Copyright 2024 – Daemon D. Hart
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The Human Bearer
Riordan stared at Xana in shock, ready to give his husband an earful about having to hear about such news from third parties, but he could tell, because of the intimacy he had shared with his Xeno husband, that the news was just as fresh to him as well.
"Commander, what's the meaning of this?" Xana inquired directly.
They could communicate the usual way, but they used speech because he was there, Riordan realized. However, Kanto did fire a few things at Xana in the blink of an eye. He caught very little of it.
"His Royal Chancellor is in brumation and unable to rule," Kanto said abruptly. He had, indeed, the manner of a military man, Riordan thought. "While general Lei would be the next to follow in his footsteps, his condition is far from ideal."
"And that suddenly leaves me to be in charge of our race?" Xana asked, quirking an eyebrow. "I am certain there are others meeting the necessary requirements."
Kanto's eyes were sharp and direct. "I am not a politician, Your Excellency. But, as the Xeno with the highest military position on the ship, when the situation requires it, I can name the one fit for being called His Royal Chancellor."
"Is this a military coup?" Riordan asked, too stunned and unaware of the many Xeno customs that probably led to the present situation.
"No," Kanto said and finally looked at him. "The opposite. To restore order, I must choose the right Xeno for the position of Royal Chancellor."
"And that guy is Xana?" Riordan asked.
Kanto nodded. "Yes, he is my choice, and it is final."
"I am honored," Xana said without a trace of hesitation. "I expect opposition, nonetheless."
"That is where my role begins as the commander," Kanto replied. "I do need orders. From you."
"What we need right now is a smooth transition of power," Xana said. "I know the individuals that would oppose the idea of having me in charge. I suggest that they are subtly observed for the time being."
Kanto nodded in acknowledgement.
"Drato Menor's condition, how is it?" Riordan asked, seeing how Kanto and Xana were quickly settling the most urgent manners by exchanging thoughts at a high speed.
"He has already recovered from the attack." Kanto gave Riordan a curious look. "His bearer and his son have disappeared, however. I have several squads of guards looking for them. Their safety is paramount at the moment. Still," the commander added while his hypnotic eyes latched onto Riordan's gaze, "since no one can find them at the moment, that might mean that they are the safest they could be from those that wish them harm."
Double-edged words, yeah, Riordan could handle that kind of thing. So, he kept his mouth shut, as that appeared to be what the commander was suggesting.
"What do you make of it? This news?" Riordan asked. He didn't say it out loud. For all he knew, Dario having grown legs overnight was something only a few knew, such as the boy's parents, Riordan, Kyle, Junior, and now Xana. "The Xenolite being an empath," he added for good measure.
Kanto smiled thinly. "Yes, an empath. What a complicated thing. His Excellency here makes a good point regarding the need to watch over the transition of power so that things happen without too much upheaval. An investigation regarding the whereabouts of Cario Hamen and Dario Menor is underway and it will conclude with their discovery."
Kanto was wrong to say that he was only a military guy. The way he spoke showed that he had some inclinations of a diplomat, as well. He gave Riordan plenty of hints that keeping Cario and his boy hidden for the time being was the way to go.
"The Council wants to meet you, Your Excellency. They are expecting orders, just as I," Kanto said.
"I will be there shortly."
"Is Drato safe from those who attacked him?" Riordan asked.
"He is in his quarters. His door is guarded," Kanto explained.
"So that no one can get to him, or so that he doesn't get out?" Riordan continued his inquiry.
The same thin smile from Kanto told him what words didn't. It had to be both. Drato Menor's position was shaken at the moment, and the commander didn't need any altercation happening on the hallways of Tu'lek, now when fights for power could break out at any moment.
"I will take my leave now," Kanto said. "But please allow me to ensure your security detail in person, Your Excellency. I will be right outside your door."
"I will have a moment with my bearer, and then I will be right with you," Xana said politely.
Riordan waited until the doors closed behind Kanto and turned towards Xana. "I have no idea whether to be happy for your or not. I guess I'm scared what that might mean. Others will come for you, right? Thirsty for power and all that jazz."
Junior had been frolicking in the water tank, caught in his own world as a child, during their conversation. Riordan checked on him with his eyes, but it appeared that not even Kanto's dramatic appearance had managed to pull the boy out of his games.
That was a blessing, one that their son wouldn't be able to enjoy anymore with age. Right now, he had a reprieve, but it wouldn't last long. Things all around them changed, throwing them into a chaotic place, with rules that made themselves on the go.
"The commander is on our side. That counts a lot, as this is his ship, no matter what others may say. A connection between a commander and the ship he's in charge of is a special one."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"There is no one else that knows this ship better than Kanto Vai," Xana explained. "Whatever happens here, he's bound to find out eventually."
"Do you believe he knows where Cario and Dario are?"
"That seems likely. However, while he didn't say it directly, he thinks that where they are is the safest place for them at the moment."
"Drato must be beyond himself with worry. I know he's guarded, but I suppose you can send a thought to him, right?"
Xana laughed affectionately and caressed his cheek in passing. "Yes, your supposition is correct. I hope that it doesn't cross your mind to go visit Drato on your own."
"Hmm, I can't say that it didn't cross my mind," Riordan said. "He needs to know that Cario and his son are safe. And while you might not be able to communicate with him without others eavesdropping, I might be the safer choice."
Xana shook his head. "Your presence at the site of Cario's and the boy's disappearance is already a rumor. Kyle might have escaped unnoticed, because it is not common knowledge that I refitted His Royal Chancellor's special weapon into a regular domestic bot."
"Well, you're the Royal Chancellor now, so let's say you inherited Kyle from his previous owner."
Xana chuckled and brushed his lips by Riordan's ear. "As I thought. We might make a politician out of you yet, my love. The thing is, I don't want to have to worry about your safety. So, if I asked you to behave just like any other bearer and pretend that this news is just the same to you as it is to anyone else, will you do it?"
"Just because you're asking nicely," Riordan replied. "Okay, I'll keep a low profile. But I'm allowed to move around, right? Cario is waiting for me with news. He might be better than me at communicating with his mind, but that doesn't mean that he has no need for a friend right now."
"If he knows what's best for him, he will keep from trying to contact Drato. As you said, he might have some innate abilities at using our way of communication, but he is no Xeno. He might give his location away by accident if he does that."
"Cario is smarter than that. He was scared out of his wits when I last saw him, but he's a survivor. He's going to get through this, and his husband and his son, too."
"We will do our work on this side," Xana promised. "I will ensure that when our little boy with human legs emerges from hiding, no one will harm him."
"Our little boy?" Riordan asked.
Xana placed a soft kiss on his forehead. "That is how the Royal Chancellor must think. And since you're my bearer, that extends to you, as well."
"I guess that Marn's obsession with having us multiply makes more sense now. And his care for the Xenolites on the ship."
"My father will become fit for ruling at one point. And Marn will not remain in brumation forever," Xana said. "That means that my position is temporary. Regardless of how short my staying in power will be, I will do my best to ensure the safety of our race. And having a Xenolite grow legs overnight, as you say, is something we must consider carefully. It is evolution." Xana appeared pensive for a moment.
"Junior has also dreams of having legs. Will they all grow legs at one point?"
"Difficult to say."
"That reminds me, Xana," Riordan said. "Ferix is interested in the human anatomy, and Marn has always been adamant about not letting him run his little investigations for fear that a bearer under his inquisitive eye might make him, you know, develop certain impulses. At this point, however, since the guy's a genius and is clear that he won't look at the human bodies he's going to inspect with anything but a scientist's interest, doesn't it seem like a good idea to have him on the case?"
Xana pondered for a few moments. "I believe that his input will provide invaluable. He should also start overseeing the general condition of Xenolites, just in case Dario's case is not an insular incident."
"And if it is? What's to become of Dario?"
"I'm thinking ahead, but I believe that it will take years for our race to accept this sort of evolution happening as natural. We will get there, and I will do my best to shorten the time needed for this to occur."
"So, he will be shunned, just as Cario worried. Don't get me wrong, I don't think it will happen in an official environment, but it's highly likely for him to get bullied, even by other Xenolites."
"That is why Dario is lucky to have our boy as his best friend," Xana said. "Junior will be raised to think correctly about such evolutions within our midst. He will set an example for others."
"I suppose you're right. And I feel it in my gut that Dario can't be the only one. Junior wouldn't dream of having legs if it weren't the case."
Xana threw a pensive look at the water tank in which their boy was frolicking happily, without a care in the world, regardless of all the things he had been through, along with his parents. "We will see," he eventually said. "I have to meet the Council. You may move around freely, but have Kyle with you at all times."
Kyle had been instructed to get the necessary supplies for ensuring Cario's and his boy's comfort, so he wasn't in the room for now. Yes, Xana was right, not many knew of Kyle being a battle bot, and not just your ordinary piece of machinery, following bearers around.
"And I will take care of Cario in the meantime. Can you make sure that Drato doesn't get hurt again? That attack was something else. I hope it's not condoned, and that those responsible will answer for their crime."
"Measures will be taken. I assume that the commander is already on top of things, but I will make sure to give the order to bring those responsible to justice."
Riordan embraced Xana shortly. However, his hands didn't leave his husband's arms for a while, as if he didn't want to let go of him just yet. "Take care, Xana. I feel like your position is precarious, and I could use a break from worrying all the time."
Xana gave him a long reassuring kiss. "I will return with news. Wish me luck?"
"Do you need it?" Riordan asked and smiled.
"It's how you say on Earth, isn't it?"
"Yeah, but I'm going to give you something better." He kissed his husband deeply. "For good luck."
Kyle was a stickler for efficiency. Inside one of the many drawers he possessed, he had blankets, foods of various kinds, and other sundries so that their friends would have everything they needed for at least several days. Riordan was amazed what the particular method of compressing everything into small squares used by his bot could do.
"You know, Kyle, you're the best friend a man can have."
"I hope you're not comparing me to a dog, Master Rio. I definitely do not sport a thick coat and a wet nose."
Riordan laughed wholeheartedly. How much it meant to have a friend, especially during times like this.
"What's a dog?" Junior asked eagerly as he inspected the various items Kyle showed Riordan for his perusal.
"A favorite pet for many on Earth," Riordan explained. "You know how I explained you about animals?"
"Like bunnies," Junior replied with an energetic nod.
"Dogs are better than most animals in the sense that they are domesticated and can live with humans. And, to explain Kyle's joke, they are so attached to humans that they are considered a man's best friend."
"But my best friend is Dario," Junior said.
"I know. It's a way of saying, but it holds a lot of truth. Even if they don't use speech, they can communicate with their owners in their own way, and they are great to have around."
"Did you have a dog on earth, dada?"
"No," Riordan replied. "Everything I'm telling you now is what I heard others saying."
That wasn't exactly true. The faded memory of that street mutt he had fed from his own ration for a couple of days when he was seven and getting used to living on the street came to mind. But that shaggy thing had been a free soul and he had abandoned Riordan just like everyone else. It had been one of those moments when he had realized that to be strong, he needed to forget about attaching any feelings to those around him. Or maybe those army men who scanned the streets every day had taken that mutt with them. Who knew?
Junior snuck his little hand into his. "Are we going to see Dario now?"
"Yes, baby. Let's go. We must be quiet so that we don't draw any attention."
Junior nodded. "And bad people don't find them and hurt them."
Riordan kissed the crown of his son's head. "You're so smart for your age."
"Dada, why is Dario upset about having legs? I want legs."
It was a simple question, but not one with a simple answer. "That is something maybe we could ask him. You can tell him how much you'd like to have legs like him. Make him a little proud that he's like this now."
He knew that his son understood a lot. Still, he couldn't help worrying about everything. It seemed like it came with the territory when attachments were involved. But Riordan also knew that he wouldn't trade them in exchange for the so-called peace of mind he'd had before. That was just emptiness, nothing else.
Riordan had been cautious not to draw any attention on their way down to the prison cells below. He had been careful about overhearing conversations on the hallways of Tu'lek to see if the rumor of his husband getting the highest position, not only on the ship but regarding the entire Xeno race, had hit the streets. So far, it appeared that the bearers and their bots hadn't been made privy of it. The lack of Xenos around, however, spoke of the important piece of news being delivered that very moment.
That meant that shortly, he might get a lot of unwanted attention. He had no intention to become the next queen bee, and with so many bearers interested in nothing but getting ahead by knowing the right people, he felt like the proverbial target was being painted on his back.
Until then, he still had his freedom, and he would use it to help his friends, no matter what. The elevator ride seemed to take forever, and he looked at Kyle for reassurance. The bot was impassible as ever, and that helped even if that came with the territory of being a machine.
The corridors were as quiet as he knew them. Riordan felt a pinprick of apprehension, as his ears tried to pick up any sound. It was too quiet. That was what he thought. Maybe it happened because Kyle had managed to put that protective wall up for Cario and Dario to be safe behind it.
His thoughts were cut short by Kyle hurrying in front. "Stay back, Master Rio," the bot urged him as he rolled away at an increased speed.
"What's going on?" Riordan asked and squeezed Junior's hand in his.
Which was the cell where they had left Cario and his son? He felt as if that memory was suddenly lost. He shook his head and stayed behind as told. If it were only him, he'd hurry along, but he had Junior's safety to keep in mind.
It was, however, Junior who grabbed his hand and made him increase his pace.
Kyle stopped and disappeared inside one of the cells. He got out just as Riordan and Junior were about to reach him.
Riordan didn't need his friend to tell him anything. He stepped inside and took in the empty cell. "They're gone," he whispered. And then, louder, "How the hell did this happen?"
tbc
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