Jupiter awoke to a hum.
It was one she'd grown used to in the recent months… though apparently others hadn't. If Jupiter had harbored fantasies about waking groggily, forgetting for a few more moments that she was playing mother to Balem Abrasax of all people, that fantasy was blown away by a pair of shaking hands digging into her stomach. The rest of the shaking body was hidden beneath the covers, cuddled desperately against Jupiter's lap.
"It's okay," she muttered, hand wiping across her face. Jupiter grimaced as she caught of whiff of her own breath. "Ease up there, kid. They're just bees."
It was probably to their advantage that the hives had been asleep when they'd pulled in last night. Now though, several hundred bees had snuck in through Stinger's open window and they swarmed in happy circles above the bed. It was a far more enthusiastic wake-up then Jupiter was used to and she could only guess that it was due to two Entitles gracing their presence. Lucky bees.
The buzzing rose with excitement as Jupiter stretched and groaned. As it did, tiny fingers tried to separate Jupiter's ribs.
"They're just bees," she repeated, yawning.
Silence. Quivering. Then—
"What are bees, Mother?"
Oh. Right.
"These guys." Jupiter said. She lifted a hand and gently encouraged one to single itself out. Like when Balem had been shrieking in Durasi (had that really only been a few hours ago?) Jupiter could sometimes feel the bees 'speaking' in the back of her mind—not words exactly, but emotions couched in a language she didn't actually know. Now Jupiter watched as the bees flew together into one massive, jealousy-fuelled clump before one finally tumbled out and landed triumphantly on her finger.
Delicately, Jupiter lifted the covers until she found her hidden Balem. He was still curled against her lap and stomach. Jupiter could feel his thighs trembling too, his eyes wide and wary.
"See?" she said, stifling another yawn. Jupiter eased her finger beneath the covers as the bee flit from nail to knuckle. Balem went cross-eyed trying to look at it.
"It's hideous," he declared.
"It's a stripped fuzzball, you dolt." Jupiter pushed the bee even closer, almost bopping Balem on the nose. "These little guys are what Stinger is spliced with."
Well. That swayed him.
Not.
"They make a sweet called honey. It's even better than syrup."
Okay. A slight, curious pursing of the lips.
"They definitely won't hurt you either. Bees are genetically engineered to recognize royalty."
That caught his attention. Balem lifted his head, doming the blankets, pleased.
"And, you know, I just happen to love bees."
Balem reached out and took the bee from her, running a finger gently along its body. "I suppose I don't hate them," he said.
"High praise indeed. Now, as much as I love these early morning bonding moments, mind getting off my bladder before I do something we both regret?"
The next ten minutes were a whirlwind of bathroom trips, dodging bees, and reminding Balem that he shouldn't swallow the toothpaste, no matter how minty great it might taste. It was after she'd sent him off on a quest to find clothes that weren't black or glittering that Jupiter caught a hum in the air, one different from the background buzz she'd awoken to. Following the sound, she poked her head out the door and found her cellphone leaning against the wall. There was a crisp piece of paper folded underneath it.
Jupiter recognized Caine' scrawl as she answered the vibrating cell.
"Hello?"
Your Majesty,
The Aegis hailed earlier this morning. Lord Titus has been attempting to contact you. I've gone to see what he wants on your behalf. Take care around the pup.
Love
Regards
Sincerely
Caine.
Jupiter was laughing so hard at the signature that it took her a moment to catch the voice in her ear.
"Your Majesty?"
"Chicanery?"
His voice had always been thin and reedy, but now it was a mere whisper of its former self. Between the bees and the commotion coming from across the hall ("I'm not wearing that, Splice!" "Kiza, brat. Your mom said to use our names—" "Kiza, Kiza, Kiza, Kiza—!") she could barely hear him. Jupiter shut the door and said again, "Chicanery?"
A pained groan sounded down the line.
"Oh please, Your Majesty. Softly."
Jupiter grinned. Pulling on her jeans she kindly lowered her voice down to a whisper.
"Bet you're feeling last night, huh?"
Another pitiful sound. It sounded more like a squeak this time and Jupiter wondered if the rat genes in Chicanery were getting the better of him.
"Don't you have any super space medicine you can take?" She asked. With one hand holding the phone, she tried getting the knot of her convers undone with her teeth. Jupiter said around it, "I've seen you guys heal all sorts of wounds, even without Regene-X. Don't tell me we still don't have a decent hangover cure."
"Yes," he said quietly, so quietly. "But medication for pain is reserved for Entitles, military, and…" A slight cough. "Natural humans. Unless enlisted, a splice is not to partake."
Jupiter sat up so fast she nearly whacked a cloud of bees in all their tiny heads. "What?"
"Your Majesty…"
Jupiter lowered her voice again, but the snap of her words didn't ease. "Are you really serious right now? They don't—aren't—splices can't—?" She took a deep breath. "Tell me you're joking."
"Believe me, Your Majesty, I wish I could." Chicanery's voice was particularly strained now, though whether from pain or defeat, Jupiter couldn't say. "There are a great deal of… politics you have yet to learn."
Obviously. Getting her other shoe on with angry movements, Jupiter growled into the phone, "You're still on Balem's ship?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Then go get some damn medicine."
The pause on the other end was tangible.
"You heard me," Jupiter said even as Chicanery started spluttering. "I'm an Entitled, aren't I? Well, I'm giving you permission then. And you know what? Just in case you need more…" Standing, Jupiter jogged to the door and threw it open again. "Balem!"
He tumbled out of Kiza's room instantly. He was only half dressed, with a baseball shirt nearly down to his shins and one shoe on that he had to drag to keep on his feet. His hair stuck up in about a hundred different directions. Kiza followed behind, a pile of clothes in her arms and a very done expression gracing her features.
"Mother?" Balem said. Smiled. It seemed tormenting Kiza was good for his soul.
Jupiter held out the phone.
"Chicanery wants permission to get some medication from the ship's store. Is that okay?"
The three of them (well, four really) just stood in silence for a moment. Jupiter still had the phone thrust dramatically into the air with a force that was making her arm ache and Kiza's eyebrows had disappeared up into her bangs. Jupiter could just hear Chicanery on the line, murmuring what was no doubt a plea to stop all this nonsense. She ignored him, focusing in on Balem. He appeared befuddled—
unsurprising. He toddled forward a step before he gave up, the too-large shoe dragging him down.
"Mother?" he asked.
One word, but Jupiter knew exactly what he was saying. Why was she asking him? She was Queen. More importantly, she was Mother. Whatever she wanted, Balem wanted too.
Which was exactly why Jupiter was keeping her mouth shut. Teaching Balem anything resembling ethics was almost useless if he only did those things for her. She wanted to him to decide things because they were right—or at least because he believed they were right—not because he thought it would please her. Thus, Jupiter merely titled her head when Balem's lower lip began to tremble.
"C'mere," she eventually said and he came. Slipping out of the shoe, Balem stopped just short of pressing his head against Jupiter's knees. She knelt down to his level.
"You made lots of decisions while I was away, yeah?" she said and Balem nodded. "About what you wanted to eat and when you slept—even asking to see me." He nodded again. The fact that his decisions had been awful ones and 'asking' was a far cry from the truth wasn't important now. Jupiter nudged his chin. "Why is this different?"
Balem shrugged.
"You afraid that I'm gonna get mad if you choose wrong? 'Cause I won't." Jupiter wouldn't either. She'd make sure Chicanery got something regardless and really, this was just one small, starting step. Of course when faced with wealth and freedom Balem would choose what he thought he wanted, sweets and attention. He was six. But he'd gone straight from space dictator to momma's boy in five seconds flat and it was about time they started finding a balance between the two.
"The facts are these," Jupiter said, tilting his chin until Balem was actually looking at her. "Chicanery is in pain. The pain is... sorta his own fault" (a slight squawk from the phone) "but it's also easily fixed. But he'd also need permission to fix things. Your permission. Oh, and he's a splice." Jupiter threw that in, wondering if after a meal and dress-time with Kiza that would still make a difference. To her relief, Balem didn't immediately say no.
Instead he gnawed at his lip some more, casting hesitant glances her way.
"Can I ask?" He murmured.
"Ask what?"
"What you would do, Mother? In my place?"
Slowly, Jupiter nodded. Yeah. Asking advice was good. "I try to help people if I can," she answered honestly, but not entirely straightforward. Then Jupiter looked up. Learning to listen to multiple pieces of advice was even better. "Kiza. What do you think?"
Balem's head swung her way just as she snapped another picture. Peeking around her phone, Kiza smiled a coy little smile.
"I'd kinda like to see the rat suffer," she said, then immediately waved her hand when Jupiter glared. "But your mom's right. Help people when you can, blah blah blah. I'll let you wear the bracelets too if you say yes."
Bracelets? Whatever bracelets Kiza meant, they made Balem's eyes light up in excitement. Jupiter sighed. Ethics muddled by bribery then. Great.
"Balem?" she finally pressed.
Standing on tip-toe, Balem stretched until his mouth was pressed to Jupiter's phone. "You can receive medicine, splice" he said, like a grand king decreeing something immense. Then, before Jupiter could even get a syllable out, he amended, "You can receive medicine, Chicanery."
Progress. Sweet.
Balem dropped back on his heels, smiling up at Jupiter. Her own smile probably told him he'd done well, better than any awkward words could. Balem suddenly scrunched his nose and, not knowing or not caring that the phone was still on, asked, "And who is Chicanery, Mother?"
Jupiter stifled a laugh at the much louder squawk this time.
"He's the advisor you've spent the last month with." Jupiter laughed outright at his baffled expression. "You... never asked his name, did you?"
"I told him!" came the muffled voice. Jupiter heard what sounded like a distant crash. "Many, many times! Lord Balem."
"I think that's what betrayal sounds like," Kiza muttered. She swung her ponytail and slouched back towards her room. "Well done. The great Balem is merciful and kind, etc. etc. You want the bracelets or not?"
With a last look at Jupiter, Balem scampered off behind her. ("I want the rings too, Kiza." "Hell no." "Kiiiiiizaaaa." "They won't even fit, brat. Quiet.") Jupiter was left kneeling in the hallway with a stunned Chicanery back in her ear.
"You getting that cure yet?" she asked.
"Y-yes, Your Majesty." Jupiter could already hear supplies moving around; the hiss of a spray, a harsh sound as Chicanery swallowed something that was no doubt foul—based on past experience with Earth meds, she'd bet on it. After about a minute he sighed deeply and Jupiter settled against the wall with a smug expression that, sadly, no one was around to see.
"Better?"
"Immensely. I..." Chicanery coughed and Jupiter didn't need to see him to know he was acting all awkward. "Thank you. For that. It means a great deal, Your Majesty."
"It's a drunk's cough syrup," Jupiter said dryly. "Don't mention it. Except..."
"Except?" came the hesitant voice.
"The next time Balem drives you to drink - which will no doubt be soon - you go anywhere near a vehicle..."
"And you'll eviscerate me, Your Majesty?"
Jupiter nodded firmly. "I'll probably get Caine to do it. But yes."
"Duly noted." She heard Chicanery sigh and what sounded like the faint ding of a PADD turning on. "As much as I'll miss this passive, merciful Lord you have created—"
"Still not actually his mother."
"—I have spoken with our geneticists and they finally have something resembling answers." A grumble and a few choice words spilled over the line. "They have determined that the soaking is indeed temporary and they believe that we'll have the old Lord Balem back with us soon."
Jupiter kept silent, something iffy and kinda awful beginning to roil around in her stomach. She could hear Kiza and Balem still bickering down the hall, and from below came the smell of Stinger starting up—another—breakfast. The mixture made it feel like a band was tightening around Jupiter's throat. Which was ridiculous. And almost horrifying. Still.
"Is that necessary?" Jupiter whispered and then immediately cleared her throat. "I just mean, hypothetically, what if we just let him... grow up again? Not that I'm volunteering! And it's not like I'm saying staying with me would make him better or anything, just, maybe, I don't know..."
A rough sound filled Jupiter's ears and it took her a long moment to realize that Chicanery was laughing. It didn't sound particularly pleased though.
"You think I haven't thought of that, Your Majesty?" He said. "I almost brought it up with the geneticists..." Chicanery sighed then. "But no. I fear I wasn't speculating when I said 'soon,' you see. Regardless of why Lord Balem spent so much time in his bath, the fact remains that the compound is not meant to revert a user past their ideal, genetic state. This transformation is, in short, unstable and they believe that Lord Balem will return to his previous age within the next few days—completing a month's time as a child. Though it is admittedly a difficult thing to measure..." Lower then, muttered so soft Jupiter almost didn't hear, "I should have called on you earlier."
"So that's it then?" She asked. "His memories will be returned too?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"And what about his memories from now?"
Jupiter remembered waking briefly late at night, startling slightly at the unfamiliar feeling of a smaller body pressed against hers, taking the place of Caine's. Balem had woken with her, just barely, and she'd taken one, sleepy second to pull him closer. Jupiter didn't know if she wanted Balem to remember that or not.
"That's harder to say, Your Majesty." Chicanery said. His voice was smooth and soft. "It's... something we'll have to wait on."
"Right."
Silence.
"Your Majesty?"
"What?"
"Would you indulge your humble servant in a favor? Tell that bee splice of yours that I was right. Balem's return to his previous state will prove that the Liam myth is utter hogwash. Honestly, Your Majesty. You would do well to surround yourself with those who possess a higher caliber of intellect."
Despite herself, Jupiter's lips twitched. "You volunteering?"
"And associate myself with that pack of yours?" Chicanery sniffed. "Certainly not."
"Fine. I'll just inform Stinger of your gloating then."
"Please do."
"Then I'll get the hell out of his way."
Jupiter could almost hear the shrug on the other line. "It's a price I'm willing to pay, Your Majesty."
Another silence. This time the humor Chicanery had infused faded quickly and Jupiter found her gaze continually straying towards Kiza's room. She jumped slightly at a diffident cough—one that sounded like it was far from the first Chicanery had given.
"Your Majesty?" He said. "Was there anything else?"
Get it together, Jupiter.
"Yeah," she said, running a hand over her face. "Just, uh, Caine left a note. Early this morning. Really early based on when we got to bed... anyway, he said something about Titus trying to contact me? He's not back yet, but you know anything about this?"
Jupiter's eyes widened at the string of curses that poured from Chicanery's lips, none of them in English. She also caught the sound of a PADD being viciously searched.
"Is this bad...?" she asked.
"Potentially, Your Majesty." Chicanery growled. "I—"
Multiple things happened then that set Jupiter's head spinning, more-so than it already was. The first was that Balem finally stepped out of Kiza's room, fully dressed. He was still wearing Kiza's baseball shirt along with a pair of tiny short-shorts no doubt held up by a belt. Jupiter only knew he wasn't still naked under that long-ass shirt was because she saw the peak of jeans when Balem happily swung his arms up over his head. As he did a series of black bracelets clinked down his arm, barely keeping to his bony wrists when his arms swung back down. Balem was still barefoot. The entire outfit was ridiculous, but serviceable, and it might have even been cute if it weren't for the fedora perched on top of his head.
"What is that?" Jupiter hissed.
"What is what, Your Majesty?"
Jupiter jumped, remembering Chicanery. "Uh…"
"Blackmail," Kiza answered, drawing out the 'a.' Her phone went off, two—three—five more times.
"I told you to burn that!"
"Sure. But you didn't say when."
"Kiza—"
"Your Majesty…" Chicanery's voice had taken on a suspicious undercurrent. "Are you discussing my hat?"
"Nope. Absolutely note. What? Balem."
He'd already snatched the hat from his head, obviously catching on that Mother didn't like it. With a silent kid-curse he threw the hat back at Kiza, hitting her square in the stomach. Kiza made an exaggerated 'oof' sound, doubling over like she'd been shot, and Jupiter was torn between "Don't throw things" and "Good shot" when Stinger came charging up the stairs.
"Your Majesty," he gasped.
He was dressed in a "Kiss the Apidae" apron and had a spatula raised threateningly above his head. It periodically dripped batter onto his shoulder. Jupiter closed her eyes.
"Yes, Stinger?"
"It's the Aegis, Your Majesty. They just hailed. Someone is trying to break through the communication ward they've set up around Earth."
Jupiter's eyes snapped back open.
"Lord Titus?" Chicanery's tiny voice asked.
"Not Titus."
"NotTitus?"
"Mother?"
Balem was tugging on her jeans. Jupiter scooped him into her arms and he wrapped himself tight around her neck, shivering slightly from all the tension. Jupiter tried to hold him and balance the phone and look at the red, blinking stats that Kiza had pulled up and was now shoving under her nose. Jupiter quickly gave up.
"Okay. Chicanery? I'm gonna have to call you back."
"No, no, Your Majesty, wait—"
But Jupiter had to prioritize. She clicked off the phone, stuck it in her back pocket, and immediately felt it buzzing as Chicanery called back. She ignored it.
"Who's trying to get through then?" Jupiter asked, one hand keeping Balem's head steady.
Buzz buzz went the phone.
"Can't say, Your Majesty." Stinger also had some sort of tech out, wiping batter away so he could actually see the readings. "They're blocking the signal."
Buzz buzz.
"I can't identify them either," Kiza admitted.
Buzz buzz.
"Well what then?"
Buzz buzz.
"Mother." Balem murmured. "Chicanery wants you." He tightened his knees against her waist, clearing disliking the truth of that. Jupiter growled lightly into his ear.
"Yeah, I noticed."
Shushing the Apinis, Jupiter pulled her phone back out with jerky movements and answered just a little too hard.
"WHAT?" she shouted.
Silence. Then:
"… Jupiter Jones. Is that how you speak to me?"
"Mo—?" Jupiter bit off the word 'mom' at the last second, her eyes flying to Balem even as the blood flew from her face. He was peeking at her curiously, having caught the unexpected female voice, and wow, that was not a complication she needed right now, Balem asking why his mother was calling some Earthling 'Mom.'
Jupiter had a sudden vision of Balem calling Aleksa 'grandmother.' She made a rather pained sound.
"Mother?"
Did Balem even have a biological grandmother? Was she still alive? Jupiter wasn't sure she needed to know.
"Mother."
"Sorry," Jupiter drew out, silencing Balem. She turned her glare on Kiza when her mouth dropped open in gleeful understanding. "Its been a long morning…"
"Your Majesty," Stinger whispered.
"A LONG MORNING?" Aleksa suddenly shrieked. Jupiter jerked the phone away from her ear, nearly dropping Balem in the process. He jumped too… then recovered. His eyes honed in on where Aleksa's voice was emanating, he lifted his chin, and Jupiter heard the tinniest, "How dare you," escape his mouth. She choked on a horrified laugh and quickly slapped a hand over his lips. In retaliation Balem began jangling his bracelets angrily.
"Your Majesty," Stinger insisted.
"You have had a long morning?" Aleksa continued, oblivious to all that was happening on her daughter's end. Her voice continued to rise with each word. "I have had a long NIGHT. You disappearing? Sneaking out? What sort of 'long morning' have you had with that drunk?!"
"No!" Jupiter yelped. "It's not like that." She tried to tuck herself away from Kiza and Balem's red faces—red for entirely different reasons. "It's really not like that," Jupiter repeated. "Oh my god."
"Then you come home and tell me what it is like," Aleksa said. Her voice softened a bit. "Where are you? Are you still with that man?"
"No. I'm, uh, with Caine…"
Beside her, Balem went from enraged to confused in .2 seconds flat.
"Caine is not here, Mother." He said helpfully. Balem pressed a warm hand to her forehead. "Are you ill?"
"Oh no, baby, I'm fine—"
"Jupiter?" Worry and frustration were creeping back into Aleksa's voice. "Are you talking to Caine? When do we meethim, huh? This boyfriend you claim you're not cheating on."
"I'm not!"
"Put him on."
"I can't—I—we need to go—"
"Mother…?"
"Jupiter."
"I'm fine, really, okay? Caine is fine too. Everyone is. Just super." Jupiter said it all in a rush, eyes closed and rocking slightly. "Just, I'll be home soon. I promise. Absolutely. Need to go now though."
"Jupiter—!"
"Your Majesty."
"Bye!"
With a relived sigh Jupiter shut off her phone again, and as she did the warning in Stinger's voice finally permeated. As did the sudden silence in the hall.
"Stinger?"
He was staring at something just behind her, his jaw tight and his spatula once more looking like a formidable weapon. (In his hands Jupiter had no doubt that it was). Kiza was staring too, though she had adopted a far more relaxed stance. Only her hooded eyes spoke of her anger. Balem was twisting to look. A tiny nose nudged her cheek.
"Mother," he whispered hoarsely. Scared.
Jupiter turned and came toe to claw with what could only be a bat splice. The woman—at least, Jupiter thought she was a woman—was two heads taller than her and though thin, she looked as if she possessed three times the muscle mass. Her skin was dark with a brown fuzz overlapping most of it, covering entirely her long, perked ears. The most impressive feature though were her arms. Stretching from her ribs to her wrists were paper-thin wings that rustled as she settled into a military stance.
Jupiter could see extra bones there—like thin arm bones—stretching out across each wing. Many ended with thinner strips of cartilage sprouting out from the tip, almost like fingers. Sure enough, a collection of them moved and in response the edge of the wing clenched, veins popping and curling violently. Dressed entirely in black and wearing two unnecessary guns, this bat-woman looked ready to take on a whole fleet of Sargorns. Which, you know, was not something that needed doing right now. Not at all.
Jupiter swallowed through one hell of a dry throat and tugged Balem a little closer. The bat-woman honed in on her discomfort, her black nose twitching. She smiled.
"Greetings, Your Majesty," she said and Jupiter noted a row of sharp, pointed teeth. "I am Guano. I have come to—"
"Guano?" The word shot out of Jupiter's mouth before she could stop it. As did the slightly hysterical laugh a second later. "Guano? Seriously? They named you poop?"
Next to her ear, Balem let out a nervous little giggle.
The bat-woman—Guano, apparently—pulled up in affront. The added height made her look twice as intimidating, but the frustrated scowl started killing the mood. If Jupiter had to guess, she'd say this wasn't the first time someone had made fun of her name. It almost made Jupiter regret her thoughtless comment... almost. Balem was still shaking slightly against her.
"Technically, yes." Guano bit out. "You are aware, Your Majesty, that all splices are named after the characteristics of the animal they're spliced with? It is a long and honored tradition."
"Okay..." Jupiter could see that. Caine, canine. Stinger, stinging bees. Chicanery... yeeeah. Chicanery. She nodded her head. "Does that mean you got the short end of the name stick then?"
Guano closed her eyes. "It is true that numerous bat splices were bred for military purposes years ago. We also have quite the lifespan. By the time my master created me..." She shrugged, her wings rustling in frustration. "Well. She was scrounging."
"That sucks," Jupiter said.
"That sucks, Guano," Balem intoned. He looked to Jupiter for praise.
"Oh, no. Don't go repeating that. You're not inheriting my potty mouth."
"Ah—! Yes, Mother. Sorry, Mother."
Guano was eyeing them both with a thoughtful, curious expression. "I did not realize you were so enamored with excrement, Your Majesty."
"I am," Kiza piped up. She was down low on one knee, trying to capture both Balem and Guano's bulk in the same frame. Despite the vulnerable position, her smile remained ice cold. "As in, you're going to be excrement if you don't tell us what the fuck you want with our Queen."
"Don't repeat that either," Jupiter murmured.
"I second that," Stinger growled. "Wait..." he pointed with his spatula to Kiza. "I mean I second what my daughter said. Not my Queen. Though the baby bee probably shouldn't be saying those things anyway—I—wait. Just wait." He took a breath. "What exactly are you doing in my house?"
"Oh." Guano jerked like she'd just remembered something. "Of course. I'm meant to take Her Majesty and Lord Balem to Lady Kalique, using any means necessary."
"To Kalique?" Kiza spluttered.
Stinger raised his spatula. "Now hold on, you—"
"Too late."
Guano actually sounded apologetic when she said that. Indeed, a second later Jupiter felt some sort of transporter locking around her frame. It wasn't anything like the ones she was used to, where she floated freely, able to take in the scenery as she rose higher and higher into the sky. No, this transporter locked her in place—literally. Jupiter thought briefly that she was glad she'd had a firm hold on Balem. He was equally stuck against her hip now.
"Mooootheeer!" He wailed. Everything was stuck but his mouth.
Jupiter couldn't turn to see Kiza and Stinger's expressions, but she could imagine them pretty well. She'd just opened her mouth to say something—a reassurance? A 'release me now or you'll be sorry'? Begging? Hell, she didn't actually know—when suddenly she felt a tug at her navel. In the next second Guano pressed her comm and disappeared, Jupiter heard Kiza shout, and then she and Balem were rising. The last thing Jupiter felt was Balem's panicked breathes against her skin.
Then they were gone.