Kneus: A Terraneu Novel (Book Four) (7 page)

“So spill the beans.” Amber whispered to Gwen. “We
can see the sparks flying between you and Kneus.”

Gwen was holding Chloe while Mairi fed Celeste so she was able to have an
excuse to keep her eyes averted from the questioning looks of the others. “I
don’t know what you mean.” She swore.

“Yes you do. Stop playing coy and hiding behind a baby.” Catherine
laughed, “We are supposed to be telling each other all of the odd things we
notice about Kneus. I am noticing he is making goo-goo eyes at you!”

Gwen’s head shot up at that, “He is not!” She choked back a laugh,
“Goo-goo eyes Cat? My God are we in high school again?”

“Well if this was high school Gwen would be under the bleachers with
Kneus!” Jen insisted.

“Under the bleachers Jen? What do you know about what goes on under the
bleachers?” At Jens faux innocent look Amber yelled, “I knew it...”

“Shhh!” Gwen hissed then whispered, “Keep it down.” Looking pointedly
over her shoulders at the conferencing males.

“We are going to get you to talk Gwen.” Catherine raised her voice to get
their attention. “What is going on with Kneus?”

“Nothing.” At their looks of disbelief she hurried to add, “Okay. He
kissed me that is all.” She was torn about telling them about his nightmares,
but he had made her promise not to tell. She would only break that promise if
it became absolutely necessary to do so.

“That is all? If he was able to break himself away from a computer
console long enough to kiss you, then that says everything!” Amber smiled
widely.

Gwen felt her heart jump at the thought that it might mean that much for
Kneus to have kissed her. Then she mentally slapped herself back to reality. It
was just kissing for crying out loud. She was an adult and had played the game
enough to know that kissing didn’t mean that much.

“Kneus hasn’t shown an interest in anyone else that I have ever seen.”
Jen pointed out. “Though to be fair he did stay behind on Earth all those
months, maybe he is just behind the others in dating around.”

“There is also his workaholic nature.” Catherine agreed. “I didn’t think
it was possible, but he is even more driven then Knaleg. If he has noticed you
Gwen it means something.”

She sighed. She didn’t know the extent of her feelings for Kneus and
would like their relationship to progress without being under constant
scrutiny, even though she knew that wasn’t going to happen. On Earth people
dated all the time, had sex and went about their business. Here on Terraneu
relationships and their resulting status was everyone’s business. There was too
much at stake for couples to commit to staying together and having offspring
that any pair who chose mate status was under the microscope as it were. A
relationship with Kneus would be even more so because they were both council
members.

“There isn’t anything more to tell besides one kiss. I will keep everyone
updated on things I find out from Kneus about his nightmares.” She hoped they
forgave her this tiny lie if it came to light she wasn’t telling them
everything. When she saw that they were all looking skeptical she smiled innocently,
“Honestly. Would I lie to you?”

“Yes.” They all answered together.

“Well that hurts, it really does.” Gwen laughed, “That you think so
little of me...”

“Okay we get it.” Catherine’s lips were twitching, “Keep your secrets if
you must, and just know that we are here if you need anything.”

“Thank you Cat.” Gwen knew her friends were just looking out for her,
“All joking aside I will tell you as much as I can.”

“There it is.” Amber jumped on her statement, “You said, ‘as much as I
can’ not as much as you know.”

“Leave it Amber.” Jen said when she saw Gwen’s face. “Like Cat said. Let
her have her secrets.” Knowing her friend as well as she did, Jen used the only
thing she knew of that would distract Amber. “Besides after this visit with
Mairi you were going to let us sneak a peek at Tabec and her babies weren’t
you?”

Amber grudgingly let the matter drop, “I did say that didn’t I?” She
resumed her cheery expression, “The babies are so cute! The little male is a
replica of Cebat. The little female is the cutest brindle I have ever seen.
They are so much smaller than Cebat and Tabec but still considerably larger
than any “puppy” or “kitten” from Earth. It is hard to believe that they are
only a day old. I have had full grown pets that were smaller than they are!”
Gwen had to smile at the description of the sacath babies. She could imagine
the newborns size was in proportion to the parents, she just couldn’t wait to
see them for herself.

“Are we all heading over then?” Gwen asked. “Mairi you and the girls can
be released since you are in perfect health.” At her words Mairi perked up and
Gwen knew she would choose to leave the medical dome.

“We can see the sacaths really fast and then go to our dome.” Mairi swung
her legs off the medical bed, which instantly got the attention of Knollig.

“Mairi?”
 
He questioned from his
place among the men.

“We have been released to go home Knollig.” Mairi beamed at him. “I want
to stop by and see the sacath, then we can get the girls settled in our dome.”

Gwen moved out of the way as Knollig brushed past her, “I will just get
the stroller ready for the girls then.” Knollig bundled some blankets, and then
bundled some more until there was only one small spot in the middle for the
baby. Then he did it again in the other side of the dual stroller, until with a
satisfied smile he stepped back. “There that should do it.”

Knaleg snorted with laughter, “Are you expecting to be in a bumper
stroller contest or a collision?” He teased his brother, “That is enough
padding to withstand re-entry from space.”

Knollig just shrugged it off, “I want them to be comfortable.” He took
Celeste and settled her into the blankets, then did the same with Chloe. Mairi
in the meantime had gone behind the curtained area to dress and returned when
finished to stand by her mate.

Gwen did one last check on the area to make sure Mairi and Knollig hadn’t
forgotten anything, then followed the group out the doors. It was a pretty
short distance from the medical dome in New Haven to the residential domes.
 

“I will go see where Cebat and Tabec are hold on a second.” Amber snuck
into the house and after a few seconds Fortem and his mate came out. They had
been babysitting until Amber and Kniam got back. Kniam thanked the couple and
everyone exchanged pleasantries until Amber came back out.

“Okay. The triplets are asleep in their bedroom, Cebat and Tabec are with
the cubs. Pups?” Amber paused, “Really Kniam what should we call the baby
sacath?”

Kniam just smiled, “What would you like to call them?”

“I don’t know that is the problem. A cub is like a lion...a puppy is like
a dog. A sacath reminds me of both of them.”

“How about calling them cuppies?” Jen laughed.

“I thought maybe sacittens, or pupcath.” Gwen called out.

The females Gwen noted were having a great time calling out suggestions,
the males just looked at each other like the women had lost their minds.

“I think sacathies...what do you guys think?” Amber looked over the
group.

It was agreed upon, the newborn sacath would be known as sacathies.

“So now that I know what to call them. It is safe to go in and sneak a
peek at the sacathies.” Amber led the way into their dome. All the damage Cebat
and Tabec had created in the living quarters had been repaired, so it was a
shock to see the courtyard.

Kniam’s hammock area was completely destroyed. The sacath had created a
large cave like hidey-hole for Tabec to nest. Gwen noted the proud father was
resting outside the entrance, his large glowing eyes watching them from his
position on the floor. Inside the sacath made cave you could just make out
Tabec’s luminous emerald eyes. She twitched her tail as if to say, “I can see
you standing over there...and over there is where you should stay!” and Gwen
agreed with her wholeheartedly. She had no intention of getting any closer. As
if they sensed an audience, the two sacathies started mewling and trying to
move around.
 
She could just make out a
golden body nursing against the black of its mother. The brindle was so well
camouflaged she couldn’t see her. Then Tabec shifted and there was the little
female. Nursing alongside the slightly larger male. They were about the size of
a large Earth puppy, but much smaller than their parents.

“They are really adorable Amber.” Gwen whispered to her friend as she
slowly backed away. “Thank you for letting me take a look.”

Mairi who had left the twins with Knollig to come look at the sacathies
agreed. “They are so cute Amber. Cat and I have agreed to wait until they are
bigger to choose ours. You are still letting us have one?” She ended questioningly.

“Yes. As much as I’m sure I will grow to love them, we just do not have
the space for that many sacath. Not to mention I’m worried that Cebat and Tabec
would get territorial over their space here in our dome after awhile.” Amber
sighed then backed away with the rest of them. “We are going to be giving them
their space, but live our lives as normally as possible so the sacathies can
adjust to how things usually are around the dome.” Amber laughed, “Well except
for the courtyard obviously. That is going to take a long time to get back to
normal.”

When they reached the door Gwen said her good-byes to the others. She was
a bit surprised when Kneus asked if he could escort her home.

“Of course. I would enjoy your company on the walk back.” Gwen turned and
started down the path with Kneus at her side.

Kneus had talked with his brothers on their way from
the medical dome to Kniam’s living dome. They had just coughed or muttered
nonsense into their hands when he had said he had kissed Gwen, and didn’t know
what to do next.

Thian was the first to recover and asked, “Exactly what advice are you
asking for here?”

He looked around at the males, and when he saw them all laughing into
their hands or looking away he thought about his last statement. When it dawned
on him what the others were quietly amused about he snapped, “Not what you are
thinking! I know what kissing normally leads to Thian.” He looked around again,
“I need to know how you four went about courting your mates. I want to ask Gwen
out on an official date, and I’m not sure how to go about it.”

“You know every dating couple is different Kneus.” Knaleg spoke before
the others, “It took Cat and I forever to be ‘official’ while Kniam and Amber
happened overnight.”

“I wouldn’t say overnight!” Kniam interjected, “It wasn’t as if I didn’t
have some obstacles to overcome.”

“You need to personalize the experience to what you know Gwen might
like.” Knollig stepped in before an argument could ensue. “With Mairi it was
just a matter of...”

“Letting her finally catch you!” Knaleg interrupted, “With Cat is was a
matter of letting her train with the men, and taking her exploring.” Knaleg
finished smugly.

“Letting her train with the men?” Kniam snorted out, “If you were so okay
with it, then why then did I have to do an official request to ask the women
not to train?”

“I was trying to be honorable when I forced myself to stay away from
Mairi!” Knollig protested. “I wanted her from the beginning...”

“Enough!” Kneus yelled, “Enough. I get it. I have to make my own path
with Gwen and make it work in our own way if it’s meant to be.” Kneus hurried
away, then shouted over his shoulder, “So you didn’t know how you got the woman
interested in you! All you had to do was say so!” With a satisfied smirk he turned
away and increased his pace but he still heard the indignant mutterings of the
others behind him.

“It isn’t as if I didn’t know how...”

“I know how I got...”

“Women are complicated...”

He turned his attention to the living dome they had finally reached and
ignored his brothers and Thian. Standing at the back he could see over the
female’s heads into the courtyard. The ‘sacathies’ as the women were laughingly
calling the newborn sacath were very cute, what he could see of them anyway.

Turning back outside he was able to avoid the heated conversation the
other males were having about the ‘difficulties of women’ by putting his
attention on his new nieces. He sensed when Gwen was leaving, his body seemed
to have an awareness of her because the hair on his neck stood up. He hurried
to ask if he could escort her home.

“Of course I would enjoy your company on the walk back.” She had smiled
then turned down the path to their domes.

They walked in companionable silence for a few minutes each in their own
thoughts when Kneus finally got the nerve to say. “I know this might not be the
best time. I am having the nightmares, and we are working together daily on the
archives.” He drew in a deep breath and pulled her to a stop by a lamppost.
“That being said, I would still like to ask you out on an official date. If you
would like to go on one...with me that is.” He finished hesitantly.

She just looked at him for what felt like the longest time. Just when he
was thinking he should walk away she asked, “What changed from this morning?”

Kneus thought back to their earlier conversation, “I will admit to making
excuses. I have been working so hard and sacrificing for the community for so
long now that I was afraid to take a chance on something
I
really want.” Kneus grabbed her hand
in his, entwining his fingers through hers and he pulled them up to his lips.
Looking deeply into Gwen’s radiant eyes he said, “I am able to be free of the
sexual block because of you. The chance to see if we could be compatible mates
is what I would like.”

Kneus could see the surprise in the widening of her eyes then she said in
a soft whisper, “I would like that as well.”

Kneus was so pleased he almost ran around the paths yelling out in his
happiness. Deciding a more reserved response might be better, he gathered Gwen
into his arms and squeezed until she laughed that she needed to catch her
breath.

“You won’t regret going out with me Gwen.” Kneus promised, “I will find
the perfect surprise for our first date.” He held her hand and pulled her
along. Before he knew it, they were at her dome. He gave her a quick kiss
good-night, against his protesting body and promised to see her the next
morning at the technology dome.

*~*~*

The next morning when Kneus woke with a start it
wasn’t because due to a nightmare. It was because he hadn’t had one! The extra
sun and water must have worked. He had slept a whole night without waking once.

Smiling and singing along to an Earth song playing on his console he
washed and dressed for the day. It was when he was cleaning up his dome that he
suddenly realized how much stress he had been under. Only now when it was gone
did he feel the difference. He hadn’t felt this good since before his time on
Earth.

“
Hungry like the wolf
.” Now that he had broken through the sexual
block, he had a whole new appreciation for this song he thought to himself. He
hurried out of his dome in search of Gwen at the technology dome. He had come
up with the perfect first date for them.

Hurrying into the technology dome he wasn’t disappointed to find Gwen was
already hard at work at one of the consoles. He made his way to her, “Good
morning Gwen!”

She smiled up at him, “Good morning Kneus.” Her eyes searched his and her
smile brightened. “I can see that you slept well. Any nightmares last night?”

Kneus shook his head, “None. I slept the whole night through.”

Gwen jumped up and put her arms around him, “That is such good news! The
extra sun and water yesterday must have helped. I’m really happy for you.” She
stepped back from embracing him and went to turn back to work. He stopped her
by grabbing her shoulders.

“I thought about it last night, and I have a perfect date planned.” Kneus
absently rubbed her shoulders, then frowned when he noticed how tense she was.
Gwen needed to take better care of herself it would seem. She was always going
on about their health, what about hers?

“Is it a surprise or do I get details?” Gwen asked.

“It is a surprise, casual dress will be fine just make sure you have on
comfortable footwear.”

Kneus went to work on the console his mind getting immersed in his work.
The archives chronicled their lives here on Terraneu almost from the beginning.
They were only missing the first five or six cycle’s worth of data. That
accounted for only four thousand years or so. The only information they found
so far was what they had already known. The how’s and why’s of the change the
founding fathers had done, the cloning cycle and the basic technology they had
built on over the years.

He heard a groan next to him he looked over and saw Gwen stretch. Then he
matched her groan with one of his own he stretched and became aware of his
stiff muscles. “Okay. It’s time for a break! Per the doctor’s orders I need
more sunlight and water!” He got up carefully from his seat to give his legs a
chance to adjust to the standing position.

“How about a walk around the Square?” Kneus thought for a moment. “Unless
you would prefer to keep working?”

“No. A walk sounds lovely!”

Walking around the Square Kneus stopped to say hello to his friends, Gwen
stopped to say hello to her friends and they both stopped to say hello to
mutual friends. It was amazing how fast they
didn’t
make it around the
Square.

Getting back to work, time flew by and before he knew it they were
leaving for his surprise date. He had entered them in the newly formed couple’s
version of the new and improved Bio’los. It started at the game dome, which was
near the Square of Four. Since the community was built out from the square in
rings, with zones of NW, NE, SW and SE the game utilized the layout to make it
interesting. After spinning you around to make you dizzy, an officiating person
would yell out a ring, zone and dome number and the couple had to race together
to that dome. The only catch is that the males had to tie the couple together at
one leg, and the females had to use a blindfold on the male before racing off.
If you arrived at the correct dome, your legs were released but the male had to
stay blindfolded and there was some type of a puzzle to solve. If you answered
correctly you were spun around again, had to retie your legs together and then
that official yelled another ring, zone and dome number. You had to do this
three times before you raced back to the game dome. Every couple took turns in
a bracket until it was down to two couples. He knew that Gwen enjoyed playing
the singles version, so hoped this was a good first date for them.

“Couples Bio’los?” Gwen laughed. “I love the singles version and always
wanted to try the couples version! It’s perfect Kneus.”

His heart jumped when she gave him a hug, then the official called them
over to the line with the couple they were competing with. Someone spun him
around, while someone else spun Gwen around. The ring, zone and dome was called
out and the race was on. Fumbling with the rope he clumsily tied his left leg
to Gwen’s right. She took the blindfold and adjusted it quickly across his eyes
and laughing like crazy Gwen managed to get them to the correct dome. Out of
breath from the race and laughing so hard it took a few moments before either
of them could answer. Eventually they won their round, and moved through the
brackets. This was the best first date ever Kneus thought to himself as he
walked hand in hand with Gwen to her dome. He had never laughed so much or so
hard in his entire life.

When they reached her door, Gwen looked at him under her lashes. “I had a
really good time!” She leaned into him, placing her hands on his chest.

“Good-night Gwen.” Kneus kissed her softly, “I hope you will agree to go
on another date with me.”

“Of course.” Gwen looked into his eyes, “I would be happy to go on
another date, but...”

“I was hoping you would say that.” Kneus brushed his lips against hers
one last time, “I have the perfect idea for tomorrow. I will see you at the
technology dome in the morning.” He hurried away from Gwen working out the
details for their next date in his mind.