Planting the Seeds of Family

Chapter 12

With Omevic, hopefully, with his new family, Yarovesky just walked back slowly. He wasn't used to gardens, aside from his old master who had taught him about the stars, and then being on the Elector, moments like this were rare. He had been told to report back to Yondu after it was done and see what happened after that.

At the same time in the large pool, the only sound was shrikes of laughter from two small boys and the Xandarians who were encouraging them. Little Seroul and Peter had picked up swimming almost instantly, and with the adults next to them, were both able to paddle and keep their heads above water.

However, it didn't stop them from splashing each other, and just having fun, which was contagious to the two Xandarians while their mates just chatted to each other, in very formal tones. Both of them understood it, being leaders, it was hard to switch off from that no matter what.

When Yarovesky approached them, he actually felt a pang of guilt for interrupting the scene. However, he was joined by Iztel, who looked a million times happier and they reached the two families at the same time.

"So how is Proctom?", Yondu asked not wishing for the crew to be on the planet for that long, and the Elector's chef was happy to fill them in.

"It's brilliant, it turns out that parts his brains didn't develop properly due to his old life" referring to his years a slave, which they were all aware of, and didn't want the boys to pick up on it. "Following the beating, blood clot and surgery, it turned out that due to the trauma, the neurons in his brain are twisting casing the fits". Yondu tried to understand all that without sounding like a total moron. "So, they can fix it?" asked Kraglin, while he was holding Peter in his arms who was currently splashing Seroul.

"Yes and no. We need to overhaul his diet, no booze, caffeine or stimulates and he'll be on medication for a while, both for the seizures and to fix the prior brain damage. It could take a few years, but even though they can't won't be gone for good they will be less, and that's a good thing".

This was good news to the families, and then Iztel continued and turned his attention to Lizxona. "If it's ok, can I speak to your tutors, I want to make sure Peter isn't missing any gaps in his education, and may I speak to your chefs as well. I make sure Peter has a nutrient-rich diet, but it would be good to try new things".

Lizxona, not one to be surprised, blinked at the older Ravager and said, "Yeah sure, my guard will escort you". And snapping his fingers, a well-armed Guard seemed to appear from nowhere to take Iztel where he needed to be. "Come on lad, you can come with me", Iztel said practically pulling Yarovesky along as the pair disappeared, and Lizxona just turned to the others. "Ok, I need to know, is Proctom Iztel's son? He seems very attached to that Ravager".

"No, there, you know I'm not sure anymore. They're something" was all Kraglin could say, and everyone understood this.

With everything happening as it should, in the end, the Udonta's and the Warlords family just enjoyed the day, with the boys learning how to swim and Yondu even though he couldn't really relax just begun to enjoy the fantastic hospitality by the warlord's family. It was a little while later that the families were spread out on the lush grass enjoying lunch picnic style and of course, Peter being only three but possessing a hell of a good memory was regaling the adults with his recent misadventures.

"And then the bad man, grabbed me by the hair, and daddy and all the Ravagers came in, and Omevic got hurt, and so did my foot" Peter declared, and Tyorells exclaimed, "Well you must have been very scared".

"Yep. But I'm brave, and the Badman is gone, and now Omevic is going to have a new family". Peter finished with a flourish and being a toddler, begin to rub his eyes with his fists and settled down for a nap, without being promoted.

"Ok Seroul you can have a nap too" stated Lizxona and his son begun to protest in a scene not too remiss of Peter "No, daddy, no nap. I'm a big boy" Serious insisted while also rubbing his eyes, and in a few moments, he was settled down next to Peter snoozing gently, while the adults placed a thin blanket over them.

With their babes snoozing, Tyorells addresses the Udonta family, "You know, that really must have been terrifying".

"In all honesty, I've had better days". Was all Kraglin could say, while Lizxona checked on the others concerning family via a quick message.

"Ah looks like it's going well, Omevic seems to be a more settled" which was all he could say at that moment in time.

At that precise moment, Omevic was sitting with the family, and enjoying lunch. It was strange that they would be sitting at the same level as him since he was a slave, and he had been confused when the lady. Emau announced they were having a "picnic" having no idea what that was. Proctom's orchid was next to him since he hadn't wanted to let it out of his sight.

The other two people having spoken to the parents had left, and Omevic didn't know who they were and didn't want to ask.

Omevic had learned about the rest of the family, the three boys were the sons, and their names were Vymoa who was sixteen, and going away soon on his "Trials", something that Omevic didn't understand, the second one was Paigton who was thirteen, and the youngest was Leedi who was ten. They seemed nice as they chatted, and Omevic wondering if he would be a slave to all three of the boys.

"So Omevic, are you really a Ravager?" Leedi asked since to him Ravagers were scum and feared, and he had never been up close to them for obvious reasons, and Omevic found himself denying it.

"No, they saved me, and I live with them, but I don't think I am one…they killed my old Master".

"So, what were you before?" Leedi asked, admittingly insensitively. "A Slave", and a silence fell on the group for a moment before Antoni the father spoke up "Well not here you won't be, it's illegal here. Slavery is banned, horrible practice."

It was comforting to Omevic to hear those words, as he enjoyed the food, and it was delicious, soft fruits and creams and even tough Iztel cooked good food on the Elector, this was different and nice.

"I clean on the Elector", Omevic said, perhaps suggesting that this what he could be for the family, and Emau, just smiled. "You are a hell of a gardener though". And Omevic just blushed, with the statement and unfamiliar praise, for his hard work. Which wasn't work to him, because for the first time in his life he was doing something fun.

The adults had made the small holes, and let Omevic choose the different colours to place on before scooping back the earth and adding water.

He had planted several rows of colours and wondered how long would it be until they boomed, and hoped the family would let him see them if he ever came back, which was unlikely.

Omevic was also hot and sweaty and a little bit tired, but he didn't want the family to know that he wanted to work for them and show he was a good slave.

However, after the delicious picnic and rest of the food being eaten, instead of going back to work, Emau got up and said to the others. "Well, that's work done today. Shall we all go back to the house? Omevic are you coming with us?"

Omevic blinked for a moment, and found his voice "Don't you want us to work", and Leedi the youngest almost replied with a laugh. "No, we're not allowed too. By law, children are only permitted to work on their families' business for five hours a day on weekends, and three during the weeks after school.

We work, then we have the rest for playing. Lord Lizxona is really strict on that, you can even be fined if you disobey it", and the rest nodded. For Omevic it was strange concept, to only have to work by law, and then play as everyone got to their feet and started to make the journey back to the house, past a few acres of field of lush flowers and massive greenhouses, with tall exotic plants being grown which he could see through the thick glass.

Turning down the path for the house, Omevic jaw dropped, and he took it all in, it was wooden and rustic and surrounded by a lot of trees, and more grass and flowers.

Omevic had never dreamed of a home, but if he did. It would have been like this, and the father Antoni seemed to pick up on his emotions and chimed in. "Incredible isn't it, been in our family for generations, we've always had land here." And Omevic just nodded as they got closer to the flowers and the home.

Stepping in the doorway, surrounded by the others it bore the traces of family life, in a sort of organised chaotic way, with stuff on surfaces and pictures on the walls and tables of everyone happy and smiling. And Omevic wondered if he should clean it…I that's what they wanted him to do.

"Right now, you're here, why don't you go on and play with the boys", Antoni stated, and Omevic just grew confused for a moment, but Paigton grabbed his hand, "Come on we can show you the tree house, it really big and grown up are not allowed. Apart from Vymoa because he's not a grownup, he only acts like he is". The middle child declared, and Omevic let himself be pulled out the back door, to the extensive gardens, and once again he was taken aback.

There admits the trees and the forest was a large house, embedded in the branches, safe and secure, with a slanted wooden ladder going up, and he came to a series of large rooms, all connected with rope bridges.

"We normally use the main room, but we also use the other ones too if we want to be alone, the windows have sensors, so the sun gets in, but not rain. It's awesome, isn't it?" Leedi the youngest and by virtue of that was babbling slightly, but even after a few hours he liked Omevic and wanted him to stay.

Omevic just nodded, and his gaze fell on the wooden beams, all etched with names, "these are the names of everyone who's been in our family, dad, aunts and uncles, grandfathers us…we've had this land so long, we've had this tree house for over hundred-year-old."

Vymoa said, wondering to himself if soon he would be adding Omevic's name to that. Truth be told he was initially upset since this year was meant to be special and about him. Being sixteen and about to start his trials, but he felt pity for the child, who his parents had told them all about.

Omevic looked around some more, at the games on tables, and stuffed cushions. "Will this be where I stay?", he asked out loud, and none of them could give an answer for a moment which he took in the affirmative, and he didn't mind that.

"Ummm I'm not sure" was all Vymoa could stay, as at the same time, Emau and Antoni were speaking on a video chat with, Lizxona and Yondu, and could hear the squeals of two boys splashing in the water in the background, post-nap and full of energy. Once again Yondu was impressed by her directness, though he wouldn't tell her that,

"Look, it's going well, he's met us, he seems comfortable around the boys, but there is something, I want to try…and your all going to have to trust me".

To be concluded again.

Yes, I know.

I can't help it.

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