Book 4
Siha: Rise of Rakhana
Part II
Bevekt and Braith tilt their heads towards each other, a slight scooping-in of their shoulders in the process. Jumping to the councilor's concerns, "…Your Patience, I will answer your frustrations."
The other grins, a mockery of a true smile, "…We've been waiting an hour to have you bless us with your presence."
"Due to the nature of how I have been made," Braith replies, "…I have circumstances that have affected me within the past three hours. I understand it may be difficult for you, but I will share what I can."
"We hope you will," the dalatrass says as she moves on to the next councilor.
"Councilor Gereel," she speaks to each of them briefly as she moves down the line…Braith and the human councilor, Declyn Kobahn, greet a bit longer, having been in a professional relationship prior to his councilorship.
Diogenes, the geth councilor, gives her a neat handshake.
When she has greeted the final councilor—the great hulk of elcor from CoD, Tugru, Braith picks up the twins who have been following her hem to observe her interactions with each leader, and brings them back to the middle of their half-circle as it tightens about Karin Chakwas. Braith passes each twin to her husbands' hands.
Karin gives the councilors a summary of Braith's medical evaluation—with a glance to the woman for permission which Braith nods back. Her statements show a clear sign-off permitting Braith, the twins to return with Casnar and Ylyssus.
The councilors ask their questions.
The heat of Casnar's hand on Braith's back assures her of his support.
The councilors aim their questions next at Braith who answers all about the children's rate of development. She counters several about the danger of not knowing the twins' biotic potential, as the power is often inherited by children from mothers who possess the ability. "Such may not manifest at all, but if it does—"
"Who are you kidding, Shepard," Fedir chuckles, his mandibles opening and closing, "…They will undoubtedly be carrying it."
"…And unable to use it until they understand how to combine the energy with their minds."
"What if they should access the potential while you are asleep, unable to witness the event," Bevekt inquires, "…Were it to lead to an incident—"
"My children are encapsulated in a closed home at all times. Rarely do we venture beyond the fields surrounded by the holosphere, Councilor Bevekt," Braith's eyes move from hers to the others, "…My children will be unable to trigger the energy without my knowing." Gereel and Bevekt would have looked at each other if they did not have the wisdom to withhold such a shared reaction, and Braith offers a small grin, "…I am connected to Jenner and Jaspin…I am morthwyl which bonds me to the inherited system of thousands upon millions of morthwyls, spawned from the roots of shared lineage…My children come from the same system, and I witness their experiences through their sight and to a lesser degree, through their feelings…" She points directly at Jaspin about to nip Jenner's tebris as the children are wrestling on the ground. The twins separate as if touched by her gaze.
She turns to see Gereel's painted white eyebrow raised. Bevekt displays a skeptical sour lip.
"Hyper-vigilance is not evidence of such a telepathic bond."
"Distrust is not evidence of knowledge," and Urdnot Wrex conceals a savage smile in response to Braith's retort.
Bevekt makes a glare that could melt through petrified magma.
Braith chuckles inwardly and raises one of the children to herself with her dark energy melding with her mind, "…I am a ward of my children who are the future of my race of mixed species…My children will one day be able to apply what they have inherited not just in genes but the wisdom of a race that had existed for centuries on Rakhana," she says with a tint of sadness.
"Had," Diogenes points out, "…The Shepard-Matron-Steward refers to her race in the past…"
Braith holds Jenner in her hands against her shoulder, the child leaning his brow medallion against her forehead. She allows him to climb out of her hands, hop down to the ground, spryly running over to rejoin Jaspin under their fathers' shadows. She goes on to explain that morning's events to the attentive Council, quiet as she goes into shallow detail of what she understands from the events that transpired in Bangal'roux on Rakhana…
…Through her kindred's last visions…
"…The Great Enmity will find us…It is a promise." Braith looks at the Councilors each, "…I request permission to return to Rakhana and recover the body of my deceased mate. As for your concern about my sleeping with every turian, volus, asari, elcor and batarian to recreate an endangered race, you needn't worry yourselves over such incredible fantasy." She hears a chuckle from Urdnot Wrex. "My eggs are meant for my husbands," she gestures to the drells behind her. "I will reproduce with none other than they…and two are all I will give birth to. They are here, my Jenner and my Jaspin."
Bevekt makes a slow incredulous blink.
"Startled," Tugru, the elcor councilor, clarifies for everyone, "…is that the only request you propose to we, the Council, Elder-Matron Shepard?"
Braith smiles, "…There is one other request I had in mind…"