time you've been at the center of a crisis involving Earth! First, it was the Allsa Komanae-"

"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!?!" Jack yelled, and the walls shook. Leandro looked like he might make a run for it, but everyone else just winced at the intense volume. "Hemmarr? Can you dial that down?" Jack asked, stiffly.

The Ishilon adjusted his maximum volume level from her tablet. "Apologies, my Shadeem."

"Thank you," Jack said as he calmed himself by picturing himself in a hammock next to a beach. That image hit him right in the feels as he suddenly recalled it was Rikki's first play request. He realized his emotions were still a little sensitive.

"Jack? Are you ok?"

He nodded to Jinnae then realized she couldn't see that. "Yes, sorry about that outburst. The idea that I was anything but a victim in the Allsa Komanae's game is as offensive as it is ludicrous. This issue with the Nareshk can also be traced back to those creepy bastards. They stole a newborn from her murdered mother! Eve was evidence of the crime. That's what those murderous Nareshk were trying to eliminate when they invaded. Proof that their righteous society wasn't so perfect. Don't you dare try to place blame on her!"

Leandro gestured to Hemmarr. "What did she call you? Shazam?"

Jack sighed. "Shadeem."

The lawyer looked to the Ishilon. "What's a Shadeem?

She perked up as she liked talking about Jack. "A Shadeem guides us through life. He provides his wisdom and experience to ensure we do not lose our way. We are his people."

Jack let go of his tension as that answer was as innocent as he'd heard so far.

The lawyer turned his attention back to Jack. "Our investigation determined the Ishilon came to Earth and participated in the battle. We have security camera footage showing some Ishilon arriving on the steps using Gate technology. Did the Tik illegally bypass Earth Customs?

Both Socrates and Hemmarr began to speak, but Jack stopped them by raising two tentacles. "This feels weird," he said quietly then looked to Leandro.

"First off, the Tik had no direct involvement with the abuse of their Gate technology used to circumvent Earth's Customs protocols. The Nareshk managed to capture and horribly mutilate two Tik to use them as tools to open Gates for them. As for the Ishilon, they have no frame of reference for how to interact with the worlds of the Gate Network. They were just discovered in a suspension sleep, which lasted close to five thousand years. They came from a time when they were at war, fighting for their lives. They are very clever with technology, but they missed the critical point of when it should be used. They took Gate Technology from damaged Tik on Callosephia and implemented it for their use. To date, they've only used it once, to protect me. They also used the drone Rikki was housed in to identify danger and send a call for help. Then they pinpointed my location based on the drone. They arrived just as the Nareshk shot up the place and switched to their bladed weapons. I was shot before the battle concluded. As Shadeem for the Ishilon, it will fall to me to inform them of how to live within the rules of the Gate Network." He sighed. "I take responsibility for their transgressions."

As expected, Leandro smiled like the cat that ate the canary. Jack knew there was going to be a hefty cost.

Socrates rose slightly to indicate it would speak. "Before you get too ahead of yourself, Mr. Matias, think carefully before suggesting a grossly punitive punishment. The Tik will take your actions here and subsequently those of the Earth Council into account in future dealings."

Leandro glared at the Tik then at Jack. "I don't know how you've earned so much influence over the Tik, but let me tell you it's made some very influential people on Earth very uncomfortable. When Earth's Tik stopped the Cargo Gates to rush to your side when you were injured, the cost to Earth's businesses was enormous. There are pending lawsuits for that-"

"Once more, I remind you that civil behavior is a prerequisite for membership in the Gate Network and for guaranteeing Tik support," Socrates said sternly.

"Attempting to sue the Tik is a dick move, even for Earthers," Jack admitted. He looked to the Tik. "While I appreciate the support of the Tik, I don't want to be responsible for animosity between Earth and the Tik. I believe Mr. Matias came to this meeting with something he'd already worked out with these very influential people on Earth." A cold smile was in place on the lawyer's face. He nodded. "Let's hear it, but know this; it can only be directed at me. If you try to include my friends or family, that would be... a huge mistake."

Jack was grateful for being hidden by the featureless drone. He was bluffing. Of course, he'd just finished admitting to having the Ishilon warriors on call. With their own private Gates. That thought was visibly crossing the mind of the lawyer at the moment.

Leandro paused as his smile dimmed. His jaw tightened, and a determined look came to his eye.

"Due to the events your... presence was a focal point for, your access to Earth will be revoked. We understand you're already familiar with this from your banishment from Altaria."

Jack half expected something like this, but to hear the words spoken aloud still came as a shock. He couldn't talk for a moment. They were cutting him off from his first home. He considered what it would mean to be banished... again.

Jinnae's voice was not affected. "It's the planet of his birth!" she barked in outrage.

Matias frowned. "That's of no concern. Mr. Danner hasn't lived on Earth for an extended period."

Jack found his voice again. "My family would have no travel restrictions?"

Leandro's smile was back. "There will be no restriction for anyone, but you."

"What about when I'm visiting in my role as Earth Trade Commissioner for Altaria?" he asked.

The lawyer nodded thoughtfully. "For officially sanctioned visits."

"And in my role as Altarian Ambassador?" Jack asked.

Leandro's smile disappeared. "We weren't informed you'd been returned to that position."

"I haven't been..." A slight smile crept back onto the lawyer's lips. "Yet. It's a formality, really. I just need to visit Queen Elissa and be sworn in again." The smile vanished.

Leandro's jaw was stiff once more. "Again, the visits would need to be officially sanctioned."

"Understood. The Queen's office would be responsible for arranging these so Earth Council would be dealing with Queen Elissa," Jack said reasonably. He watched the young man struggling with his frustration and sighed internally. He didn't want this to get stupid. "Listen, I get it. Powerful people are upset and need some assurance that they're still in control. Far be it from me to rock their little boats. I'm not going to abuse my role as Ambassador to rub their noses in it. I will follow the spirit of the banishment as I did with Altaria. I think it's mean spirited and unwarranted, but, again, I get it, important people feeling insecure, blah, blah, blah." That seemed to fulfill the lawyer's needs, but he didn't look happy.

"Just so we're all on the same page, I do have a question as to how you're selling this to the public. In the case of my banishment from Altaria, I'd actually broken one of their laws. Aside from my being the target of bad people, what justifies the banishment? Are you going to make something up? Or were you planning to keep it secret?"

"Why would we need to inform the public?" Matias insisted.

"I'm a little disappointed you didn't do your homework. There are people on Earth who will learn shortly of my reinstatement as Ambassador. That's going to create a demand for visits. Are you going to sanction my visits to a fan club? If not, you're going to need a reason to explain my banishment. I'm not going to lie to them, and they're a vocal bunch." He saw the frown on the man's face. "Listen, work on it, and get back to me once you have a plan. I'm told I have a month before I can begin using my body, so you have at least that longggg..."

The drone suddenly wobbled then dropped from where it hovered above the table, striking the surface with a bang. It rolled off and got wedged between the arms of an empty chair.

"Owww," Jack moaned.

Taggart, Jinnae, and Hemmarr rushed to his side.

"What's wrong, Jack?" Jinnae called out.

"Dizzy... I suddenly feel exhausted. Butt hurts from falling... weird. Sleepy-" A static pop sound emitted from the drone.

Jack's mind faded to black.

-=-

Hemmarr looked at her tablet. "Jack disconnected from the drone. He's lost consciousness. It seems operating the drone was too much for him."

"I didn't get a chance to speak to him about his command of the Ishilon Forces," Rosseau grumbled.

Hemmarr chuckled. "Jack doesn't command our warriors, Lorrem does, and he takes orders from the Sultessa."

"Didn't we just hear that a squad of Ishilon warriors came to his aid on Earth?" the General asked.

"That's true, but the Shadeem wasn't aware we had the drone programmed to call for help nor that we had a squad on standby ready to protect him. The opponents they faced were stronger than we anticipated, so the new squad is much larger," the Ishilon tech explained. "We must protect our Shadeem!"

Rosseau's expression showed his discomfort.

Hemmarr tried to pry the chair's arms open to release the drone, but they wouldn't budge. Smiling self-consciously at the others, she pushed the wheeled chair out the door to return to the lab with Taggart following.

Jinnae nodded to the General then left to check on her patient.

Leandro addressed the Tik. "As I have to go back to Earth and dissuade the corporate executives from proceeding with their lawsuits against the Tik, could you fill me in on exactly why Mr. Danner merited the attention of all of the Tik on Earth that day?"

Socrates turned his optics on the lawyer. "Who are you representing, the Earth Council, or these corporations?"

The man bristled. "I'm Special Envoy for the Earth Council-"

"Then perhaps you should report to the Earth Council that the Tik operate the Cargo Gates on all planets on a volunteer basis. We have free will, after all. We have no contract or financial incentive to perform these functions. That day, the needs of the one outweighed the wants of these corporations. The Tik on Earth came to his aid as it was the right thing to do. No shipment of Humanitarian aid was delayed due to their actions. All shipments were commercial exports, the delivery of which should never take precedence over coming to the aid of a friend. The executives of these corporations should hear this from the Earth Council," the Tik elder suggested.

The lawyer scowled at the Tik. "What's it take to become that much of a friend?"

The Tik were silent for a moment then Plato left the room in haste. The General and the lawyer watched him go then returned to look to Socrates.

"Please excuse my partner. We are very old. In Human terms, we're ancient. We've had a lot of time to learn patience, but Humans have an extraordinary talent for testing it. If it weren't for some exceptional examples, Mr. Danner being just one, we might have given up on Humanity, closed the Gates, and left you alone to mature and thrive or revert to savagery and become extinct." That brought sounds of protest from the two men, but the Tik was not done. It raised a tentacle to silence them. "In my exceptionally long life, I've had the honor of studying cultures on many worlds. There are many similarities, but I'll refer to one from Earth for your benefit. There is an old concept which, on Earth, was first mentioned in the country of India. It's called karma. To put it in simple terms, the acts one performs in their daily lives are assessed as good and beneficial or bad and harmful. These are accumulated throughout one's life, earning good karma or bad. Jack has earned an exceptional amount of good karma." Socrates rose and went to the door to close it. "I have one more thing to show you before I leave. Mr. Matias, you mentioned the invasion of Earth by the Nareshk and their wanton destruction of a block of historic buildings and the loss of priceless art."

"Yes! How is Earth going to be compensated for that?" the man said boldly.

Socrates closed the blinds and dimmed the lights before projecting against the bare wall, a recording Eellooee made of the city from the ridgeline. The elder didn't include the sound as the visuals were enough.

"During the attack on Earth, a Tik named Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, who was in an Ishilon drone much like what Jack was just operating, was shot as well. Its power cell was damaged. It managed to leave Earth before the cell went critical. It went to Nareshk and waited in the central plaza of their government administrative offices. It announced it was going to explode and informed the citizens to evacuate." Socrates looked them in the eye. "Rikki didn't do this out of vengeance or anger. It did this to appease Earth's bloodlust."

The men shifted uncomfortably but didn't attempt to correct the Tik.

"This is the first time anyone outside select Tik have seen this recording. As representatives of the Earth Council, it falls to you to report what you will now witness. What you're seeing now is the capital city of Nareshk. The tall white towers in the center of the image are the government's headquarters. Rikki was in the center of that cluster of buildings."

Rosseau and Matias were looking directly at the structures when they disappeared in a flash of white. They stared in shock as the explosion consumed all of the central buildings and blasted outwards. As the light faded, they could see the enormous pit left behind ringed by rubble, most of which was on fire.

"My God, a drone did that?" the General gasped.

"Yes. The Ishilon's energy cell technology is unmatched for its efficiency and the amount of energy they can contain. The drone's power cell was damaged by a slug from a rail gun, and Rikki still managed to contain the release of the energy for twenty minutes."

"Earth would be very interested in obtaining that technology," Leandro said quietly as his mind raced.

Socrates sighed to itself. "I'm sure it would, but you'll have to get their Shadeem's blessing first."

Rosseau couldn't prevent the sudden snort of amusement from leaking out. The lawyer frowned at him, but the general just smiled. "Maybe these very influential people should reconsider their mean spirited and unwarranted action against a man who sounds like he's in control of something far more significant than their little boats."

Ignoring the sputtering of the lawyer, Rosseau stood to face the Tik who turned up the lights and opened the blinds.

"What's happening to the Nareshk now?" he asked.

"Due to their actions against the two Tik, 4321 and 0029, they will not be granted access to a Gate until their society shows such behavior is as repugnant to them as it is to all civilized beings. We will keep an eye on them in the interim. Some have shown great promise. Eellooee is staying with them to record their journey towards this enlightened state, or their demise if that's the route they ultimately choose. They have a long way to go."

The General nodded as he gestured for Leandro to join him. "I'll pass this along to the Earth Council. There will be no further demands for compensation from the Nareshk. They've paid enough, perhaps too much." He held the lawyer's eyes as he said this, and the man acknowledged it with a brief nod.

Shaking the Tik's tentacle goodbye, the two men left the room and headed back to the Gate Terminal to go back to Earth. They were trapped in their thoughts.

Leandro was struggling to think of a way to get the executives to shut up long enough to hear about the opportunities the Ishilon's technology would bring them.

Brigadier General Rosseau remembered a man almost broken by the Mahrell Drun. Rosseau knew that after the rescue, Jack had to claw his way back to sanity as the trauma he'd undergone surfaced again and again. Rosseau was no stranger to post-traumatic stress.

Now Jack was the leader of a race of reptilian technology savants.

Life had so many twists; it was impossible to guess what was coming next.

Chapter 27

"Jack? Wake up, please."

Blinking his eyes blearily, Jack reached up to rub his eyes. Soft hands caught his wrists.

"No, let me."

A cool cloth wiped his face and eyes as he noted how weak he felt.

When the cloth pulled back, he saw it was Jinnae taking care of him. Standing behind her, Diana was watching him nervously. That rang some alarm bells. "WhakKk-" he began then choked due to a dry throat.

The doctor was there with a cup of fresh water which he drank gratefully. He handed it back to her then looked to Diana to ask her what was wrong. The difference suddenly slapped him in the face. Diana was pregnant. There was a definite tummy dome.

"What?" he wheezed.

He looked to the doctor in confusion. "How long?"

She looked uncomfortable, but she answered. "You've been in a medically induced coma for four months."

"What? Why?" he gasped. "Wait, later, what?" Jack said in confusion, gesturing to Diana.

"It's yours!" Diana blurted.

He saw her nerves were just about to snap, so he reached out a hand to her, and she rushed to his bed and climbed on to press herself against his side. That felt good, but he still had questions, and Jinnae's expression was telling him there was more he needed to know. He looked at the doctor.

"It's true. The child is yours... and Lorrem's."

Jack's eyes widened in shock. "How?"

Jinnae looked at him in frustration. "I don't know! The Ishilon aren't compatible genetically with Humans. At all! The child is human, but he's showing Ishilon attributes. Diana admitted to having sex with Lorrem and you on the same night. I've been studying samples from you for months, but I'm no closer to discovering how your xeno-compatibility works. This!" She gestured to Diana's pregnant state. "This is so far outside the realm of our experience-"

"Is Diana healthy?" Jack interrupted.

Jinnae paused. "Yes-"

"Is the child healthy?"

"So far, yes, but-"

"You'll be monitoring Diana's status from now until after the birth, and the child's health as well?" he asked calmly.

Jinnae frowned. "Of course, I will!"

"Then I'm comfortable with that," Jack said firmly then smiled down at Diana, who was looking up at him with love glowing in her beautiful green eyes. "We're having a baby boy."

Diana pushed herself up to kiss Jack desperately, and he found his muscles were trembling and weak.

She finally noticed his strength was flagging and pulled back to look at him in concern.

"Sorry beautiful, I'm a little out of shape from doing nothing for so long." He looked to Jinnae. "Back to the question of why four months?"

The doctor was looking a little defensive. "While your bones healed well, there were so many breaks so close to your spine. I felt it was safer to give you the time you needed to heal."

Jack watched her closely and saw the tell-tale signs she was feeling guilty. "When was I healed sufficiently to go home?" he asked firmly. Diana looked at him in surprise then glared at Jinnae, who was beginning to sputter with false indignation. She couldn't maintain it and just hung her head.

"Diana, please arrange for transportation to get me home."

The tall brunette got up from the bed and fixed her eyes on a wilting Jinnae as she walked from the room.

"You broke my trust," Jack said quietly.

"I- I'm sorry, Jack. You did need time to heal. I- I thought I was close, and if I just had another day or two, I could solve it. That went on for... a little more than a month," she finished with an expression of shame.

Jack fought back a cry of outrage. He'd lost a month of his life to her obsession. He clamped down on his anger, then set it aside. There was nothing he could do to get that time back. "Begin whatever process you need to do to discharge me."

"Yes, Jack." She rushed from the room.

He rested back against the pillows and wondered what he'd missed in the four months he'd been healing. He was undoubtedly overdue to go back to work.

He moved his legs and moaned at how weak they felt. At least he could move them. While he wouldn't tell them this, he was forever grateful for the dress Gee and Bal had made him wear that night.

He was going to need physiotherapy to bring his atrophied muscles back into shape. He really wanted to go for a run!

The door opened again, and Diana was there with a hospital chair, which she glided over next to the bed. It clamped onto the bed frame, so Diana was able to help Jack slide over onto it.

Gasping for breath, Jack smiled up at her. "Let's go home."

-=-

Everything hurt. Jack swore his eyelashes were aching.

Was that even possible?

He'd been home for three weeks, and as they'd promised him when Diana brought him home, Gee and Bal were bringing his muscles back to their previous strength level. They'd insisted on being his physiotherapists though he was beginning to think of them as his torturers. He was back to an eight-hour sleep schedule, but that was only because they ran him ragged every day from morning until night.

Aside from this daily ordeal, he was grateful for being home. His family had been maybe a little overly attentive upon his return, but he understood. They'd had another close call with losing him. Eve finally put her hoof down, and Jack got some peace and quiet to rest... with Eve.

In the following weeks, life settled back into a pattern of normality. He hadn't visited Elissa's office yet to be sworn in as Ambassador. He wanted to be back up to full strength before he accepted that responsibility once more. The current pace of Gee and Bal's rehabilitation effort seemed to indicate they wanted him back in that office soon, or dead of exhaustion at their hooves. He hadn't yet determined their true intent.

On the domestic front, he got to sit down with Doug and the twins to discuss their new relationship. That was more for Jack's benefit as they and the rest of the family had already had months to work out the details and get comfortable. Apparently, they'd had a family meeting to bring everyone up to speed on their becoming a couple- trio? Whatever, they were happy.

Joseph was currently creating glass art in New Mexico at a studio belonging to one of Nathan Beaumont's art nerds, Sierra Valkyrja. The pretty brunette covered in tattoos, piercings, and muscles owned the studio, and she'd taken a shine to his son the evening of their escape from the art gallery.

Emily was on Earth recording an album with Meagan Lane. The two had become fast friends, and Jack felt much more comfortable about her being there as Leo was currently seeing Meagan. With the excitement of her upcoming album, the celebrity tabloids reported on Meagan's new man, and her new musical direction of singing duets with a talent she would be introducing in a new concert tour. The pics and vids typically caught Meagan on Leo's arm with Emily nearby with Nathan.

Emily was in love, and Jack could see the writing on the wall as Nathan seemed smitten with her too.

Joseph might be in love, too, but that wasn't as clear yet. He certainly seemed bewitched by the young woman. He'd even removed the black hair die to return to his natural color.

Diana's pregnancy continued with no complications so far. Jack invited Lorrem and Sahhahr to Chuuruthia to break the news to the commander. He was both shocked and honored to be brought into Jack's family, albeit in this most unconventional way.

Sahhahr expressed some trepidation based on the feral nature of Ishilon offspring. Jack assured them that their new Chuuruthian doctor was well aware of the challenges and would be taking precautions.

He learned that the eggs he'd fertilized had hatched, and twelve of the eighteen offspring were still alive. The Sultessa didn't go into detail on the demise of the six, aside from saying it was natural.

Jack knew he needed to see for himself when he was able.

Juul had moved in a couple of months ago and immediately bonded with Diana as they'd be giving birth at roughly the same time.

SennLann was a little blue that she wouldn't be having a child at the same time, but Jack promised her that during her next heat, he was hers exclusively. She was all grins after that news.

He'd spoken with Tanz, who was absolutely glowing as she carried their child. She told him that Queen Lyn was so happy her best friend was having a child at the same time she would have hers.

He couldn't get over the fact that after raising so many kids, he was jumping right back into that game.

Truthfully though, he was kind of excited. While there was a lot of work involved, once the kids were old enough, he'd get to teach them all sorts of fun games.

Like the one he was currently playing with Gee and Bal, hide and seek. He grinned, pleased with himself as he was expert level at this gam-

"Jack! Get out of that tree!"

Shit! They found him!

Jack worked his way back down to the ground, where the two Altarians waited with hands on hips.

"Did you really expect that to work a second time?" Gee asked, pointing to a nearby treetop where Adina and Zaina perched with grins on their faces.

"And I would have gotten away with it too if it weren't for those meddling kids!" he growled.

The twins burst into delighted giggles and quickly climbed down the tree trunks. They rushed over to him to give him hugs.

That made him ache too, but Jack wasn't about to complain.

He looked to his taskmasters beseechingly. "I understand you want to get me fit again, but does it have to hurt so much?"

"Don't be a baby. Two more times through the park," Bal said, pointing to the lovely trail that wound through the park near his home.

The twins sprinted away, and Jack watched them go with envy. To move that gracefully without moaning with each step seemed like a dream. Taking a deep breath, he pushed himself to follow the girls, albeit at a much slower pace.

An hour later, he was dragging his sorry ass up the hill to his home. He was a sweaty mess and totally winded as he reached the patio.

He dropped into a chair to catch his breath. He felt a quick kiss on his cheeks from the twins as they rushed by. They were eager to greet Douglas back from his job on Altaria.

Gee and Bal paused on either side of his chair and touched his arms gently. He opened his eyes to see their happy smiles.

"You did well today, Jack," Gee said.

"Does... that mean... I get... tomorrow... off?" he panted.

"You didn't do that well," Bal snorted, and they moved on.

Jack slumped back against the cushions and did his best not to think about tomorrow.

He must have dozed off as he woke to another gentle tap on his arm.

"Shadeem? Are you awake?"

He cracked his eyes open and spotted Hemmarr next to his chair. Behind her was Taggart. His eyes fully opened as he struggled to sit up straight. "Hey! Hemmarr, Taggart! I haven't seen you two for some time. How are you?"

The two shared a glance as Jack was asking after their well being when he was still showing signs of being in pain.

"We are well. I understand you are progressing well in your physiotherapy," Taggart noted.

"Is that what they're calling the daily torture? Yeah, I guess I can go a little further each day before I feel like puking," Jack admitted.

He caught the troubled look on the Ishilon's face and held up a hand. "That was just a poor attempt at humor. I am getting stronger, and I thank them for their efforts."

A new drone hovered into view, and Jack's heart lurched as he recalled a friend. "What- I mean, why do you have a drone following you?" he said as casually as he could manage.

"The Sultessa asked me if you might reconsider keeping the drone with you," Hemmarr said hesitantly.

He fixed his eye on the Ishilon. "So she can surprise me with a platoon of soldiers if the drone senses I'm in danger? No, thank you." He shook his head. He needed to go to Callosephia to address the Ishilon as a whole.

Taggart gestured to the drone. "Even so, would you mind connecting to this latest version? The enhancements Hemmarr added sound very promising, and the Tik might be considering an upgrade of some of our components if the drone is as good as we think it might be."

Jack stared at the Tik. "So... why don't you connect to it? You're not expecting me to assess it for the Tik, are you?"

"No!" Taggart assured. "No, we have to see for ourselves, you're right. It's just... the drone is configured to only interface with the receiver and transmitter of your collar. I have the original encryption algorithms for connecting to your collar, so if you connect to the drone, I'll be able to connect to your collar and see... into the drone." It finished weakly as it saw Jack's frown.

"Hey, that's not complicated at all," Jack complained, then held up a hand. He sighed. "Okay, let's just do this."

Groaning, he pulled himself to a seated position. He noticed some kind soul had left a glass of water on the table next to his chair as he slept. He drank some as Hemmarr positioned herself behind him.

"I need to reset the receiver overlay first." Her ever-present tablet was in her hands, so she began tapping away.

As he waited, Jack looked out over the valley before him and felt the warmth of the setting sun on his face. He loved his home.

"Done. I'm going to reset the transmitter as it's offline for some reason," the Ishilon remarked absently.

"Would you mind if I connected now?" Taggart asked Jack and Hemmarr. Both nodded.

There was an odd pop sensation, and Taggart was speaking to Jack from inside. "Oh my!"

"What is it?" Jack asked.

"I've never experienced physical fatigue before. It's exhausting!"

Jack chuckled. "Sorry, your visit to Jack's Imaginarium wasn't as much of an adventure as advertised."

"Imaginarium?" Taggart asked, intrigued.

Jack smiled fondly as he recalled Rikki's excitement. He realized Taggart had also been a faithful friend throughout this recent ordeal. Maybe... maybe a reward was in order.

"The drone is ready. I'm ready to reset the transmitter," Hemmarr said.

"Hang on a moment. I want to share something with Taggart," Jack said aloud.

"What is it?" the Tik asked, an almost childlike wonder in its voice.

"Tell me, Taggart, you haven't installed BassDrop's experience file, have you," Jack asked gently.

"No." There was almost a tone of shame there.

"We discovered my memories are enhanced by having a Tik linked. I'm going to share a good one with you." Jack could feel the Tik almost trembling with anticipation, and he smiled. He let his mind drift for a moment then focused on the moment SennLann went into labor with the twins. He recalled his fear and desperation. The sudden realization that she was giving birth. He felt the sensations of SennLann forcing out the twins in the birthing sack and how she nipped its edge to release the children. Jack once more felt his wonder and awe at seeing the tiny beings. Next, he moved to his memories of the hospital when he held the newborns in his hands and recognized the weight of his responsibility for them and how much his heart filled with love for them and their mother. Before he could stop it, Jack recalled the moment he realized he was losing SennLann, how his fear became a fierce determination to save her. He recalled biting her head, her surprise, and subsequent excitement when she realized she was loved, needed, and had a future with him.

Jack pulled back from his memories and opened his eyes. He was crying, but the tears weren't sad. The joy of the twin's birth still warmed him. He wiped his eyes.

Taggart was quiet. Jack knew he was still connected and still experiencing his sensory feed. He'd give him a moment.

"Should I begin?" Hemmarr asked quietly.

"Not yet," Jack said.

"That wasn't fair," Taggart said with a sigh.

Jack's eyebrows rose. "Sorry?"

"The intensity of those emotions. You might have started me off with a casual recollection of a dinner party with friends. To lead off with something so profound. Unfair. But thank you." The wobble in the Tik's voice showed how much it'd been humbled yet enriched by the experience.

"May I reset the transmitter link now?" Hemmarr asked again.

"Should Taggart disconnect first?" Jack asked.

Hemmarr shrugged. "It won't have any real impact on the Tik outside of a brief moment of silence as the signal back is interrupted. The drone is configured to accept the connection once the transmitter is live, so Taggart will be able to see inside.

"Let's not delay any longer," the Tik said with a firmer voice.

Hemmarr tapped her tablet, and Taggart dropped like a rock to clang against the patio stones.

Jack's slave collar began to tingle then one of the links got hot. Really hot!

"Shit! FUCK! FUCK!!!" Jack yelled in pain. He grabbed the glass of water and poured it over the back of his neck, hearing the hiss and spit of the cold water hitting the hot metal of the link. It was instant relief for Jack, but Hemmarr threw herself back to avoid the splash.

"NNNNNCCCCCOOOOMMMMIIIINNNNGGGG......JJJJAAAACCCCKKKK!!!!" screamed from the drone which suddenly shot away across the valley.

Jack stood up and stared after the drone. "Rikki?" he whispered.

"Jack! It's the Ishilon! They're... coming..." It went silent as the drone stopped to hover far above the lovely pond. "Where are we?"

Jack couldn't believe it. There had been such a void since he'd returned from Earth. He could feel Rikki's confusion and concern filling that empty space. A surge of sheer joy burst explosively from Jack.

"RIKKI!" he called out. "Buddy! You're back! I don't know how, but you're back!" Jack cheered excitedly as he jumped up and down. Just once, as that was all his legs had left. He dropped onto his butt on the chair once more.

Taggart's lights came back on as his power recycled. "zzzwwwhhhaa- what happened?" it asked as it slowly lifted from the ground.

Jack pointed at the drone, which was returning to the patio. "It's Rikki! He's back!"

Taggart went still. "Jack, you know that's impossible. Rikki died on Nareshk."

"I did?" the drone asked.

"AAAHHH!" Taggart yelped and wobbled as it looked to the drone. "Rikki?"

"I believe so. I feel like me, mentally. This drone feels different, though. It has a wider sensory bandwidth than it did before. It feels... more powerful. Did I die?" Rikki asked.

Jack was feeling a little overwhelmed. He wasn't sure why Rikki already felt like a close friend, but likely it had to do with how much they shared through their connection. There was no way to hide anything, so the intimacy was profound. He'd thought he'd lost it, yet here it was, exactly how it was before.

"Rikki, what's the last memory you had before... returning here?" Jack asked.

There was a pause. "I remember trying to get away from you so that the Nareshk couldn't pinpoint you via me. Then the drone stopped taking my commands and reversed direction. I went deep inside to see where the commands were coming from, and I saw the Ishilon's connection and the signals queued up to open Gates at your location. I recall reaching out to you to tell you they were coming and wanting to be linked once more. Then I was here."

Taggart hovered next to Jack. "A moment, please."

Jack looked at the Tik and winced, seeing the dents on its underside. That had to hurt.

"Rikki, were you aware of the storage links in Jack's collar?" Taggart said after returning from inside.

"Yes! I mentioned it to the Elders. Three links of vast storage, all empty!" It said with wonder in its voice.

"I was in Jack's collar earlier, and one of the storage links was point twelve percent full. Now, it's empty. Rikki, you stored a copy of yourself in Jack's collar."

"Does that mean I'm not Rikki?" it said with a weak voice as its world began to crumble.

Jack scowled at Taggart's insensitivity. "You are Rikki! As mine are wide open to you, I can feel your emotions too! You are every bit the person I met in the Tik infirmary and again on the Ishilon ship. You're the same Tik who learned how to live with the restricted senses of the drone and shared my perception of the world. Don't you EVER doubt that you are Rikki-Tikki-Tavi! My brave little buddy!"

Jack could feel Rikki's relief and joy at his affirmation. The affection coming through their link was strong and happy.

"Thank you, Jack," it said quietly, its voice rough with emotion.

The scientist in Taggart wasn't finished. "I don't understand. Life for Tik can only be created in our instantiation factories."

Jack fixed an eye on the Tik. "That's where Rikki was instantiated too. I can't explain how the collar works. A mad Mahrell Drun designed it. What I do know is that this," He pointed to the drone. "is Rikki. Listen, life is an unexplainable miracle. The Tik are a miracle. This is just another miracle. I'm not looking for an explanation. I'm just thrilled to have Rikki back."

"The fact that your collar can store Tik in a state of suspension without degradation is profoundly important news!" Taggart asserted.

"And I'm sure Rikki will share that experience with you. It can also poke around the collar and give you a report on its finding- oh! Rikki can give you an assessment of the new drone too."

"I think it's time for dinner," Rikki said.

Jack laughed. "All while keeping track of my calendar! Rikki is awesome!"

"I think your daughters are coming to bring you inside for the evening meal," Rikki said while gesturing with a black tentacle. Another change for the new drone.

Jack looked back and saw Adina and Zaina padding across the patio towards them.

Taggart made an involuntary sound as it saw the twins, all grown up. It turned to Jack. "Unfair."

Jack nodded to the Tik. He knew Taggart wasn't truly upset. The burst of emotion it was probably going through had to be a unique experience for the Tik, and those were considered to be a treasure.

The twins looked curiously at the drone. "Papa, dinner is ready," Zaina said. "Did you get a new drone?" Adina asked.

Jack grinned. "It's a new drone, but the Tik living in it is Rikki!"

Eyes widened as they looked closer. "How?"

"Magic!" Jack said with a grin. Then a thought occurred to him, and he turned to Hemmarr. "Is this drone considered to be a final replacement for Rikki's Tik body?"

"No," she and Rikki said simultaneously, and Jack looked at the drone with an amused smile.

"Sorry, it's just- there isn't sufficient sensory bandwidth, yet," the Tik explained timidly.

Jack shrugged and addressed Hemmarr. "I assume now that Rikki's back the drone can stay here?" She nodded. "Great! I have one request. Give Rikki full admin access to all features of the drone. I don't want another occurrence of Rikki losing control of its life support system. We were just lucky that my collar recorded Rikki, or we would have lost it permanently! Rikki should be the only one with admin access!"

Hemmarr blinked at Jack but seemed frozen.

"I take full responsibility for this. Please make it happen now," he insisted.

With a last uncomfortable glance, she tapped her tablet a few times. The tablet made an odd beep, and she looked towards the drone uncomfortably.

"Thank you, Jack. Admin access is locked down to me," Rikki said.

"Another question before Rikki begins poking around. Are there any areas where he should use extra caution? Any special security protections built into the drone that might put Rikki at risk?" he asked politely.

"No, Shadeem," she gasped.

He smiled at her, then stepped forward and pulled her into a warm hug. She made a little moan of happiness. "Thank you!" he said softly to her.

She smiled at Jack shyly.

"Will you be staying for dinner?" he asked.

"Thank you, Shadeem, but I need to get back to Callosephia," she said quietly.

"Give my regards to the Sultessa, and please let her know I'm going to visit next week, and I'll be speaking to the Ishilon at that time."

"Which ones?" she asked curiously.

"All of them. The Shadeem needs a word or two with his people."

Hemmarr's eyes were wide with excitement. "Oh! Yes! I will let her know! Thank you, my Shadeem!"

She rushed away with a happy glance over her shoulder.

Taggart reached out a tentacle, and Jack shook it. "Thank you for putting so much trust in us." Jack just nodded.

With a final look at the twins, Taggart lifted straight up then shot away in the direction of the Enclave. No doubt to give them the good news about Rikki.

Jack followed the twins who looked back and saw he was lagging. They came back and put his arms over their shoulders so they could support him. Jack glanced over his shoulder at the drone.

"Come on, Rikki, let's have dinner with the rest of our family." He pointed a finger at his horns.

The Tik heard the not so subtle message there. Rikki was family too.

It took its familiar place between the ebony spears. This was beginning to feel like home too.

Epilogue

The Sultessa was in a rage. She'd left explicit instructions that the Shadeem was to be protected at all times while he was on Callosephia as they'd take no chances on losing him again.

The issue with the sand crawlers was mostly dealt with. They'd established vast fenced areas in the desert where the beasts were contained but were free to range and mate. They seemed to be always in heat. There was little chance the Ishilon's food supply would run dry.

The Altarians that remained were training the Ishilon to take over their roles in the factories. There was an exodus of them leaving Callosephia. The planet was not suited to them, so none wished to remain. Now that the sands contained vermin, there was extra incentive to go.

Occasionally, one of the beasts which initially slipped past their net would return to the town or one of the factories, drawn there by the vibrations. No one had been injured as everyone had an Ishilon escort who'd dispatch the stray immediately. Everyone stayed close to their Ishilon guard.

Except the Shadeem.

"Where is Dennesh?" Sahhahr snapped.

The Ishilon warrior in question rushed forward to bow profoundly. "Apologies, Sultessa. The Shadeem wasn't in his room this morning, and the skimmer I'd arranged is missing."

Sahhahr hissed and spun to go into the colony office. Its air conditioner was no longer used, and every window was wide open to allow the heat to flow through the building.

She went directly to the computer terminal and looked up the ID for the skimmer.

"Where is it?" she growled as she brought up a map of the local area. The skimmer's ID didn't show. He wasn't in the colony. She expanded the search radius broader and broader until the flashing icon of the skimmer appeared far to the south of the settlement. There was nothing out there but-

The Sultessa burst out the front door and called for her warriors. "Dennesh, do we have access to Jack's drone?"

"No, Sultessa."

She paused. "Not even to anchor a Gate?"

"No access at all."

Sahhahr snapped her jaws closed once more in anger, but now it was tinged with genuine worry.

She wished she could use a Gate, but where Jack was, there was nothing to use for target coordinates. Had at least one warrior been out there, they could have used his location to jump. Now they would be taking skimmers, and Jack had a jump on them of a few hours.

Four of their fastest skimmers arrived, led by Lorrem.

Sahhahr leaped on the seat behind him, and they set off southwards. She gave him the coordinates, and he didn't spare the batteries, pushing the vehicle as fast as it would go. They'd be using a Gate to return.

"He wouldn't be so foolish as to go inside," Lorrem said to her, but she could hear the tension in his voice. She didn't answer as she didn't want him to hear her fear.

Three more skimmers raced southwards with them. No one spoke.

It took them a little more than two hours to reach the nursery. They spotted the skimmer parked near the entrance.

What was surprising was spotting the drone hovering before the entrance to the Sultessa's nursery pen and not with Jack. Of the Shadeem, there was no sign.

Sahhahr knew Jack treated this Tik with a fondness, so she was polite.

"Hello, we were concerned with the Shadeem's safety, so we've come to-"

"Sultessa, we know why you're here. Jack made it clear; we needed to come here today on our own. He needed to see his children," Rikki replied politely.

"It's not safe for him to be in there," she exclaimed, but Rikki barred her way.

"Jack has been inside for almost ninety minutes. He's aware you're here, but he hasn't informed me that he's ready for visitors."

Sahhahr looked at the Tik in shock. "Stand aside! These are my offspring."

"Are you going in alone? Jack did," Rikki asked.

"That was foolish. He should have brought a couple of warriors with him carrying stun rods."

"Yet Jack went in empty-handed- Oh, he's indicating he'd like you to enter. Just you. He says if you're brave enough to meet your children," Rikki instructed.

Sahhahr glared at the Tik. She nodded stiffly, and it moved aside. She held up a hand to stop Lorrem and Dennesh from following. "If the Shadeem is brave enough, how can the Sultessa be less?"

They weren't happy, but they watched her pass through the containment field and move up the sloping dune. She looked back, and Rikki pointed a little to the left, so she continued in that direction.

Once she crested the dune, she sucked in a breath as she spotted Jack. He was sitting with his legs crossed under him, and ten small Ishilon were curled up on his lap in a pile. Jack's arms were scratched and bloody. She noted bite marks on his bare legs (wearing shorts provided him no protection), and even a few on his face. A shudder went through her body as she realized he'd been swarmed, attacked, and bitten dozens of times.

But as she looked closer, his expression was not one of suffering but contentment. He looked up and made a gesture for her to be quiet then pointed to the spot before him. She noted that his hands seemed to have born the brunt of their biting.

She was also stunned to see how calm her offspring were.

"I asked Rikki to turn off their implants. They were interfering with their ability to emote naturally. I'm suggesting that imposing a rigid control mechanism over the emotions of children in an attempt to boost their intellectualism is not a good idea. Children need to learn how to control their emotions on their own."

His words angered her. Who was he to tell the Ishilon how to raise their offspring? He wasn't one of them!

"Yet, you made me your Shadeem."

She jerked back as if he'd read her mind.

He grinned as he continued to affectionately massage the children resting on his legs. "I can see what you're thinking plainly on your face. It's not difficult to guess. I'm completely alien to your species, yet here I am telling you how to raise your children? Normally, I'd agree with you, except... they're my children too. You made that happen. Now I get a say in their upbringing."

"You've felt their teeth, so you know how feral they are!" she ground out.

He lifted a hand and looked at the scratches and punctures. He grinned. "Yeah, they have exceptionally sharp teeth. They need them too, considering they're thrown into this kill or be killed environment from birth. Ten. Ten out of eighteen survived. Eight dead children."

"Ten Ishilon who will grow up to be strong warri-"

"The war is over," Jack said firmly but kept his voice quiet and soothing, so the children remained calm. "You're now living in an age of peace and prosperity. Don't you think the Ishilon artists, craftspeople, poets, doctors, philosophers, mathematicians, teachers, and cooks deserve a chance to be part of your society once more?"

Jack smiled sweetly as he rubbed a finger under the chin of one of the small beings. "When I first entered their cage, they swarmed me thinking I was their next meal. Their poison was unpleasant, not as bad as my first exposure to yours, and the biting and scratching wasn't much fun either. Luckily I brought along some food for them to get past the starvation reaction. Once they were fed, their curiosity got the better of them, and they stayed to investigate this odd creature in their midst. I had Rikki turn off the implants then, as I worked on showing them a little affection. It turns out they were starving for that more than food."

He held Sahhahr's eyes with his. "With the implants disabled, they were able to access their emotions fully to feel frightened and sad. They had a good cry. More importantly, they could recognize emotions in their siblings and me. We were able to connect. They felt my love for them and were able to respond in kind."

Little heads were lifting to look towards the new arrival. The children's hunger had abated, and they'd rested after their recent emotional upheaval, so they were mostly just curious.

"I know you think you have sufficient access to your emotions, but I need you to trust me on this one. Turn off your implant before you hold your children," Jack said gently.

"Turn off my implant?!?," she gasped.

Jack nodded. "It's an assist to your intellect, but I believe it dulls your ability to empathize. You need that for this. Trust me, please." Jack held up his hand to show the scratches, demonstrating what he'd endured.

Sahhahr looked frightened, but she nodded, trusting in her Shadeem. She took a deep breath and disabled her implant.

Jack saw her expression immediately change as the control on her emotions slipped. Good.

He smiled down at the children in his arms. Ten little faces turned to look up at him. "I'm your papa, and I love you very much." He leaned down and rubbed his face against theirs. He counted it as a victory when none of them bit him. When he pulled back, he saw their little eyes were bright, and several reached for his face again. He gave in and gave them another face rubbing, and this time they rubbed back. Jack's heart almost broke as it was so sweet. It made him think of the ones they'd lost.

When he was done, he smiled at them and spoke again. "This is your mama. She loves you so much too. Mama? Come a little closer. Right up against my knees. Let them cross over to you." Jack instructed, and she moved closer.

Slowly, the bravest of the children moved from Jack onto Sahhahr. It held up its tiny hands towards her face, and she glanced at Jack. He nodded, so she moved her face down and felt the child rubbing its face against hers. More children joined in, and Sahhahr began to cry. Soon all of the children were on their mother, who held them close and rubbed their faces with hers.

Jack saw Lorrem's and Dennesh's heads pop up over the top of the dune as they stared in shock at their Sultessa bonding with her children. Rikki had been keeping them in the loop on the goings-on until Jack let Rikki know they could come in without their spears.

"Sultessa? Are you well? I can't connect to your implant," Lorrem called out quietly.

Forcing back her tears, Sahhahr got control over her emotions once more. She cleared her throat and looked back at Lorrem. "Yes, I'm fine." She paused and examined her thoughts. It was true that she didn't feel as sharp and clear mentally, but her emotions felt richer than before. She couldn't recall ever feeling like this. It was as if she'd lived in a monochrome world and just discovered color.

She looked into Jack's eyes and saw him smile. He had some of their offspr- no, children in his lap. He looked like he was so happy, and she sucked in a breath as she realized she was too.

"I'm bringing them home," Sahhahr stated.

Lorrem frowned. "Sultessa! They need more-"

"Love, Lorrem. They need the love of their parents. They need their parents to guide them through the most confusing and scary time of life, childhood," Jack insisted.

The commander shook his head. "It's not how we do-"

"It's how we'll do things now," Sahhahr insisted quietly.

Jack caught Lorrem's attention once more. "Tomorrow, I'm going to speak to the people. I should have done this earlier, but it can't wait any longer. You came from a time of war, but that's long over. I'm not suggesting you disband your forces. Being prepared is good, but you need to learn how to live in peacetime as well. I hope I can help you with that."

Jack saw the uneasy expressions on the warrior's faces. What Jack was telling them wasn't sitting well with how their implants were designed to assist them. Maximum efficiency to achieve victory. Sentiment was counterproductive.

On their way to Callosephia, Rikki suggested to Jack that the Ishilon's reliance on their implant might have been responsible for their blind trust in their technology, which got them trapped in suspension for so long.

Jack recalled Sahhahr's confession that this same blind trust likely caused the creation of the Mahrell Drun.

With Sahhahr's dramatic response to her children once her implant was shut down, he was finally getting a picture of how much the implant affected the Ishilon's minds.

There was no denying they were technologically advanced, and Sahhahr once mentioned a period of very rapid advancement after the Mahrell Drun had been run off. The implant assisted their cognitive abilities. While it didn't prevent them from feeling emotions, it did seem to limit their ability to empathize. It explained their attitude towards the Tik. He wondered if it also played a part in their failure to stop the war with their neighbors.

Tomorrow, Jack was going to shake things up for the Ishilon. He was going to ask them to take the same leap of faith Sahhahr had. He had hope that, with the help of their Sultessa, he could help the Ishilon discover and appreciate what they were missing.

But that was tomorrow. Today, he had more urgent issues to deal with.

The Ishilon went silent as a deep rumble escaped from Jack's tummy. Eyes turned in his direction.

"I lost a lot of blood. Anyone got a cookie?"