Colliding Worlds

[aryamajor]

The doctor came in after the surgery as the nurse continued to set up the various monitors. There was one for the mother's blood pressure and heartbeat along with one to monitor the babies vitals. All of the readouts appeared to be steady from the quick study of his pad, and he looked to the anxious Chip standing by the bedside. "She and the twins did well. The vessels connecting to the two children were properly severed and the excess fluid drained with minimal invasiveness and bleeding. Normally this is an outpatient procedure but given how the prior pregnancies have gone we will be keeping her overnight and into to tomorrow for 24 hours, just to ensure there are no other issues. She will have 2 weeks of bedrest to ensure the incisions are closed properly and shouldn't strain herself. No heavy lifting at all and foods that are easy to digest." He could tell by the look on the Chips face that he was determined to help and yet probably didn't know what foods were 'easy to digest'. "We'll send you a list," he assured, "Once the two weeks are up and there are no complications she can go back to her 30 minutes of activity so long as she keeps to the easy diet."

At the last of his instructions, he figured it would be fair to give the man a small warning. The councilwoman would receive the same speech of course, but it would be better for him to hear it and digest it first. "It is not likely that she will carry the twins to full term and that her body will begin labor early. If you have any signs of pre-term labor call us immediately. There will be a list of the symptoms to look for in the bag for you." With that news delivered he gave Illya a firm nod and left to attend his other patients before going home. It had been a long night and his family was missing him too.

Coming out of the anestheisa was the worst part of any surgery and it always left Calysta feeling strange. As if her body might float away over the Wilds like a little bird. It was a giddy sort of sensation and she drifted in and out of conciousness. Finally, after a few tries, she managed to get some grasp on reality and saw a hulking shadow sitting beside her. Focusing a little more, she noticed it was Illya what appeared to be a delicious looking moon-cookie in his hands. "Share?" she said, trying for a smile. Her face felt slightly numb and she wasn't sure if the smile was successful or not, especially after he froze in confusion.

Calysta blinked up at Illya as he held the cookie, the kind with the cream sandwiched inside, to his mouth then asked him again. "You're going to share those, right?" she joked once more. A small, somewhat airy giggle left her, though it ached to laugh at all because it made her belly ache. Her hand wobbled up toward him, obviously without its lucid coordination. She wanted a cookie, but more so she wanted the hand holding the cookie. "I feel like a pin cushion. You think if I eat that cookie it will be okay?" She didn't want it to fall out of any of the holes in her gut.

Seeing Kalizda like this was hard. Illya could tell even if she had some painkillers in her that she still hurt. There was something in the eyes that said it. She may not feel it yet, but her body knew she was in pain. Illya pushed the cookie in his mouth and reached into the bag and then pulled out one that he hadn't been dumbly breathing all over while trying to decide if he'd actually heard her speak, or not. Pressing a little cookie into her hand he set his other hand one her shoulder and tied to lean over close enough to kiss her. It took some work with the back brace, but he managed it with some effort. "I think you should eat if you're hungry."

A cookie was pressed into her palm and a soft, somewhat awkward kiss graced her lips making her hum drowsily. "I think you're right," she whispered in Qouti to him. The kiss made her forget all about the cookie her hand and she gazed at her Chip with sleepy eyes. "You look sleepy," she noted in Kaerelean, "If you're sleepy then you should sleep. I'm not going any whereee." The words slurred as she reached up to her shoulder to pat his hand with her own, one of her fingers carrying the little clipped heart monitor. "I love you, you know." Her eyes searched over his face while she smiled until she noticed the back brace. "That new out fit doesn't look as good as the other Ira out fit. I like that one better."

She wasn't quite all together and Illya could tell that by the way she seemed to on about things. Her little fingers brushed over his hand and he carefully took hold of her hand and moved it back under the covers. There wasn't any need for her to be getting cold when she had blankets. Then one of the more strange things she'd ever said came out of her mouth. "Hmm...So dat's why yah keep et eh?" With a smirk, he played along. More than likely she was just saying crazy stuff.

When he put her hand under the covers, her bottom lip poked out a bit in confusion. She wanted his hand and the covers were in the way, but she couldn't quite figure out how to escape the blanket again. Giving up, she looked to Illya with a cat-like grin. "Mhmmm. You make it look good and I liked it when you wore it for me. It's probably why we're having twins." A pleased snicker escaped her mouth at her own joke and she stopped only when her belly hurt.

Illya narrowed his eyes slightly. "Oooh, so you tink dat's what happened eh? I wear et and den yah have twins." He was starting to wonder if this event was related to anything in the past, or if it was a real event. When she was a little more herself he would tease her about the story and see what came of it. "I tink yah need sleep now."

Calysta nodded, her curly hair bunching awkwardly at her neck as she did. "Aye I think so. Too good to resist." He mentioned sleep and she sighed some. "I'm not sleepy." It was an absolute lie but she didn't want to go to sleep and leave him all alone, especially with the twins. She glanced down at her belly and nodded to her baby bump which was still there. Leaning her head back, she met Illya's eyes again. "If I sleep, you sleep, yeah?"

"Mmhmm...I'll sleep ef yah do." Illya would try now that he knew she was alright, but it didn't mean he would stop worrying about her.

Satisfied, Calysta smiled at her Chip and took a deep breath before closing her eyes. It wasn't quite the same as having Illya to cuddle up to, but he was close to her and that was enough for now. She was sure that the hospital bed wouldn't hold them both and if they tried it, the thing would end up looking like their couch, a half folded taco. They wouldn't make good taco filling, so she decided he was close and he would rest better beside her. Besides, her belly hurt some she didn't want to say anything about it. With the last of her lucid thoughts leaving her, Calysta fell asleep glad to have Illya by her side.

Going home was a bumpy affair that made her slightly wish she still had more of the anesthesia in her. She was already sore to begin with and while Illya was gentle as possible in bringing her upstairs, she could still feel ever bump and step he made. In reality, she knew his back had to be hurting him something fierce. He wasn't supposed to be carrying her at all and here he was having to help her up the stairs again. It was slightly disappointing that she wouldn't get to ride in the little chair for the next to weeks, being bound to the bed, but she also knew that was what the twins needed.

Illya placed her on their ugly, admittedly soft, bed and she leaned up to capture him in a kiss. "I guess it's a good thing you got us the new bed," she chuckled, trying to wipe the worry from his face. She knew he would be wanting to go down stairs and work on the house immediately now that they were home. It wasn't a good idea with his back but she wasn't in any sort of position to stop him either. "Don't strain yourself too hard, yeah? You promised I would get to watch you work with your shirt off and that back brace will be in the way if you have to wear it longer because you overworked." He seemed to find it funny and gave her a kiss along with a wink before departing down the stairs.

Calysta watched him go with a small sigh, wishing she could go with him. Being stuffed into their room, even one nice as the one they had, was a bit disheartening. She wanted to be downstairs with her Chip and her babies even if it meant she could only be on the couch. Their living room was a construction zone though, making her in the way for the most part, and Cypher would want to climb over her with his heavy bones. That thought practically made her swollen belly ache where they had made the incisions and she picked up her pad. A good book might make a decent distraction. Scrolling through her pad she found a book that was as good as any and might give her a laugh. Wild Ways 2: Alien's Revenge, was sure to be as grossly inaccurate as the last one. Half way through the first chapter, Calysta's eyes started to droop and before she knew it, her head lolled to the side as she fell a asleep.

************

As soon as Illya made his way down the stairs, Cypher greeted his Dah with a big grin and his hands up wanting to be picked up for playing. "Dah! Papa said yah would play wit meh when you got here." His hands were sticky with berry juice and his teeth were stained blue, the tell-tale sign that he had his morning snack already. Thomas came around the corner with Lohgan on his hip. The green-eyed girl looked as if she had been crying and as soon as she saw Illya held out her hands for her Dah too with big tears welling in her eyes.

"It's the bone aches," Thomas said, "That and Calysta helps soothe her a bit." Calysta had messaged him using Illya's pad about what happened from the hosptial. He wished his son in law had actually said something about the middle of the night emergency at first, however, one look at the man's face told him he wasn't exactly running on full steam. His eyes were blood shot and carried puffy bags underneath. "I'll get us some lunch first and you can rest for a minute," Thomas added.

About that time, Rose came around the corner with the tall Pithian boy and a look of worry on her face. "Is Kalizda okay?" She was worried for her mother after Papa had mentioned what happened. She had intended on going out with Sam again, but it sounded like that she might be needed at home if Kalizda was bed bound and the kids were running around. It hadn't been hard to ask Papa for permission for Sam to come over instead of them going out. When she realized her boyfriend was right behind her, her mouth twitched slightly. Calysta wasn't here to get her out of this one and she wasn't quite sure what to do other than offer an introduction again, as late a it was. "Dad, you remember Sam," she added, "I invited him with Papa's permission and he's been helping too."

 

[Silence]

It was about time to be bringing Kalizda home and that was a relief. She was still going to have to be careful and that meant that Illya would have to be careful too, but the babies were going to be fine and she would be fine. They were so close and she just needed to last a little while longer. The Ehaui had said she would probably go into early labor. If a good diet of gentle foods and plenty of rest could prevent it then Illya was going to make sure that she didn't have to set her little feet on the ground. He would carry her to the bathroom if he had to.

On the way out of the hospital Illya's limp had gotten a little more pronounced. His back was hurting quite a bit and it was causing some problems with feeling his legs. It was already tough some days to gauge things with the prosthetic and this just made it more difficult. Illya's brow wrinkled with a mixture of pain and concentration. His right leg was getting fizzy everywhere he had feeling and he couldn't tell if he was faltering until he started to jerk slightly in an attempt to catch himself. By the time they were in the ship he did his best to gently apply pressure with his right leg to the fuel and the ship barely crawled all the way home. He was too scared to actually try applying anymore pressure with the way his leg was feeling and for the fact that Kalizda just finished with her surgery.

Taking her up the steps into the house and then up to their room was painful. Illya could feel his back practically light on fire with every step. It took a lot of effort to try and keep from frowning intensely at Kalizda. When they were up the stairs he got her to the bed and nearly dropped her in it. Leaning over he kissed her and gave a wink at her little joke. "Dun worry, I'll be fine." Stiffly he straightened himself out again and started to limp toward the stairs again. Even if he didn't feel like dealing with anything else he could hear the chaos downstairs and it would require some attention.

Almost the instant he stepped off the last stair Cypher was wanting up and the boy was practically tackling his legs in attempt to get his attention and Thomas was almost immediately trying to hand off Lohgan. Lohgan had bone aches and Illya knew that would make her fussy. "Ok, ok." Whatever Thomas just said went in one ear and out the other. Illya was still trying to get his brain back in gear. He didn't feel that great and his back was starting to ache even more. As badly as he just wanted to sit down he knew that broken couch would feel like murder. In reality sitting anywhere would hurt. If he laid down he knew it was going to take far more effort than he could exert at this point to get back up too. So, instead he had to stand for the rest of the day. That was about all the better it would get.

Illya was ready to go find one of the hallways and try to lean against one wall with his feet braced against the other. Then he could hold Lohgan and kind of close his eyes. It would be like sleeping while he was standing up. He didn't even noticed that Cypher was already dashing through the house with his spider and ready to play with it and Dah. Instead of getting his moment of peace Rose came around the corner with a boy. A Pithian and Illya already recognized him.

Cypher knew his father well and he knew exactly what his father called Pithians. Holding onto Illya's pant leg the boy leaned against his father and sneered at Rose's boyfriend. "Eeugh...filty." He'd been holding his opinion back till he knew his father was going to be here. Cypher knew he couldn't say it unless Dah was around.

Hearing those words come out of Cypher's mouth shocked Illya. He hadn't thought the boy had heard him say that about Pithians and most of the time it was in Quoti. Obviously his son understood Quoti just fine. Stunned for the moment he just stared at Rose and the boy she was with. He did agree with the voiced sentiment of his son, but he had given his word to Kalizda and Rose he wouldn't be like that with this boy. Switching arms that he held Lohgan in he reached down and pinged Cypher's mouth and spoke to him in Trader's Tongue so that the Pithian would hear too. "No, he's a guest dat has come tah help. Did he help yah wit tings?"

It was shocking to have his dad do anything like that and Cypher's blue eyes got wide and he reached two little fingers up to feel his lips. They stung a little bit and he listened when his Dah spoke and then nodded.

"Mmmhmm and what did he help yah wit?" Illya waited for Cypher to answer and then he pushed Cypher toward the Pithian. "Yah tank him. Never insult dah one dat helps yah." Cypher appeared to be ashamed and he should have been all things considered. Illya hated to admit that he had been a bit reluctant to punish his son for saying it too. However, his word was his word and he wasn't going to break it. Now Illya looked to Rose and her boyfriend. "Aye, I remember yah. Tanks for yah help and yah stay tah eat food wit us." That was all the more he wanted, or cared to say for now.

*********************

Lohgan fussed throughout the day and Illya strapped her to the front of himself with the little carry bag. She seemed to be a little more content and he pushed one of her blankets in with her. Eventually she fell asleep and then Illya took Cypher out with him to be in the backyard to take care of the animals. Thomas was cleaning up in the kitchen and Rose was sitting on their broken couch with her boyfriend. It was Illya's sincere hope that she found a good Chip boy to be with. However, he couldn't say anything for now. Instead he kept his mind preoccupied with showing his son how to care for the animals. "Cypher, bring dah meat bowl."

The boy came hobbling out of the kitchen with a bowl full of meat for the bear and Cin came charging toward the boy. "Yah hold dah bowl wit one hand and slap Cin on dah nose ef he tries tah take et from yah before yah set et down." Cypher did his best to follow through with his Dah's orders. It worked and he beamed proudly as he finished feeding Cin and then moved on to feeding the other animals. He was fascinated by how the animals ate, what they liked to do and how to handle them properly. Illya sat with him in the chicken hutch and showed him how to carefully pick up the hens and gather eggs. "Yah get all dah eggs. Ef yah leave dem den dese ones rot. Yah leave eggs in dah oter house. Oter house es where we let dah chehkens have more chehks."

Carefully Cypher made his way along the chicken pens and he clucked every now and then to see if the chickens would talk back to him. By the time he and Illya were done feeding the animals Cypher was wore out. He'd drug heavy bags of food around for his dah and he worked hard to feed the animals and take care of them, but he liked learning how to hold them, listen to them, and study them to be sure they weren't sick. Struggling with the last bag he pulled and grunted as he drug it back up the steps of the porch toward the locked bin where the foods stayed.

Illya dropped to one knee and grabbed one corner of the bag and then helped Cypher lift it. He couldn't reasonably stand without taking the bag and pride from his son, so he walked on his knees to the bin and helped Cypher put it away. When they were done Cypher flexed his chubby little arms with a great growl. He looked proud of how big his arms were and raced into the house to show the whole family.

***************************************************************

At last the day was over and Illya had the kids all tucked into bed. Rose didn't get tucked in the same. It was more like he would knock on her door and poke his head inside to tell her good night. The girl would give him a kiss on the cheek and a hug most of the time and that was likely out of habit. Cypher was out like a light in the length of time that it took Illya to read a short book. Painfully he moved along till he got to Lohgan's room. He debated putting her down, but he knew she'd cry if he moved her. Instead Illya moved slowly to the room and gingerly got into the bed. He'd missed most of the suckers during the day and he could tell. He really wanted a sucker and a lozenge at the same time. However, he knew that wasn't going to happen.

Taking one of the lozenges Illya stuffed it into the side of his cheek while he worked on slowly removing Lohgan from himself and then he gingerly laid her in her crib. It felt like a miracle that she actually made it to the crib. She was getting too big for it, but when she had bone aches it was easier to keep her in their room. Illya changed and he took a lot of deep breaths as he was working his way out of his back brace and then back into it after he had a fresh shirt on for bed.

By the time he got to the bed Illya was was having a hard time not frowning. He was doing his best not to make Kalizda worry about the pain. Still, it hurt and he couldn't quite hide that fact. "Ugh..." Laying down on the bed he let out a pained sort of whimper. "Dat hurt." Reaching over with one hand he gripped one of her little hands and he winked at her. "We jes practice being old eh? I hold yah hand tahnight." He didn't feel like he could move much more than he already had and it wasn't good for her to move much either. Closing his eyes he took a deep breath and started to relax.

Morning came early and Lohgan fussed from her crib. She gradually went from fussing to wailing and Illya woke up. He didn't feel much better if any better at all. At first he tried to sit up and instead he had a horrible pain run through his back. It seemed like a good time to change his mind on how he was going to move. Adjusting his position he rolled himself over to the edge of the bed and pulled Lohgan out of her crib before scooting himself back on the bed by pushing with his legs. By the time he reached his pillow again he was sweating and he winced a little. "Kalizda?" He hated to wake her up, but it was bad. "Tea won't help dis time. I need a sucker." Illya kept the sucker wrapper on his night stand and he would suck on the sucker long enough for it to relieve the most serious pain and then he would take it out of his mouth and set it on the wrapper. Since he could have a lozenge in the morning he took it after he'd had the sucker for about 5 minutes and then he waited for Thomas to wake up. Eventually the man would come to their room to collect Lohgan for breakfast and then Illya could ask for tea too.

 

[aryamajor]

As if walking right into Wolf before any precursor could be given wasn't bad enough, Rose almost cringed when her little brother snarled at Sam then had the gall to call him filthy. Cypher always looked to his Dah and copied whatever he did. The more racist side of her father had obviously rubbed off on him some, but it hadn't come up at all that morning until Illya was actually there. Sam had come over and helped cook breakfast for everyone, then dutifully played 'spaceships' with her little brother while she fed the animals their breakfast and Thomas cleaned the kitchen. Cypher had a wonderful time as far as she could tell, and Sam had even helped fix the broken wing on his flyer with a bit of superglue and no small amount of patience. Now, he wanted to show off in front of Illya with his little sneer.

Shooting the stout boy a hard look, Rose started to open her mouth and inform Cypher exactly how rude he just was when Wolf thwapped him over the mouth, correcting the rude comment. He made a soulful apology to Sam with big, blue eyes gleaming up to the older boy in shame. "I'm sorry," he said glumly, remembering those words usually fixed things with Mam, "Tank yah for helping meh wit my ship, Sam." For his part, the Pithian boy looked a little nervous with Illya standing over him along with his girlfriend beside him. Nodding, he accepted the boy's apology which was all Cypher needed to perk right back up and dash out of the back door. Rose suspected the apology was more fueled by the fact he got in trouble over it and a bit less because he'd said something truly insulting. At least Wolf had corrected him though and he knew he shouldn't act they way toward Sam. What was more, was the invitation to dinner. Illya could be really traditional and outright disliked Pithian's, making in known in the house. The invitation to join them was a real surprise and a relief. It looked like Kalizda had at least smoothed things over with Wolf a little when it came to her boyfriend just as she promised.

Illya loped into their wreck of a living room, ending the conversation and Rose smiled to Sam. "It looks like my mom will be okay, and Wolf is up. Lohgan will only want to be with him if she doesn't feel good. Want to take a walk to the custard parlor? My treat this time. Calysta helped me sell another story last week." Sam shrugged a bit and nodded. "Sounds good." He liked Roses' stories and she was always fun to hang with, making her a good girl friend more or less, though she had a rather Chip like way of speaking her mind that his mother highly disapproved of. In fact, his mother had been pressuring him quite hard about discontinuing his relationship with the ex-General's daughter. Not only was it because she was a Chip by adoption, but hanging around her was dangerous according to his mother. Rose could be a target because of the councilwoman. Sam had just shrugged at those points. They were on a heavily guarded island and he liked her, which was plenty of reason for him to hang around.

Rose took his hand, and began leading him through the battered living room toward the front door. She glanced back at him, obviously still relieved things had gone so well. "Wolf, we're going out for awhile and we'll be back soon to help with dinner." All she got out of him was a grumbling, half aware sort of reply and she took that to be permission as she stepped out of the door, tugging Sam behind her.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Calysta spent most of the first day from the hospital in light state of sleepiness once she had given up reading. The surgery itself had been tiring and the non-narcotic pain medication added to the mix made her drift in and out of sleep. Every now and then one of the boys would shift or kick at her stomach, causing an overriding jolt of pain along with the worry that she was somehow going into labor early after all of the fuss in the surgery. Whenever Calysta woke her hand would search the sheets of their seemingly never ending bed until she found her pad again to check the time. It was only 4 in the afternoon galactic time, and as irritated as she was for having slept for hours, the moment she thought about sleep, a wave of tiredness crept over and she drifted off again.

Only the slightest of jostling woke her long enough for her to see Illya settling on to the bed after having put Lohgan in her old crib in their bedroom, the same one Illya had made for Cypher while they were on Uria. She was nearly too big for it by now and had her own space, but it was possible that it had been easier simply to bring her upstairs for the night. Calysta missed her little girl anyways and wanted to see her smiling at them in the morning. Her eyes traveled from the crib to her Chip who seemed to be moving very stiffly across their expansive bed. She was sure his back was hurting after hauling her around and then having to wrangle the kids all day. Not to mention the living room was still a disaster. Her thoughts were confirm when let out a shaky sort of grunting whimper as he laid back next to her, then said out right that it hurt. He could have had another sucker if he needed it before going to bed after the lozenge and he surprised her by not asking for one. Instead, his large, brown hand settled over hers and he made a joke about the two of them in their states. Chuckling, she smiled and began tracing her thumb over his palm gently, the only loving either of them could physically handle at the moment. "We better not practice too much too soon," she mused back to him, "I plan on keeping you around and wild for a long time before this all we can do. If we keep getting these big beds like this, you'll have to keep in good shape to find me in all of it." It was as naughty a joke she had every made to him and she threw in a wink for good measure.

They laughed a little as they chatted on and off about the day. He didn't talk too much, and she was sure he was only mumbling out sleepy answers to satisfy her because she was stuck upstairs. That was alright though. She knew about Sam coming over and about Lohgan's bone aches, which explained why she was upstairs. Within the hour, both of them started to sink into their new mattress and sleep caught up with them. Her last thought of the night was of Illya's hand and how sweaty it was going to get when she refused to move her own to a cooler spot. This was as close as they were going to get for a bit and she wasn't going to give that up.

"Kalizda?" The name along with the small bump in the bed pulled her from sleep and she realized her mouth felt like it was made of dry cotton. Had she been sleeping with her mouth open all night? He mentioned something about tea not working and needing a sucker. Remembering he hadn't asked for one the night before, Calysta nodded sleepily and leaned over to nightstand, fumbling with the drawer before fishing out one of the medicinal candies for him to have. It took her a moment to truly wake up and realize Lohgan was piled in the bed between them. She was fussing some, her little legs kicking as she tried to roll over so that she could get closer to Dah again. Every time he picked up the sucker and tucked it into his mouth, Lohgan's bright eyes followed it hungrily, holding the hope that she might get a taste.

From the looks of things, it seemed that Illya wasn't in any shape to get up and she wasn't technically allowed to be out of bed at all. That left her father to deal with all of the children, hopefully with Rose and Priscilla there to help. Picking up her pad, Calysta sent a message to her father to see if he was awake yet. In a matter of minutes, he was knocking on the door and coming in wearing his usual pajama bottoms along with his plain white t-shirt. "Dad, I don't think either one of is any shape to get up today," she admitted, "I think we're going to rest for awhile, would you mind watching after Cypher and Lohgan for a bit?" Her dad looked slightly frazzled as it was from the day before, and he was none too happy about his son in laws lack of communication, but he wasn't going to deny the chance to take care of his grandchildren. "Aye, I've got it. Just rest. I don't want you moving too much," he replied.

Lohgan cried pitifully when Papa picked her up from the bed and started out of the door. Not only was she bone sore but she wanted to stay there with her Mam and Dah. Her fat little hands reached out for them, trying to grasp at the air in protest and guilt sank into Calysta. "Dad...dad..."she sighed, "Leave her here and I'll feed her if you don't mind bringing up the food." The instant Thomas relinquished his granddaughter to her parents she stopped wailing and stuck her thumb into her mouth as she curled up on the mattress between them.

For the rest of the day they were a sleepy, achy trio in the ugly gilded bed. Calysta let Illya sleep and rest while she did the same in between checking on their little girl who was quiet once she ate and snuggled into the heated blanket. Thomas brought them dinner which consisted of nyte beast roast with vegetables, and Calysta sat up to the most comfortable position she had found so far; propped up on a few fluffy pillows. It cut down on the heartburn and took pressure of her belly to sit half reclined. While she fed Lohgan bites of bread soaked in roast juices over a towel drop cloth, Calysta smiled to Illya. "I think this is the longest we've spent in bed together since the Festival."

After dinner, she read a few of her messages while rubbed Lohgan's back. "There's a tribunal we will have to go to soon," she said, "Airman Jaiyme's." She was sure he knew what a shameful fiasco the man had caused during the Chip rescue mission. "I don't particularly want to go, but this sort of affair requires a full council. Including Edgar and the newer members.He knows too much about the Omebrey to simply be let loose." Shaking her head, she moved on from the subject to a lighter one. "I've found a few new couches when the living room is ready. You might like this one." Holding up her pad, she showed him the couch she had been scouting off and on throughout the day. Giving him a proud look, she pointed to the features and translated them from Kaerelean. "It comes with extra memory foam padding and those two seats on the end there. They come with heaters built in. There's also a coffee table that goes with it. See the little skirt at the bottom? It's a blanket to keep in heat for the heaters inside." If she was going to have 4 half Chip babies running around and getting cold in the rainy season they might as well make sure they had plenty of ways to stay warm. That seemed to catch his attention, though he was interested in looking for the same couch in bright red. "They have a nice deep burgundy," she suggested, hoping he might settle for that color.

They debated for a little while until there was a quiet knock on their bedroom door. "It's Rose. Can I come in?" Calysta gave her permission and their eldest daughter swung the door open, looking forlorn. Her eyes were a tinged red, with a puffy spots in their corners, and her face was blotchy red. It was obvious she had been crying though her eyes were dried up for the moment. Frowning, Calysta sat up and waved her over, patting the bed where she could sit down. "What's wrong?"

"Sam and I got into a fight," she said glumly, "His mom doesn't like me because you're my parents and I told her that was a silly reason...and he got upset. Now, I'm pretty sure he's going to break up with me." Already she was starting to sniffle again and Calysta reached over to grab a tissue for her. Rose dabbed at her eyes and looked to the both of them. "I like him, but I think his mom is wrong and I said so. Was I wrong?" Like many times before their girl was sitting in front of them, still strong but this time understandably confused on what to do about the situation without a little guidance. After all, Wolf and Kalizda had made it through tough times and they had to be the experts.

 

[Silence]

Rose was distraught looking at best. She was almost never like that and it made Illya's guts burn with rage. If someone hurt his little girl, if that someone had laid a finger on her, or violated her he was going to string him up no matter the consequences. Nobody was going to touch his little Rose like that. Instead, of all things the girl was upset because the Pithian boy got upset with her. Upset with her because his mother didn't like her and she had a mind to say the reasoning wasn't sufficient to put dislike on someone. Illya took a deep breath and he looked at his daughter. "No, yah nut wrong. Et es bad reason tah decide not tah like yah. I tink ef dat es dah boy yah really want den I would maybe give et some time, but yah talk to him again. I dun like dat he's Pitian. Pitian's are sneaky and I tink his moter disapproves of meh more den yah and dis es why she decide she dun like yah. No Pitian will ever want tah be near yah because of meh." Doing this because he promised Kalizda was one of the more difficult things he would have ever done for someone. "I dun tink yah know, but Tomas dun like meh so much when we meet. He even shot meh once. Yah see how et turned out eh?"

Rose's eyes went wide as she stared at her father. "Papa shot you?" She did not ever recall Papa and wolf not getting along. She new they could be Gruff with each other sometimes but she never would have thought her grandfather the kind to shoot someone.Calysta could see the surprise slapped over her Rose's face and she felt for her daughter but at the same time had a spot of Pride for her as well. A girl called out what she thought was wrong and oftentimes that took a great deal of Courage. Illya's response made it sound like her father had shot him on purpose, but otherwise it wasn't the worst response he could have given being that he truly was racist against Sam and his people. A little more explanation was needed than what Illya was describing though. "Aye, your grandfather shot him. Though I think it was more of a accident even if they didn't get along." She knew it was an accident, but she was fairly sure her father had gotten a small sense of satisfaction out of it. Not that Rose needed to know that. Taking up her daughter's hand she gave it a gentle squeeze and smiled. " your papa and wulfhere did not get along. But you might be surprised to know that Illya and I didnt see eye to eye when we met. I was a dangerous outsider in his view and he was...well...ah...a bit wild and tried to capture me. We didnt get along at all. The truth is Rose, sometimes people just need time to get to know one another and that sometimes includes arguments. If Sam's the one for you, then you will begin talking again eventually and be stronger for it. And that includes his mom. Maybe all she needs is a little time."

Of course Kalizda was trying to be diplomatic and Illya never cared for that part. "Yes, dere will be a time for yah tah talk again. Jes dun shoot him and dun let him shoot yah. Nut so likely, but yah be careful." Taking a deep breath he grinned. "I tell yah little secret. Kalizda shot meh too. Chippequoti are nut always so good at diplomacy eh? Chippequoti are usually right, but maybe yah learn tah be right, but talk better den meh and den yah might know dis Sam and his moter better faster."

Rose's brow shot up at Calysta. "How bad at diplomacy were you that she actually shot you?" The words came out of her mouth before she really thought about them too much. It was still almost unbelievable that her mother would have shot her father given how lovey-dovey they were all the time. It was a little hard to believe but there she was getting a nod from Calyata. "The Chippeqouti have their moments," Calysta chuckled, before stealing a glance at Illya, "But with some patience and practice we both learned and so will you." Rose nodded and understanding but it was obvious she was still hung up on the idea that Kalizda had shot her father. "Can I ask one more thing? Why in the Wilds did you shoot him?" Calysta started to chuckle little and grinned. "What else is a caption to do when a man is breaking into her ship?"

If Kalizda was going to indulge in making herself sound so dangerous and talk about their first meeting Illya was going to make sure the record was held straight. It was also a time for Rose to learn a few things. They had agreed to share their cultures together and Rose was mostly Chip, but she could stand to learn a few things. She wasn't as sturdy as a Chip. Catching Kalizda's look he grinned back and waited for her to finish. "Eh well, what was I supposed tah do when dere was an invader on meh planet? I go inspect and for dah record I did win dat fight. Lose most of dem wit Kalizda now, but dat one I did win and et counts for someting."

How her parents were laughing over such a story Rose wasn't sure. It hardly sounded like a romantic meeting and yet here they were over 10 years later sitting side-by-side. When wolf mentions winning that particular fight Rose couldn't help but smile just a little. Kalizda's word around the house was usually gold and it was hard to think that he had won an argument over her. Calysta let Illya have his moment, and simply grinned for a moment. "Oh you did win that one, but I would like to think that you got a bit more out of it then a simple victory. You did get an agreed...after a few more arguments. He even earned himself a punch in the jaw before all was said and done."

They had their bit of fun with the conversation and Illya just winked. He wasn't going to say much more. All Rose needed to know was that things didn't have to go smooth and romantic for it to work out. In times like these it wasn't likely. In all honesty Illya figured that he and Kalizda spent more of their lives together fighting than anything else. If they weren't fighting each other they were fighting something else. Some battles they won and some they lost. "Rose, yah jes remember dat ef dis boy es wort et he will nut let dis stop him. Ef he dun come back for yah den yah know dat he would not be good for yah. Ef he dun come back yah should look at some Chip boys. Ef dey like yah, a Chip will always come back for yah."

Illya was giving his shameless plug about Chip boys being a bit better than others and Calysta let him have it. Chip men were good men, but others could be too and she trusted Rose to know that. Rather than pointing it put, she inched a hand over to Illya's and rested her small fingers over his knuckles. They were rough but warm like always. "Mine always came for me and a good man that is worthy will find a way." Rose looked at her parents, feeling better and leaned over to give Wolf a hug. "I'll be patient and if he comes back maybe we can work it out. If not I'll just keep moving."

From the sounds of it Illya and Kalizda had a semi successful chat with their daughter. What he wasn't quite prepared for was the hug. At first the sudden awkward weight hurt and he could feel his back brace dig in a little bit, but it was worth it. Wrapping an arm around Rose he winked at her when she pulled away. "Dats meh little Rose. Got a good head on her shoulders. Smart, beautiful and yah know et. Dat es how a woman should be and yah dun ever accept anyting less from a man. He will know dat he finds a good woman and he's lucky dat yah choose him." He wanted her to have all the pride in the world when she chose a man because he wanted the man to be one that cherished her. Love wasn't enough. Whoever chose her had to want her more than anything else and he had to be willing to do whatever it took to take care of her. Any less and he wouldn't be a man for her. All Illya could do was make sure that Rose expected that of a man. Once she chose Illya couldn't do anything about it. For now all he could do is give her the best example of what a man should be and how he should treat a woman.

*******************************************************

After about 1 week Illya was managing with only using one sucker once in a while. He was about ready to go crazy keeping track of where Lohgan was when Rose wasn't at home to help watch her. Cypher was very happy trying to learn how to be a man. The boy would grab the smallest hammer and pound on the studs as if he was helping re-build walls and make that extension on the house. In the end Illya knew that Kalizda would get the extension even if he protested to start with. However, he had the material here and he was determined to make whatever she wanted.

He had barely cleared out the living room and got it ready for the new furniture that he and Kalizda had settled on. Even if he liked the bright red he knew Kalizda didn't like it, but she was pleased with the burgundy color and that was close enough. It would still look fabulous with gold if they decided to put in a gold blanket, or something else to accent it with. The nice table with the heating was also exciting. All the kids would enjoy it. Cypher, Lohgan and the twins. He wanted his babies to be healthy, safe and happy here at home. If there was one thing he loved about Kalizda's sense of interior decorating it was the fact that she thought of ways to make it comfortable for the children. Their children should live in a comfortable home and be as safe as possible.

A knock came at the door and Illya opened it up to see that the Chippequoti were there with the new large sofa. It had only been a week of working downstairs, but Illya wanted to have somewhere for Kalizda to lay, so he fixed all the parts of the house that had been broken first. She was his agreed and companion and he wanted her there with him even while he was working on the house. By lunch time it was all set up and he'd painted the walls a soft green. A color that he was sure she would like. Nothing overwhelming. Then he had pictures of trees, fields and forests hung all around the living room. They had a handsome couch and a nice subdued paint on the walls. He had abstained from gold anywhere in the living room and settled with the white curtains. The only thing not fixed was the wall that he was still working on. They had to have a larger kitchen by Kalizda's standard. It would give them plenty of time to talk while he worked.

Going up to the room Illya leaned over the bed and kissed Kalizda. "Dah couch es here. I have all dah living room ready for yah. I am only working on dah changes to dah house now." The changes were actually most of the work, but it sounded better that way. Catching her gaze he grinned. "Yah let meh pick yah up and take yah downstairs to dah couch?" Without waiting for her response he scooped her off the bed with a slight wince, but he was sure he would be fine. Besides, he had new railing in and it was much more sturdy than the last stuff. "Jes dun touch dah railing at dah bottom. Stain for wood es still drying." Illya walked Kalizda all the way down the stairs and set her on the couch. "I made et for yah. Et looks like mountains and forest in dah living room now." All the little tables and lamp stands were made with wood from the wilds and their pictures were framed with wood from the wilds too. She would like it, he was sure of it.

Once she was settled in he went into the kitchen to get the soup he'd made served into a bowl for her. They'd have lunch together. The trial for Jaime was coming up and Illya knew that bothered her, but he was going with and she already knew that. Returning to the living room he handed Kalizda the bowl of soup. "I ask everyone ef maybe we jes have dis afternoon togeter. Priscilla and Ehud take dah boys out. Thomas and Rose and Lohgan went out too." Illya stared at her for a long moment before saying anything. "Yah know dat I love yah. No matter how hard et es I will find a way for us to be togeter. Maybe yah can't walk right now because yah have our sons, but I will carry yah in dis time. Dis trial es difficult for yah, but I will be dere. Kalizda, being council woman es difficult and important job. Yah stand wit meh as General and now I will stand wit yah. Et es part of dah trust yah ask meh tah have when yah give meh dis ring. I trust yah and I will stand wit yah because I love yah, et es meh honor, and meh duty." It was all of those things to him and more and he wanted her to know that. While her bowl was resting on the side table he had set up next to her on the couch he carefully took one of her hands in his. This was something that always made him nervous, but he remembered it from their wedding, the night they agreed for the first time. Lifting her wrist to his lips he kissed it and then smiled. "Yah are most beautiful woman."

After lunch was over and all the serious talk he helped Kalizda get adjusted so she could watch him work. He'd hidden a special surprise in the bathroom and he went in there before he was ready to start work. Stripping off his shirt he slipped the back brace off too and then wrangled his way into the Ira vest. He didn't really like it that much, but she seemed to think she'd like it when she talked to him in the hospital. Even said he'd dressed up for her in it. Well, if he hadn't, obviously she liked it and he could afford to dress up like Ira for a few hours. Besides, she was the only one that was going to see it.

Stepping out of the bathroom he picked up the smaller hammer for the small work he would be doing and then a few nails before he stepped out where she could see him. "I know yah like tah see meh arms, but yah also talk about Ira vest. I always wondered why yah kept et." A sheepish grin came to his face and he chuckled. "Maybe yah jes like a show eh?"

*******************************************

It was hard to sleep. Illya could feel the burning all through his back and some of it was in his legs. The sand packed into the wounds and even the wind felt harsh. There were more ships above, they were coming for a second round. That was something he couldn't last. Shrapnel from the first round was still so hot that he could feel the burn through the tactical gloves when he tried to pull the chunks of metal out of his leg. His men were already scattered and in little bits all over the ground and he was sure that some of the blood dripping from his hair and his face and hands and everywhere had to be theirs. "No...." Almost crying this time he buried his head in his arms. A chunk of shrapnel sticking out of his arm cut into his scalp, but he couldn't watch this. He couldn't move, but he didn't have to see what it looked like when they blew what remained of his dying men into nothing, but sprays of blood.

Moving was too hard. How did he end up on his back? Illya pushed himself further up the bed with his legs and he fought the blankets he had wrapped around himself. It was soft, he was in the field hospital. "No, no..." Forcing himself to turn onto his side he gripped the headboard and shook. "Dun touch meh! No, no more." The gentle voice wasn't what he remembered at all and Illya's muscles slowly started to go lax and he slumped down into the bed a little further.

He was laying on his right side in the bed and he knew it would make him sore, but he wasn't sure he wanted to turn over yet. Kalizda was still awake and she'd be worried if she knew. Technically she already knew that he had a bad dream, but he could at least calm his breathing and she would fall asleep and then he could try to go back to sleep. The fact that he couldn't shake the images even after he was awake scared him. It hadn't been like this in a while. Despite his best attempts to keep his breathing calm and slow, he couldn't. Finally, he turned over in the bed and he sat up. "Kalizda, ets ok. I jes need tah get a little drink of water eh?" She couldn't get up to come after him and that was what he needed for the time. Just a few minutes to let everything settle.

Grabbing a pair of his pants he slipped them on and wandered down the stairs of the house. He let his hand run along the new rail that he'd put in and he shuffled past the broken wall. The part of the house under construction just looked bare and eerie in the dark. It reminded him of the war and he almost regretted coming down stairs at night. Turning the sink on he let the water run for a few moments before he put his glass under it and got some water for himself. Illya could feel his throat tightening with every gulp of water and he set the glass aside after he emptied it. There were a lot of things on his mind, the war, the prisoners from both sides of the war, hospitals, Terra, and things he couldn't begin to put into words. Wandering over to the back door Illya pushed it open and he wandered into the yard. Cin lumbered out of his house and chortled gently before shoving his giant head into Illya.

It was just as well that the bear was huge. Illya grabbed hold of the animal's thick pelt and half buried his face in it. "Yah damn bear." Cursing quietly he stroked the animal's back and started to cry. Even though the inhaler had made breathing easier, there was still a slight cough. Illya's shoulders shook and he coughed into the bear's pelt between sobs. When he figured he'd regained his composure Illya pushed the bear around playfully and the bear lazily rolled over. Both of them played for just a few more minutes and then Illya took himself back into the house and up the stairs. Slipping back into the bed next to Kalizda he sighed, "Needed tah check on dah bear." For most of the rest of the night Illya stared at the ceiling terrified in part to fall asleep again, but he knew he'd have to sleep at some point.

************************************

Another week of work on the house and Illya was sure he was going to tear down the entire extension on the house. "Dat stupid piece of miserable buring shet." Kicking the loose stud he watched it fall out of the frame. Cypher tried to repeat it, but he only got so far before his mother heard him and that meant they were both in trouble. Illya and Cypher poked their heads around the corner together and shuffled in with Cypher in front of his father, but almost a perfect mirror image with his head slightly lowered and shoulders stooped. Illya slumped into his chair with a sigh and Cypher plopped onto his cushion and sighed too. Illya had started to notice that his son mimicked almost everything he did and today it was especially bad. While Kalizda was giving him a disapproving look he decided to see how far his son would go in the mimic. Illya raised one eyebrow and he watched Cypher struggle to raise one eyebrow. Instead the boy just ended up frowning, raising his eyebrows, frowning and raising his eyebrows again. Then Illya made a grin and his boy looked around to see what his father was grinning at and then he grinned at Kalizda too. "Ugh..." Illya knew why he was here now. She was going to tell him that the increased number of expletives coming out of their son's mouth was his fault.

*********************************************

Ehud walked with Priscilla and the boys to the park. He had been trying to think of something nice he could ask her to do with him and he had an idea, but he wasn't sure if she'd like it. After a long moment he decided to ask her. "Priscilla, I uh...I want to ask you to attend a special party. The Chippequoti are going to throw a party for the Pytrans and those that have helped us. Would you come as my guest?" It was set for just a few weeks after the Jaime's trial and by then Kalizda would likely have the twins, but regardless this date had been set for some time and the party was going to happen. The only question Ehud had was if Priscilla would go with him.

 

[aryamajor]

Calysta spent her days trapped in their bedroom reading either books or going over the evidentiary explanations for Jaiyme's upcoming trial. The were asking for his complete decommission and dishonorable discharge which, given the amount of eye witnesses and what she could only guess would be testimony of the same sort, the punishment would probably be an easy achievement. He had gone from Skycorp to actually enlisting in the fleet, and while that was an easy bridge, it wasn't likely Skycorp would take him back. There were no rules against it, but the point of the exploratory company was to make contact with new people and places in the interest of science and relative peace. He had displayed none of the those qualities with his actions on the Chip rescue mission and his dismissal would be a matter of public record with the nature of the ship used retracted of course.

Giving up the hopes of staying occupied by the case file, Calysta swapped to book to read for awhlie. Wild Ways 2 had gotten interesting if entirely baseless and she couldn't help but get some entertainment value out of it now. The only problem with reading anything was the consistent sounds of on going construction downstairs. That had been a noisy affair for the last few weeks and with each bang of the hammer, grunt or curse, she couldn't help but wonder what in the Wilds their living room was going to look like when it was done. She wasn't exactly down there to keep Illya from turning the whole thing into a gilded room of flashy gold and red. As much as she wanted to go down on her own to see it, her orders were to stay in bed and it would be bad for Illya's back to be carrying her for much. She would simply have to trust him.

Halfway through the last chapter, Illya came upstairs and announced their new couch had arrived then without hesitation scooped her up to take her downstairs. "I won't touch the railing," she smiled as he carried her out of the room. Instead, she draped her arms around his broad shoulders, simply enjoying being close to him for a moment, since snuggling at night had been become difficult for long. Her enjoyment of being close was outmatched by her surprise when they entered the living room. The walls were painted soft green which contrasted against their deep burgundy couch and white, Wilds wood accents. What was probably the most impressive part was the trees and mountains on the walls making the place look like an endless forest. Her mouth slipped open as he placed her gently on the couch, letting her take in the look of the entire room. There was no gaudy gold or bright colors slapped on the walls at all. Chip had done all of this?

Calysta had hardly noticed that Illya had slipped off to the kitchen and returned with a bowl of food for her lunch. Taking the bowl from his hands, she kept marveling at the room around her. It fit the both of them perfectly and it was exactly what they needed. "It's beautiful," she said earnestly, "I don't know how you did all of this but I think it's perfect." He smiled and settled in beside with his own bowl of soup, but stayed quiet. His eyes stayed on her for a long moment, long enough for her to wonder if she looked strange or had something on her face. When he finally spoke, he started out by saying that it was just the two of them today and he loved her. That he would do anything so they could be together even when times were hard and stand with her, even as the council woman. The more he talked the more she felt the growing warmth in her chest that had come to associate with the feeling of love. Real love and being loved on by someone. That feeling grew to a peak, making her blush when he sat her soup bowl to the side and picked up her hand, laying a gentle kiss on her wrist. Knowing how odd he felt about doing anything like that at all before, she could tell that he was trying hard to show her he loved her, trusted her, in every way that he could. The joyous little smile coming to her lips was more than enough indication that she was happy he had done it. Still, she reached up and brushed her fingers against his cheek then leaned forward over her big belly to kiss him. "And I love you, Illya. More than anything. I'm so proud to have you at my side no matter where I am."

With a few more stolen kisses, they finished their lunch while they chatted about the kids. It seemed Rose had made up with Sam which was good to hear and the boy had been coming by to pick her up occasionally. Cypher was enjoying learning to be a man and Lohgan had inherited her mother's ability to disappear into trouble whenever she felt like it. Having been tucked away in their room for the week, Calysta felt like she had missed so much going on with her babies, and Illya seemed to know it. When they were done eating, he grinned and helped her put her feet up on their soft new couch, tucking them into one of he soft gold colored blankets before dashing off to the bathroom. She hadn't thought he would need to go so soon after eating, but then again maybe not.

The bathroom door opened with a soft click and she head a little scuffling before Illya emerged from the hallway....wearing none other than the Ira costume for her. How had he known she would like that? He'd been high out of his mind the last time he had gotten cheeky enough to wear it and now he was standing there in the tiny leather vest, hammer clutched in his strong, broad hand with a sheepish grin on his face. He still looked good in it and she couldn't help but openly stare as he walked over, commenting on how she had kept the items all that time. Calysta stuck a cool hand to her cheek in an effort to relieve the heat that had settled into them again. "I...uh.." she couldn't quite figure out to say. Part of her wished they were both in some kind of shape to enjoy the outfit that much more. "I'm...yes." Finally, she managed to get out some answer and started to giggle at herself. "My Chip is a good looking one, and I can't help but have eyes for him." It sounded cheesy, and she knew it. Playful talk was something she was still trying her hand at, but no one could fault her for the effort.

********************************


"No..no...Dun touch meh! No, no more."

The words cut through her sleep followed by a jostling on the mattress next to her that she was all too familiar with. Peeling her eyes open, Calysta found Illya clutching at the head board with his eyes screwed shut against whatever dream he was having. It didn't sound like the bomb dream this time. This one sounded worse and she wondered if it was the Wilds or some other battle pitch he'd found himself in. Or maybe it was something older from his training days. A hospital? Either way, she knew what had to be done. Sitting up, she didn't touch him this time as she kept her voice in a soft whisper. "Illya, it's alright. It's just a dream. Come back to the present with me. I'm right here, love. It's alright." After what seemed like ages his body began to relax, pulling out of wherever he had been. Illya slumped over to his right side and she could still see him shaking. Her first instinct was to reach out and rub his back but she didn't. That might hurt his sore spine and scare him more than anything for someone to touch him out of the blue.

Eventually, he rolled over and announced he was going to get some water before putting on his pants. "Alright," she replied quietly. Sometimes it was better for him to get up and move for a minute to clear his head. It worried her that he'd had a dream without much a of a trigger. Of course, those types of dreams didn't always need a trigger. She knew he was stressed because of her and the state of the house, and she wished she could do more. The longer he was gone, the more concerned she became until she heard the screen door to the backyard snap shut. Had he just gone outside? Tossing off the covers, Calysta slid her puffy feet to the floor and held her belly to shuffle over to the window. The yard was lit only by the light of the twin moons allowing her to see the shape of her Chip and the bear nuzzling him, while Illya bent down and hugged him. Her fingers pressed against the glass over their two dark forms in the yard as Illya held his bear close for a long moment. Around 30 minutes passed by before he stood and played with Cin a little more, the two wrestling around in the grass under the omne tree. She watched all the while and didn't go back to bed till Illya headed inside. He would fuss if he saw her standing up or worry and she definitely didn't need that.

Calysta turned on the lamp so he could find his way to the bed and when he made it to their bed room she could see bright eyes were rimmed with red. He'd been crying. "Aye," she replied as he explained. Rather than asking she made an effort to slide closer to him and slipped a hand into his even if he smelled like wet bear fur. Watching him outside like that made her wonder about a few things. Namely if she should insist that he continue his therapy. They had stopped it when they left Pyrta over a year ago and he'd hated it. There was no time for going right now with the twins on the way. Once they were born, she could see to it that he started going again if it was necessary. Thinking about it left her feeling tired and concerned for her Chip all at once. For now, there was nothing she could do for it either. Reaching over, she flicked out the light and whispered to him. "I'm here."

*******************************


Priscilla watched as Sien and Cypher dashed around the playground in the park. Already the red grasses of Pyrta were knee high in the mid growing season and while she didn't worry for Sien wandering into them, Cypher would vanish in a heart beat and without a second thought. Luckily she had brought Yuji with her along with Monster, and between the two of them they kept the boys from playing too far out of sight. Settling on the bench next to Ehud, she crossed one leg over the other and let out a contented sigh as she soaked in the sun. Things between them stayed fairly quiet. Though they had occasional conversations when they went out, it was nothing serious and he seemed to like it that way. it was a little bit of a surprise when he said something about attending a special party for the Pyrtan with the Chippeqouti. She was neither of those things and yet he was asking if she wanted to come as his guest it seemed. "Oh," she blinked in surprise, "Well, I think that could be fun, though I don't really know Kaerelean or Chippeqouti tradition all that well. I might stick out a bit."

The woman's concerns were a bit funny to Ehud and he smirked when she suggested that she might stick out. "Have you ever been to a Chip party? Not much to it. Eat a lot of food, get drunk, play some games, make bets if you think you can win the game and then drink some more. Maybe crash out in the tent, or hall where the party is held, or stumble home if you're sober enough. Then the next morning come in for a communal breakfast and clean up." Ehud figured it was fairly standard. That was the way pretty much ever party went if you were with the Chippequoti.

She laughed a little as Ehud's description of a Chippeqouti party as it brought to mind the idea of the lot of tanned giants flopped out over one another in a drunk stupor. Then again, she had to wonder what they were drinking to get such large body's intoxicated in the first place. Was she going to miss out on the opportunity of seeing that or deny Ehud her company, quiet as it was? A smile worked it's way to her lips and she nodded. "I can't say that I have, but now I've got to see this. i would like to go with you," she admitted, "Is there dancing at these sort of events. I'll need to know if I'm supposed to wear my game face or my dancing shoes."

"Ooh yeah..." Ehud grinned and he brushed a hand through his blonde hair. A slight blush came to his white cheeks and he chuckled. "There will be dancing too. If you've never seen Chippequoti dancing then...well, you'll be in for a treat." The more he thought about it the more funny he was finding this. She'd lived here all this time and never seen a proper party. "Shall we make a deal? I'll stay sober long enough to get a few of the Dark Chippequoti drunk. They're not so serious after they get drunk. Then I'll get them dancing. I think you'd like to see that. Ehvan's a great dancer when he's drunk."

Priscilla smiled for a few different reasons. Not only was he blushing but this is the most relaxed she'd seen him yet and he genuinely seemed to be excited about the party. It would be interesting to see him enjoy himself as well. However there was one part of that she had trouble believing and she had to ask, just to make sure she had the right person in mind when he said it. "Ehvan...the tall one? Always brooding? He's a good dancer? Now this I will definitely have to see. Of course I don't plan on simply watching the entire time, I expect you can dance fairly well yourself?"

"Yes, Ehvan." Ehud knew that there weren't too many outside of those that knew Ehvan who would know that. The man got wild when he was drunk and he would dance to anything and he was fairly fluid at it too. What was more Priscilla expected him to dance and Ehud gave her a nervous grin. "No, I'm not quite as light on my feet. I know it doesn't make sense. I'm closer to the size of a Terran and I'm smaller, but I tend to gallop across the sand, or floor and tromple the toes of my dance partners. I'll try, but uh...well even Haza told me I was bad."

This time Priscilla couldnt help but laugh. It started as a light snort and quickly devolved to giggles. "I'll forgo the heels and invest in a pair of steel toed boots then." Shaking her head and just kept laughing and then looked to Ehud and his nervous grin. "Between you and I...I have no rhythm either. I look a bit like a stork having a seizure and it was Harry who always made me look good. Its still fun though and we can terrorize the dance floor together."

Slowly his eyebrows rose as she started to laugh and they only got higher. "Good lord, a stork having a seizure? That's pretty bad." Still despite himself he couldn't help laughing a little. "Oh well. It will be an interesting dance then."

***************************************************

The council room on Kinte was round without a long panel of polished stone stretching halfway around the perimeter. Chairs belonging to each council member sat behind the bar and where there wasn't a seat there was a hologram coin projecting the image of that council member into the room. Travel was still restricted and those members not present on the planet would be attending from their respective planets. Calysta could only have been so lucky to be the councilwoman of the home planet and with that came the duty of showing up in person wearing the traditional black, caped tunic stretched over her bursting belly along side Chief Airman Keyl and General Kirit. Also attending were Edgar, Admiral Asha, Second Officer Airman Daryka Reyln and, of course, Jaiyme himself. All of them but Edgar sat on the opposite side of the room in rows of seats that filled the middle.

Illya stayed by her side at the head councilwoman's seat and nobody attending made too much of a fuss, though it was hardly traditional. She was pregnant and he was also operating as her body guard, wearing the necessary sash to show him as such. Calysta stood up, the chains on her shoulder guards rattling slightly against her silky black cape and called everyone to order so she could read the accusations. "Airman, you stand accused of 3 counts of disobeying the direct orders of your General, your Chief Airman, and your commanding officer aboard the U.A. Omebrey. 2 counts of assaulting an officer. One count of mutiny. This council hearing will be conducted by a quorum of your peers to determine if these allegations are true in an adversarial system to which both prosecution and defense will present a case and the council will vote as to the facts presented. You have been given the chance so seek council and assigned a councilor for your defense. My role is of arbiter and tie breaker only." She continued with the list of decorum rules, then allowed the opposition bringing the charges on behalf the alliance to bring their witnesses.

General Kirit was called first and was asked to confirm the orders given. "I was told that th' Chip'qouti were in need of air support so I did m' duty an' contact Chief Airman t' dispatch th' ship. Orders t' protect an' assist citizens of th' Alliance as needed.....No, Admiral Asha never resign from her post. I have have no official resignation....Ye ask about constructive resignation? Abandonment? No, we never recognized a contructive resignation from th' Admiral either. No command posts were ever filled officially. I was given report after an' told that Second Officer had refused to give aid after th' enemy had been cleared an' attempted mutiny. That report came from Admiral Asha an' the current Second Officer Daryka." Once Kirit was done Chief Airman Keyl was asked to corroborate the General Kirit's testimony which he did, nearly to the letter. The Alliance officer turned to Asha and gave a deep bow of respect as he had done all of the others. "Admiral Asha, if you would please describe the actions of the Airman in your own words from the day in question?" At his point the air in the room was tense. Jaiyme's face was red and his jaw worked in circles like a cow chewing furiously at an unfortunate piece of cud. Calsysta had remained quite so far, but she doubted that the former Airman could contain himself for much longer.

 

[Silence]

The trial was going to start early in the next morning and Illya didn't like taking Kalizda anywhere. Since the last appointment the Ehaui had told them that she would likely go into pre-mature labor and they wanted her to last another couple of weeks. At least another 2-4 weeks from where they were now. Sitting in a council chair wasn't exactly the kind of rest that Kalizda needed. She should be laying down, or mostly reclined. Illya knew that getting her up halfway through the night would be a bad choice. She needed rest. Instead he decided that it would be easier to fly after dinner and let Thomas put the kids to bed. They would arrive a little bit before bedtime and then she would have plenty of time to sleep before she had to get up in the morning.

Illya cooked the dinner while Kalizda laid on the couch and he would look over at her every now and then. He'd had to move the stove and a few other parts of the kitchen during the remodel. She wanted a larger kitchen and bigger dinning room and a bigger table. Kalizda wanted her Chip babies to all be able to sit in one place. As much as he complained mentally about the work, he liked the idea. She put in a good deal of thought into her plans and she was continually showing him updated drawings and ideas of what she wanted for the children in their home.

It was going to be another week, or two of work before the house was finished, but they would have a kitchen with enough counter space for the kids to learn and help, a table large enough for them all, and more than enough rooms. Not all the kids had to have their own bedroom. Rose was almost a woman now and she would likely want to get her own home soon enough and Illya could move Lohgan to Rose's room and then put the twins in Lohgan's room. Instead, Kalizda wanted another room so that the twins when they got older could each have their own room. It was probably a good idea since they were going to be fairly close in age to Lohgan and Cypher.

Looking over his shoulder at Kalizda every now and then Illya would wink at her and then continue with the cooking. It wasn't til he was almost done that he paused. Construction on these kinds of homes bothered him. Just seeing the studs standing like a bare frame felt eerie. Illya caught himself zoning out and he shook his head slightly as he moved the sauce pan off the burner. "Ok dinner es ready." Lohgan was sitting in the living room chewing on one of her cloth books and she set it down and came crawling as fast as she could for the kitchen. Cypher nearly ran his sister over in the attempt to get to his chair at the table. In his hast he pulled the chair out and lifted it slightly. When he let it drop to the floor again one of the legs landed on Lohgan's fingers and she started to cry.

"Cypher..." Illya sighed, "Yah be careful for yah sister. Learn tah protect her eh?" Pulling his son away from the chair he knelt with Cypher next to Lohgan. "Yah hurt her bones in her fingers eh?" The boy's eyes widened some. He understood what it was when the bones hurt and his lower lip quivered some, but he did like his dah showed him. Illya carefully held Lohgan's sore fingers and he looked at them carefully. Not that he expected they would be broken, but he needed Cypher to learn to be gentle. That was one thing that he knew Kalizda had asked for. The girl still cried though a good portion of it was simply indignation at what happened. When Illya let her fingers go Cypher carefully repeated the action and he looked to his dah for some direction. "Yah tell her yah sorreh for hurting her. I nut hurt her, so I dun say sorreh, but yah did."

"Sorreh." Cypher muttered a bit reluctantly and then he let his sister's fingers go. He glanced toward the table, but his dah turned his head back toward his sister. "Now, Cypher, yah gonna help her get up and yah gonna help her walk to her chair at dah table. From now on et's yah duty tah make sure she es in her chair before yah eat." The boy needed to learn some self control and it was a good age to start at. While he didn't have many rules for the children there were a few expectations. "No faces. Yah help her. I always make sure dat yah have food before meh and I make sure mum has food before meh. Dis es what a man does."

The boy wanted very badly to be a man and he wanted to be like dah. With a grunt the boy leaned over and he helped pull his little sister up. She was a little heavy for him, but he still struggled to help hold her up. Lohgan could take wobbly steps with a little help and she made it to her chair. Cypher tried to lift her and he was almost ready to cry when Illya stepped over to help him get Lohgan into her chair and push her close enough to the table. "Now yah go sit down." Illya watched his son get into his seat and then Illya called Rose downstairs to have dinner. While Rose was getting herself seated Illya helped Kalizda get up and then he made sure she was seated. Like usual when he served he started with serving Lohgan first, then Cypher, Rose, Kalizda, Priscilla, Thomas, and lastly himself. Cypher watched with rapt attention. He had never noticed until now that his dah served the ones that needed the most help first. He knew his mam needed help and she got food right after Rose.

After dinner Illya washed the dishes quickly and then went out to get the little flyer ready to take them to the big ship. He didn't want Kalizda moving more than she had to. Their bags were packed and waiting upstairs. When he returned with the little flyer he went up the stairs and got the bags. Cypher watched Illya while he sat on the sofa sucking his thumb. He usually sucked his thumb when he got nervous. The boy didn't like it when his dah left and it didn't look like he would be taking him. Rose was mostly oblivious until Illya walked out the door with Kalizda on the second trip and shut the door behind himself. Lohgan crawled over to the door and wailed. While she cried Cypher tried to be a man and he went over to where she was and he tried to help her up, but he didn't do a very good job with one thumb in his mouth. After a few attempts he gave up and sat down next to her and cried at the door too.

*******************************************************

It had at last fallen to Asha to describe what happened and she took her place at the stand to speak. "It is true that I was not in the ship when I ordered it to come to the aid of the Chippequoti. I had taken leave to be with my people, but I had not resigned. The ship did come as I ordered, but when the task of fighting the Federation off was over with, Airmen Jaiyme refused to board the Chippequoti to bring them back to Pytra. He also attempted to name himself Admiral without taking proper channels of authority. I had him arrested by members of the crew under the charges of mutiny and defying orders of his superior officer." She didn't care to go into her personal thoughts on the matter. This was a case in which they were looking for the facts and not her feelings.

The representative for the Alliance nodded quietly as the Chippeqouti woman spoke in Trader's tongue to the council and took a moment to allow her words to sink. "So, never at any point did you tender an sort of resignation or given any sort of verbal indication that you would not be returning to your duty station after your leave of absence?" When she answered he, nodded again. "So, we have confirmed through three witness accounts and two senior officers that no resignation was given expressly or constructively by Admiral Asha of the Chippeqouti, therefore she was still the commanding officer aboard the Omebrey at the time Airman Jaiyme attempted to claim command and disobeyed his orders to return the Chippeqouti to Pyrta. This being the case the evidence for disobedience and mutiny are more than enough fulfill the burden of proof req-" His last sentence was cut off as Jaiyme stood from his chair, his jaw working. His defense representative tried to pull his arm, trying to calm him down, but the man couldn't be contained. "This tribunal is a joke. We all know that the Chippeqouti abandoned the Alliance with no word when they left Pyrta. They left their duty stations vacant, and the operations on Pyrta in disarray until the positions could be manned again. Not only that but they moved outside of Alliance territory. That's not just a resignation,that is a clear message from entire race that they have abandoned their position in the Alliance. I stepped up. I made the call as I was trained to do in assisting people whose allegience was in question.This trial should be on Admiral Asha, and General Ehvan along with the other leaders of the Chippeqouti."

Asha patiently answered the questions posed before her and moved to take her seat again after the representative appeared to be moving on with the trial. She didn't even get to be seated and Jaiyme was protesting. Her eyes flashed from the airman and then to the representative that had been rudely cut off. To her surprise she saw Edgar stand up. The old man's hand shook slightly as he raised it and nodded until the room was quiet. "Chippequoti did not abandon the Alliance. Yes, we moved for a time under the command of a great and revered general. We have not lifted our hands in violence against our allies. Many times the Chippequoti have bled for all of you. Is it shameful that even the Chippeqouti should need to ask for aid from their allies? Would you require a tribunal for all those that were rescued by the alliance? Why not require a tribunal of all the Terrans?" Edgar knew that this would likely infuriate the man, but he had to consider what he was asking for. Patiently the Elder waited for Kalizda to translate his words.

Calysta's jaw clenched tightly as Jaiyme spouted of and her face turned red. She wasnt simply angry for his words but she was embarrassed for her people at the same time. When Edgar raised his hand, she recognized him and translated as he spoke in Qouti, a comment she couldnt have said better herself. All the while she stared at Jaiyme. Rather than some sort of civil rebuttal, Jaiyme growled and his scowl deepened at her. "That's a good question. Why arent the Terrans here too? The Chippeqouti and the Terrans both should be on trial for their abandonment." Pointing at her with a shaking finger he shook his head. "Its because you have engineered yourself into bed with the Chippeqouti and were raised by a Terran father and it's easy to see where your loyalities lie. Look, her Chippeqouti husband sits beside her even though he isnt even a council member. Do you think any of your husbands and wives can tout the same privileged?"

The older man waited as Jaiyme continued with his fit. Once he finished, Edgar spoke again. "Not all the Terrans agreed with their leader and not all the Chippequoti agreed with their leader. In times of war many things happen. Forgiveness of the Terrans that chose to flee and the Chippequoti that chose to return has made the Alliance stronger. If the Alliance were no different than the Federation then this war would not be worth fighting and you, sir have yet to learn that lesson." Of course there were more little allegations to answer and Edgar took a deep breath. "Sir, you are displaying the kind of temper that has brought you to this trial. I will remind you then that her agreed wears the sash of a bodyguard and the counsel woman was wise to bring a bodyguard to this place. Your anger serves as sufficient evidence for such measures. I will also remind you that her agreed is well qualified to protect her. It is doubtful that others here have an agreed with the same skills." With that Edgar ended the response. He wasn't about to try and cause more inflammatory remarks. Had Edgar not answered Illya would have and it wouldn't have been nearly as gracious in response. He kept his jaw clenched and waited to see if Jaiyme would give him reason to do what he really wanted to. In a way he hoped that the airman would.

Calysta translated every word Edgar spoke with perfection as she stared at Jaiyme. Never had she been more ashamed of her Kaerelean heritage and more proud of being able to translate for the Chippeqouti. Jaiyme's personal attack against her faltered with Edgar's words and he clenched his fists tightly. "Is the rest of the council really going to sit here and listen to this? Coming from a half breed who brought this mess to the alliance in the first place? This Alliance has stood strong for over 500 years and it only took one Terran half breed to bring war to it. Plenty of Kareleans have bled for the sake of the Chippeqouti too. My son and daughter, Henaiah's sons, the woman you replaced. My temper is justified and I seem to be only one trying to protect my own people." Calysta scowled and rose to her feet with no small amount of effort. This had gone on long enough and she wasn't about to allow him to make this into a circus. Even if she couldn't express her personal feelings towards him, she would call him to order. Big belly sitting over the wooden desk and chains dangling she picked up the stone hammer with a shaking hand and cracked it against the stone base. "Airman, you are out of order," she said firmly, "This trial is for the counts of disobedience to superior officers and mutiny against your crew members. This is not a political platform. You are also speaking out of turn against the states case and I would advise you to take your seat before you are removed from the room until the defense may make their case." Jaiyme's eyes bore into her as the two stared at one another and the man almost seemed like he wanted to continue his stunt before he plopped back into his chair. Calysta smoothed the back of her pants before easing back into her own chair and nodded to the Alliance representative who gave a bow of gratitude and continued his question to Asha. "Now, Admiral Asha, did the Airman here attack any of your people or any crew members in the course of his actions when being removed?"

Jaiyme was getting to be more and more wildly out of line and Edgar simply watched. He had spoken his piece on behalf of the Chippequoti and he knew that any more action his part would only encourage the other Chippequoti to pitch in too. While the ranting continued Asha waited patiently for her part of the testimony to start again. After Kalizda brought order back to the court Asha listened to the representatives question and thought for a moment. "No, he did not attack anyone that I'm aware of. If he had attacked anyone I would have included that in my charges."

"Thank you Admiral Asha," the representative said, "This is the last witness I have, Council woman. I will now moving to my closing remarks before the defense takes the floor. As I have demonstrated, the Airman here, while in command of the Omebrey at the time he was ordered to assist the Chippeqouti encampment outside Alliance territory he did not have the Authority to permanently claim the role of Chief Airman aboard the ship and disobeyed his direct order to dispatch the enemy then offer aid to the civilians, Alliance Citizens no less. He refused orders from both the General, Chief Airman, and his direct commanding officer when he attempted to take control of the Omebrey and the testimonies we have heard here today have been consistent in those facts." The representative continued to sum up, making it clear that the man had attempted the mutiny and disobeyed orders before handing the floor over to the Defense. The representative for Jaiyme rose to his feet and wove a tale of a man who only wanted the best for his people and his crew. "The sudden disappearance of the Chippeqouti from their duty stations was an reasonable miscommunication to which the Airmen here operated under the extreme circumstances by the code. If a superior officer goes AWOL without notification to the one to operate in his place, then he stepped into his role and followed his orders." Jaiyme sat at his seat and listened, obviously growing more angry by the minute until it came for his turn to give his testimony. "I followed my orders, which were to neutralize the enemy and give aid. The Chippeqouti left outside of Alliance territory and I was not given orders to bring them back. They had made it clear that their people were divided on returning at all because some of them felt they would be better off trying for an empire on their own. Or did their puppet over here," he jabbed a thumb toward Calysta "Tell you that?"

Asha was already sitting down, but she felt like jumping up and joining Jaiyme in his rant. What did he think the order was to load the injured and willing onto the Ombrey was? It was an order and it was obvious that the people were intended to be returned to Pytra and safety. It only got worse and Asha knew it was a mistake as soon as Jaiyme accused Kalizda of being a puppet. There was that growing look of fire in her brother's eyes and she leaned back in her chair and waited for the explosive reaction. Illya clenched one of his fists and he worked his jaw while Jaiyme basically made every excuse for himself after he had essentially given his opinion that he would have rather seen all the Dark Chippequoti die. There had been enough of that sentiment in the past and Illya felt indignant at best. It only got worse after Jaiyme accused Kalizda of being a puppet. He'd had enough and Illya stepped around the side of where Kalizda sat. Every step Illya took was obviously taking him toward Jaiyme. "Yah miserable son of a bitch. I'll twist yah scrawny neck till yah head pops off."

Calysta hated hearing Jaiyme speak, but he was allowed to do so in his own defense. She hadn't said terribly much about the more imperialistic minded faction within the Chippeqouti and a few of the other council members exchanged glanced, having heard this for the first time. Jaiyme stood when Illya marched over to him, baring his chin out in a clear challenge. "I'm a son of a bitch trying to protect my people from false Allies who leave on a whim and want an empire, not an Alliance,"he spat back scathingly. Seeing the inevitable fight, she stumbled up to her feet and smacked the stone again. "Illya," she said loud enough to be heard, "Please. Come sit back down. Airman, sit down and answer the questions you are asked. We are looking for the facts, not inflammatory mud-slinging. You are bordering on another count of disorderly conduct for which there is additional time to sentencing. I can also have you removed." She was an arbiter and had no vote, but she could shut him up at least.

There was a sharp crack when the hammer struck the stone and Illya only paused because he knew this would make things worse. He still wanted to beat the airman. Jaiyme would deserve every bit of the beating he would have gotten too. Turning around he made his way back over to where Kalizda was, but he didn't look any happier about the situation.

Jaiyme snorted some before sitting down again and working his shoulders slightly. He knew that he was already going to be found guilty before he stepped into the room but he had wanted to at least made as much of a mess as possible for them. He had lost his career combating abandoners to the Alliance who had clearly given up their position and still wanted to benefit from their position. Now, if he managed to muddy the waters a little, he was happy. Maybe he could bring some small measure of trouble that the Chippeqouti had caused him by integrating with Alliance forces at their full rank among other things before departing without so much as a word. "I did what I did to protect the Alliance from bringing back in people who would abandon it, and the Terrans too. I did it because our Councilwoman of the home planet is clearly biased toward those factions. That's all I have to say." The representative for Jaiyme clearly looked at a loss for moment over what had just occurred in his case and shook his head. His case was clearly over, but he gave his best closing given the circumstances before the room was emptied to make the deliberation by the council. Calysta squeezed Illya's hand under the counter and nodded. "I'll be right here and I will call you if something happens. This shouldn't take long." When the room was empty, the Council went into a debate. After a mere 30 minutes, the broad doors to the room were opened allowing the rest of the trial goers to enter for the verdict. Jaiyme sat with uncaring eyes at his seat and gazed at Calysta as she read the verdict. "After consideration and vote 104/ 107 the Council finds Airman Jaiyme Reynl of Kinte guilty on all counts. He is to be returned to the Urian penitentiary to await sentencing in accordance with this determination." Once the verdict was read, Jaiyme didn't look surprised, and his only comment was to spit in her direction, a spot of spittle landing on the polished floor. Calysta shook her head, now able to speak on a more personal note as he was lead away. "You shame yourself, Jaiyme." With he man out of the room, the council members began to mill around or disappear from their coins. Calysta gave a tired smile to Illya before waddling over to Edgar and Asha. She could hardly bow given the size of her stomach, but she gave a small dip. "I want to apologize for the stunt he pulled today," she admitted in Qouti, "The Alliance recognizes it's people. All of them."

*************************************************

Once the trial was finally over Illya could have sighed with relief. They had seen overwhelming support from the Alliance and now Kalizda didn't have to worry about the trial so much. He knew it bothered her a lot and she didn't need the stress it wasn't good for her. Edgar went over to where his agreed had been sitting in the courtroom. She had been near Asha for most of the hearing. Edgar had planned a little time of the day to be spent for himself and his agreed to go to a few shops and get some warm blankets for winter. He had heard about the heated blanket Illya had and he found on one of the pads that there was a shop that sold some. It would probably help himself and his agreed to sleep more comfortably at night. They could have ordered the blankets easily enough, but he wanted to go to the shop with his agreed. There were still a few things they liked to do in person and shopping was one of them.

Illya waited with Kalizda until the room was almost entirely empty before he picked her up. "We go back to dah ship now?" She seemed to want to visit an ice cream parlor and he grinned a little. It was impossible to deny her something like that. They had a little time before dinner to get ice cream. "Ok, we spoil dinner eh? No kids wit tah see us break dah rules." His back was mostly healed by now, but he still wore the back brace some days. This time he didn't because as her body guard he didn't want to look incapable.

His back ached a little by the time they got to the parlor, but at least there were big seats she could rest on while they had some dessert. In fact, there was a couch he could set her on, but he was going to stand. Laying her on the couch in the parlor he winked to her and then took himself over to the counter to get their orders. Only a few minutes later he came back and handed her cone to her and he stood nearby, leaning against the wall while he ate his ice cream slowly. A few people stared and Illya did his best to figure out why. It made him uncomfortable to think that maybe someone was trying to think of a way to get to Kalizda. However, nobody made a move. Instead there were just a few hushed whispers. This was something that happened the last few times he had been to Kinte and he decided to simply mind his own business the same as he had the last few times. Hopefully nothing would happen.

When they were done with the ice cream Kalizda wanted to get some food too. She was trying to save him the trouble of cooking and in a way that was a welcome thought. He could stop with her to get some food and then they would be able to get to the ship and eat dinner with his grandparents and leave a bit earlier. They might make it home in time to tuck the kids into bed.

************************************

They were already about 1 hour in the air and Kalizda started to have pain. Illya could see her frown every now and then and it worried him. "I help yah put yah feet up? Maybe I rub dem for yah?" He was trying everything he knew to help her feel better. No matter what he offered or tried it didn't seem to help and by the second hour in flight he could see she was getting worse. A sudden look of panic came over her while he was unfolding the heated blanket to help keep her warm. She looked at him and he froze in place. What she said made him turn a shade of green and then yellow before he let out a long breath. "Ok...we uh...yah call dah Ehaui."

It was after hours and the Ehaui looked at the pad. Of course it was Kalizda. The woman had several problems with her pregnancy and he could only hope that she wasn't going into labor yet. The babies needed more time. When answered the call he could see the panic on her face. "Another two hours out?" Rubbing his chin he sighed. "Then you'll have to get Illya to check. Plug in the emergency monitors I gave you and connect them to the pad. I'll be able to read if the contractions are severe enough that you'll have to take further action." He'd heard about their trip and sent them with emergency monitors. Right now they were going to to be about the same distance to get to him as they would be to turn back. Idealistically he would have been walking another doctor through this process instead of Kalizda and her Chip. "Once you have the monitors placed, let me know."

By the length of time that it took for them to apply the monitors he could guess that they were reading the directions. Rolling his eyes he sighed. They could have asked him. At least they were trying to be thorough. "Alright...Looks like you've got those all..." The doctor's voice cut short and he changed his tone. "Illya?"

Illya heard his voice and he moved over to where the pad was. "Yeah?"

"Get the med kit. She's in labor. Twins are coming, but she can't have that cerclage in. It's too dangerous to leave it there when she's having contractions like this. It won't allow her to dilate and her body will start to tear down there if you don't take it out. That could be dangerous for her and your boys." He hated to be the one to give that kind of news, but it was true and he needed the mostly medically illiterate Chip to perform a procedure. There was no doubt that the ex General knew how to manage a bullet wound, or treat a war related trauma injury in field conditions, but this was about as far away as you could get. Shoving a wad of dressing into the area wasn't going to fix it this time and pressure wasn't the answer either.

When Illya returned with the med kit he washed his hands off with the cleansing cream as the doctor instructed. Kalizda set the pad up on the bed and worked her leggings off while he had to put on gloves. What the doctor said next made him gulp. "I put meh hands up dere and shine light tah look?" He wasn't really sure what he was looking for, but he was going to give it his best shot. Taking a deep breath he grabbed the flash light in the kit and heard the doctor complain that his gloves were now contaminated and he'd have to get new ones. Once he had the light on Illya shoved the flashlight into his mouth and held it while he got new gloves and then started to try and follow the instructions.

He'd never looked at that part of a woman like this before. In fact, he didn't even know that's what it looked like inside. "Uh huh." Grunting his response he tried to stay focused and just tell himself that it was nothing more than wound with a suture in it. It was Kalizda and he couldn't seem to get that out of his mind. When he was told he would have to cut the knot he let out a mostly sick sounding groan. It was loose and that was good.

The doctor had to strain to hear what Illya was attempting to describe at times and Kalizda would wince and translate when it was too badly garbled. The man was doing his best at talking, holding a flashlight in his mouth and trying to perform the procedure without hurting her.

Part way through Illya could feel himself getting light headed and he leaned his head against the inside of her leg briefly. He felt so sick. After a few more breaths he managed to insert the protective tube and then he could slide the scissors through it without hurting her. At the end he could see the cerclage was straining and he snipped the visible pieces of it like he was told. Kalizda seemed to get some relief and then he had to carefully take tweezers and remove the rest of the thread. It took him almost half an hour of working and periodically stopping so he wouldn't pass out before he was done. By the time he was done Illya had turned an ash color and he finished the clean up part of the job before laying a towel under Kalizda and half falling into the bathroom.

Illya leaned over the toilet and puked before he got up again and washed his hands. Wandering into the room he laid down on the bed next to her. They were both worried and he was instructed to check to see if she was 'crowning' every 10 minutes. It was a good thing that 'crowning' didn't require anymore complicated stuff. He just had to look under the blanket she had over her legs and see if a baby head was visible. This was a high risk time for the babies to be born and if they came before they got to Pytra they might not make it. They were getting close to landing and Illya checked under the blanket again and his brow wrinkled with worry. "Kalizda, noting yet. Yah dun push any babies out while I land eh?"

 

[aryamajor]

The trial being over was a great relief in more ways that one. She had faith in her colleagues to see reason on the matter and the support for the Chippeqouti had been overwhelming. It made the promise of a future in the Alliance all the more secure for all of her people an Jaiyme was no longer a factor in that. She found his actions shameful in a way that 'I'm sorry' couldn't quite cover, but justice in the proper order could help and that's what had been done. Her only wish was that she hadn't put the Airman under Asha at all and instead placed someone more worthy. Though, she doubted they could have dispatched the Federation with such swiftness.

They chatted with Edgar and Asha for a moment and Calysta couldn't help but notice the new aged look on the old Chip's face. His hair was near the color of snow and his tan skin looked like leather which had seen a bit too much wear in its time. There was a glint in his bright eyes that still kept some semblance of youth, letting anyone bothering to look know that the man was still very much in charge of his faculties. He was as brilliant in mind as ever. "Of course, you and your agree have a good time shopping. There a great shop in the main island that has those heated blankets we mentioned. You might enjoy taking a look, yeah?" She saw the two elderly Chips off into Kinte before turning to Illya with a brow raised. She was sure he was still steaming mad over Jaiyme and she couldn't blame him in the slightest, but she knew one thing that might put him in a good mood, or at least a better one. "Frozen cream?" she smiled. That seemed to change over his plan to go back to the ship right away and he grinned about breaking the rules over spoiling dinner. Laughing, Calysta just shook her head and let him sweep her up. "I wont tell if you wont."

The parlor was a quaint little place not far from the Library and Skycorp administration buildings. Illya sat her down on the couch inside with a gentle hand then went into the line to get their ice cream. While she waited, the boys kicked around in her stomach some, rolling around almost feeling as if they had taken it upon themselves to learn kickboxing. "Easy there," she giggled, rubbing her stomach, "Don't go getting too excited. We haven't even had ice cream yet." While Illya waited in line, she could hear some of the locals twittering away in Kaerelean. "Is that a Chippeqouti?...Don't see too many of those on Kinte still...No, but doesn't he look familiar? Hmm...yes a little...oh! oh! I know." One of the girls started snapping her fingers and finally remembered what she wanted. "He's the guy Ira is based off of! You know, from Wild Ways?" That earned more eyes on him. "He's the Hero of Kinte too! Do you think he would take a picture of me?"

She could already tell where this was going and flash backs of mobs on Terra came to mind. "The Hero of Kinte is observing the practice of modesty would not like to be disturbed, ladies," Calysta piped up with a calm tone. The Kaerelean girls stared at her, recognition passing over their faces then they exchanged looks before giving a admiring gaze at Illya. It was a short exchange, but they all understood the practice of umuyros. Modesty. It was part of the traditional manners code of Kaereal, which included all of the bowing, system of gratitude and propriety that had been used when starting the Alliance and it included a Reylian practice called umuyros. The idea was that those were popular or in the spot light wanted their deeds to stand separate from themselves and thus wanted no attention from them. By claiming that the person could be left in peace for the most part, though the traditions had shifted slightly. General Kirit was an avid follower of umuyros. Almost too avid, if Calysta was honest. He almost never took credit for the things he did and while the modesty was admirable, it did leave him quiet and underrating of himself at times. She had never told Illya of the code, at least that part of it anyways because he'd never asked and if he did know, she had a feeling he would use it against every Kaerelean he met trying to avoid being social. In this instance, it worked and the girls scuttled off with their scoops of ice cream though they did sneak a picture with their pads before departing.

Illya came back to her with a large scoop of her favorite flavor, double chocolate, in a chocolate dipped cone while he licked on a pile of plain sweet cream. "Mmmm...." she chuckled, "You know, I used to come here often when I went to Skycorp. They've updated a few things but the flavors are still good Ooh and there was a noodle shop own the street. We could get dinner and then you wouldn't have to worry about cooking."

He didn't seemed to mind that idea at all either and once their ice cream was done, they shuffled down to the noodle stand. It was fun to watch them make the broth and fill massive bowls with noodles, piping hot broth, fried nyte beast belly, a boiled egg an tons of vegetables. She had been stuck in the house since being told she couldn't walk for long periods of time and it was nice to get out of their construction zone with Illya for just awhile. They didn't have much time to themselves at the current moment at home and while their purpose for coming to Kinte had been less than stellar, it was easy to make a better day out of it. "You can slurp these," she laughed, "Ewenians find it 'polite' and eating their food like this, then burping nice and loud is a compliment." When their dinner was done, she let out a rumbly bwap of a burp and covered her mouth as the Ewenian chef gave her a small clap of approval.


Making their way back to the ship didn't take long. Edgar and his agree were already waiting inside looking tired but having had a successful shopping trip. Calysta ran a hand over the fleecy, red and green blankets. She was sure the sales person probably thought the elderly couple buying the blankets were in for a fun night given the colors they had chosen. Smiling, she sat with the Elder and his wife for awhile before retreating to their bedroom for a nap. She felt tired and there was some cramping higher up in her belly. From her experience, that tended to happen in later pregnancy and wasn't much cause from concern. It was just uncomfortable. Illya had gotten them into the air and come back to check on her as she laid back in their soft traveling bed. "I'm just cramping a little," she said, "Why don't you come rest your back for awhile too, yeah?"

That offer didn't last long. The cramps were working their way into her back and lower in her belly, the contracting muscles making her legs ache and a sweat to break out over her brow. Illya tried to rub her feet and brought a cool cloth for her forehead, but nothing seemed to work. It only got worse and she felt queasy. Had she eaten something bad? Nope. A terrible feeling of hot running down her legs in a sudden gush told her that was not the case. Her Chip had been at her feet trying to make her feel better but there was nothing that could help now as the realization hit her with a flood of panic. "Illya...I think that was my water. I think I'm going into labor." He stared at her dumbly for a long moment as his face turned ever color imaginable then he managed to tell her the obvious. Call the Ehaui.

Her voice was shaking and her heart pounded in her ears as she thought about how far away they were from any sort of help. Her babies would be born way too early! And what about the cerclage. She pulled her pad over and began the process of calling the doctor who immediately asked them to put on the monitors. Her hands were shaking as she read the directions aloud to Illya and tried to guide him. "There...yes..a little lower..." It took only a minute of reading the completed sensors for him to determine she was, in fact in labor, and the cerclage had to come out. By this point, the cramps were tear rending and she could feel her body straining. It was desperate to do what it was designed to do which was was expand and push those twins out. Illya helped her out of her leggings and followed the instructions the doctor gave. Her was going to have to cut the cerclage out himself which was a terrifying prospect in and of itself. Had this doctor ever seen a Chip give any sort of first aid?! He hardly knew were babies came out of, much less the mechanics behind it all. It wasn't like that had much choice though and she would have to trust him.

With grunts of pain she managed to translate or describe what Illya couldn't as he attempted to remove the cerclage. Her Chip didn't exactly hold up well when it came to these things and his clammy forehead rested against her thigh for a moment, though she couldn't seen him. "I'm okay," she lied, "I'm okay. Just keep going." She could tell the moment it was cut because a small but of relief ensued and she gasped slightly as the rest was removed. Her body seemed to know immediately that it was free to do what it pleased and she could feel things moving along. Despite having known that this was a possibility, she hadn't thought it would be this soon and she wasn't even sure she could have the babies naturally if she had to. What if they didn't get there in time and she couldn't pass them? Illya had departed for a moment to the bathroom where retching could be heard while the doctor could clearly see the panic on her face and tried to calm her down. Half of her wanted to yell at the doctor and see how calm he would be with two kids beating down his cervix.

Once he was done puking, Illya returned looking pale but ready to follow the doctors orders. Apparently, they had to look for the crowning every ten minutes.When he said that her eyes went wide. She knew exactly what stage crowning was, having studied the birthing process. It wasn't something she was sure she could do successfully depending on the boys size. Swallowing down her fear, she tried to nod calmly for the sake of her husband who looked near to passing out again and every time he looked between her legs. The cramping only grew worse as the hour passed and she dug her nails into the mattress when Illya announced they were close to landing before requesting that she not pop out any babies while he was gone. "Hurry," she said through gritted teeth,"But don't go too fast! Moor it properly!!"

She was half squealing at his retreating back as another contraction rippled through. The moment he was gone, she wished he was back. She didn't want to do this alone, even if she had done almost everything in her life like that before he came around. How in the Wilds was she going to do this? Her body didn't give her much of a choice and continued on. By the time Illya came around the corner from the hallway and Calysta blinked the sweat from her eyes. He would want to start trying to get her up but that wasn't going to happen. She couldn't tell exactly what was going on underneath that blanket and yet she had the overwhelming urge to push. It was hurting to hold it in any longer and she knew the hospital was only a 10 minute flight away with the doctors right on Illya's tail. Shaking her head she looked to her Chip and held out a hand. "Illya...Illya I can't. I have to do push. I can't anymore." Her voice was already hoarse and shaking from the effort of trying to hold off while he landed. It had only taken him twenty minutes to get them properly docked and in that time things had gotten so much worse.

He had barely finished landing the ship and he knew that he would be having to check on Kalizda. They were so close to getting to the hospital and he was hoping that she would fine. Asha was waiting for his grandparents and he hated to admit it, but he was half tempted to tell Asha just to meet them at the hospital, however he was going to give her time to get his grandparents home while he checked on his agreed. No sooner had he stepped into the room and she was holding out a hand with a very worried look. There was definitely a wet spot on the towel and he came into the room with a reluctant and somewhat urgent shuffle. This had to be dealt with at some point. Illya barely reached the bed and he gave her hand a quick squeeze before he lifted the blanket to look underneath. "Uughh... I tink..." His eyes started to roll into the back of his head and he started to tip over, but he managed to knock himself awake when he hit the wall. "Yah call dah doctor." In half a daze he stumbled back over to the end of the bed and lifted the blanket again. "Yah pushing dah baby out."

He squeezed her hand and then took a look under the blanket before swaying on his feet. Watching him pass out and subsequently wake himself up by slamming into their wall wasn't exactly encouraging and she started to panic even more than before. She needed him to focus! When he managed to get some semblance of control over himself and check under the blanket again, announcing that she needed to call the doctor, she bit back a 'no kidding!' as another contraction felt like it was going to rip her apart. Her hand launched out and smacked the control panel allowing the waiting doctors on the dock to come into the ship and starting a comm link. "The gate is lowering, Council woman." Her only response was to yell as she pushed with another contraction. A minute later the doctor came barreling around the corner with his eyes wide as he caught sight of exactly how far along they were in the process. Immediately he called for mobile unit for the premature babies which arrive in 10 minutes before ushering Illya to the side. "You are too far along for the hosptial or any medication. Your babies are going to be born right here, Councilwoman. Push when I say." At that point in time, she hardly heard the words as she felt another urge to push coming on. Hissing, she leaned into the pain and waited until the doctor gave the word, giving the biggest push her body could muster. Everything burned or ached and she grabbed at Illya's hand again, her teeth locked together. "Don't go passing out on me." It wasn't a request so much as a growling command before her eyes screwed together for another contraction.

There were plenty of situations and circumstances that Illya could handle, but this was something else. Kalizda was in at least a bit of pain and when he thought about a baby coming out of that spot, it made him feel queasy. Within moments the doctors came rushing through and he moved aside when the doctor pushed his way in to get where he needed to be to deliver the babies. Illya knelt next to the bed and he was about ready to drop his face right into the bed, but Kalizda grabbed his hand a bit more firmly than he'd ever felt before. For the moment he was surprised and he just nodded at her wordlessly.

It took her a few more contractions, the doctor guiding her through each one. His coaching was admittedly annoying at some moments and she tightened her grip on Illya, half using her Chip for leverage until finally there was a rush of relief which ended her yelling. One mewling sound later, and the first twin was free. The doctor quickly cleared his little airways with a bulb syringe and bundled him up the nearest thing, which was the heated blanket, as Calysta gasped in relief. This time she couldn't help but cry half have in fear and half in absolute joy that she had managed to have her baby. "Illya...is he okay?" She needed to know if he was okay even though the tiny, miserable cries told her he was at least alive. The doctor nodded and about that time, an assistant came around the corner carrying a small pod meant for underdeveloped babies. "He's fine," the doctor said when he saw the panic growing in the council woman's eyes, "He will just need some help breathing. You wont be able to hold him just yet. The second baby usually comes faster." Calysta's bottom lip trembled slightly, though she wasn't much of a crier, and she nodded before dropping her head back to the pillows for a moment, trying to catch her breath. Within a matter of a minute, she felt the next contraction and she knew the second baby was on its way.

Everything was happening so fast. Illya looked from Kalizda to the doctor and back again several times. He couldn't have been more glad that they were landed and someone else was delivering the babies. As soon as the first boy was out he was wrapped in the heated blanket. It was just as well. Illya blinked a few times almost numb. The baby was so tiny and the cries were not like a normal Chip baby. His cries were weak and they sounded airy like the boy wasn't getting enough air. Even while Kalizda was asking if the baby was ok he just blinked and stared ahead dumbly. Even if the doctor was assuring them that the baby was fine he didn't know that and it worried him. Looking back to Kalizda he studied her face. His eyes searched her features. She was sweating, her eyes were screwed shut and he could see her entire body tensing. At this point he could see the intense concentration and pain all happening at the same time. Illya held his breath and his brow furrowed. When it felt like he was about to suffocate he started to breathe again, but he could feel the lump in his throat getting bigger and bigger, so big that he almost couldn't swallow.

It seemed Illya was entirely lost in the situation and she didn't have much time to ask if he was alright before another wave of contractions hit. The doctor hadn't been lying when he said that the second one would come faster. She pushed, her nails digging into Illya's hand though, she was hardly aware of the sensation. Her fingers had long since gone numb, her focus entirely on the pain and force on everything else. Yelling again, she felt the next baby coming until another contraction left her openly crying when the second baby emerged, being treated exactly like the first. The doctor wrapped him up and cleared out his nose, though he was a little quieter than the first and Calysta wanted to sit up so see her boys but they were already being taken away toward the skimmer, bound for the hospital.

When the last baby was delivered Illya let his forehead rest on the bed. He was almost feeling sick enough to puke again. This sort of thing was not an everyday occurrence and he was glad for it. One of the nurses stayed in their ship to help soothe Kalizda and help her wash up a little before they prepared to go to the hospital overnight. The doctor wanted to be sure that Kalizda was stable after giving birth to the twins naturally. There were some risks involved in that and especially since she had never given natural birth before.

Illya looked near sick with worry while the nurse cleaned her up, which as odd. She felt tired and everything was surreal. The twins were here and early! That came with a whole slew of complications and more than anything she wanted to hold one. No, both of them. That was an option though in the second best option was to sleep comma after making sure her chip was okay. Reaching up, she petted at his hair slightly. "I'm okay," she assured him, even if she was horribly sore, "Not sure even as a little bird I'm supposed to give birth in the air, but you did good."

Mentally Illya was kicking himself. He fell apart on this one and it was something where she needed him, but he managed to be mostly helpless. Feeling her hand in his hair he lifted his head slightly. "We jes get yah to dah hospital and make sure dat yah ok eh?"

Calysta nodded tiredly as the shock wore off and exhaustion started to take over. "I can't believe I did that," she said, "That we did that." She petted at his hair until it was time to pack her into the skimmer and take her to the hospital.

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The hospital room was much the same as it was before and after the doctors has checked her over inside and out thoroughly, they were able to get some sort of prognosis. "There was some minor tearing of the scar tissue left by your first child's half-natural birth. That will be the spotting you've continued to experience and a large part of the soreness. We will keep from going back to add stitches to allow it to heal naturally. If the bleeding continues after tomorrow we will consider extra measures to ensure proper healing. The twins are as good as can be expected. Their organs, particularly their lungs, are underdeveloped and they will need to be kept in the intensive units for at least the next month. We will have a visiting room set up where you can hold them as soon as they are stable. Until then rest assured they are in good hands."

Calysta nodded as the doctor departed, having delivered his news. All in all it was good. The boys were healthy as they could be given the circumstances and she was alright for now, but she desperately wanted to hold her babies. Suddenly, tears were springing to her eyes and she swiped at them with the back of her hand without much luck. A little sniffle escaped her and she looked to her Chip. His eyes were blood shot and she knew he was entirely exhausted too. "Illya? Will you...can you just come over and hold me for a minute?" It was silly to ask, and she knew it, but more than anything she just wanted to be close.

 

[Silence]

It was hard to tell how long it had taken them to get from the ship to the hospital. Illya stared almost blankly when Kalizda was wheeled into the room he was shown to. They had the babies all bundled up in the heated blanket and washed up as they rolled the boys in their little heated cubicle next. They would stay in the cubical for another two weeks and and it was filled with extra oxygen. One of the was still having a hard time breathing and Illya watched his sons inside their little box for a few moments before he turned to look at Kalizda. She looked unusually worried and then she said something that he rarely heard.

More often than not Kalizda would let him come to her, but she was asking and usually that meant there was something wrong. This time he was fairly certain of what was wrong and so he just nodded. Illya quietly worked his way over to her bed and lowered the rail on one side of the bed and let her adjust herself so he could get on the bed with her. Once he was settled in with her Illya laid on his side and reached behind himself to bring the rail back up. If he got up he could scoot off the end of the bed, but he didn't want the chance that she'd roll out. Carefully Laying a hand on her hip he kissed her gently and then moved his hand from her hip to her back and gently held onto her. "I will stay wit yah long as yah like."

Only a little after Illya was settled into the bed with Kalizda the nurse came in and she left again and returned with another bed. "I'll get the beds hooked up." The Ehaui had discovered that many of the Chippequoti agreed were not the type to leave their other half in the hospitals and there were many more that insisted on sharing a bed since Kalizda had started that little tradition. Oddly enough a belief had started to spread that they would heal faster with love. While it was somewhat true there were times that the Chippeqouti took the idea of healing faster with love as meaning love making too. The nurse almost cringed thinking about it. They had to design a whole new type of bed for the hospital that could be expanded to fit two people just because of the odd and insistent nature of their patients. Pulling the railing down on one side of Kalizda's bed she ignored the startled look from the two of them and hooked the extra bed up to hers. "There you'll be more comfortable if you sleep like that." Even if she had a slightly sharp tone to her voice she still cared and waited to be sure they were comfortable before she went and collected a few extra blankets. Chips always liked to be warm and she knew that. Returning to the room again she laid two more blankets over the Chip and then left.

Sleep was coming in small bits and pieces even with Illya in the bed with her. She knew the bed was a bit small but she was cold, sore, and upset. There was no cure for that, except to have her Chip close to her. She wanted to be held by her husband simply because he was warm, and she felt like somehow it would make her feel better, which, logically, hadn't made sense at the time. When he crawled into the bed with no small amount of effort and held her close, she'd cried for awhile before settling down into an exhausted sleep where she continuously jerked awake in confusion only to drift off again. When the nurse came in, fiddling with the bed, bringing another for Illya, she let out a small groan of protest for him being given a different bed. Somehow, he didn't have to move away and the nurse made the bed bigger. Mumbling a sleepy 'thanks' as Illya shifted around, Kalizda followed him and his broad hands looking for warmth and to cuddle in the new big bed.

Illya moved only enough that he wasn't crushing Kalizda. He knew Kalizda had to be sore so he tried to move carefully. After he was readjusted he kept his hand on her back and he rested his chin on top of her head. "Yah jes sleep and we will see dah twins more in dah morning."

Calysta heard Illya talk, though she was tucked to his chest and it sounded a bit rumbling. "Okay," she whispered, relaxing into his arms and burying her face. Wake me up if something the happens. Promise?" She was so tired but if something happened with one or both of her babies she wanted to know. They had been so tiny when they came out and she hadn't even been able to hold them because they were too young out of the womb. The least she could do was be there if.something happened. Illya's chin rested on her head.and his hands kept her close. It was a comfort she found amazing as she closed her eyes.

Early the next morning the Ehaui came in the check on the babies and Illya stroked Kalizda's hair. "Yah wake up now. Dah babies are getting checked by dah doctor." Illya sat up a bit stiffly and he helped Kalizda sit up. They were barely sitting up and the nurse took one boy out and wrapped him up tightly in a little blanket and put a little oxygen mask on the boy. The first baby was passed over to Kalizda and then the nurse grabbed the second boy that struggled more with his breathing and got him ready for his dad to hold him. With the smaller of the twins Illya felt a little nervous, but he could feel the boy try to snuggle into the warmth of his arms. "We have the certificates ready for you to fill out. We have the time of birth, but the names need to be filled out. Kalizda you're holding the one born first." The doctor made a few checks on their little monitors to be sure the boys were fine and then he nodded to both of them. "In a few minutes they'll be needing to go back to their bed. I told the nurse the boys need to be held for a little bit each day."

Calysta woke to a soft touch to her hair and the announcement for Illya that the babies were being looked at. She could tell just by sitting up that her body was more sore now than it had been the day before when she had actually given birth. With Illya's help, she sat up in the bed and rubbed her eyes, trying to wake herself up enough to pay attention to what the doctor was saying as he handed over their first boy. He was so small with pink skin and a button nose that was slightly scrunched in protest at being taken from his sleeping spot. That face didn't last long when he found himself in his mothers arms, however and he grunted in his breathing mask before settling into her in contentment for the moment. "They're so small," she said quietly, as Illya received the second twin, "Even smaller than Cypher when he was born." Cypher had been just a bit bigger than the palm of Illya's hand and these babies were not but the length from the heel of his hand to just over the tips of his fingers. The doctor explained which was the first to be born and Calysta smoothed down his wispy black hair with a tender touch. It always amazed her how soft baby skin was and how sweet they smelled sometimes. Glancing to Illya she smiled, though it was a bleary eyed sort of expression. "Duncan," she said, gesturing to the one in her arms, "And Toma for the second. They need middle names though, and there was one I was thinking of using, but I'm not altogether sure it was a good idea."

"Mmmhmmm." Illya agreed quietly when Kalizda said they were smaller than Cypher when he was born. The baby he was holding shuddered a little with every breath, but it seemed to want to always be a bit closer. Holding the baby a bit closer he had it pressed to his chest now and it grunted in satisfaction as it tried to bury itself in his warmth. Kalizda was clearly caught up in the names and Illya grinned at his boys. They were going to be healthy once they could breath better on their own. "What name yah want tah use?"

Calysta was unable to stop herself from smiling at the sight of Illya holding his little son close and to hear those satisfied grunts from Toma. When he asked about what name she had been considering for at least one of the twins, she brought Duncan up a little higher in her arms, careful to support his head and gazed at him. His eyes were barely open but his mouth was smacking under his mask. Her bigger twin was hungry. Was she allowed to feed them? She wasn't altogether sure, but she would ask when the doctor came back. "Well, I was thinking Maks for Toma's middle name and...Edgar for Duncan's middle name." Duncan grunted a little louder, and she rubbed ever so lightly over his back, trying to soothe him.

With the baby in his arms Illya was only partially focused on the conversation until he heard the name Maks. For a moment he was stunned and he stared at Kalizda. Sometimes he struggled with the loss of his best friend. Working his jaw he nodded after a moment. "I tink a lot about dere names. We bot name Cypher and I name Lohgan and maybe dis time we make yah traditions first." They hadn't really named any of their children after her traditions and these two were unexpected, but Kalizda deserved some of her culture to show. "Maybe we name one Tomas Duncan and den dah oter Edgar Maks."

She could tell the idea struck him for a moment, and given how he had reacted when he found out Cypher's middle name was Markus, she expected far more of a fuss. Instead, he worked his jaw for a moment then he said something that surprised her. He wanted to change the names and still use her suggestion. In her tradition. Blinking a few times, she looked him over and then smiled. "Tomas Duncan," she said, nodding to the smallest of the two, "And Edgar Maks." Holding up her hungry little boy in her arms she gazed at her sweet boy. "I think those will be perfect."

Since it was only morning Illya stayed at the hospital a little longer. He waited till the doctor came back in and collected the birth certificates and made sure the names were properly added to the files. Then Illya decided to wait until Kalizda finished feeding Edgar Maks. He wanted to get his chance to hold the oldest of the twins before he had to go home and the boys had to go back to their little heated bed. It seemed that they would be like any other baby and if Kalizda stayed she could breast feed them, which the doctor suggested would be the healthiest. It would mean a lot of long days at home for Illya to take care of the other children and finish up the house and lonely nights, but he wanted his boys here at the hospital to be ok. Before he left for the day he got out of the bed and he leaned close to Kalizda and kissed her. "I will be back tomorrow eh? I bring yah good lunch and den I bring jes Rose tah see dah boys. Day after I bring Cypher and Lohgan wit Rose eh?" He could make a few rotations of this. It could be a while and he knew it, but they should make the most of what they had.

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Kalizda wasn't coming home at night and Illya spent his days trying to manage the family life, deal with the forms that came in the mail for the children to attend school, finish the construction on top of cooking meals and taking lunch to Kalizda. Every couple of days he would make it a family trip to see Kalizda and the twins. Cypher missed his mother since she wasn't coming home, but Illya was keeping him busy with the last of their construction on the house. Illya figured he would have the house finished in time for her to be returning with the twins.

It was nearing the end of the second week and the twins were doing much better. Illya had finished filling out the school forms for Cypher and Rose. He had Rose fill out most of her own. She was responsible and she was going to have to start learning how to take care of herself. At the end of the form he signed his name on it as her parent/guardian. Rose read most of the form for Cypher out loud to him and she would fill in the boxes as he told her and then he signed that one too. It was too hard to try reading things in Kaerelean and he kept mixing the words up anyway. Before turning the forms in Illya had Kalizda check them over and sign her name too. Illya didn't expect that anyone would know his signature. He wrote it in Quoti most of the time and as far as Illya knew there wasn't anyone beside his people that read the language. Maybe a few spies from the Federation could read their language, but otherwise there weren't others that took the time to know it.

There wasn't any time to waste in the last week before the babies came home. As soon as Illya had the house finished he knew that the Chippequoti would want him to help set up the tents to connect them to the great hall. It was a huge party and they had invited the entire Alliance. It was going to be a huge undertaking. All around Chip village section there were people rushing from the hall and back again. It was still a week before the party, but they were busy pouring over 100,000.00 gold coins into the process and purchasing the best materials that they could to make the final goods. For those goods they could not make, or did not traditionally make they purchased and then they cooked everything that could be cooked in advance. Aside from all the other rush there were the musicians still practicing in the great hall almost all day and preparing the stage and studying the best places to hang the curtains so that the sound would be more melodious to the ear rather than just loud. It was all a science and everyone knew not to touch the musician's stuff, or their stage.

*********************

The night for the party had finally arrived and the entire Chip village was lit with traditional hanging lanterns all along the path from the guest house to the great hall. It would keep their guests from straying, or getting lost. Illya had to get ready a little bit early along with the others. This wasn't a military function and so they were expected to dress in something that wasn't intimidating and more traditional. Asha had dropped by an outfit for Illya because Kalizda had been busy with the twins. Then the twins were barely being home for two days and the party arrived. While Kalizda was getting ready, Illya set the boys in their double sized crib and folded the heated blanket over them. Both boys gazed almost blindly around the room. Babies didn't have wonderful eyesight to start, but they liked it when he talked and they would turn their little heads one way and then another as their eyes got wide and mouths hung open. He was in there somewhere and they knew it. They both knew the sound of their dad's voice and it was comforting. When he got closer and he would come into view they would kick their little legs and coo as he set a hand on their heads and spoke to them again.

With the twins satisfied for the moment Illya got himself dressed. He had the traditional full gold jacket on and the white pants with the gold shoes before he draped a red and gold cloth over his left shoulder. Now it was time to make sure his sons were dressed properly. Kalizda had allowed Rose to choose as she would, but Illya had got a little suit like his own for Cypher and the twins would just wear the basic robes of Chip babies. They were too young to dress up just yet. Cypher like any good boy took the shoulder drape and threw it over his head and ran around yelling like a maniac. Illya was sure Cypher wouldn't be the only one doing that tonight.

"Kalizda yah ready?" Picking the twins up, Illya held them both together in their blanket like a little sack of groceries. Every now and then he would swing them gently and they would coo happily. When she stepped out he grinned at her. "Yah look like most beautiful woman. I tink dere es none dat could be beautiful like yah tahnight." She still seemed to be taking longer than she should and Illya finally blurted. "We have tah hurry. Yah can't be late. Dah most honored must be seated before anyone else may sit. Kalizda, dere will be honored that will want to sit, but yah have tah get dere first."

After the trial there had been quite a rush of activity. Kalizda had proven that she had influenced many of the people to accept them and care for them. Not only had she been gone when they returned, but they had been cared for and they were still given their homes and jobs back. They had never experienced this before and Kalizda had done this. She had brought them into the Alliance and ensured that they were accepted. The trial showed a great acceptance by nearly all the Alliance and it was good enough that the Chippequoti wanted to show gratitude to more than just the Pytrans, it needed to be extended to all that had stood with them and impress those that refused still to see that they had given all they had to be here and to take part in the war against the Federation.

Once Kalizda was finally ready to walk out the door Illya helped her get the twins in their little stroller for her to push and he held Lohgan. Lohgan was getting to the age that she wanted to wander and he would let her after they got to the party, but it would be too much if she tried to walk there for herself. Cypher had to hold his entire little arm up to hold onto one of his dah's fingers and he almost looked disheveled, but before they left Illya helped Cypher brush his hair to the side and straighten out the matching red cloth over his shoulder. "Dere, now yah look like man and yah walk wit straight shoulders."

Cypher threw his little shoulders back and stuck his chest out. With a grin he looked up at his dah and proudly strutted right along side his father. Kalizda pushed the twins in the double stroller and Illya held Lohgan in one arm and held onto Cypher's hand with his other while Rose sauntered just ahead of them. She had a long shoulder drape that she let hang over her prosthetic arm and she swept her brown hair to the side occasionally with her good hand. Priscilla was still at the house waiting for Ehud to come pick her up when they left, but Illya knew his friend would be there.

The walk to the great hall took about 15 minutes from where they were, but it was nice to get a little walk in. When they reached the street with the lanterns Illya could see that Kalizda was impressed. She had no idea how much money collectively this entire thing had cost, but it was not Alliance money. The Chippeqouti had never once asked the counsel for money. This was in honor of the counsel and they wanted to make it a gift to the Alliance and a gift did not cost the recipient. The closer they got to the hall the more excited Illya felt. He had only helped set up some of this, but he had put in quite a bit of money to help fund the party. He did what he could to support the Alliance because it was a way to support his agreed. She fought for this and she deserved to see it in as much a wealth and glory as it could be.

When they stepped inside the first tent that led into the great hall there were hundreds of barrels of drinks. They were divided by sections of traditional drinks and marked in several languages. A few of them had Quoti language written on them, but most were translated into their native language and then trader's language too. Only the drinks that there were no translations for remained in Quoti. Once they stepped into the great hall the stage was set with a full orchestra of Chippequoti musicians and singers and tables filled the room. Many of the tables were set up with elaborate table cloths that contained gold threads and stitched designs depicting the wilds, and different places in Kaereleal. Most of the images stitched into the cloths were from books since the Chippequoti had not seen all of Kaereleal, but they wanted to honor the culture anyway.

Illya walked with Kalizda to the head table and he helped her get seated. In a few minutes they would probably start to see more guests. The invitations had staggered times for arrival on purpose. It helped to prevent a build up of people and it ensured that the guests could all be shown to their tables and quickly seated. There were Dark Chippequoti already set at each table and they were prepared to welcome their guests as soon as they arrived.

When the first set of people walked in, Illya instantly recognized them. These were the honored guests for his table with Kalizda. There was Dora and the woman with her that had helped care for the Chippequoti when they returned. Illya recognized the woman as Gyllie's mother and he saw her son with her. The boy had done well and it pleased Illya. Illya and Asha both rose from where they were seated and walked around to greet their guests for their table. Each of them bowed and held an arm out to the women to show them where they were to sit. Asha greeted Gyllie's mother and Illya held his arm out to Dora. "Yah come sit near Kalizda in seat of honor. Chippequoti are in yah debt for yah kindness to dem."

As each new wave of guests arrived the Chippequoti from their table would rise and take themselves to greet their guests and give the pre-determined phrase of, "Come sit and let the Chippequoti serve you. It is a night to honor the Alliance and our guests." Despite the hours of practice most of them could not shake the accent, but they tried.

When at last all the guests were seated Edgar stood to speak and he nodded to Kalizda. She was his most trusted translator and she was considered one of them. "Please, this night is to show all of you, here to represent the Alliance honor. Kalizda is honored too because she is council woman and she is highly regarded because of her effort to see all of the Chippequoti accepted. Now, we honor all of you because you are the Alliance and you have accepted the Chippequoti even when our customs have been wrong. Chippequoti have not had the pleasure of those that stand by their side in hundreds of years. Tonight is not for Chippequoti. Please allow all Dark Chippequoti at your table to serve you. Anything you desire for drink, or food will be provided by those at your table. In another tent we have foods from all continents and planets of the Alliance. We have drinks as many as we could acquire from your homes. For a time all trade and communication was shut down and it is difficult for the economy. Chippequoti purchased only the highest quality goods from your homes and asked to pay highest price for all goods to help ease the burden on your homes. Even if all of your citizens could not come there should be benefit for them. Those of you that arrived and would favor a reimbursement for the cost to come, allow us to pay your costs. There is a small slip of paper that you simply drop with cost for fuel in the large pot when the evening is over. Finally, before the festival in your honor begins there is a final request. The Chippequoti council has received pledges from its people in over 200 million credits to help all of Kaereleal. Consider carefully the needs of your homes and people. We would be honored to ensure that your citizens benefit. Now, we will honor all our guests here. Look at the menu provided and allow the Dark Chippequoti at your table to serve you."

With that the party started and Illya had a small notebook to write down what those at his side of the table wanted. Asha had the other side of the table managed and she had a better memory when it came to remembering these things on the short term. When she had received the requests from those around her she finally turned to Edgar and his agreed before she nodded and left to the third tent for the food. Illya scribbled down a few notes for himself in Quoti and started off behind his sister. There was a wave of Dark Chippequoti leaving the tables as they prepared to serve their guests and all of dressed in their best.

A slow trickle of Dark Chippequoti began to return with the food and drinks for their guests. Once all the guests were served they left again to get themselves food and drink. The children too young to understand the festival were given free reign. Cypher was among those given free reign with his sister Lohgan. The little girl tried to stand and she took a few wobbling steps before she fell over and Illya glanced to his son, "Yah be dah man and yah help dose smaller and weaker eh?" Cypher nodded and he threw his little red cloth over his shoulder and immediately helped his sister up. The two of them toddled about the general area together and they would stop near their father's plate to take food frequently and then wander along and take food from their Aunt Asha and great grandfather. Cypher was used to the Dark Chippequoti and those that looked like his father and he liked to ask for food from them because they would give him anything he wanted. When he got tired of that he asked Illya for a plate and Illya took Cypher to the third tent to get a platter for himself filled with foods and a cup with drink.

After Cypher was back with his father he sat on the floor with one of the cushions and started to eat off his plate. Lohgan tottered over and she started to snatch food off his plate. At first he was going to protest, but he caught his father's eye and he decided that being a man meant letting his sister eat from his plate too. Instead of letting Lohgan take his entire dinner roll he tore it in half and offered her a portion of it. That seemed to satisfy his sister and he started to split all the food with her on his plate by tearing ti first. He still wanted to eat some of the other foods too and he could be a man, but still enjoy his dinner. When Lohgan wanted part of his drink he helped her sip from his cup and then he drink from it too. There was more food than he thought and Cypher was soon full even if he shared all of it with Lohgan. He had received a full adult sized plate full of food and he was used to eating off a kid sized platter. By then Lohgan was wandering around the general area and Dora was done with her first round of food as were several other guests on Illya's side. Illya nodded to them."Ef yah like more I will get whatever et es. Yah here tah be honored."

Since the majority of the guests appeared to be relaxing and almost entirely done with their meal Edgar stood and announced the progression in the evening. "You will continue to have service for all foods and drinks, but we will begin with music now." With his announcement a few of the Chippequoti rose from the tables near the fourth tent and they pulled the doors of the meeting hall open and then flaps of the tent to reveal an area for dancing. Edgar waited until the momentary distraction was over with. "Chippequoti must always honor the four winds and the dead. If you wish for a translation you may look at your menu on the back. When we have finished with the first song our musicians have practiced hard to learn traditions of Kaereleal for their music." Taking a seat once more he raised his cup slightly and sipped the last of it before handing it to Asha to fill again.

All the musicians on the stage looked toward their conductor and the chosen head singer stood ready. The conductor took a deep breath. They often had parties and such things that honored the four winds, but they had never ventured so far as to honor any other culture and this song was primarily to appease the gods. There was no telling what sort of trouble they could end up in for this. She looked over her stage of musicians and then lifted her hand to indicate the start of the first song. Though it was traditional in lyrics the Chippequoti council had insisted that they integrate at least one different instrument and they had done that, but only that. As for the song itself it was sung in Quoti.

The first song seemed to be taken with a level of respect and for that the Chippequoti were grateful. When the song was finished it took the musicians a few moments to turn the pages on their music sheets and prepare for the next piece. It was one of the pieces that the conductor had written collaboratively with many of the others in the group. This time the male singer rotated toward the back and let one of the women take the stage to sing. By this point Lohgan had figured out it wasn't just one song and she wanted to dance. The girl loved music and she squeaked and stumbled to her feet instead of crawling. Cypher got up to help her. The whole way weaving through the tables the girl hopped about haphazardly and squeaked in effort to sing along. Her little dress jostled along with her and her brother struggled to hold her up. During the music Edgar held out his hands to hold one of the twins since they'd woke up and the twins started to make their rounds among the family since they were awake starting with the second song being so shocking to them.

For the following songs everything else was sung in trader's tongue. A second woman came to the stage and the next song immediately started. The children seemed to be more eager to dance and the dancing area was filled with Chip children before any adults could get to the floor. More of the adults were listening to the content of the songs and they seemed to be interested in the work that the Chippequoti had put into composing works of music in their honor. As the night progressed the songs gradually turned to a mixture of sung pieces and instrumental pieces. It was all carefully conducted and the Dark Chippequoti continued to serve their guests. Gradually most of them were on the dance floor though.

Ehud had no great commitment in this party to serve and so he could enjoy all the time with Priscilla. He waited til the dance area was mostly full before he offered her a hand. "You care to try out some dancing?"

They barely reached the floor and someone requested a love song. The conductor had prepared for almost everything and she was prepared for a few of the love songs and she beckoned to the man to come forward again. There were a few selected pieces that they had translated into trader's tongue and reworked for instrumentation. The first love song seemed to continue along with the general theme of music. It was a piece simply to get everyone warmed up and then it would start to get more serious. With more requests for love songs the conductor had the switch out to one of the women singers again. This song almost seemed to take their guests by surprise, but this was what the Chippequoti knew for love songs.

If there was a common theme with any of their music it was simply that the Chippequoti liked it to express something and they appreciated strong vocalists. There were many more songs played and the evening was nearly over when the final request for another love song came up and the conductor could almost feel some of the elders glaring at her. She hadn't told anyone about this piece, but it was the last one they could play in trader's tongue and it was a contemporary piece. Slightly different and perhaps more risque than what Elders had anticipated being shared. Everyone knew it, but it wasn't necessarily something that they would have thought everyone else would like to know the Chippequoti enjoyed listening to. As soon as the song started there were several Dark Chippequoti that not only recognized the piece, but seemed to be more than ready to dance.

This time Ehud stepped with Priscilla to the side and he pointed to Ahvah, who was dragging her husband to the floor. Ehvan was turning red all over while Ahvah was slipping her hand just inside his traditional jacket and playfully jumping up a little to kiss him on the cheek. Once they reached the floor and Ahvah quit embarrassing her agreed he danced with her. The two of them could grind better than most on the dance floor and Ehvan put his agreed into a good dip at the end and then pulled her up and gave her a quick kiss. He was still red from ear to ear, but he knew that she loved dancing and he did it. He was good at it, but it didn't mean that he couldn't help blushing the entire time and especially when she'd make eyes at him and pet his chest the entire time.

With one more song for closing the night came to an end for anything official. Edgar stood again and he motioned for silence. "There is no more official business here, but the Chippequoti welcome you to take extra food, and any decoration or table cloths from this party. This is all for your honor and benefit. There is not a single item used here at the party that will be refused you. From here it is all for your comfort and merry making."

The Chippequoti were to remain as long as their guests from their table were there. Lohgan and Cypher had gotten tired out and Illya had them sleeping on the pillows near the stroller where the twins were sleeping again. He and Kalizda were required to stay until the last of the guests had their fill of merry making. They had been here several hours and the sitting had started to bother Illya's back before the meal was up. He had gotten progressively sore as the night went. Normally he would have had one of his lozenges by now and he would have been in bed, but it looked like they had a little while longer to go. Since he hadn't used up all his suckers he grabbed one from a pocket in his gold jacket and stuffed it into the side of his cheek. No one except Kalizda would know what it was, but it would make the night easier. Noticing that Dora was out of drink he offered to get her more and then something to eat again if she liked. The dear little woman had a passion for food that he had never seen a match for.

 

[aryamajor]

Calysta spent most of her days in the hospital in one of four activities. Reading or working as the council woman, sleeping, eating with the children as they took their turn to visit or feeding her hungry little twins. Her council work was going well, though tedious and she grew tired of seeing the same requests and requisitions over again. Some of them interested her at least. There was a proposal for the next flight festival and something she had never done before as a council woman. A 'flight' of Kaereal. It was something Henaiah and past council representatives had done. Each had taken a 6 month long tour of Kaereal, visiting all 90 continents and the ruins of Rey in an effort to stay in touch with the people, no matter how remote. Calysta had very little problems with the idea, other than she had given birth only a week or so ago and if she was honest, traveling with the children so young would be difficult. However, the results may be worth it.

Just as she was looking over flight schedules and costs, a familiar patter of foot steps came hurdling her way accompanied by a cry of joy. "Mam!" Slam. Her cinder block of a son wrapped around her legs and made fast work in climbing up into her lap, jarring some of the more sore spots in her belly. "Easy there,"she half grunted and chuckled at the same time. He grinned happily as he piled into her arms before pointing to Illya and her father who were still walking down the hallway with a bag of packed food in tow. "We brought yah food, mam! Can I see meh broters now? I want tah see if they grown some." He had been excited to learn that he had not one, but two, new brothers at first. They would get to play with him and Sien when they ran around as cowboys and Indians! His bubble was summarily popped when he discovered they were far to small to even breath on their own, much less run around a play. That was the ultimate disappointment and when he started to cry that they were too small to play with, Calysta had assured him that they would grow. After that point, he had taken it upon himself to check on his brothers or ask every day to see if they had grown any at all. " 'I want to see if they have grown," she corrected him gently, "And of course you can. After lunch. You worked so hard on bringing me food we can share, yeah?"

She got no objection from Cypher on that note and he half dove out her of her lap to go drag his father a little faster toward their small sitting area. Calysta rose to her feet and greeted her agreed by standing on her toes to grace him with a kiss on the lips. "Mmm... snake stew. I smells good." She could tell by the smell of the herbs that's what it was and she was more than happy to eat bowls of it along side Illya and her father while Cypher sucked down his own portion. When he was done, he went to everyone else hoping for a bite and was never denied, not even when he asked for the last bite of her own soppy bread with gravy. "Tanks Mam." Calysta wiped his mouth and chuckled. "It's 'thank you.'" It took several tries but managed to say 'thanks you' then ran off to the nursery window, asking if Illya would lift him up to see his brothers in their special little beds. Of course, Illya couldn't deny him and scooped up his son so he could see properly.

Calysta joined them, slipping an arm around her Chip's back gently. She missed him at night when the visiting hours were done and she was alone with only the occasional nurse prodding her awake to feed the twins. His back was warm under her and Calysta tucked in next to him to look over the sleeping boys. When she gazed at the them she couldn't help but notice a few differences. They had more delicate features than their father's or even older brother's more robust profile. Cute little button noses with creamy pink skin lay under the breathing masks and warm blankets. Her twins would be more akin to classically handsome when they grew up. The one thing they all had in common, even at such premature birth, were headfuls of fuzzy black hair that would undoubtedly turn to wild curls when they got older. "I tink they grew," Cypher grinned, "Maybe dah broters can meet Monster when they come home?" Calysta smoothed down Cypher's hair absently and exchanged a knowing glance with her Chip. "They will be too tiny. You have to be very careful with them, yeah? Monster will be too big." She had no idea which 'monster' pet he was speaking of but the rule would be universal for any of them at that point.

Her father flanked her side and grinned over the boys before leaning into her slightly. "Which one is Tomas again?" He had asked that every time came to the hospital to see them. Their position in the beds never changed, of course, she was sure he only asked because he was proud that one of the twins bore his name. Something he had desperately wanted with Cypher from the start and it hadn't happened. Much like Cypher, he couldn't help but ask which was Tomas every time with a giddy grin set under his neatly trimmed beard. "He's right there, Dad," Calysta said, "He eats like a little monster and always follows me with his eyes. He'll be so smart." Stealing a glance at her Chip she smiled a little more. "And Edgar is always hungry. He's always more active when his Dah comes to visit too." That would be her sweet boy and she knew it through and through.

Every other day, Illya would come with food and brought Lohgan along or Cypher depending on the day. Rose came a few times as well with Same at her side so she could coo over the twins and tug on her boy friends hand excitedly. "Aren't they adorable?" Sam only looked slightly uncomfortable, as he managed to agree with her with a few head nods. "Yeah, they are." Lohgan, for her part, was entirely oblivious to anything other than her mother. She missed Mam waking her up and cuddling before breakfast then following her around the house to play her favorite game of hide-n-seek. The girl had a tendency to hide and then doze off if you took to long to find her, resulting in more than one stressful hour for her and Illya both over the last few months. There was no need to search for her when she came to visit the hospital though. Lohgan promptly found her mother's lap and stared at her while they ate lunch, as if wondering when she would come home before promptly dozing off.

When the twins were deemed safe to come home, the return trip was both stressful and yet relieving at the same time. They both had certain medicines to make sure they got all of the vitamins they needed along with a specified formula and each had a carrying seat for their tiny selves to ride along in the skimmer. Not for the first time in her marriage to Illya was she glad he was so tall and admittedly stronger. He could carry both babies, one in each hand, with ease to the skimmer while she hauled the rest. Home was surprisingly different when she arrived and the sheer amount of work Illya must have put in was astounding.

Their living room was done before she had the twins but their kitchen was wonderful looking. A continuation of the living rooms colors to Wild woods cabinets, a stone slab bar top and new lights along with fresh paint. The entire wall was gone making the whole place open where she could see her kids while she was cooking and there were precisely 5 bar stools at the center island. One for each child. The add on was also complete and her sweet boys had a room of their own now when it came time. With the boys sitting on their cozy new couch, wrapped in their shared heated blanket and dozing, Calysta breathed a sigh of relief and walked over to her Chip, taking either side of his waist in her hands and pulling him into a hug. Something she didn't to often but this was entirely deserving and she wanted to show him some love now that they were all together. "It's wonderful," she told him, "Thank you for working so hard on it, love." She wasn't particularly good at these types of moments yet she was trying to tell him she loved and the work he had put into their home.


* * * * * * * * * * * *


She expected the night of the party to be a hectic one between 4 children and her Chip to get ready. Instead, Illya simply said everything was taken care of. Sometimes when he said 'everything was taken care of' it mean he had taken care of it in such a way though it created problems later on or it had been done in a way she wouldn't have chosen. Unsure of what to make of him taking things over, she decided to trust him and get herself ready has he asked. This party was something that had been coming up for months and Edgar had to give her the run-down of what was happening when the arrived on Pyrta. When she understood the premise, the travel bans were lifted as was the communication black out, allowing for trade to flow again. Kirit's mother had been working on a wonderful line of Chippeqouti and Kaerelean inspired clothes, which included evening wear. Some of the items were perfect and Calysta had a gown commissioned from her own pay from the woman with what she hoped would be the right size since she had given birth. Her belly was a bit pouched out, but with the wrap over the front nobody could see that, thankfully. Fixing her hair took longer than she expected, given she was usually terrible at it, but she managed to get a decent look before pulling on her dress.

When she finally emerged from the bathroom, feeling at least decent about the way her dress fit after only 2 weeks of trying to get back into shape, Calysta was told she looked beautiful by her husband. It wasn't really registering though. Her mind was far too captivated by the way he was dressed up instead. A gallant gold tunic with pearls and a red sash played across his tan skin. "You look...fantastic?" Why hadn't she seen him in such handsome clothes before? Then she remembered he was usually wearing his uniform. "Oh...yes...thanks, love. Let's go."

To her surprise, Cypher looked equally dapper in a suit just like his father and Lohgan was nothing but pure beauty in her little Chip gown. The twins wore soft, Chip clothes and Rose stole the show in her pink, Kaerelean style dress. They all looked wonderful and Calysta fully intended on no one escaping without their picture made. Those would have to wait, however, because they were running a bit late. Like most Chippeqouti parties, no detail was left to wonder. The tents were all set up and everything from the table cloths to the lamps was a fine mixture of old and new. Calysta found herself sitting with her family along with Dora, whom she hadn't seen in a long time but was happy to see, and Pyra who was usually quieter these days. Both of them looked a bit surprised that they would be sitting with her and she merely smiled, going along with whatever the Chips had planned. "You are an honored guest tonight," she told the plump Terran woman.

More guests began to filter in and she could see some familiar faces already. Sarai arrived with not one, but all 5 husbands who looked entirely happy to be on Pyrta for a Chip party. They followed their matriarch like little ducklings over to their table, already asking for drinks. Tikan wasn't too far behind, his false eye gleaming a bit as his son walked beside him. The boy had grown more than a few inches and was looking more like a man with broad shoulders like his father, but his mother's lithe frame everywhere else. He was stuffed into a dress tunic and had his hair slicked back while he walked dutifully to the table. The Ewens arrived along with the Aeriktans. The Yurian's and the delegates from Kinte. Chief Airman Keyl arrived in his dress tunic rather than his uniform and the Craysians followed suit. A delegate from nearly every continent or planet arrived while the Pyrtan's themselves were showing up. Even Fayn looked happy as he sat with a drink already in his hand.

With nearly everyone settled, Edgar made his announcements, welcoming them all. It was a speech everyone expected. Then it took a surprising turn when he proclaimed that there had been a 200 million credit offerings from the Chippeqouti to aid in the Alliance recovery. That sent everyone murmuring. Was it real? If it was, why hadn't they used the funds to help themselves? Did they really mean it? All of the talk was in Kaerelean or native languages, but it quickly settled down when the singers came on stage for their performance. Whatever the Chips meant by suddenly announcing such a sizable donation, the Alliance was hardly in a position to refuse and there wouldn't be too much of a fuss if this was a gesture of good will.

The singing performances had a few people tilting their heads, because the style was vastly different, making some of them jump or become entirely still with the effort of interpreting it. However, every song earned it's applause before the floor was opened up to dancing for those who had finished their food. Priscilla was surprised that Ehud offered his hand when others were beginning to get up to dance. Rising from her chair, Priscilla took Ehud's hands, which were slightly sweaty, but it didn't bother her particularly. What was a little strange was that a slower song began to play about the time they hit the dance floor and rather than spacious arms length between them, they had to draw in closer. Closer than either of them had dared to go at that point. Priscilla gave Ehud a smile, trying to hide her slight case of nerves and slipped into his grasp to follow him into the music. Neither of them was particularly gifted at dancing but the music was slower and that helped them keep in tempo to the ballad. He managed to step on her toe more than once and it might have been painful, Ehud certainly seemed to think it was, wincing when he did it and his cheeks tinging pink, but she just chuckled. "Don't worry," she laughed

The dancing was far from smooth and Ehud knew he could have done a little better if he wasn't so nervous. "I'd worry less if I could quit stepping on your feet. Don't want to bruise them." For a moment he couldn't remember if the shoes she wore were closed, or open toed. "Maybe next them you'll wear a pair of boots and hide them under a long dress. That way you won't feel it when I step on your feet."

"Oh, I'm already two steps ahead of you...literally and figuratively." In fact, under her sweeping skirts, she had worn ankle boots with a sturdy toe that had a strong chance of holding up to Ehud's substantial weight. Her hand left his side to pull up her skirts, displaying her shining boots and she gazed up at him with a wide grin. "I came prepared."

A wide grin came to Ehud's face. "Oh, well that was....you're well prepared. I might feel a...." About that time Ehud jolted slightly because he'd accidentally run into someone. Looking over his shoulder he nodded a little, "Excuse me." The blush on his cheeks got deeper and he looked at Priscilla, "What we really need to do is get a few people we know on the floor and then we'll attack them. Just waltz across the floor to put them out of step too."

Priscilla put her hand back to Ehud's waist trying to steer him away from the other couple, bu the collision was inevitable and he bumped them anyways, causing them both to blush brighter. Then he came up with this idea that they should go around and make everyone else miss their own steps. Priscila gazed into his bright blue eyes and studied them for a long moment. "What a devious thing to do, making all those poor dancers miss their marks," she said. Then she broke out into a cheshire smile. "Let's do it." They were already the worst dancers on the floor and if everyone was off just a little, then nobody would notice their own.

One of the first targets was going to be Illya and Kalizda. They had gotten up for a quick dance and Ehud was more than ready to knock them off course. Just a little. Nodding toward the council woman and her husband he winked. "Let's get em." Along the waltz across the floor he bumped into Asher and he could see the Chip give him a look of disdain. Asher and his agreed tried to be so precise in everything and it was surely disconcerting to be put of kilter slightly. "One down 3 more to go." Chuckling some he worked his way with Priscilla across the tent. The two of them weaved through the crowd and bumped more than they intended along the way.

Priscilla grinned almost devilishly when they bumped ever-so-slightly into one dancing couple, earning a bit of a scowl, then rotated across the room. They pinged across the tent, bouncing back and forth, spinning into a few others and entirely throwing them from the music. Their target was the lovely looking councilwoman and her Chip husband as they picked up one of the faster paced songs which would be fun. Ehud turned her around and they met the two dancers, bumping into their sides. Their momentum, however, was a bit strong and they smacked into Illya harder than intended, because they were both turning into another at the same time. Their collision bumped him forward too far and sent Kalizda stumbling out of step just a little in an effort to catch Illya. The council woman started laughing, having seen the two of them grinning at each other and getting along with what appeared to be relative ease. "Pardon," she said quickly to them "We just can't seem to do much good at this dancing thing."

Taking out the tent was not on Ehud's list of fun things to do, but it looked like that might be what was going to happen. He and Illya made a fairly decent collision and since Illya wasn't ready for it the Chip stumbled a bit more than Ehud had thought. Kalizda stumbled about and tried catch her Chip, who was stumbling awkwardly along and nearly into the side of the tent. After a few more side steps Illya shook his head and collected himself again. "Yah better watch yahself. I tink maybe I dun walk so good one of dese days." Smirking a little met Ehud's gaze. "Yah never know when dis will happen." Ehud knew that grin and he grinned back. It was going to be the start of a small war. "Oh don't worry, I've got more than enough ways to retaliate."

Priscilla watched the exchange between the two and while it looked like they were grumpy at each other, their smiles and the gleams in their eyes spoke a different story entirely. Kalizda snuck a hand around her Chip's waist and tugged him close a little again, smiling and shaking her head as she did while Priscilla bit her lips in an effort to keep from laughing out right until they were twirling away from each other again. When they were away, the lithe, blonde started to laugh, her forehead coming to rest on Ehud's shoulder as she snickered. "I do believe we've started something," she said, trying to catch her breath. She hadnt even realized how.close she'd gotten to Ehud, the fact that she used to put her head on Harry's shoulder just like she was doing to the light Chip General in that moment. Lifting her head, she met his gaze with the mirth still glowing on her face. "You know, you're rather handsome when you're starting trouble."

While they made their escape Ehud grinned a little. He was enjoying the dance and it had been a while since he had been able to relax and simply enjoy the company of a woman. Feeling her head rest on his shoulder was cause for him to catch his breath and he held it for a moment before he relaxed again. "It's a good thing you think I look handsome when I start trouble. Happens to be something I'm good at and we all like to do things we're good at."

Priscilla snorted a little and laughed even harder as they tried to get back into the dance again. He was cheeky, she had to give him that and it was something she had come to appreciate in their dates together. "Well, odds are where your dancing skills failed your trouble making skills had to pick up the slack." At that point, a few others were joining the dance floor in a more provactive dance and Ehud pulled her to the side, pointing toward a Chip couple. She recognized them as the stiff ex-General and what she assumed was his pretty wife feeling him up on the dance floor. He was so red in the face, that it was almost funny to see him dancing...and doing quite well. "I think we've been put to shame," she nudged Ehud, "But it was fun."

It seemed that Priscilla found humor in the dancing habits of Ehvan and Ahvah. Almost everyone did and it was mostly due to the fact that Ehvan would blush deeply enough his tan face turned beet red. "Oh well, I don't mind them putting us to shame. He knew what he was getting when she asked him and he agreed with her."

It was surprising to hear that given she was under the impression there was no dating in a Chip marriage. Women chose and men accepted. "I think he minds so much. They look like they make a good pair. As do Calysta and Illya," she replied, gesturing to the two dancing. "They're different but they work well together."

The tone of Priscilla's voice seemed to indicate a little confusion, though it was hard to tell what she was confused about. Ehvan tilted his head slightly. "Yes, they work well together." He wanted to ask her what she was confused about, but he was also trying to move away from the habit of the man that had lived under cover. If she was confused she would ask him later on, or say something and then he could clarify whatever it was.

He wasn't getting at what she was saying. Why should he, really? He didn't seem to have too much interest in her other than as perhaps some sort of place holder. A check off the box in some ways. Maybe she was spoiled from having been so close to Harry. She could have told him anything and he would have been there. There was no such feeling with Ehud and every interaction felt like he was dodging any sort of meaningful talk. "Never mind," she said finally, putting a smile on, "Let's just go for another dance, hm?"

As they were entering the floor, Calysta and Illya were taking a rest, wandering to their seats. They had been dancing for some time and she had enjoyed that last little number where she could hold her Chip just that much closer. Calysta took a moment to excuse herself from the table, leaving Illya with a kiss on his cheek and a smile. "I'll be right back." In truth, she had been needing to use the bathroom more often since having the twins and she had been drinking a fair amount. On the way to the restrooms, which had a longer line for the women, naturally, she passed by a familiar face on the way back from the men's side. Ehvan looked a little older than the last time she had seen him, walked a little differently, but it was him nonetheless. She hadnt spoken to him since they returned and she was aware of exactly who was in charge of the decision to leave. Still, she felt like she should say something even if it was a simple greeting. Stepping over, she gave Ehvan a simple wave and a smile. "Hello, Ehvan," she said in Qouti, "You and Ahvah were dancing great on the floor."

The night had gotten incredibly long feeling and Ehvan was about ready to ask someone to cover his table for him. He felt sick most days and his guts hurt. Most of the time he made the excuse that he was just tired, but the fact was, his innards hadn't been the same since the attack. Just as he was leavings the men side of the restroom he heard a familiar voice and he glanced at Kalizda. "Hmmm...Yeah. You're doing well since you got back? Twins are healthy?"

"Aye, they are. Both are healthy and sweet boys," she replied. She was trying to teach out and talking of family seemed the best way. "Tomas and Edgar are small, but they'll grow and I am proud of my Cypher and Lohgan too. I can't believe they grow so fast." Moving her skirts, she stepped a little closer. "How is Amil? Ahvah?"

All Ehvan wanted at this point was to sit down and rest for a while. His stomach was bothering him. Resting one of his hands over his stomach he winced a little and nodded along. "Mmhmm." He wasn't trying to be rude, but he stepped past her and started walking back to the meeting hall. The first chair he found he sat down in it and slumped a bit to relieve some of the pain in his guts. "Ahvah is doing fine." Glancing toward Kalizda he tried to smile though it was more of a grimace. "Ehaui think they found a new implant that might help Amil walk." Speaking in Quoti was always easier and he liked it that she was at least decent enough not to make him speak in another language right now.

At first she couldn't tell if Ehvan was reluctant to talk with her as he looked almost pained and when he started walking away she grew quiet. Had she done something wrong? She had been fairly sure, despite their differences that the man would maybe speak with her on even terms. They had been in battle and friends before. Why should that change? Then he settled into a chair and she realized he must have been in pain. She stepped closer so he didn't have to shout, and genuinely smiled at the news regarding Amil. "That's wonderful news. If he's interested in flying still I would be glad to write him a letter for a flight school.of his choosing. He's getting the age of careers and I think he could be good."

These sort of things were hard to read. Ehvan wasn't sure what she was trying to do and he didn't like the way she was going about it. "Kalizda, I don't know what you want." Studying her face for a long moment he sighed, "I made the choice I did and that's it. Not sure what you think you'll get with offering favors. If Amil is good he get what he wants by merit, not letters."

Calysta wasn't exactly sure what she was doing to get such a response. What did he think she was up to? Rather than getting offended, she gazed at him for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "Sometimes, Ehvan, people don't want anything. They simply want to help. I hadnt thought I would ever give you any indication that wasnt the case. Amil was a good pilot in the time I taught him and he earned my recommendation in his own right if he still has the interest to be a pilot. A letter is required for schooling as a pilot." Her eyes swept over the man and then bore into his. "All I wanted was to see to it that you and your family are doing well, as you asked about mine. I can't convince you of that, personally, maybe. But my actions still speak for themselves."

All that she seemed to do was rub it in. She'd won and he lost and now she was here to offer help. That wasn't how things were done. Staring right back into her eyes he could tell it wasn't malicious, what she was doing, but it still didn't make it any easier. "You should know by now that's not how things are done. I appreciate the concern, but you shouldn't care that much. Illya I can understand, we were friends growing up and some things don't change no matter where you find yourself when the dice fall, but you don't have any connection like that."

It seemed he didn't think she belonged with the Chippeqouti. "I was adopted as one of the Chippeqouti and my exile over turned. Something for which I am grateful for," she said simply, "As a Chippeqouti I understand how things work. We support each other a group. It wouldn't stop me from being kind or helping someone. That is my connection and to be anything other than that would not make me a very good Chippeqouti" Her tone was calm as she spoke, calm and easy even if her chest was aching some from his words. There would always be an inevitable divide between those who felt leaving was the right choice in tradition perhaps, but it wasn't going to stop her from trying to help. "Besides, Illya is my agreed and he cares. I care what he cares about because I support him and proud to do so." The line to the women's restroom was shortening, and she was still needing to go use it, more urgently now than before. She slipped a hand over her stomach and gave a small bow of respect, typical of a Kaerelean. "I wish you a good evening, and give Ahvah and Amil my best as Chippeqouti and Kaerelean. Excuse me." Finishing the bow she gave him a sad sort of smile and departed toward the bathrooms.

After leaving the bathrooms, she used the walk back to the table to clear her head, shaking off the conversation with Ehvan for the moment. They were there to enjoy themselves and that's exactly what she planned on doing. By the time she arrived at the table an up beat song was starting to play and she could already see what was the beginnings of an all out dance battle. If it was one thing Kaereleans loved, it was dancing in their own way, and the music chosen by the Chips had facilitated the perfect chance for all the continents and planets to show off with no small amount of alcohol running through their systems.

The Ewenian's had waved a few of the Chips over, inviting them to come learn the dance with them though there were obviously some confusion growing. For as dramatic as Chippeqouti music could be, Ewenian dancing was equally flamboyant and expressive. They enjoyed a good song, while trying to bring some of the Chips into the scene, but were quickly shooed off by the Aeriktans who had no problem enticing the visiting Reylians and Pyrtan's into a three way contest with their traditional dance, meant to make them look impressive. The Reylian's scoffed at them and their competition looked gleeful with the chance to be shown they were the better dancers. The song changed from the tribal beat to an even faster tempo and the Reylian's took over with none other than Tikan in the lead. Despite his broad shoulders, he was fast and able to keep up with the younger of his warriors without missing a beat while they did their stunt-style dancing.

There flair always got a good round of applause and whoops of excitement, but it was the proud Pyrtan's who took over the floor next and ushered with them a few brave Chips, among them Asher and Tabit who was following at the invitation of her husband it seemed. Even Dora giggled with excitement and scurried up to the stage. "I love this dance!" Rose and Sam were up there as well, trying to weedle into the crowds assembling to give the dance ago, cheering the whole way. The Pyrtan's were by far the largest crowd and the most diverse. The Pyrtan's were trying to show the participating Chips the steps, laughing and cheering when they put their own touch to the moves. It was a fact that Calysta would never have believed possible some years ago. Seeing them all dancing together was an incredible feeling, and for once, she felt like she had done something right. Accomplished something no one had managed to do and made things for the better. Grinning, she glanced at Illya and slipped a hand under his. "Let's do this one, yeah?"

* * * * * * * * * * * *

By the end of the spontaneous Pyrtan traditional dance, Calysta was sweating up a storm. It had been awhile since she worked out like that and she could tell that was probably Illya's last dance of the night too. His back was hurting and she wasn't quite up to her par, but it had been worth it. As the Pyrtan and Chip crowd cheered, having won the impromptu contest by sheer force of dancers, the Reylian's returned hoping for a rematch. Tikan circled the floor, and gestured to Illya with than out stretched hand, inviting him to dance. "I bet ye got one left in ye, or ye get t' relaxed at home an' not meet m' in a contest?" he grinned. A fast paced drum beat started up again, making the chief's grin grow two fold. It had been awhile since he had seen the wiley Chip general and life had continued, but there was always time for a good competition between what he hoped was still a friend.

 

[Silence]

llya had set his sucker aside to dance with Kalizda. Somehow she thought it was a bad idea for him to be dancing with a sucker in his mouth. Since he was done with the dance he could have the sucker back and he kept it on his tongue for faster absorption. He could maybe get ahead of things that way instead of letting it go slowly by stuffing it in the side of his cheek. No sooner had he put the sucker back in his mouth and Tikan extended a hand to him and made a challenge to dance. "Yah tink I can't send yah spinning across dah floor when we dance eh?" Grabbing Tikan's hand he pulled the man toward himself suddenly and grinned at him momentarily. The stick from the sucker was dangerously close to poking Tikan's forehead and Illya let go of the other man. "Huh...Well I guess yah gotta let meh give dis back tah Kalizda. She dun tink ets a good idea for meh tah dance wit et in meh mout."

Tikan grinned as he was pulled over by the Chip man face to chin with him. "Aye put down ye candy an up ye feet, ye slow poke," he replied, pushing back from the Chip as he let him go. Though the man was much bigger than he was, they could still pull off some of the stunts. When it became apparent that the two men were going to duel on the dance floor, most of the men cleared out allowing space for the Chip and the Reylian to dance. Tikan circled the floor inviting Illya out and getting into the pace of the music, working himself up with some quick foot work. A grape vine back and forth and then he took a running start before vaulting into a quick, tuck flip which sent his cap flying again. The crowd let out a long 'ooooh' as he stuck the landing and spun around before holding out his arms beckoning Illya to beat him. "Come man, ye best give it all ye can." The music hit an even heavier beat and Tikan kept his body moving in time. "I bet ye can't do it."

It looked like the other man was more than happy to show off and Illya watched him work around with fancy footwork and a flip. This was not anything like the Chippequoti would duel in a dance. Slowly Illya's brow furrowed and he stared at the man for a moment. There was a decorative sword in the hall and Illya knew where it was. That was more of the Chippequoti dueling dance. It could be done solo and it was still nice. One of the other Chippequoti seemed to have read his mind and they darted over to the decorative sword and pulled it off the mount and presented it to Illya. The Dark Chippequoti were more than ready to see a real dance. Not that funny footwork made to trip people and fancy rolls and flops. Illya took the heavy blade and nodded briefly to the man. Everyone in the room made a wide berth. The Dark Chippequoti made sure of that. Taking a neutral stance to start Illya waited for the next drum beat to hit before he made a swift angled dip and hid the sword underneath the red cloth draped over his shoulder. A traditional dance could be done in the party dress. It required a slightly different technique, and it was more challenging and elaborate in a way. With a sweep the sword didn't appear until the blade was nearly to Tikan's neck and then Illya backed away again to make space. Once he was far enough away Illya grabbed the top of his gold jacket and pulled at an angle to open the jacket. With the jacket open he could make a series of more dramatic acrobatics with the sword that involved high kicks thrusts with the sword. By the end of the short display he grinned at Tikan. "Maybe I dun flop wit style, but I can dance better."

All of the Kaerelean's stepped back when bid by the Chips, absolutely curious to see what the ex-Chip General had up his sleeve. When the sword revealed itself not an inch from Tikan's neck, the crowd flurried with gasps and applause at the same time before bursting into cheers as he finished the flourishing moves. Calysta watched with particular fascination, though she kept a tight grip on her hands. She had never seen him or any of the Chippeqouti dancing like this, and figured it must have been a purely ceremonial display until then. It was a dazzling, and if she was honest, a fairly sexy little show to see her man having a good time while he showed off a bit, but she knew he might be paying for it later. Tikan, for his part, rubbed his chin and chuckled "Thank ye, Ill-ya I think I needed tha' shave. It will keep m' fresh for m'next move." Winking to his wife Tikan paced again in time with the music, beating his chest with a closed fist with the rhythm and grinning all the while. "Ye won't find nothin' floppy here." The Reylian's began to chant, stomping their feet and howling until Tikan made a quick step forward and pulled himself into a hand stand with ease, walking toward Illya on his palms while cycling his legs with precision. He got close enough and the let his one hand fly from the floor, holding himself up with a singular arm for a full 20 seconds before tucking into a roll. Spiraling out of the hand stand, he jumped to his feet with a twist entered into a series of spinning kicks with the music, the last of which was high enough to meet Illya's temple, grazing close enough just to let the Chip feel the breeze. Tikan ended the move with a quick bow, inviting another round. "Ye think ye still can keep up, eh?"

With the gold coat open Illya's chest could be seen still rising and falling a little more rapidly after his short display. Some of the scars were visible, but most of them were on his back and they remained hidden and he preferred to keep it that way. Watching Tikan walk around thumping on his chest was somewhat humorous and then the man started to walk around on his hands. If this wasn't a contest Illya would have grabbed Tikan by the ankles and lifted him off the floor. Instead he waited without flinching as the man sent a good kick sailing very near his head. "Oh, aye, I can do better den dat." Setting the sword aside he took off the red shoulder drape and wrapped the thick cloth around his waist, over his shoulder and round his waist one more time before tucking it in to make a seamless cross body belt. It even covered most of the scars, but most importantly it had to be out of the way for this. Taking the sword in hand again he held it up high over his head and started to bend backwards. It was a difficult move even when he was in good shape and his back was already aching and burning with pain. Thankfully the sword made it easier to an extent. At the point that the sword was almost parallel with the floor he twisted to the side and swung his whole body with himself while planting the blade firmly into the floor. They'd probably have to replace that piece of flooring after this. Quickly he pulled himself in tight like a ball and moved his other hand to hold onto the sword as well. As Illya uncurled he brought himself very slowly and cautiously to make a handstand with the sword planted in the floor and his hands on the hilt. To make it more impressive he held onto the sword as he angled his legs toward the floor. The sword came loose and in a split second he was standing with the blade still in his hand. "I challenge yah tah impress meh wit dah sword." Holding it out to Tikan he grinned. More than likely he'd be challenged to a little acrobatic something, but if they both failed at the other's game it would make for a good laugh and about as smooth an exit as possible without anyone looking anymore foolish than the other.

It was about as Illya expected. Tikan couldn't refuse the offer to try and impress him with the sword. If the weight didn't get him the build of it would and he watched as the man made a semi decent recovery, but everyone knew he messed up. With a grin Illya met Tikan's gaze. "No, yah dun impress meh, but yah make good attempt. More drinks eh?" Illya was more than ready to get away from the competition. He could feel his back was still sore and he wanted to finish the sucker.

A drink sounded more than good to the chief and he nodded before wrenching the sword from the floor and holding it out to his first warrior. "See t' it that ye put this back where it belongs," he said quickly before turning his attention back to Illya, "Aye, a drink sounds good." He had built up a good sweat and what were sure to be a few good aches in the morning with that little dance battle but it had been entirely worth it. They made their way over to the bar adjacent from the dance floor and Tikan's son met them near the line. "Ye did great, Pap," he told him with a smile, "Tha' sword was as big as m' an' m' sis put t'gether." Tikan chuckled as he wiped at his face. "Aye, weighed light as a feather though." He knew Illya would know that was a lie, but he couldn't help but exaggerate to his son a bit. "Ye not remind th' man who ye are. Ye mum will have m' f' not teachin' you proper." Akten straightened himself a bit, as if suddenly remembering what he was supposed to be doing and clapped a fist against his chest before offering his knuckles to Illya to bump. "Akten, son of High Chief Tikan 5th Generation warrior second class," he pronounced formally before breaking into his usual expression of mischief. "Ye remember, m' sir?"

Illya lucked out this time. It seemed that Tikan wasn't going to ask him to do anything more and that was just as well. On the way over to the bar Illya made a fast detour and got a sucker for himself. Once he reached the bar he could hear Tikan and Akten talking about the feat that his father just did. The competition was over and Illya was going to let Tikan say as he would. It was better to let the man have a good image before his son and Tikan was one that deserved to be respected. Stuffing the sucker into the side of his cheek Illya looked to the boy when he heard the introduction. Meeting the boy's fist he grinned a little. "I remember dah trouble yah make. Good sign dat yah will make strong warrior."

Akten shook his hand free of the sting left by Illya's knuckles, letting his real cheeky smile shine through. Not only did the general remember him but he thought Akten might make a strong warrior. "Aye, tha's what I keep tellin' my mum," he replied. Tikan snorted and gave his son a heavy clap to his shoulder, sending the young man wobbling some. "Ye find ye friends t'night?" Akten had spoken of little else besides getting to see his friend Rose once he found out she was back and he wanted to know why her letters had stopped. He had found seen her but not had the chance to speak. "Aye, I not talk t' her yet though." He was also starting to catch on with hints and knew his father was wanting to talk with Illya on his own. "I go t' find her eh?" Tikan turned his son in the direction of the dance floor and sent him of before chuckling up to Illya. "Ye seem like ye do well these days for a retiree, yeah? I saw th' twins. Good boys will make good warriors too."

For a moment it sounded like Akten was anxious to find Rose and Illya hoped the boy would find her. Perhaps they would strike up to be as good a friends as they had been before all this. A Reylian was a far cry better than a Pithian and Illya knew that Tikan would have raised his son right. There were few that Illya would consider as a better possible match. While he was still busy thinking about this the man started to talk again and Illya shrugged. "Who say dat I retire? I resign as dah General because et was dah right ting tah do and I did what I had to. Dere es always reason for dese tings even ef I can't say. Maybe I jes join up again and be lower level general so dat people dun watch what I do so much eh?"

Tikan knew the man wouldn't stay 'retired' long. They were both molded to the same role when it came to the military and what they wanted for the Alliance, and ultimately their people. He was right in saying everything had a reason or a purpose in the military. Everyone knew their place and did their role to the best ability. Civilian life was far harder as far as he was concerned and he imagined it was wearing on the man. It would him, at least. Tikan felt his eye lid scrape over his mechanical eye and knew he would be needing some eye drops soon from his wife, but he ignored it for the time being. He was in good company. "Ye should join up again. General Kirit," -he said the name with a spot of pride- "Is doing well so far an' he could use a man like ye with ye experience again."

Shifting his weight from one leg to another Illya sighed when Tikan mentioned Kirit. "He es skilled. I tink I sign up for full duty in a few days eh? Jes need tah keep et quiet. Kalizda dun like et so much when I wear dah uniform. She worries." Illya imagined that Tikan would understand that. If the man didn't then he was both lucky and cursed at the same time.

"Aye," Tikan replied, "I know what ye sayin'. Lyra thought she might get m' to hold back some when I come back from our last mission. On account of th' eye, but not while we're at war. Her broom handle was persuasive when she chased meh with it when I mentioned goin back t' the field, just not enough. Ye wife not here a word from me about it." Finally it was their turn at the bar and Tikan had no problems sweeping up two Chip sized mugs, handing one off before taking a big swallow from his own. Chippeqouti drinks were always stout and he liked it that way. When he put his cup down, he found none other than Sarai, the pretty council woman from Uria, bouncing toward them with a gleam in her eye. "Look out," Tikan grunted in a low voice to Illya,"Here comes more trouble." Sarai waved to Illya and glided over with eyes looking him up and down before greeting them both. "Gentlemen," she cooed, "It's been far too long. You both are looking quite well, particularly on the dance floor, hmmm?"

A broad smirk spread over Illya's face. "Hmmm...I dun tink dat Kalizda chase meh wit broom yet. Et might be dat I'm too big tah squish wit one. Too bad yah so small." Tikan left himself open for plenty of jokes and Illya was going to make them while the getting was good. After they had been speaking for only a brief time Illya heard Tikan's grunted warning and then he cautiously turned to see Sarai was already there and giving him that look. Holding his mug in front of himself he blinked a few times and then started to pull at the gold jacket. There was a minor gap in the jacket left since he hadn't buttoned it back up yet. Clearing his throat he nodded. "Tikan make good flopping. Yah better give him a kiss. I tink maybe I need kiss from meh Kalizda."

"Oh. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to spill your drink," she said sincerely. With a quick dive into her purse she produced a lacy handkerchief which smelled of sweet perfume then offered it to him. "I only meant you look well in the color when you wear it and it pays off," she continued. The councilwoman looked Illya over once more and glanced to Tikan who had gone strangely quiet, swirling the dregs of his ale in the bottom of his mug with great interest. Even Sarai could see the men were acting strangely around her, and whatever for she couldn't begin to guess. She had been perfectly nice. "Don't forget about our little bet," Sarai said to Tikan,"You lost and you owe me a dance." Tikan froze in his mulling and gave the woman a sheepish smile. "Aye I suppose I do. I'll uh...go get ready for that." His idea of getting ready was to turn around and snatch up another drink for each hand before giving Illya brave nod. "I'll catch up t' ye." Then he shuffled off to Lyra as he drank down both cups without hesitation. Sarai turned to Illya with the look of a cheetah who had spotted a gazelle and swept her long deep chestnut locks to the side. "I'm glad to see you looking so fit after everything that happened. The terrible mess of Terra. We've missed having the Chippeqouti so close on Uria. I was thinking you might like to visit us soon."

The woman apparently didn't know how to tell that a Chip was not interested and instead she offered her handkerchief all while making comment about him wearing green. Illya shook his head and grabbed a few napkins instead of taking the offered handkerchief. Wiping the little splash of alcohol off his gold jacket Illya reluctantly pushed some of the napkin underneath the jacket to wipe at his chest. While he was busy with that Tikan had gone quiet and then Sarai reminded him of a bet. Involuntarily a grin started to sneak onto Illya's face. Catching Tikan's gaze he chuckled. "Yah should know better den tah bet against a Chip." The smile on Illya's face didn't last long when Tikan decided to leave to prepare for the dance. Of course Tikan was going to get back at him and leave him with the man eater. The more she spoke the more Illya shifted his weight. He wanted to move, he would like her to go away, but that wouldn't happen for a few moments yet. "Oh uh...I dun know when dere es time tah visit. I still keep busy." Perhaps that wasn't the best phrasing, but it was all the better he could do for now.

"Oh there is always time to visit," she chuckled, '"I know I've hinted around for a long while with you and you don't follow all of the Kaerelean, much less Urian traditions, but I thought I might ask if you wanted to experience a swap with me. Only for a night and that's perfectly proper. None of my husbands would mind and if you worry about your sweet Calysta, well she'd be more than welcome to join too." Sarai gave the handsome Chip her sweetest look and tucked her unused handkerchief away. She had asked Calysta already and been told it was safe to ask, so long as she would abide by his answer, taking it as his final one. It had taken her no less than 5 drinks to work up the nerve to walk over and she knew she was heading toward drunk. "You're such a handsome man and you make handsome babies. Calysta is lucky she gets to have you all of the time. Won't you please consider it? What better night to do it than a night celebrating everyone? Hm?"

Usually when a conversation was about to take a bad turn there was an indication and this one was overflowing. Sarai always was a person to stand close and she was leaning in even further as she spoke. One of her hands almost looked like it was going to rest on his chest and he tried to move away from her more, but found himself pressed against the bar counter instead. The woman was exactly what he had feared all these years. She was after his body and there was only one woman that it belonged to. What made this worse was that Sarai was a pretty woman and Illya could admit that, but he certainly didn't want her. "Uh..." his mouth gaped for several seconds and then he manged to splutter a few more words, "Dis es nut dah way Chippequoti do tings." Instead of accepting that it was not a Chip tradition Sarai continued with her thought and made herself even more clear. Gradually Illya's eyes got wider and wider. Any temptation to say yes was quickly fading. Thinking of another man with Kalizda ruined any appeal there might have been. "No," Illya blurted the word emphatically. "Dis es a night for dah Alliance, but dis es nut a night dat I break meh sacred trust wit meh agreed. Dere es special bond wit agreed and dey learn tah trust each oter in everyting. I love only meh Kalizda and meh love es nut for anyone else."

Sarai's bottom lip poked out a bit at his reply. Now wasn't the night? "So, not tonight..." she mused with a cat-like grin coming to her lips, "But if tonight is not the night, then perhaps another some day. It's not a break of trust in my tradition. Perfectly..."-her lips rolled the 'R' and she giggled, "Consensual. A swap always is. Your special bond is so sweet to me and I wouldn't want to steal your love away." She knew she was going to have to give up on the handsome Chip but it was so hard to let go given how how gorgeous he was and loyal to boot. He would have made a loyal and hot 6th husband, or at least a fun night of freedom. "Very well," she cooed, dipping into bow. Her dress was low cut enough it showed off the substantial canyon of cleavage before she righted herself with a wobbling stumble. "As you wish Illya of the Chippeqouti. Have your little bird. You two are well matched."

The woman was incessant with her attempts and Illya was starting to feel flustered. He had tried to tell her as nicely as he could that he would not be with her. About time he was ready to try and rephrase himself she finally gave up and staggered away like a drunk. Narrowing his eyes slightly he caught sight of Tikan and purposefully walked in the man's direction. He was going to find Kalizda, but in the mean time, guest, or not he was going to tell Tikan what he thought of him. Pausing briefly in front of Tikan he grumbled, "Yah chehken shet." They both knew that given a chance the Urian woman would always choose Illya and Tikan had run away as soon as he saw the chance. "Dun yah worreh, I tink I have good plan for yah." A sly grin spread over Illya's face. There were always plans to help Tikan get in trouble and over the next few days Illya had several ideas.

Once he was done with his momentary misbehaving Illya set back to trying to find Kalizda. He had seen her last near their spot with the kids, but she wasn't there anymore. Edgar and his agreed were both leaning over the little twin stroller and Illya knew they were admiring the two newest additions to the family. Asha and Riyan were busy looking too, but they were waiting respectfully for their chance to be closer. There was no doubt that the kids would be safe. Illya turned around and took a few more steps before looking forward again just in time to almost trip over Kalizda. "Agh..." Half stumbling over himself Illya side stepped, skipped a few times and finally came to a stop. "I dun know yah stalking meh." She looked almost pleased with herself and he smirked. "Yah make trouble meh little bird. Maybe dats why I like yah so much. Ets no fun tah be good all dah time."

Sarai wasn't trying to get at him anymore and Illya was glad for that. Setting one of his big arms over Kalizda's tiny shoulders he pulled her closer to himself. "Mmhmm. I have dah best woman wit meh. Dere es no oter woman dat I want." Catching her looking at him with those wide, grey eyes and the tinge of pink on her cheeks he winked. "We check on dah kids and kiss a little eh?"

The night seemed to drag on and Illya ended up going through one of the suckers he brought and he gave the other to Ehvan. Ehvan didn't look like he'd make it through a whole night of partying without some help. From there Illya took a little time to lay on the floor next to Cypher and Lohgan. It was some relief from standing without having to make his back hurt. Sitting down for a long while wouldn't do his back any favors and he fully intended on feeling good enough to get himself signed up for the military tomorrow. He was here for Kalizda and the twins and he'd done his part. Now he had to do his part by being a man that had a job and protected his family. The only work that he knew and he knew well enough to really provide for them was through his work as a military man. It was not that he expected to be the General again and for that he was mildly happy. Still, with his experience he didn't expect to obtain anything less than being a general of sorts.

Gradually the guests started to fade as the night pulled back and the first signs of light began to show over the land. Illya paced through the halls and made sure the last of the guests were gone before he gathered Cypher into his arms and beckoned Rose to come closer and carry Lohgan home. They were going to be busy, Illya could tell that much. The twins were barely home and he was already needing more hands than he had to take care of things.

By the time they got home it was almost daylight, but all the kids were sound asleep. Cypher had been draped over one of Illya's shoulders and wrapped up in his father's red shoulder sash. Instead of unwrapping his son, Illya let him stay in the red wrap, at least Cypher wouldn't feel cool. Just to be sure his boy slept well he turned on the little heated blanket in his bed and then pulled it over Cypher before kissing the boy on top of his head and stepping out of the room. Illya shut the door quietly behind himself and went back to their room. By now Kalizda probably had Lohgan in her bed and they would be able to put the twins down in their crib and they could get to bed too. Instead when Illya got to the room he was surprised to see the twins were already in their crib. "Ooh yah move...." Illya's jaw dropped when he caught sight of Kalizda, "Whoa."

Calysta had no trouble putting Lohgan to bed. Their girl had a marvelous night of dancing to the drums and was all tuckered out, so much so to the point that she was entirely limp when Calysta had removed her dress and changed her diaper before wrapping Lohgan in her own pink heated blanket. The twins weren't hard to take care of either. They were still slightly underdeveloped and they grew tired quickly. All of the cuddling and excitement had worn them out. They would likely be asleep for a solid few hours which left just enough time for other things that needed tending. Ensuring that her boys were comfortable in their father's stolen heated blanket, Calysta stripped out of her dress quickly and pulled down her hair so it fell around her shoulders before slinking across the bed and propping up on her side. Underneath the stunning gown made by Pyra was a little something else she had gotten for the occasion. A gold and black lingerie set, with a corset, garter, and sheer glittering stockings up her legs. Despite her body being in less than perfect shape, she was going to try to make it a good night for Illya. He had more than looked forward to it and she couldn't resist him for too long either. With her hand draped causally over her stomach, she smiled up at her Chip's astonished face. At least he seemed impressed. "Hi there," she said, "It's been a wonderful night and I think we can make it even better yeah?"

Her legs looked amazing in those long socks and the socks were see through. It was about as scandalous and exciting as a woman could get. Covered, but not really. It all went up and his eyes trailed along till he saw the black and gold corset. "Yah look better den meh dreams dah last few monts." There was no denying that he had at least one racy dream with Kalizda in it. "I tink I have some energy eh?" Walking over to the bed he placed one knee on the bed next to her and then the next over her. Illya kissed her and then wrapped both hands behind her shoulders and moved her gently to the middle of the bed. "Yah always wort waiting for."

He was always warm and tonight was no different. She had missed that feeling over the long months and she was more than happy to let him come over to get cozy. She shifted so he didn't have to left her entire weight and then slipped her hands to his chest where her hands slowly began undoing the buttons to his golden tunic top to reveal the tan skin underneath. He looked handsome in it but even more so than that, what he had said to Sarai made him the most wonderful man in the world to her. Something precious and she was lucky for it. Her cool hands parted his tunic slightly and dove underneath as she returned his kiss ten fold. A bold move even for her. "I'm so lucky to have you," she said, her eyes meeting his, "You are always worth trusting and waiting for too. I love you." She kissed him again, this time a little more passionately, then giggled a little. "Hopefully, I can make those dreams a bit more of a reality."

A little shiver ran through Illya's spine when he felt Kalizda's cool fingers brush over his chest. How she managed to be in a warm house and still have cold hands he would never know, but he didn't mind either. As long as she had cold hands there was an excuse for her to warm them, or him to warm her. "Yah wild woman." Smirking some he leaned in to kiss her while she still worked at the buttons on his jacket. "We make deal, yah help meh get undressed and I help yah get undressed eh?"

*****************************

The next morning Illya woke up to Kalizda asking him to hold the twins while she got some bottles for them. "Mmhmm." With his eyes closed Illya nodded and rolled to lay on his back. He didn't really want to wake up yet. Last night had been long, but the kids slept great and they thought it was time to be up. At least the twins did anyway. Lohgan and Cypher were thankfully quiet and getting into trouble, or they were still sleeping. As long as they were quiet Illya didn't care. Little Tomas and Edgar were both fussing, but they stopped when they felt their father's warm chest. For the time to fussing turned to soft little coos. Illya rested one hand on each baby. His entire hand almost covered each boy, but it kept them warm and their little cheeks pressed against his bare chest.

With their father's skin pressing to their cheeks the boys started to make sucking sounds with their mouths and they tried to turn their little heads, but their necks were still too weak to be of much help, instead the boys started to drool and whimper and then they got angry. The babies whimpers grew into full blown wails and Illya peeled his eyes open and started to rub the boys' backs. "Ooh I know yah hungry." Switching to Quoti he spoke to them softly. "Your mum is working hard. She's gonna bring you bottles and then she'll help me feed you. Yeah, one of you little guys is gonna stay with me and one of you is gonna get to let your mum hold you while you eat." The boys' little cries faded again and they blinked their pale blue eyes and cooed again. Illya kept his head tilted up so he could talk to the boys until Kalizda came back with their bottles.

Taking one bottle Illya let Kalizda take one of their boys and he kept the other. By now he was used to helping to take care of babies and he loved it even if he was tired out. Pushing himself to sit up he gazed down at his baby boy and grinned. Even while the baby was busily sucking away at the bottle his soft blue eyes began to close. "Mmm." Illya smirked, "One day you'll have more energy and then we'll play before you eat." He liked speaking in Quoti to the babies and they seemed to like the slight lilt to the language. As soon as the baby drifted off Illya started to take the bottle out of the baby's mouth only for the boy to squeal in protest even though he was sleeping. Placing the nipple of the bottle back on the baby's lips he waited for the boy to finish eating his fill and drift into a deeper sleep before he took it away.

Illya continued to hold his baby boy in his arms while he drifted off to sleep again. However, it didn't last nearly long enough when he felt the distinct tug from Lohgan on the bed. Their daughter could waddle her way into the room and Cypher was right there with her. Their oldest son knew that he could go to their room anytime and he liked to get up and come in to snuggle for a little in the morning. "Kalizda yah put dah twins back in dere crib eh?" Sitting up in the bed again he waited for Kalizda to put the first twin in the crib that sat on the edge of their bed and then he handed her the next one before turning to help Lohgan onto the bed.

Almost the instant that the twins were in the crib Cypher scrambled over his father's legs and placed himself right between his parents with a big grin on his face. Lohgan's little curls stuck out in every direction after her wild night of dancing and then sleeping on her little unkempt bundle of hair. For a brief moment Illya thought of his Lahna and he almost teared up. She was almost this age when she died and here he was holding another baby girl and he had an older daughter and 3 sons.

The girl was mostly oblivious to the fact that her father held onto her a bit tighter than usual. She just contented herself with the fact that she still got her cuddling time even when there were other babies to take up his attention. Even if the snuggling was nice it wasn't too long until Cypher got bored of just snuggling and he got Lohgan riled up and Illya turned into their jungle gym. Cypher insisted on standing on his dad's stomach and having Illya try to puff his stomach out to bounce Cypher off. If it looked like Cypher was going to fall off the bed Illya would push him back the other way with his hand and then help Lohgan up for her turn to play the game.

After a lazy morning Illya got up to help Kalizda make some breakfast for the kids and then go outside to take care of the animals. When nap time finally rolled around he helped get the kids into their beds and then got Kalizda tucked in before he leaned over and kissed her gently. "I need tah go sign up for dah military again. Can't be lazy man and nut do meh duty. Dere es required physical from dah Ehaui. Dun worreh I be back in time for dah kids tah wake up eh?"

 

[aryamajor]

Calysta woke to the sound of one of the twins making gurgling sounds as his smacked his lips. That would be Edgar. The little boy was always hungry whether he was awake or asleep. She had trouble enough keeping up with the demand of one hungry baby, much less two, so formula would be the order for breakfast. Inevitably, the one cooing boy woke the other and Calysta now had two boys awake for their breakfast. Rolling out of bed, she plucked up her robe on the way and slipped it over her bare form before tying it at the waist. "Hold on, boys," she mumbled in Kaerelean. She shuffled over and scooped up Edgar first laying him against her chest, then did the same for Tomas who was just now moving his head in search of her. With her hands full, she couldn't make a bottle properly even with the one free hand, so she looked to Illya who was still snoring slightly in the bed. "Illya...Illyaaaa...." she whispered, "Hold the boys while I get some bottles from downstairs." The most she got out of him was a half asleep 'Mhmm' and a hand held out to accept whatever baby landed in his hands first. Calysta passed him Edgar first, who was quickly becoming ill tempered without food and squirmed on his father's bare chest until he was joined by this brother. They two boys liked the feel of their Dah's arms and as Illya talked to them in muffled Qouti, she smiled sleepily at the sight of her Chip and her babies all snuggled together. It was a sight she never tired of, no matter how sleepy she was. There was the temptation to take a hologram of the moment, but she knew the boys wouldn't be happy for long without food. She would simply have to take it as she was.

Making bottles was something she was good at now and it took little time for her to cook up two pleasantly warm containers for Edgar and Tomas while the early morning light filtered through the back window. She could see Cin snoozing in his hutch, a great bear butt poking out from the entrance, and Keysha who was very much awake with her eyes glinting inside her own little house. Once the bottles were done, Calysta made her way up the two flights of stairs to the bedroom and slid onto the bed, taking Tomas in her arms as Illya sat up with Edgar. "Ooh there you," she chuckled as Tomas suckled a the bottle, "See it didn't take too long."

The milk seemed to lull the boys into a nice sleep while she and Illya went right along with them. Her head leaned against his shoulder as she fed Tomas and both their eyes began to droop. When her boy drained the bottle dry, she grabbed a towel and held him over her shoulder, rubbing his back until he burped, though he was half asleep when he did it. Not too long after the boys had drifted off did a tell-tale tug on the bed alert her to the presence of her older children. Lohgan came lumbering into the room along with Cypher obviously wanting attention too. It was attention she would happily give. No sooner had Tomas and Edgar been placed in their cribs did Cypher pile into the bed with Illya and Lohgan joined them. Calysta chuckled and slipped back into her side.

Her children loved their father and she loved him too. This was her family and in moments like this it was surreal that she even had them to call her own. Illya was holding on to Lohgan, staring at her as if he might have been thinking the same thing, and Calysta leaned over to give him a gentle peck on the cheek. "Hmm...morning, love," she whispered to him, "Not such a bad way to wake up, yeah?"

They played through the morning, Illya serving as both jungle gym and safety net while she would occasionally capture up one of her babies for a tickle attack. Lohgan would squeak for joy and a big grin would come over her when she was tickled. Cypher, on the other hand, always tried to return fire. He would squirm and kick until his giggling made him breathless. Breakfast was a fun affair too. Pancakes and nyte beast bacon with berries is what Cypher chose and she stood along side Illya flipping the griddle cakes with a practiced hand. At one point, she nudged his hand while he was going for a pancake to turn it and chuckled. "Ooops. Just washed my hand and I can't do a thing with it." It was an old saying her father used to do when he tried to rile her up. He caught on to the game after a moment and some how they ended up kissing a little bit. "Now, that I can work with," she mused.

After breakfast and a thrilling round of Cowboys and Indians which some how also included space invaders when Cypher decided he wanted to bring in his flyer toy, everyone settled down for a nap. Cypher crashed out nearly where he sat down on the self-heating couch. Lohgan had wiggled herself under the table and was currently enjoying the feeling of the heating element there. Once they were snoozing away, she and Illya collected them up into their arms and placed them both into the bed. Calysta tucked Cypher's monster toy into his arms and Monster the dog curled up at his feet, happy to have the warmth.

As she was jumping up into their big Chip bed, she noticed Illya wasn't joining her. In fact, he was grabbing up his boots and stuffing his feet into them as if he were going some where. Raising a brow, Calysta watched him until he walked over and gave her a gentle kiss. Her eyes widened when he announced what he would be doing. Where was all of this coming from? Now that she had the babies, he was ready to go tromping back into war? "Maybe we should talk about this?' she offered. She knew he couldn't stay at home all of the time and not work in some way. He just wasn't that type of man who did well when he was idle, but he hadn't even asked her about going back. It was entirely abrupt and apparently he didn't think discussing it with her was necessary because he was out the door before she could say much more.

Once he was gone, Calysta sat up from her spot on the bed and went down stairs to brew some tea while she waited. She knew he wouldn't be able to return to the military but it wouldn't do his mood any good to discover he wasn't fit for duty. The military was all he knew in the way of work after all. It was a fact that displayed one of her problems with how Dark Chips raised their children. They were groomed for one career and that career alone with a small amount of general education. A tradition she wouldn't be keeping with her own children.

She sipped at the tea and paced the living room for a bit, thinking over the possible ways Illya might come home when Priscilla poked her head into the door looking sleepy. Her hair was mussed and she still wore makeup from the night before which looked glamorous even if she still had on her pajamas. "Morning," she said, making her way over to the coffee pot. Calysta managed a small reply and continued her pacing while Priscilla poured herself a cup of luke warm coffee. "Last night was fun, yeah?"

"Mhm," Calysta replied, "You and Ehud looked good together."

Priscilla's eyes snapped down to her coffee and she sighed. "Maybe."

Calysta stopped pacing for a moment and sat her tea mug onto the long counter top. "Maybe? I thought things were going well between you two."

The Terran woman took a long sip of her coffee as she settled into a bar stool. "Sometimes I think so and sometimes I think he isn't interested. He's fun and we joke around alot but I feel a bit like he is expecting...I don't know...something else."

"Like he wants a placeholder? A replacement," Calysta guessed.

Priscilla was quiet for a moment but the look on her face showed the answer to the question plainly enough. "I'm not his first wife and I'm not going to try to be," she said firmly, "I'm sorry if that's what he expects, but that isn't fair. It feels like...maybe he wants someone to be there but doesn't want to let them be close. Literally, like a trophy wife sometimes. That's not what I want. I'm not so desperate that I would enter a contract marriage over one for true affection."

Apparently, Priscilla had a lot on her mind and Calysta let the woman spill it all out while being quiet for the most part. When she was done, the woman looked up at a loss for herself and sighed again. "I'm sorry. I know he is your friend. I shouldn't be talking like this."

Calysta plucked at a crumb left by Cypher and flicked it to the trashcan before finishing off the last of her tea. "Aye, I understand in some ways. Illya had a wife before me too." She wasn't sure if the woman knew or didn't know. "You can't replace Haza, nor should either of you expect that. I'm not sure that's what Ehud wants though. I think...I think he was with Haza a long time and in some very bad circumstances. They had a bond like you and Harry did. Maybe you are wanting what you miss with Harry and it just hasn't been enough time with Ehud yet. Being close like that takes time and I know it's not easy." She crossed the room and poured herself another cup of tea before plucking up her pad. "Illya and I didn't exactly see eye to eye when we met and for a long time even after we were married he didn't trust me with some things. Other things he has just now started to open up about. Maybe just be patient with Ehud. Be there and give it more time. Try to get to know him more, yeah?"

Priscilla looked dour for a moment and then her shoulders slacked. "I don't know how to do that when he never really drops his guard."

Calysta walked over to the woman and slid her info pad under the woman's nose. "You reach out and you keep trying. He's worth it, but sometimes you just have to remind them of that too and you have to do it in a way they might not suspect." Priscilla raised a brow and took the pad from her friends hand. "What's this?"

"That's his training schedule," Calysta smiled, "Maybe you should go visit him as a surprise? Bring him some lunch. Talk with him where he is comfortable."

The Terran woman smirked slightly at the tiny councilwoman and glanced down to the pad. "My mother always did say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. I'm guessing this applies to Chip men as well."

Calysta laughed, recognizing the saying from Dora, and nodded. "Oh, definitely. I can help you make some lunch and you can take it to him."

Priscilla couldn't help but admire the small Kaerelean woman. She looked guileless often enough, and yet underneath that, she was observant and kind at the same time. If this was to work between herself and Ehud then she would have to try something. It would be no effortless love as it had been with her and Harry, but perhaps that was something that made it better in the end. "I've got a few recipes I've been thinking of-"

There were heavy foot falls coming up the stairs to the front porch and both women paused in their thoughts. Calysta's grey eyes trained on the door carefully, her body stiffening. She knew by the sound of the foot falls it was Illya but she had no idea what to expect when the door swung open, revealing her big Chip husband brushing the frame as he entered.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Priscilla straightened her skirt and settled the handle of the basket into her elbow with a better grip before letting out a little puff of air. She knew there were more than a few men looking as they circulated around the office, but none of them were the one she came here for. Calysta had managed to download a copy of the training schedule so she could plan accordingly with her surprise. The door to the office creaked open on schedule and Ehud walked through wearing his standard fatigues. His boots thumped heavy against the floor, giving away his substantial weight despite his size. Immediately his cap came off since he was indoors now and Priscilla smiled, as he hadn't seemed to notice her standing there yet. The men behind him had, and it made them pause in confusion or bemusement. It was hard to tell. When he turned, his bright eyes landed and she gave him a wiggle of her fingers as a small wave over the top of her picnic basket. "Hey. I thought you might like some lunch that didn't come out of the mess hall."

It was a long day out in the field and it wasn't even half way done. Ehud was about ready to strangle the fellow he had with him. It was a recruit that seemed to be about as dense as a pile of rocks. What was worse was that the man had all the mental density of a rock, but far from the physical constitution of one. He was fragile in a way and that wasn't acceptable in this unit. Swinging the door open to his office he took his hat off and gestured to the chair across from his at the desk. The man just stood there in the doorway with a stupid grin and Ehud's opened his mouth to say something, but stopped short. There was someone in his chair already. Looking at Priscilla he grinned sheepishly and then waved the soldier off. He would have to talk to him later. "Well, uh. I would like food that wasn't from the mess hall. You gonna make it better and have some with me?" Grabbing the stacks of documents he still had to look through he moved them over and almost immediately regretted that. A puff of dust rose like a mushroom cloud all around the documents he dropped on the clear spot. Coughing a little he nodded to the spot on his desk that was no cleared of papers. It was a more advantageous place to eat food from rather than the dusty spot. "Don't worry, my uh secretary is going to clean up my office when I get through the other stuff one of these days."

His grin was that of a man who was both caught by surprise and had decided to roll with her being there. Good. She had been slightly concerned that he might not like having her simply pop into his office on a whim, and it was as much a test of how he would react as it was her willingness to pursue him more. "Oh, I think I brought enough for two if you have the time," she chuckled back, following him into the office further. He started rearranging his admittedly messy desk to allow space for them to eat and voluminous cloud of dust puffed up from a stack of shifted papers. Priscilla raised a brow at Ehud as she sat the full basket on the empty space and chuckled some. "Uhuh..." she replied, her tone still playful. So far, his office was exactly as she expected of him, a bit haphazard and slightly neglected due to what seemed to be time constraint. Reaching into the basket, she pulled out a large sandwich filled with nyte beast meat and cheese with what the Kaerelean's referred to as 'creama' which was really just a form of Terran mayo with herbs around the planet. Fried and salted root chips came out next along with fizzy waters and plate of molasses cookies for dessert. What cookies they didn't eat she was sure Sien would like. He was a quiet boy without much of a sweet tooth but he did seem to like pancakes and syrup. Molasses cookies would be right up his alley. "What is all of that stuff anyways?"

"Good, good." Ehud nodded a little as he worked at wiping away some of the extra dust with the sleeve on his uniform. While he was busily trying to make his office look a bit more acceptable he could hear her give that doubtful sound. "I'm serious. I'll get through this stuff before you visit next time. If you wait as long as it took you this time to get here." If she was going to play that game he could play it too. Once he had the area cleaned up she started to pull out the food. It looked like she would need a knife to cut the sandwich and he pulled the knife from his belt and handed it to her. Ehud was trying to be helpful in laying out the napkins and getting other things set out and then he spotted one of the men peeping through the window at them. "I'll tell you more about that stuff after I take care of this." Walking around the edge of the desk he almost plastered his face to the window on his office and growled. "Get out of here!" The man on the other side laughed and then Ehud pulled the shades. "Cheeky bast..." Cutting himself short he remembered that Priscilla was in there with him. "Troublemaker is what he is."

Priscilla took the knife from Ehud's hand without hesitation and listened as he insisted he would have it all cleaned up by her next visit. She would have to see it to believe it, really, but it wasn't going to stop her from teasing him a bit about it. Plucking up the well wrapped sandwich, she placed it on one of the napkins he was fussing over and held the two halves firmly under her fingers to cut it with the overly large knife. He may not have been as large as the Dark Chippeqouti, but that didn't make his blade any less heavy and she fumbled with it awkwardly in her slim fingers before managing a good grip to cleave the sandwich in two. She had been so busy with the knife, she hadn't even noticed the man standing at the window watching them until Ehud said something. By the time she looked up, the only evidence the onlooker had been there was the steam marks left on the glass by his nostrils. He corrected himself when he started to curse and Priscilla giggled. "I take it you haven't mentioned me yet and I've caused a stir," she said, pulling out the cups. It took only a moment to pour up two cups of fizzy water, then make a neat pile of root chips in Kalizda's wild wood bowl she had brought with her in the basket. With the food ready, she glanced behind to to make sure there was some sort of place to sit and she noted the low sitting chair across from Ehud's at the desk. Smooth the back of her skirt, she sat down and offered Ehud to sit with her. "I don't really mind if they know," she continued, "You know?"

"Nope, haven't said anything now and I don't think I'll have to." With a smirk he seated himself across the desk from Priscilla. "All it takes is one meathead." Seeing that the knife was set off to the side he carefully wiped it on the napkin and then returned it to his belt. "I don't mind if they know, but I do mind if I've got 20 of them mashing their faces against the window to my office." Ehud picked up the sandwich. "A little privacy is good eh?"

He missed her point and then some how rounded himself right back to it again, making her almost wonder if coming had been a good idea still. Apparently, he didn't mind if they knew he was dating someone again, much less care that she was Terran as some of the Dark Chippeqouti tended to notice. She picked up her half the of the sandwich and smiled a little. "I think a little privacy can either be the best thing in the world or the greatest obstacle you can make yourself," she replied earnestly, "There's good times for it and then there are other times where it's just fun to cut loose and show everyone what you can do. Kind of like at the party the other night. I rather enjoyed getting to be a bit reckless on the dance floor, hm?"

"Privacy is important." Ehud figured maybe he would have to state it as plainly as possible. "It might keep a person alive in the long run." He was still somewhat in the general mode and he was thinking about some of the papers she had asked him about. "Ooh and this stack, it has a few injury reports and the majority of them are complaints belonging primarily to one idiot. The important stuff got done first. Stuff like death certificates and letters describing place and time in which the person deceased. That kind of stuff." Taking another bite of the sandwich he nodded toward her. "It's good." All while he was rambling along in his brain she mentioned being reckless and he swallowed. "Reckless huh? You're the thrill seeking sort. I guess I could accommodate that. Maybe I'll help you run a raid on somebody for fun."

Priscilla was about to bite into her sandwich when he reiterated his view on privacy with what could almost be described as a general giving a command to a lost private. To make the conversation all the more off putting, he seemed to be only half present in his mind, the morbid topic the papers popping back into his head. Now, she altogether regretted asking about them in the first place as it had pretty much distracted him from non-work related topics just enough to pick up only part of what she said. Reckless sort? He guessed he could accommodate that? Frowning, she looked down at the neatly made sandwich which she had worked very hard on making fresh for the lunch and bit at her lips. "Right. Well, what makes you think I couldn't run a raid on someone myself? I managed to pin you down in your office for a lunch, and for that I feel I should get a gold star on my lapel in the least." She joked outwardly, but it was more or less an effort to save face at this point.

Ehud grinned. "A gold star? Not until we sneak a few extra pets into Kalizda and Illya's room. I catch them, you hide them inside." The war with Illya had already started and he was determined to win. "How do you feel about hiding a snake in Illya's side table?"

"I have a feeling I'm being conscripted here," she replied, her tone still light, "I feel...like if you wanted to make Illya's day, you would hide the snake in his bedside table. If you wanted to get a rise out of either of them, you should put it in Calysta's. She hates live snakes and really only cooks them because he likes them." Having proposed her devious little idea, she took a bite out of her sandwich and looked to Ehud bravely. He was starting trouble alright, but she wasn't sure he knew any other type of fun and it would have been kind of endearing had she been feeling more amicable.

For a moment Ehud's eyes widened. "You are reckless. Conspiring to put a snake in the council woman's bedside table. Even I wouldn't think of something like that." The smirk on his face grew broad. He was trying very hard to let people in on his jokes. He'd been told the poker face was actually rather disturbing because his jokes didn't seem like jokes. "Big, or little snake? If it's big she can still cook it, if it's little that might be too cruel. Won't make, but a few morsels."

Priscilla chewed then swallowed her first bite before going for another, suddenly remembering that she was in fact hungry as a carefully constructed smile came to the corners of her lips. He was smirking at her most deviously now and the look suited him. "You wouldn't think of it, but I'd wager you have a few equally naughty ideas roaming around in your head," she replied before considering the question he posed. "Hm...Let's make it a rather large snake. At least she will be able to cook it afterward and it'll be heavy enough that Cypher can't lift it, though that little boy has the strength of the proverbial ox. I rather think a billy goat would be funny for Illya to stumble into."

Wherever the woman got the idea of a billy goat Ehud didn't know, but it was enough that he started to laugh. "Oooh that's even better. Get Kalizda in on the joke. She gets out of bed and lays a billy goat in her place. Let him wake up to a furry, horned mate that bleats."

"I think it could be arranged," she replied, her smile growing more crooked, "Since I am reckless after all, I wont mind being the one to ask Calysta and rope her in." Priscilla looked up to Ehud's face, her eyes settling on him and trying to reconcile what she would feel and shouldn't feel for him at the moment. "I'm leaving the actual goat wrangling to you though. Deal?"

"Ooh that sounds like a good deal. I'll find one that a farmer won't mind lending me a for a night." There had to be someone that would let him borrow a goat for one night. Even if it cost a few coins it would be worth it.

They ate the rest of their meal plotting and chuckling amongst themselves. While it wasn't necessarily the conversation she had hoped for, Priscilla still talked and even offered to come see him with food once a week. "We should make it a weekly thing. I could just surprise you. Keep you on your toes about your office too," she said, "That way it always stays clean." When the meal was done, Priscilla packed up the basket and held the container of left over cookies to Ehud. "Take these to Sien and tell him I will see him soon. I know school is starting soon and I have taken a teaching position in the school. Alliance Studies class. I can start walking him home from there if you like." Nodding at his answer, Priscilla stared at her boyfriend before working up the nerve and leaning in to give him a peck on the cheek. Her lipstick left a shining pink mark on his pale cheek. "I'll see you soon." Collecting her basket, she left Ehud to his work with more than enough to think about for the next day or so and a question to ask Calysta.

 

[Silence]

Illya only paused briefly when Kalizda offered to talk about it and then he shook his head. "No, ets meh duty and meh work." Now that he had stayed home and made sure that his family was healthy and capable it was his duty to return to the military. Slipping out the door before she could say anything else he half ran down the stairs and out the front door. Once he was outside Illya glanced back at the house. He knew he should have talked with her about it, but she didn't seem to understand the duty of the Dark Chippequoti and it was better if she learned to accept it. Without her acceptance it was hard to do what he had to. This was not a duty that he could simply put off. He had been trained for war and he studied it almost his entire life. With this kind of training there was a lot of responsibility, even if he didn't like it.

Mid-morning was thankfully a quiet time to go to the clinic. Illya sat in the waiting room for only a few minutes before he was taken back to one of the exam rooms. The Ehaui looked at him for a moment and then sighed. "I see you came in to get checked in for duty again." He already knew what the result would be, but he wasn't about to say it yet. Having worked with the Dark Chippequoti in the past war he understood how difficult they could be.

"Aye, I need tah do meh duty." Answering the doctor he watched as the doctor pulled out a pair of gloves and slipped them on before he selected a few little tools to poke and prod with. The first one Illya knew well enough. It was just a stick to hold his tongue a little flatter while the doctor looked down his throat. Next the doctor had a look in his nose, ears, and then checked his blood pressure, pulse, and lung sounds. The lungs were something that the doctor always noted as irregular and that wasn't really a problem. As long as Illya could pass the exercise stress test he would be fine and he was more than capable of passing all the exercise stress tests.

Slowly the doctor led Illya over to the station that contained the weights, pads, rotary running device, and a few other instruments to test the minimum requirements. Like he expected the Chip was nearly off the charts with the strength and endurance. He hadn't let himself get out of shape. If there was one thing about the Dark Chippequoti that entered into the Elite Forces they were always careful about staying ready for duty. There was a slight decline from when Illya had been active duty, but that would quickly change if the Chip were to go back into the military. "Alright, then you'll go sit over there for the mental health exam." Pointing to a small table with a pad and a set of headphones he watched as the Chip went over to the table and put in the headphones before starting into the 1 hour exam.

In total the military physical and mental exam lasted nearly 2 hours. The Alliance and General Kirit had a strict criteria of what they expected and it included a full medical history. All of it was set up to run through a computer generated report. There were instant fail marks and so far Illya had passed everything, but he would never clear the medical history.

When Illya finished the mental health exam he set the pad aside and then he went to sit out in the waiting room. The Ehaui would give him his results soon and he knew he would pass. Then he could get an assignment from Kirit and go back home to Kalizda and tell her where he would be at. He would probably have to get a new commissioned suit, but that would be alright, at least he wasn't the General anymore. Leaning forward, Illya rested his forearms on his knees and sighed. It felt like a long time to wait. He had signed all the waivers they asked for and he did all the tests just fine. Several of those who had come to the clinic because they were sick got called back while he waited. It was just as well that the sick were taken care of first. Finally, he was called back to go over the test results and he marched into the room with his shoulders back and head held high. Sliding into the chair across from the doctor he stared at the man for a long, silent minute. "Well, I pass dah same as usual eh?"

"You passed all the tests, but your medical history kicked in several automatic fails. If there is more than 1 automatic fail it is impossible to override the system." The doctor knew that this would be difficult news and he waited patiently for it to sink in.

Hearing the results was just what Illya expected, but he was stunned to hear that he was rejected and there was no override to get him into the military again. "Eh...But dis es meh duty! I pass dah tests jes fine. Ets nut right. I-I dun know anyting else." Illya could feel his heart crawling into the back of his throat and pounding harder while he broke into a sweat. What was he supposed to do?

The Ehaui could see the panic wash over the Chip's face and he tried to think of how to nicely assure the Chip that these results were in fact going to remain and he would simply have to move on. "I can't do anything about the medical history. You'll have to learn something else. That is your new duty."

Blinking a few times Illya rose from his seat and he took himself toward the doorway. He could tell Kalizda and he knew she would still love him, but maybe she would be ashamed that he could not even do a small job in the military. His medical history was bad enough they refused him based on that alone. The first few steps out of the clinic were fast, determined, and firm. Illya wanted to get as far away from the immediate shame as possible. As he rounded the corner on the street the house came into view and Illya slowed his pace. He would get to the house soon enough and then he would have to tell Kalizda.

The steps going up to the front door creaked under Illya's weight. Even if he had made them a little more sturdy some time ago, they still sounded like a dying animal of sorts when he walked on them. There were reasons that Chippequoti liked their stone homes. However, a stone home in a place like this would be horrible. The climate wasn't nearly warm enough to make a stone home pleasant. There were too many cold days. When he reached the door Illya pushed it open and he shut it quietly behind himself again. He would have tried to sneak over to the couch, but Kalizda was poking her head around the corner. She'd clearly heard him coming in. Meeting her gaze briefly he gave her a sullen look and then went over to the couch to sit down. How would he even tell her this kind of news? He was now a failure.

Priscilla cast Calysta a curious look when an altogether sullen Illya shuffled through the door. It was impossible to disguise such a downcast demeanor on the usually somewhat amicable Chip's face. "I'm going to get dressed," Priscilla said evenly, "Then maybe go to the grocery store." The Terran woman made a quiet exit toward her room, taking the coffee cup with her. Calysta gazed at Illya and how sad he looked, his shoulders drooped as he sat on the end of the couch. She knew they had denied him on the merits of his file and her message to Kirit had not been necessary. In part she was relieved but seeing him so dejected made her feel sad for him as well as a little guilty. She poured the last of the tea into his mug and wandered over. Alighting on the couch next to him, she drew her legs to sit indian style and offered the cup of sweetened herbal tea. "It didn't go well," she stated more as fact that a question.

Having a few minutes to himself would have been fine, but Illya could feel Kalizda staring at him. He was going to have to tell her sometime and now was going to be just as easy as it would be any other time. Within only a few seconds Priscilla left and Kalizda appeared with a mug of tea for him. Illya stared into the cup and swished the liquid around in it while keeping his eyes focused only on the deep honey brown liquid. Kalizda's question landed like a heavy blanket and Illya sunk even further into the couch. "No." Pulling his gaze away from the cup he sighed. "Kalizda, I dun have any work and now I am nut good for meh family. Dey will nut let meh work anymore because dey say I have too much injury. I'm nut a cripple!"

He played with the cup and seemed reluctant to say anything at all for a moment for before finally coming out with it. His voice reached that of a yell toward the end and she gazed at him. How was she going to approach this? She knew he would be upset but she thought he might take it differently. "No, you arent a cripple," she said, "I know that, and so do you. I dont think that you are bad for me or our family simply because you can't go back to the military."

"But meh sons and daughters will nut learn tah do dere duty ef I dun do mine." Duty was a concept that Illya still doubted Kalizda understood. "I can't jes abandon meh work because I have one leg dat es half metal. Et es nut good tah have no work. I dun know anyting else. Dere es no one dat would want apprentice like meh. I'm nut young anymore. I have meh family and I will nut be able to work dah long hours of apprentice."

Calysta listened to his concerns and stayed quiet for a moment, thinking on her answer. She knew a day like this would come, whether or not it was something intended or not, and it wasn't himself he was worried about but his family most of all. Shifting on the couch, she turned to face him and studied him for a moment more before replying. "I agree. You should work and I think it's good for the children to see you working to they understand what duty is," she stated calmly, "If there will be the problem of taking you on as an apprentice somewhere, maybe you could talk to Kirit and still be an adviser. He's young and he might need help. Maybe you could look outside the Chippeqouti too. Skycorp doesn't mind taking on older cadets and the physical requirements are more lax. They are always looking for more people with a good skill set and would train you on how to be an explorer like I was." She reached up with a slender hand and slipped it over his, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I think our children would greatly respect it and understand duty still if you studied something you liked or were interested in while you learned a new trade. There's merit in starting something new too."

Going to Kirit and offering to be an adviser wasn't a bad idea, but it wouldn't be work that would keep him busy for long enough. Kirit was smart and Illya would never have recommended him for the position if he hadn't thought the man capable. There would only be a few times when he was sure that Kirit would want advise. Tearing his gaze away from Kalizda he sucked down the tea and grumbled. "Dese tings are nut meh duty. I'm Chippequoti warrior and dat es meh duty." Now he was kept from it by ridiculous rules and he wasn't about to just go leaping with joy into the next choice.

****

Over the next several days Illya laid on the couch for the majority of the time and stared at the ceiling, or plugged his ears with the headset connected to his pad. He knew it looked bad, but he was trying. If he had to find a new career he was going to find the one closest to the duty he was trained to fulfill. Farming was one subject that he avoided all the way. First of all, farming did not require him to have any kind of training that he already had and he didn't want to be tied to the land like that. Chippequoti loved their land, but they were also ready to move when they needed because there was no telling when the desert would demand that they move.

One of the more interesting sorts of jobs was engineering. Illya liked the sample tests that they gave for the engineering. Mostly he enjoyed the astronomical engineering because it was complex and it had a little variety. However, being an engineer didn't get him any closer to being a warrior than the farming and so he decided that he couldn't do that either.

Finally, out of pure frustration Illya found himself looking at Skycorp. The entrance requirements seemed to be insane and he wasn't sure he could do what they wanted. It wasn't the physical part that worried him. It was the fact that they had an entrance exam and he was worried about it because he could barely read most of the application page and he had to have it read to him on his pad and most of the subjects that they said they covered he had never even heard of. These were not the things he learned in school as a boy. He was almost through listening to the final, boring pitch of an overly painted instructor talking about the value you could get out of their course of study and how much better you would be as a person when Cypher came down the stairs from his room looking dapper.

The boy was dressed for school, but he looked nervous. Illya frowned slightly and waited for a moment before took the earbuds out and then made his way over to Cypher. "What's wrong eh?"

"School." It was a simple answer and the boy's brown knit into a tight frown.

Illya nodded and beckoned for his son to walk with him. When they reached the back door he pointed to Cin. "Dat's ok tah be little scared. I show yah how nut tah be afraid for school. Yah get on Cin's back and yah ride him all dah way to school. Dah more scared yah feel the louder yah yell because et makes yah stronger looking to dah ting dat scares yah. Keep frown on yah face, sit tall and yah be like warrior eh?"

It all made perfect sense to Cypher and he grinned broadly. Forgetting the rest of his left over breakfast on the table he grabbed his little pack and ran into the backyard and mounted the bear. He was ready to ride out to school now. Illya opened the gate and watched his son leave it riding on the bear and hooting like a wild man all the way down the street.

After Cypher was out of sight Illya shut the back gate again and took himself back to his job searching. He liked the idea of Skycorp in some ways, but he wasn't so sure he could do it. Going back to the couch he flopped down on it and put the headphones in again. A few seconds later Kalizda came to sit on the edge of the couch and he pulled the headphones out. "I dun tink dere es work I can do. Skycorp es interesting and near meh duty more den oter jobs, but I tink dey want tah know too much for dere exam. I dun know dese tings dey talk about."

*****************************************

Ehud was surprised to see that Priscilla came back the next week. Slipping into his office he grinned at her carefully and then cleared his throat. "I uh...I actually decided that since this is the third time you came I maybe could depend on you today." What he was trying to say hadn't quite come out right, but he was going to try and give another go at it. "Well, what I meant was that I took the rest of the afternoon off. I could get those papers off my desk, but they're not as much fun as a pretty lady."

Somehow he still felt like he was doing a cringe-worthy job of trying to impress Priscilla. "Do you want to go for a picnic? I found a good place out by one of the fields and on the way there I could pick up Sien and we could all go together. Then later on uh...well before you go home I'll have to remember to give you that dish. Sien liked the cookies, but I keep forgetting to bring the dish back. Maybe if I hold the dish ransom a little while longer you'll come to see me again?" He was trying hard to be playful about it and he wondered if it was doing any good.

After a few moments Ehud decided to give up on his attempt at charm. Unfortunately charm was not something he felt at ease with and it resulted in a few awkward moments when he tried to employ it. He was naturally a bit more serious and far less expressive than most. It was in part what saved his life all these years and now he was having to use the emotions he had to try and express himself to others. It wasn't about hiding anymore.

Grabbing her coat which hung from a hook on the wall Ehud held it for Priscilla. "I can help you into the coat and then we'll be on our way." Before he was ready to go he put on his own jacket and then grabbed his military pack and slung it over one shoulder before shoving the next arm through and having it settled securely on his back. "I might have packed a few surprises of my own too." If he could remember one thing it was that women loved anticipation and surprises. So, he was going to let her anticipation build and then he was going to surprise her. That was one thing he could do even if he wasn't so great at saying what he felt he could show her. Showing a person counted didn't it? Not everything had to be said.

 

[aryamajor]

Calysta kept to her usual patterns of the day, rising when the twins in the morning and feeding everyone breakfast as they woke in order. Usually it was Cypher on her coat tails until he got his stomach full and then she had him off to school. Her boy had taken to the habit of riding on Cin's back to his class room with his small red back pack tossed haphazardly over his shoulder and partially unzipped. Calysta would have once worried about her boy, being obviously a half breed, strolling down the road, but those days were behind her on Pyrta. Everyone knew Cypher, particularly the Dark Chips, and they would look out for him. If all else failed, Cin was highly protective of the children and he would defend his mother's other cub to a fault. In the afternoons, Calysta would walk to the send of their street and watch for Cypher to come home when it was time for school to end. He knew very well now not to go anywhere near the edge and the first two days he returned pink cheeked with excitement. "Mam! Mam! We learned about deh Wilds today! I got tah tell dem about Dah's leg and how a big cat ate it! A tee-ray bigger den Keysha!" Before she could really collect him or comment on what he was talking about, the cannon ball of a boy was barreling down the street and colliding with their front door with a solid thud before rushing into the house. With the door hanging wide open she could hear just about what was happening inside. Cypher would be launching himself at Illya about now, desperate to tell him all about the Wilds. Calysta chuckled to herself and followed behind him with Lohgan's tiny tan hand in hers.

Lohgan seemed to have discovered the joys of the word 'why.' If she wasn't playing a rousing game of hide-from-mom-before-dinner, Lohgan was forever asking why things were the way they were. Calysta doubted she understood every explanation offered and but the typical answer of 'because it is' didn't satisfy her nearly enough. Lohgan would toddle around or roll through the house on her toy rocket pointing and laughing at different things. "Mam, why? Why?" She would point at a book or a lamp light, anything, as she danced a little jig which made her flyaway red curls bounce. Last night, it was 'why' at the nyte beast roast and vegetables to which Calysta replied. "Because they are tasty." Her girl was hungry enough that the answer was sufficient this time and she ate all of the meat before shoving aside her vegetables. "Why?" It was a groaning sort of question, making her opinion on root vegetables and grasses known. "Because they are good for you," Calysta told her before insisting she swallow a few bites, much her daughters dismay. Once their little girl was free of the horrible requirements of vegetables, she bounded into the living room after her brother where the two began to play a pretend game which consisted of Cypher telling his sister exactly how she was supposed to call like an Indian so he could take the part of the cowboy since Sien wasn't there.

The twins were fairly easy going babies to care save for the simple fact they at voraciously. She fed Edgar nearly every three hours and he ate full bottles before taking naps in between. Naturally, whenever Edgar was awake, his twin brother Tomas seemed to know it and woke as well. Her twin boys were identical in every way, as far as she could tell, and at this point nearly everything was color coded. Green of Edgar and Orange for Tomas. Their grandfather took great pride in holding his grandchildren and his latest additions were no exceptions. "I've been trying to track down the Father in the Terran colony. The place isn't exactly organized even after a year, but I have some folks looking to see if they can get in contact with him. Hopefully, we can get them Christened in time for Christmas, eh?" All the other children had been Christened this point and Calysta still had her moments of tentative faith. Allowing her father the chance to bless his grandchildren was something she didn't mind so long as Illya had no objections. Her father helped out with the children, making sure Cypher did his lessons and reading in the afternoons with everyone.

Rose spent most of her time out with Sam when she wasn't in school. She was coming into her last years in grade school as well as working on projects for some of the Chippeqouti tales through the Elders. Her Pithian boy friend did spend alot of time at dinner with them and Calysta expected it was because he didn't want to go home to his mother and take Rose with him. Occasionally, she would see her daughter suggest they might try something at his house, only to find him shifting and uncomfortable. Akten called nearly every week for Rose too and it sounded like the two were trying to strike of a friendship again given how they sounded over the messages. For the most part, Calysta let her eldest daughter make her own decisions while offering that she as always there.

Someone who needed more on the subject of advice was Priscilla. The Terran woman admitted to not having any clue how Ehud liked her showing up to his office. "He insisted that privacy as important," the woman sighed over her coffee mug, "I'm just not sure...I want to keep trying with him." Calysta nodded as she fed Edgar his bottle, rocking the little bundled boy back and forth her arms a a gentle pace. "Aye I think you should. It's not easy, but Ehud is a good man and you two seem to be a good match when you're having fun. That's important." Priscilla put down her cup and smiled slightly, remembering something she promised she would ask. "Speaking of fun, I have a proposition for you, Calysta..." When the woman explained what sort of mischief they had planned, Calysta snorted. "Knowing my luck, he'll want to keep the thing," she replied. Not that she would have minded, but they did have a fair few animals to look after nowadays. "I'll tell you what, get Ehud to bring it over on the 8th day morning when I wash the sheets and we'll do it." Hopefully, Illya would be out of his funk by then and up for a good joke.

Her Chip had been laying on the couch for nearly three days straight with his head phones plugged in. He had taken the news of his ineligibility for the military hard, but differently than she expected. She expected anger, maybe a bit of yelling, but he hadn't fussed so much as gone quiet and laid about on the couch. He had been raised to do one thing and that was to be a soldier. A general. Now, a 150 years of knowledge seemed useless to him and he grumbled about not doing his duty. Even at night he seemed less interested in attention. All of his focus was on finding a suitable career again. In respect of that fact, Calysta left him be even if she was worried depression was quickly approaching her otherwise wiley Chip. He needed the time to sort things out on his own.

Priscilla decided to visit Ehud again next week and Calysta set about cleaning up the kitchen after lunch. She had a few things rolling around in her mind in a strange conglomeration of motherhood tasks combined with council tasks and concern for her Chip. Deep thought settled into her mind over the planned tour of Kaereal and the necessary arrangements that still needed to be made when Illya, who had been a near statute stretched across the couch, finally piped up with his first spot of real consideration in over 72 galactic hours.

Calysta half jumped when Illya sat up from the couch. The strangely motionless Chip came to life, pulling out his headset with a creased look etched on his brow as he announced that he was considering the idea of going into Skycorp but wasn't sure if he could to the more educational side. She paused in her vegetable cutting and studied him for a moment. "You are smart, and all of the things you need to know I could help you study for it." Putting the knife on the counter she wiped her hands on a towel, then came over to where he was on the couch, settling beside him on the floor between the seats and their table. Meeting his bright eyes with her own grey, she nodded to him. "If this is what you want."

Somehow Kalizda seemed to think that she could just teach him all these things before he got there. The examine was supposed to be in 2 months and that wouldn't give him much time to be ready. "Aye, et es good work. Dah closest I can get tah what I know and I tink I could do well at et and et would be someting dat the children could know dat I did nut give up meh duty because I was lazy." Pointing to the pad he started to tell her he didn't even know the word he was pointing at and then he remembered that he didn't have it facing her. "Oh..." Turning it around to face her he pointed to it again. "Dat, es dah the word dat I dun even know what et es. Ef I dun know even dah name of the stuff dat I should learn I dun know dat I can do et in 2 monts."

She nodded gently as he explained why the thought it was good work. "They would be proud to have parents in Skycorp and they would know you didnt abandon your duty." When he pointed to the screen, asking about the word on the screen. "Ah, that's 'exam requirements'...it lists a few things you'll need to know...Alliance history and basic law, language requirements, mathematics, physics. You know some of this stuff and I will do whatever it takes to make sure you're ready for the exam. It wont be easy-" she broke into an encouraging smile "-and we've done hard things before."

"Huh, hard tings, but yah never try tah teach Chippequoti how tah obey laws." Illya had to admit that it was a bit of a problem even now. He actually couldn't really think of any laws besides the one that forbade killing traitors. That was a law he still didn't understand and didn't agree with.

"Laws they don't consider their own. Besides, knowing and obeying are different things," she replied earnestly, "You'll have to know them though. It's not too bad. I could even translate them to Qouti for you if that would help."

"Why would I need et tah be translated to Quoti? Exams are jes memory." Illya was fairly certain that if he labored over the words and she helped him on the ones he got stuck with that he would be just fine when the examiner asked him questions. Exams were much easier than interrogations. You didn't have to withhold anything and all you had to do was give them the answer they wanted. In the end it was actually a good thing for both parties and he could deal with that.

Calysta raised a brow at Illya. His answer alone proved they had alot of work to do and she tilted her head. "You've never taken an application exam. It's a pratical exam, illya." She shifted a little closer and pointed to his pad. "You have to know the rules and you are given an apptitude test on how well you apply the rule to the problems you are given. It's not something you can just memorize."

When she described the exam his grin got bigger. "Oooh so dis es like a drill? Dat es even better. I can drill all day long and I can do anyting ef yah show meh what I will need tah know how tah do." He wasn't sure how else the word practical would apply when it came to an exam. It would be like showing you knew how to navigate and little exams like that. He couldn't see any problem with that sort of system. It sounded just too easy.

"Kind of," she replied, "But it will be an exam where you will have to write some things too. You'll have to know the material. I can pick up the books tomorrow...or well...here's an idea." She contemplated for a moment then grasped his pad. "We can get the books in Juya and we can go together. Maybe just you and me for a night?" They hadnt had much time together and if he was going to do this and help with the kids they would have very little time alone. She felt like she wanted that time and maybe he would too.

Gradually Illya's eyes got wider and he realized that this exam was a giant muddle of stuff and if he had to read and answer questions on paper he was going to need a lot of help. Reading for himself without some help was troublesome as it was and he wondered if maybe he shouldn't get the glasses with the special tinted lenses to try. The Ehaui said that the tinted lens had helped some of the people who scrambled words to read the words easier. There was something about the color making it easier to see the words in order. Kalizda was already jumping on the idea of getting the books and he was about to try and slow her down on the idea until she mentioned a trip all by themselves. "Ooh, how long do you think this trip will take?" Switching to Quoti he matched her grin. "I think these books could be a bit more difficult to procure than just one night."

No sooner had she mentioned staying a night or two out on Juya to look for books did Illya get that look in his eye and a broad grin stretched across his face. He knew what she was hinting at and swapped to Qouti to ask exactly how long it might take to get the books. Playing along she shifted her eyes to the cieling and tapped her forefinger over her lips thoughtfully. "Hmm...well..Juya is about 6 hours from here and there are several book stores. Three to be exact. If we take our time and really look, we could spend three nights I think. Maybe do a little sight seeing in the mountain and take a look at the crystal caves. Have a nice room at the summit too. What do you think?"

Illya waited for Kalizda's answer with a permanent sort of grin plastered to his face. "Mmmhmmm...I think we should take our time. Get good books to study with." It was much easier to speak in Quoti sometimes and he liked it when she spoke Quoti with him. There wasn't many people left that would speak Quoti just in regular conversation. There were so many foreigners now and they didn't like to feel left out. Then there was a little mistrust of them if they only spoke Quoti and so now they made efforts to speak in Trader's Tongue in public. "I think maybe we should plan this trip soon. The exam is not far away." Slipping an arm behind Kalizda he pulled her closer to himself and planted a kiss on her lips. Now that they'd done a little talking in Quoti he wanted to impress her with some Kaerelean. "Yah beautiful like a..." for the moment he had to think of the word again "A star dat shines at night." He wasn't quite as good at this love making language in Kaerelean, but he was fairly sure he hadn't slaughtered this sentence. There was a chance he had too. She never seemed to get upset when he messed up even on his best attempts.

Calysta chuckled inwardly at the look her Chip was giving her. "Aye, we should take our time and work hard on making sure we get just the right ones," she replied in Qouti. He pulled her close and she let herself be swept over to him for a sweet kiss. Despite her teasing her cheeks were a little pink and it was partly due to the way he grinned at the prospect of spending time with her like that. To her surprise, he swapped to Kaerelean. His accent was still awful and it made her language sound a bit harsher like Qouti but she didn't mind it. Whenever he spoke it there was always an intent to dazzle her and she beamed up at him as he told her she looked beautiful like the night sky. In a way, if he had really wanted to impress her, he would have called her beautiful as the twin moons, but she liked the stars better. Seeing him less upset about the military was good and now he had a goal which was exactly what he needed. Settling over his chest slightly, she kissed him again. "And you are the best agreed. You love me, our family, and you work hard at anything you do. Out of all of the men, I'd pick you every time," she told him in Qouti between kisses.

They loved on each other for awhile until Cypher came home from school yelling all about what he got to do while he was there. "I'll make the arrangements," she told Illya, sneaking in one last kiss, "We can leave tomorrow afternoon and Dad can watch the kids along with Rose and Priscilla, yeah?"Between the three of them there would be enough people to help for just a small get away. After that task was done, all she needed to do was make a small shopping trip and she knew just who take along. Picking up her pad, she typed out a small message in Traders Tongue. "Hey, Tabit. Feel like having a shopping day? Lunch is on me."

* * * * * * * * * * *

Priscilla stood with her basket draped over her arm and watched with trepidation as Ehud stated he could depend on her like she was some sort of weekly meeting. It was enough of a moment for him to flounder some before making a small joke about all of those papers, which she was unsurprised to see still there. Still, it was nice to hear that he had taken the day off. Breaks were good for the workaholic General in Priscilla's opinion. "I should hope I would be more fun than paperwork. Don't worry about the dish. I figured I would get it back eventually, " she chuckled, "A picnic sounds good. We can all enjoy the time before the rain season, huh? " The day was slightly over cast, marking what would soon be the beginnings of the rainy season but it would probably hold off for another week or two for the harvest. She didn't like the rainy season so much. It made her miss Harry and their home close to the coast on Japan when the storms came in, like being trapped in a constant state of painful nostalgia.

Priscilla smiled when he plucked her coat from the hook and held it out for her to slid on. "Thank you." At the prospect of surprises, she couldn't help but give him a curious look as they slipped out the door. "Surprises, hm? Now, this I'll have to see." Ehud had never struck her as the kind to do surprises unless it was something he was doing to rib someone else and she wondered briefly if it was that promised raid. He did have his pack with him after all. Her apprehension and curiosity only grew as they walked together down the lane together toward the school. The class she was teaching only occurred on certain days for the community and the children, so there was no need for her to be there everyday.

Sien was happy to see her. He scuttled up with a shy grin and offered over his latest creation from art class. A Wilds flower made of bright paper petals. "It's pretty," she smiled to the little boy, "Think I should wear it in my hair?" He seemed to like the idea and she tucked it into her pony tail, even if it was over sized, and took up the boy's hand. "Thank you Sien. Ready for a picnic? I didn't bring any cookies this time but I brought something you'll like I think." She had packed along tons of fruits and sweet dips along with sandwiches and lemon tarts for dessert this time. Lemon tarts were among her favorite things and it had taken her ages to find real lemons on Kaereal. Everything was gross little omne fruits which she didn't care for in the slightest even if the council woman's family did.

They walked out to one of the unseeded fields through a tall sea of red grass where one of the only trees on Pyrta stood besides those in little orchards. It was old and had obviously been there a long time. It's roots ran deep into the ground and its bark bore the marks of time. Still, there was something fairly new hanging from the lowest branch. Two twin ropes attached to a small, but sturdy looking plank of smoothed wood. Tilting her head, she studied the tree for a moment and then glanced to Ehud. "A swing?" Already the temptation to play on it was growing in her eyes and Sien had the same idea. "A swing!" he called before taking off toward the tree. Priscilla laughed and followed at a quick pace made awkward by the basket. "Wait for me!" she called after the boy. Ehud ended up behind her a few paces and she turned, smiling at him excitedly. "C'mon and we can give it a go."

 

[Silence]

Cypher came barreling through the door and the boy immediately went for Illya. He could see that his Dah's lap was empty and that meant he could jump on his Dah and tell him about the day at school. It was quite the success and he had gained a lot of attention. The fact was, Illya was more than aware of the fact that his son was gaining a lot of attention at school. Because he was the one to sign off on the majority of the school forms the teachers and staff at the school thought it prudent to send him the majority of the correspondence and Illya always sent copies to Kalizda. He didn't always know exactly what to do with the stuff the teachers were sending him. What he needed was for the teachers to have it on file that they would send all messages to him and Kalizda. It wasn't right that he was the only one being sent these things. Then again, it didn't matter. He let Kalizda look on his pad or use the remote check in any time she wanted to retrieve a message from his inbox.

By the time Illya spotted his son there was only a split second to brace himself for impact. Cypher landed heavily on his lap with a giant grin on his face and he pulled his pack off and immediately flopped it on his Dah's stomach. Pulling the zippers open haphazardly Cypher dug around in his mostly empty pack and shuffled through the five pages in it numerous times before he produced the one he was looking for. "Look!" Shoving the little slip of paper toward his Dah's face he grinned broadly, "I win dis award and dah teacher says dat ef I collect 2 more dis week I get a prize."

Illya squinted at first and then leaned his head back further into the couch before he carefully took the little slip of paper from Cypher. "Ooh, I see dat et says dis award es for eh...Ex-hub-rant story telling." It took a few seconds for the first word to click and then Illya nodded. "Hmmm...Yah tell a good story on story day eh?" The whole month was laid out and there was always 2 days of the week when they were small devoted to stories, or learning about their little planet and land where they lived. Those were the days that Cypher seemed to like the most. On the other three days he seemed a bit more disappointed. Illya thought they did the schedule nicely with the first two days of school being the hard work and then the third day going out to explore, the fourth devoted to hard work in school and the fifth devoted to story telling. Sometimes the students told stories and other times the teachers would read them stories.

"Yeah, I tell dem how dah big cat eat yah leg!" Raising his little fat fists in the air Cypher made tiny claws with his hands and yelled his statement. "Raawrrr and dey chew et up and dat's why we can't go into dah wilds. Tee-Ray's would eat us."

It hadn't quite been Illya's intention for the entirety of Pytra to know that his leg got eaten by a Tyrei, or for his son to give such a colorful rendition of the story. "Oooh..." Illya shrugged and reached into the pack to look at the rest of the papers. "Yah dun behave very nice dis week. Only today." Somehow it wasn't surprising. Cypher had been giving the teachers more than enough to write about. Squirming in his chair, failing to use the inside voice, running off when it was outdoors day, making excuses to use the bathroom too many times, and finally pushing other little kids out of the way when it was time to eat food at school. It was going to take the boy an entire month to earn the 5 certificates of good behavior to get his prize. With 2 certificates now he was very proud.

Taking the certificate Illya pulled out the coffee table drawer to show Cypher where the other certificate was. "Yah jes put et in dere eh. When yah save five of dem den yah can have prize like dah teacher says. Ef yah get tree next week I will get yah prize too." Three days of good behavior would be a remarkable feat for the boy, but it would be worth it. Illya was tired of all the little bad behavior frownies he was getting in his inbox. Cypher was not a bad boy, he was just too young for school. School should not be till he was 13.

Once Cypher had put away his little certificate he leaped off Illya and snatched his pack before bounding up the stairs to his room. Lohgan's little honing device immediately perked and she toddled right over to Illya next. Holding up a piece of paper and some crayons she grinned. Illya knew what she wanted and he moved to sit on the floor with her. Once he was seated on the floor she sat on top of him and stuck her little legs under the coffee table and colored. "Lohgan, what color es dat?"

The girl looked at the one in her hand and grinned. "Red!" She seemed to think every color was red and proudly announced her knowledge to the world.

"No, et's green like yah eyes. What color are meh eyes?" Illya pointed to his eyes and waited for her to respond. It should have been easy.

Lohgan looked at her crayon and then Illya's eyes before looking at her crayon again. "Red!"

"Eh..." Illya blinked a few times. "No, meh eyes are green."

"Why?"

"Because I was born wit green eyes."

"Why?"

Illya took a deep breath. They were in this little circle of why and he hated it. "Because I have some Tannas, jes like yah."

"Why?"

"Because dah Tannas jes work dat way." Even if she looked innocent the single word she repeated was starting to get annoying.

"Why?"

"Dey're evil, dat's why."

"Why?"

"Dey..." Illya almost told the girl why and then decided he was done playing this game. "Because dey are. I'm nut talking about dis anymore."

"Why?"

"Yah need tah go ask yah mum eh? Jes go ask her why dah Tannas are evil." The only way he had found to stop his daughter from asking why was to refer her to her mother. Somehow Kalizda had a magic way of answering the why until Lohgan was satisfied and that was something that Illya had not figured out yet.

Lohgan took her little crayon clenched in one fist and wobbled her way over to Kalizda. "Dah says Tannas are evil. Why?"

************************************

Tabit brought the triplets with. As far as Kirit and she knew Illya still owed them a few hours watching the kids and she figured he wouldn't mind watching them while she went shopping with Kalizda. "Hey!" As soon as the door opened she thrust one of the babies into Illya's arm. "I sent you the message earlier. Saw you said it would be alright. So, I've got a little list of instructions and everything should be fine."

He had thought there would have been a little more time to get ready for three extra kids, but that wasn't the case. Cypher was buzzing around with Lohgan outside and the bear was romping with them and Illya had the twins laid down for their nap and now he was going to get three little boys all at crawling stage. This was going to be a circus. However, he had told Tabit he would watch them and this was his thing. Kalizda was going out with Tabit and in a way Illya was starting to wonder if his ambition level got him in trouble. Tabit waited just inside the house with the stroller holding two of the three twins and when Kalizda was finally ready to go shopping she grinned. "Alright, the two in the stroller are a bit sleepy, you might leave them there till they start fussing. Otherwise, you can call me if anything goes wrong." Grabbing Kalizda's wrist she pulled the council woman out the door with her. "So, where you planning on shopping?"

Calysta was more than happy to see Tabit coming through the door with the triplets, two of whom were looking to doze, and the third was rearing to go. The house was going to look like a day away camp for children at this point but Illya was near magical with kids and the kind of shopping she had in mind wasnt exactly the kind of place one took kids to. Sweeping her long hair into a pony tail, Calysta helped get the twins through the door only to be swept up by Tabit on the way out. "Bye! We'll be back in the afternoon! All the formula is in the cabinet...and thr blankets are in the wash...oh and Lohgan had to eat her lunch before sweets!" Illya knew all of that but she couldnt help herself as the door closed behind them. "Oh." A shade of pink was settling into her cheeks now as Tabit tugged her onward. "Well, I was thinking of a few shops on Kinte. Something pretty for a vacation...and um.." the reddening grew worse as she spoke. She had been in a store with Tabit before but hadnt been the instigator. Now, she was the one offering and some how she still felt shy. "Well, something exciting too."

On the way to the new flyer Tabit practically skipped. "Well, we're taking our little cruiser this time. Kirit bought a new one and I asked if I could take it out today. He never says no, but I always like to ask anyway." Glancing at Kalizda she grinned broadly at the suggestion of the place they would be going. "Oh, don't you worry. I've got plenty of ideas and I need to get something exciting too. Kirit is a wild man in bed and I like to see how bad I can get before I surprise him."

Tabit mentioned a new cruiser and Calysta couldn't wait to see what Kirit invested in. It had better be Kaerelean and a Starclass or Moonmaker brand at the least. Research would show they were the most reliable, longest running and safest for commuter travel around Kaereal and she had done extensive reading on the subject given they would be needing an extended cab flyer themselves with the addition of the twins to the family. Tabit grinned at her and Calysta managed a somewhat shy, but knowing smile back as the woman stated she had plenty of ideas. Her friend always had plenty of ideas when it came to the bedroom and apparently Kirit enjoyed them all, though the admission of that made her blush again for him. "He's been reserved and quiet since I've known him so it's strange to think he would be so...robust in that way," she said with a small chuckle, "We can get something exciting for both of us and the men can decide what to do with it, yeah? I've been trying to keep Illya on his toes a little."

Robust was hardly the word. Tabit snorted, "Ooh he's more than robust. Completely insatiable." Nudging Kalizda she chuckled at her friend's bright red cheeks she pointed to the little cruiser. "We'll get there fast." It was one of the top of the line machines. She let Kirit pick it out since he knew more than she did. Whatever he picked would be fine with her. When they reached Kinte Tabit practically jumped out of the ship and made a dash with Kalizda for her favorite store first. It had the bad stuff in it. "We'll start with the bad shop and then move over to the tame section. Gotta go bad before you get nervous."

Calysta could have gone her entire life without knowing how insatiably horny the General of the Alliance was in bed. Luckliy, the topic wasn't mentioned again on the flight out to Kinte, though they did catch up with each other on kids and life in general, including the latest gossip from the party. When they landed Calysta had to nearly run behind the long-legged Tabit as she lead them toward the lingerie store first thing, suggesting she might wimp out. "I'm going in," she affirmed, though she sounded less than confident. The woman marched right up to the door and walked inside without hesitation, her entry heralded by a chime, as she shot straight to the back. Calysta trailed behind, waving timidly at the clerk as she ventured into the increasingly naughty section. She passed feathers and lace, then leather bits with tassles. She saw Tabit pause in front of a leather number with studs decorating the breasts. "How bad were you thinking of going, Tabit?"

"Oooh, I'm thinking bad. Maybe finding a leather one that has a surprise slit." She wasn't actually going to get one of those. They were not quite worth the hassle because it was easier not to wear the item than it was to try and work around the product. It was fun to see Kalizda's face. "How about you? How naughty do you think you'll go? Maybe a little fun something like this?" Holding up a little leather baby doll style lingerie gown she smiled. There were a few studs going along the sweetheart neckline and the naughty touch was the little black thong.

Leather....slit..Calysta's mind tried to wrap itself around the mechanics of the outfit and she decided it was probably best not to continue the thoughts. Blinking a few times, her lips twitched and she looked over the suggested outfit with a gaze of trepidation. "Where's the rest of it?" she asked, half jokingly as she plucked at the thong, "Illya would like the bottom...I think. Though I have some stretchmarks from the twins."

"Of course he'd like the bottom. It'd be yours wearing this little thing." Tabit chuckled and thrust the outfit into Kalizda's arms. "One for you and I'll find one for me. I don't think he'd mind the stretchmarks. If you've been naked with him at least once since the babies and he hasn't said a word about it then you'll be fine. As long as a man gets sex on a regular basis and you stay exciting he probably won't be looking elsewhere. No need when the excitement is waiting at home."

Suddenly Calysta had a tiny leather thing thrust into her hands as Tabit pronounced that she needed to find something for Kirit. Apparently the stretch marks didn't matter so much but the word 'probably' stood out in her mind. It wasn't that she thought Illya would go elsewhere for his night time fun. They were regular and he trusted her too much to break that, but Tabit sounded like she thought Kirit might sometime if she didn't constantly impress. Casually, she reached out for a bustier and g-string set and glanced to her tall, blonde friend. "I don't think Kirit or Illya would look elsewhere," she chuckled, "Exciting or not. Though, I have to admit sex on the regular is nice to have again."

Sometimes Kalizda was too nice and certainly more than generous in her perspective on men. "Experience tells me that you can think a man won't look elsewhere, but you gotta keep him watching your, or his eyes will stray. Never had a man that didn't." Tabit piled on a few more outfits for her pile and then glanced to Kalizda and the singular outfit she still had, but she was admiring a cute little number. Flipping through the rack Tabit pulled out a size 2 and flopped it on Kalizda's stack. "If you like it, buy it. He'll like it too."

Another outfit, the one she was thumbing through absent mindedly, flopped over her arms as Tabit spoke. The woman had obviously had trouble with men before, and Calysta understood at little how that worked. It still didn't change her opinion on Illya or Kirit for that matter. "Hmm...There are always exceptions to the rules," Calysta mused, "I know Illya wont...because well..he's been given the chance to. Out right and without me around to pressure him into saying no. With a very beautiful woman Urian woman no less." It was then she confessed her small proposal to the Urian Matriarch and summarized what Illya said. "I think some men focus on looks and others focus on more than just being exciting. Sarai is...very...very... exciting."

"Well, I guess there are a few that won't look elsewhere. If he doesn't have trouble in bed and he's that committed to you then I'd say you're lucky." Tossing a bright red fish net teddy into Kalizda's arms she laughed. "Still won't hurt to surprise him."

Calysta felt yet another outfit, a bright red thing that Illya would love the color of, settle on to her growing pile as Tabit admitted that maybe there were good men in the world. She felt a little victory in that and no small amount of pride knowing she had not only a sexy, loving agreed but a fiercely loyal one too. "Aye," she giggled, "It wont hurt to surprise him at all."

***
​

At some point all the kids were finally tired out. Illya took the quiet time to send Kalizda a short desperate message. "Bring home food for dinner." Along with the message he sent her the picture of the kids crashed out in the living room. It looked like the entire house was littered with children. They were sprawled out with blankets wrapped around their legs, twisted around their torso and thumbs stuck in their mouths. The second pictures was the main floor bathroom. "Cypher missed." Illya was going to be cleaning up the pee splatters all over the bathroom. If it happened again he was going to be having the kid help him clean the bathroom. Some things were not acceptable regardless of the age and missing was one of them. It was partly why Illya liked to pee outside and have his boy pee outside. There was almost no possible way to miss.

While he scrubbed the bathroom out he enjoyed the relative quiet. That was until he heard a soft little sing song voice trying to be sneaky and whisper. Taking the work gloves off and flopping the rag over the edge of the bucket Illya started out the bathroom door, but thought it was a good idea to wash his hands first. If he had to pick up one of the kids he didn't want to be handling them after being in the bathroom cleaning up that mess.

No sooner did he step out then he saw Lohgan crouched over one of the twins and then he saw the evidence of a great evil. His little girl had drawn on the face of Tabit and Kirit's three boys with a bright red marker and drew on Cypher's face and now she was working on her twin brothers. There wasn't a single boy that was going to escape this disaster. She had tried to give Cypher red eye liner and it looked more like someone had tried to skin his little eyelids. It was terrible looking. Worst of all she had painted her lips with the marker and she smacked them repeatedly, smearing all the marker ink on her face and around her mouth.

"No, noooo, aaagh shet." Walking over to Lohgan he pulled the marker out of her hand and shook his head at her. "I tink yah jes spend some time in yah room. Yah dun draw on people. Look at all dah boys. Dis es nut what yah mum does."

Lohgan puffed little red lips out at him and then had the grand idea that maybe a kiss would make it better. It seemed to work with mom. Grabbing Illya's chin with her red, gummy little fingers she smeared some paint on his chin and cheek and then promptly gave him a big kiss. The kiss looked like a nasty scrape all over his left cheek and she smiled at him. "All better?"

As cute as it was, it was not going to fly. "No, dis es nut all better." Taking Lohgan to her room Illya shook his head and went back to cleaning the bathroom. Later on he might have to see about doing what he could to take the marker off Tabit's boys' faces. At least he would try before she got home to pick them up.

***********************************************

It was always hard to tell what Priscilla would like. Ehud hadn't been sure if hanging the swing on the old tree was a good idea, or not. It was something like what people did on Terra and maybe that would help her feel more at home. He had a thermos with some hot chocolate too. With the rainy season so close it was good to have those warm reminders of Terra. Even if it was a dangerous place, it was as much a home to him as any other place had been. Maybe more than the desert. Perhaps she would like some of the same comforts from home.

Sien recognized the swing right away and ran for it. The last thing that Ehud expected was for Priscilla to run right after the boy. With the momentary surprise he was left behind for a brief few seconds before he picked up his pace. "I should have known Sien would insist on swinging first." Flashing a grin toward Priscilla he held a hand out to take the basket. "If I take the basked you can out run him and get there first. He wouldn't mind sitting on your lap to swing." Usually that was what Ehud did with Sien. The boy liked to swing with someone and Ehud had accidentally pushed the boy off the swing once or twice. It was easy to do. Sien was so light and he didn't hold on very tight despite the many different times that Ehud had told him to. As a result the boy simply slid right off the seat within the first 2-3 pushes and then he would refuse to swing by himself.

By the time Priscilla and Sien were all settled in on the swing Ehud had set the basket down and dropped his pack next to it. Walking over to the swing he grinned. "I'll get you both started with a few pushes and then, Priscilla you keep it going and I'll get the picnic set up. Got some hot chocolate too." He could see a hint of pink in her cheeks and on the tip of her nose already. It was a sign that it was perfect weather for hot chocolate.

****************************************************************

Illya was more than ready for this trip. He had finally decided on a new career, had a plan, a tutor, and a trip planned with Kalizda. It was better that Kalizda was going to be his tutor since he didn't mind the way she taught things. She was a very good teacher actually. Getting into their large cruiser he settled into his navigation seat and waited while Kalizda made the systems check. "Yah tink maybe yah want a small flyer again? Maybe someting dat we could fly for jes two of es, or jes yah? Et maybe esn't always good to fly dah big ship everywhere." He was sure there were times having a smaller flyer would be good. "Maybe one like yah used tah race wit. Dat was a good, fast machine eh?" He knew she liked to go fast too.

The look he was getting from her was exactly what he was hoping for. "Dun worry, I take care of et. I talk wit yah dad and Priscilla. Dey already know dat we're gone for an extra day. I tink one day tah find books, one day tah explore and a day for yah tah find dah ship yah want. We can load et in dah bay of dis ship and get et home. Den yah take et out for a test fly eh?" He had figured if he asked her dad and Priscilla to keep it a secret they would. He had brought some extra credits with to buy her a ship. After cashing in a few more of the gold coins he had enough to buy any small flyer on the market. Illya didn't have much left after the party, and the pledge to help rebuild the Alliance territories, but he had saved more than enough to buy her a flyer and enough to buy each of their children flyers when they became adults. Rose was very near getting her first flyer and he figured Kalizda would teach their children to fly.

Giving Kalizda a wink he chuckled. "I make plans too eh. Had to be a little sneaky, but et worked. I dun tink yah know dat yah getting flyer on dis trip." Illya settled into his seat a little deeper and started to type in the coordinates and then the arch to exit atmosphere and chart the path and the arch to enter Juya's atmosphere again. "Ok, we're set tah go. Ooh and one more ting. Ef yah get a flyer I tink maybe yah help train dah kids tah fly when dey are near age of getting license eh? Rose will need tah know how tah fly soon. She es almost a woman and already earning good money. Edgar talked wit her about her stories and dah Dark Chippequoti have hired her tah write our stories and legends in Quoti and translate dem in oter languages too. I tink soon she will be woman and want tah move to her own home."

 

[aryamajor]

Calysta glanced down from her pad where she was looking over some of her investments and the teachers lengthy notes on Cypher at the kitchen table to find Lohgan tugging on her tunic sleeve, a fat red crayon clutched in her other hand. With big, green eyes filled with genuine and unadulterated curiosity, the girl tilted her head and asked. "Dah says all deh Tannas are evil. Why?"

It took a moment for Calysta to process what her daughter was asking and she blinked a few times before putting down her pad and holding out her hands. This was something she wanted to handle with her full attention. Lohgan didn't have to ask about what that meant. She held up her arms to allow her mother to scoop her up. Once she was into her mother's embrace, they took a walk outside to the backyard where the omne tree sat ripe, almost over ripe, with fruit. The smell of fresh, round omne's floated between the scent of the more rotten ones that had turned to alcoholic smell. "Dah says all the Tannas are evil, yeah? And you want to know why?" Lohgan nodded, her red curls bouncing at her tan cheeks.

"Dah says that because a Tannas has done mean things," Calysta said, "Some of them are not very nice. It's like when...Cypher hit you this morning. Your brother is a good brother, yeah? But he did a bad thing and it wasn't nice. He hurt your nose. It doesn't mean he is all bad, or an evil brother, but he can do bad things. Not all Tannas are evil but sometimes it looks that way because some of them do bad things." Calysta smoothed down Lohgan's hair and reached up to grab one of the good fruits from the lowest hanging tree. The limb tugged downward, then bounced back before the fruit let go. Offering it to her daughter, she smiled. "Do you understand why now?" Lohgan nodded firmly and took the blue tinted treat from Calysta's hands. "Good. That goes for all people. You and me...Pithian's and Chippeqouti too. All of them."

Lohgan smiled and bit into the fruit, spraying a brilliant colored juice over them both. She winced against the splatter on her face while still managing a surprised laugh. "Well, that's one way to eat it," she chuckled. It was her hope that Lohgan understood what she said. Racism, particularly against the Tannas and Pithians was something Illya struggled with though he could be reasonable about it. In her mind, it was a slippery slope from racism to purist view points and genocide, not far from what the Federation was trying to do to the Chippeqouti and thus the Alliance. She wanted her children to understand there were bad people, but that did mean all of their kind was ill bred or tempered.

She let Lohgan finish the fruit in the back yard and then came up with the sly idea while her daughter was covered in sweet, sticky juice. "Why don't you go give Dah a kiss on the cheek and let him feel better, yeah?" Her daughter grinned at the idea. She was an affectionate child if anything, and she knew her cuteness got her far with her parents at this stage. Her tiny feet sent her flying across the yard and up the stairs to do just as her mother suggested.

Calysta followed behind her little girl, shaking her head at the thought of her next task. Cypher was going to have to learn some manners for school. She understood the fidgeting and lack of attention. He was an energetic boy and constantly liked to be moving. What was absolutely unacceptable was his attitude at the lunch line. That little incident she was going to have to take up with him.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Calysta got both of Illya's messages while she and Tabit were at lunch with their shopping date. Traditional Kaerelean food had been nice, but there a certain appeal in going to Kinte to try fare from around the Alliance. They had settled on cheeseburgers from what she understood was a "traditional soda pop shop" from the late 2oth century on earth. Tabit couldn't have the soda, but the burgers and fries were good. Nudging her friend, she showed the picture of all the kids sleeping where they fell. "I think we are bringing home dinner. Maybe I'll order ahead and have it delivered by the time we arrive, yeah?" They seemed to agree that would be best and ordered a delivery for the house timed to arrive when they did.

The rest of their afternoon was fun. Calysta got herself a new outfit or two in the hopes of going to dinner with Illya and looking nice while also wearing some of the more scandalous things they had picked up underneath her new clothes. She wasn't much of a shopper, and never had been, but it was nice to get to spend time with a friend. Mostly the talked men and the latest gossip which was odd for her. Even when she was in her teens, she hadn't done that. There had been no one to really wanted to be seen talking with her. Before they left Kinte she picked up one thing for each of her children and a little something she knew Illya would like too.

On the way back, she thought over what Tabit had said a little more and decided to challenge the woman. "You know, you could always test Kirit. I wasn't trying to test Illya when I sent Sarai his way. I knew he would say no, but it took me a long time to believe that he would. Maybe you should try it. Kirit was head over heals for you and I think given the chance, he might surprise you." That was all she said on the subject as they rocketed back home with Tabit's somewhat decent flying.

By the time they arrived home again, the children were awake and had the run of the house. "Maam!!" Cypher came barrelling out of the hallway, his arms held out wide so he could tackle her legs, and....Calysta half caught her boy and titled his head up so she could look at his face. "What in the Wilds is on your eyes, Cypher?" There was red smeared from his lashes to his dark eyebrows and his sweaty running had caused it to run like bloody little tear stains down his face. She shuffled into the door, her boy clinging to her legs and noticed the snoozing twins had clown lips to match their brothers eyes. "What..." Glancing to Illya who was carting Lohgan in one arm as another of the triplets, Azariah maybe, sat atop his good foot. "I take it things went well?" Calysta puffed, a smile pulling at the corner of her lips, "Don't worry. I ordered something special for tonight. Terran pizza." That was always a fast favorite when she was a kid and her agreed was looking far to tired to deal with cooking.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Calysta was more than happy to slide into the cockpit of their little rented flyer and send them into the air toward Juya. She would miss her babies, and already she felt like she had forgotten something at home, but between the moments where she wasn't panicking at the thought of having left them behind, she was excited. This trip would be just for her and Illya. He needed a little time, having been working so hard to make sure she was okay the least year, and she needed it too. This was no official council business or party. They would just go and have some fun themselves. They rarely got out like this anymore and it felt good to be behind the controls of something zippy again. Smiling to herself as she looked over the control panel and then out at the swirling clouds of mist below them, Calysta opted not to put then on auto pilot. She wanted to fly them all the way there herself.

Illya talked about what he wanted to do as they touched the clouds and she listened in relative contentment until he mentioned that she should get a new flyer like she'd had a few years ago before Elian had caused her to crash it. She had adored that flyer, worked on it herself, and while she had lost crafts before that one had made her ache a bit. Her eyes widened at the prospect of getting to fly in races again and she couldn't help the grin blossoming over her face. He wanted her to keep doing the things she loved and those kinds of thoughts meant as much to her now as they did when he said it the night before they married. Unsure of what to say, she giggled excitedly and leaned over to kiss him almost fiercely. The move caused the flyer to waver a little but she kept them up right despite being absolutely giddy. "You know sometimes, I like it when you're sneaky," she laughed, "Thank you." It wasn't always easy for her to accept a gift, mostly because she had always had to earn things like that in the past. But with Illya, he did things because he wanted he to be happy. That was the priceless part. His other statement about Rose was settling in too and she nodded in agreement, even if it didn't seem possible she could be old enough to be moving off on her own. "Aye, Rose will need one too eventually. It's hard to think that she is old enough she might move away." This time she reached out with her free hand and slipped it over his. "She's all grown up and Cypher is growing so fast too. When it comes time to get her a flyer, I think she should go with us."

They chatted on and off through the flight and when there was a break in the mists below, which were rare occurrances to begin with, Calysta pointed them out to Illya. "Look you can see the remnants of the old parts of Rey below there. The continent where the Reylians and Tikan's ancestors lived before the Great War. It's all over grown there now, just like the other. If you look out in the distance you can see the only remaining bit still able to float." Pointing out the window, she banked to the other side so he could get a clear view of the shadow floating along at their altitude on the horizon. "That's where they found the remnants of the goddess or for your armor too. It's reforming there and we might have more in a few decades."

Turning them back around, she pointed them back toward Juya and within the next hour they landed on the jungle swathed mountain side at a half hidden dock. "This is the council members private dock," she explained, "I didn't think we'd want a show in the main landing pad." Calysta helped Illya grab their bags and they took the wire guided trolly up to the summit where their hotel waited. They had a nice bungalow all to themselves overlooking the cliffs next to the waterfall and Calysta couldn't wait to use the big king bed inside along with the hot tub too. Once they had deposited their clothes, she took Illya's hand and they took the little trolly back to the base of the mountain where the continent was level, visiting the book store first. Paper books were a novelty Kaereleans had never truly enjoyed until the Terrans made it more profitable. They were expensive to make and to purchase, but they had several selections and plenty of work books which is exactly what he needed. Something to practice his hand writing in along with answering math problems among other things. "Oooh look," she said, "This one has audio and a work book. 101 lessons for Kaerelean history. From the Great Flight to the Great War...." She browsed the titles and with her arms full went to go find where Illya had scattered to when she wasn't looking.

As she passed by the fiction section, something caught her eye and she didn't know whether to laugh or roll her eyes. A large cut out of the manly Ira in a new leather outfit, this one completely with rugged leather pants, stood next to a poster with a bold announcement. "Wild Ways III: Dawn of Destiny- Coming soon- Preorder today." Calysta stared at the pop out which was even taller than her before she began to snicker uncontrollably. An idea struck her and she felt like being just a bit naughty. As the councilwoman, she could hardly get away with being naughty, but today she was feeling it. Producing a pen from her pocket, Calysta graced the cardboard Ira with a curling mustache and then scurried away with a look of innocence.

By the time they made their book purchases, Illya was ready for a little lunch and so was she. Rather than sitting down at some fancy restaurant, they ate soft bread and meat wraps from one of the street vendors. The poor, pimple ridden teen was hardly able to take the order when he saw Illya and the Council woman. "S-s-ir," he stuttered handing over the two rolls, "Here y-y-you go. Can I g-get you anything else?" Calysta thanked him and smiled before sitting on the picnic table overlooking the edge and browsed their books. "We got a good selection I think. We can work on your application when we get back," she mused. That thought reminded her of something, and she frowned a little. "Illya? You're going to need a letter of recommendation, like an attestation of character, from someone. I can technically write them, but it would mean more to the recruiters if it came from someone not your agreed...Kirit might be good...but is there any reason you would object to one? I offered to do one for Amil at the party when I spoke with Ehvan. I knew he was interested in flying, he was coming of age, and I had worked with him extensively when I was teaching him. Ehvan seemed to think I wanted something in return." Calysta explained the conversation further, stating how the Chip had acted and sighed a little. "I was wondering if there was something I might have missed. A tradition that it violates and I didn't know about it?"

* * * * * * * * * * *

Priscilla smiled when Ehud offered to take the basket so she could get to the swing. Sien was excited for it too and if he liked to swing, she would just have to swing right along with him. Nodding, she handed the basket to him and picked up her skirts to race after Ehud's lean little boy. He wasn't hard to catch up with and when she did, Priscilla reached down and scooped up the blonde child into her arms, hauling him upward into her arms. Normally, he would have felt heavy for a child his age but after hauling Cypher around, Sien felt light in comparison. "I gotcha!" Sweeping him up, she carried him over to the swing as he squealed out peals of giddy laughter and plopped them into the swing. He sat in her lap, balanced on her legs and Priscilla gripped the two side ropes tightly. "Hang on!" Sien grabbed the rope underneath her hands as she tried to lurch them forward with her body weight.

Priscilla didn't have much luck getting them moving at first until she managed to get Sien leaning with her. "Forward...lean...there you go....now back." Slowly they began to sway back and forth, though the weight of them both made the start difficult. Things got a little easier when she felt a solid push from behind. Ehud had put down the basket to give them a hand. They soared higher and higher, until Ehud didn't need to push them anymore. Priscilla leaned back and laughed as she viewed the light Chip from an upside down image, her platinum hair trailing. "I do believe we make a good team," she smiled. Sien laughed until he declared he was hungry and then they had to figure a way to slow down. "Let go, Sien. Trust me. This it the fun part." He seemed to trust her enough to hold on to her and at the apex of their upswing, Priscilla let go and held tight to Sien. They launched together through the air and she landed solidly on her feet with Sien dangling from her arms breathlessly. "And they say Kaereleans are masters of flight," she laughed, "We flew as well as any bird, huh?" The boy scrambled out of her arms laughing and she let him go.

Shaking her head, Priscilla started walking through the red grasses toward Ehud who had begun to set out the blanket for their food. "Save some for me," she teased the little boy as he ran ahead. Stepping past the swing, Priscilla planted her foot and the dirt shifted suddenly. A sinking sensation followed as her foot along with the rest of her were eaten by the dirt and a hidden sink hole below. Yelping slightly, she stumbled as the ground sucked her under, opening up enough to capture her up to her knees as she grabbed ahold of the grass by the roots to keep from going any further. "Ehud!"

 

[Silence]

The rest of the flight to Juya was mixed was quiet moments, some conversation and then a few little detours to look at stuff. Illya liked having Kalizda fly him in the little ship. It was in some ways fun for a change. Flying in the Silver Mountain was nice for a longer trip, or when his back was hurting more than usual, but there was no sense flying it for such a small trip.

There was the additional bonus of renting the ship, because Kalizda got to try out a new model of a small flyer. She could try out a few as far as Illya was concerned. She was going to be the one flying the little ship most of the time. Most of the way through the flight Illya remembered why he liked the Silver Mountain on trips longer than about 2 hours. Even if he didn't start out with a sore back, it was starting to get there. Kalizda could fly the ship nice and smooth, but they were a bit closer to the engines in these smaller models and the vibration from the engine would sometimes go through the seat. She probably didn't feel it as much because she sat on the cushion like a little cloud puff, but he sank deep in the seat.

Once they were landed Kalizda started right off for the lift to take them up the side of the mountain. She had obviously done a little thinking an planning of her own. That wasn't a bad thing. He'd done a little thinking and planning of his own too. Kalizda packed all their clothes together in one bag and Illya packed his medicine in a separate small bag. There was one extra thing he packed in the medicine bag after she inspected to be sure he had everything he would need. Illya remembered one little thing he kept in his night stand in the bottom drawer and far in the back. It would make a nice surprise later on. One that he was sure they would both enjoy.

Whoever was at the front desk of the hotel seemed to know who they were and quickly processed the key request and Illya barely had time to set the bags down at the counter and there was a service man to help them carry their bags to their room. Illya let the service man help them since his back was starting to feel sore. It didn't take them long to get to the room and from there Illya took the bag inside the room. There was a big bed, it was about the size of a Chip bed. Perhaps it was slightly larger. Then they had a big tub in the room and it was bigger than the one that Kalizda had at home. That was a bit of a luxury in itself and they even had a nice view of the outdoors. Why they needed a room with such a nice view Illya didn't know. Unless they were going to spend a little bit of time in the room in the morning, or this afternoon and evening.

The idea for spending time here in the room right away was clearly not going to happen. Kalizda immediately wanted to get started on the book shopping. Both of them went right back down the hall and back to the elevator before they raced to catch the lift going down the mountain again. Illya trailed behind Kalizda and let her lead the way to the bookstore.

Times like these brought out odd memories and thoughts. While they walked through the street it felt strangely familiar and at the same time foreign. Looking up at the signs hanging from the sides of the building he read a few of them and the rest were too difficult to make out. There were a few people that stared and he ignored them. What he couldn't ignore was the constant chatter that was going on all around him. In a building, at a party, or in the barracks he would expect chatter like that. However, on the street it felt out of place and especially when some of the people went silent as they passed. It was as if he was being paraded through the streets. Kalizda wasn't trying to do that and likely this was the most direct route to the bookstore, that was what Illya had to tell himself for the time.

When they finally got into the first bookstore Illya followed Kalizda to the first aisle of books and he picked through a few of them. She knew more of what they were looking for and so he let her pick through the books. Kalizda slowly worked her way over to another aisle and another. While she kept busy he followed her and found himself looking one way and then the next in the aisles. There were people whispering and he didn't know why they would do that. It wasn't like there was anything bad here.

Despite all his reasoning there were some things that could not be reasoned with. The whispers were akin to screams in his mind. They were trying to talk without getting caught and he tried to ignore it, shut it out and he even closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. This wasn't working at all. Clenching his jaw he tried getting closer to the front where the people seemed to speak more freely, but he felt sick.

"Can I help you with anything?" A bright cheery voice broke into the twisted maze of his brain and Illya felt his heart jump and his entire chest nearly convulsed with it. Blinking a few times he finally shook his head and swallowed hard. He needed to get somewhere else. With few options of places to disappear to without Kalizda getting concerned he decided to walk to the corner of the book store and start looking for the bathroom sign. After only a few moments he spotted the restroom sign and took himself into the men's room. He knew better than to stand at one of the sinks or urinals. Instead, Illya shut himself in a stall for a few minutes. Nobody would bother him and they would come and go as they needed.

Just the few minutes to clear his head helped and Illya let out a deep breath before he unlocked the stall door and took himself out into the regular part of the book store again. Kalizda was browsing through the aisles and he could tell by the look on her face that she was looking for him. Flashing her half a grin Illya offered to the carry the books and then accompanied her to the front desk. As soon as the books were paid for he took the bag started out on the streets again. Something a little more familiar would feel good and he ventured a small suggestion. "I'm hungry. We eat now?"

At least Kalizda thought it was as good a time to eat as he did. The two of them went back to their room to drop the books off first. Apparently they weren't going to be needing to stop at any of the other book stores. This was the one that primarily carried the text books and the others were designated for fiction and other purposes. With all their shopping done all they had left was the fun stuff. Illya didn't plan on starting the study just yet.

As soon as the books were dropped off Illya went back outside with Kalizda and the two of them wandered along. He was feeling a lot better after the small bathroom break at the book store and a few moments when they dropped the books off to put his brain back together. Somehow Kalizda seemed to know that he needed a break from the heavier societal activities and opted for a small lunch in the park. They stopped at a little stand outside run by a boy and Illya didn't know what any of these foods were. At least he didn't recognize the names of them, so he ordered the same as Kalizda and and tried not to make a big deal out of the way the boy reacted to them being here. He really didn't think that he was that famous. Illya had hoped that people didn't really know his face and he could wander around like a complete stranger and that no one would think much of his presence besides recognizing he was Dark Chippequoti. Within a few minutes Kalizda spotted a little table in the park to sit and Illya plopped down on the side in the sun and let Kalizda sit where she wanted.

The soft meat in the wrap tasted good. Illya didn't always like eating fancy places and he liked a day out in the park. Parks were something he had come to appreciate because they were a chance to be outside when you were still in the middle of a city. Once they were sat down he began to sift through the pages of the math book. It was supposed to prepare him for the kinds of questions that might be asked when he took the exam. Not that the math was so difficult, it was just that he needed to get used to the phrasing that they would use and then he could do better. Word problems were difficult, number problems were not. While he was looking the book over Kalizda asked him a very unusual question and he frowned slightly. "Why es letter of recommendation needed? Dey do nut trust Dark Chippequoti? We're nut good enough for Kaerelean schools?"

Calysta had started to take a bite of her wrap after her question, hoping to keep herself from saying more on the subject and give Illya time to give an answer. However, an answer came in short order and she tilted her head some at the sudden, almost defensive reply that she got. Softer than Ehvan's, to be sure, but it still carried the same undertones. "No, everyone has to provide one. Kaerelean, Terran, Urian, Reylian...everyone. Skycorp requires the letter to ensure that you can apply your skills more than just on paper and you have no overly egregious issues on your record. It's to prevent men like Jaiyme from doing well on testing an being offered a job based on those scores alone." Her wrap had slowly sank away from her mouth and she rested her wrists into the picnic table edge. "Even I had to have one when I signed on and I asked Fayn's brother if he would write it because he had known me and how well I could fly. He had seen my skills and my attitude, so he could attest to them. Just I have seen Amil's in action and like Kirit has seen yours."

Even if what she said was supposed to be comforting Illya felt a bit concerned. "I dun know dis word egregious. Does et mean someting on meh record like what happen on Quoti?" Whatever it was it didn't sound good and he was pretty sure he had more than one bad mark on his record. If the Kaereleans thought that Jaiyme's record was bad what would they think if they dug deep into his?

Now the concern had shifted, and for that she couldn't blame him. What had been done was something that still haunted him and it probably always would in some ways. "It means 'terrible' or 'shocking' she told him casually and yes, it might include that. But, that didn't happen while you were a member of the Alliance and it also isn't entirely documented properly. Really, all there is on it is the propaganda the Federation push out on Terra about you. Having a letter also means they will look at your current skills and actions, including your tactics to save Kinte and salvage my mistake with the Terrans. People aren't perfect, and they aren't all good or bad. I had a few arrests on my record when I applied. Disorderly conduct and fighting. There are very few squeaky clean applicants and the letter is meant to be from someone who can give a picture of your recent skills and attitude."

To an extent it was horrifying to think that he would be allowing the school to look at his record. It made him wonder how much. Perhaps a letter of recommendation would be a good thing. If they looked at the letter of recommendation and weighed that more heavily than they did other parts of the background then Illya was sure he would do well. Kalizda's note on his skills used to save Kinte and the Terrans was sure to help if nothing else. He was committed to the Alliance and he had more than one way to prove that. "Well den, ef I need recommendation I tink dat the Dark Chippequoti elders would write letters for meh. Dey know dat I am committed to dah Alliance."

Her answer was honest if anything. If they did look back at his record that far, it may be a problem, but being the hero of Kinte did help. As would a letter from the council, though she felt a letter from Kirit might be more appropriate given they had been working together. "The Council would be good, as they have seen your work in the past years and know you well. Kirit would be a good person to ask as well. He has worked with you extensively and even lived with us for several years," she suggested.

With a sigh Illya nodded. "Alrlight, I will do what yah say. I tink I will talk wit Ehvan too." His friend was sometimes harsh and he didn't always think to ask about some of these things. Illya didn't always think to ask either, but he had learned not to assume that his agreed wanted something, or that she had planned an evil of sorts for them. Kalizda wanted what was good for her people and he knew that. Even if she didn't always understand all of their customs she did want the best for them.

He seemed a bit resigned to the fact that he was going to have to get the letters but to her surprise, stated he would talk with Ehvan too. She didn't want Illya to be necessarily angry with Ehvan. They were friends, even if that relationship had been strained over the last years, and she wanted him to have his people. Illya didn't sound angry when he said he would talk to the man, so she was comfortable in leaving the subject for the time being. Nodding in approval, she glanced down at her wrap and started to take another bite before pausing. Blinking at Illya, her eyes narrowed some and she pointed to his right shoulder with a pale little finger. "You have something on your shoulder. Look, right there." He turned his head to see what she was talking about, and that's when she struck. Leaning over the table, she took a swift bite of his half eaten wrap and then plopped back into her seat, chewing as she fought a playful grin.

The conversation was done for now and that was probably for the best. Illya hadn't thought that the day would be so difficult. In many ways it wasn't what he had expected and he was doing everything he could to stay calm. Suddenly Kalizda was narrowing her eyes and he felt his heart beat a little faster. Did she know what was going on? Almost as soon as she said that there was something on his shoulder he relaxed, but turned to flick the bug, or whatever it was off his shoulder. There wasn't anything there, but he caught sight of Kalizda making a dive for his wrap like a rabid little bird. With a mouth full of his wrap she beamed at him and he grinned back at her while shaking his head. "Yah tink yah so sneaky. Jes wait till yah find out what I packed."

"I think I can be pretty sneaky," she giggled. At the prospect of a surprise, her grin grew ten fold and she slid out of the bench and over to his side, settling next to her big Chip. All the while, she had a teasing gleam in her eye. She was playful with him now more than ever, but today she was definitely in rare form. "Oh? Is that so?" holding up her half eaten wrap, she wiggled her brows. "I'll offer you a bite for a hint."

Since she was being playful and she got a big closer Illya grinned. Setting one brown hand on her wrist his grin only got bigger and he lifted her hand with the meat wrap to his mouth and took a little bite. She was looking at him expectantly like she actually thought he would give her a hint. "I take dah bite. So I dun have tah give yah hint."

Calysta shot him a look as he stole a nibble from her wrap and then started to laugh as she shook her head. "I ought to have known. Wiley Chip." With two final bites, she wolfed down her wrap and then dusted off her hands before skirting her her finger tips over his shoulders. "I guess I'll have to keep guessing while we're in the Crystal Caverns. All my questions will echo." It sounded horribly obnoxious, even if it was a joke and she invited him to follow her. "C'mon and lets go check it out."

Somehow the idea of everything echoing sounded like it could be fun. "Well, all meh answers will echo too. Yah sure yah want tah do dat?" He knew she would and he was a bit surprised that she hadn't figured out by now that these kinds of ideas usually ended with her blushing. Since she was ready he shoved the last of the wrap into his mouth and got up. "Lead dah way."

When they got to the caves Illya let Kalizda show him some of the more interesting spots. Every now and then he could hear a little boy, or girl talking to their mother and father. The echo made it hard to tell if the people were in front of them, or behind them on the walk through the caverns. Of course as soon as they were the only ones in the immediate area Kalizda started to ask for the first hint and Illya decided he would give her a good hint. "Well...." Illya listened to his voice echo and he chuckled. The laugh came back eerily distorted, but it made the next part all the better. "Et es someting dat should make sex hard nut tah tink about."

Almost as soon as Illya finished saying the word 'sex' the child could be heard yelling to their parents. "What's sex!"

********************************

Ehud had almost finished getting the lunch set out on the blanket and then he heard the desperate cry from Priscilla. He knew very well it wasn't the sort of voice that a person used when things were ok. Whipping around he saw that she was sinking. The ground was falling away and his first instinct was to go pull her out, but he weighed a lot more than she did and if it was weak ground there, then he would need to be careful. It could be more dangerous to her if he simply rushed over. "Just hold on."

While she waited he pulled the blanket out from underneath all the items he set out for their lunch and quickly swirled the blanket into an oversized roped. Getting as close as he dared to Priscilla he used the blanket liked a horseshoe and threw the curled end over her head and shoulders. "I just need you to let go of the ground with one hand and hold onto on side of the blanket and then grab onto the other side with your other hand." If she could do that she would be alright. It would just take a few moments of her being calm and then when she had a grip he would pull her out.

The Chip waited for her to grab on and then he started to pull her out of the hole in the ground. Chunks of the land broke away as he pulled her up, but after a few more inches fell through it seemed solid enough to get her back to the firm ground. Ehud studied her face for a long moment after she was close to him and safe again. "See, its not such a bad thing to be serious." Gradually a smile broke out on his face. "We still have hot chocolate in the thermos, but we might have to get lunch at one of the cafes. I kinda threw the sandwiches everywhere." Slices of bread and bits of meat were scattered all over the field and there were already birds pecking away at the food. "You gonna be ok?" Cautiously Ehud wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

*****************************************************************

After Illya got over the flashbacks and the horrible feelings of dread he started to relax and enjoy the day more. There was another side effect of enjoying the day more. The more he thought about the surprise he had for Kalizda and himself the more he found himself thinking about their evening together without interruptions. It was probably a good thing that Kalizda decided they should have dinner and call it an early night. He was already distracted enough with how much his brain was thinking about this.

Once they were in their room alone Illya decided to make a suggestion for the night. "I tink about dis after yah say dat we get books and we take a little longer tah do et. " He made some of it up after he saw the room too, but he could sound like he planned this more carefully. "Maybe we start wit a bat togeter and den I have some of dis." Pulling a Urian oil packet from his medicine bag he grinned. "Yah like tah put some on after dah bat? Ef yah like we split dah oil. I put on some and yah put on some and den we have some time alone eh?"

A bath sounded like a great way to get close, cuddly and in the mood and then adding the oil would make for a great night. They already wanted each other, but he didn't mind adding a little spice to things once in a while. Just as long as they didn't put on too much. Half a pack each would be about right. He could feel crazy for her and she could feel crazy for him, but they would have some control over themselves.

 

[aryamajor]

Dirt smudged and a little sweaty from having half hauled herself out of a literal hole in the ground, Priscilla shook slightly under Ehud's solidly build arm from nearly having been swallowed up by the earth. Still, she managed to give the Chip a reassuring half smile. "I think so, my ankle aches a bit. I think it twisted some when the hole gave way. I'm sure I can walk it out though." Leaning into him slightly, she tried to brush off some of the dirt ground into her shoes as she glanced at the remains of the picnic. "Looks like the birds enjoyed the cookies too," she mused, "We can just sit out on the patio at one of the cafes and still enjoy." Sien edged closer, a worried look on his pale brow. "I'm okay," she told him, "See?" Sure, she looked a mess from being half buried but she had been through worse.

Even if Priscilla seemed to think she was ok Ehud wasn't quite as sure. While she talked he would glance at her frequently. Priscilla was limping along and he could feel her gate getting more and more uneven as time went. After a few moments of deliberation he stopped and looked at her with a serious expression. "Walking it out isn't always the best idea. I can walk it out for you though. Well uh....I mean I could carry you....." He wasn't sure how else to say it and he could feel his cheeks start to heat up. "Maybe you'd rather ride piggy back?"

With each step it had grown more apparent that she had done a little more than a slight twist. Sharp pains radiated from her ankle, turning to a humming throb before she stepped on it again. She stayed under Ehud's arm, liking the feeling of the warmth and weight, but she also knew it made it a bit more cumbersome to walk on the injured ankle. It wobbled under her and she tried to square her shoulders in order to look just fine. Apparently, she wasn't doing such a good job of it because Ehud offered to carry her with no small amount of pinkness on his cheeks. Her own blush flared when she thought about the ramifications of that and she tried to give him her best tough face. "i'm wearing skirts so...perhaps piggy back might be a little...odd."

The skirt had not been a part of Ehud's thought process and the heat radiated from his cheeks to his entire face and his ears. "Oooh, of course. Uh...I'll just carry you the traditional way. One are behind the shoulders and one behind your knees. Guessing that you're not quite as interested in the potato sack method."

That comment really sent him to blushing and for a moment he went from serious general to a shy , boyish expression that made him look kind of cute. She averted her eyes, but laughed nonetheless. "I think bridal carry will be fine, though I must say, you did pull me out of the ground rather like a potato, so the other would be fitting if not highly uncomfortable." She paused in her walking and allowed Ehud to take a grip on her, hauling her into his arms with relative ease. She wasn't terribly heavy, and he carried her with a light, gentle touch which she hadn't felt in a long time. Her face was pink for sure now and she found herself unsure of what to do with her hands or her head. There was an urge to hold on to him as well as rest her head on his shoulder, but she didn't. They avoided each other's gazes and Priscilla gripped her skirts tightly. "This isnt how I pictured our picnic going," she joked a little.

Being accused of pulling her out of the ground like a potato made Ehud feel guilty for a moment. It wasn't really a heroic sort of rescue, but it was a smart one. To make it all the more awkward she was gripping at her skirt as if it should catch wind and try to blow over her head. If it did he would likely be stuck with his head in her skirt too. Just the thought of it made him blush a little more and he grinned some. Some of Illya's advice was coming to mind when she mentioned this was not how she had imagined the picnic going. Illya always seemed to think that saying something naughty and truthful was the best answer for awkward situations and Ehud thought he might try it. "Well, I don't think it turned out so bad." Gulping a bit he decided to abandon Illya's idea and he quickly changed the tone. "At least I got to hold you. Maybe you'd like it better if I took you home and helped you get comfortable and then did the cooking. You'd get to see how well I cook Terran food."

She was surprised that he was saying it hadn't turned out so bad. When he mentioned cooking Terran food, her eyes finally traveled away from her lap and up the Chip's chest to his chin, then his eyes which were facing forward as they walked. He was still so hard to read and while she knew he had an odd sense of humor at times, she wasn't sure if he meant it to be more serious or light hearted, given the change of tone in his voice. Why did he always do that to her. Opting to take him on the more serious side, she smiled up at him and chuckled, causing her tall, but thin frame to wiggle in his arms slightly. "Oooh, you did promise a Terran dinner," she said, "That would be good...I'm not sure going to a cafe would be a good idea now anyways. That ankle probably looks the size of a fat summer sausage by now." It certainly felt like one, judging by the stiffness and she glanced around herself to see if it was apparent. Luckily it was covered by the skirts and she tilted her head, against his shoulder lightly, trying to get rid of the odd angle she was holding it up at. "I'll tell you if your cooking is good, hm?"

Ehud glanced at her when she mentioned the dinner and he tilted his head slightly. "Did I promise one?" He couldn't remember. There were too many things on his agenda most days. That was why he put things on his calendar. "Well then, I'll hold you to your word. Tell me if its good, but don't say anything if its bad. A man can only suffer that kind of criticism a few times in his life."

"I'll try to be gentle," she assured him with a little laugh. There was an urge to lean up and kiss his cheek, but given how red his face was, she thought there might be a chance he would drop her in surprise. A cute moment would turn into an even more embarrassing one and she wasn't sure either of them could bear that at the moment. They walked up the porch of Ehud's little house. It had little to no personal touches on the porch or in the living room, save for a few books and papers scattered about, which bothered if she was honest. The place felt hardly lived in at all. Sien got the front door, pulling open for his father to haul her inside. As he passed the door frame, he made an effort not to bump her head on the wood, but instead snagged her toe slightly causing a shoot of pain up the injured ankle. Out of instinct, she jumped slightly in his grip and grabbed his uniform shirt, curling her fingers into the material slightly. "Oooh," she winced. He said something, and she merely nodded as he sat her somewhat gingerly on the couch. It dawned on her the couch was comfortable and she realized that's because it wasn't used very much. The one at Calysta and Illya's, before they replaced it had grown lumpy with use from heavy bones, but this one was hardly worn. She propped her puffy ankle on the arm, hoping some elevation might take the swelling down. About that time Sien came over and held up a book, offering to read it to her while Ehud did something upstairs. "That sounds nice, you read out loud very well," she told him. The boy grinned and began reading a small picture book about Gyl the First Flyer. When Ehud came back toting a plastic bag of ice, she smiled to him as he handed it to her. "Thank you." When she pulled up her skirt slightly, revealing her injured leg a little, the Chip swiftly turned and headed toward the kitchen, his blush return in full force.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

They made their way to the little crystal caves in the underbelly of the continent. The entire cavern was covered in crystals of varying color and size, forming into a dazzling display lit by low lights. "I took Rose here a few years ago after Lohgan was born," Calysta said, "Her favorite spot was this one. It's mine too." She pulled Illya toward a large hunk of crystal and stood behind it. Immediately, her face was refracted into every crystal structure in the cavern. "You can see your own reflection everywhere," she mused, making a few faces before stepping from behind it. "They say the crystals have certain properties that when exposed to certain sound waves, they will actually hum in tune. "

Every now and then they could hear another family somewhere in the cavern but the voices faded, leaving them fairly alone. She looped her arm around the small of Illya's back gently and walked with him, marveling a the caverns and enjoying the soft rushing sound of the waterfalls near the end of the pathway. "Hmm...so what's this surprise? Can't I even get a little hint?" He gave a hint alright. One that echoed through the whole cavern and to her surprise was answered by a young voice asking "What's sex?!" Her cheeks flamed, and she half hid her face in his arm as she grimaced. Oops.

Eventually, they saw a few more of the sights, including the massive tyrei skeleton in the museum on the tourist section. "It's one of the first ones ever taken whole about a thousand years ago," Calysta told her as they stood in front of the ivory bones. One of its canine teeth was as long a she was tall, it's empty eye sockets big enough to fit her eldest son. Maybe even two of him. Goosebumps prickled on the back her arms when she thought about them. The night of Elian had come back a little over time. Bits and pieces, though nothing visual. Some of it was sounds. The sounds of yelling and of the screaming growls made by dozens of vicious tyrei in the distance. "It stayed in the home of Emperor Lyr on Rey, passed down from chieftan to chieftan, until he moved his homestead to Kinte. When his regime fell, his possession were confiscate and donated to Kaereal as whole. I wonder if these are the bones of the same tyrei whose pelt is in Tikan's place." It had been nearly 7 years since they had been, but she remembered the villa and it's tyrei rug quite clearly.

They rounded out the day with dinner at a little bistro, then turned in early for the night, retreating to their room and to the air condition with the intent on relaxing a bit more. Calysta began trying to decide which out fit she was going to attempt to put on. Attempt was the key word in that statement, as Tabit had managed to set her up with some racy bits and those were always a challenge to pull off....and take off for that matter...though they were worth the look on Illya's face every time. As she was pondering, Illya rifled through his medicine bag and produced a little plastic packet she recognized well. Raising a brow, she listened to his suggestion and then smiled. " I think that's a great idea." Not only did it sound fun, but it solved her problem of what to wear. Absolutely nothing would do just fine.

Once the tub was full, she and Illya slipped into the steaming, bubble laden bath together and simple enjoyed each other's company. They washed each other and talked off and on between little kisses. She sat facing him and played with his hair some, cleaning it with gentle fingers. "Hmm...your curls are coming back." Slicking back the curly mane, she cupped his broad cheeks and kissed him before he offered to massage her feet. She never denied that these days. If felt nice because he was tender about it, and good about loosening the harder spots, but he also liked the view of her legs. Eventually, his hands would wander up to her ankles then a little further, at which point they would have to dry off and make their way over to the bed, or else risk making a mess.

Drying off a little and feeling refreshed, Calysta opened the little packet of oil and dotted her neck with it along with her wrists and the back of her knees before using the large majority of it on Illya's chest, making his tan skin shine delightfully. It didn't take long to work and her pettings on his chest soon turned to needful kissing. Some how she ended up pressed against his chest and the oil simply smeared all over her too. What she hadn't counted on was how the oil would spread, greasing them over and how that would work against silk sheets. When they moved to the bed, their vigor sent them slipping across the silkened sheets and mashing them into the headboard. Illya only grunted when his head knocked against the frame and she winced some, rubbing her palm over where the impact had occurred, but otherwise they kept right on going.

Calysta woke feeling hot. In an afterglow sort of dream state, she couldn't quite figure out why it was so hot in their nice, cool room in the mountain. The moment she moved to wipe her hair out of her face, the reason became obvious. After a long night of admittedly energetic love making, she had fallen asleep on her Chip's broad chest. Her legs were tangled with his with her nestled over him and his arm was draped over her back, hugging her close. She'd crashed out holding him close, wrapped around him and her cheek pressed against his chest. It made a sticky peeling sound from his slightly sweaty skin as she sat up some to rub her face. If there was one constant in the world, it was Illya and how warm he was. Her first instinct was to get up for the twins, but then she remembered they were alone, and so she burrowed back down to doze some more, even if her Chip was more or less the temperature of a sauna.

Early morning dragged lazily into late morning, and when Illya stirred, so did she. "Morning, love," she smiled, kissing him with playful pecks on the lips. They had a little morning session, feeling the final dregs of the oil along with their own want for some fun. Illya was always sweet to her in the mornings, and he even tried a few phrases in Kaerelean again before swapping Qouti, to which she replied in kind in Qouti. He enjoyed it more when she spoke to him in his native tongue and it was something small she could do to make his day. After a late breakfast brought by room service, they dressed and wandered out, hand in hand to a few more book stores as well as some other shops.

"Oooh, I bet Illya and Sien would love these," she said, plucking up a cowboy hat and plopping it on her head. The broad rimmed hat, a Terran invention, was far too big for her and slumped down over her eyes. At least Cypher would grow into it nicely if it was too big for her. She laughed when he peeled the hat off her and offered that they should get those and something for Lohgan and Rose too. "No markers," Calysta suggested with a chuckle. After awhile of shopping, they wandered down to the flyer lot to see what might be available for purchase. They had several nice ones for racing with top of the line engines and the right specs for a winners prize, but there was one her eyes caught on.

"What about that one?" she said, pointing to an old Starclass. It had a classic build but was obviously a used one. "Oh, that's the Sheiykrah. She's a beautiful. Classic twin engines, original build. Needs a little work on the interior, but she runs like a champ," the sales man told her. Her eyes darted from one sleek flyer, a brand new one with a single set cockpit. It was was what she would pick for racing without doubt. Then she looked to the Sheiykrah. It had room for two, and all of the panels, seals and engines looks to be in order. The only issue she saw openly was a small tear in the seat. Technically, it was worth more than what they were selling it for but it must have been on the lot for too long or there really was something wrong with it.

"Mind if I test drive it?" she said, raising a brow, "I've built a Starclass model similar to it before." The lot owner didn't mind and brought her out a helmet along with the flight start up codes. Donning her helmet, she winked at Illya. "I'll be right back." Then she was piling into the cock pit and going through the start up sequences. Some of them weren't automatic like on the newer models and she doubted young pilots even knew how to read them like she did. Preflights took ten minutes, and then she was off into the air. The man seemed to be right so far, the flyer was smooth and the engines well maintained, but she wouldn't know for sure until she put it through it's paces. With an expert touch, she gunned it. The Sheiykrah replied in kind, rocketing her forward with ease. She turned into a barrel roll, then shot straight up into the sky, testing it's maneuverability. It flew like her old one did when she was a kid and it brought a smile to her face. Cutting zig zags and drops, she grinned at the feeling of flying again. Sure, the speed on this one wasn't as high as the racers, but it was a classic and ultimately a bit more fun. There was only one deciding factor that remained.

She landed and shut down the craft before pulling Illya over to the docking space. She looked him over, judging height and measuring his waist carefully, even going so far as to take a length by clasping his sides and comparing it to the cockpit seat. In comparison, it looked quite perfect, though height wise she'd have to check again. When he asked what she was doing, Calysta smiled. "If I'm going to get a flyer, I want one I can fly and you can come with too."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Later in the afternoon, they sat down to a late lunch and early dinner at one of her favorite places on the continent. It was the place with the glass floor where patrons could see the water falls lit up from below them. She knew it wasn't Illya's favorite spot, so she asked if they could have a seat near the bar where the floor was solid. Despite that, her Chip still had a bit of a frown on his face and she wasn't entirely sure why. He'd also gotten very quiet as the day had gone on. Was it the flyer she had gotten? Maybe his back was hurting him? Titling her head for a moment, she studied him. He almost seemed spaced out. As if he didn't want to be there with her at all. With a deep breath she slowly reached across the table and slipped a hand over his. "Are you okay, Illya?"

 

[Silence]

Ehud tried to be careful on the walk home. His house was closer and then there was the fact that there wouldn't be anyone at Illya and Kalizda's to help Priscilla for a while. Perhaps it was better to get her to his house first. When they got to the house he had Sien go ahead to open the door. Of all things he was the most concerned about Priscilla's head and hit her foot instead. For the brief moment that she winced he felt another wave of guilt. He really didn't mean to cause her anymore harm.

With a few more steps Ehud had Priscilla to the couch and he laid her down on it as gently as he could. "I wouldn't say this was our smoothest outing, but I think I might have done worse." Heading to another part of the house he went in search of an ice bag. He was sure that he had a few of them. Not that enjoyed using ice bags, but they were necessary from time to time and he usually kept a few of his past surgery supplies on hand. Ehaui liked to make sure that the Chippequoti had ice packs for necessary bruises, swelling and other things. However, most of the Chippequoti avoided icing if it was possible. They didn't like the way it would sometimes make the bones ache if the ice sat for too long on the same place.

Once ice pack was in Ehud's closet and that wouldn't do him any good, but he was sure that he had the other in the freezer. While he was busy looking for the ice pack before starting dinner he heard Sien shuffle past and out to the living room. The boy had decided to read her a story and it was sweet. Ehud and Haza would read to Sien when he didn't feel good. It took nearly unloading the entire freezer to get to the ice pack and Ehud set it aside and then grabbed the other items from the freezer by the armful and dropped them back into the chest freezer. With a little shuffling of items he managed to get the freezer shut again and then he could go out to give the ice pack to Priscilla.

No sooner had Ehud taken the ice pack to Priscilla then she lifted her skirt slightly. He saw a bit more than her ankle and it was almost to her knee. It was quite scandalous and he turned red all over again. While he knew that it wasn't scandalous for the Terrans it was for a Chippequoti and even more so because he did like her and he couldn't say that he hadn't enjoyed the view. At the same instant that he turned beet red and started for the kitchen Sien dropped his book and covered his eyes. The boy left little spots open between his fingers to look and he gasped. "That's so naughty." Almost whispering the words he still kept on peeking until he felt his father's heavy hand rest on his shoulder. Nearly bouncing sky high the boy looked up at his dad. Ehud had turned around when he heard his boy say that it was naughty and he realized that he had forgot his son in the living room and Sien probably hadn't figured out that when these sort of things happened you simply need to remove yourself.

Clearing his throat Ehud met Sien's gaze and then helped usher his boy to the kitchen. "We'll let Priscilla keep the ice for now and we're going to make some food." On the way back to the kitchen he nearly fell over at his son's question.

"Dad? Cypher said that his dad won't let him look at legs. Why can't we look at legs?"

Apparently that little observation wasn't going to go unnoticed and Ehud tried not to blush anymore than he already was. "Because Chippequoti don't look at legs until they are agreed. You have a little while before you can start looking at legs."

"Dad? The girls at school show their legs off. Why can't I look at their legs if they show them?" Sien was curious. He and Cypher both liked to look at the girl's legs because they thought that women must have had different legs. None of the Chip women, or girls let the boys see anything past their ankles and it always a curious thing. "They have knees too!"

Ehud pulled his son into the kitchen a little faster as the boy kept on talking. "Yes, girls have knees. You shouldn't be looking though." Once they were in the kitchen he put a finger to his mouth to indicate to his son that they were done talking about this for now. "Priscilla, you like fried chicken and mashed potatoes with gravy?" That sounded like a good Terran dish and he had some fresh chicken from Illya. Illya was actually set pretty well to make some decent money with his chickens if he wanted to. However, it seemed that his friend was intent on growing chickens and eating most of them and then keeping a few good layers.

***
​

The caves were impressive to say the least. Illya wandered through them snickering as he went. He couldn't help finding humor in the child's question and Kalizda's embarrassment. It wasn't like anyone would know he was the one that said it. On the other side it was all clear and Illya smirked a bit to himself. Of course no one knew he was the one that said that. The only one was Kalizda and he definitely got a reaction out of her on that one. It was so easy to get a reaction out of Kalizda. It worked as a great distraction too. He was still having a hard time not thinking about his plans for the night, but it kept his mind off other things.

As they moved into the museum Kalizda mused about the giant Tyrei and the rug in Tikan's house. Illya didn't remember going into Tikan's house at all. He remembered a lot of things, but not that. How would he know if the Reylian had a rug made out of a Tyrei pelt. After a few moments he realized that maybe Kalizda wanted a Tyrei pelt. Perhaps she wanted to show that she did not agree with a weak man. Tyrei were considered powerful beasts and anything from a Tyrei was prized and Illya hadn't thought of that before. Perhaps it was a cultural thing for her. "Yah like et ef I go hunting and I get yah big Tyrei pelt? I bring yah one so big dat et would cover all dah floor in our room eh? Maybe yah like tah have et in dah living room so yah can show guests too?"

Sometimes it was hard to tell by her expression if these kinds of ideas were good ones or not. Somehow he had thought that she would be excited by the idea, but that wasn't quite what he was seeing. "Et was jes an idea ef yah like et. I would go hunting for yah." After it was confirmed that she didn't actually want a Tyrei rug Illya moved along with Kalizda through the museum. There were a few interesting things in the Kaerelean history that he didn't know. At least they weren't totally boring to learn about.

When they were done there Kalizda wandered out to the docks to check out some of the ships for sale. This was the part that in many ways Illya had been looking forward to. He wanted to get Kalizda something nice to fly and he knew she would use the flyer and probably like it more than a new necklace. Buying gifts for Kalizda was a more creative task and it was fun in some ways. Kalizda was busy looking over all the ships and finally pointed to one that was a bit older. At first Illya wasn't sure if she wanted it because she thought it would be cheaper, or if she wanted to try flying it for other reasons. He didn't want her to go cheap because she thought there was a limit. If he could buy the Silver Mountain for her then he could buy any flyer that she wanted. That was unless she'd looked at his gold stash and noticed the significant drop in coins. Eventually she would, but he was hoping she hadn't seen it yet. She would wonder where he spent it all and he didn't like boasting about that sort of thing.

Within a few minutes of Kalizda making her inspection she wanted a test flight and Illya nodded along. He would let her do whatever made her happy. Kalizda sped off into the air and Illya waited for her on the ground. Whatever she was doing looked like her routine fun and Illya couldn't help grinning a little when she came back. That was until she started to try and pretend to check how big he was. It took a few minutes for him to realize she wanted him to ride with her and that was why she wanted the ship.

Taking Kalizda aside Illya made sure the seller couldn't hear. "Yah sure dis dah flyer yah want? I know yah like tah fly fast and maybe yah like someting newer?" No matter how he asked she wanted this one. "I jes wanted tah make sure dat dis es what yah want. Dere es enough money for anyting here." Since she insisted he grinned and gave her a wink. "Dat's good. I will fly wit meh little bird den." After he had it all settled with Kalizda Illya went back to the man selling the ship and paid him for it. There wasn't much haggling because the ship was already at a good price. It seemed there were mostly young people buying and they all wanted the newer ships and faster ones. Illya haggled the man down by one more hundred before he finally paid in gold and told the man they would fly it back to their own dock.

Illya piled into the back of the ship and he barely fit, but he made it and then he flew back to their dock with Kalizda. She took a few wild little turns here and there just for fun and Illya braced his knees against the back of her seat and gripped the edge of the ship with his hands. Even if he was strapped in he didn't feel like there was enough to keep him in the ship if anything should go wrong. By the time they landed Illya felt like his stomach was still turning in circles without him. The walk up the mountain was at first slow, but they slowly increased their pace and every now and then Illya would sneak a few kisses.

Once they were in the room the real fun was ready to start and it was something that Illya had looked forward to all day. Stripping down he got ready for the bath and he helped Kalizda a little bit. Not that she needed the help, but it was fun to help her get undressed.

By the next morning Illya woke a few times, but kept falling asleep again. When he finally woke up the sun was long since risen and the sheets were twisted awkwardly across the bed and around himself and Kalizda. For a brief moment Illya laid still in the bed and then decided to say good morning to Kalizda with a gentle kiss. "Yah look beautiful." Playfully he plucked at her curls. "Even wit yah messy hair." Sometimes it was fun to mix in a bit of humor with the loving. Rolling to his side he tipped Kalizda off and then he frowned. "Ooh dat was a bad idea. Now meh chest feels cold. I might have tah get close for a few more kisses tah warm meh up." Of course that had been his plan all along and Kalizda probably knew it, but he liked to make a story out of it.

***
​

So far it had been a long day and it had gotten increasingly hard to stay focused on enjoying what there was in the town. That constant nagging kept pulling at his brain and Illya knew it wasn't instinct. If there was something wrong he would have felt differently. It wasn't the kind of wrong that put them in danger, it was the nagging that made him wish he could just lay down and go to bed. Without realizing it Illya had stopped eating his food and he just stared blankly at the table while memories reeled through his mind and he did his best to ignore the sounds. Sometimes it felt like nightmares only they were playing out in his head during the day. How it could be this hard to just be a normal person and walk the streets of a city, or market he didn't know. It was almost dream like thinking of when he used to do it comfortably without any kind of odd feeling or horrible feeling coming over him. Suddenly Kalizda's little white hand covered part of his left hand and he slowly raised his gaze to meet hers. She was asking him if there was something wrong and he knew by now that he couldn't hide that kind of thing from her. "Eh, dere es someting dat boters meh. I like dah food. We finish eating first and den maybe we go someplace quiet, witout people eh?"

His reply made her brow furrow and her eyes shifted around the room carefully before coming back to study his face. Normally, she might have thought it was him joking. Putting on and throwing a pass at her with an offer to go get cozy. No, cheeky grin followed and his eyes held no playful spark. That left one of two possibilities. Either he was seeing some sort of threat that she didnt and it was best not to cause alarm yet, or something was wrong with him. Seizures? It almost looked like the onset of an absence seizure but it wasnt. She squeezed his hand and tilted her head. "Is there something or someone your worried about?" She whispered, trying to look casual. Maybe they had been following them through the day or maybe not. She just needed to rule out the possibility.

Kalizda's question seemed out of place. If there was someone following them he would have done something about it before now. Illya's brow pulled down slightly and he tilted his head. "No? I jes ask ef we can go somewhere quiet witout people." Looking to his glass of water he slid his hand out from under hers and he grabbed the glass to take a sip before saying more. Setting the glass down on the table again he cleared his throat. "I tell yah when we are nut around so many people."

His hand slipped away from hers and despite the cold his hand left behind, she kept her eyes steady on him for a moment. "Alright." Then she looked to her plate and pecked at her food with the fork, struggling to summon her appetite again. She was worried about him for sure now and perhaps it was best just to go. With her food half eaten, she asked the waiter for the check the next time he came around. The younger man looked puzzled as to why her plate was still bearing food, but she just gave him a reassurring smile in their silence and then left a nice tip before leading Illya out of the restaurant. He was careful to edge along the solid floor with his bulky frame. When they were outside, she nodded to the trail leading up into the mountains to the hotel. It was dark outside, just fading past twilight, but the trail was lit with soft, warm lamps every few feet. No one was around to really bother them. She stayed quiet and within arms reach, just in case he did seize, but otherwise let him alone.

Somehow Kalizda misinterpreted the entire thing and decided that she was going to get little go boxes for what was left on the plates. Illya felt a little guilty. She was enjoying herself and he was trying so hard to make sure she had a good time. It was just getting to the point that he was sure if he didn't say something it would start getting obvious. It was already obvious enough that she said something. After they got outside on the walk home Illya kept his eyes on the ground for the first few minutes and then he glanced over at Kalizda. "I'm sorreh, We come back and eat dere again tomorrow and den we stay long and eat dessert and we sit close to dah edge where yah can see out over dah edge." It was a big step and he knew he could do it if he had a little time to get his head under control. If there was one language that he felt safe talking in it was Quoti and especially for something like this. "I didn't think that walking in the city would be so hard. There is so much and sometimes it...It brings back memories and I can keep having a good time for a while. After too long the memories are too many and my head starts to get uh...." He wasn't sure how to say it so he decided to skip the thought. "I think if tomorrow we have a small break, like a nap, or quiet walk that I will be fine. It will give time for my mind to stop thinking so much and then you don't have to worry about me. Tomorrow we will go back to the restaurant you like and we'll sit where we can see over the edge and stay long. Maybe we'll eat that chocolate cake thing you like too." A hint of red came to his cheeks and he shrugged. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to make you stop eating early. I thought maybe we would finish eating first and then we could walk."

An apology wasn't something she was expecting from him. If he said he needed to get out and away from people for a little while then she wasnt going to make him miserable just because of something she wanted. This was his vacation too. When he swapped to Qouti, Calysta stole a glance at him and tried not to trip along the path. Memories? Before he got shot? After? He sounded so muddled and it was making her worry he was having trouble with his head. Only this time it was the opposite problem. There were too many memories in his head? He looked sheepish and tired in the shadows of the lamp-lights as he insisted they try again tomorrow and he was sorry. She reached out and slipped her arm around his waist as they walked, thinking on what he had said. Was it part of his post traumatic stress? Nothing she could think of triggered it, but maybe she missed it. "It's alright. I wasn't much hungry anyways," she told him in Qouti, managing a small smile, "Besides, its nice outside tonight. Last few days before the rainy season always feel like the nicest. It might be pouring down rain next time we go and we would have missed the nice walk instead, huh? We can do that tomorrow too. You just have to tell me when or maybe we can have a quiet day in the room too. " Walking up the zig zagging pathways, she stayed with him and let them fall into quiet for a while but she was still worried. She wanted to understand what he meant by too many memories. "Are the memories like the dreams?" She ventured to ask carefully, breaking through the silence.

Kalizda was offering a day in the hotel, but he knew that would be disappointing. She would want to see other things while they were out and so would he. Illya let it remain quiet for a bit longer anyway. It was easier for him to wait to talk about tomorrow. If he put a little planning into tomorrow it could be a nice day and then she wouldn't worry. All he had to do was plan a little time for quiet and then it would be a great day and it wouldn't ruin the outing. There was so much that she put up with already and the last thing that she needed was to worry more. When they reached the steep side of the trail there were steps built into the side of the mountain. About that time Kalizda decided to ask him about the memories and at first he just kept on quietly for a few more steps. "Yes, they are like the dreams. I don't walk in the city like this for a long time and I hear people talk and I know they are just doing their business, but it gets louder when we get to big markets." Illya hadn't ever said much about this and he wasn't sure why he could say something now all these years later. "It was like that at the slave market. First the streets were quiet and then in the middle of the city it was loud. There were a lot of things that happened on Terra. Most of them never went in my report. They were things that were not necessary for intelligence, or the mission and they were things I...I think they were things that were far worse than training."

Again, he surprised her when he started talking, actually telling her things she didn't know. They had been married for nearly 9 years now and she had seen him in all sorts of environments...in cities and festivals...board rooms and negotiations What ha been different this time. She didn't doubt he was having these flash backs, but she didn't understand why it was bothering him so much now. He spoke about things he had seen being worse than what training had done to him and out of instinct her fingers tightened their grip on his waist as if it would help in some way. Training had been awful and she had seen slave ports before, the open kind where they are known. She couldn't imagine what it would have been like in an illegal Terran one. Slavery had been outlawed before entry in the Alliance, but that didn't mean illegal ones didn't exist. There were questions floating around her head a bit like bubbles and she popped them all nearly. If he was feeling bad enough that he said something then she wasn't going to push him too far by bombarding him. That was never good when it came to the PTSD and it would usually all come out in due course. "Does it happen often?" she asked, still speaking in Qouti, "Where you feel and hear things when we go places like today?"

Kalizda's tiny fingers squeezed Illya's waist a bit tighter and he moved his arm to rest along her shoulders. There wasn't too much to say more about the stuff that he told her, but Illya knew she would ask questions. She always had questions. In a way Illya found some comfort in her being there. "Eh sometimes it happens more. When I'm on a mission I think only about my mission. At home I stay in Chip village most of the time and then I don't go out in the city much." Glancing at Kalizda he sighed a little. He didn't want to end up making her more stressed and he wanted to be better for her. "I want to get better. We go out in cities more until I don't feel like this so much." He knew that it wouldn't completely change, but he could give his mind a different thought process.

Calysta felt his arm settle over her shoulders and she leaned into him slightly because he was warm and the night was cooler outside. Plus, it was just nice to be close to him when she could be. He admitted not going into the city much, and Calysta tried to recall if he had shown any signs of any of the issues when they had gone to Terra both times or Kinte on several occasions. On Terra it was hard to tell between the attacks and his seizures. Maybe she should have him go back to the pyschiatrist again. She knew that she had wanted him to go back after she had the babies and now they had two healthy twins boys in the world. Naturally, he would put up a fuss if she mentioned it and now wasn't the time to talk about it. There was still a chance for him to enjoy this vacation even if she would be looking out for him to see if he was having a good time too. If he wasn't enjoying the time, then there was little point in going out. The way people fawned and whispered over him walking around didn't help at all, and it probably made him more miserable. "I'm not sure if it works that way," she admitted, "It might make things worse. Let's take it a day at a time and try tomorrow. You tell me when it gets harder and then we'll go somewhere else. Maybe we'll go for a flight in the Sheikyrah."

It sounded like Kalizda was taking it all in stride and Illya let out a sigh of relief. She even had a plan a little bit better than his. These things weren't something you conquered in a mass of events. It was a day at a time. The same as any other kind of recovery and as long as he made a point of doing more things outside of Chip village he should improve and he could get to the point that this would be easier. "Ok. We take it a day at a time. I think we will still have a good time here. Don't worry. I will tell you if we should do something quiet." Illya had been close to making it most of the day, but he figured if he had little breaks throughout the day he could make a whole day with her and they could both have a good time. "Maybe I don't tell you I need break. We just schedule time to try your new flyer and then we don't worry about breaks." Leaning a bit closer to her he carefully kissed the top of her head. "I think we have a good time anyway."

Illya started to relax a little more the longer they were on the walk and by the time they got to the hotel he was feeling like he could make it for another event if she wanted to go out. "I tink we could go out again ef dere es someting tah do at night and yah want tah go out." It didn't sound like Kalizda did and Illya figured that maybe she was tired. He didn't see why she should be too worried about what he said. Maybe she was a little worried, but Illya was sure that once they got started in the morning she wouldn't worry anymore and they could keep on moving.

With a little extra time Illya looked over the tourist book to see if there was anything else in the area that he wanted to see. They had a little zoo of sorts and that sounded interesting. "Yah tink we go to dah zoo and den we go back to dah center of city again and have lunch someplace random." Illya was trying to make some exciting, or at least adventuresome plans. We jes eat wherever we smell good food." Flipping through a few more pages Illya found an advertisement for a ice cream shop and he circled that too. "Hmm..den we get ice cream and walk in dah park and we go back to dah center of town and finish shopping. We can stay in city center for long time den and I tink we go for small flight again and den when we come back we go sit on dat restaurant over the edge."

Just thinking of sitting on that edge made Illya feel nervous, but he was going to get better and there was only one way to do it. He had to push himself one day at a time. It occurred to him while he was making out some of the plans that they could get some more heated blankets while they were here and he didn't have his big one anymore because the twins had it. "We need tah get a blanket for each of dah twins and and den two more big ones. Dere should be extra hot blankets eh?" There was never any telling when they would need an extra blanket.

Scrabbling a few of the ideas on the complimentary writing pad in the room Illya looked over the list and saw too many breaks. If he was going to do better he was going to need to have progress. The best way to start was to take one little break away. It would be less comfortable, but he would have to push a little and if he did that everyday and then he started to walk more outside of Chip village at home then he would certainly get better. A thought crossed his mind briefly and that was the fact that Skycorp would be a great push to complete and it would require a lot of social interaction. With the final product of his work Illya showed the pad to Kalizda. "Dere, now yah can see meh plan. Tomorrow we have a good day and we get tah do a lot of tings and we still eat at table on edge and stay long time to eat and have dat big dessert. I scratch one break in morning because I take dis one day at a time. I will make progress. Dis es jes like training anyting else. Meh mind get lazy and et tinks of only tings dat worries et. Now I train meh mind tah tink of oter tings and it will nut be weak and lazy." With a confident smile and nod he moved the pad back to the small desk provided in the room. "Mmm...now ets the best time of dah night. We get tah decide what we do wit dis great view." With a snort he glanced out the window looking over the mountainside. "I tink all I see last night was headboard anyway."

 

[aryamajor]

Priscilla blinked at the boys retreating backs as they scampered into the kitchen, then glanced down at her ankles before looking at her barely exposed pale flesh. Legs? Knees? Were they all that...scandalous. Even Sien seemed to think so, and she flipped her skirt back over her sore ankle, ice pack in place. He called from the kitchen, asking if she liked fried chicken with mashed potatoes and a somewhat playful grin slowly crept to her face. Should she do that? They were already blushing enough and awkward feeling as it was and something needed to break the awkwardness somehow. She tried to wrestle her expression into an innocent one and called back through the door. "I do like fried chicken, particularly thighs."

While they were waiting for a response Ehud had Sien start to put some potatoes in the sink. More than likely Priscilla was going to say yes. He had yet to meet anyone that didn't like fried chicken and mashed potatoes. After a few seconds the reply came and he almost choked in the middle of swallowing. "Ooh." His voice was a little strained and he cleared his throat. "Well, I suppose we'll save the thighs for you then."

Priscilla could hear the strain in Ehud's voice and bit at her lips trying to suppress a chuckle. Perhaps it was a bit mean to give him such a hard time, but she felt a little less funny about being called immodest. She took the time to look around the room to see if there was anything more personal to get a feel for the two boys that lived there, but it was fairly devoid. She found her mind wandering over the day and thinking of Ehud.

He had been sweeter today and flat out probably saved her life. Maybe he did care some or maybe it was just duty as a public servant and a boy friend. She hoped it was the former, but she just wasn't so sure yet. The feeling of his warm shirt grasped in her spindly fingers wouldn't quite leave her mind and she felt heat rise up in her own cheeks again. There was an urge to want to know what he thought....other than deep embarrassment at seeing her mere ankles....yet she wasn't going to flat out ask him. That seemed to just defeat the purpose and she was sure he wouldn't say one way or the other. After awhile she smelled the scent of frying bread and a haze of smoke wafted form the kitchen door way. Despite the ice, her ankle had only de-puffed a little, and she had to make herself stay put rather than going into the kitchen to investigate. Finally, she heard Ehud's heavy foot falls come around the corner and she sat up carefully to meet him with a softer smile. "Ready?"

While Ehud was busy cooking he watched Sien carefully start to wash some of the dishes they had used for the cooking. It was just better for the boy to be in the kitchen for now after he'd been so loud about the fact that Priscilla showed her ankle. It was entirely fine on Terra and Ehud knew that. He was still trying to bring himself and his boy to a place where the Chippequoti culture could blend with their neighbors without glaring differences like this one. After a few minutes he dug into the freezer to grab a bag of frozen peas. More than likely he would have to get a new ice pack for her ankle. If it didn't look better by the time they were done with dinner he was going to take her to the Ehaui. There was no telling how badly she hurt herself. Stepping into the living room holding the bag of peas he saw her tilt her head back a little and he shook his head. "Not quite. I brought you more ice." Carefully handing her the bag he blushed again. "Sorry about Sien. Some things are different with the Chippequoti and it is difficult living in two worlds and cultures at the same time when you're his age. He wants to make all of it the same and not everything our neighbors think is the same."

She took the icy bag from Ehud and gingerly began to sit up further to put the new bag on her ankle, causing a whole new hot flash to flare on Ehud's cheeks. Unlike Harry's tan skin, Ehud was very pale and the blush lit up his face in a patch work of red and pinks at even dared to touch the tip of his nose. At least he wasn't hard to read in that capacity. When he mentioned Sien trying to adjust to living in two cultures, she smiled a little more. "Hmmm...I think he follows his father's example in more ways than it seems," she said, "I didn't realize ankles were quite so...scandalous in the Chippeqouti culture. Had I known I would have just worn pants more often. If it's a problem of you wanting Sien to learn that it isn't appropriate the way you see it, and making you feel uncomfortable, I don't mind wearing pants when I'm around. I don't want to be immodest simply because it's normal for my people to wear what they like. " She fixed the new cold pack over her ankle then swept the skirt back over her skin again, hiding it from view. "

Ehud couldn't help feeling a bit sheepish over the whole debacle. Normally a little skin wasn't so bad. "Well, I don't mind...Ummm." Chuckling a little he shrugged and then frowned some. "I don't know how it will work with legs in the school and all. Who knows, the Chippequoti might have to pick something else to be alluring and tempting." It all sounded funny when he put it that way and Ehud couldn't help laughing at his own tradition.

"I think children will understand that there are different standards sometimes and not begrudge each other when they understand. They're smarter than they give credit for I think," she replied before smiling at Ehud's sheepishness. He had a nice laugh when he was shy. A cautious, but real sort of chuckle from his chest that she liked. "They might have to get used to some alluring legs on the regular with the Terrans and Kaereleans around." She was giggling now as he was laughing and she shook her head. "That not withstanding, I promise not to tempt you too much. Wouldn't want you falling prey to my terran wiles unless you're a willing victim."

"Can't say I don't mind you keeping your customs." Ehud grinned a little. He was thinking of being bold like Illya said to be, but that style wasn't for everyone. "I think you ought to be able to wear what you like and honor your culture. I won't be stopping you, except to get a better uh...I just can't do the bold and whatever that thing is. Sorry, my charm isn't quite that style." Shaking his head some he smirked. "You'll have to get used to me being a quiet Chip."

He started out relaxing a little she blushed slightly when he mentioned he didnt mind the view, in a round about way. But then he went on to bumble about being bold and his charm. Where in the world had that come from? She had thought they were simply taking an awkward situation and laughing about it with some silly jokes. Her smile wavered some and she raised a brow at him. "I never expected the...'bold' thing from you to begin with, Ehud. I'd much prefer it if you were yourself and that's a quiet Chip, then so be it. You accept me and my ankles and I accept your mysterious charm."

The slight change in Priscilla's expression was slightly concerning at first and then she said what she thought. It was good to know she didn't expect him to be bold because he had failed that attempt a few times already. "That's a good thing you don't mind me being quiet. Been taking dating advice from Illya and it's horrible." Maybe she didn't need to know that, but he blurted it anyway. "I've never been so awkward in my life as when I try to take advice from him on how to be charming. Kinda good to know you don't expect me to be a wildly expressive person." Taking a deep breath he could smell the chicken was almost done. "How about I have Sien bring a few pillows into the living room for him and I to sit on so we can all eat in the living room. We'll just have to use the coffee table."

She hadnt been entirely sure what she expected from him now and simply decided to let it go. She certainly didn't expect Ehud to come out with admitting he'd been taking dating advice from Illya. That almost sent her into a fit of giggles, which she managed to stifle down into an amused half sort of smile. Illya was a kind man, and good to his wife but he was more than a handful. Ehud was not as robust of expressive for certain, and the idea that he had been following dating advice from him. No wonder he'd been acting so much like a squirrel. Her expression softened slightly and she nodded at his suggestion. "Yes, I think that would be a wonderful idea." If he was not as expressive he probably thought she was over the top. She had tried so hard to be a bit out going and ignore the occasional pang of loneliness that came when she thought of Harry, and the growing guilt she felt when she realized she didn't think of him as often during the day.

"Mmhmm." Turning slightly Ehud took a few steps back toward the kitchen and called to Sien. "Get some pillows from the bedrooms. We'll eat in the living room tonight." With that the boy gave a little hoot and raced through the house gathering more than pillows. He had blankets too and he began piling them in the living room while Ehud served the plates up with food. A few minutes later Ehud came into the living room to see the bedding and pillows everywhere and he raised his eyebrows. This was just a big mess. However, it was likely something he learned from Cypher. Setting a plate down on the coffee table for Sien he grinned a little and then gave one to Priscilla. "Now you get to try some real fried chicken. I make pretty good chicken. Cooking is something I always liked doing."

Sien had a right good time bringing what she suspected was every piece of bedding the two of them owned out of the closet and tried to make a fort, much like Calysta would do. "There...put the corner there...now a pillow there.." It kept falling over and eventually they settled for a nest of sorts around the coffee table. When Ehud came out with plates in hand, she sat up and gingerly put her injured foot on the floor. It twinged as she did, making her jump some but there was no way she was going to let it ruin a good chicken dinner. Ehud grinned at his work and she chuckled. "It's something I enjoy too. An art that only a few people really take the time for anymore." As promised, a crispy thigh was waiting for her along with mashed potatoes. With polite patience she waited for the gentlemen to sit with her and plucked up her piece. It was still hot and she could smell the fresh oil as she bit into it. "Mmm..." Closing her eyes, she enjoyed the savory bite, then went for another.

"This really is good. Illya's chickens, right?" she smiled, "It reminds me of home when my father would cook. He would let me sit at the table and do the small things until I was old enough to do more." Sien was sure to tell her that he helped, and she nodded to him. "You gentlemen have done wonderfully tonight. I think you must be a good cook just like your dad."

The flaxen haired boy beamed, his smile touching his eyes in joy. "Can you make us more cookies when your ankle is better?"

Priscilla nodded as she took another bite of her mashed potatoes. "Sure, I'll even show you how to make them, huh? Then you can give them to your friends too."

They ate and talked among themselves. She wasn't quite sure how to feel about Ehud's insistence that he was silent, other than to be slightly relieved he seemed to be acting a bit more normal. Quieter until he came up with something to say. A silence fell between them when the plates were empty and Priscilla checked her ankle. Beyond the swelling, a purplish color had set in. Lovely. While Ehud took the plates to the kitchen, Sien settled beside her on the couch, his bottom wedging between herself and the arm as he held up his info pad with a smile. "Do you want to watch a movie with me? We can put it on the hologram?"

"Sure," Priscilla replied. He was already half wiggled into his spot next to her, his feet kicking slightly against the couch. With enough know how, he got the pad to play whatever movie he had planned onto the small hologram projector on the mantle. A child's movie about space explorers. "This is my favorite one," he told her. "Micky Martian always wins." Priscilla chuckled and smoothed down Sien's hair before leaning her head back against the couch in an effort to hide her face when she shifted her leg. When Ehud came out of the kitchen, she patted the couch cushion next to her. "Finish the hologram with us. Micky Martian is about to win and you wouldn't want to miss it."

* * * * * * * * * *

When they reached their room Illya scooped up the tourist guide in his arms and settled into the chair in front of the sleek desk by the window of their room. Calysta let him do as he liked for the moment as she dug through her bag, trying to decide if she wanted to try one of the new outfits or not. She wasn't feeling particularly sexy. Feeling sexy took focus for her, almost like a persona of its own and her mind was in other places. Mostly, she was feeling a bit of worry mixed with guilt. Should she have known that he was having these issues? Noticed? Shaking her head to herself, she pulled out her fuzzy pajama bottoms and tossed them on the bed with an unceremonious plop, then dug further down for a shirt. I didn't matter now whether or not she noticed it. She knew now. The question remained on what to do with it.

He needed to start going back to the counselor for starters, but she wasn't going to suggest that right now. There were just so many things and she didn't know how to help him with this. How did she fix this? Her fingers wrapped around what she thought was her tank top, but it was actually one of Illya's shirts. Apparently, in her excitement with the naughty new outfits she hadn't bothered to pack a real shirt to sleep in. Normally, they could snooze in the buff, but she wanted out of her normal clothes and into something comfy at the moment. Unfolding Illya's t shirt, she slipped it over head. It fell over her like a sheet and hung haphazardly over her shoulder, reaching to her knees. Pants weren't needed this way at least. Plucking her hair from it's pony tail, she let the soft black curls waterfall down her back, then dropped to sit on the end of the bed with a small bounce.

While Illya was studying his tourist guide, laying down whatever plan his was hatching with diligence, Calysta studied him in return. His green eyes were trained on the tourist book as he scribbled some things and circled others, speaking of things he'd like to do. He wanted to visit the zoo and eat on the edge again with plenty of breaks in between. By the time he was done, he had a need little schedule and he was right. It was just like training. When he handed over his schedule to her, she took the tiny note pad, looking over his chicken scratch in Qouti symbols. He really was a military man at heart, at least structure wise, and it wasn't altogether a bad thing, but it did make her heartache for him. He wasn't supposed to have to live like this as a civilian. Unable to go to the places he liked without having to adhere to such schedules.

Illya was looking at her with a confident and eager smile, as if he had the problem solved. It would take more than just his own attempts, and she knew that, but he was trying so hard with looking for a job outside of the military and trying to go places even if it was hard for him. He was trying to make her happy too, and make it up to her because he felt like he had dissapointed her. She was more dissapointed in herself than anything. What was she supposed to say? Did she have any right to put more on him? There was a temptation to tell him that it would be great and things would be just fine, but that wasn't what she felt.

Struggling to reflect the confident smile that he gave her, she looked over the list again, nodding. He was looking to her for help, and trying to be so open. If she didn't know how to help, which didn't, she would do what it took to figure it out. She wanted him to feel better, not just...cope. What was she going to tell him? Her instinct was split on telling him it was okay, and then telling him how she felt. Both felt like wrong answers. The only thing she did know was that she loved him. Finally, smiling a half sort of smile at his joke, she slipped off the bed and stepped over, the tail of his shirt trailing behind her. Without much thought as to what she was really doing, she slid into his lap and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. "I won't say it doesn't worry me. It does. I want to help though and now I know what's going on I can. I think I have a few other ideas too, but we can talk about them later, yeah?"

Her right hand tickled over his jawline, tracing it lightly. Being honest like this was hard and easy at the same time. He was her best friend and she felt like she could tell him she was worried, but at the same time, she was used to taking on that burden on her own. Leaning on him when she felt like she shouldn't, hoping he wouldn't freak out if she said she was worried, was difficult. This was something she hadn't quite done before and she wasn't sure how it was going to work out. Still, she was determined to help and the words had already been said. It was too late to take them back now. "I think we will have a good day and if this helps, then we'll try it together," she told him, "We'll take some breaks...go for a flight...and...try the restaurant again. Or maybe we'll find somewhere totally different. It can be anywhere we like." Whatever his answer was, it got stopped by the little kiss she graced over his lips with a gentle, but playful sort of taste. "In the mean time, I think we should take more advantage of the view. I wouldn't want the only thing for you to remember about our visit is the pattern on the headboard." She slowly slipped away from another kiss and started leading him toward their balcony with trailing hands. Of course, she wasn't wearing pants, but that didn't matter. There was no one out there to see.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The next morning, she with one Chip man with his arm wrapped around her shoulder and one shirt less than she'd started out with. Somewhere between the porch and the bed it had been lost. They spent the morning in a sleepy state of kisses and general playfulness. His usual spark had returned full measure, from what she could tell and she laughed a little as he played with her hair, joking about her looking messier now than the morning before. Her only reply was to nibble her way up from his chest to his lips. "Mmm...I think you should match me." Then she stopped with her little trail of kisses to ruffle his wild curls, flipping off of him in an invitation for him to chase her.

Their breakfast was light, a pastry on the way out of the hotel door. The clerk gave them a respectful nod, and quickly dropped his eyes to his book. Calysta took Illya's hand and they went to the market first to look for the heated blankets. It wasn't hard to find them, as demand had increased since the Chippeqouti came to Kaereal along with the fact the rainy season would be right around the corner. "Here we go," she said, carting an armful of blankets nearly taller than she was, "One for Lohgan, Tomas, Edgar, you, and a few extras. We should be all set for the rainy season, huh?" They finished their shopping there and visited a few more stores before returning to their room for a bit. She tried to relax and yet remain attentive at the same time. He was always good to her, and trying to make sure she was alright, and he deserved nothing less. "Oh, we can try the zoo next," she smiled, "It's not terribly big, but there are a few things in there you probably have never seen." They spent sometime in the room, and Calysta opened up some of Illya's study books, looking over all of the things he would need, then they departed for the zoo.

It was as small as she remembered and it was slightly crowded. The end of the summer always brought the parents here with their kids in droves as one last chance to get their children outdoor exposure before the months of endless water cooped them inside. Little children dodged in and out everywhere between them while parents called after them, some edging too close to others. Even the animals were annoyed by the number of people there. The zyros, large deer-like creatures with growing moss on their backs from the Wilds, pawed nervously and stayed in their small herd together. There was an area where one could pick up lyzari, another wilds creature, but the wait was a long time. Looking to Illya with concern, she tried not to pester him about it. Now, she couldn't help but notice crowds where she wouldn't before, at least in a negative capacity for a fun event. Biting at her lip, she resigned herself to wait until Illya said something about leaving. "Let's try the korybei pen," she suggested, "They're from Reylia and you can feed them, but the kids get a little intimidated by them. So, it might be quieter there."

 

[Silence]

It was impossible not t grin a little bit when Ehud could see that Priscilla enjoyed his cooking. The quiet grin was mirrored by his son and they ate the meal mostly in silence. When everyone had finished Ehud gathered the dishes. He didn't want to keep Sien working all the night away. His boy was quiet and he would do the dishes with Ehud if he asked, but it wasn't right to have Sien work that hard all the time. Instead he left the boy to relax a little. Sien seemed to like Priscilla and he desperately needed the attention of a woman. If Priscilla was kind enough to give Sien that attention then Ehud wasn't about to deny his son the attention.

While he was scrubbing away at the dishes Ehud listened to the opening theme song of Micky Martian. It was one of the few shows that Ehud didn't mind Sien watching and the boy loved it. Micky Martian was fairly safe and it didn't have the racial sort of profiling and slurs that he was concerned about. If the Alliance was going to survive his son would have to learn to appreciate all the different people that they lived with.

One of the problems he'd seen with Sien spending a lot of time around Cypher was the bit of anti Terran and Pithian tendencies of Cypher. Sometimes it would carry over at home and Ehud had to correct Sien. However, school had helped with that and Sien was making friends with a few of the Terran boys and girls that were in the school. The hardest one to deal with was the Pithain children. Many of the Pithian children were just as strongly against the Chippequoti as the Chippequoti were against them. In time that would have to change as well. In many ways Ehud found it ironic that the Pithians still held a grudge against the Chippequoti when it was the son of Markus that went back and saved them. There were things that ran deeper than just the current circumstance though.

As soon as Ehud finished the dishes he stepped out into the living room again. Eventually he would have to ask Priscilla what she planned to do with herself. He didn't mind if she stayed, but he would need to know before he started to get Sien ready for bed. Priscilla patted her hand on the sofa cushion and she motioned for him to sit next to her. Carefully Ehud moved over to sit on the couch and he ignored the slight creaking it caused in the springs and frame of the couch for him to sit down. Once he was seated he finished watching the show with Priscilla and Sien. The end of the episode went like most. Micky Martian had escaped capture and continued his exploration. In some ways Ehud wondered if Micky Martian was loosely based off the Wild Series. If it was based off this show it was certainly a loose rendition. The Martian skipped along through different planets and some of the locals were friendly and sometimes the pirates would catch up with Micky and he would have to try and escape. Often times if the pirates caught up Micky made plans with the locals in the new world he was visiting to fight off the pirates.

Sien's little eyes were glued to the hologram as the climax of the show hit. Micky Martian set a trap for the pirates and it looked like they were going to walk all the way around the pit instead of walking into it. As a final and desperate measure Micky got dangerously close to the edge of the pit and taunted the pirates. With a great lunge the pirates surged forward and fell into the pit, but not before one of them grabbed onto Micky's ankle and then the words came across the hologram. "Into the Den to be Continued..." There wasn't time for the next episode, but tomorrow was a day off and Ehud knew he would have to let Sien see what happened next. The boy was quiet, but he had a very concerned look on his face.

"We'll watch the next one in the morning. You can watch it while I make breakfast huh?" Ehud took the pad and he turned it off. "It's too late for you to watch another one." Sien was frowning and he nodded though it was easy to see that he was going to be up early in the morning to see what happened to Micky. There was no way that Sien was going to sleep in the next morning when Micky was in peril.

Now that it was very near bedtime Ehud decided that he would have to start the nightly preparation for Sien to get to bed and then he remembered that he had to do something with Priscilla. Near the end of the night Ehud realized that Priscilla would need to make a decision. Her ankle wasn't likely going to be ready for her to walk on and if she went home he wasn't sure that anyone would be there to help her. This was more than problematic. "Priscilla?" Carefully he glanced at her and he wondered if she would think he was improper with his offer. "I don't know if there is anyone at home to help you, but you're welcome to stay here if you'd like."

The movie had reeled to an end and Sien was already asleep, his head slumped on her shoulder. Ehud's voice cut through the credit music and, sounding slightly concerned. Then he asked something that surprised her and it also threatened to make her turn pink, though the living room was pitched in darkness. It would look odd if she stayed but Sien was also asleep and there wasnt really anyone who could help. Mostly she would be in the way. Plus, would it make her look flighty if she refused? "Illya and Calysta are gone on a trip and its only Thomas there. He'd have his hands full with all of the children. I..." she shifted slightly, causing Sien's little head to bob downward some, "Maybe I should stay. It's late and Sien is already asleep. I would be fine on the couch and I can deal with the ankle in the morning."

"Well, you don't actually have to sleep on the couch. Sien stripped the beds earlier and I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you took his room. I'll just have Sien stay with me tonight." Sien nodded vigorously in agreement. He didn't mind letting Priscilla take his bed and sharing dad's bed wasn't too unusual. Sometimes when he was scared he would just go get in bed with dad and then he would stay there till he fell asleep again.

Since the beds were already stripped and they would have to be re-made it was much easier to convince Priscilla to take the privacy of Sien's room. By the time the little room was ready Ehud came back out to carry Priscilla to the bedroom. "You'll be closer to the bathroom in the hallway here then you would be on the couch. Sien will share my bathroom and you won't have to worry about any interruptions. Just to be sure you might want to lock the bathroom door." A little grin came to Ehud's face. "Sometimes a shut door doesn't mean occupied to Sien just yet. He's still getting that one down." Like some of Sien's other bad habits he was fairly certain that some of them were coming from being at Illya and Kalizda's house.

Taking an extra pillow out of Sien's closet Ehud set it on the bed and allowed Priscilla to adjust as she needed to put her ankle up slightly. "I can get the ice pack for you again." Ehud offered and then went to get it for her. When he returned he came with an extra blanket. "Alright, we got you set. If you think you'll need anything else I'm just next door."

Ehud would have offered his room with the exception that it was messy and he was sure it would pose more tripping hazards than his son's room. Additionally there would have also been the problem that he hadn't cleaned his bathroom to lady standards in the last week. Sien had the bathroom that also operated as the guest bathroom and it was cleaner. Before Ehud could even step into his room he could hear Sien excitedly running around in the bedroom. It had taken a long time to get Sien to sleep in his own room after Haza had died and even now Ehud had a hard time keeping Sien to stay in his own room. An invitation to sleep in his room was bound to have ramifications for the next few days.

When he pushed the bedroom door open Ehud saw Sien was already using the little step stool to get into the giant Chip bed. That was one investment that Ehud made. It was far more comfortable to be in the Chip bed then it was to sleep on a regular one. Sien had his little pajama pants and shirt on. They were a matching set to his dad's and Ehud got changed into his pajama pants and shirt before getting into the bed and grabbing the controller to turn the lights out. Within a few minutes he fell asleep to Sien's little voice. The boy had a horrible habit of talking himself to sleep and everyone else at night.

Just as Ehud expected Sien was awake early the next morning and he wanted to watch the next episode. Ehud rolled over in his bed and handed the pad to Sien. "You put in the headset and let me sleep. When the show is over you have to be quiet for another half hour and then you can wake me up." It was far too early for the boy to be up, but Ehud knew that the one half hour more to be quiet after the show would be long enough that Sien would probably fall asleep again and then everyone could rest.

By the time Ehud woke up he felt pretty well rested and he looked at the pad to see what time it was. It was 9:00 a.m. and he started to get up. Every now and then his stomach would ache in the morning and it was one of those days. Resting a hand over his stomach Ehud frowned and got himself moving slowly. At first he was a little hunched over and Sien stirred when he felt his dad move out of the bed. "Do you want your stomach medicine?" Sien knew where it was because he saw his dad take it when his stomach hurt like that.

"Don't worry. I'll get it. You go downstairs and get griddle out. We'll make some smiley face pancakes and eggs." He liked eggs and he got quite a few from Illya. If there was one bonus about having Illya keeping chickens it was the fact that the Terran food was something Ehud liked and missed. All he needed to do was talk his friend into getting some cows next. However, he doubted that would happen given the fact that Pytra didn't have sufficient space and Kalizda would probably want to kill him if he actually got Illya started on cows. With Sien out of the room Ehud shuffled into the bathroom and pulled open the medicine cabinet. As much as he loved fried chicken it didn't always like him and he knew he would be eating a light breakfast today.

Pouring a large spoonful of the thick goopy grayish liquid Ehud frowned. He hated the taste of this stuff, but it would help with the intestinal pain and it would keep things digesting instead of stuff getting stuck part way through. There was nothing quite so painful as that. For the time his pajama pants and shirt were going to be more comfortable than regular clothes and so Ehud went downstairs to start cooking breakfast in his pajamas. Both Ehud and Sien stood in the kitchen working on breakfast still in their pajamas and messy golden hair sticking out in odd directions. From the back Sien looked like a mini of his father. The exception was when Sien turned around and you could see his features were softer than his fathers. When breakfast was ready Ehud walked back to Priscilla's room and knocked gently on the door. "Priscilla, we got breakfast ready whenever you'd like to eat. I uh...I might have a pair of crutches in the closet if you'd like." He would have to dig through the hallway closet, but he was certain that he'd have kept them.

*******************

When Illya had finished with his list he saw Kalizda was wearing only one of his shirts. Her legs were showing and she had her hair down. She looked stunning like that. He was going to have to make sure he put a few of his shirts in her drawers from here on out. He kinda liked her wearing his shirt like that. It was hard to tell if she was trying to tempt him, or not. Illya watched Kalizda slip off the bed and the shirt slipped off the edge of the bed with her, but not before showing a good portion her thigh. Illya determined that she was certainly intending to tease him when she came over and sat on his lap and started to play with his hair. "Hmm..." Instinctively Illya's hands moved to rest just at her waist and he grinned at her.

Kalizda started to talk about tomorrow and she moved her fingers along his jaw. "I tin..." Before he could tell her he wanted to definitely try the restaurant at the edge again she kissed him and started into a more tempting conversation. It wasn't a conversation so much as it was a thought that had already been tinkering around in the back of his mind. Keeping a conversation going was a little harder when she was so distracting. Carefully shifting so he could get Kalizda standing Illya winked at her. "Den we better go take a look before I miss meh chance." Leaning in for another kiss Illya barely brushed her lips and she was leading him toward the balcony. Somehow she was finding more of a way to tease him and he found it exciting.

A little chase wasn't bad and having to work a little more to get to the love making was enthralling in its own way. Once they were out on the balcony Illya looked out at the mountains and he glanced back to Kalizda before kissing her. "Dah mountains are beautiful, but nut like meh Kalizda." Carefully Illya ran a hand through Kalizda's hair. He loved it when she had long hair.

In a few short moments Illya had a naughty thought and he looked over the edge of their balcony. Then it struck him that she booked the room and had it on this side of the hotel and she purposefully brought him out to the balcony. "Oh..." chuckling a bit he met he gaze. She was miles ahead of him on this one. "Meh little bird es full of mischief and her wolf likes et." With a playful growl Illya pulled her a bit closer and kissed her again. While he was enjoying the kiss Illya let his hands roam to her lower back and then one hand chased down her back and to the bottom of the shirt and then down to her legs. He wouldn't pull the shirt off out here, but he didn't mind kissing a little and feeling her legs.

"I tink maybe next time I need tah see ef I can surprise yah." Illya knew her birthday was sometime. He could ask her father and make a special date of it. They would go somewhere to fly and explore. Even if it was a good idea Illya was quickly losing track of his thoughts and he started to laugh a little when he felt her fingers pluck at his shirt. "Yah want tah make dis even? Maybe we work on dat eh?" Between kisses Illya helped her work his over shirt off and they slowly made their way from the balcony to the bedroom again.

Sleeping in felt good and Illya relished the time to just be lazy. Once more Kalizda was close and he didn't really have to move to kiss her. That was always a bonus. Moving one of his hands to the back of her leg he squeezed it gently and raised his eyebrows some. "Mm...feels like good strong legs. Strong legs and messy hair are good combination." Smirking a bit he kissed her again. Playing kissy face in the morning was a fun thing and especially since he didn't have to worry about any of the kids interrupting them. Playing with her hair a little he grinned again. "Such messy hair. I tink et looks more messy den yesterday. Et es all part of hard work." While he was busy kissing her and sneaking in little gropes on her legs she reached up and tussled his hair before pushing herself off of him and rolling away. However, her smile was the kind that invited him to come get more.

"Oh, yah play hard tah get. I tink I know how tah fex dis." Clearing his throat a little he almost started off in the song he had in mind and then he laughed. Kalizda was froze in place with a quizzical grin on her face. Of course she didn't know what he was doing. "I will get meh little bird much closer ef I sing a song to her." His voice was a little more raspy in the morning, but it still worked. This time he got started off right in the song that he memorized for her in Kaerelean. When he was done she was indeed a little bit closer and he wrapped an arm around her. "I knew meh little bird would fall for meh trap."

Most of the morning was spent being lazy in bed and when they finally got up Illya realized they would have to cut out a few of his breaks if they wanted to get stuff done. Then tomorrow on the way home they could explore stuff. Both of them enjoyed exploring. Illya followed Kalizda through to the first stop of the day and that was to get blankets. Kalizda was piling them high and they had green, red, gold, black, grey, pink, and orange blankets. Most of them were large, but that was because they needed large blankets and especially if they were going to have guests. In the event that they had company at the house in the cold season it would only be polite to offer a large blanket and if it was heated that was all the better. Just to make sure they had enough Illya grabbed another couple of red and green blankets. Those were his favorite colors they offered in the blankets. Taking a few off the stack Kalizda had Illya piled them onto his. "Dere, now we have enough."

The next couple of stores had some things for children, but one of them had a department for women and Illya figured he would go looking for something nice to get for Kalizda. She got that new flyer they were gonna be taking home and he figured that she might like to have a seat cover for it. After he did a little a searching and talked with the store sales associate about the model of the flyer he got some black seat covers with a silver bird on them for her. Just to match everything else he also got her the bird charm to hang above the navigation panel. That was something he planned on presenting to her tomorrow before they left.

Illya didn't end up waiting as long as he thought he could. As soon as they reached the hotel room he took the arm full of shopping bags and set them down on the floor. Probably 90% of the bags were filled with blankets. While Kalizda was distracted he dug through to find the bag he packed Kalizda's presents in. Once he found the bag with the present he set next to her on the desk. "While we rest I tink maybe yah look at someting dat yah need." He wasn't going to tell her it was a present because that was still a bit difficult at times, but he could justify this gift. "Yah ship need tah have some symbol of dah owner in et. I tink dis would be good choice."

The zoo was even better than Illya had expected. Somehow Kalizda had managed to undersell the zoo and it was much more impressive. However, the line to see the ugly little green animal was outrageously long and Illya read all about the animal and had Kalizda translate a few words before he nodded to her. He was ready to move on and she had an idea of an animal that they could get close to and possibly feed with greater ease. There was a chance it would be a prettier animal too. As soon as Kalizda pointed out the large horse like creature Illya's eyes lit up and he immediately stepped up to feed the animal. Like most animals it sensed that he liked it and the creature nudged his hand a few times and nickered softly. "Ah, yah very beautiful." Cautiously Illya moved his hand up the creature's nose and then up to the comb that seemed to be replacing a mane of a horse. It was not soft, or furry like a horse would be, but rather it felt almost like it had scales of sort and Illya carefully felt along the scales and closed his eyes while he studied the pattern with his hands. The animal didn't seem to mind and it only moved away when more people started to come into the area. They were in the zoo for over 2 hours when Illya decided it was time to eat.

Walking with Kalizda to the restaurant Illya took the lead this time. The walk took a while and it was long enough to count as a break. When they reached the restaurant Illya asked the waiter if they could get a table near the edge so that Kalizda could see out. At first the man paused and then he looked to Kalizda and he immediately recognized the couple. They always had a special table reserved for dignitaries and he nodded. "Of course, right this way."

Once they were seated Illya braved a peek through the glass table top and through the floor to the water fall below. "Et es a special view. I guess we can say dat I have seen much more den dah headboard at dah end of dis trip." Smirking a little he glanced up at Kalizda. "When we're done wit dinner I tink we get some dessert. Lots of cream on et." He already knew she would want the chocolate mound cake.

******************************

It seemed that they barely got home and the chaos started all over again. Cypher had made 2 days this week with his good behavior and on the third day he was sent to the office and Illya was called instead of messaged. The teacher said that she would be sitting outside with Cypher and Illya needed to come pick him up. Illya got Cin out of the backyard and plopped Lohgan on top the bear before he started the walk to the school. When he arrived Cypher was indeed outside, but it looked like someone had hit him. Almost instantly Illya wanted to question the woman. It was better to wait till he got home and then he would talk with Cypher about this problem.

As soon as they were to the house Illya grabbed Lohgan off Cin and sent the bear into the backyard before he walked around to the front with Cypher and Lohgan. Inside the house Illya put Lohgan down and then he went over to the couch with Cypher. Sitting down he beckoned for Cypher to come closer. "Come here. I need tah look at yah."

Illya held his boy's chin and looked over Cypher's black eye and bruised cheek. "Dis boy was much bigger. I read dah report, but I dun know dis boy's name. Teachers dun tell meh dis." Cypher's nose scrunched some and he teared up. He didn't want to get in trouble again. "I dun start dah fight." In some ways it was hard to believe that Cypher hadn't, but Illya figured he would ask what happened anyway. "Cypher den yah tell meh what happened. Why would dere be fight wit boy dat es 5 years older den yah are?" The boy's nose was running and he licked his upper lip and the snot on it before he pulled away from his father's gaze long enough to get a tissue. "Dah boy find meh in dah school yard and he told meh dat yah were a monster and yah killed hundreds of Pitians. Den he said dat he would take Lohgan and trow her over dah edge. Den I yell at him and I push him over." Sniffling again Cypher looked to his father. So far the boy told the side of the story that was not in the school report. All it contained was Cypher starting the fight by yelling and shoving an older boy that in turn hit him to defend himself. "Cypher what else happen?" Setting one of his little brown hands on Illya's arm he blinked his bright blue eyes a few times. "Dah boy hit meh in dah face tree times and den he run away and tell dah teachers." Illya's brow had lowered and he clenched his jaw while Cypher recounted the events. "I believe yah. Cypher yah nut in trouble I tink dat I will talk wit dah school about dis." It was bound to happen at some point and Illya dreaded the day that others knew who his children were for these reasons. It wouldn't get any easier the older his children got. "Yah go to yah room for little bit and I take care of dis." Once the boy was in his room Illya growled, "I knew dat bringing dah Pitians back was nut good. Dey are all wortless scum dat will try tah destroy all dah Chippequoti. Et would be better ef I take dem all and leave dem on Nuen for dah Federation tah finish dem. I should have finished what meh fater's men started. Markus was nut hard enough on dem."

Calysta listened to Cypher tell what happened with the Pithian boy, her frown increasing as he spoke. She knew it was bound to happen eventually. Her children would be compared to their parents as halfbreeds. They would find difficulty in some ways from both sides of their heritage and it burned in her chest to see her son with bruises the way she used to have. It had been a child who had done this, and while that was understandable, it wasnt excusable. She wouldnt have her son beaten like she used to be. Anger turned her stomach to a hard lump, but it was at the situation as a whole rather than the child. Illya looked just as livid, and made his opinion quite clear as he growled about finishing off Pithians like his father should have. Calysta's eyes snapped around to her Chip. He got angry sometimes and didnt mean what he said, but this time she knew he meant at least part of it. That was the exact attitude they were trying to combat and she had given chances to correct. When it came to the children, she wasnt going to let him perpetuate it. "Cypher, it's okay. Go on to your room for a little bit and read one of your books. Dah and I are going to talk. You arent in trouble," she said in Kaerelean. The boy nodded a quiet 'yah' and rubbed his eyes before shuffling up the stairs. Turning to her agreed, she took a calming breath and met his eyes. "I think we need to talk first before going to the school," she said in Qouti, "I'm angry too, but Illya. These are children. It was a fight between children. The reasons were wrong, but we can't forget that."

Even though Illya hadn't intended for his son to hear his statement it appeared that Cypher had not gone to his room right away. The sound of scampering feet and a few more snuffles trailed through the house until the distinct sound of the latch on Cypher's door sounded. Almost immediately Kalizda was saying they needed to talk and Illya glowered at her. "Children now, but the Pithians will always be enemies of the Chippequoti. Their children will grow up and they will begin to play their games and manipulate the Alliance. When that happens the Chippequoti will have to hunt them again. Pithians are filthy liars and they should be under the Chippequoti boots. You don't tell me that they are just children. That boy will soon be a man and if he takes Lohgan and throws her over the edge I will burn every home of the Pithians and I will tear their guts out."

Calysta's jaw set and she tried to stay calm. He was acting purely out of anger now and she knew that. Still didn't mean he was right. "I will tell you they're just children, because it's true. Has this child ever met you? Talked to you? His hate doesn't come from himself, it comes from what he is learned. He watches his parents, just like Cypher watches you Illya. Do you want him to know the those things? To have that sort of anger in his heart? Yes they will grow up and we have a chance to make the world better for both of them by teaching them that they are both people. Equally. Neither under the other's boot." She said the last portion a bit more passionately than she meant to but it was what she believed. "Why do you hate them so much that you would show our son that's the way to be?"

This whole conversation was going exactly as Illya knew it would. Kalizda couldn't let it go. She was going to defend the Pithians the same as she would defend anyone and it was because she had too much compassion. "Because I was a boy once. I went with my father to the Pithian home planet to see how the Chippequoti managed and ruled over their territory. Markus saw his men got out of hand and he made them treat the Pithians like people instead of the filth they are. Instead of the Pithians accepting any kind of mercy they went behind our backs and betrayed us. Pithians joined the Federation for as long as it suited them. Destroyed the army that my father had there. It didn't stop there. When I went under cover and I was sold as a slave in Terra they were mingling with the Terrans. Do you really want to know what happened in the markets? Do you want to know what the Federation does?"This whole conversation was going exactly as Illya knew it would. Kalizda couldn't let it go. She was going to defend the Pithians the same as she would defend anyone and it was because she had too much compassion. "Because I was a boy once. I went with my father to the Pithian home planet to see how the Chippequoti managed and ruled over their territory. Markus saw his men got out of hand and he made them treat the Pithians like people instead of the filth they are. Instead of the Pithians accepting any kind of mercy they went behind our backs and betrayed us. Pithians joined the Federation for as long as it suited them. Destroyed the army that my father had there. It didn't stop there. When I went under cover and I was sold as a slave in Terra they were mingling with the Terrans. Do you really want to know what happened in the markets? Do you want to know what the Federation does?"

He tried to make it sounds like she was defending the boys actions and she wasnt. He always did this and when he finally got mad enough to tell her what was going on, she met his gaze and searched his angry green eyes. "Yes. I do. Tell me what they do, Illya. Why?" She wasnt letting him out of this one.

For a moment Illya stood staring at Kalizda. He was stunned. She wanted to know what happened and he wasn't sure what to do about it. Should he even try to tell her what happened? "Th...They did things..." A deep frown came to Illya's face and his hands shook a little. Half stumbling he flopped onto the couch and stared at her. "You want to know?" He knew she did because she asked, but he hadn't said any of this before and there were still some things he didn't know how to tell her. "I-I..." Staring blankly ahead he shook his head and tried to start with telling her. "It was Pithians that captured me. I had to play the part of a soldier not trained as an Elite. When they beat me it was not so bad, but they kept saying I was....They wanted to break me. The Pithians would take long needles with a drill point and shove them into my bones and make tiny holes all over in my legs and arms and my back. It would take weeks for the holes to fill in, but it was never quite enough to cause serious damage, just enough to hurt. They made me sleep in the cold without blankets and they starved me for months. When I got to the market they stripped me and put me in a cage. Pithians and Terrans knew that no Dark Chip would ever allow what they did to me. For my mission I had to let them do things to me. The Terran from the Federation was just as sick as the rest of them. He would have parties and he would keep me like an animal and he would let his guests see me and touch me in ways that are not right. He kept me chained outside for more than a year before I finally gained enough trust to be like a pet in his house. " Illya's eyes slowly moved to gaze at Kalizda. "When I could not understand what he said to me in Terran the man would have the needles shoved into the tips of my fingers and he would drive them past the knuckles and it would make it difficult to bend my fingers and then he would make me work. The night I set off the bomb he'd shoved needles into all my fingers because I refused to come out and play with his guests. I had to break the needles in my fingers to set the bomb. I saved his daughter because she was the only one that showed any mercy. The girl gave me blankets when I was cold, she fed me when her father tried to starve me and for that I saved her. Even as a woman she grew up and refused to see the monster her father was and she saw me as an animal. Pithains and Terrans do not change. They're evil and there some things that I cannot even put to words. Things that they did I will never be able to say."

He almost seemed shocked that she would listen to him. Of course, she would always listen. That sort of news seemed to set him reeling though and he fell into the couch with a heavy wump. She had known about the Pithians, in part, and about the Terran incident in part...but she had not heard this. His story. The one he didnt get to tell anyone because nobody seemed to think it was important to enough to listen. She knew what it was to have no voice like that. It was painful and lonely and often times maddening without relief. With every word, her throat tightened and her fists clenched until her nails dug into her palm. Wetness crept to her eyes welling up, and spilling in silence over her cheeks. A barely visible shining trail of tears stained her pale face by the time he finished, leaving her standing there with more heartache than she really knew what to do with. For a long moment she stared at him, trying to simply understand once more why it was people were so cruel to one another. Why did they beat her for being what she was? Why torture Illya? Why did she try at all to make any sort of change when her agreed so clearly believed it wasnt possible. Her chest ached and she slowly sat down beside him, wiping at her eyes with a soft sniffle. "Okay," she said, her voice a little thick. Her hand crept to his and settled over the rough knuckles of his tan hand, squeezing them gently. "I know now. I understand a little more."

Once it was over Kalizda was mostly quiet. She didn't argue with him and Illya just let it all fall silent for the moment. Sinking further into the couch he shifted his gaze toward the wall. She knew now and he didn't know if he felt any better for it. Kalizda wanted to know and now she did. He'd suffered every kind of abuse and he was far from clean. The war had made him what he was and it wasn't what he wanted to be.

She let him sit in silence for a long moment before she gathered herself and to another deep breath, carrying with it the small sigh of a decision still being made. "It never should have happened to you," she said, "And you have the right to be angry. It was wrong what happened and for the reasons it did." The word started out faint but grew stronger as she spoke. Though Illya wouldn't look at her, she turned to look at him. "I love you Illya," she said in Qouti, gently, "I love you. And I don't want the past to repeat itself for you, or for our children."

"It won't happen again." Illya let his eyes drop toward the floor. "Our children are going to be safe and they won't go into the war unless they choose." If the children chose the war the best he could do is make sure they were more than able to survive. "What I did was for my people. It was not in the report because even my father didn't need to know what kind of shameful things happened so that I could destroy some of the Federation's most evil men. Kalizda, the Elite might have many imperialists, but what they suffer for the people is their honor. One oath we all take is that we will die on behalf of any citizen of our people if it is required to save them. This is why the Dark Chippequoti despise the Pithians being welcomed into the Alliance and the Terrans. It is why men like Ehvan find it offensive that the Alliance would ask for a letter of reference. We made our oaths and we hold to them no matter the cost, shame, or ridicule. An oath of the Elite should be good enough that we don't require more. The Alliance is our people now and that's why even those that want to create the empire among the Elite will never turn their hands against the people of the Alliance. They would rather leave and create their own empire. It is why Ehvan left. Kalizda, there are many things the Alliance does not understand about the Dark Chippequoti. Don't tell me that if we talk to this teacher that you will ignore the fact that the boy who did that to our son is Pithian. It matters."

She winced inwardly when he mentioned what the letters of reference apparently meant to the Dark Chippeqouti. There was no way she could have known that, but it made her feel guilty all the same. In part, she felt a bit like she was floundering to make her point, though she still believed in it staunchly. Sitting in silence for a long moment, she wrestled with her own thoughts and then sighed. "No, there are still a lot of things the Chippeqouti and the Alliance have yet to learn about each other. It's not always easy, and sometimes its hard road, but the important part is they we try. I'm trying and I know you are too. It's my fault that I didn't know what the letters would mean for you and the Chippeqouti. I thought I was being what my people considered proper etiquette." Her hand slid away from his and felt uselessly into her lap along with the other. "Our children will grow up in a different world than we do. War will be their choice to join or not, but I think that also means we have to teach them patience to understand each other, just like the Dark Chippeqouti and the Alliance are trying to do now. That's the only way I see things like what happened to you coming to an end. What happened to Cypher happened because they were taught that way. I know...I know you don't believe it...but I do think things can change. If not for us, then for our children. I don't want Cypher to grow up like I did, afraid of being what and who he is. Nor any of our babies. We have a chance to educate on why things happen rather than just reacting though, and I think it's important for them to know that." Her throat was tightening again and she gripped her hands into each other tightly. "What happened to Cypher today matters and the fact that the boy was Pithian matters. What happened to you in the past matters too, even if it was your duty. It matters. I think what matters is also how we react from here on out. I think we should go to the school and talk to the teacher, as well as the Pithian boy's parents."

When Kalizda's hand slipped from his Illya looked at her and waited for her answer. There was a lot of things that the Chippequoti had chosen to be silent about because of the Alliance. They were more than aware of the circumstances in which they came and that there were people that considered them responsible for the war, even if the war was coming regardless of the Alliance being aware, or not. "If you think there can be change for the better. I will try this for you. We will try to set better example." Illya carefully placed one big hand over her two ghostly little hands that were clenched tightly together. "My little bird is wise and I will try this change."

She had doubted that anything she would say would make a difference. Her belief that people could change had already been tested once, and it had gotten Maks killed. But this was different. This was a child a little older than Cypher who could still learn better, just like her own son would have to understand. The only way the hate would end is if they taught the children a better way. Gave them that chance to be better and learn from the shocking history rather than to simply suffer it themselves. A big, brown hand floated over and settled over hers. His hands were always rough and pleasantly warm over her cold fingers, and she took a bit of comfort in the touch. What he said, made her blink a few times, then turn her gaze back to him in genuine surprise. Was she wise? She didn't feel like it, but she did believe that there was merit in trying and perhaps that was enough. He seemed to know that she wasn't asking him to forgive or forget anything that had happened. Just for them to try a different way for their children. Though she had tears still glittering in her eyes, she smiled faintly, with a gentle sort of look then nodded. "Thank you, love."

With this new trouble Illya figured he would need to get this under control. The best thing to do was to make sure the Elders were aware of the problem. They would set an example and they would speak with Kalizda about any official stance to be taken. Rising from the couch Illya glanced at Kalizda and then offered his hand to her. "I help yah up ef yah want and den I will go speak wit Edgar. I tink dis es someting dat dah Elders should know about. Dey will talk wit yah more about et before we go visit dah teacher at school. Dun worry. I will tell Edgar dat yah have plan tah make dah future better and den he knows tah talk to yah before he goes to dah oter Elders tah make solution tah present to yah."