Chapter Ten: Family values are a sham

Over the next couple of weeks, nothing much happened.

Well, that's a lie.

Things did happen. Lots of things. Things like a war, a stand off and the triumphant victory of the Republic over the attack thanks to some plucky kids and their organoid. But in the little town of Linulk, life went at an easy pace, and news from the cities and from the war were discussed in the inn, and by gossiping mothers when their children were at school. Mostly; it was a time to recharge. Sleeping in was a luxury Prozen hadn't been able to afford in his job, but here every day was a pleasant meandering of time he was only too eager to enjoy.

Mostly it was to do with the surroundings. Prozen been born here, and in his youth had spent much of the time exploring if he wasn't ill. Albinos were not expected to survive with the high quantity of magnite in their blood; much less pass their genes onto the next generation. Now of course he was old and strong, a second generation and that was fine.

He was also eating cookies.

It was raining.

The storms came in during this time of year; old and vicious storms who knew how to put up a fight. With the electricity out, everyone had gone to bed in the Prozen household. But this didn't stop Prozen from grabbing a plateful of said cookies and some milk to enjoy by candle light. Old habits died hard.

Hiltz was curled up in the window seat of the room he'd been granted. This place was good for him; you didn't need to be living here to see that. With a slight notion of pride, Prozen thought Hiltz was practically glowing with vitality, regardless of his expanding waistline. Snuggled under a throw rug, he did not stir as Prozen peeked around the door and let himself in. Setting down the candle stick, he crawled up beside the Zoidan and watched the storm with him.

Pouring them both a glass he snuggled down and cautiously stretched a leg out to nudge Hiltz with a toe. "Cookie?"

"Hnh? Oh. Thanks."

"You okay?"

"Yeah."

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Hiltz looked at him then, finishing off the first of many cookies he would be consuming. "Pardon?"

"A penny for your thoughts. Human saying. What's on your mind?"

There was a snuffle and for a moment, Prozen froze, but then the lightening flashed, and he realised it was Ambient inch worming his way across the floor. Organoids, as a rule, shouldn't be able to do that. But somehow Ambient did and slowly raised his great head and sniffed the plate. Hiltz smiled and caressed the monstrous head and fed him one.

"…Seriously. Nothing much."

"Nothing much warrants for some pretty odd behaviour."

"Everything is fine."

"Then why aren't you sleeping?" Prozen sipped his milk. "…Do you…are you…" For a moment, he faltered. The words were in his head, but he couldn't say them.

"…Do I miss you? You hog the blanket, you talk in your sleep, and you hate sex in the mornings." There was a pause. "Yeah, I do actually. I just don't like the rain. Storms in general actually."

"Any reason why?"

"They're loud."

"Want me to sleep over tonight?"

"Your mother thinks you're crazy." Hiltz grinned, ignoring the question.

"She knows I'm crazy. That's why she pities you."

"She took it rather well actually." Hiltz took his own glass. "Cookies and milk? What are we, kids here?"

"Electricity is off. I could smell my mother baking them today, so I took some. Is there a problem?"

"Not really. Just seems…so unlike us." He smiled then. "I think your ma is happy that you're not being bothered so much by…this. Besides, she's getting a grandchild. Most people are happy about that…even in mysterious circumstances." Hiltz swallowed and took another.

"Hnh." Prozen tossed a cookie to Ambient who caught it with a grunt and rolled combat style to almost collide with the wall. "He's getting good."

"And gaining weight like his owner. I saw the kids feeding him scraps when we were out the other day."

Prozen felt a soft chill. Unlike the villagers here, he knew how dangerous Hiltz actually was…and his organoid. He'd seen them in combat. He'd seen the after shots. Hell, he'd been there when Hiltz went on his little killing spree. "Harmless you know."

"Not complaining." The Zoidian pushed the now very empty plate away and patted his tummy. "That hit the spot. No, I like it here. It reminds me of the world I left behind. Nice and green…a few Zoids, but for the most part, the people are actually nice here." He grinned. "When this is over, you have to show me everything."

"I promise." Prozen grinned back. Earlier that day a little expedition had been organised to wander the hills to the west, but Tatiana had put her foot down. It was hard enough keeping the whole situation quiet from the village gossips who were already shaking their heads at her son's behaviour. She didn't need Hiltz' condition revealed let alone his species. But Hiltz always seemed better after a long walk; relaxed and deeply happy. "It'll be fun."

"But not romantic."

"Of course not. Perish the thought we'd do anything like that."

oOo

Hiltz woke alone the next morning.

Well, almost alone.

He was snuggled down quite deeply into the bed, with something hard against his back. The bed creaked and several springs groinked as Ambient came online and flexed his head around to nuzzle the pillows beneath his great head and chirp at Hiltz. The Zoidian blinked in surprise, then sighed and rested his head against the organoid's cheek plate.

"Morning old boy."

"Huurraaarrgh." A tail flopped protectively over his legs, thankfully cushioned by the thick quilts.

"Gerrof you bloody sod." He managed to free an arm and drew it around the organoid's muzzle. "Did you eat that pesky human? I hope you didn't. I'm going to need him for hurting during birth."

Ambient snorted, and his optics dimmed in response to the question.

"He left during the night? The bastard."

"Kwee."

Okay, that wasn't what he was expecting. Hiltz sat up, wincing a little at the complaints his body was giving him. "He left in a hurry? He left the house? Where did he go?"

Ambient rolled onto his belly. Or at least, tried to. The organoid found himself without a bed to be on and fell off with a clunk, squealing angrily and flailing with his legs in the air. Quickly trying to regain composure, he managed to get onto his talons and look around the room suspiciously, as if someone had planned his fall.

Hiltz chuckled, reaching out and patting his snout. "Stop it. If you don't know, you don't know. That's okay. I'm sure it's for a good reason or something." Ambient creeled. "No…he's not the sort to love and leave. We kept you up? Well sor-ry. Next time shoo when we ask you to." A grunt was the only thing Hiltz got in reply, and he sighed. "No, I don't think he's going to sell me to that little bastard. He may be human; but I trust him. Yes, you heard me. He's better than most of the ones we've met. I mean, come on…he keeps us away from Rhyss."

Ambient wasn't convinced though. Towering over the bed and blocking out the light from the window, he bent down and nudged Hiltz hard with his thorny muzzle. The sentiment made Hiltz frown and feel embarrassed, and he sat up properly and pulled the quilts and blankets around himself for protection. He narrowed his dark eyes and fixed his organoid with a glare.

"…I appreciate your concerns. But as an organoid, you have next to no idea what I'm going through. As for what's happening to me, you know as well as I do this wasn't planned. He had nothing to do with this in any way, shape or form. And as much as I dislike him, he has my respect."

"Arrrhhhhggghh!"

Hiltz felt the blush rising. "I am not being weak!" He threw a pillow at the organoid who flailed his forearms and squealed a mock battle cry that reminded Hiltz of the days of yore. Taking this as a challenge, he rose up from his place of rest and slammed the other pillow into the organoid's head. Ambient managed to twist away this time and spun – his tail, coming down –

Hiltz took a breath. He knew how this would go; normal organoid attack. A tail slam was to wind it's opponent and then go for the killing crush with it's jaws. The hit was always made, and whenever Ambient spun around to bite him the touch was gentle; a symbol of their trust.

This time however, taking the blow would be…not good.

But it was a light tap against his abdomen, and before Hiltz could register what had happened, a muzzle was pressed against the side of his neck and he shivered with the tiny little love bites he received. Cooing, the organoid stepped back and bobbed his head.

The answer was simple. Do what you want with the human; you always have me. I won't leave.

Smiling fondly at his bondmate, Hiltz picked himself up and took his time getting dressed and ready for going downstairs. A shower was deeply in order; Hiltz loved water and hadn't had this kind of luxury in his old life. A bath would have been better, but they were reserved for special occasions, and he had a feeling he would be having them a lot as time wore on. Getting out and mopping himself dry, he tried not to feel a little put out by his reflection in the mirror and slipped on a pair of pants, disturbed that he couldn't do them up. Somehow, it didn't click in his mind that he couldn't do it, he just kept trying.

Until, finally, giving up, he sat down on the bed and buried his face in his hands.

Argh. Cringe. Emotion time. In that split second he wanted to run away from everything and forget all about it; it was too much. He wanted to cry and scream and kill something all at once. And he wanted sympathy. He wanted someone to be there, to rub his back or something, maybe hug him, tell him it was all right. That he was still his handsome self, and this…this thing wasn't a part of him.

A hand gently gripped his shoulder, steadying him.

Surprise slammed into him like a half brick.

He was not expecting any help at all, and organoids offered cold comfort as far as sympathy went. But people were different, and having someone touch him like this was…frightening. He jerked, and looked up in surprise at the calm, quiet and incredibly reserved face of Tatiana. He didn't move, simply watched in amazement as she reached out again and lightly smoothed back his hair, her brows creased with worry.

And Ambient sat there, watching him.

He knew in himself that she wasn't a threat, it was just…here and now…

How the hell did she get in so quietly?

"Shh. It's okay."

"It's not. They don't fit anymore." He gasped, and immediately wanted to kick himself. Not the sort of thing he wanted to say.

"I have these for you." In her hands was a peace offering; new clothing. His heart skipped a beat and he clutched at them greedily, going back to the bathroom to change. They fit nicely, even if it was one of those drawstring types. He'd seen her making things during the weeks he'd been there not at all realising they were for him, and now, standing there he felt a lot better. The pants circled his hips instead of his waist, and slipping over the baggy tunic, he felt complete and covered again. But it was short-lived, slipping back out he felt self conscious again, deeply aware that she was looking him over. Feeling the need to say something, he decided to ask a question that was important to the both of them.

"Where's Gunther?"

"That doesn't matter. You're still wet, you'll catch cold."

"No I won't."

"You are as stubborn as Gunther says. Come here."

He'd heard many kinds of voices throughout his life, male and female. But…a motherly tone…was something he wasn't used to. His defences cracked and he sat still beside her on the bed as she took his towel and did her best with his soaking wet hair.

She did not look him in the face. Deep down, Hiltz suspected she was angry with the experiment…hell, who wouldn't be? It was dirty, disgusting and depraved! But there was something else too…a sort of…why couldn't you be a girl? thing going on.

He grit his teeth.

"I'm sorry."

"What?"

"I'm sorry." Hiltz repeated. "I'm sorry this happened. Your son is normal. I'm just not. Then this happened. I'm sorry." Ouch. Pathetic.

Her face softened.

She raised her hand, stroking the side of his face. The touch was so amazingly soothing Hiltz found himself unable to fight closing his eyes and resting into it. Tears; the dirty hateful weak ones that wouldn't leave him alone – wanted to fall, and it took all his self control not to sob.

"I'm not upset with you, Hiltz." She breathed in her soft voice. "I'm not upset at all – I just have a lot going on in my mind. You didn't come down for breakfast, so…I came up here to see if you were all right."

"I'm fine, really-"

"Nothing is wrong with you right now."

"I feel like I want to cry and scream and fight all at once. And I feel sick. And I'm craving pancake syrup again. I don't like this."

She chuckled. Again with the touching, she rubbed his back and smiled down at him. "This is what it's like I'm afraid. Being pregnant. The little life inside you is throwing everything out of whack, and all you can do is try to hold on for dear life."

"When does it stop?"

"I could say when it's born. But that would be a lie. A little part of you will always be vulnerable, because it's your baby. Even when they grow up and leave home, they're still a part of you and you're helpless to stop them from doing anything silly, or hurting themselves. And all you want…" Her free hand brushed his rounding middle with tenderness she'd only ever displayed to her own flesh and blood. "…Is to bring it back into your body to keep it safe. Because when it's inside, it's safe. This world is so full of horrors."

Horrors like me. Hiltz nodded and gripped the side of the bed hard. "I think I'm starting to understand."

"Give it time."

"…Thank you."

"You're welcome." She smoothed down her skirt and then smiled at him again, a friendly open smile. "Are you hungry, or is the nausea really bothering you?"

"I'm sick because I'm hungry."

"Ahh. That old circle." She stood up. "We'd better go downstairs and fix it then, hadn't we?"

"Yeah. Sure. Tatiana?" She glanced at him, and he lost his nerve. Mother-in-laws were not something they taught you about in the mines. "…where's Gunther? Please tell me."

Her face darkened. She then turned away, her voice tight and quiet.

"I had a phone call last night. It seems that a certain event did not go as planned…"

"The attack on the Republic?"

"Yes. Heavy casualties. But worse still…young Raven was in the area." Hiltz felt something twist inside. "He was badly injured, but has been taken back to Guygolos for treatment. There was another boy apparently in the fight, no names were given. They've tangled before…Messy, messy…" Tatiana closed her crimson eyes and gritted her teeth. "…Many people died on all sides. My god! I have friends in the Republic you know, the stories I could tell you! And now…"

"What?"

"The emperor." She took a ragged breath. "That bastard is on his death's bed. He took ill during the campaign. Old fool has been lurking around for ages with this, and it's finally got him. But Gunther has to be present…family reasons."

"Family?"

"It's a long story. I'd prefer it if he told you. But it's only going to end in tears…it always does. The old man is thankfully dying, and maybe this nonsense can be laid to rest."

"How long has he got?"

"The doctor didn't say."

"You're taking this very personally." The look she gave him was one full of hurt, so Hiltz decided not to push it. Standing up, and giving Ambient a pat, he carefully filed away what he had just heard and gave her a hopefully nice smile. "…Forget it. Lets get something to eat. Then…I don't know. Wait for a phone call?"

Tatiana nodded. "And if you don't mind, I'd like to measure you some more. It's been a while since I had someone to make clothes for." She went out into the corridor.

Ambient looked Hiltz up and down, grunted and then followed her, leaving Hiltz opened mouthed in shock.

"What the hell do you mean 'You're going to need them?' AM-BI-ENT!"

to be continued