Chapter 18

~ Hel ~

Wrapping Hel in his arms, it made Raec miserable to hear her cry. He had grown to know her so well over the lunars it took them to reach the Maruvian home world. Knowing why she was upset was not the same as allowing her talk about it.

“I led that evil bitch right to your people. How stupid was that?”

“She is known for culling, especially when she is angry. None of us suspected she had held back drones and shuttles from her battle with us.”

“I should have double checked. I was in charge and I dropped the ball.”

“You made the best choices available with limited information.”

“I’m unfit to lead, much less be in charge of coordinating security for our new world.”

“You are the only one I would trust with such a mission, for you know the bone-chilling feeling of being wrong. You will learn from this and be a better leader.”

“Maybe. I will think on it.”

“You have no idea how brave you are, do you? You stepped up and the other queens followed in your footsteps. I did not think you would come for me, but you did.”

Pulling back from his chest, she peered up at him. “How can you possibly think I would do anything else?”

“Deep down inside I knew you probably would come for me. I prayed that you would not risk yourself that way. I suppose because I am carrying your young you felt compelled to risk what you otherwise might not.”

Grabbing his antenna, she pulled him down for a passionate kiss, before leaning her forehead against his. “I’ll always come for you, bearing or not. Never doubt that, my sweet drone.”

“I’d take a thousand of Kabelda’s lashings rather than risk you being struck down by her.”

“Luckily, we don’t have to worry about such things. She is well past dead. I think some of the Golugua ate her.”

“Yuck, I believe is the human expression for such things.”

“You’ve talking to Penny, haven’t you?”

“She talks all the time. It is difficult not to hear.”

“She loves you and your family.”

“I would love her more if she did not come with a large smelly sentinel.”

“Liar. You like Armon. I see you guys laughing it up all the time, like in the dining hall this morning, for instance.”

“Human queens are amusing. It is difficult not to laugh at you.”

Cupping her hand she scooped up some water from the bath and poured it over his chest to wash away her tears. “Is that so? Exactly what did we do this morning that’s so hilarious?”

“You obsess about your food. You worry about if it was once living, if it was cooked at proper temperatures, if it is fattening, if will burn your tongue, if it is an animal, vegetable or mineral and, our personal favorite, you wonder if certain things are even food at all. I believe Armon is correct. If you want to eat something, simply take a bite. If it objects, then is clearly not food. All else may be eaten.”

“That’s not remotely true.”

Shrugging, he responded casually, “Armon says it is true. He ate a bite of our former queen yesterday, and yet today he is well.”

Looking into his teasing face, she smiled. “You two are a hoot, you know that?”

Smiling back, he responded, “If I worried as much as you do about what I put in my mouth, I would have missed many wonderful experiences since being with you.”

Pulling her down, he kissed her. Pulling back, she had a good mind to explain how unsexy talking about taking a bite out people was, but they were interrupted by an amused voice.

“Do you two ever do anything but mate?”

Swimming over to the edge of the tub, she smiled at Sakor. “You’re all healed. How are you feeling?”

“One of the human queens has been nursing me back to health.”

“Let me guess, you’ve been dragging it out for the attention, haven’t you?”

“I am told humans respect rules against self-incriminating speech.”

“Well, I am glad to know that you are well.”

“Shall I fetch you a pleasure stone?”

“We don’t use those.”

“Why would one of our most revered queens shun our most sacred gift?”

“Fine, give me one.”

Walking across the room with a slight limp, he returned with a stone. “Later today I’m going to ask the Shardon to have a look at your injury. I don’t like that limp.”

Beaming at her, he bowed his head slightly. “That is very kind of you, my queen. I wish to make a full recovery if possible.”

“I can virtually guarantee they will be able to fix whatever is wrong. They can clone tissue and organs.”

“I will leave you to your lovemaking.”

Raec swam over. “What is lovemaking?”

“It is what the human queens call mating.” Sakor answered for her, clearly fascinated by the prospect of mating with humans.

Hel teased her friend, “Sounds to me like someone has been getting busy.”

Raec queried, “More euphemisms that mean mating?”

The gentle assistant nodded. “I’m afraid so, my king.”

Hel teased him as he left, “You’re getting good with human expressions, Sakor. Keep up the good work.”

“You are growing too attached to that male, I think.”

“I think you must have hit your head or something. I vanquished a vicious Maruvian queen for you, remember?”

“Well, Queen Carolyn actually got the kill shot.”

Grinning at his teasing, she slid the stone down his chest, teasing his nearly bursting egg sack around the edges. “I drew a little blood in my own right.”

His heated gaze fell on her. “No more talk of her. It is interfering with the moment of growing sexual tension between us.”

Smiling indulgently, she observed, “You drones always say exactly what’s on your mind. I like that about you.”

Sliding the stone back up to his neck, she leaned over to kiss him.

He pulled back. “No, my queen. No kissing. It is time.”

Rubbing the stone across her hand thoughtfully, she asked, “Time for what, my handsome drone?”

His trembling hand went to his side, and she could see something strange was happening to his egg sack. Helping him out of the water, she threw on a gown, and wrapped a cloth around his waist. Grabbing her handheld, she alerted the medical bay they were coming.

The moment they walked over the threshold she saw Vraden was already present and grinning like a madman. Insectoids really looked odd with a full smile because of their sharp teeth. It was the kind of thing that one didn’t speak of, so she’d never breathed a word about it.

As they took Raec to a platform, a strong set of hands drew her back. “Come, my queen. Let the healers prepare him.” Letting Arac take her under his wing, she allowed him to guide her to a seating area.

“Do you think he will be okay?”

A slight smile curved up his thin lips. “All will be well. Our sire has been checking him regularly and reports the spawning is progressing normally.”

“I’m worried.”

“I knew you would be, so I brought you a pleasant distraction.” Reaching into the front of his robe, he pulled out a small hatchling. Holding it out for her to take, he nodded when she looked at him questioningly.

“You never allow me to hold your young.”

“I have named him Helec, after my favorite queen. He was hatched from my last spawning with Kabelda.”

“He can’t be more than three months old.”

“He is the most needy of my brood. I think he likes you. See how he cuddles against you? You must be careful to keep his face turned from you. They sometimes bite.”

“He’s perfect, Arac. You must be so proud.”

Making a happy chirp, he answered, “I am quite contented with my lot in life. Though I still have no desire for a new queen, I did not have bad dreams or trouble sleeping last night. I feel at home on this new world the queens have chosen for us, and I have you to thank for that, my queen. If not for you, I would still be trapped under Kabelda’s claw.”

Grasping his hand in her own, she sighed. “I love having you in our family and I would do anything to ensure your safety and happiness.”

“Never would I have believed such queens were possible, had I not met you.”

“You deserve every kindness that might be yielded to a man.”

Beaming, he held out his hands for the child. “Your queen maker awaits, my friend. We all breathlessly await a future filled with Maruvian queens. Go to him.” Dropping a kiss on his forehead, Hel rushed over to her mate.

“I do not like you getting cozy with another queen maker. You belong to me.”

The healers gasped and Vraden trilled his frustration.

“Cut it out, my sweet. These guys don’t know you’re joking.”

Vraden’s head came up. “Is this true, you jest with your queen?”

Looking like a child caught in mischief by his father, Raec nodded. “Sometimes we jest with each other.”

“This I did with my queen at one time as well.”

Hel teased the older man, “I’ll bet you were a big deal in your time Vraden. Did a lot of the queens chase you?”

Trying not to preen, the man responded quietly, “Yes. Though my queen kept many breeders, I alone was her prime.”

“It means she thought of you and the children you had together as her family, right?”

Nodding, he looked a little emotional.

“Taking another queen will not be seen as a slight towards her. She would want you to be happy.”

“This she told me, many times.”

Grimacing, Raec complained, “He’s going to be too busy, helping me care for so many young.”

Bending down, she kissed him on the cheek. “Don’t worry, baby. We didn’t forget you.”

Vraden murmured, “It is time.”

Hands pulled her back again. Everything happened in a blur. She watched multiple healers closing the doors on over a dozen incubation units. Rushing to Raec, he sat up to greet her.

“You shouldn’t be sitting up.”

Vraden looked over his shoulder. “He’s fine to leave. It is the amniotic fluid that begins to burn when it is time to spawn. Once it is removed along with the eggs, he is fine.”

Thumping himself on the stomach with his fist, Raec stated, “I am well. Remember I’m a strong warrior who can–”

“Eat anything that doesn’t try to eat you back? I remember all about that.”

Arac interjected cautiously, “I do not believe that is correct information.”

Rolling her eyes, Hel quipped, “That’s exactly what I said.”

They walked over to the incubators and Vraden explained. “Exactly six weeks from today you should have hatchlings.”

“I can’t wait. Is there a way to tell the females from the males?”

“Certainly, queens have tiny nub at the top of their egg. Can you see it?”

Jumping onto her tiptoes, Hel peered into shielded enclosure. “You’re right. It’s barely noticeable though. I wonder what causes that?” Suddenly careening off balance, she grabbed Vraden to steady herself.

“Are you well, my queen?” Vraden’s concerned voice faded for a brief second as the room spun.

The next thing she knew, she was laying on a medical platform staring up at the ceiling. Sitting up, she rubbed her head. “I feel perfectly fine now. What the heck happened?”

The drones were staring at her reverently. Raec moved forward and sat beside her. He looked so serious, she began to worry that something was wrong.

“Don’t tell me I’ve contracted some strange spacefaring disease, that’s totally incurable and going to result in a slow and painful death.”

Taking her hands in his, Raec seemed emotional. Damned if she was going to die.

“You are carrying my young. To be exact, you are carrying a male and a female. This has not happened among our people for a very long time.”

“Jesus, I’m pregnant.” Laughing, she felt the relief roll through her gut. Placing her hand over her stomach, she murmured aloud. “I wonder how that happened?”

“Even I can tell you that.” Looking over at the doorway, she found Penny and Alexis staring at her. Penny was smiling giddily, clearly amused by her own joke.

Alexis walked in first. “I don’t know what we are going to do with you two. You know that makes like twenty kids. What are you going to do with twenty babies? Start giving them away as party prizes?”

Arac stepped back. “Earth humor is too strange to be understood by me.”