The solar day and a half trip to Hyneria was uneventful, except for the children becoming excited to be going to see "Papa Rygel". Berret still couldn't fathom a guess as to why the kids loved the stuffy and annoying Hynerian ruler so much. During the voyage, Berret made it down to the hanger tier and inspected the Wraith. The craft was more battle scarred and patched then he remembered, but Aeryn assured him it was in fighting trim. The stealth system was a little outdated, but Rygel had promised an up-grade for it the next time they were in port. Something he didn't remember was the addition of a third Prowler, which the ex-Peacekeeper said they'd managed to "borrow" about five cycles back. To his surprise, Crichton's FarScape Module was parked off in a storage bay. According to the dark haired Sebacean woman, the small craft just got old and it took too much time to keep repairing it. Berret knew that John loved the ship he had designed, and it must have been hard for him to park it for good. It was very lucky they'd acquired the third Prowler to take up the slack.
Jothee had signaled ahead of Moya to Hyneria space control of their impending arrival. The Leviathan was met at the boarder of Hynerian space by the "RHN Dominar's Sword", a full size battleship of the Hynerian Navy as an escort to the homeworld. Berret privately thought the battleship's name was some attempt at sexual humor by Rygel, but keep his opinion to himself and did not ask the ship's captain about it when the Hynerian commander commed them to welcome them home. Moya was escorted to a choice orbit above Hyneria where she could always be in the system's sunlight if she wished. Port-service ships immediately descended on Moya and began to clean her hull and take care of her other needs. Berret swore he could hear the ship sigh from the attention. The crew bid farewell to Pilot, packed their gear, and after rounding up all the children, crammed into a Transport Pod and headed for the surface. Planet Control guided them into the Palace air space. As they approached Berret could not believe how immense Rygel's home was. It was easily twice the size of Moya. A force shield blanketed the Palace and a section of it blinked off, allowing the shuttle to land at the private landing pad.
As the crew disembarked, humanoid servants rushed over to take their luggage. John started to lead the group toward a wing of the Palace some distance away. Missy, not wanting to walk that far, conned her father into picking her up and carrying her. Chulee seeing her friend get special treatment decided that she was in need of the same care and badgered her father until Berret picked her up and slung her on his back.
Chiana at his side, seeing the little girl had her father wrapped around her finger... chuckled and said,
"What about me? I'm too tired to walk too!"
"Be quiet!" said Berret, mockingly scolding her. "You don't see Aeryn whining to John and wanting to be carried, do you?"
Chiana playfully stuck her tongue out at her husband in reply.
"Yeah, Mom! Stop being a baby," piped up Jalen.
Chiana gave him a playful scowl and lightly swatted at her son. The nimble Boy dodged the fake blow and ran ahead laughing, only to be scooped up by D'argo and tossed over his massive shoulder. Much to Zhaan's amusement, the boy shrieked in mock terror as the Luxan poked and tickled him before setting him back on his feet again. Chiana put her arm around Berret's waist as they continued the walk.
"You'd think they'd have some sort of transportation here," she looked around and commented. "For somebody who moves around on a floating chair, Old Froggy sure loves to make other people walk."
"That certainly sounds like Rygel's sense of humor to me," agreed Berret.
Looking about him, Berret saw many Hynerians. It seemed strange to see them walking, having hardy ever seen Rygel do so. The crew reached the end of the landing pad and headed through a gate that led into the Palace ground gardens. Malika and Andar strolled along behind Chiana, Chulee, and Berret arm in arm, the young Delvian Priestess pointing out exotic plants to the Sebacean man. Missy jumped down from John's arms as soon as they entered the lush garden and ran ahead to join her sister and Jalen in exploring the grounds, allowing John and Aeryn to continue the trip holding hands. Berret asked Chulee if she wanted to join her brother and friends, but the girl seemed uninterested in leaving her perch on his back. Chiana snickered at her husband's obvious ploy to rid himself of his young burden.
"That's my girl," she said to her daughter. "You're 'no' dimbulb, are you?"
The girl solemnly nodded her head in the negative and then burst into giggles along with her mother.
Berret joined them and then transferred his young passenger up to his shoulders.
They finally reached the Palace itself and where immediately ushered into Rygel's private rooms were the Hynerian Dominar was waiting for their arrival. His thronesled sped forward as they entered through two huge gold covered doorways.
"Welcome!" he cried, "Welcome home, my friends."
Upon seeing the Hynerian, the children dashed to meet him shouting, "Papa Rygel!" as they went.
Rygel stop to meet them and floated above the group as they clamored for his attention.
"Well, if it isn't my favorite mob of young subjects!" the ruler chuckled. "Tell me... what treasures from your adventures have you brought your Dominar this time?" he asked.
Each child hurriedly dug into the small packs they carried and carefully unfolded sheets of paper, holding them up so he could see the drawings on each. "My! You've brought me fine works of art!" He exclaimed.
"These are too valuable to leave laying around. I'll have to put them with the others," he said and then floated over to a curtain-covered wall with the children right behind him. Touching a control on his throne, the curtain slid aside to reveal a wall covered with childish drawings.
Berret looked over at John. "I believe I injured my head far worse then first thought... this can't be for real?" he whispered to the other man as they watched Rygel make a big production of hanging each picture.
"Oh, it is, J.B." Crichton whispered back. "The kids get a kick out of the attention. Watch what happens next."
A few microns later with the last drawing hung in place, Rygel said to the young group before him,
"Hummm, now what reward shall I bestow upon these intrepid young adventurers who braved the dangers of space to bring me such rare art?"
The children danced from leg to leg as Rygel feigned being at a loss to think of a reward, then as if it came to him in a flash, "I know!" he said with a snap of his stubby fingers.
He made a show of grandly pushing a button on the arm of his thronesled and a few microts later two servants appeared with trays loaded with sweets. The children cheered as they swarmed the trays before the over-burdened servants could set them down. Rygel tittered with glee as he beamed at Moya's children.
"Oh Goddess," murmured Berret to Chiana, "the kids will weight 400 sakmar by the time we leave here."
At door at the far end of the chamber slammed open and a horde of miniature Rygels swarmed in. The children seeing the noisy mob, cried out in joy as the stampede of small Hynerians did the same. Rygel's latest progeny had arrived. The adults couldn't hear or speak over the clamor of the youngsters all talking at the same time trying to catch up since they last saw each other. Rygel called a servant and had the poor man usher the entire troop off to one of the playrooms, along with the trays of sweets.
Stunned Berret whispered to Chiana, "How many are there?"
"Thirty-two in this last batch," she whispered back to him.
"Seemed like more," was all he could say.
After the children had left, Rygel turned again to his friends. "This last half cycle has seemed like ages. Tell me, how are you all?" he asked them.
"Well... we would have been here sooner," drawled Aeryn, "If we didn't have to walk so frelling far from the landing area."
Rygel put a dismayed look on his face. "Didn't you enjoy the walk through the garden?" he asked. "Most people after being cooped up on board ship for half cycles at a time would enjoy a stroll through nature," he said, conveniently forgetting that their trading trips offer them enough time planet side.
"I knew it!" John guffawed. "He's just too cheap to invest in ground transportation."
They talked for a while until Rygel had to leave to handle business running the Hynerian Empire. He told them he'd ordered their apartments reopened when he received word of their returning to port. Rygel then summoned another servant to escort them through the huge palace to their quarters. As John passed the man who was holding open the door he asked,
"Did they reopen the swimming pool? I want to teach the kids how to swim this visit."
"Yes, Ambassador Crichton. All has been prepared for your arrival," the man said as he bowed to John.
"Ambassador?" asked Berret, turning to his wife. Chiana laughed at the perplexed look on his face.
"Yes, Rygel gave us all "Titles" for helping restore him to the Hynerian throne. John is the Official Hynerian Ambassador to Earth, not that anybody here talks to anybody there yet. D'argo and Jothee are Honorary Generals in the Hynerian Ground Forces, which is kinda funny if you can imagine Luxans leading a charge of Hynerian troops in battle... they'd have to walk slow while the troops run to catch up."
She held a finger up to her chin as she tried to remember the other's titles.
"Aeryn is a Hynerian Air Commander. Zhaan and Malika have their own Delvian temple somewhere in the city, complete with bald monks and everything. Andar is a professor at the Hynerian School of Higher Learning. Oh! This is the best; I'm the Chairperson for the Hynerian Correctional System. Isn't that a scream?" she asked.
"That... is the most bizarre thing I have heard yet today," admitted the Shrike. After a microts thought he asked, "And who am I suppose to be?"
He was almost afraid to hear the answer. The smile on Chiana face told him that this is the part she'd been waiting for and that he'd walked right into it.
"Oh," she said innocently, "You're the Royal Assassin."
"Oh," he repeated, "Of course... how silly of me."
The servant lead them to their wing of the palace, assuring them that their children would be returned to them after they'd had a chance to visit and the adults had an opportunity to settle in. Their apartments were all on the same floor. Knowing the way, Malika and Andar excused themselves to walk in another garden nearby. Zhaan smiled at D'argo as the young couple departed to spend sometime alone together. In the hallway a young Sebacean maid happily greeted Jothee. Jothee, with a big smile on his face, returned her greeting and stop to talk with her, leaving his father and the others to continue on. D'argo looked back at his son chatting with the young woman and looked as if he was about to say something when Zhaan pulled him into their apartment before he could. With a backward wave at their companions, the Pa'u closed the door behind her.
Berret cracked a smile at the look on D'argo's face as Zhaan rushed him inside and out of his son's hair.
Chiana saw the grin and elbowed him in the ribs. "Don't laugh! That'll be you in a few cycles," she scolded.
"Don't sweat it, J.B." called John, "But it'll be worse with girls," he warned as he opened his and Aeryn's door.
"Which, Mr. Crichton, I remind you... you have two of!" said Aeryn as she pushed passed him.
"Oh yeah," said John as if the thought had only just occurred to him. He waved to the rest of them as he stepped inside.
Chiana led him to their door and opened it. The apartments inside were luxurious; Rygel had gone all out for his shipmates. The furniture looked comfortable and expensive. The big main room had a large sofa and several big chairs with tables and a large Vid-viewer. The thick carpet under his boots was as white as Chiana's hair. Walking around he saw that each child had his or her own bedroom and the master bedroom was easily twice the size of their one on Moya. He returned to the main room to continue his exploration of the apartment. He was looking over some of the pictures and nick-knacks about the room, obviously personal items selected by himself and his family for their second home here on Hyneria. It was a strange twist of luck to go from having no home to having two and a family in just ten cycles he thought to himself. There was a soft noise behind him and a bare foot swept his feet out from under him. The thick carpet acted like a training mat and cushioned his fall as he landed flat on his back. In the blink of an eye, Chiana was sitting on his chest pinning him to the floor.
"You're getting old... to let somebody sneak up on you like that," she purred to him.
Leaning over him, her long white hair cascaded down framing her lovely face. Her full black lips in a sly smile, she leaned closer and brushed them against his. She pulled back saying suggestively,
"We have the place to ourselves for awhile before the kids get back."
He started up at her, finding himself lost again in those sparkling dark eyes. He remembered hearing people say that Nebari eyes where as cold as looking into the depths of space. They wouldn't say that if they could look into the Pixie's eyes and see what he saw, he thought to himself. He reached a hand up and rubbed her cheek. Chiana closed her eyes in pleasure at his touch and rubbed her cheek back against his hand. He wondered why it had ever taken him so long to realize he'd loved the small Nebari woman almost from the first day they met. Her dark eyes drifted lazily opened again.
"Well?" Chiana asked, "Aren't you going to say anything?"
"Yes," he said in a low voice as he pulled her back down to him.
"I surrender," he got out just before their lips met again in another kiss.
The floor below their apartments contained a common area that opened onto the wing's private gardens, along with a workout gym and John's swimming pool. That night Rygel joined his friends, his duties as Dominar discharged for the day; he was free to sit and socialize with his old crewmates. The Hynerian learned long ago that he couldn't keep servants around for these informal get-togethers. The cavalier way his friends treated and teased the Dominar, especially Chiana, just about scandalized the entire staff. Privately, he much more preferred the quiet time alone with them, reliving old times and catching up on new ones. The children had been tucked away for the night leaving the adults free to chat. Berret nursed a mug of Fellip Nectar while Chiana sipped at a cup of Raslek, a drink Berret could not stand the smell of much less the taste, though his wife like it well enough.
"So tell me, Chiana," said Rygel. "Are you still happy with tall, pink, and gloomy there?" His wispy eyebrow rose as he gave the Shrike the good-natured barb and waited for his reaction. "You know there's still time to make you my fifty-seventh main wife if you're tired of him."
Chiana gave him a sly wicked grin and her unique evil chuckle, "No way, Froggy. This girl has to at least be in the top ten or no deal."
"That's our Chiana," said Aeryn, holding her glass up in a toast. "As mercenary as ever."
"And we wouldn't have her any other way," seconded John.
"Neither would she!" said D'argo and Berret almost at the same time. The pair stopped and looked at each other before both busted out laughing. The others joined in and Chiana turned to swat her husband soundly.
"Hey! I thought you were suppose to defend me?" she asked as she broke into her own mirth.
"He thought he was!" put in D'argo, sending the group into more fits.
Rygel bushed aside a tear from his eye as the laughter died. "So they tell me you're having problems with your memory again, Shrike," he said. "A nasty bump on the head I take it? You're not going to go farhbots again anytime soon, are you?"
Knowing that was Rygel's gruff way of asking about his injury and if he was well, Berret didn't take offense. He took a sip of his drink before replying.
"Yes, I had an accident and I lost part of my memory, but it's nothing like with the collar. I'm able to recall an event if someone starts to tell me about it. However, if you wish me to go farhbots again.... just keep telling those awful jokes of yours. That should more than do it," said the Shrike with a big smile.
Rygel made a show of being wounded.
"Well," he said after a microt, "at least they're not as bad as Crichton's jokes!"
John had been sitting back enjoying his drink and quietly listening to the conversation when he realized Rygel had given him a shot.
"Hey!" he said looking about at the others offended, which sent the rest of the group into another fit of laughter. The crew of Moya sat about laughing and chatting till the late hours; all in all, it was a good time with old and dear friends.
Berret arose early with the children the next morning. Excited to be back on Hynerian, they were ready to have their first swimming lesson with their Uncle John. Chiana was still asleep in their room in her usual buried totally under the bed covers position. He knew his wife was not an early raiser if she could help it. With more of his memories returning, he shook his head as he realized that in the entire time he'd known her... he had almost never seen her sleep with her head above the covers when she was by herself. She would mostly sleep that way when he was in bed with her, put as soon as he left her head disappeared under the mound of blankets. He chucked to himself at the odd behavior thinking it probably was a hold over habit from her days of always running and hiding when she was younger. Be that as it may, it was one of the quarks he loved about her... even if it got confusing at times when he would be talking to the lump under the blanket and the end he believed was her head turned out to be her feet or some other part of her body that did not have ears. He changed into his workout clothes and gathered his offspring up before leaving his bond-mate under her Hynerian Quilt fortress then headed to the next level down to meet John.
On the common level, the sound of splashing water from the pool competed with the sound of cracking Tripolyium practice swords coming from the gym where D'argo and his son practiced. As they entered the pool area, John and the girls greeted them.
"Mornin' J.B., 'Len, 'Lee... ready for your first ever swimming lesson?" John asked cheerily.
"Yeah, Uncle John!" both Chulee and Jalen shouted as they threw down their towels and immediately jumped into the shallow end with Missy and Andrea, splashing both adults in their enthusiasm.
John laughed and said to Berret, "Well, they certainly aren't afraid of the water. I had to coax Andrea for over half an arn her first time in."
"Yes, they get that from their mother," Berret answered thoughtfully.
"Yeah," agreed Crichton. "Old Pip sometimes rushed in where angels fear to thread... then again, there were other times she was the first to run away."
"I never said she was stupid," was all Berret said with a cheery smile and John nodded his agreement.
"Are you sure you'll be able to watch all four?" Berret asked Crichton with some doubt after watching the children take turns dunking each other under water.
"I'll be fine. They're not going anywhere near the deep end. Are you sure you don't want to join us?" he asked.
"I've made plans with D'argo to train this morning... and you know how Aeryn is about everyone keeping to their training schedule," answered the Shrike.
"Tell me about it!" said John remembering how his wife could still run him into the ground while they sparred.
"See ya later then, Jared," Crichton said and then called the children over to him to began their lesson.
D'argo and Jothee where just completing a sword kata as Berret entered the gym. He noticed the young Sebacean maid from the day before sitting off to one side watching fascinated as the pair worked. It was obvious that the woman adored the young warrior. Both warriors finished the kata together and returned their practice Qualta blades to their sides in the ready position. D'argo noticed Berret's arrival and nodded to the Shrike as he began his warm ups. The Luxan went on to explain to his son some finer details to their kata techniques, his voice sounding almost like a drill instructor. Berret stretched out and then went through some tumbling and rolling exercises, hitting the ground and rolling back onto his feet again ready to fight. He went to the weapons rack and picked up his practice sword. Unlike the Qualta blades this one was based on one of the weapons found in his personal belongings onboard the Wraith. It was thinner then the Qualta and had only a single edge. The real weapon itself had a handle long enough to use two hands on, but was very light compared to D'argo or Jothee's Qualta Blades, but then again it didn't have to turn into a rifle. John had said the sword resembled a weapon on Earth know as a 'Katana'. Berret strapped the scabbard into his belt at his left side. This weapon was worn mostly edge up and high on the hip. He practiced slowly drawing the sword and making cuts in the air before returning it to the scabbard and starting again. Each time the draw and cuts coming faster until the fake blade was a blur in the air.
D'argo worked Jothee for a tenth of an arn more then took pity on his student as it became more apparent that his attention was more on the young lady rather then his lesson. He dismissed his son and walked over to where Berret was completing his own sword kata. The Luxan watched Jothee depart with his new flame, to which the older warrior shook his head and sighed. Berret asked after the couple departed,
"Isn't it rather strange for a Sebacean to be romancing another species?"
To which D'argo gruffly replied, "She's a refugee from a back-world Sebacean colony. Much like Andar was. The Scarrens came in and destroyed everything. Most of those who managed to escape found their way here or were picked up by Hynerian boarder patrols."
D'argo finished talking with a look of deep thought on his face.
"You do not approve of the relationship?" ventured the Shrike. The Luxan looked startled for a microt.
"What? Oh no, that's not it at all. Tamilla is a very fine young woman... even if she does work for Rygel," he added as a joke. "It's just that...." he started but was unable to put his thought into words.
Berret thought he knew what the Luxan was thinking but could not express, so he took a stab at it.
"She reminds you too much of the boy's mother. Seeing them together is bringing back old memories."
D'argo waved the statement off as if to admit to feeling melancholy was to admit to having a weakness.
"Bah! What do you know, Shrike," D'argo said trying to get off the subject.
"On the contrary, Luxan. I know a great deal about old memories," said Berret, teasing his old enemy turned ally. D'argo growled at the jab and snarled mockingly at the ex-assassin.
"Are you going to spar with that sword or stand there and strike pretty poses all solar day?"
"As you wish, General," Berret said as the practice sword left it scabbard in the blink of an eye.
Several blows were struck at the huge Luxan in the next eye blink, all of which he parried expertly.
"Hah! You call that fighting, Assassin?" D'argo taunted and returned several powerful strokes of his own. Now the big warrior was truly happy, content with the fake battle rather then about thinking of the past.
Jothee had signaled ahead of Moya to Hyneria space control of their impending arrival. The Leviathan was met at the boarder of Hynerian space by the "RHN Dominar's Sword", a full size battleship of the Hynerian Navy as an escort to the homeworld. Berret privately thought the battleship's name was some attempt at sexual humor by Rygel, but keep his opinion to himself and did not ask the ship's captain about it when the Hynerian commander commed them to welcome them home. Moya was escorted to a choice orbit above Hyneria where she could always be in the system's sunlight if she wished. Port-service ships immediately descended on Moya and began to clean her hull and take care of her other needs. Berret swore he could hear the ship sigh from the attention. The crew bid farewell to Pilot, packed their gear, and after rounding up all the children, crammed into a Transport Pod and headed for the surface. Planet Control guided them into the Palace air space. As they approached Berret could not believe how immense Rygel's home was. It was easily twice the size of Moya. A force shield blanketed the Palace and a section of it blinked off, allowing the shuttle to land at the private landing pad.
As the crew disembarked, humanoid servants rushed over to take their luggage. John started to lead the group toward a wing of the Palace some distance away. Missy, not wanting to walk that far, conned her father into picking her up and carrying her. Chulee seeing her friend get special treatment decided that she was in need of the same care and badgered her father until Berret picked her up and slung her on his back.
Chiana at his side, seeing the little girl had her father wrapped around her finger... chuckled and said,
"What about me? I'm too tired to walk too!"
"Be quiet!" said Berret, mockingly scolding her. "You don't see Aeryn whining to John and wanting to be carried, do you?"
Chiana playfully stuck her tongue out at her husband in reply.
"Yeah, Mom! Stop being a baby," piped up Jalen.
Chiana gave him a playful scowl and lightly swatted at her son. The nimble Boy dodged the fake blow and ran ahead laughing, only to be scooped up by D'argo and tossed over his massive shoulder. Much to Zhaan's amusement, the boy shrieked in mock terror as the Luxan poked and tickled him before setting him back on his feet again. Chiana put her arm around Berret's waist as they continued the walk.
"You'd think they'd have some sort of transportation here," she looked around and commented. "For somebody who moves around on a floating chair, Old Froggy sure loves to make other people walk."
"That certainly sounds like Rygel's sense of humor to me," agreed Berret.
Looking about him, Berret saw many Hynerians. It seemed strange to see them walking, having hardy ever seen Rygel do so. The crew reached the end of the landing pad and headed through a gate that led into the Palace ground gardens. Malika and Andar strolled along behind Chiana, Chulee, and Berret arm in arm, the young Delvian Priestess pointing out exotic plants to the Sebacean man. Missy jumped down from John's arms as soon as they entered the lush garden and ran ahead to join her sister and Jalen in exploring the grounds, allowing John and Aeryn to continue the trip holding hands. Berret asked Chulee if she wanted to join her brother and friends, but the girl seemed uninterested in leaving her perch on his back. Chiana snickered at her husband's obvious ploy to rid himself of his young burden.
"That's my girl," she said to her daughter. "You're 'no' dimbulb, are you?"
The girl solemnly nodded her head in the negative and then burst into giggles along with her mother.
Berret joined them and then transferred his young passenger up to his shoulders.
They finally reached the Palace itself and where immediately ushered into Rygel's private rooms were the Hynerian Dominar was waiting for their arrival. His thronesled sped forward as they entered through two huge gold covered doorways.
"Welcome!" he cried, "Welcome home, my friends."
Upon seeing the Hynerian, the children dashed to meet him shouting, "Papa Rygel!" as they went.
Rygel stop to meet them and floated above the group as they clamored for his attention.
"Well, if it isn't my favorite mob of young subjects!" the ruler chuckled. "Tell me... what treasures from your adventures have you brought your Dominar this time?" he asked.
Each child hurriedly dug into the small packs they carried and carefully unfolded sheets of paper, holding them up so he could see the drawings on each. "My! You've brought me fine works of art!" He exclaimed.
"These are too valuable to leave laying around. I'll have to put them with the others," he said and then floated over to a curtain-covered wall with the children right behind him. Touching a control on his throne, the curtain slid aside to reveal a wall covered with childish drawings.
Berret looked over at John. "I believe I injured my head far worse then first thought... this can't be for real?" he whispered to the other man as they watched Rygel make a big production of hanging each picture.
"Oh, it is, J.B." Crichton whispered back. "The kids get a kick out of the attention. Watch what happens next."
A few microns later with the last drawing hung in place, Rygel said to the young group before him,
"Hummm, now what reward shall I bestow upon these intrepid young adventurers who braved the dangers of space to bring me such rare art?"
The children danced from leg to leg as Rygel feigned being at a loss to think of a reward, then as if it came to him in a flash, "I know!" he said with a snap of his stubby fingers.
He made a show of grandly pushing a button on the arm of his thronesled and a few microts later two servants appeared with trays loaded with sweets. The children cheered as they swarmed the trays before the over-burdened servants could set them down. Rygel tittered with glee as he beamed at Moya's children.
"Oh Goddess," murmured Berret to Chiana, "the kids will weight 400 sakmar by the time we leave here."
At door at the far end of the chamber slammed open and a horde of miniature Rygels swarmed in. The children seeing the noisy mob, cried out in joy as the stampede of small Hynerians did the same. Rygel's latest progeny had arrived. The adults couldn't hear or speak over the clamor of the youngsters all talking at the same time trying to catch up since they last saw each other. Rygel called a servant and had the poor man usher the entire troop off to one of the playrooms, along with the trays of sweets.
Stunned Berret whispered to Chiana, "How many are there?"
"Thirty-two in this last batch," she whispered back to him.
"Seemed like more," was all he could say.
After the children had left, Rygel turned again to his friends. "This last half cycle has seemed like ages. Tell me, how are you all?" he asked them.
"Well... we would have been here sooner," drawled Aeryn, "If we didn't have to walk so frelling far from the landing area."
Rygel put a dismayed look on his face. "Didn't you enjoy the walk through the garden?" he asked. "Most people after being cooped up on board ship for half cycles at a time would enjoy a stroll through nature," he said, conveniently forgetting that their trading trips offer them enough time planet side.
"I knew it!" John guffawed. "He's just too cheap to invest in ground transportation."
They talked for a while until Rygel had to leave to handle business running the Hynerian Empire. He told them he'd ordered their apartments reopened when he received word of their returning to port. Rygel then summoned another servant to escort them through the huge palace to their quarters. As John passed the man who was holding open the door he asked,
"Did they reopen the swimming pool? I want to teach the kids how to swim this visit."
"Yes, Ambassador Crichton. All has been prepared for your arrival," the man said as he bowed to John.
"Ambassador?" asked Berret, turning to his wife. Chiana laughed at the perplexed look on his face.
"Yes, Rygel gave us all "Titles" for helping restore him to the Hynerian throne. John is the Official Hynerian Ambassador to Earth, not that anybody here talks to anybody there yet. D'argo and Jothee are Honorary Generals in the Hynerian Ground Forces, which is kinda funny if you can imagine Luxans leading a charge of Hynerian troops in battle... they'd have to walk slow while the troops run to catch up."
She held a finger up to her chin as she tried to remember the other's titles.
"Aeryn is a Hynerian Air Commander. Zhaan and Malika have their own Delvian temple somewhere in the city, complete with bald monks and everything. Andar is a professor at the Hynerian School of Higher Learning. Oh! This is the best; I'm the Chairperson for the Hynerian Correctional System. Isn't that a scream?" she asked.
"That... is the most bizarre thing I have heard yet today," admitted the Shrike. After a microts thought he asked, "And who am I suppose to be?"
He was almost afraid to hear the answer. The smile on Chiana face told him that this is the part she'd been waiting for and that he'd walked right into it.
"Oh," she said innocently, "You're the Royal Assassin."
"Oh," he repeated, "Of course... how silly of me."
The servant lead them to their wing of the palace, assuring them that their children would be returned to them after they'd had a chance to visit and the adults had an opportunity to settle in. Their apartments were all on the same floor. Knowing the way, Malika and Andar excused themselves to walk in another garden nearby. Zhaan smiled at D'argo as the young couple departed to spend sometime alone together. In the hallway a young Sebacean maid happily greeted Jothee. Jothee, with a big smile on his face, returned her greeting and stop to talk with her, leaving his father and the others to continue on. D'argo looked back at his son chatting with the young woman and looked as if he was about to say something when Zhaan pulled him into their apartment before he could. With a backward wave at their companions, the Pa'u closed the door behind her.
Berret cracked a smile at the look on D'argo's face as Zhaan rushed him inside and out of his son's hair.
Chiana saw the grin and elbowed him in the ribs. "Don't laugh! That'll be you in a few cycles," she scolded.
"Don't sweat it, J.B." called John, "But it'll be worse with girls," he warned as he opened his and Aeryn's door.
"Which, Mr. Crichton, I remind you... you have two of!" said Aeryn as she pushed passed him.
"Oh yeah," said John as if the thought had only just occurred to him. He waved to the rest of them as he stepped inside.
Chiana led him to their door and opened it. The apartments inside were luxurious; Rygel had gone all out for his shipmates. The furniture looked comfortable and expensive. The big main room had a large sofa and several big chairs with tables and a large Vid-viewer. The thick carpet under his boots was as white as Chiana's hair. Walking around he saw that each child had his or her own bedroom and the master bedroom was easily twice the size of their one on Moya. He returned to the main room to continue his exploration of the apartment. He was looking over some of the pictures and nick-knacks about the room, obviously personal items selected by himself and his family for their second home here on Hyneria. It was a strange twist of luck to go from having no home to having two and a family in just ten cycles he thought to himself. There was a soft noise behind him and a bare foot swept his feet out from under him. The thick carpet acted like a training mat and cushioned his fall as he landed flat on his back. In the blink of an eye, Chiana was sitting on his chest pinning him to the floor.
"You're getting old... to let somebody sneak up on you like that," she purred to him.
Leaning over him, her long white hair cascaded down framing her lovely face. Her full black lips in a sly smile, she leaned closer and brushed them against his. She pulled back saying suggestively,
"We have the place to ourselves for awhile before the kids get back."
He started up at her, finding himself lost again in those sparkling dark eyes. He remembered hearing people say that Nebari eyes where as cold as looking into the depths of space. They wouldn't say that if they could look into the Pixie's eyes and see what he saw, he thought to himself. He reached a hand up and rubbed her cheek. Chiana closed her eyes in pleasure at his touch and rubbed her cheek back against his hand. He wondered why it had ever taken him so long to realize he'd loved the small Nebari woman almost from the first day they met. Her dark eyes drifted lazily opened again.
"Well?" Chiana asked, "Aren't you going to say anything?"
"Yes," he said in a low voice as he pulled her back down to him.
"I surrender," he got out just before their lips met again in another kiss.
The floor below their apartments contained a common area that opened onto the wing's private gardens, along with a workout gym and John's swimming pool. That night Rygel joined his friends, his duties as Dominar discharged for the day; he was free to sit and socialize with his old crewmates. The Hynerian learned long ago that he couldn't keep servants around for these informal get-togethers. The cavalier way his friends treated and teased the Dominar, especially Chiana, just about scandalized the entire staff. Privately, he much more preferred the quiet time alone with them, reliving old times and catching up on new ones. The children had been tucked away for the night leaving the adults free to chat. Berret nursed a mug of Fellip Nectar while Chiana sipped at a cup of Raslek, a drink Berret could not stand the smell of much less the taste, though his wife like it well enough.
"So tell me, Chiana," said Rygel. "Are you still happy with tall, pink, and gloomy there?" His wispy eyebrow rose as he gave the Shrike the good-natured barb and waited for his reaction. "You know there's still time to make you my fifty-seventh main wife if you're tired of him."
Chiana gave him a sly wicked grin and her unique evil chuckle, "No way, Froggy. This girl has to at least be in the top ten or no deal."
"That's our Chiana," said Aeryn, holding her glass up in a toast. "As mercenary as ever."
"And we wouldn't have her any other way," seconded John.
"Neither would she!" said D'argo and Berret almost at the same time. The pair stopped and looked at each other before both busted out laughing. The others joined in and Chiana turned to swat her husband soundly.
"Hey! I thought you were suppose to defend me?" she asked as she broke into her own mirth.
"He thought he was!" put in D'argo, sending the group into more fits.
Rygel bushed aside a tear from his eye as the laughter died. "So they tell me you're having problems with your memory again, Shrike," he said. "A nasty bump on the head I take it? You're not going to go farhbots again anytime soon, are you?"
Knowing that was Rygel's gruff way of asking about his injury and if he was well, Berret didn't take offense. He took a sip of his drink before replying.
"Yes, I had an accident and I lost part of my memory, but it's nothing like with the collar. I'm able to recall an event if someone starts to tell me about it. However, if you wish me to go farhbots again.... just keep telling those awful jokes of yours. That should more than do it," said the Shrike with a big smile.
Rygel made a show of being wounded.
"Well," he said after a microt, "at least they're not as bad as Crichton's jokes!"
John had been sitting back enjoying his drink and quietly listening to the conversation when he realized Rygel had given him a shot.
"Hey!" he said looking about at the others offended, which sent the rest of the group into another fit of laughter. The crew of Moya sat about laughing and chatting till the late hours; all in all, it was a good time with old and dear friends.
Berret arose early with the children the next morning. Excited to be back on Hynerian, they were ready to have their first swimming lesson with their Uncle John. Chiana was still asleep in their room in her usual buried totally under the bed covers position. He knew his wife was not an early raiser if she could help it. With more of his memories returning, he shook his head as he realized that in the entire time he'd known her... he had almost never seen her sleep with her head above the covers when she was by herself. She would mostly sleep that way when he was in bed with her, put as soon as he left her head disappeared under the mound of blankets. He chucked to himself at the odd behavior thinking it probably was a hold over habit from her days of always running and hiding when she was younger. Be that as it may, it was one of the quarks he loved about her... even if it got confusing at times when he would be talking to the lump under the blanket and the end he believed was her head turned out to be her feet or some other part of her body that did not have ears. He changed into his workout clothes and gathered his offspring up before leaving his bond-mate under her Hynerian Quilt fortress then headed to the next level down to meet John.
On the common level, the sound of splashing water from the pool competed with the sound of cracking Tripolyium practice swords coming from the gym where D'argo and his son practiced. As they entered the pool area, John and the girls greeted them.
"Mornin' J.B., 'Len, 'Lee... ready for your first ever swimming lesson?" John asked cheerily.
"Yeah, Uncle John!" both Chulee and Jalen shouted as they threw down their towels and immediately jumped into the shallow end with Missy and Andrea, splashing both adults in their enthusiasm.
John laughed and said to Berret, "Well, they certainly aren't afraid of the water. I had to coax Andrea for over half an arn her first time in."
"Yes, they get that from their mother," Berret answered thoughtfully.
"Yeah," agreed Crichton. "Old Pip sometimes rushed in where angels fear to thread... then again, there were other times she was the first to run away."
"I never said she was stupid," was all Berret said with a cheery smile and John nodded his agreement.
"Are you sure you'll be able to watch all four?" Berret asked Crichton with some doubt after watching the children take turns dunking each other under water.
"I'll be fine. They're not going anywhere near the deep end. Are you sure you don't want to join us?" he asked.
"I've made plans with D'argo to train this morning... and you know how Aeryn is about everyone keeping to their training schedule," answered the Shrike.
"Tell me about it!" said John remembering how his wife could still run him into the ground while they sparred.
"See ya later then, Jared," Crichton said and then called the children over to him to began their lesson.
D'argo and Jothee where just completing a sword kata as Berret entered the gym. He noticed the young Sebacean maid from the day before sitting off to one side watching fascinated as the pair worked. It was obvious that the woman adored the young warrior. Both warriors finished the kata together and returned their practice Qualta blades to their sides in the ready position. D'argo noticed Berret's arrival and nodded to the Shrike as he began his warm ups. The Luxan went on to explain to his son some finer details to their kata techniques, his voice sounding almost like a drill instructor. Berret stretched out and then went through some tumbling and rolling exercises, hitting the ground and rolling back onto his feet again ready to fight. He went to the weapons rack and picked up his practice sword. Unlike the Qualta blades this one was based on one of the weapons found in his personal belongings onboard the Wraith. It was thinner then the Qualta and had only a single edge. The real weapon itself had a handle long enough to use two hands on, but was very light compared to D'argo or Jothee's Qualta Blades, but then again it didn't have to turn into a rifle. John had said the sword resembled a weapon on Earth know as a 'Katana'. Berret strapped the scabbard into his belt at his left side. This weapon was worn mostly edge up and high on the hip. He practiced slowly drawing the sword and making cuts in the air before returning it to the scabbard and starting again. Each time the draw and cuts coming faster until the fake blade was a blur in the air.
D'argo worked Jothee for a tenth of an arn more then took pity on his student as it became more apparent that his attention was more on the young lady rather then his lesson. He dismissed his son and walked over to where Berret was completing his own sword kata. The Luxan watched Jothee depart with his new flame, to which the older warrior shook his head and sighed. Berret asked after the couple departed,
"Isn't it rather strange for a Sebacean to be romancing another species?"
To which D'argo gruffly replied, "She's a refugee from a back-world Sebacean colony. Much like Andar was. The Scarrens came in and destroyed everything. Most of those who managed to escape found their way here or were picked up by Hynerian boarder patrols."
D'argo finished talking with a look of deep thought on his face.
"You do not approve of the relationship?" ventured the Shrike. The Luxan looked startled for a microt.
"What? Oh no, that's not it at all. Tamilla is a very fine young woman... even if she does work for Rygel," he added as a joke. "It's just that...." he started but was unable to put his thought into words.
Berret thought he knew what the Luxan was thinking but could not express, so he took a stab at it.
"She reminds you too much of the boy's mother. Seeing them together is bringing back old memories."
D'argo waved the statement off as if to admit to feeling melancholy was to admit to having a weakness.
"Bah! What do you know, Shrike," D'argo said trying to get off the subject.
"On the contrary, Luxan. I know a great deal about old memories," said Berret, teasing his old enemy turned ally. D'argo growled at the jab and snarled mockingly at the ex-assassin.
"Are you going to spar with that sword or stand there and strike pretty poses all solar day?"
"As you wish, General," Berret said as the practice sword left it scabbard in the blink of an eye.
Several blows were struck at the huge Luxan in the next eye blink, all of which he parried expertly.
"Hah! You call that fighting, Assassin?" D'argo taunted and returned several powerful strokes of his own. Now the big warrior was truly happy, content with the fake battle rather then about thinking of the past.