Blue solace complete ser.., p.85
Blue Solace: Complete Series Boxset, page 85
“He’s just a little older than Sami,” Leti said and rushed to the boy. “Hi, Elril. My name’s Leti.”
“Oh, fuck,” Maia said. “He really doesn’t have any parents?”
“No,” Earth said sadly. “There are several children here who have no family left. We do our best to care for each other, but it’s a group effort.”
“Leti just adopted another kid, didn’t he?” Silas grinned.
While Death froze ships above the planet, and Beol’s assassin Alber shot them to pieces, Hack ran around the yard, Elril on his back. The boy held onto Hack’s long pointed ears and giggled.
Leti carried a bowl of stew to one of the tables in the center of the encampment, Jenks buzzing around him in lazy circles. “You two settle down now. It’s time for little boys to have their dinner.”
Dru shook her head. “Gods, this makes five kids and three of Hack’s siblings.”
“You know they’ve been fucking like rabbits too,” Morgan said. “How much you want to bet Leti announces he’s preggo by the time we get back to the station?”
“I’ll take that bet,” Sebastian said. “Leti did not enjoy childbirth.”
Beck ignored them, too distracted to add his own wager. Beol sat on Beck’s lap, softly petting the fur on his bare shoulder. It was a lot warmer on Genarg than it was on the station. Beck had decided a simple undershirt was better than his Blue Solace jacket.
Beol kissed his shoulder. “You’re practically vibrating.”
“I want to shift so bad,” Beck said, shivering at the feel of his mate’s lips. “There are so many things to explore here.”
“Once the video is sent and you’ve eaten, you can go out,” Beol said.
“Thank you, Guild Master,” Beck said with a grin.
Beol bit his shoulder. “Don’t sass me, Sparky.”
When Beck saw Cordelia and Wyatt coming, he groaned and set Beol aside. “I have to go make that video.”
“I’ll make a plate for you.” Beol kissed his cheek.
Beck hummed in pleasure before turning to his friend. “Hack, put your new son down and come on. We’ve got a video to make.”
“Do we really have to do this right now?” Cordelia pulled on the collar of the pink blouse Wyatt had picked out for her.
“Yes,” Wyatt said. “It needs to be breaking news, and a few of those ships that were off planet retreated, so you know the news will be out soon. Chin up and smile.”
Cordelia growled. “I hate you.”
Wyatt blew her a kiss, then sat in Morgan’s lap. “Have fun now.”
Hack had decided Cordelia would do the interview since she was pretty and mostly human. They needed to make this look as convincing as possible.
When President Wineon had ordered the very likable reporter, Larry Sutton, executed, she had made an enemy of most media stations. A station on Vextonar had already agreed to show their video and spread it to other stations. They would do their part to piss off the Queen.
They left the prison encampment and hurried to the empty streets of the town.
“Alright, Cordy,” Beck said. “We’re recording in three, two, one.”
Cordelia smiled wide and fluttered her eyes. Damn, she looks weird when she acts preppy and flirty, Beck thought.
“Hi, this is Cordy Blue standing in for Larry Sutton. I’m on the planet Genarg in the Crellic System. For over a year now, the media has covered the story of the Crellic Queen and her Elements. I’m here to investigate the rumor that the Queen has lost her homeworld and all of her Elements.”
Beck moved the camera over the empty town, before moving back to Cordelia.
“As you can see, the streets of the only town on Genarg stand empty. Humans First recently held the planet, but General Hackett of Charybdis Station liberated the planet less than an hour ago.”
Hack stepped into view and grinned. “Good evening, Ms. Blue.”
Cordelia blushed and patted her hair. “Hello, General. I didn’t realize you’d be so handsome. Oh, dear.” She cleared her throat. “Can you tell me why you decided to take Genarg? It’s of no importance to Humans First, and Charybdis Station has been very vocal about their disapproval of Humans First’s philosophy.”
“Honestly? We thought the Queen was more dangerous than HF, but we were clearly wrong.”
“What do you mean? Wasn’t it difficult to take Genarg?”
“Not at all,” he said, shrugging. “The Queen wasn’t here, and her Element Earth retreated into the planet to hide. Plus, we have the Element Death on our side. At this point, the Queen is superfluous. HF pulls her strings, and she basically belongs to them. Now, she has no real power of her own.”
“Goodness,” Cordelia said. “What will you do with Genarg now that it belongs to you?”
Hack grinned again. “I was thinking of settling down and making it my own. There’s a lot of resources to drill out of this planet. I think I can make a credit or two before it’s a barren rock again. It even comes with a comfy throne.”
The interview went on for another five minutes, Cordelia and Hack doing their best to make the Queen sound like a useless idiot that was being manipulated by the geniuses of HF. They wrapped up and Beck looked back over the feed, tweaking a few things before sending it to Hack.
Hack took a breath. “I’ll send this out. The station will polish it up, then send it around. Here’s to hoping it pisses her off enough to bring her here.”
“It will,” Death said. “This hits her ego.”
“She won’t like being made to look a fool,” Earth said. “This will work.”
Three days later, Beol’s comm woke Beck and his mate up. Beck curled around Beol and nuzzled the back of his neck.
“Yes? Ninetta?” Beol answered the comm, still half asleep.
The babies really do drain him, Beck thought.
“Boss-man, your video did the job,” Ninetta said, voice shaking. “I listened in on their comm chatter. The four big bosses of HF ordered the Queen to stay the course and travel to Charybdis Station with Cortez’s fleet.”
“What did she say?”
“You know that thing Fire does? With the ships? Well, the Queen doesn’t share his finesse. The reactors exploded in two-thirds of their ships, killing everyone on board and tearing the ships to pieces,” Ninetta said. “After all the screaming, I heard the Queen ordering the surviving ships to head toward the Crellic System.”
Chapter 18
Crellic System, Planet Genarg - Two months later
Beol sat with Leti and Wolfe in the shade and watched Beck, Bloop, and Xav chase the children around the large vegetable garden in their shifted forms.
The prisoners had a total of twenty-three children under the age of sixteen. While most of those had families, many didn’t. A few men and women from the Charybdis crews had adopted children, but there were still six orphans that would be heading back to Charybdis Station. Fasi was already finding them homes.
“I can’t believe this place has changed so much in just a couple of months,” Leti said.
“It’s not a military town anymore,” Beol said. “Earth and his workers have made it their own.”
Surprisingly, very few of the former prisoners chose to leave Genarg. Beol supposed Earth had been right when he had said many didn’t have homes anymore. The guards that Earth had hand-picked had all chosen to stay as well.
One of Haroon’s soldiers had volunteered to fly those that wanted to leave out on one of the smaller empty merc ships. They had arrived at Derelict in the Boral System a few days ago.
The rest of the prisoners were now inhabitants of Genarg. They had moved into the town and claimed it.
“Earth cares about them,” Leti said. “She really loves these people.”
“You said he ruled beside the Queen, right? It makes sense he would make a good leader.”
Beol smoothed his hand over his rounded belly. He was only five months along, but it seemed like he doubled in size each week. At least the morning sickness was gone. The belly didn’t make his training any easier, and he still took way too many naps.
Tinker flew down and sprawled on his belly, pressing her ear against him. She hummed softly, a sweet and innocent tune.
Elril and a little girl squealed when Beck pounced on them and licked their faces.
Xav caught another two and playfully rolled over them. After a few minutes of fun, the smaller, lilac-colored Grell jumped up and took after the rest of the kids.
“I wonder what it would be like to shift,” Leti said, shaking his head. He scratched Princess Buttercup’s nose. The dragon sprawled beside Leti’s chair with his head in Leti’s lap.
Wolfe yawned. “We’ll never know,” he signed.
The three of them looked up when Jen jogged over to them. The reporter had arrived two weeks ago. Her news station wanted coverage on the battle with the Queen. Hack hadn’t wanted to say no since the Vextonar Hotspot had been essential in getting the Queen to head this way.
Jen had volunteered, and the young human had brought friends. Six ships full of friends to be exact. The humans ranged from all ages and professions, but they all had one thing in common. They had each lost loved ones when President Wineon had purged the planet.
They wanted their pound of flesh and taking HF’s favorite weapon away from them would do the job.
“Hey, Jen,” Leti said. “You finished training with Selene?”
“That woman is a fiend,” Jen said, collapsing to the grass in front of their chairs. “I’ve never worked so hard in my life.”
“This battle won’t be easy, and if we fail, every person on this planet will have to fight for their life,” Beol said.
“I know.” Jen sighed. “I need to survive to show the galaxy what happens. If she dies, they need to see it. They need to know Humans First is declawed. They’re afraid to even help the planets Air and the Queen destroyed.”
Sebastian hurried toward them. He was a couple of months farther into his pregnancy than Beol, but the man carried the weight of his baby bump well.
My belly is already almost as big as Sebastian’s, Beol thought sourly.
“Remy is going to do his Rite of Passage tonight. You guys need to come and cheer him on.”
“Damn,” Leti said. “He’s already doing it?”
Sebastian grinned proudly. “He could have done it a while ago, but we’ve all been distracted by the Queen, and he’s been helping me train people. Jalyn will be ready soon too.”
A few of Earth’s people had decided they wanted to try to train in Crellic shamanism with Remy, Jalyn, and Sebastian. Earth had been ecstatic.
“We’ll be there, Seb,” Leti said. “Sit with us and gossip? Beol is a grumpy kitty, Wolfe won’t tell me the good stuff he finds out, and Jen doesn’t know the good stuff.”
Beol growled half-heartedly. He really wished Icarus had never called him that. Now everyone was. “Here, take my seat, Sebastian. I need to go check on Rus.”
Leti looked stricken. “We love you, Beol. You don’t have to leave. I know you’re not a grumpy kitty.”
Beol slowly got up and ruffled Leti’s hair. “I know you do. I just want to visit with my son a bit.”
Sebastian took his seat, groaning. “Good. My feet hurt, and I need a break. Okay, so how are your kids taking to Elril?”
“Rizzie says I should pick one of the girls instead, like I’m shopping for babies,” Leti said. “Sami and Pepper thoroughly approve, and the others are already planning on spoiling him rotten. Now, let’s talk about Val and Death. I got more details out of Fire yesterday.”
Beol left them to their gossip and walked toward the Hollow. Icarus had taken to spending a lot of time there with Earth, Juniper, and Fire.
The jungle was strangely quiet. Only the wind whistled through the trees. Beol wondered how many animals Earth planned to bring back.
“This ivy only needs about two or three hours of sun a day and keep it low heat.” Earth stood with Icarus, Juniper, and Sax near the Hollow. A small potted plant with long strands of green and tiny white flowers stood at their feet.
Beol felt a bout of sadness when he noticed Icarus and Sax holding hands. He had a feeling Icarus would be spreading his wings soon.
Earth looked up. “Beol. It’s a pleasure to see you today.”
Beol tilted his head. Earth had a funny way about him. He was oddly formal but covered in dirt. His hair was full of tangles and small twigs and leaves.
“Hey,” Beol said. “Rus, are you enjoying yourself?”
Icarus grinned. “Genarg is so different, Dad. I know most of the recorded species of flora and fauna, so this is all new. I love it.”
Sax met his eyes and shrugged. “He’s a plant dork. At least he’s cute.”
Beol smiled softly and shook his head.
“Plants are amazing, Sax, not dorky,” Juniper said, playfully scowling at the Bracken.
Dr. Bloop and a shifted Beck ran into the clearing and circled them, tails wagging.
Earth grinned. “Did you come to check on the babies, Beck?”
Beck’s deep bark echoed around the trees.
“Come along then.” Earth walked to the Hollow, and Beck and Bloop followed.
“They do this every day,” Icarus said. “Dad really likes being able to shift and run, doesn’t he?”
“I wonder why he stays on Charybdis Station instead of going to Grellweir.” Sax watched them go.
“His family,” Icarus said immediately.
“His friends too,” Juniper added. “Sometimes I think the Brackenstones are the heart of Charybdis Station.”
Sax nodded. “I guess I get that. I just really like seeing him like this.”
“Me too,” Beol said. “I’ll have to make sure he gets to a planet sometimes. Seeing and smelling the same stuff over and over is probably boring.”
Beol watched Beck carefully wander through the piles of dirt. He would sniff at one, then another, and finally decide to curl up next to one particular pile. It was the same one each time.
Icarus helped Beol climb into the pit, and Beol sat next to his mate. Beck lay his head atop Beol’s belly and wagged his tail.
What was it about this pile of dirt that called to his mate?
Later that night, they gathered at the top of the temple. The throne was an ominous reminder that the Queen would be arriving within a few days. Ninetta continued to track the remains of Cortez’s fleet as it headed toward Genarg.
Death stood with Sebastian and Remy. Everyone in the tiny town gathered around them in the throne room. Jen and her cameraman had a prime spot to record the ritual.
The two young shamans were shirtless, and Sebastian’s tattoos were displayed for everyone to see. So was his heavy belly.
“Why did I have to take my shirt off?” Sebastian tried to cover his belly with his hands, but there was just a little too much of it.
“In solidarity,” Remy said, nudging him with his shoulder. “They’re recording this, and you feel sorry for my pale ass. Remember?”
“Thank you for coming to share this moment with Remy,” Death said, voice carrying over the small crowd. “I’ve seen this ritual performed for ages. The purpose is to celebrate the awakening of a new shaman. It’s also meant to be a beautiful moment of self-discovery for the shaman. Remy has agreed that Ms. Rally can film the rite but know that is a great gift. Don’t take it lightly.”
“We will now begin the rite of passage to determine Remy’s affinities,” Sebastian said. “Six items lie here in a circle – a withered vine for death, a small fern frond for earth, Remy’s cat for life, a lit candle for fire, a small bowl of water for water, and a whistle for air.”
“I really hope my affinity isn’t air,” Remy said, grumbling. “I don’t want a whistle tattoo.”
Sebastian shrugged. “Be happy it’s not Hack’s face.”
Hack sniffed. “If only you were so lucky, Seb.”
Death cleared his throat and gave them a look. “To begin, Remy must walk around the circle and touch each item. By doing this, he mentally and spiritually shows what he intends these items to symbolize.”
Remy walked around the circle and touched each item, then sat in the middle, legs crossed. after that.
To Beol, it was just a blur of colors and light. He leaned into Beck and whispered, “Do you understand what’s going on?”
Beck chuckled. “Nope. It was like this with Sebastian’s rite of passage too. The end is a bit showy though.”
Beol grunted in surprise when the withered vine slid across the floor to Remy. “I guess we shouldn’t be so surprised that death is one of his affinities.”
“Death is Remy’s first element affinity,” Sebastian announced for the crowd.
Potato slid across the floor, hissing as he went. The cat calmed down when he reached his person and lay his head on Remy’s knee.
“Life is his second affinity.”
“Life and death,” Death said. “That is… unusual.”
Finally, the frond slid across the floor and settled at Remy’s back.
“Earth is his third and final affinity,” Death said. “Now, the elements will mark him.”
The colorful threads of Remy’s elements snaked around his torso. Beol swore he could almost hear the threads singing.
With a burst of light, the threads sank into Remy’s body, and the man cried out in pain. His eyes popped open and everyone gasped. Where Remy’s eyes were normally blue, at that moment, they were completely black, just like Death’s.
“Um, that didn’t happen with Sebastian,” Beck whispered harshly.
When the light cleared, Beol could see Remy’s eyes were blue again, and the man’s new shaman tattoos glowed slightly. The withered vine covered one shoulder while a very feline outline covered the other. Remy turned around, and Beol saw that the delicate frond covered his back.
Earth clapped, completely delighted. “You’re one of mine. How wonderful.”
They lined up to congratulate Remy, then afterwards, they headed to the food table. Beol found himself constantly hungry nowadays. He piled his plate high, then he and Beck sat with Icarus, Meggie, and Sax. The Bracken might not eat, but they enjoyed talking to people.
