Copyright 2025 – Daemon D. Hart
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The Human Bearer
It was too bad that he couldn't have Florent attend the meeting planned with the bearers of `low-ranking', Riordan thought. He would have to let his friend know about the change of plans, as well as follow with Florent's request and deliver Xana's answer. Although he had promised Florent on both accounts that he would deal with them accordingly, it looked like either his power on the ship didn't amount to much or that he had to understand diplomacy and its importance. It wasn't by accident or a whim that Xana wanted Florent's pregnancy to remain a secret to the rest of the ship. Also, he had a point about not letting the other Xenos see him play favorites by engaging with a traitor's bearer, especially one with empathic abilities. That bunch, Riordan thought and closed his fists. Kanto had proven himself in many situations, and so had bearers, right? Yet, they still believed that they would go with business as usual and consider the Earthians on the ship nothing else but the required number of warm bodies for their eggs. It made him angered to think of such things. The shield protecting Tu'lek was a part of him and Xana, because it was made of their kids to be. As much as he failed to understand how that was possible, just as Xana had said about Gamni and his horrible decision to sacrifice his baby, he knew that it was real because it happened.
Was he able to communicate with his children if he wanted? But how to go about it? A way for him to cultivate his own empathic abilities was to pay Ferix a visit. The young doc probably got bored, every day spent in the company of the two Xenos in their water tanks working on their healing and brumation respectively, and he had to be in need of a visitor or two. Also, it wouldn't hurt to see how his father-in-law was doing, because Xeus probably had some words of wisdom for his son, since Xana was caught in the games of power happening on Tu'lek right now.
"Would you like to see grandpa?" he asked Junior, bouncing the kid on his knees.
"Yes," Junior replied in the same determined manner that seemed to be a part of his personality. "And Ferix. He is my friend."
"I know, baby. You will make even more friends, because we will meet with other mommies and their kids soon."
Junior appeared to ponder over this piece of information. "But what if they don't like me?"
"How can they not when you're this amazing?" Riordan said and kissed the boy's forehead. "They will, for sure."
"What if I don't like them?"
"They're kids, like you. Maybe you won't become friends with all of them, but I'm sure you'll find a few that you will enjoy playing with."
Junior didn't seem entirely convinced. But he moved out of Riordan's lap, ready to go. The boy had to be still missing Dario, but Riordan thought it better not to bring that up again. It was better to let time do its healing work.
"I can tell you keep stealing glances at my belly," Riordan said to the guard to his right, whose name he still didn't know.
"I apologize, Consort Lei." Everyone called him that now. It still took getting used to. "It appears to me that you are getting closer to the date of delivery."
"Do you have a knack for such things? Don't tell me you're a midwife in your spare time."
"Please define the term," the guard said politely.
Riordan explained it briefly, and the lizard nodded thoughtfully.
"Yes, I believe you can say that before I came here, I played such a role on my home planet."
"Really?" Riordan felt his ears perking up. "How so? Were you assisting your queen with this kind of thing?" He wondered briefly whether to show that he knew a couple of things about Fatiah V and its female leader.
"Yes. Not only I. It is an honor to be part of the birthing," the guard explained.
"We were interrupted the last time, so please tell me your name. Seeing how we're stuck together whenever I have to go take a leak, which can't be that much fun for you, I'd say that we should be on first-name basis."
"As I mentioned, my name would be impossible for you to say. And my duty is to serve you, not to have fun while in your service."
The guard was as solicitous as ever, but that sort of evasiveness annoyed Riordan. "I understand, but I must call you something. At least you." He looked at the other guards that appeared to be as passive as ever and not in the least interested in their conversation. Given the fact that they shared a consciousness that allowed them to be as one, they most likely didn't need to eavesdrop. They just knew everything. It made Riordan ponder over how different the Mexones were as a species from Earthians. Not so much when comparing them to Xenos, though. It made sense that Xeus Sr. chose the queen of Fatiah V to deliver his Xenolite. Was Xana like her? In some way that couldn't be pinpointed with ease?
"Then feel free to give me a name."
Riordan scoffed. "Come on, that's ridiculous. I can't just give you a name like you're a pet or belong to me." He had done it with Kyle, that was true, but that had happened before he realized what a great friend and confidante the bot could be. That reminded him that if he wanted to practice what he preached, he'd have to ask Kyle whether he preferred a different name. And he needed to think better of how he was treating his friends, in the light of this strange conversation he was just having with the head of his personal security detail.
"I am not a pet, indeed, but I belong to you."
"What? Really? No way. You mean that you are sworn to the Xeno race. That's all."
"No. From the moment we were assigned to you, the four of us, we became yours."
"That's crazy talk," Riordan protested. "I'm sure as hell that I'm not okay with owning someone as... I don't know, intelligent as you. You talk, you have your own minds... Damn, this is absolutely bonkers," he mumbled to himself and shook his head. "Are you okay with this? Why don't you say anything?"
"Our allegiance is to our queen from the moment she gives birth to us."
It was still a mystery to Riordan how that happened. Did Sheravah, his alien mother-in-law, need a genetic intake from other sources when conceiving her daughters? The more he knew, the less he understood. That was another topic he could debate with Ferix, besides his need for learning more of how to use his empathic abilities.
"Our queen put us in your service," the guard added.
"Not mine directly."
"That is true, but it doesn't change the nature of our allegiance to you, as it was transferred by our queen."
"Ugh, it's like running in circles with you, guys. Okay, pick your name. Since I'm a stubborn ass, and I want to communicate with you like human beings... I mean, like one intelligent species to another, I still want you to have a name I can use. Go ahead, pick something."
"I can't--"
"Hush, it can't be that hard, right? Choose something. I'm not going to name you, but I still want to know how to call you. So, go ahead."
The lizard guard appeared to ponder over the request, and Riordan allowed her to take her time. "If that is alright with you, Consort Lei, I would like to be called Aide."
"Aide is not a name, it's a... okay, you're set on it? You're not going to complain later, I hope," Riordan said.
"No, I will not complain about it," the guard assured him.
"Okay, Aide, it's nice to meet you. I might have been born and raised on the streets of Earth, the worst type of them, but I like to think that I have some manners. Now, tell me, have you ever assisted the birth of a Xenolite?"
"Only that of our master Xana Lei."
"Oh, really. Wow, then how old are you? Don't answer. I know ladies are usually uncomfortable with being asked stuff like that."
"I am not. Assuming that you want me to offer an equivalent in human years, I would be 45 years old."
"Oh, wow. And how long do you usually live? I hope you don't intend to retire soon, now that we're just starting to become friends."
"Thank you, Consort Lei," Aide replied after a short hesitation that could very well be chalked up to emotion if Riordan didn't know any better. "We never retire. When we die, that's when our service ends."
"Damn," Riordan said and shook his head. "Well, the more you know." So Aide had been present at Xana's birth, which was a crazy detail to learn only now. "Does Xana know you were there when your queen gave birth to him?"
"Of course, it is because of that aspect that His Royal Chancellor assigned me to you."
"Okay. It would have been nice if he had told me about it, too. It looks like I have to find everything on my own."
"His Royal Chancellor doesn't find such details important," Aide said courteously as if that was alright.
"Well, he is a Xeno, and his mind works differently than mine, and that shouldn't surprise me."
They were already in front of Ferix's med bay so Riordan left more conversation with Aide for another time. It would be nice to have close allies, although his lack of knowledge about the Mexones did put him off a little. Maybe that was his opportunity; by getting to know Aide better, he'd become better acquainted with the species as a whole.
Indeed, Ferix appeared happy to welcome visitors to his lab, which counted as great progress, seeing the sort of austere life the young doctor led.
"The human body is fascinating," he began, his eyes glinting with the pleasure of having acquired new knowledge.
If Huno Sedar was just as much a nerd as Ferix, maybe they would get along well, Riordan thought.
"So, have you examined a bearer or two?" he asked.
"Yes, I was allowed," Ferix said. "And I can see how the genetic contribution of your species will make ours better."
"Great. I'm glad that your thirst for getting to know us better was quenched."
"Not by far," Ferix said. "Xeus," he said, addressing Junior, "would you like to see the new bacteria colonies I have cultivated over the last week?"
"Ugh, that sounds nasty," Riordan joked. "You boys can go have fun with the new forms of life you're creating, but may I talk to my father-in-law for a bit? Unless he's too tired for it." He stole a look at Xeus Sr.'s tank. The older Xeno appeared to be in a deep slumber.
"His healing accelerates the more I keep him in this state," Ferix explained. "But he was scheduled for a break from it anyway. Let me see to it."
While Ferix did whatever he needed to do to wake Xeus up, Riordan stared at the water tank in which Marn was seeing to his brumation. He appeared to be in the same state as the last time; how could Ferix keep so calm seeing that every day, no changes whatsoever? Riordan knew he would personally go nuts, but the young doc was a genius, and geniuses seemed able to do a lot of things, including watching patiently over someone who appeared completely out to the rest of the world.
He moved closer to the tank, and his eyes met Xeus Sr.'s pale green orbs. It never failed to surprise him and cause a little jolt when he stared directly into a Xeno's eyes that way. Even Xana was difficult to look at sometimes, because there seemed like such a world of thoughts existed behind their hypnotic stare. Thoughts that could be as malevolent as benign. It had to have something to do with their genetic makeup. They were reptiles, after all, and in the history of humankind, humans' revulsion towards such species had manifested in all possible ways, including in religion and culture. However, Riordan pondered, there hadn't been only that; humans were equally fascinated with snakes, and they considered them symbols of knowledge, too.
Riordan, you wish to speak to me. Speak.
Xeus wasn't impolite; he was just direct, and Riordan knew his father-in-law by now. He knew him well enough that when the push came to shove, Xeus would always be his ally.
Xana is the new Royal Chancellor, as you must know.
Yes, it is a great honor for the Lei name.
I know, and I don't want to sound like an ungrateful Earthian, but I worry about him. Can't you take over? You've been in here an awful lot. Aren't you yet healed completely?
Riordan was aware that he most likely sounded like a desperate spoiled child, but worry had been the reason why he decided to come here and see his father-in-law.
What is this about? I know that Xeno politics do not concern you, as you are a bearer, but you must not stay in Xana's way.
I am not doing that. This isn't about that.
What is it about then? Speak your mind as you usually do.
He's facing opposition. There could be Xenos who might wish him harm. I don't know how much you know about what happened lately, but—
If you are talking about the incident concerning the high commander, I am aware of it.
Riordan knew very well that he needed to speak Xeus's language if he wanted to get to an understanding with the older Xeno. Emotions had no place in it, but a little bit of diplomacy could very well take him a long way. Too bad it took years and years to become a good diplomat, according to Kyle's knowledge. The bot knew what he was talking about, so that had to be it. Nonetheless, he needed to do his best.
What do you think of it? Do you agree with Xana's choice?
After all, those Xeno assholes had pointed out that neither Marn, nor Xeus would have allowed Kanto to live after pulling a stunt like that.
Xana is the Royal Chancellor now. His decision is above reproach.
Wow, really? I had no idea you would think about it this way. Why don't the others accept it then?
They are blinded by Xana's youth. They are also blinded by what they think they know. But they don't know everything.
What do you mean? What's there to know, besides the obvious? Kanto went against a direct order, after all. Xana should have blasted Kanto's ship out of existence. His words, by the way.
That would have been rash. He wouldn't have gone through with such an impulsive decision. And you made him see reason right away, didn't you, Riordan?
Nothing gets past you, I see. Will Xana be in danger over his decision to spare the high commander's life?
I can't give you an answer to that. As much as we communicate with each other all the time, we are all entitled to our personal thoughts. If there are enemies to worry about, Xana will sort them out.
I'm glad to hear you so convinced of these things, dad. Wait, you said something about the others not knowing everything. What do you mean?
Maybe it was only his imagination, but it looked to him like Xeus was keeping something to himself. He was about to ask what that was about when Xeus continued.
Tu'lek needs the high commander. No one is as good a navigator as he is.
But Lakni is currently in charge of the ship. I know he is young, but you trust Xana enough, right? You must trust Lakni, too.
There are things only experience can teach you. There will be a time when the high commander's expertise will be required.
Do you know for sure? Or this is just something you believe inevitable?
It is inevitable. What I believe is redundant.
Okay, it seems to me like you don't want to tell me much. Is there any danger we should know about?
No. But the journey to Tanez is long, and there is no one else on the ship to teach young Lakni the job of a navigator the way Kanto Vai can. It is unfortunate that among the Xenos that joined our ranks here on Tu'lek, not one competent navigator could be found.
None whatsoever?
Indeed. Sometimes, it is fate's choice to show us her hand despite how powerful we believe ourselves to be.
Wow, that sounds pretty humble of you, not gonna lie.
I fail to understand what you mean by that, Riordan. You appear to be approaching the date of delivery.
You're not the first to notice.
Xeus remained silent. It looked like he didn't need to ask who else had noticed Riordan's impending delivery date.
Father, do you trust the Mexones?
Yes.
With your life?
You feeble human mind always needs assurance. Yes, if you will.
But there were Mexones on Gamni Gafilos's ship. How can we trust them?
I'm sure this thing has been already explained to you. Once assigned to a master, any Mexone must obey her owner. There is no coming back from that.
Well, great then.
There was no point in insisting.
One thing before you leave, Riordan. Do not let your human fear overcome your mind. You are a Lei.
Okay, easy for you to say.
Promise me. I know you will remember my words when the time comes.
Right, that didn't sound ominous at all. What was Xeus not telling him? Or... Xana?
Fine, I promise.
tbc
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