All ranger stuff belongs to B.V.E., the rest is Gamine's idea, based on Legacy. No money is being made off this, and no actual rangers were harmed during filming. J Many thanks to my unnamed ghost writer (Gamine) who saves my ass on a regular basis.

Adjusting Aji

Chapter 2: actual animals!


"So Kim said I was to stand as a decoy for her on the day of her wedding with Tommy. Do you know what she means?"

Jason looked rather stunned. "I don't even know what you mean. Stand as decoy?"

Aji and Jason were lounging in bed, tangled up together as the afternoon sunlight warmed them, Aji's most recent shopping acquisition curled up between them – a tawny (and currently very sleepy) kitten. Aji turned awkwardly to face Jason, trying not to disturb the slumbering bit of fuzz they'd named "Medja."


"She called it by another name, too. She said I'd be a maid or something."

Jason grinned hungrily. "Sorry, love. You're well past the 'maid' stage. But I get it now. She asked you to be a bridesmaid."

"Yes, that was it! She led me all around that 'mall' for such a long time, and I finally got tired of holding clothing and putting on one dress after another…. It was interminable. So I walked off at one point, leaving her talking to the air, and found myself looking through a window at this little creature.

"Imagine! An entire room that held more animals than Xerya has seen in the last three hundred years. All kinds too, love! Ones that swam, and ones that looked as if they could fly like our scout gliders – they had wings that folded down. I saw one extending its wings a few times. It was like nothing I'd seen!

"But I kept looking back at this one." She rubbed the furry head next to her. "She was so small and looked utterly helpless, compared to the other things in the window with her. But one began to attack her, and she fought like a grat'lest to chase the other one away. Kim found me watching her with my face up against the glass, and next thing I knew, Kim had pulled out a card, like a security code pass almost, and gave it to someone in the store. She pointed to my fierce and furry friend here, and the person brought her out of the window, and gave her to me. Kim told me she was now mine, and that she was my payment for what Kim called 'putting up with her trifling ways'.

"I couldn't believe it! Kim gave me an animal! And she's all mine! Isn't she wonderful, Jase?"

Jason smiled at Aji's excitement. He reached out to stroke her cheek, much as she had been stroking the kitten's, and she and her mini counterpart both stretched in sheer languid joy in being alive. He made up his mind in that moment, what he'd been thinking, ever since Tom had asked Kim.

"Aj, you know how much I love you."

"Of course – we're life bound. It's kind of hard not to tell!" She giggled into his strong arms as the kitten chose that moment to give her chin a thorough bath.

"Good. So, do you want to be married before Kim and Tommy, or after?"

Aji caught Jason's solemn demeanor.  "Um – Jason, I really don't know what it is but if you think we need it, I trust you."

"Well, it's really just a formalization of being lifebound.  It announces in front of witnesses that we are married now and forever, and we exchange rings to symbolize our belonging to each other.  Understand?"

"Sure. Yes. Um – maybe.  Do you mean that here, we are not lifebound without this ceremony?"  Aji's voice began rising steadily. 

"No.  We'd be bound regardless. But humans don't sing the Bloodsong the way we do, and this is how they signify a bond, by taking these vows before witnesses.  Although it doesn't stop some people from violating the vows and playing around on their spouse."

Aji's expression went flat.  "Then it is no true bond, if it can be violated. A true lifebond cannot be broken in that way."

Jason shrugged.  "But they aren't built like us. And some people just can't take temptation."

 "So if you don't exhibit a ring, other women will think you are free and present that 'temptation'?  I trust you, Jason, but I would be required to kill an awful lot of women….  Yes, I'll marry you.  Do I have to have decoys too?"

Jason laughed. "No! Not decoys – honored attendants. And a maid of honor to stand by you and with you."


"Ah. That makes more sense with how Kim was discussing it. I didn't think a very pregnant Tanya would be a good decoy, anyway. Unless she went into labor as a diversion. But that didn't make sense either."

"So, do you have an idea for who you want as your maid of honor?"

"Uh huh." Aji smiled. "How do I get in touch with Tommy?"