Copyright 2025 – Daemon D. Hart
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The Human Bearer
"Are you going to follow me around like a puppy?" Riordan asked over his shoulder. Huno was breathing down his neck and looked like the sort of guy who had no idea how to take no for an answer.
"I must return to the others with a clear reply from you. I have no intention to waste your time or mine."
Riordan was starting to low-key like this guy. He didn't seem keen on sucking up to him and showed the stubbornness of a mule in what he was doing right now. Also, he appeared so uncomfortable that it was too funny not to notice.
"Look, you look like a reasonable guy, so how about you stop worrying about all that and just tell those guys waiting for you that I'm as unpleasant as Tasha and can't be reasoned with?"
"I can't do that when people are depending on me. I must secure a meeting between you and the others."
"Let me just get this straight. It's all of you? Or just a group?"
"I represent all the bearers on the ship in this quest." Huno even talked funny.
"All the bearers? Is Florent Kasido among them?"
Huno appeared somewhat confused by that question. "I'm talking about only low-ranking bearers. We wish we could associate with those above us freely, but it is not the done thing."
"You're making my head hurt. And what do you mean, low-ranking? You just told me your husband is a strategist and the entire Xeno army can't move without him."
"That is not what I said," Huno corrected him. What appeared at first as arrogance could be something else. Riordan didn't know what that thing could be, but this bearer looked like a guy who wouldn't get involved easily in intrigues and the like. Sure, looks could be deceiving, but their strange conversation also pointed at Huno trying his best despite disliking what was asked of him. "All the bearers belonging to the Xenos that are not at the head of the army, part of the Council or, of course, the Royal Chancellor, are low-ranking."
"I had no idea," Riordan said wryly. "I really thought we were all a big happy family."
"You are sarcastic," Huno noted as if that was an essential piece of information vital to whatever plans he had.
"Glad you noticed. Now, get real with me. What the heck do you expect me to do?"
"I do not expect anything. But I wish that you would listen to our plea. We cannot but observe that your influence on His Royal Chancellor is substantial."
"And you want to play your husbands like... damn, what are you making me say?" Riordan complained. "Look, when I talk to Xana, we're two adults that communicate using their brains and rational thinking and whatever. The high commander was spared for now because he might have important information to deliver." He was lying through his teeth, but he couldn't allow this prim and proper bearer believe that Xana was under his bearer's heel, doing whatever Riordan wanted just because he wanted it. Far from him to jeopardize Xana's position, especially since he was young and had to prove himself as a leader.
He was torn, and rightfully so. Letting Kanto be executed was out of the question. But acting as if his goal was to undermine his Xeno husband was not a good idea, either. People around them wouldn't understand the complexity of the situation. They would just believe that Xana was henpecked, and Riordan some evil fucker who could manipulate his Xeno master as he saw fit.
"I see," Huno replied, still unconvinced. "Please, Consort Lei, consider our invitation. We would like to get to know you, and I hope you want the same."
Not really was what Riordan wanted to say, but he couldn't say that out loud. What he had to do right now didn't involve having tea with the merry husbands of the Xeno race.
"You know what? Let's do it this way," he suggested. "Choose a few friends and drop by in, let's say, three days? I'll have to ask Xana if he's okay with me having visitors over, but it's the best I can do. What do you say?"
"I must choose the bearers who will be able to see you?"
"Yes, that's what I said. Why? Is there a problem?"
"You will have to hand me a written confirmation. I don't want them to believe that I'm trying to get ahead."
Yep, the guy was a straight shooter, Riordan concluded. "How am I supposed to give you that?"
Kyle, who must have listened to the entire conversation, hurried to the rescue. He only beeped and pretended not to be the usual chatterbox he was, while presenting on his screen a short form that looked pretty formal. Riordan read it, skipping most of it, but since it was Kyle showing the thing to him, it couldn't be a form for him to sign over his liver.
"Okay, there you have it," Riordan said and pointed at the screen. "Satisfied?"
"Yes. Thank you, Consort Lei. I look forward to our meeting, three days from now." Huno bowed politely and turned on his heel.
"Kyle," Riordan whispered, "what do you make of this guy?"
"I can't make anything, but I can tell you what I know about him."
Riordan stole a quick glance at the lizard guards, who stood at a polite distance from him, as they had given him enough berth for his conversation with Huno. "Not here," he said quickly.
Since he had yet to decide what to make of the Mexones and their interest in the Xeno race in general and him in particular, he wanted to play it safe.
"I want to visit Florent Kasido," he announced loudly.
The head of the lizard guards turned her head to stare at him. "His Royal Chancellor must be consulted about it."
"Then go ahead and consult him."
"We cannot disturb him while he's working."
"Tough luck, then," Riordan said and offered Junior his hand, which the Xenolite immediately took it. "Are you going to stop me?"
"No," the lizard guard replied and bowed her head.
"Then, let's move."
"Dada," Junior intervened, "I saw the Xenolite in that mommy's belly."
Riordan smiled and despite a few protests, he hiked Junior up in his arms. "Can you see all of them, when they are inside their eggs, baby?"
"Not all, but I can try," Junior said. "And I don't see them with my eyes. I just see them."
The whole shared consciousness thing probably manifested even when Xenolites were yet to be born. Still, Riordan thought that Junior might just be particularly sensitive to such things. "And? Is Huno's baby a boy or a girl?"
"It's a boy," Junior dutifully replied. "He will be a genius, like his mommy."
It wasn't lost on Riordan that Junior considered all the bearers mommies, but he called him dada. He was that special to his kid. And now, his bright boy was telling him new and astonishing things.
"Is Huno a genius, then? I thought he was sort of awkward," he confessed.
"He thinks a lot. Even now," Junior explained, "he was thinking of four other different things while talking to you."
"What things?" Riordan asked, more and more intrigued. Having a mind reader like Junior by his side could come in handy, but he didn't want to have his boy exposed to who knew what dangers just because his parent wasn't properly aware of his surroundings. Junior could have done with fewer dangers in his life, just as his dada.
"Boring things," Junior replied and wrapped his arms around Riordan's neck. "You're a lot funnier, dada. You think of funny things."
"Glad to make you happy, honey bunny."
Junior pressed his cheek against Riordan's and then he continued. "All Huno thinks about are numbers. He has all sorts of ideas. And they are all boring, but this is what geniuses do. Like Ferix."
"Did Ferix teach you the word genius?"
"No, it's how you think about him," Junior pointed out. "And if dada thinks like that, it has to be true."
So, he was teaching his son things even without realizing it. And, apparently, they had just met a genius. Riordan had to put that info aside for future consideration. Luckily, Kyle would fill in the blanks regarding the quirky personality Huno Sedar seemed to have. He had three days to think of what the hell he could say to those bearers so that they'd be off his back while he didn't jeopardize his relationship with Xana even more.
Right now, he was most likely going against his husband by straying from the day schedule. The guards wouldn't fight him in his decision to do whatever he wanted, but Xana would hear about his so-called disobedience. He sighed and groaned. It looked like marriage was hard work. But when hadn't he worked hard for something like that?
To his surprise, Florent Kasido hadn't been placed under lock and key and didn't appear to have turned into an undesirable overnight because of his Xeno husband's crazy ideas. His voice wasn't as it used to be, but his speech had improved a lot, which meant that one day, it was possible for him to be as good as new.
"Hey, man," he said and took Florent's hands in his when offered. "Sorry this is the first thing I'm asking, but how come you don't have a dozen guards at your door to keep you from going out?"
"Why would they do that?" Florent asked with a small smile. "Walls can't keep my mind away from where it wants to go, as you may well know by now, Riordan."
"Sorry for asking, but it doesn't seem to me like you're worried about your husband. I barely kept Xana from ordering his public execution or blast his ship into smithereens."
"I know what you did for him, and I also know that you thought of me first while doing so. You are the reason why my heart feels a little lighter now." Florent opened his arms. "How are you, young Xeus?"
Riordan observed his friend quietly. Something about Florent's overall appearance told him that something must have happened since the last time they saw each other. "I'll be damned," he whispered. "Did Kanto put a brat in you?"
Florent's face broke into a smile as he held Junior in his arms. "You could tell so fast."
"I can, too," Junior announced and touched Florent's belly with a curious look on his face.
"Well, that surely changes things. I'm sure I can convince Xana not to be too hard on Kanto, now that he's about to start a family. They're big on families around here," Riordan added.
Florent laughed. "Yes, I noticed. To tell you the truth, Kanto is a very stubborn Xeno. I know you enjoy calling him my husband, but we're far from the type of relationship you and Xana have. Still, he brings me peace after my soul was broken. He helped me survive, which is what I'm doing now, too. I must repay him in kind."
"What do you mean?"
Florent held his belly with one hand, while his other arm remained wrapped around Junior, whom he was holding with great care. "I begged him to put his child inside me, knowing that it was the only way for me to keep him tethered to this life."
"Wow, wow, wow... okay, now I'm even more confused. What were his intentions when he pulled this stunt with Drato?" Riordan stole a glance at his son, hoping that mentioning the friend he lost wouldn't make him sad and angry again. Junior, however, appeared completely absorbed by examining Florent's belly. Since they were here and Florent could throw some light on that particular issue, Riordan wanted to find out as much as possible so that he could have that rational conversation with Xana why Kanto had to remain alive.
"He is a military man. He was adamant about what he thought of the situation. A Xeno empath on the ship will cause an irreparable break in our society, he told me. I insisted that he should speak to His Royal Chancellor first, but he insisted back, to put it nicely." Florent remained pensive for a moment. "Of course, I thought he'd think of us, too... of me. But he's a cold bas—I mean, I suppose that's my fate. To get entangled with a certain type of Xeno. I will make this confession only because it's you, Riordan, and I know you'll never betray me." It took some effort for Florent to say the next words. "I used all my skill and natural gift to persuade him." He caressed his belly. "I will have many amends to make after you're born, my little one," he added, his entire attention trained on his unborn Xenolite.
Riordan understood what Florent was saying in not so many words. Kanto had risked everything because he thought the Xeno society on Tu'lek would end up in chaos because of little Dario. And Florent had been forced to manipulate his Xeno master into putting an egg inside him only so that the stubborn mule would have something – better said, someone – to return to. His heart ached that Florent wasn't as indispensable to Kanto as hoped; maybe their bond was yet to reach its strongest shape.
"Don't worry so much about me," Florent said kindly, touching Riordan's hand. "I have learned many things since I left Earth. One of them is that you never know how strong you are until you're faced with a new situation that asks everything of you and then some. It appears that I have plenty of `some' if you know what I mean."
"Still, you shouldn't be shouldering all these things alone. That's why I'm here. Will you be okay if I told Xana about you being preggo? That will help with his lenient streak, so to speak."
"I'm glad you came to visit, because I wanted to ask you the same thing. If it's alright with you, do you think Xana would agree to see me? I want to plead for Kanto's life myself and not leave everything to you."
"Yeah, I'll tell him. And I'll convince him to see you in case he proves to be a stubborn mule, just like your guy. Florent, did he really think he'd sign his death warrant when he did what he did?"
"I'm afraid so. And it was just my luck that I noticed all the changes in him. He hates it so when I get into his head to understand him. It may be why he still remains so cold towards me."
"Well, I'd say that it serves him right, and not only him. They're so used with having their way all the time, to read others' minds, and they don't like it when others are doing it to them. You're not confined in here, are you?"
"No. There have been no outstanding rules imposed regarding my freedom of movement. Only that I don't have that many places to go. Also, I doubt that Xenos and bearers alike would enjoy seeing me around, when Kanto is where he is."
The proverbial light bulb popped in Riordan's head. "You know where Kanto is kept?"
"Yes. As I told you, walls can't keep me here. It was a pain to get it out of him, but he eventually disclosed where he is currently held."
"Great. I want to have a word with him," Riordan said promptly.
"Riordan, that's not a good idea," Florent said. "You're inviting trouble with your husband. As I'm capable of reading the overall mood on the ship, I can tell you that lately, it hasn't been great. His Royal Chancellor faces a lot of opposition right now. I think maybe having peace at home would help him. But this is just my advice," he added quickly. "You've proven yourself so many times that it's not my place to tell you what to do." With a small smile, he said, "Consort Lei."
Riordan groaned. "Oh, yes, apparently, that's the name I go by. And now people I don't care about are sucking up to me, which is annoying. Ah, I know. How would you feel about a little outing? Three days from now. The bearers on this ship, well, the low-ranking ones as they call themselves, got it into their heads that they need my guidance. Since I'm short on that, how about you lend me a hand? I'm sure you have a lot more advice to give where that bit from earlier came from."
"Are you sure about this? Because of Kanto's disobedience, I'm not exactly the sort of bearer others would seek as company."
"Well, tough luck," Riordan said. "Because I'm the big bad bearer in charge, they'll have to suck up to you, too. Plus, my boy here," he caressed Junior's head, "tells me that the guy who came to see me about this little get-together is a genius. One that works with numbers in his head. Huno Sedar, if the name tells you anything."
"Oh, yes, I am aware of him," Florent replied. "He longs for emancipation, although he doesn't know it."
"Emancipation?" Riordan asked. "What do you mean?"
Florent shrugged. "You're a bit of an anomaly, Riordan. You fight, you cuss, you speak your mind. Not to mention, you stand up to His Royal Chancellor, and I'm not talking only about the current one. Whether you like it or not, you're starting to become a legend on this ship."
"Which is the sort of thing I'd love to do without," Riordan confessed. "So what's this thing Huno wants that he doesn't know yet?"
"On Earth, he was a brilliant mathematician. He chose to become a bearer because he wanted to access the knowledge on space flight Xenos have."
"The man gotta love this science stuff," Riordan said with a chuckle. "But it doesn't sound that good, right? A bearer who wants to get his nose into stuff that shouldn't matter to him. Am I guessing right?"
Florent nodded. "Yes. Any dreams he must have had about this, they were quickly dashed by his master. Huno Sedar needs to spread his legs for his owner, deliver as many Xenolites as his master wants, and that's the gist of it. There's not much room for the science stuff, as you call it."
"But Xana told me he thought I was so smart I should start studying," Riordan recalled things from a long time ago. "Although I hate studying, so I wonder if that wasn't Xana's way to think of ways to tease me."
"He wasn't teasing you. And Huno loves studying. Now, I bet that he's sucking up to you so that he understands how to make his master let him do some of that."
"Good point. Although he looked uncomfortable as hell while trying to convince me to have this little meeting."
"I have no doubts about it. Huno is not the kind to enjoy these social necessities. At any given moment, he'd rather see about his numbers."
"Huno thinks of boring numbers all the time," Junior intervened in the conversation. He appeared to be comfortable in Florent's lap and he looked happy. Riordan couldn't help thinking that he needed to have his boy enjoy the company of other kids more often, now with Dario gone.
Florent laughed and kissed the boy's head. "They're not boring for him, I assure you."
Hmm, what Florent said made sense. While many bearers looked like they only had bird brains, there had to be some of them who found their domestic roles boring and constricting. Cario had found ways to keep his brain from going to waste, but not all were as smart and adaptable as him.
It looked like he needed to start lending a helping hand to his fellow bearers, Riordan thought as he exchanged another look with Florent. Some people needed him, as strange as that sounded.
tbc
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