The Ket Kiree - Chapter 1 Suddenly I was on what appeared to be the deck of a ship. All about me was polished wooden planks for decking and walls. Beyond them was a vague darkness like night seas. Above me appeared stars but with constellations unfamiliar to me. Around me were also what appeared to be sailors. They had very colorful clothes made of a shimmering silk-like material. But looking closer now it was apparent that my first impressions were not entirely correct. These sailors were not human, although they were definitely human-like. What they really were seemed to be a type of upright cat people. And I was standing up on some kind of crate and so had a much better view than those on the deck did. Most of these cat-people wore hats, brightly colored scarves, or some kind of head coverings. But they were clearly feline in appearance. Their ears were pointed and furry, though the fur looked very fine and might not be readily seen at first glance on their faces. These faces, though they had a bit of hair, were also quite human-like, but with a certain feline look. The nose was somewhat different in that it was wider and the nostrils were somewhat flared. And the eyes had definite cat pupils in them, and they seemed to shine with an inner light. They were also individually of different hues and colors, far more so than in men & women, I thought. I continued looking around and saw lots of yellow and green eyes, with a few in a dark black and even fewer in a pale blue. Some were a mixture of colors and even flecked with different shades of color. Wait a minute. I put my hand up to my head and felt a silky-smooth fur there. Yanking my hand away quickly, I put it in front of my face. Sure enough, massive and hairy with razor sharp retractable claws of an obsidian-black. Now I looked back down at those milling around slowly. In stature these creatures were, perhaps, a little smaller than mankind. But they held themselves with a very graceful poise and clearly were capable of some speed. My observations continued as other information flooded back into my mind. Now I noticed that most of these unusual creatures had long but sleek tails that often went up to their head or curled around their somewhat slender bodies. But these entities stood as upright as any man or woman although the legs seemed to slant slightly differently than humans at the knee. But the most surprising, to me of course, was that I was clearly one of them. Right down to the clothes, fur on all of me I could see, and what about my feet, I thought? As I looked straight down it became apparent that there were no shoes or boots below my knees, but rather just wider furry feet than expected. They ended in wicked claws painted alternately red & blue. Wonder what the females did to their claws, came unbidden to my mind. And speaking of the fair species, it appeared that about half those present were of the female persuasion. They all wore a lot of cloths so body type was difficult to tell, but the faces of the females were unmistakable. If anything they were more fierce-looking than the somewhat larger males. But at the same time they were definitely very female, as they tended to bulge in the right places. All in all they looked like a conference of large cat-gypsies. “Liseon, can you see the captain yet?” Suddenly I was flooded with the rest of my needed memories. My name was Liseon au Shamesh du Rigadal, or son of Shamesh of the Rigadal Clan. I held no real rank yet, although my father was a captain on another ship, and my grandfather was what we would call the admiral of this strange space based fleet. These people called themselves the Kiree which means “people of the infinite seas” in the language of their ancestors. They now spoke a much different version that was more useful to their trading ways. I also knew that not too long before we had been more warriors, and much more likely to take what we wanted than trade for it. But we were now, controversially, master traders in the wide spiral galaxy we called “home range.” But these were not really sailing ships. They were in fact ships of infinite space with reactionless drives augmented by infinity generators. But the culture of my people had caused our high science to give us the appearance of ancient Earth sailing ships, at least from the inside. It was done via a sort of “holographic technology” which we had acquired in the not too distant past, and it caught on with us. In reality we traveled between the stars and traded or sold goods, knowledge, or whatever fair exchange a particular planet or confederation could offer us as a value. But since space was at a premium we more often traded small luxury goods, technology, or ideas as they took up minimal space in our ships. And so science was almost as important to us as our abilities to squeeze the last dime out of a deal. Almost, but not quite. Our very lives depended on us being able to bring something of value and trading profitably for it. But we were completely honest and valued that at the top of our qualities. Sometimes too much some thought. They were the ones who opposed my grandfather in the clans. I also knew that by actual age I would be considered 13 or 14 on Earth and here close to becoming “of age” at 16. Before any more knowledge could flow to my brain I was forced to deal with the immediate. Someone had grabbed my arm and was tugging urgently on it. “If you can’t communicate any better than that, then give up your place cubling.” A female with a bright green blouse, a red bandana around her head, and deep blue baggy trousers was looking up at me. She was clearly older than me, though still youngish, and starred at me with bright green slitted eyes compounded with pale yellow pupils flecked with white. “Have you gone deaf as well as dumb Liseon. Hello, this is Rhillianna calling. Anyone home?” The last was followed by a hearty clout to the side of my head, causing those around me to laugh loudly. “Owww, why’d you do that that Rhi,” I howled back with my head spinning. She hadn’t exactly pulled her punch. “You were always a dreamer Li, but you are supposed to tell us when the captain is coming right now, you lamebrain. Not sleep at your post,” she finished. “Okay, he isn’t here yet. All right. He’s not in sight, and none of the officers have come out yet either.” Now I knew her. She was my best friend, even though she was almost half again my age. At least that was what I got from here appearance. She never answered questions about her age. And currently she was unattached and had never chosen to pair-bond that I had heard about. But I was also confusametated, as for a moment I seemed to be someone else from my dreams. My mind whirled and memories overlapped a bit. Where I was, in those memories, seemed to be on a green planet. But that didn’t make any sense as my kind never do well off our ships of space. Must just be a daydream, and one it seems I had before. Forget it for now. Maybe my mind was wandering also, because I knew I was hopelessly in love with my companion. But she was much below my station and potential rank and I still barely out of cub-hood as they say. She was certainly one of the most desirable of all the females aboard. I also knew it hadn’t done me any good so far. Males are always eternally optimistic. And she knew of my feelings, and delighted in teasing and teaching me all the ways of male and female games, without actually showing me or letting others show me. She was also my protector, I guess, which irritated me no end. I could take care of myself, as had been shown numerous times. In size, I was maybe as large as most adults already. My reflexes were much faster, and my grasp of any situation was lightning fast, even among those who honor speed and dexterity. Of course, my bloodline ran true. I knew great things were expected of me by all in my family. But I didn’t care much about that, right now. I just wanted to impress Rhillianna, which was just about impossible to do. No matter what I did well, or even great, she simply didn’t seem to notice. Or if she did notice because others saw it, she simply acted like she didn’t care. “Let me up there if you want to daydream then, and I will give the call,” she purred up at me in that irritatingly superior manner that seemed to excite all the males around her, and even some of the females. She acted in that highly and dangerously flirtatious manner, but she could definitely handle any situation as experience had shown me. I even learned a lot from her in that way. It only made me mad when she did it though. Maybe that was why she tolerated me and ignored much more appropriately aged male company. She never seemed to care about rank. “I can do it just fine, female Kiree, I purred dangerously back to her.” Then, “Ahhhh, here they come.” Now loudly, “Captain and command officers now on deck. Darmsha (Pay attention).” A earsplitting “HASHAW” (We give our attention) greeted this. Everyone including myself, now stuck their right arm out with palm down and claws fully extended. The captain now said, “Duty and Honor.” This was repeated by everyone and then claws retracted and the arm brought back to the left shoulder and then dropped casually back to the waist. What followed next was simply the posting of duties and stations for the next 5 dua (day) watches. It ended with general announcements and a final surprise, as I was summoned to the captain’s station after the session was over. This really was a surprise, as he had not spoken to me other than in passing this entire Sirius run. He was a busy man, and myself only a 2nd level apprentice to the 3rd mate, although with high family station to be sure. It was common practice to “outboard” high family sons and daughters to ships other than where they were likely to end up. That is, if one didn’t totally screw up, which was a real possibility. The family was always fair, but they didn’t tolerate underachievers well. That is why I studied and worked diligently to learn and advance in the rankings, So far my advance had been far faster than average. But had I overstepped myself somehow? There were many feuds and politics were a complicated business, among the families and clans who always vied for prominence and better trade status. For some time my family, the Rigadal, had been the command family. The Sirrus Family, whose system we were now heading for, had previously been in command, and we were much more likely to raid than trade when they were in charge. But then my family had allied with outship aliens, and taken over the command more than a generation ago. Now it was rumored that they, the former command, were making a play to take back that, which was so long theirs. There were still many that wanted a return to the old more glamorous and dangerous days. A reckoning was coming. As soon as the command had left I asked Rhesha if I should dress more formally to see the Captain. “Did he ask you to come entertain him or to report immediately?” she asked sarcastically. “But he didn’t say for what purpose he wanted me for.” “Then go and present yourself immediately and perhaps if he is in a good mood, he will tell you. Duty and honor cubling” “Ree, this is the captain. I dare not lose any status with him or Mother will kill me.” Just then a snarling fight broke out beside us on top of some crates between two four legged and smaller versions of the Kiree called kets, who likely wanted the same spot in the artificial sun. There must be one ket for every crewman on board. There was a lot of trouble between some of these individuals sometimes, as it seemed they played the same dominance and politics games the Kiree families did. But they were indispensable on board for many reasons. And they were often called “the conscience of the Kiree” for they were impeccable in their honor. “Share or go elsewhere ghi-ghi’s,” Rhi mentally snarled at them. As usual they instantly obeyed her and departed. “How do you get them to mind you so easily?” I asked. “At least the ones not bonded to you.? They generally ignore me, except for my Talis. And he I raised from before his eyes opened. We bonded just after his mother died of the scarost, and before he could even see me. But I get nowhere with any others, though they always seem to hang around me.” “You have to first get their attention. I project my great love for all of them, and all of the Kiree, to them to get that attention. It is called “intention”, and you must learn to use that or you will go nowhere in the ranks. Then they know you mean what you say when you say it. How many times have I told you to always say what you mean and mean what you say?” “Why are you always so hard on me, Rhi?” She looked at me for a long minute and then motioned me to sit down on a bench next to the railing. As I did, she sat next to me and took up both of my paws before continuing. “Do you know the history of these creatures you take so much for granted?” “Well, err, I guess I never gave it much thought,” I stammered looking into her dizzying eyes. “Listen and learn as it will be very important to know this information one day when you will very much need their help, both here and elsewhere,” she said seriously. She then went on to tell me the history of what we call kets or the ket-Kiree. These four leg feline companions had always been with the Kiree. They had actually followed us into space at the time our planets became uninhabitable, maybe ten thousand standard solars ago. But they had not been numerous at first, and were highly prized for their abilities to communicate mentally with their selected Kiree companion. And they rarely bonded with more than one, often refusing to eat after their bondling died. Some believed that the ket-Kiree bond was sacred and a quasi-religion had grown up that called them our other souls. These Kiree believed that our departed souls inhabited these creatures after a Kiree died. And duals were fought, bribes paid, and great sums of mana had changed hands to acquire especially gifted or desired unbonded kets as babies, before they became more abundant recently. The reasons they were in such demand was that they were completely incorruptible, honest, and loyal to both their bondlings and the Kiree in general. While they would take suggestions from their companion, they would never do anything to hurt another Kiree. It was kind of a law or something for their species. And they never accepted outshippers. They were once very rare and they were still highly prized. And it is believed, by some, that their species had changed the entire course of the Kiree. They and our recent alien “friends.” We were contacted by an outship race of great power because of a ket, or so Rhi told me in this tale of tails. Apparently a Kiree scout ship had become disabled while exploring a heretofore unknown region of space. All aboard had perished except for a few of the kets who had been found with a very young Rhillianna. The aliens had found her and returned the group to the fleet. That didn’t make any sense to me as that would make Rhi much older than she appeared. No one had ever actually seen these mysterious beings, aboard their huge ship, except Rhilli. They had such incredible mental powers that they had completely bypassed communication equipment and spoken directly to our leaders including my family. Apparently that was the start of the ascendancy of the Rigadal family as we listened and benefited from the aliens advice, where others held back or rejected it. And we had then been able to greatly increase the numbers of kets with breeding techniques given to us by the strangers. This made us very rich. And very powerful. We had traded well and became dominant soon afterwards. The unseen outship aliens had long since departed and the new course charted by my family had benefited our entire race. But not all were happy or content with these new ways. But the kets seemed quite content with what we were doing and made it clear to their bondlings that this was so. For this reason some families had very few kets. There was a certain moral temper that the kets “unofficially managed.” “Now you know why these incredible creatures are so important to all Kiree, Liseon.” I stared back into her unusual eyes and said, “Why haven’t you told me this before, and will you tell me the tale of when you met the outship aliens?” I asked. “And how old does that make you?” “Talk, talk, talk, is that all you want to ever do? Besides, what would take some time, and I have vowed not to tell the tale until it is time. But you may hear it from me in the future if you earn the right. Would you like to start earning the right, or would you prefer to do your duty right now?” “Okay, you are right. It is time for duty now so I must go see the captain. But I will do whatever you require to get that tale. And talking isn’t all I want,” I purred “We will see. For now I will stroll with you. Old Gantos will still be taking off his formal attire from the briefing, and will not appreciate you rushing him.” “How do you know so much about everyone Rhi?” “I listen and observe carefully cubling. And if you did as much you would achieve even more and faster. Observe, observe, observe. How often do I have to tell you?” She was right. I was way too hasty in my judgments and action. But I was usually always right. And as if she read through my mind shields she said, “Being right is not always enough. You must also know why you are right. You have very good instincts, and they serve you well. But you do not yet have a clue as to why things happen as they do. Watch, listen, and learn. There is always enough time for action. Too many Kiree leap into action only to discover there was really no need. Many are fools or worse. Hear my words and learn, or die young and unlamented Liseon au Shamesh du Rigadal. Now, let us stroll to the captains offices.” She took my arm and steered me in the right direction. Normally I would have enjoyed this close attention, but since she almost never used my formal name, she had me seriously thinking about what she had just said. The situation in the fleet was a bit tense now. The reason was easy to understand what with the politics of dominance going on. But the timing was a complete mystery me. Why now? I quickly reviewed current history as we strolled. There were two dozen major family clans of the Kiree, and maybe two hundred minor ones. Each family had from two to a dozen mother ships, for trading among the stars. And there were many smaller trading vessels, scout ships, and such on each mother ship. And on each larger ship was a command crew, composed of the family who actually owned the ship. But the crew was made up from all the different families, depending on the skills needed. Attempts to keep just one family on each ship had caused the constant internal strife that had led to many duals and even a few accidental deaths. Kiree do not kill Kiree. At least not in my lifetime. But duals sometimes get out of hand, and the families not only lose the one killed, but then the killer must commit Plashu, or ritual suicide, and thus two are lost. It was decided, from almost the beginning of our race leaving our planets, to go into the infinite reaches of our galaxy, that each family would spread their members amongst the various ships to stop the duals and to encourage outbreeding. Genetics had become a real concern until our trading ships had met those aliens from an unknown wandering planet they called a ship. It was they who had taught us the ways to prevent this within our own race as well. That is why all crew must now breed for offspring outside their family. Love affairs were tolerated without license, but any offspring were immediately destroyed, and the offenders punished by separation. All permanent pairings had to be approved by the ships captain. This, of course, had to do with politics almost as much as genetics. Mostly, casual liaisons were the rule, except in the command families. Here another set of rules applied. Here was politics at its best, and worst. Arranged marriages were the rule as the various families attempted to make alliances and allies of other families. Matchmaking was a fine art, and none were better at it than my Mother. Upon marriage, the woman became a member of her husband’s family, and gave all loyalty to it. My Mother was originally a Kecsh, which has been a traditional ally of our family, so she was somewhat more enthusiastic in serving our family needs than some others. The only rule that seemed unbreakable was that “command to marry” command. Everything else could be bargained for. That was a real problem with me, as I badly wanted Rhesha, but knew my family would not approve. If I managed to find a captain to approve it, he would have to be of another family and not care about the enmity of the Rigadal. This likely meant he would be opposed to my family, and this would certainly sunder me from them. This was my dilemma, and I was trying to find a way around it, and had in fact asked for a meeting with my Mother just a sect ago. But there had not been enough time for her to get this message and decide how and when to act on it yet. One did not simply transship in space. It was a serious thing, and almost always awaited a planned docking in orbit for trade. This was some ways off, so that is why I was very curious about the meeting with Gantos, who was my distant uncle. The constant power struggles were a bit of a bore to me, but they were clearly going to be important to my future. At least if I rose to my capacities and families expectations. Learning all the ins and outs of how the system worked was difficult. But Rhesha seemed to know them all and delighted in telling me endless tales of how the whole system worked, and all the latest gossip from both our ship and others. It was true that communicator vids made keeping in touch with others on other ships easy. But since they were all open circuit and anyone could listen in, they were not a reliable way to talk to anyone, if you wanted any privacy. Because of this an elaborate system of codes were constantly in use. And because rival trading families were always searching for any edge, there was constant espionage, new codes, counter code shifts, and all that went with that game. Actually, I was quite good at that part, as it was really a mental game, where one had to watch for subtleties within subtleties. A good memory was essential, and much time was spent teaching younglings and cubs how to remember long strings of information. Some Kiree were said to be so good that they could name every star within visual range. They always rose far and fast in the family who found and trained them. Most became councilors to high ranking command members, as they were faster than even the mnemonic machines employed for navigation among the stars. Just then we reached the command deck, and the two guards who restricted access to it. Actually, one was my cousin third Balisha. “Shaar, Li,” (Greetings Li) he said with a half salute suitable for a very junior officers or officer apprentice. Then he nodded his head slightly forward and to the left, to indicate welcome to a family member. “Shaar Bal. I am here on order from the captain.” I returned the acknowledgment. His tail flicked quickly as he looked at Rhillianna and then back at me. She undraped her arm from mine and stared directly at him, with a half smile on her beautiful exotic face. “I, um, didn’t hear anything about her being summoned,” he stammered. She had that effect on most males. I looked at her and then at the other guard, whom I knew only slightly. He was also staring. “Well, see you later Li,” she said, while spinning abruptly around and walking away with that infuriating smile on her face. We all watched her sway gracefully away as she exaggerated her hip role like a crew woman drunk on jollis juice. Then we all looked at each other and smiled. “How did you rate her?” Balisha asked incredulously. “I wish I knew, but we are really just friends, since I came aboard 16 sects ago. She sort of became my unofficial guide. But we will see, when I talk to Mother, how that goes, “ I said. “But she isn’t family is she?” Bal asked. “She is Tastic (no family). No one, including her, seems to know her family. She was a survivor from a hulled ship. But she looks and acts like Rigadal, even if distant,” I finished hopefully. There were a few rare cases where an entire ship had been destroyed in an explosion or uncharted space debris collision. Sometimes, only the very young survive in an escape module, and no one knows for sure who is who. All families have lost ships and the survivors, if young, are raised by the family who finds them. They generally are not allowed to produce offspring now as their genetics are not known for sure. Mutation in space is a real problem, and genetic records insure that freaks are carefully weeded out of the gene pool, to protect our race and especially to keep the individual command families blood lines pure. This was vigorously enforced when my family came to power “If you say so Li. If you say so. I’ll let them know you are here. Do you need Joss here to show you the way?” my cousin said while keying a comvid. “No, I remember the way from my first tour. But thanks. Give my respect to your Mother from me.” With that I went up the few steps and down the hallway to the first left. Another left and I was at the captain’s door, where I rapped my hand sharply three times, meaning an expected visitor. Ten seconds later the door was opened, and I was waved in by an older Kiree whom my memory said was Marrdon, the Captains Chief Aide and councilor. “Welcome Liseon au Shamesh du Rigadal. Please go on into the sitting room. The Captain is expecting you.” “Thank you Marrdon.” The entry room was rather austere, being only about ten meters squared, and with no furnishings. There were synwood doors on each wall and the walls were clearly functional plasti. But when I was called into the captains room, where he entertained visitors, I knew it would change greatly. Upon entering, the senses were staggered if one was not prepared. This was, of course, on purpose to disarm anyone coming here for the first time. Opulence would be a slight understatement. The walls and furniture were all in real wood, which was quite a luxury due to the trading cost for worked wood light enough to justify installation. But he was a full captain, of a rich trading family. On the walls were rich tapestries and oddly colored pictures and paintings from many worlds. Different species see differently depending on the sun’s spectrum from their world of evolvorigin. So one could easily become overwhelmed trying to fathom why mountains were gray-blue on some worlds, and seas were reddish-orange on others. I was too young to go groundown yet, but many vidisks were available for study. To truly appreciate an entire world, from its inhabitants view point, the Kiree had made great studies of customs, tastes, economic systems, and prized commodities, from metal to art on all the worlds they visited. And especially there ideas that might have market value elsewhere. To do this special exploring, ships were often sent out to visit, categorize, study, and determine locals trading possibilities. Whatever was necessary to achieve this was done. Often filters to see colors the way the locals did were employed. One of our most useful tools was a Parsee helmet. This hot piece of techgear allowed our kind to program in how senses, appropriate to a given plant, seemed to the local indiges perception. Then, by cross referencing to other cultures on other worlds, we could determine if some object, art, or sound would be appealing to another world. Of course it still required a lot of speculation and guessing and even goddess luck, or Zharama, to make a profit from the deal. That is why many objects of great apparent value, ended up in captains quarters, to remind him or her that the great deal may look great. But the value in the eyes of the beholder may not equal what was paid for it. Luckily for me, while I had not been in this particular sitting room, there were many others that I had experienced, with my family, while going through cubhood. So my distraction period was only momentary, and then I was saluting my captain with formal acknowledgment. “Hasha Gantos au Gasha du Rigadal. What are your commands?” “Tamsha. (I acknowledge/see your attention/obedience) Okay, now that is out of the way come and give your uncle a hug you young ket.” After being nearly crushed by one of the few Kiree bigger than myself, I stepped back at relaxed attention and kept my mouth firmly in a downward grimace as etiquette called for. To grimace with mouth corners turned up would be to show disapproval and to actually open my mouth, so that my sharp carnivore teeth showed at all, would be an actual challenge to the other. I understood that on some worlds the very opposite was true. “I have been too busy to actually see you boyo, but I have had excellent reports on your work ethics and schooling progress on my ship. Your Mother would be proud of you.” “Thank you sir. I try at all times to remember family duty and honor .” “That is good Liseon au Shamesh du Rigadal. For someone is waiting to talk to you about that very thing.” Behind him a vidicam screen started rising up from what I had thought an ornamental table. The face on it was quite familiar. “ Hash dorma (I make formal greetings) Mother.” This was stunning. I had not expected to talk to her until next planetfall. What could be so important that it was done on a rather public comvid. “The waves are running my son.” This was code for obey what you are told without question. “As always I ride them the best I can Mother.” (Okay?) “It is with great pleasure that I formally announce the betrothment of my eldest son Liseon au Shamesh du Rigadal to the eldest daughter Larresha Kimmee aul Sharn du Sirrus. May the union bring to both families light, love, and good trading.” She watched closely for my reaction. My eyes got as round as a large paw but my trained response was, “As always your wisdom will be implemented.” Her mouth tightened closed and she tilted her head forward and left slowly to express her satisfaction and acknowledge my correct duty to the family. She also showed that she understood the hidden message in my words that said, “I will obey but you will explain this thoroughly to me later.” “That is very good. Your father is nova about this as well.” (Meaning he had gone ballistic but now agreed). She finished with the big surprise, “In view of this historic occasion, Admiral Rigadal has authorized a runabout to bring you to the Sirrus leadship, for a banquet to formalize this very historic occasion.” Now she looked at me with that serious look only a mother Kiree has. “We are going to a very important and turbulent planet shortly. And the Reptillians are in firm control, but their time is running out and the tide is turning against them.” I blinked. This was news to me but would now spread. Clearly all the high command knew this, had discussed it, and this was now the time to disperse that knowledge. I looked at my Uncle at his desk and then said, “Is this to be common knowledge and what part of the fleet is to be honored with this assignment which is clearly of some importance, danger, and thus potentially profitable my Mother?” Her smile told me all I really needed to know. “That would be for the command only my son. But you will get a chance to play a part as well. For your other being is already there, as are some of the fleet in scout ships only. Do your duty my son.” Not knowing what else to say I ritually replied, “As always my Mother.” “ Light, love, and good trading my beloved son.” Somehow I made it back to my cabin with no memory of anything else. “Open up you slowheaded cubling.” Someone was pounding on my door and yelling loudly. Only Rhilli would be so bold. She was also the very one I needed to talk to. She would tell me how to get out of this mess. Then I could tell her how I really felt about her. Opening the door, I broke custom by grabbing her in a hug, and pulling her inside regardless of how this would appear to any nearby crew. She tolerated it for a few seconds and then twisted from my grip and pushed me backwards so that I stumbled in the very small space, and fell awkwardly onto my fold down bed. “Don’t do that again unless you are prepared for the consequences, my friend.” This was a different Rhesha than the one I had known the last six (months). “Of course I know what has happened, you new born ket. You were likely the last to see this coming. But your family is trying to keep the peace, and to keep a challenge from happening. This was the only way it could be accomplished. Sharing two possible heirs, between two powerful families, and thus compromising rather than facing a challenge to command leadership. It is a good trade. Neither family could predict the outcome of the unrest, so this was the smart trade to make.” I was trying to sit up and gather some shred of dignity before speaking. But actually I was fighting a losing battle with the bed, and finally just lay there, and glared up at her. She started giggling, and finally, unable to contain herself, started a full throated laugh that ended up with her sprawling across me in the bed. Not able to help myself caused an equally silly laughing fit to spill out from my being as well, and we both lay there laughing and holding on to each other. “Ah Li, you have no idea what you are in for do you? My poor baby, if only you knew the adventure you are soon to sail off on. Yes, yes my dear. I know how you feel about me. But I am not who, or what, I seem. You could not help but thinking you love me. To your kind I am actually a goddess. It was my blessing and duty to watch over you the last few sects. There was great danger that you were not aware of. And it is not quite over yet. So you will have me for a bit longer, I think. But not quite the way you thought.” I was absolutely intoxicated by her near presence in a situation I had only dreamed of, but never really expected to happen. But before I could tell her this she spoke again. “My poor little Li. All is not as it appears. And matters of great cosmic import are happening in many realities simultaneously that require my attention.” She untangled herself from my embrace. Then she got up and straightened her attire, which as always, consisted of very little to hide her litheness. “I don’t know what you mean. But you are of course ‘my’ goddess. What do you mean about all is not as it appears?” The equivalent of a sad smile flashed across her beautiful face, and disappeared quickly. “I think you should start getting ready for the runabout shuttle the admiral is sending for you. Your duty is clear, boyo. I’ll help you pack so you don’t end up at a formal dinner with only your birthday suit.” She laughed lightly at her clever jest, and I did a well. “But Rhe, I don’t even know who this Larresha is, or what she looks like. And Kimmee, what kind of a name is that?” “Always looks and never mind the soul eh Li? What does it matter if she is barask faced and four times your age.? Would you dishonor your family?” She stopped rummaging through my cloths and looked me directly in the eye. There were no eyes in Kireedom like hers I knew. You could see great depths and maybe a hint of fire in them, and I had never been able to long look into them when she unshuttered them completely like that. I drew myself up sternly and said, “Of course I’ll do my duty.” But then I wavered a bit and said, “Goddess grant she not be too ugly, it does matter you know. There is no way I will be able to, well, um, you know with her, if she is too ugly.” She looked sternly at me for a moment and then giggled suggestively and said, “Well I hope she isn’t too ugly, so that you can successfully, you know, her properly.” “That’s not funny Rhi,” But then she started laughing and before long we were both laughing so hard we said down on the deck. “Okay, we really have to get you ready,” she said while wiping her eyes with the back of her paw to clear the laughter tears away. “Besides, I don’t want any more gossip about you and me to get to your princess then she will already hear.” “Oh my goddess you’re right. I am sorry. Mother will skin me for her new bed throw if she hears you were in my room right after her announcement. You’d better go Rhi.” “Don’t worry. They know all about me. It was my suggestion that I watch you furry bottom when you left their ship for your first out-training. Everything is as it should be. But you are right, I must now go. There is much else I must do right now.” “Will I see you again, my true friend? I mean I don’t know what will happen to me now. I never considered this as an option for this part of my life.” “Don’t worry youngling. You will not be married for a full turn and many sects according to custom. You will learn much, with many surprises in that time, if you keep your eyes open and your wits about you cubling no more. And perhaps she will not be as ugly as you fear. And maybe, just maybe, she will have a soul equal to your own. One never knows for sure, except the goddess of course. Trust in her and all will be well.” She waited and when I didn’t respond said, “And I hear we are going to a very beautiful planet that we have helped seed in the distant past with our Kets. It should be interesting to see what they are like after this long time on their own with no proper supervision. And as always I will be there to clean up the mess you will no doubt make.” With that she turned quickly before I could say another word, opened the door, and quickly disappeared from my life. For a while at least. What was I to do now without my best friend. Well, best to get ready to face the future whatever it turned out to be. Besides, all this emotional stuff, had made me hungry. Wonder if a quick snack was available? Samuel Breidenbach |