Castaway Found
By Thomas Mc
Chapter 3
For several seconds everyone in the room stared in shock at either Vincent or Ambassador Zadoranis as the words just spoken by both of them hung in the air between them. Finally Ambassador Zadoranis broke the stunned silence, his voice betraying his extreme agitation. "Zamiis was my only child and that makes you my only descendant which leaves you as the only one left to carry on the family leg . . . acy . . ." Zadoranis came to a shocked halt as he realized what he had just said. He had basically admitted out loud what he already knew; that Zamiis was gone.
Alex had also caught the implications of what he had just said and felt the need to say something. "Ambassador, we . . ."
Zadoranis held up his hand and sadly shook his head as he looked at Alex. "If my son or his mate were still alive then I think they would have already said something. He turned his attention to Vincent and Catherine. He could easily sense the love between his grandson and the Earth female as well as her stubborn determined defiance. She would clearly fight to hang on to her relationship with his grandson. He shook his head sadly as he now addressed his comments directly to his grandson and the Earth female. "There has never been a successful mating between two different species. Besides the often incompatible cultures, such matings are inevitably infertile. There can never be offspring." He knew that for his grandson's own good, he had to put a stop to this doomed liaison.
Vincent sensed resigned sadness from Zadoranis and the other visitors as they all accepted the truth in his statements.
Catherine glanced up into her lover's face and sensed his love and determination. Then she faced Zadoranis a slight smile on her face as her other hand came to rest on her abdomen. "You may have to re-evaluate your opinion on that subject, Sir; . . . at least where Vincent and I are concerned." She was sure that if his attention was brought to it, he would be able to sense the new life growing within her just as Vincent had been able to. She also knew that that she had two more aces up her sleeve, or more precisely, waiting upstairs with her friend Jenny.
Ambassador Zadoranis was surprised by the Earth female's smile and the unreasonable calm confidence that he was now sensing from her. He was also aware of the sudden jump in relaxed and amused confidence that his grandson had begun to give off. It didn't make sense. What did his grandson realize that he hadn't figured out. Then the others in his party were radiating shocked surprise and an instant later the placement of the Earth female's free hand registered on his awareness. A moment later Zadoranis was himself shocked to realize that the she was pregnant. His mind seemed to go numb as stunned silence again reigned in the parlor. After a couple of seconds his mind leaped to the only possible conclusion. "I can not allow you to mislead my grandson like that. Who is the father?"
Catherine snorted in surprise then her brows furrowed. "Vincent is the father."
Zadoranis shook his head in denial. "Impossible!"
Vincent responded. "Never-the-less it is true." He glanced down into Catherine's face and smiled. "The emotional link that we share makes it impossible for us to lie to each other."
Ambassador Zadoranis felt like all the air had suddenly gone out of the room and his legs threatened to give way beneath him. He dropped all his mental barriers and opened his mind then he was able to feel the bond like a glowing band between them. His grandson and that Earth female had formed the bond, permanently linking their souls together. The situation was spinning totally out of control and all he could see was terrible disaster for both of them when everything inevitably fell apart. "But how could this happen?"
Vincent responded. "As far as the bond is concerned, it is a mystery to us."
The physical tension and the emotional atmosphere in the room was thick enough to drown in. Vincent assumed that Zadoranis probably held a very influential position in his own world and was used to getting wanted, but here on Earth he was at a serious disadvantage as far as getting his way. Vincent was getting a bit worried that Zadoranis or one of the other guests might act precipitously and make the situation worse than it already was. Then Vincent felt a shift in Catherine's emotions. He knew from five years of loving her and by the shift in her emotions that Catherine was about to drop a verbal bombshell into the conversation to disrupt the heavy tension that filled the room, and he mentally tensed for the inevitable fallout.
Catherine, sensing that she might be winning this debate, knew that she had to break the tension before the ones losing the debate acted out of desperation and possibly turned this into dangerous physical battle. As long as she was going to do it, she couldn't resist throwing a little extra zing into the ploy to shatter the tension. With a shrug of her shoulders she dropped her little bombshell. "As far as my pregnancy is concerned, you throw in enough vigorous sex and the results are inevitable."
The ploy worked.
Vincent looked down at Catherine in surprise, his face turning bright red. He had expected something surprising and possibly shocking, but this was definitely more shocking than he had expected. It did however have the expected effect.
Zadoranis was again sputtering in shock and surprise at the Earth female's very brazen comment. The rather impressive head of steam that he was building toward trying to force the situation had been effectively disrupted, his thoughts scattered by the unexpected and shocking comment. With heroic effort he got his scattered wits back under control. He now realized that this Earth female was turning out to be a formidable and canny opponent in this debate. Finally he pronounced what he felt was certain doom to this cocky Earth female's desires. "Even if you have managed to become pregnant by my grandson, it will not be viable and will probably not even make it to full term."
Everyone in the room was so fixed on the ongoing discussion that they had not even been aware of the newest arrivals. Jenny had been listening from the stairway. She had heard enough to understand the gist of the situation and had made an educated guess as to what the lion-man might have been saying. She had decided that it was time for her to take a hand in the discussion. They were all caught by surprise when Jenny interrupted from the stairs. "The first two of their children seem to be doing just fine." All heads swiveled toward the stairs where Jenny was standing holding both of the twins by the hands. "Jacob, Jennifer, this is your great grandfather."
At the sight of the two children Zadoranis felt his legs go weak and took two shaky steps backward then collapsed into one of the large sofas that dominated the center of the parlor. There was no doubting the parentage of the two children. The boy was a dead ringer for Zamiis when he was a toddler but his eye and hair color could only have come from the Earth female. The girl looked totally human and definitely favored her mother put her intense blue eyes and sandy colored hair could only have come from his grandson. He stared in wonder as the new human female guided the two children toward him.
Zadoranis reached out hesitantly to touch the two children as though to assure himself that they were real.
Catherine stepped up to him, drawing his grandson with her. She placed her free hand on the boy's head. "Ambassador Zadoranis, may I present your great grandson, Jacob Chandler-Wells." She then moved her hand to the head of the girl. "And this is your great granddaughter Jennifer Chandler-Wells."
Vincent smiled sympathetically at his grandfather who had just had his beliefs, indeed his whole world, turned upside down. "As you can see, grandfather . . ." Vincent put the slightest emphasis on the 'grandfather' signifying his acceptance of their relationship. "I have everything I could possibly want right here." He placed one hand behind Catherine's back and the other on his daughters head. "I have a wonderful mate and two incredible children with a third one on its way." He waved his hand toward Joe, Isaac and Jenny. "I have many close friends." He swung his arm taking in the whole building. "And I have a beautiful home." He wrapped one arm around Catherine and drew both his children in with his other arm. "I have no desire to lose what I have here."
Catherine glanced up into Vincent's face then looked back at Zadoranis. "Might I suggest that you spend a few days with us, get to know us and see for yourself what your grandson's life is like. It will also give you a chance to get acquainted with your great grandchildren." She looked back up into Vincent's face. "And I know that Vincent wants to learn everything he can about his heritage . . . where he came from. It's been the one missing piece in his life that I could do nothing about."
Zadoranis looked up at this very formidable human female that his grandson had mated with. Despite her lack of fur, fangs and claws as well as the odd shape of her face she was still a fine looking female. "Are you are really inviting me to spend time with your family despite my wish to take your mate away from you?"
Catherine smiled and cocked her head slightly. "I'm inviting you to stay in our home. We have plenty of room and it will give you and Vincent more time together." She paused a moment. "What about your mate?"
Zadoranis continued to be surprised by this human female, first by her strength of spirit and now by her compassionate generosity. He could feel the honest sincerity in her emotions. Maybe Vincent . . . (for the first time he found himself thinking of his grandson by the human name they had given him) . . . maybe he had made a good choice in a mate after all. Her unswerving commitment to Vincent reminded him of his own mate. Now his thoughts shifted strongly to his own mate, Talfeena. She had been sensing his turbulent emotional storms and she was worried about him. He paused to project reassurance and happiness to her. "Talfeena is back home but I would like to bring her here to meet . . . Vincent and your family."
Catherine gave one quick nod. "Then it's settled. You're staying with us. Once you are settled in, we will show you how to get around the city without being seen and show you where Vincent grew up. We're both also looking forward to meeting your mate."
After spending a few minutes with the two children Zadoranis told Vincent and Catherine that he had to return to his hotel to call his mate and arrange for her trip to earth. Then he needed to pack his things to bring them back over. As he left the brownstone Zadoranis was amused to realize that he had begun to think of Catherine by her name rather than as that Earth female.
~ x x x x x ~
Zadoranis had returned to the hotel suite to retrieve his things and to put in a call to his mate. He had also brought back a DNA sample he had managed to surreptitiously acquire from each of the children and from Vincent and Catherine. Vincent had sensed that he had something up his sleeve at the time but was unable to realize what it was.
First he made a secured COM link call to a very close and trusted friend of his family that was also the head of the planetary College of Genetics back on Cutahni.
~ o ~
After a long wait . . .
~ o ~
His friend responded. "What can I do for you my old friend."
"I have a very special request that I want you to keep strictly confidential. I'm sending you two DNA samples and I want you to have them analyzed for any hidden genetic problems and for racial reproductive compatibility."
~ o ~
After a five minute wait . . .
~ o ~
The response came back. "I can do that for you but why the secrecy?"
Zadoranis practically held his breath as he dropped his bombshell. "Because they are hybrids."
~ o ~
Five minutes later . . .
~ o ~
"What!"
Zadoranis flinched at the volume of his response. "A Cutahnian has mated with an alien female and they have managed to produce two offspring with a third currently on the way." Even with this hyper light communications equipment that they had brought, the time delay was frustrating.
~ o ~
After a longer than five minute pause . . .
~ o ~
His friend spoke. "But that is not possible. The likelihood of alien races being even remotely compatible genetically is infinitesimal. The few times it has been accomplished, the results have been disastrous. That's why it is forbidden by every civilized race. If this is discovered the offspring will both be destroyed." Zadoranis could tell how shaken up his friend was by the tremors in his voice.
Zadoranis responded. "Impossible or not it has happened and the two offspring both appear to be perfectly healthy as well as physically and mentally unimpaired. I need to know just how viable they are. And it must be done quickly and quietly."
~ o ~
Again that long five minute wait . . .
~ o ~
"I understand but . . . why are you so interested in this?" His friend asked curiously.
"Because the Cutahnian is my grandson. He has been stranded on this planet since birth. He and the alien female have somehow become bonded." He paused to let his friend absorb these revelations then after several seconds he continued. "I am also sending you a two more sets of DNA from my grandson and the alien female. I want you to verify my grandson's relationship and I need to know if these offspring are a fluke or if our two races are truly genetically compatible."
He fed the genetic material into a general purpose analyzer that he had borrowed from Exploration Services. He transmitted the data to his friend, again reminding him to keep this totally confidential, for obvious reasons. His friend told him that he would have the analysis for him in about the equivalent of four hours. Zadoranis asked him to send the analysis results back with Talfeena then disconnected.
His next call was to his mate and was, by necessity, unsecured. Again there was a long wait but he was able to sense her surprise and happiness two minutes before she answered.
"Zadoranis, what has been happening to you? Your emotions have been so turbulent for the last few days, especially today."
"Talfeena, I want you to pack up for about ten days and come out here to this planet. Alex Rogan is going to make arrangements for someone from the Legion to come pick you up in the morning." He paused to take a breath. "I found out what happened to Zamiis & Zoria." He took another deep breath. "It appears that their ship was attacked and we think Zamiis was killed in the initial attack. Talfeena, it appears that Zoria survived and was still alive when their damaged ship crashed on this planet. We're not sure how long Zoria lived after the crash but, before she died, she gave birth to their son, our grandson. He is alive and I have met him. He wants to meet you." He knew there was so much more he should tell her but that was not wise on an unsecured communications link.
~ 0 ~
Two minutes later he felt her emotional reaction of surprise, disbelief and finally joy to his message.
~ o ~
Two minutes after that . . .
~ o ~
He knew that she would be coming to Earth well before her response came in over the communication equipment. "A grandson? We have a grandson? . . . I cannot believe it is true . . . I will be there. I can hardly wait to see him."
He told her he would be waiting and signed off. Zadoranis thought a moment. If he had guessed the time differential correctly then he figured that she would arrive on this planet some time just before dark tomorrow. He wondered how Talfeena would react when she learned about the rest of their grandson's family. She would certainly be very surprised and probably shocked by it. He just hoped that she would be able to handle the very unusual situation.
While Zadoranis was packing up his stuff, Alex contacted Legion Headquarters and made the necessary arrangements for Talfeena to be brought to Earth.
~ o ~
Catherine glanced over at Ambassador Zadoranis crawling on the floor, playing with her two children, and grinned. Her twins had a habit of conquering the affections of everyone that they came in contact with. Vincent came up behind her and put his arms around her in a warm loving hug. She could feel his love like a soft blanket enveloping her. She savored the contact as she let her head fall back against his chest while she responded to his projected love with her own loving projection.
"I see Jacob and Jennifer have made another conquest." Vincent whispered quietly in her ear.
Zadoranis caught the edge of the exchange of emotions between Vincent and Catherine and glanced over at them. He was amused with himself. Her strength of spirit and her loving devotion to Vincent had won him over completely. He had even come to accept Vincent's distinctly un-Cutahnian name. It was probably just as well since Vincent wasn't about to change it.
Even though the unique family could not safely live openly on this planet, they would still be much safer living here. If he were to try taking them home it would put these two lovely children in mortal danger and even his own powerful position would probably not be enough to protect them. Right now the protected status of this planet was also their best protection. It also didn't hurt that they apparently had several friends in influential positions on this planet. He smiled and nodded to the couple then returned his attention to the two adorable children.
Soon it was the two children's bedtime and he got a kick out of helping to put them to bed. At their request for a bedtime story, Zadoranis told them a tale about Zamiis & Zoria. Shortly after that Zadoranis retired for the evening.
~ x x x x x ~
The next morning, right after breakfast, Joe brought Sammy by to meet Vincent's grandfather. Catherine gave Sammy one of the spare translator buttons that Alex had left her. They spent the next couple of hours talking about the relationship between Sammy and Vincent when she had been growing up in the tunnels. "He was always like my big brother, especially after my mother died. Everyone in the tunnels looks up to and respects Vincent as a leader and a mentor and a teacher."
Zadoranis perked up at this point. "Teacher?"
Sammy smiled. "Yes Vincent teaches several courses to the youngest children of the tunnels. They all love him. The first year that he started teaching, he also became my first teacher."
Zadoranis nodded. "I worked as a teacher in my youth and my parents and grandparents were all teachers." He smiled. "I suppose it must run in the genetics."
Sammy giggle at his phrasing. "Here on Earth we say 'it must run in the blood'. It's not quite as accurate as the way you said it."
Zadoranis chuckled. "It seems that every race has it's own peculiar and often inaccurate way of phrasing things. I often find that tracking down the origins of such phrases can be very interesting and in many cases can teach you a lot about the culture of that race." He paused and cocked his head. "I keep hearing mention of tunnels and Below."
Catherine jumped in. "That is where Vincent grew up. We are planning to take you there for a short visit after lunch and introduce you to some of the people from his childhood. Speaking of lunch, Sammy, it's nearly noon. Will you and Joe be staying for lunch?"
Sammy shook her head. "I'm afraid that we can't today. Joe and I are meeting his Sister's family at one. In fact we really need to get going pretty soon."
After Joe and Sammy left Catherine fixed a quick light lunch. After lunch, Catherine dressed the twins in warmer layered clothing. Once they were all ready Vincent and Catherine led Zadoranis through the secret door in the parlor. The twins apparently knew where they were going and became very excited. As they reached the utility tunnels beneath the street Catherine informed him that this was how Vincent got around town without being seen. Then they reached the spiral stairway and were soon heading down to the home tunnels.
Zadoranis wasn't to sure what to expect of this place they were heading to but he was very intrigued.
Catherine was thinking that the people in the tunnels were in for a big surprise.
Continued in Part 4
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