***Alexis***

Alexis and Nabvan were awakened by an unfamiliar noise. It took a few moments to remember that they were babysitting for Destiney. The little one was screeching. Alexis climbed out of bed and ran to the crib. She picked up the crying baby only to realize his swaddling was soaked. He was wet and smelled terrible, but he was also very hungry. He began rooting around her chest, looking for his meal. Alexis didn't have the means to oblige his needs, so she went in search of his supplemental bottles.

Nabvan exclaimed, "Dear lord, can't you stop his everlasting screeching? My head is going to explode!" He was rewarded with an evil look from Alexis and she handed him the wailing child. As he brought the baby against his bare chest, Nabvan too began to screech, "What is that awful stench? What is running down my chest?" He held the baby far from his body.

Alexis's frustration changed to laughter. Her big strong warrior that dealt with blood and guts in battle couldn't handle a baby with a dirty diaper. She wished she had a camera to immortalize the look of utter horror on Nabvan's handsome face. Between snickers, she asked, "Could you bathe him and put on a fresh diaper while I get his food?"

Nabvan's jaw dropped in astonishment. He stammered, "Is that a joke? It is not funny. Milisarian Knights do not change filthy diapers! Next you will be asking me to feed the child. How undignified!"

Alexis stared directly into his eyes and calmly stated, "You change bandages covered in blood and pus. You conquer worlds so that you can feed your people. How can caring for an infant's needs be undignified after all of that? It is in the same category as far as I'm concerned. Will you refuse to help our child as well? You hold dying soldiers in your arms to comfort them, yet you still hold a helpless child dangling in the air."

Chagrined, Nabvan once again brought the baby to his chest. "You are correct, my love. I never thought of it that way. I am willing to learn how to care for a child with your help."

Alexis took over. She washed, dressed, and fed the baby as Nabvan lent a helping hand. He found that he quite enjoyed watching a baby splash in the water and greedily drink his meal. When the infant gave him a toothless grin, his warrior's heart melted in response.

Destiney was soon at their door. She had missed her son and wanted to hold him tight. She told Alexis that Siefer had decided on a name for his son during the wee hours of the night. There would be a naming ceremony in the common area that afternoon. She asked, "Will you and Nabvan stand with us? We wish you to be his guardians if we are ever unable to care for him. We trust you both with his life."

Alexis and Nabvan were delighted to accept.

After Destiney departed, Nabvan began to don his armor. Alexis had other plans for the morning. She removed the chest plate from his body and ran her tongue over his nipples. Nabvan growled in response. He lifted Alexis and carried her effortlessly to the bed. As she slid from his hands, her gown slipped from her body. Nabvan drank in the sight of her voluptuous curves as he removed his leather leggings. His manhood sprang into her waiting grasp.

Alexis loved the feel of his steely length against her soft palm. She slowly rubbed him from base to tip. There she found a droplet that brought wetness to her groin. She closed her eyes in ecstasy as Nabvan leaned down to sip from her rounded breasts and plunder her wetness with his fingers. She ran a hand through his silky red hair and then over the tribal markings on his shoulder. When he raised his head, she put a hand over the heart that was clearly visible through his skin. It beat faster and stronger just for her.

Nabvan laid her down gently and settled himself between her spread thighs. As he entered her tightness, the hot fluid surrounded him. It welcomed him home. He watched Alexis's face change as he moved deeper still. Her eyes grew wide, and her mouth dropped open as the climax built to a pinnacle. She wrapped her legs around his body, taking him all the way to her core. Her muscles pulsed around his hardness and pulled the seed from his body. He let out a warrior's shout as he filled her with his essence.

Nabvan kissed her rounded belly and laid his head softly on the small mound. He felt a fluttering that brought a proud smile to his face. Alexis caught sight of the look and her love for him grew. She whispered, "Maybe we should have our wedding sooner rather than later. The baby is growing quickly." Nabvan agreed wholeheartedly.

They needed to shower and dress for the naming ceremony. There were no extra clothes in Siefer's old quarters where they had stayed with the baby. They donned their fancy clothing from the voting ritual and laughingly hurried through the hall to Nabvan's quarters.

Once again, the city was assembled. They were there to celebrate the birth of the new king's heir. The child would receive a name today. It was a time for rejoicing. The crowd was enthusiastic. Their worries had lessened considerably with the election of King Siefer. A world without a leader was prone to chaos.

King Siefer, Queen Destiney, Nabvan, and Alexis approached the dais. Each wore a surcoat with tribal markings glowing along their length. The infant was swaddled in a cloth with similar markings. King Siefer raised his hands high with the baby balanced in them. He declared, “The king asks that you welcome his son. May you show him the honor and glory reserved for a king's heir. In turn, he will be raised in the Milisarian way. He will follow our traditions and laws and fight for his home world as a Milisarian Knight. He has the exclusive honor of being the first child born from a human and Milisarian union. Will you accept him as one of our own?"

The crowd cheered in response and shouted, "We will accept the king's son into this world as one of our own. May he grow as strong and brave as his father!"

Queen Destiney stepped forward and King Siefer handed her the baby. He announced, "We have given a name to our son. May it be written in our history scrolls and remembered in our songs. His name shall now and forever be Scyon! All hail Scyon!"

The crowd answered, "All hail Scyon!"

Nabvan took his turn addressing the crowd, “I, Nabvan of Milisaria, swear to protect and care for Scyon in the event that his parents can not. He will be treated as my own, yet raised to revere his father. Will you accept me as his guardian?'

The resounding answer was, "We accept Nabvan as guardian!"

Alexis spoke, "I, Alexis, of Earth and Milisaria, swear to protect and care for Scyon in the event that his parents can not. He will be treated as my own, yet raised to honor his mother. Will you accept me as his guardian?"

The reply came, "We accept the human Alexis as guardian."

It was done. Nabvan and Alexis would be required to fight to their death for Scyon should the need arise. They did not take such a promise lightly.

Siefer watched as Scyon was passed among the crowd to receive their blessings. It was a proud and poignant moment for him. Tomorrow, he would have to tell Destiney that he was leaving. It was now time to begin fulfilling his promises as king. He knew her heart would ache in his absence, but she could not accompany him on this trip. Their rulership was too new for them both to abandon the city. Besides, he was unsure of what he would find in the villages. They had been ignored for too long.

Alexis quietly slipped away. She was so tired and ached all over. Her small baby bump felt tender and hot to the touch. She kept this information from Nabvan. He would worry and keep her bedridden. Alexis wanted to spend time in her new lab, not sit in bed. Perhaps a good night's rest would cure whatever ailed her. If Nabvan followed her, she planned to tell him that exhaustion was normal at this stage of pregnancy. She knew that he would argue. Milisarian females showed no fatigue during their gestation. They continued normal activities, stopping only when labor began. Alexis could use her humanity to explain the difference. She frowned as she remembered that Destiney had not suffered these symptoms. What was the difference? Was her own body faulty in some way? The baby moved within her as if saying, "I trust you to keep me safe." Alexis pressed her hand against her abdomen and vowed, "I will protect you unto my death, for I love you already."

Alexis was sleeping when Nabvan entered his quarters. The naming celebration had seemed to last forever. He had sensed Alexis's departure but was too inundated by the crowd to follow. He ran a hand over her sleeping form. She felt too warm. His brow wrinkled with worry. He needed to ask the nurse if there was a medication from another world that could help Alexis. Nabvan was sure that she was trying to keep him from knowing the full extent of her discomfort. He promised himself that he would take better care of her as she grew larger. He slid into the bed and pulled her close. She sighed and snuggled against him. Allowing his body to relax, he finally slept.

In the king's quarters, Siefer was telling his wife about his imminent departure. She was saddened to hear the news but took it better than he had imagined. She stated, "I made a promise to do whatever was needed for my new home. If that means missing my beloved for a short time, then so be it. You must make a promise in return. Promise me that you will be careful and come home to us unharmed. We need you just as much as the villagers do."

"I swear that I will come home unharmed. I can not promise that my trip will be a short one. There are many remote villages on this planet that need help. I must visit each one and learn of their needs. This world should be united in its purpose, or someday it will be overtaken as we have done to others. We have never been attacked due to our aggressive behavior and the lack of resources needed on larger planets. But, our resources are growing with each planet we conquer. It makes us a more desirable target. We need more trained warriors in the outer villages to protect us. They need medicine, food, and guidance to grow strong. We need our race to become more intelligent, thus our son is the future of this world. He and the other coming half-breeds must be protected. The villages hold the key to their protection." Siefer drew Destiney into his arms. "Tomorrow will be for us alone. I will stay here with Scyon and you until I must depart."

Destiney realized that Siefer was more intelligent than he realized. He had more than a warrior's heart. Experience had added an understanding of his planet's needs that could not be taught. He made her so proud, and yet she feared losing him to his duties. She clung tightly to him and vowed to make the next hours memorable ones.