Void's Psionics (48 page)

Finding Renee naked, he spun around and put
away the long blade.

Callier had no such qualms
as she came in and turned on the lighting. Her nostril holes
flared.
“The time has arrived.”
She said, holding her own swollen belly as if she
was already five months pregnant. And she wore a traditional white
cloak to signify she was with child or that the child was still
dependant on her. Callier’s expected date would be in six more
weeks. And when Creelin are pregnant, they grow a pair of breasts
much like a human. Rather than milk, they produce a special kind of
silicone, though no human knows how they feed their young. Not
human anyway.

It was Renee’s genius mind that uncovered the
Creelin secret after Callier agreed to give a fresh sample of her
Creelin breast milk. That and observing two of them over a long
period of time. Enough time to learn their working biology outside
what she had read. She had uncovered how their race took in
nourishment. And it boggled her mind. They feed independently by
breathing after the first two years. They eat minute quantities of
nitrogen and oxygen, but process it so subtle, humans do not
understand how. And not just through their nose. Their skin
breathes too. Callier’s specialized milk would be squeezed by her
own hands and rubbed like lotion on her child. That was an
interesting conversation when Renee told them her own
observation.

Renee’s wandering mind quickly turned back to
the task after seeing her friend approaching calmly and
comfortably.

Oliver put on some pants and
moved away as Callier approached. Unable to get close when Callier
was needed and Renee’s stability need precedence. And as she did
approach, Renee gave herself a mild painkiller with her bracelet.
Callier helped a naked Renee stand and bend her knees while Creelin
fingers held her shoulders firm in event her knees went
weak.
“Just as practiced. You’ve done it
many times as a medic.”

Renee tried slowing her racing heart. It
didn’t help. Since it didn’t she looked down and released the
tiniest and most sensitive form of telekinesis trough her skin,
abdominal wall and into the womb where the premature baby readied
to greet the word. Renee felt her maternal instincts kick in and
made the grab much more careful. Very gently, and without feeling
pain of contractions, the sedative dilated her birth canal for a
smooth as possible race to freedom.

Going slow she felt Isabella travel down and
gently exited her body. No more than the size of her palm was the
premature child. And Renee burst in tears as she held her newborn
for the first time. Isabella had barely grown limbs and a deformed
head. It was too soon for fingers and vocal cords. But the barest
of movements showed she was alive. “She is so tiny!” she whispered.
Heard Sparky hiss and looked up to see Oliver’s burning gold eyes
at their daughter in her hand and out of the corner of the eye saw
Oliver must have thrown Sparky out of the way. “Olly?” he was too
still.

“
Fear not. His is a normal
reaction. Soon he will recover. He is merely learning his child’s
scent, but you must place her on your warm breast soon or the cold
will kill her.”
Warned Callier.

Renee wanted her daughter to live a long,
full life. So she tenderly placed the tiny mouth over her reduced
left nipple and Isabella’s barely formed mouth fit properly.
Carefully she willed her armor to make the pouch and the protection
warmed Isabella’s tiny pink body right up. And the new mother threw
on clothes, but turned her left breast pouch translucent so her
lover could see their firstborn and marvel at the new life she just
brought into the universe.

When she was clothed Oliver at last moved and
stared almost vacantly as his child, sniffing loudly and closely,
almost like an animal. An animal that took great care not to do
harm to something so fragile and barely alive that had been started
by his seed.

“
Isabella Void…” He at last
spoke in undeniable awe. The placid and vacant expression turned
jubilant. He dropped to a knee, placed his large hands on Renee’s
round hips covered in jeans to hold her still as his eyes were
fixed on her breast. “My daughter…”

“
We’re first time parents,
Olly.” More happy tears fell down Renee’s soft and flushed cheeks.
She kept one hand on his shoulder and the other moved gently to use
her pinky finger to caress her translucent covered breast. The
barest sensation on her nipple had her say “She’s suckling. I feel
her drawing my milk.”

“
Then she is strong.”
Rose crooned and leaned her neck over.
“Already taking from her parents.”

Out of reflex, but in control enough to know
Rose was no danger, he placed a hand on her snout. “Please go no
closer. I feel I’ll kill you if you try touching Renee. More than
that, I know it. You aren’t a herbivore and…”

“
No need to explain. I feel
the nature you have inside to protect your young.”
Rose said and retracted her long neck.
“I shall not
tempt your
wrath.”

“
Thank you.” He turned back
and leaned forward, placing a kiss over his child. “Hello, Little
One… I’m your father.”

Due to the intimate connection between Renee
and Sparky, Oliver didn’t react as the Drake got closer than
anyone. Nudging Renee’s cheek with the side of his hard head.

It was a time for celebration, but no one was
loud. In fact they were all very quiet, all staring at Renee’s
breast she didn’t bother hiding. She felt it was natural and a bit
of pride to show off she was caring for a child. Conversations were
minimal, but a change happened. When Callier placed a hand on
Oliver’s shoulder, Renee didn’t snap or lose sanity. They
congratulated him with hugs and brotherly pats, all but Renee who
only got physical affection by Sparky with her lover on edge.

But it wasn’t over as at first light all the
female Ligers all went into labor within minutes of each other. The
nine ancient cats had a range of cubs from two to six. In a span of
six hours twenty two new Liger cubs came out complete with fur.
Each one born the full size of an adult housecat, each snow white.
Lacking the telltale black stripes of their parents. Callier
assisted one female that struggled with her litter of three, using
telekinesis to safely extract them and unravel umbilical cords.

Excitement filled Renee’s words as she called
everyone in the family and friends telling Isabella had finally
arrived. The most vocal was Jessica, but Jake took up a fair share
of the conversation and made the decision that now all the young
were born, they were to head back to the Dorgenox forthwith as soon
as possible. As soon as all the mothers were physically able.

Something Oliver agreed to when the
Salamander filled range had grown restless and he sensed they had
all seemed to catch the scent of Isabella and he didn’t want to
destroy the mountains as he was sure to do if they got closer.

It was the next morning when
all was packed up and all the new mothers carried their young
safely attached to a nipple via their warm armor, that Callier and
Netul arrived in the communal room dressed in armor. Callier’s
armor breastplate sat in her shield as she still wore pregnancy
robes. It was she who said
“This is where
we separate.”

“
What? Why?” Renee expressed
sadness at this sudden revelation.

Callier’s eyes turned a soft
blue that signified she was grateful for the concern.
“Because I must ready my own family and all the
thousands of my children for their new brother. It will be six
weeks before he arrives, but I was hoping to request you be there
for his arrival?”

“
Olly turn around.” He did
and quickly Renee came over to embrace her new friend. “Of course
I’ll be there!” she backed away before her man could do something
bad to Callier. “You spent so much time with me and even helped me
with Izzy. I’d like to be your Caliiev if you’ll let me.” Caliiev
being the Creelin version of a midwife.

“
I would be honored, but my
firstborn daughter has already requested it when I told her I was
ready for another. I already approved. But I want
you
to be at my side when
he arrives.”
Callier rubbed her swollen
belly beneath the loose robe.
“You will be
one of the rare people to witness our traditions of birth… But
Oliver must be with Netul during it.”

“
It’ll depend on how long I
can be separate from Renee, but I’ll do my best. It is not easy
being away, but it is simpler now that Isabella has arrived. I’ve
calmed considerably. Yesterday I would have hurt you since Renee
hugged you moments ago… or tried.” He corrected after Netul gave
him a level look. It said he was just as overprotective of his
family. And would die defending before letting
any
harm come near them. “But we will
be there barring unforeseen circumstances.

“
Since I had plenty of time
to tinker, I haven’t told anyone yet, but I’ve unlocked the secrets
of teleportation.” He tapped his vambrace.

“
You… what?” Renee asked in
genuine surprise.

“
Yeah, took the past month
to unlock the secrets to biological teleportation via the
connection to this. It was harder to figure out than the
micro-drones, but after we were attacked daily, this past month I
considered the fastest way to make sure I got you out of danger.”
Oliver told her. “Running for weeks across a Beast planet was not
an option I would consider. Flight is faster, but not fast enough
in my opinion. As long as someone touches me with a bare hand or
natural living body part, I can teleport them at the cost of their
mass in my stored energy. Any place I’ve seen in short distances I
can instantly go to. But crossing solar systems requires me to
calculate stellar drift as when we look up, we stare into the
literal past since starlight is slower than FTL and FTL is slower
than instantaneous teleportation. The calculations are precise and
have to be when crossing, otherwise the system won’t
activate.”

“
Be warned, do not teleport
directly to our colony. You will be detained for illegal
transportation…”

“
But, Netul, the Archivers
gave me the open access I integrated into my suit.”

“
Planet. I mean teleport to
the
planet
. If you
arrive in space and ask for permission you won’t violate our laws.
Believe me, you weren’t given the level of clearance to our homes.
For teleportation can be used dishonorably. Adhere to proper
decorum. In time you may gain access and arrive in our home, but
for the near future you must understand…”

“
I got it. Didn’t think
about how it could upset them. I promise. Our blood oath remains.
Thank you for the warning. I didn’t know about it.” Netul inclined
his head. “Unless there is a pressing matter, we will be there for
the birth of your boy. And thank you for the additional company
these months. It was enjoyable.”

“
Much for us as well. Thank
you for allowing us the privilege.”
Netul
again inclined his ridged forehead.

Oliver shook his hand and then Callier’s. He
turned around when asked and Renee gave them both swift hugs and
kissed their cheeks. “We’ll miss you. And if you just wish to talk,
don’t hesitate. Olly and I are grateful for all you’ve done for
us.”

“
Same applies to
you.”
Callier motioned casually and her
shield and breastplate levitated over. Both she and Netul bid one
final farewell, closed their eyes, turned their head upwards and
vanished in a bright light.

“
So you can do that too?”
Renee asked as soon as they were gone.

“
Same principal, but their
way is different.”

“
How so?”

“
Well we can teleport by our
Valek at any moment and go where we please, but I’ve noticed how
they do it and back when your father was talking to Davan, I think
he figure it out too. Each time I’ve noticed a Creelin vanish they
always look up and keep their eyes closed. They probably link
telepathically to something that takes them from their location.
Like reaching for a fixed point that is simply waiting to be
activated. They don’t need to calculate stellar drift like me. It’s
the principal Davan is figuring out. Our fixed point is literally
portable because it is attached and integrated to our nervous
systems. You yourself proved they are by how they react by
concentration and not random thoughts.” He showed his right forearm
and she looked at her bracelet. “There are pros and cons with both
systems, but ours are always close and we do not require becoming
vulnerable to move. We can travel short distances instantly, which
is handy since…”

“
We can go straight to our
bedroom.”

“
Sorry, but the Dorgenox
isn’t fixed in place. If it moves even slightly we can teleport
inside a wall and kill ourselves. We can displace liquids, not
solids. Atmosphere and water in my calculations to unlock
teleportation will displace around our bodies. Physical matter will
not. One safety feature I found is when teleporting, a type of
energy bridge is made through hyperspace. If on the exit side there
is solid matter in the vicinity, the link will not establish. It is
the only thing that will keep us from blindly appearing in a place
we cannot safely exit. We
can
arrive above the village as it doesn’t move. Its
fixed and is less of a risk. Your bracelet can teleport too, but
only short distances. Short meaning anywhere on the current planet.
I found that out the night before Isabella decided to come out by
touching mine to yours. You can find it. I’ll show you how, but I
cannot unlock it. You must figure out how to do it yourself. My
mental calculations are above yours, but until I tell you all the
risks, you won’t be able to unlock your bracelet’s teleporting
function.”