There was something in the vast universe known at Family Week which was akin to Thanksgiving on Earth but very different since it was actually celebrated throughout the week. All of ones family moved into the family's starters house for a single week and got together for a large meal each day, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Old stories were shared, old memories and a lot of laughs were sent around along with the usual drinks and platters of food. The Surfeit Family was minus three members, everyone but TazirVile and his daughter, EshalVile and TazirVile sister, QeetaVile were sitting at the table in DuruVile's house having a great time. Everyone but DuruVile himself. He was secretly stewing and depressed, stewing over Angel Irene spilling the beans on him about the potions he had made and was keeping in his and his wife's bedroom chamber on their ship and turning one of his son's against him. He had shared his journal entries of the past few weeks with his oldest son when he had gotten back to camp, it wasn't because he had been demanded to show them, he had wanted to. Kuruk had read them then had gone off on his own, saying he was purely disgusted with him. Both he and Vile had taken off with their families and ships to a different location leaving him with his wife. Tazir, when he had gone up to him to do a talking session, had turned on him and had opened up fully. He had done it right in front of his mother, sister and his mother's husband, each word that had come from his mouth had angered him so much and he had been about to pound his son into the ground until the final sentence was shouted out. That final sentence of declaring that he was sick of being around his father and didn't want his father anywhere around him or his daughter had hit a nerve strongly. He had tried to call his son back, in a blind panic, but his son had walked off in a huff. Ashaklar and given him a quick hug then had ushered him away, Qeeta had walked behind him then had turned and said that his sentence went double for her. The man named Cheshire Ubalki had glared at him angrily and had declared that if he came anywhere near his family, which included Tazir and Qeeta he had said, he'd be in dire trouble. He had been left alone, a great fear had filled him, he had become terrified of what was happening, that he was losing his children, then when he had seen his son's Goblin army enter into their army ship and lift off and his son's ship taking off the shit had hit the fan. He had dropped to his knees and had near cried, his heart had filled with dread and fear. Dread over possibly losing his son's, dread over him writing in his journal about the potions and making them, dread over losing one of his daughter's and fear that he'd be walking around with three less children and one less grandchild. His anger was directed fully on Angel Irene, for running her mouth and making this whole mess happen. Kuruk had come around after five horrifying days, they were talking and things were heading back the way they use to be between he and his oldest son. DuruVile had explained how things had been with him when Tazir had been growing up, his frustrations and all.
"You're a family man, dad, like I." KurukVile had said to him. "But, unlike I you took a more gentle approach to raising my children. Yes, like you I was tough and had them training quite a lot, Vile was a prodigy, but I didn't beat them up for not showing a specific power. I accepted them for who they were, they're not me, they have me in them, they have my blood in them and I love them like a father should, but I never pushed them to do a power that they couldn't nor did I ever hurt them for not showing a talent which I had. That's one thing I learned from you when I was growing up, you was hard on showing acceptance. I accept my kids for who they are and I love them for who they are, they don't have to be conquerors or parents for me to show them love or to accept them, they're my kids."
That had hurt, that had made him go off for a small walk in his garden for an hour. He had been hard and tough on all of his children but more so with his son's than his daughter's and much more so with Tazir that with Kuruk. Yes, he did have to admit that he favored Kuruk over Tazir and he wasn't going to let that change, but he did love Tazir too. Tazir was his secondborn son, he might not be as strong or powerful as his favorite son but he was his son and he loved him. After his talk with Kuruk he had tried calling Tazir up. He had sat at his black and gold French phone for two days, constantly rolling the dial, adding in the numbers, leaving messages for Tazir to get in contact with him and that he wanted to talk with him. He had gotten no calls back, and then when Qeeta had not shown up at his house after all of his other daughter's had, along with their respective families, husbands and daughter's and his one grandson who he was thrilled to of held for the first time, he had gotten very worried. He had called her up and started leaving her messages, asking where she was and what was going on and if she was alright. He had gotten no calls back, no messages, nothing on his sixth born daughter, his only daughter through his marriage to Ashaklar. When Family Week had begun he had had to accept that there was something seriously wrong, it was now day four of Family Week and so far, no calls or appearances of his secondborn son or sixth born daughter.
"So, Irka, you're having number four?" Zajra said, she had a bowl of green and red swirl cherry pudding with a tinge of lemon juice and a lemon wedge and peel in front of her.
"Yes, shy two weeks of being three months." Irka replied.
"How you planning on having a fifth afterwards?" Zajra asked.
"Yes," KurukVile and Irka replied together.
DuruVile looked at Zajra, this was one of his daughter's that had a partner of the same sex. She was a short woman, standing only five foot three inches she had light tanned skin and deep purple hair on her head and a ring of long dark brown hair around her waist. Her ears were slightly sticking out from her head and she had peach colored eyes. She wore a little bit of make-up, not much but enough to bring out her pretty looks. Zajra was wearing a red gown that had sequins of black and gold on the top and bottom, a Z was embroidered on the chest-part of her dress in gold. She had red party gloves on her hands that went up to her elbows, her silver painted fingernails poked out from small cut-out holes at the end of the gloves. Beside Zajra was her same-sex partner, Poa, who was a goat-woman wearing a blue shirt and blue pants and blue shoes on her feet. Poa had long white fur rolling down the sides of her head and black cloven hooves.
"Do you know the gender yet?" Vaiba asked. "Or are you going to keep it secret?"
"You know, we're thinking about keeping the baby's gender a secret as a surprise." KurukVile replied, he then leaned forward. "I say a boy but she's the decider here."
"Something's leaning me towards another son." Irka said.
"I wouldn't mind a baby brother." Triskull spoke up. "But, uhm, a baby sister I wouldn't also mind having."
Vaiba was one of his daughter's that had inherited a lot from her mother's father's side of the family, he had gone and gotten her checked to be sure that she was his daughter and had looked like a fool when the results had come out saying that she was surely his. Vaiba had long, burgundy colored hair and deep brown eyes and she was about five foot nine and a half inches tall. She was wearing a blue blouse with a brown belt around it and brown pants, on her feet were brown boots. Beside Vaiba was her husband, Majeer, who was a four-foot seven-inch Cowerki that had multi-colored brown and black fur all over his body and bear-like ears. He had a brown band over his chest and brown pants and shoes on. On either side of them were their three daughter's, twins Takke and Nekke and Aesa, all who looked like a combination of their parents, Takken had beside her her husband, Kokan, who was a Wraline. Kokan had strong, bear-like arms and legs, a muscle hard stomach covered in tan fur and a bald head. He was wearing a brown tuxedo and shoes. Sitting between Takke and Kokan was their son, and DuruVile's only great-grandson, Tarav.
"So, Vile, anymore planned?" Daispa asked.
"What?" Master Vile looked up, he had shifted a bite of grilled steak to one side of his mouth to speak.
"Anymore children with Angel?" Daispa asked.
"At the moment, no." Master Vile replied, he had swallowed the bite of grilled steak and was making a face because it wasn't going down correctly. He reached over and grabbed his glass of Lava Juice quickly and downed half of it.
"You still haven't caught her yet, have you?" Bellatan asked lightly.
"No."
"We think he'll be having a grandchild here in the next few months." Irka spoke up.
Bellatan and Daispa were twins, his only twin offspring, and they looked very alike except for their outfits. Bellatan was wearing a brown dress and boots while Daispa was wearing a blue shirt and skirt, a small bit of her belly was showing but that was all, she had blue heels on her feet. Both had glowing green eyes, exactly like their father's, and bleach blonde hair, their skin was a milky silver color. Both stood five foot ten inches tall but Daispa was petite while Bellatan was sturdy in build. Neither were married, but both had their same-sex partners, who were also twins, with them. Bellatan was with Canere while Daispa was with Chokota, both Canere and Chokota were clown-like beings wearing tight, multi-colored suits, Chokota had orange poms on her suit while Canere had long white cuffs on hers, Canere had puffy white hair while Chokota had long chocolate brown hair, both had white eyes.
"A grandchild?" Bekla looked up from her Shams and Pork. "Rita! Zedd! Congratulations!"
"No, not us." Rita chuckled. "Not yet, we're not ready yet for babies."
"Rito?" Bekla looked at Rito who was shaking his head slowly, he was still recovering from his injuries that his younger half-sister had given him during their fight two months before.
"It's still a touchy subject for our son," Irka leaned forward. "he hasn't come around to accepting it yet."
"Accepting?" Whosla looked up sharply. "What, of having a grandchild? Vile, it's a great experience! Doesn't mean you're old, because you're not. You're forever, you will live forever."
Whosla looked like her mother to a T except that her eyes were like her father's, she was wearing a green dress with a black belt around the waist and green heels. Beside her sat her husband, Zebyr, who was a lizard-like man with a frill around his neck, he had a green and blue scaled body and white lizard-like nails and eyes. He was wearing a brown jacket, white shirt and vest and black pants, on his feet were black shoes. Alongside them were their children, all girls and all looking like their father. Bekla looked like a combination of DuruVile and his first wife, Dapira. She had the elongated ears which were tan in color with white Tiger-like stripes on them and glowing green eyes with yellow pupils. She was wearing a purple dress that had gold designs on it and black stitching on the hems and collar-line and purple heels that had chains around the heel. Sitting beside her was her husband, Keibo, who was a Vronkin, a strong and sturdy man that had a worm-like body and pencil thin arms. He was wearing a white tuxedo. Beside them were their three daughter's who were a combination of their parents.
"Well, since we're on the subject..." Irka sighed then leaned forward. "There had been an issue come up between our son and Angel."
"And Tazir." KurukVile added.
"Yes, you see..." Irka was stuggling to find the right words which would not upset her son who was rubbing his temples. "Tazir turned out to be her... dominant universal mate and she's... pregnant with his child."
"What!" AraimeVile exclaimed. "No, our Twiggy didn't..."
"Yes, he got Angel pregnant." Irka nodded her head. "She should be, if she's still pregnant, three and a half months along now."
"If she's still pregnant?" AzvraVile repeated. "She didn't do a repeat did she? I heard she aborted Vile's first child with her, did she..."
"In the last fight my youngest son ran up and side kicked her in the stomach." KurukVile turned and gave Triskull, who he had really given hell for the past two weeks, a glaring look. "She disappeared after that so we don't know if she is still with child or not."
AraimeVile, or as everyone called her Araime, was KurukVile's older sister, she was five foot ten inches tall and had glowing blue eyes with white pupils and blue skin. She was completely earless and had an unemotional looking face. She was wearing a light blue dress that pulled down in the front and light blue shoes. AzvraVile was KurukVile's younger sister and looked like a combination of her mother, Cyla, and father. She had small ears which stuck out slightly from her head that were dark blue that had black Tiger-like stripes on then and dark blue skin, her eyes were a light glowing green with light yellow pupils. AzvraVile, or as everyone called her Azvra, was wearing a tight black dress that had red swirls on the front and black boots. Neither Azvra or Araime were married.
"How along would she be around now?" AraimeVile asked.
"Three months and a week and four days, about." Irka replied.
"So, would this one be Vile's grandchild or..." AraimeVile started to ask, Master Vile was shaking his head.
"No, his grandchild." KurukVile replied. "My, uh, first great-grandchild and, uh, niece or nephew."
"Is she with Tazir now?" Azvra asked. "Is that why he and she isn't here or..."
"There was something come up," DuruVile spoke up. "Angel sparked a fuss between he and I and Qeeta and I haven't seen him or heard from him in a week and four days now."
"He'll come around," Irka said. "both he and Qeeta will come around. Just give them some time."
"So, what happened?" Whosla asked. "What was said?"
"That he didn't want me anywhere around him or his daughter and was sick of me." DuruVile swallowed hard after saying that, that sentence still stung him hard. Cyla patted him on the back.
"He'll come around," Zajra said. "he never was one to fully stay away. He loves you, don't fret over it."
"Yeah daddy," Kulabai said. "trust us. We know Tazzy, he said the same to all of us at one time and he came around after a short stay away. You haven't lost him."
DuruVile smiled at his thirdborn daughter from his first marriage, she had a way of always cheering him up and at the moment, she had done just that. Kulabai was a tall lizard-like woman with elongated ears that had a scaly-appearance, she was green and yellow in color with glowing yellow eyes. She was wearing a green shirt, a green and white skirt and green shoes, she was single and was another of his daughter's who preferred the same sex in looking for a partner. With his daughter's uplifting words he stood up and held his glass high above his head. He was at the head of the long, fully stone table that was strewn with food and beverages, the large windows cast in a glow that further upped his mood. The dining room was huge, and it had potted plants in green and white vases and hanging vine plants and ferns that were hung from the ceiling. A series of small, circular red lights were arranged like an S in the ceiling, the floor was green and white diamond vinyl while the walls were a light green.
"To the family!" DuruVile Surfeit said loudly. "To our family, past, present and future. To the ones that are no longer with us, and to the ones here and that are not here. To the ones not born yet and to the ones who will come at a later date, have yet to be conceived. I love all of you to death. You are my family, my life, my heart, my blood, my life's work and my joy. There has never been nor will ever be a finer made family. My father would be proud to know you are all carrying his blood, and are continuing the reach and line of this fine family."
"To the family!" everyone yelled at once then drank their Lava Juices, Bubbly, wines, sparkles and champagnes.
Cheshire didn't like what he was seeing, Tazir had been going off on his own, walking around in back of the house that he and his mother lived in, being quiet, doing odd and end jobs like feeding the horses, chickens, goats and sheep, washing clothing and dishes or just plain going off on his own to just stare into endless space. Cheshire knew something was dreadfully wrong with the man that he called behind his back his step-son but he had not gained the courage to walk up and ask him outright what it was. The night before after a large meal with both his and Ashaklar's family at the table, who were all staying in the mansion with them for the week of the holiday season, TazirVile had barely touched his food. He had mumbled quite a bit, not said much and had tended to his daughter when she had started to misbehave but that was all. Around his neck hung the necklace he had made as a child that had the thick plastic hourglass that had water in it with a powder floating inside, Cheshire had caught Tazir fingering the hourglass several times and he believed that he was thinking about that day when the necklace had been taken from him, and when it had been returned. Cheshire had asked Ashaklar while in bed three days before if her son was going to be alright, she had rolled over and said she didn't know.
It wasn't just Tazir that had Cheshire worried sick, Qeeta was also acting strange. She was talking, but had a far away look in her eye that scared him. She was half there, half in a zombie state. She'd do things in a half silence, mumble to herself then go off on her own. He had caught her crying twice. It was that no-good DuruVile Surfeit and his horrible words and ideas on love, Cheshire had thought when he had seen Qeeta, he had no idea what was up with Tazir though. He thought it might have been Angel and their unborn, she was again missing, would be three and a half months along now if she was still pregnant, it might even be a combination of things on Tazir's mind. Angel and her unborn child, his brother, his father, his daughter and maybe even the Bula Galaxy which he was still hoping to conquer. That night, when the stars were all hidden behind thick gray clouds and the moon was black, Cheshire decided to walk up and plain ask Tazir what was wrong. He had a glass of Cherry Wine with him and a flask of the heavy stuff.
"Tazir," Cheshire walked up. "how's it going for you?"
"Mmmmmnnnnot good." TazirVile said in a mere mumble. "Messed up."
"Don't let that bastard take over the good you have in that evil heart of yours." Cheshire said. When TazirVile said nothing Cheshire nudged him with his elbow. "Come on, Tazzy. Get over it, you're ten times better than that man that made you. You have heart, compassion, you understand and..."
"I use to, don't think I want them anymore." TazirVile interrupted Cheshire. "They cause problems."
"They make you a fine man." Cheshire said loudly. "You're the best of his lot, even over that hunk Kuruk." When TazirVile said nothing Cheshire grabbed him by his shoulder and turned him to facing him. "Don't let him in, son. He's made you think that you are wrong, badly made, badly created, a weakling when you aren't. Look at what you have in front of you. The Vaisha Galaxy, the Andromeda Galaxy, you're a father of one with another on the way and you have a Universal Mate."
"Had, don't think I have anymore." TazirVile replied. "Don't think she's pregnant anymore and think it's the best as I don't think she's mine."
"Oh balldinash!" Cheshire exclaimed, he waved his hand sideways. "Angel is yours, the scroll says she is yours and you are her dominant mate."
"Think they made a mistake." TazirVile sighed. "I can't of been fully meant for her. Who would want a man like me? I'm weak and spineless, can't even get in good with my old man."
"The Gods never make mistakes!" Cheshire yelled loudly in shock. "You are not weak! That man is weak for even saying and thinking that of you! You lead your troops into battle, you run smack in front where all the firing happens, you don't hang back like you're brother then join in after the bulk has been dealt with. You jump right in, you lead while fighting and fight while leading."
"I'm a fool for leading my troops in." TazirVile said miserably.
Cheshire looked at TazirVile hard, he couldn't believe the misery that the man had rolling off of him. He truly believed he was weak, a loser, someone who didn't deserve what he had worked so hard for. Cheshire felt anger swell up in him and he placed his glass and flask down on the railing, Ashaklar had just walked out and when she saw her husband swipe his hand at her son her hands flew to her face and she gasped out loudly. Cheshire was now yelling at her son, telling him that all he had done for himself, the conquering, the leading of his troops into battle, the estates, his daughter, his upcoming child and Angel were all something to be proud of. QeetaVile walked out and stood in stunned shock as her brother started babbling, saying he didn't want any of it, that it was all a mistake, that he was a mistake and that he wished someone would off him and soon. Cheshire slapped him again and demanded that he stop and listen to what he was saying. When TazirVile broke down Cheshire shook his head.
"This is not the step-son that I had two years ago!" Cheshire shouted. "This is his shadow, his shell, where did my strong, confident, happy, strong-minded and smart step-son go? Where did the step-son who spoke so happily, who had everything and was happy with his accomplishments, who had started getting back to being that way a few months ago when he had his universal mate with him?"
"Cheshire!" Ashaklar exclaimed.
"My step-son, TazirVile Surfeit, the man who lived his life as he wanted to and not because someone else ordered him to live it is the man I want in my house not this babbling wimp of a man who says all that he was given, all that he has worked so hard to get and has a daughter and an upcoming child with his universal mate!" Cheshire exclaimed. "This here, this is an abomination, this is not a man in front of me! Begone out of my house and do not return until you've gotten yourself together! You're not entering back until you've gone back to what you was before that sick, disrespectful, disgrace of a father of yours returned to the life of the known."
Ashaklar watched as her son ran off, she worried greatly and when Cheshire walked up and passed her she saw that in his face he had been serious. TazirVile ran down her driveway and turned then went towards the town nearest her, she had it in her mind to go get the carriage to go after him and comfort him but there was something stopping her. She felt that this was suppose to happen, that her son needed this run, that he needed his step-father whom she would not ever call him that to her son and daughter's faces to give him the boot off of the land which both she and he owned and ran. When QeetaVile walked up next to her then looked to be gathering herself to run after her brother Ashaklar grabbed her arm. She shook her head then turned and went back into the house, Qeeta stayed behind for a short while then turned and followed her mother. Sometimes, Ashaklar thought, a mother needs to let her children run off to be alone with their thoughts. To regain their composure, to go back to the way that they were. With this thought in mind she went to the next room and joined in with the family and their conversation.
He ran, he ran from his mother and Cheshire's house, from their land, from everything. Tears streamed down from his eyes and grew fat on his goggled glasses then dropped down his face. He passed by a bunch of boys playing, two brothers who were playing stick fight, he ran past a cluster of teenagers that were making cuts in a tree, he ran past a mail carrier, a man and woman holding hands, a woman walking her pet dog and then he turned left and went to a fountain. He lost his footing and dropped to his knees, the knees of his brown pants scraped away as did the skin on his knees. He crawled over to the fountain and looked down into it. He looked at his reflection and then he heard his father's voice, so deep and hurtful, so there in thickness it almost made him feel like his father was right beside him.
"Look at you, a man with the Surfeit blood running in his veins crying like this." his father's voice said to him. "A pathetic loser, not fit to propagate, not fit to be a conqueror, not even fit to be called my son. You're a mistake just like your sister, a mistake which I tried to fix so many years ago. You shouldn't be carrying the blood of a Surfeit in you, Surfeit's are strong, confident people. You're not that, you're not your brother! You're not your brother you're not your brother you're not..."
He broke down and started crying again, he believed it, he believed every word of it. He tore his jacket and shirt off and looked at the scars on his arms. A Surfeit wouldn't carry such marks, he tore his goggled glasses off and tore them in half before throwing them into the fountain. A Surfeit wouldn't wear such things, a Surfeit had good eyesight, in darkness and in light, in mid-light, in mid-dark. He made acid flow from his fingers, a Surfeit wouldn't do Acidic Powers, a Surfeit would do elemental and energy powers. He looked at his muscled lanky body, a Surfeit's body would be big and muscled, a Surfeit would stand tall at over six-foot three not be six-foot one in height. A Surfeit would have more than one child... a Surfeit would have a son...a Surfeit would have large galaxies under their control... He heard all of this going through his head, Tazir heard all of it, it wouldn't go away, it kept rolling around in his head. With tears still streaming down his face he stood up, he had no idea he was walking, he was a zombie, he was not there fully. He had no idea where he went or where he sat down. He sat with his legs far apart, his hands bunched together, his head pointed down at his feet looking at nothing in particular.
"Hello son."
He barely heard him, he raised his head and saw a white and gold robed Zetakin with triangular-shaped shiny red eyes standing over him. He nodded his head then looked back down, the Zetakin sat down beside him and said nothing for a short while then he placed his hand on Tazir's shoulder lightly. Tazir hunched his shoulders up, he wanted no comfort, he just wanted to be alone, alone with his father's words buzzing around in his head telling him the truth. Telling him how worthless he was, how much of a mistake he had been in his life, how much it had been a mistake that he had been born and how much of a disappointment he was. Tazir dropped his head, a sobbing sigh escaped him which made his whole body shake.
"You're him, aren't you?" the priest said. "TazirVile Surfeit?"
TazirVile shook his head. "I'm not a Surfeit. I'm half a Surfeit, a shell of a Surfeit. The leftovers, the mistake and great disappointment."
"Son, you are who you are." the priest said. "From what I hear you're a great man, a great conqueror and father."
"They are wrong," TazirVile said distantly. "I am not great, I am no father or conqueror. I am hollow, forever to be. Was born this way and will perish this way. I am a failure, not my brother."
"Son, every being is created differently." the priest said. "No one being was created with the same powers, the same wiring of the brain, the same emotions or body build. No one being has the same destiny. Each being is different."
"I am no Surfeit, not even able to capture my universal mate and unborn child. I have been tricked, horribly tricked into thinking I am something I am not." TazirVile said blankly.
"Son, come with me." the priest said.
The priest had seen and talked to beings that had gone through similar things as what was going through TazirVile Surfeit's mind. He had seen and helped the abused, he had seen and helped women who couldn't bear children, he had helped children who were lost because their parents were being too hard on them. He had seen and helped drug addicts and alcoholics and he had helped plenty of people who were really down in their life. He tapped TazirVile's shoulder and led him to his small office which had a fainting couch in it. He had TazirVile lie down on the couch then grabbed a bowl of Holy Water, he pulled a chair up and then sprinkled the Holy Water on TazirVile's body, starting at his head and ending at his feet before repeating.
"Oh merciful Gods, see this being and have pity," he started praying. "show him the light, show him the love and the way. Show him what strength is and what compassion and understanding is. Show him the light, take the shadow of his former man and lift it, bring his former man back, return him to his former glory. Give him strength, give him love and understanding. Amen."
TazirVile had no idea how it happened but suddenly he felt as if he had been lifted out of his body, it started slow and easy then got fast. When it ended he was standing in an all white room that had white smoke billowing around his legs. He looked around once then stood in place, he felt his heart fill with dread again and he dropped to his knees. He truly thought this was the answer, that this was the end of him, that the Universal Gods were going to take him away forever, forever away from the the hurt, the sorrow, the tempered existence he had been born and raised and was currently living in. When a blue light shone on him he looked up, the blue light was joined by two golden lights which were pulsating. Tears were streaming down his face, he felt them, one of the golden lights came forward and he felt it enter him, go through and then exit out the other side. The other golden light did the same. When the blue light entered him he gasped out, he closed his eyes and held his arms out, the tears had stopped and his heart felt light. When the blue light exited him it started rotating around him, the golden lights joined it.
"TazirVile Surfeit," the blue light said in a God-like voice. "you are not finished in this life. You have many more children to father, many fine times ahead of you with your picked mate. Your job is not over with in this life, you have a very long existence to live and be happy for."
"End the sorrow and be happy," the first gold light said in a feminine God-like voice. "enjoy what you have, enjoy what you have yet to have. Enjoy your life with your mate, let no other upset you or unbalance you."
"Return to find your mate, return to find your body and strength." the second gold light said in a male God-like voice. "Return to your life and live it the way you chose, for no other can be TazirVile Surfeit. No other can live as TazirVile Surfeit."
"No other can be TazirVile Surfeit." the three lights said.
"How, how do I catch her, how was I meant for her?" TazirVile asked. "How when she runs, how when my family wants me out of her life?"
"See and hear and ignore, she will come, she will bear many Surfeit's by you. Many son's and daughter's." the blue light said. "Time is patience, time is love. Remain true to yourself."
"Remain true to yourself..." the two gold lights said.
Remain true to yourself... he heard it over and over again as he felt his body fall down gently. He felt as if he was a feather, being set down gently. When he opened his eyes he saw that the priest was over him, looking down at him. TazirVile sat up and rubbed his arms which were covered in goosepimples, had he really been where he was and had he really heard the Universal Gods talking to him? When the priest touched his shoulder he jumped up, he looked at the priest in a bewildered state then slowly stood up. He had heard that in times of dire trouble, of when a being is in dire straights of emotion or considering offing his or her life the Universal Gods came in to show them the way and offer advice. He swallowed hard, had that just happened to him? Had the Universal Gods come and taken him to give him help? When he saw himself in the one circular mirror in the priests room he turned. He looked at himself for a long time, he looked at the eyes, the mouth, the nose holes. He looked down at his suction-cup fingertips, he looked at his body, his scars.
"This..." he said. "is my body. This is my life. She is my woman. I do not intend to let go or quit. I am TazirVile Surfeit, secondborn son of DuruVile Surfeit, first child of Ashaklar Zoopray. I am not nor will ever be KurukVile Surfeit. I am TazirVile Surfeit, father of EshalVile Surfeit, the Universally Picked Mate of Angel Irene. I am not afraid!"
"Praise be the Universal Gods he has been cured!" the priest got down to his knee and started praying and thanking the Universal Gods for helping the being in front of him. "Oh praise the Gods for helping this man find himself!"
While TazirVile thanked the priest then joined in his congregation and DuruVile toasted to his family, Angel Irene was having a tough time. She had been deemed perfectly fine a week earlier, the doctor had said that her baby was fine and healthy only for her to lose it four days later. She had been sleeping soundly at Atlas' side, enjoying his comfort and warmth and secretly enjoying it when he had rolled over and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her in tight up against his naked body when she had noticed something amiss. She had dismissed it, not thought anything of it and had gone to sleep. When she had woke up and glanced down to see the bed where she was at bloody she had known what had happened and it had upset her so. Atlas had been equally upset, and was still upset, the doctor that Atlas had shouted for had said that the baby looked to be a girl, nothing showing to say it was a boy. The doctor Atlas had shouted for had said that it seemed that the baby had been gone for three days but her body hadn't noticed or shown any signs. Angel buried her three-month one week and four-day old fetus the day after then locked herself up in the room across from Atlas'. She cursed herself for letting herself believe that she'd not miscarry, this was her third slipped child, seventh child overall that she had lost. A week after she had lost her fetus she left her chamber and walked right into Atlas. He looked at her for a short while then turned and left her be, she went to Bile's bedroom chamber and slowly walked up to her baby, who was now going on his seventh month of life but looked still so small and not ready to walk. He hadn't even started rolling over yet, he had the baby fat rolls on him like a normal seven month old but he wasn't rolling or pulling himself around on his stomach. Angel picked her baby up and cradled him against him, he reached his hand up to her face and she grabbed it, she held his little hand up to her face then kissed it before releasing it.
"Baby boy, I may not be able to give you a little sibling but I do know this." Angel said to her baby. "I will be the best mother you will ever have. I'll be here forever for you, take good care of you. And Atlas will be the best daddy you will ever have. Uncle Triskull took your sibling, I don't think I can handle going through carrying another. It hurts so, it hurt so to lose your sister. I love you, Bile. I love you so damn much!"
Angel walked out of Bile's bedroom chamber with him in her arms, she walked down the hall to Atlas' Throne Room where she found Atlas and Helen, her mother, and Atlas' harem girls, Aphra, Alexis and Selma. She walked over to Helen and asked her if she could call Dione, Perniceie and Azura over. Helen nodded her head and left, when she returned she had them following behind her. Angel had a camera and she showed it to Dione who nodded her head, it was time for the photo-taking to take place, Angel had prevented it with her trying to save Earth from her father long enough. She snapped a photo of Dione holding Bile, a photo each of Perniceie and Azura and Helen holding Bile, of Atlas holding Bile then she snapped a series of photographs of Julius, how had fully recovered from her grandfather using him as his puppet so many months ago, and of Hannibal, Claudia and the twins, Calypso and Cleopatra holding Bile then she snapped a full photo of all of them together with her son, Aphra took over taking photographs next. She snapped a photograph of Angel holding Bile with Atlas in the photo, who looked like a very proud father, of Angel and Helen and Bile, of Angel holding Bile with Dione in the photo and then Aphra was surprised. Claudia took over and started taking photographs of Angel holding Bile with the harem girls, the last photograph taken was of all of them together, it was taken by someone who had just walked in. Everyone was happy, it was a joyous occasion, it was official that Bile was now a full member of the family. After the photo-taking was complete Angel handed the camera to Dione, her great-great grandmother looked at her for a short while then pulled her to the side.
"I am sorry for the loss of your daughter." Dione said to Angel. "I know it was hard, you had her for three months."
"Don't fret over it." Angel sighed. "You warned me and I didn't listen. Won't happen again, I don't plan on having another."
"Don't be too sure on that now." Dione patted Angel's shoulder. "You're a fine mother, a young woman with an extremely long life ahead of you. Give it time before you try again and lets see if we can keep my brother out of your pants this time." Dione lowered her eye in a wink. "Goes double for my uncle."
"I can't tell you how angry I am at Triskull." Angel admitted. "I mean..."
"I know, he took your baby from you." Dione hugged Angel tightly. "I hope you repay him for that."
"I have plans, lots of plans for him." Angel nodded her head. "Going to get a good ass-kicking."
"Use that anger well on not just him," Dione said. "not just him that took your baby. My father, the older of my brother's, my grandfather and my uncle are all responsible for your loss."
"Don't forget to add me in there," Angel sighed. "if I wouldn't have..."
"You had a job to do, that is your excuse." Dione reassured Angel. "They have no excuse. None at all."
"A storm's brewing," Angel turned around and looked at the group before her and Dione. "a bad one."