The Sarran Senator (21 page)

::I’ll make a file,::
Sam said.

Sam and Tarin’s new aides were Yura and
Tamen. Their minder for Meg’s unborn offspring was Tession. They
immediately assigned Tession to Meg and her offspring when he
arrived. The fourth Warrior, Hith, went to Sara for Michael; the
fifth, Aranth, to Syn for Naffie, the sixth, Hake for Mary and the
seventh, Tober, to Zaron and Bron as a driver.

* * * *

Two risings later, the births began. Mark and
Anya teleported all over the planet to hold the hands of panicked
young Warriors, worried about their femspring. Seven risings later
all of the fems had given birth. The population of Sarran increased
by almost four thousand. The council was jubilant. The births went
smoothly with no complications and once the Warriors remembered how
to use the mind block, they proceeded with no pain for the
fems.

When everyone was delivered and settled, Anya
met Sara and Meg at Syn’s for coffee and tea. “That’s it until the
next wave hits,” Anya said with a sigh.

“You must be exhausted. You’ve practically
just given birth yourself. Why don’t you leave Mary with Syn, Sara,
and I and go lay down for a while?” Meg regarded Anya in
concern.

Anya glanced over at Syn who nodded her
head.

“I think I will. Between Mary’s feedings and
the moontine runs for the pregnant fems, I admit I’m tired.”

Anya went upstairs. “Jonal and Tonas were
worried about her. I’m glad you suggested she lie down. She can’t
leave Mary with her minder yet because she’s too young and needs
Anya for feedings.”

“Now that we have so many offspring and
femspring we’re going to have to investigate how the Sarran fems
took care of schooling. Naffie and Michael share a tutor now and
Sherry said that Allen and Well obtained a separate one for Jimmy
because he’s older, but soon we going to need to be more organized
about education,” Syn observed.

“The institutions for schooling fems are
non-existent, since after the plague struck there wasn’t a single
fem left standing. For schools for the fems, we have to start from
scratch. We need to do it soon. There are femspring that were
brought from Earth that need tutoring, not only in basic subjects
but a course on Sarran, Sarran culture, and customs.” Meg took a
sip of her tea. “I could use a course in that myself.”

“I’ve been dependent on Mark and Juraens, but
they know nothing about schools for fem, younger or older.” Sara
cocked her head, obviously thinking. “Why don’t we check the fem
archives?” The archives should say something about how fem were
educated. They certainly need to be taught to use the mind block
for birth.”

“We should also ask Zaron and Bron. They had
a femspring who had to have gone to school before the Iptz plague
ship arrived,” Syn said in reflection.

“Even if there are teachers among the fems,
they wouldn’t know how to teach Sarran science, math, or history
and although the off and femspring have the translator chips, they
and we should learn to speak Sarran without it or the bebes never
will.” Sara took out her comm and made some notes.

“How are the playgrounds coming along?” Meg
asked.

“Bron and Zaron have scouted out five
locations, one in each quadrant, and one near the Warrior Academy.
Bron and Tarin designed the equipment. They attempted to make it
challenging so that the playgrounds strengthen future Warriors and
femsprings physically and mentally.” Syn answered, “They are
fabricating the equipment, and Warriors are overseeing the
installations as we speak.”

“Tarin told me that he and Bron looked to
make the equipment safer, using material like that on the ship
underneath the jungle gym, swings, and sliders so if a rambunctious
off or femspring uses the equipment improperly, and they won’t get
seriously hurt.” Meg took a bite of one of Sara’s scones.

“They also plan to keep a WarriorPair on
guard at all of the playgrounds from rising to moontine on a daily
basis. Off and femspring are the cornerstone to rebuilding Sarran.
Sarran can quadruple its population and still have room for more
Warriors and fems,” Syn said.

“How are they going to work, manning the
playgrounds?” Meg asked.

“Like they do the fabricators. Every
WarriorPair will take a day, so it won’t be too onerous. The
Warriors know how important the off and femspring are, so we
already have volunteers to do the first three tides for all the
playgrounds.” Mary started to whimper the same time that Nara
did.

Naffie and Michael came running into the
chamber. Naffie was, as usual, the instigator. “Mary’s hungry. Can
we sit with her while TaMeg goes up to get TaAnya?”

“You can sit here next to Mary, but don’t try
to pick her up or you may hurt her,” Syn told them as she took Nara
out of what Bron called a
bebe cuddler
and opened her
blouse.”

“Nara likes the new cuddler,” Naffie said
matter of factly.

Syn raised an eyebrow. “And how do you know
that offspring?”

“Because Nara talks to me; we are siblings
after all, and since Michael is my bonded, she talks to him too.”
Michael nodded vigorously.

Anya came down the stairs, hiding a yawn
behind her hand. “I gather the princess is demanding to be
fed.”

“According to Naffie both Mary and Nara are
hungry and they like the new cuddlers,” Sara laughed.

“She didn’t tell me…” Anya sputtered.

“Nor did Nara say anything to me,” Syn said
dryly.

“We don’t have to be that close to talk to
them anymore although we like visiting with Mary. Oh! Grandpa and
Grandsire just transported into the courtyard.” Michael ran to the
door.

“Michael, this isn’t your house, let Naffie
answer the door,” Sara admonished.

“Mommie,” Michael explained patiently, “it is
my house, too. I have a bed here just like Naffie has one at our
house.”

Sara threw up her hands. “I give up. Even
Mark and Juraens don’t understand what’s going on with the
offspring.”

“Don’t be discouraged. Bron and Zaron have no
more understanding of this than we do. The offspring are off even
the Hi Psy chart.” Syn sighed.

Sam and Tarin came inside. “Michael and
Naffie met us at the door. I hope it’s okay that we followed them
inside.” Sam blushed when he saw that both Anya and Syn were
breastfeeding.

“We can return some other time,” Tarin
offered.

“Not necessary. The femspring have bottomless
stomachs. They eat every two hours, so there is no time anyone can
visit when they’re not eating, waiting to eat, or just finishing
up. You’ll see,” Syn said

“I’ve taken care of a baby. Mary and I had
Sara, but I fed Sara with a bottle of Mary’s milk so she could
sleep at night, but Sara only cried to eat every four hours, not
two,” Sam said thoughtfully.

“The Zinnas need some rest. Mary had a
gadget, a breast pump, that expressed milk from her breast so we
could put it in a bottle, maybe Bron and Tarin could work on
something like that. The Warriors could feed the bebe while their
fem gets some rest. It would also establish a closer relationship
between the sires and their bebes.”

“Mary and Nara said that they’d like that,”
Michael told his Grandpa.

“It would have to be fashioned so that it
doesn’t hurt the fem or make her sore,” Tarin said.

“Too late for that,” Anya said with some
sarcasm. “Trying feeding a child every two hours and see how well
your nips do.”

“Look in the fem archives. There has to be
some kind of numbing cream that won’t hurt the bebe. We don’t allow
fems to suffer any discomfort on Sarran. There has to be
something,” Tarin told her.

Meg picked up her comm unit and started to
search on
breast feeding.
“Aha, there is a numbing cream.
It’s made of Sarran herbs and the sap of the Tierest tree. I’ll
send the recipe out to all the Warriors so they can have the chefs
make enough for every fem on Sarran.”

“Can this be fabricated?” Tarin asked.

“I don’t think the active ingredients would
be as effective if they went through the fabricator,” Meg said,
examining the recipe.

“Then we have to have all of the chefs and
Warriors start making large batches immediately.” Tarin got on his
comm and broadcast the information and the recipe to all of the
WarriorPairs.

* * * *

Bron, Zaron, Jonal, and Tonas arrived in the
courtyard and came running inside. “PaChette, how can your Warriors
keep you from harm if you don’t tell us the problem? We’re going
down to the kitchen to work on this immediately.” Bron came to Syn
and put his arm around her shoulders.

“Tarin and I will work on this pump. It seems
like a simple design. We could have it ready and in the fabricator
by this evening. You don’t have to hurt to be a good Zinna.”

“Mommie, TaAnya, Mary, and Nara are sorry
they’re sucking so hard,” Naffie said.

Syn looked down at Nara, “You didn’t do
anything wrong. Your Zinna should have known to look in the
archives and not aspire to martyrdom.”

Anya giggled. “I’m the physician. I can’t
believe I was that dumb. I bet there is something on Earth that the
Zinnas use for this.”

“Probably not as good as this recipe. I’ve
noticed that the Tierest tree is the answer to most problems the
fem face, from gaining weight to nursing,” Meg observed.

“It seems it is,” Syn said wryly.

“This afternoon another issue came
up—schooling. Right now Naffie and Michael share a tutor, but how
do we teach the crowd that’s coming up behind them?”

“We had fems and Warriors who taught the
offspring and femspring. There are teachers among the fems, but
they’d need to learn the Sarran curriculum. It might be difficult
for the fems to grasp the math and science because it is so far out
of their experience, so Warriors might have to teach the femspring
until they get old enough to teach those behind them,” Tarin told
the fems.

“Some of our knowledge is passed on
mind-to-mind. The teacher gives the student the concepts by
reaching into their mind and then the students work problems to
prove they understand. Not all offspring or femspring are created
equal.” Tonas sat down next to Anya.

“Some will understand immediately; others may
never comprehend the principles. That’s why all occupations are
treated as having an equal value on Sarran. Every Warrior and fem
has a talent. What our education system does is develop the talents
that exist to their fullest possible potential,” Bron explained.
“You can rise to the top of your profession and get called to
council. TeAxit was a gardener. We don’t have professional
politicians. That’s why Sarran works.”

“That explains Tarin, but it doesn’t explain
Daddy,” Sara observed.

“That’s where you’re wrong; your sire is
Sarran’s resident expert on Earth.” Zaron patted Sam on the
shoulder. “His help is going to be invaluable getting Earth to a
point where they can help us fight the Zyptz.”

* * * *

Castle Air, 17:00 tines

Syn announced, “All of you might as well stay
for the moontine meal. I have a borad roast and a leg of lamb. Brok
and Tack can make mashed monk. I found a bulb-like tuber that
tastes a lot like garlic to add to the monc and the lamb and I
found some pods resembling peas. There was also a close Sarran
equivalent to mint so I have jelly for the lamb.”

“We’ll stay. Tarin and Bron won’t stop
working until they have a working breast pump that won’t hurt the
fems. Brok and Tack have already made up a batch of the nipple
cream,” Meg agreed.

The nipple cream worked and the seventeen
tines feeding went by with all of the fems leaving thank you
messages on Syn’s comm unit.

Syn, Anya, Sara, and Meg sat down with their
Warriors for dinner. There was no formality this evening and Naffie
and Michael were permitted to eat with the adults. It seemed that
off-the-chart psy for offspring was the norm on Sarran now. Once
the Earthen off and femspring arrived planet side, it seemed as if
their psy was magnified one-hundred fold. All of the Zinnas who had
offspring had bonded.

The class of Warriors now graduating from the
Academy would be the last until the new Earthen offspring and bebes
got an age where they could attend. “Why can’t the offspring go
early? If all of them are HiPsy there should be no problem with
them understanding the training and we would be able to mobilize
more quickly in case of attack. The fledglings in the Academy could
be armed and placed planet side while the Warriors fought above
us,” Syn said.

Meg was shocked. “Syn, they’re too
young.”

“Normally you’d be right, but we’ve been
developing psy weapons and the younger Warriors have more psy
potential then their older counterparts,” Tarin said gently.

“You have to remember, Sarrans are a Warrior
race, tasked with defending the galaxy. We are too few. Everyone
must serve,” Bron stated bluntly. Meg blushed.

An alarm sounded. A ship was coming in
through Sky Shield. It was the Starlight, Tarin’s former
engineering command and one of the ships left to guard Earth.
Garlance and Emot answered the door.

Captain Minneta teleported into Castle Air’s
courtyard. Zaron shouted, “Bron, Juraens, Mark, Tarin, Jonal,
Tonas, Sam—call the rest of the council. I have a feeling they are
going to be necessary.”

Captain Minetta came into the dining room
looking disheveled. “Report,” Zaron demanded.

* * * *

Earth, White House

John Morgan was getting frustrated. Getting
these fuckers to see reason was like shoveling sand in a windstorm.
His primary problem was the Middle East, who weren’t ready to give
up their long standing attitude that anything suggested by the west
had to be a bad thing.

“Madame President,” he said at their weekly
progress report, “I have Europe, Russia, China, India, Asia, the
Pacific Islands, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and all of Africa
on board. The only holdouts are the Middle Eastern countries with
the exception of Israel and Jordan. They need someone to provide
them with a narrative that fits their world view, perhaps Jihad
against the Zyptz.”