The Sarran Senator (4 page)

* * * *

Castle Air: 19:30 tines

Syn had put the last flower in her
arrangement by nineteen
tines
. Her guests
began to arrive at nineteen-thirty. Despite living halfway across
the planet, Anya’s
Triad
was the first to
arrive, accompanied by their two new aides and, of
course,
by Tigger. Tonas was using the
sticky
brush Syn supplied on his
trews
almost as soon as he walked in the door.

Tarin came after Anya, traveling from the
next village over and brought Syn some candies made that day in a
shop opened by one of the unbonded fems with fresh chocolate that
had arrived that rising on the Brightstar.

“Bon bons!” Syn was delighted.

Michael bounded in next with Naffie and after
Michael was formally introduced to Tigger, Duchess, and Tarin they
went down to the kitchen with
Garlance
and
Emot
. The last to come were
Juraens
, Mark, Sara, Sam, and their felines, Aloysius,
Chou,
and Shadow. Sara came with a tray of
scones in hand for Anya.

::
Syn,
Sara’s brought scones, I’m going to be blissful at breakfast next
rising. If you’re nice, I’ll share,
::
Anya teased.

Anya smiled broadly at Sara mouthing, “Thank
you.” Sara nodded and smiled.

Syn started to introduce Sam and Sara’s
Triad
to the rest of the party when she heard
two loud gasps, quickly smothered.
Syn
shot a
look at her Warriors, who nodded. She discreetly changed the
seating arrangement with a bit of misdirection and sleight of hand
to put Sam and Tarin together.

Both men were wary but obviously interested.
Syn went on her private channel to her
mates.
::Get
Tarin and Sam to talk
about themselves. They have a
PairBond
but they’re wary. Sam just got here and it
looks like it’s Tarin’s first time out in company since his bonded
went to the Goddess.
::

Syn passed around the fruit wine which the
fems
refused because of their pregnancies.
They took
Tierest
juice instead.

As the Senior Elder at the table,
Zaron
began the conversation. “Sam, we hear you and your
new offspring handled an incident on the way back from Earth.”

“Mark and
Juraens
had to
deal with the former Lieutenant
Septis
.
Unfortunately
Septis
carried a poison on the arms the Zyptz changed to tentacles and
that poison entered my offsprings’ bodies through a series of small
cuts. Back on Earth we have
deadly
reptiles
called snakes whose bites can paralyze and kill. An old trick to
help a snakebite victim is to suck the poison out of the wound and
spit it out. It won’t remove the venom from the bite completely,
but it does buy time to get medical attention. Although, you do run
the danger of ingesting venom yourself.”

“Our
sire’s
quick
thinking saved our lives,” Mark said. “I’m a doctor and I didn’t
even think of that.”

“I watched too many westerns as a kid,” Sam
laughed, attempting to divert attention away from himself.

“Kid?”
Jonal
asked.

“Offspring,”
Juraens
supplied.
Zaron
took some of the
antipasto
and put it on his plate. Syn served both
Sarran
and Earthen cured meats and pickled
vegetables, along with Earthen and local cheeses. He passed the
plate along.

Tarin’s eyes lit up. “Do you mean
westerns
like the ones in which the
great
Earthen actor John Wayne appears? I have been much
alone in recent cycles and when the Earthen fems
came,
I looked into some of Earth’s entertainment. I love
westerns,
The
Sons of Katie Elder, She
Wore
a Yellow Ribbon, True Grit, Red
River;
these must be classics
on
your
world. It was watching these shows that helped me accept the new
paradigm on Sarran and to see that the Earthen are worthy
allies.”

“You could argue that these movies are
classics, but tastes have changed so that now police procedural,
spy, and hospital dramas populate the airwaves on Earth. I can’t
think of a single western that is now on our mainstream television.
I can tell you though that next season,
Sarran
and the Galactic Federation will feature prominently in Earthen
dramas. You have to watch
Star Trek
, Earthen science
fiction, to see how much the Earth’s writers and directors got
right,” Sam told Tarin. “I would like to watch science fiction with
a Sarran to see what they think.”

“Yes, they guessed right about transporting
and fabricating, only they needed a machine to transport; but they
didn’t have a clue about the powers of the mind,” Juraens
observed.

“You’re wrong there. On
Star Trek, The
Next Generation,
Councilor Deanna Troi began to explore the
realm of psy. But they didn’t take it far enough before the series
was cancelled,” Mark said.

“Tarin has been called to council
next rising,
” Bron announced, effectively changing the
subject.

“Yes, I have no idea why.” Tarin blushed.

“It’s
a good
thing,
Tarin, I assure you.” Zaron passed the bread.

“Sam, you and Michael become
Sarran
in
body
as well as choice
next rising at
council
.
Juraens
says that his
Triad
in
consultation with you made the decision for Michael. Do you think
Michael or you will be sorry later?” Bron asked while he cut a
square of lasagna and passed it along to serve.

“To answer your question, TeBron…” Sam
started to say.

“No, here at my table there are no Te and Ta
unless it is an official council function. Please continue…”

“Michael’s sperm donor is on Earth,” Sam said
dryly, “hopefully residing in the darkest hole they could find, but
we decided if Bradley should ever see the light of day, he can
never have the opportunity to spout evil into Michael’s head or
heart. Michael will become and remain a
Sarran
, just like his grandsire and his Zinna. According
to Naffie, he and Michael are
bondmates
and my
offspring tell me Naffie is never wrong about such things. He’s
already told my Sara she
is having
a
femspring
.”

Syn sent to
Anya,
::Two
stubborn Warriors,
it
’s obvious they’re
bonded
but are trying to either ignore or tiptoe around the
bond.
::

::They won’t be able
to ignore it for very long according to my pair.::
Anya peered at Tarin from under her
eyelashes.

::From what I’ve
heard from mine, it can’t be ignored. Both Daddy and Commander
Tarin are providing an exhibition of sheer will power. Why is
beyond my comprehension.::
Sara shook her
head.

Just then a knock came on the dining
chamber’s door. It was Naffie and Michael. “Can Shadow and I have a
sleepover with Naffie and Bandit? Aloysius, Duchess, and Chou
promised to keep an eye on us and Shadow if
Garlance
and
Emot
are too busy.”

Naffer
looked around the
table and his eyes opened wide. “Michael, your grandsire’s aura has
changed. It matches that of the Honorable Commander Tarin. Your
grandsire has bonded.”

“Have you bonded too, Grandpa? This is such a
nice
way of making friends.”

Syn looked Naffie in the eye. “Sometimes, my
beloved offspring, you see more than is good for you. If Sara says
it’s fine and if the cats agree to babysit, it’s okay with me.”

“You can stay, Michael, but remember, if you
get frightened all you have to do is call out,” Sara agreed.

“I know how, Mommie. This rising Naffie
taught me how not to shout. Besides, I won’t get frightened, Naffie
will be with me.”

“Princess Sara, I will always take care of
Michael,” Naffie said solemnly. Then he grabbed Michael by the hand
and they left the room.

“Syn, I’ll assume that Tigger will also be
staying until rising to protect his interests, so to speak. Now
that he has competition,” Tonas said, his eyes dancing in merriment
as he gazed at Tigger who was nonchalantly washing his paw.

::Tonas, you don’t have to worry about my
interests or my competition. There are hundreds of felines to
choose from. I may just play the field if Duchess’ head is turned
by a pedigree.::
He gave his paw a particularly hard swipe with
his tongue.

::Duchess isn’t like that. Go find them
and make friends,::
Syn suggested.

::If that Siamese is chasing my Duchess,
I’d sooner make friends with a snake.::
Tigger put his tail up
and left the room to find the other felines.

Tonas smiled evilly. “He needed some
competition. Tigger was getting complacent; something a good
Sarran
knows is never a great idea around his
fem.”

Naffie’s
awkward
announcement was smoothed over by Anya and Tonas’ exchange with
Tigger. While no one was looking, Sam and Tarin eyed each other
hungrily.

The party proceeded with a few stories from
Sam about life in the Earthen armed forces and the Senate. Tarin
contributed tales of his favorite engineering mishaps and the
evening ended on a
lively
note. As the party
broke up, Syn overheard Tarin ask Sam, “There is a new coffee shop
near
the council building. In the
midtines
it is filled with very young fems and unbonded
Warriors, but in the dawntines, it’s quiet. Would you like to have
coffee with me after the council meeting?”

Sam answered, “Yes, I believe I would.” He
grabbed Tarin’s hand and kissed his wrist. Tarin responded by
bringing Sam’s hand to his mouth and kissing his fingers.

Syn thought Tarin’s smile was enigmatic.

* * * *

Unfortunately, some of our greatest tribulations are
the result of our own foolishness and weakness and occur because of
our own carelessness or transgression.

―James E. Faust

The council meeting began at eight tines. The
first order of business was appointing Mark and
Juraens
to
council
. TeBron, TeZaron,
TeAxit, TeZuron, TeAwer, TeZen, TeAllen, and
TeWell
welcomed the new Te WarriorPair and asked them to
take a seat on the
dais
.

Sam and Michael were called up next. “Samuel
James Johnson and Michael Samuel Hayden, do you wish to become
Sarran
in
body
as well as
mind?” TeBron asked.

Michael interrupted TeBron and said loudly,
“My name isn’t Hayden anymore. I’m Michael Samuel, I won’t be his
offspring anymore. My Zadda, Poppie, Mommie, and Naffie are here.”
Michael stamped his foot.

Sam knelt down and whispered a reprimand to
Michael.

“I’m sorry I was disrespectful but he hurt me
and Mommie. He even hurt Chou,” Michael said.

Sam stood and took a deep breath, “Yes,
TeBron, as you’ve heard, Michael and I no longer have any emotional
or physical ties to Earth. Everything that means something to us is
here. I can answer yes for me, but I think Michael already spoke
for himself. On Earth, the Codex spoke to me. I believe I belong
here and that my
femspring’s
Michael has a
place here as well.”

TeBron chuckled, “Yes, our offspring has made
quite clear to us where Michael belongs. He claims a bond.”

The council erupted in laughter. “Naffer is
well known for the accuracy of his predictions,”
TeWell
added.

“Do you have a sponsor?”
TeWell
looked to Mark and
Juraens
.

“My
femspring’s
bonded,
TeJuraens, agreed to sponsor both
me and
Michael,
” Sam answered firmly.

“Who acts as
witness
?”
TeAxit asked.

“TeBron and I have agreed to witness.”
Zaron
smiled. “Samuel Johnson was a highly
placed and respected official of the country of the United States
and about to be nominated for his nation’s highest office.
TeJuraens and TeMark have already given him the rank of Commander.
His advice and counsel will be invaluable to this body in our
dealings with Earth. Michael will help Sarran fill the gap left by
the lost generation of unborn when our fems passed.”

“Who administers the vial?”
TeWell
asked formally.

“Under the laws set forth by the Codex, a
physician must administer the vial,” TeAxit said. “I gather that
task falls to you, TeMark, as you are also a
physician
, the first to serve on
council
in over five thousand cycles,” he added.

“Samuel James Johnson, you have already been
awarded the rank of Commander of the Fleet. Along with your
diplomatic
expertise, you served your nation
state as a major general. We gain a Warrior as well as a diplomat,”
TeAwer noted.

“Let the procedure
begin,
”
TeWell
commanded.

“Concierge, record this proceeding and make
it a part of the histories,” TeZaron said.

Michael recognized a medicine
vial.
::
Ugh,
needles.
::
Michael
flinched.