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  Here they were, Alpha only a couple weeks pregnant, being assailed by too many dangers to count. Dargon already lay injured. Alpha and the kits would not be safe until Zeus could return with them to Atlainticia. He even worried about Star Eater, Alpha's son. Did being a Marked, a part of an Alpha Trine, make him a father figure to Star Eater? Gods, he hoped not. Zeus sighed heavily. His family had grown so quickly, and he could not protect them properly.

  Europa and Laeretes slowly approached him. The Monticore closed in, but made no hisses of warning. "Prince Zeus. We would be honored if you allowed us to transport Star Eater to your ship."

  Star Eater was nearly as tall as Madux. Carrying him through the sand to the shuttle would be difficult at best. As much as he did not want to rely on them, the strength of the Feteine would be helpful. "Please speak to Prince Mestor and obtain his permission to dock in the shuttle bay."

  "We have already acquired permission to be aboard," Europa replied. The four Feteine who had escorted the remaining V'Saar returned with the emissaries. At a nod from Europa, they laid hands on the V'Saar and with a plop and the displacement of air, three of the Feteine and the V'Saar disappeared.

  Zeus sensed something press against his skin, as if an invisible wave washed over him and made his stomach roll with nausea. "What!" He choked on the word, reflexively reaching up to touch Alpha.

  "We are fine," Alpha reassured him.

  "That is how we travel when we are in small numbers. They leapt to the coordinates given to them by Prince Mestor. Laeretes will take Star Eater. If you so desire, I will transport you as well," Europa explained.

  "I appreciate the offer, but no." Even if Dargon did not wait at the shuttle, and if he did not worry about Alpha or the kits, Zeus would not be quantum leaping anywhere—ever. It felt … wrong, somehow.

  Europa paused, as if she expected him to give a different answer. He did not know much about the Feteine. They were unlike any race he had contact with. The recent events made him cautious. Maybe more cautious than necessary, but he could not ignore his distrust of their actions.

  "If you do not mind, I would be honored if you would allow me to travel with you."

  Zeus’s suspicions increased. He accepted Madux's hand up, using the action to delay his answer.

  "Alpha, do you see it?" Zeus thought maybe he read something more than he should into Europa's actions.

  "I agree, she wants something. She watches us. We must be wary."

  Zeus met her gaze, her eyes a brilliant blue and almost alive, almost human, for a being made of metal.

  "As you wish," he replied.

  Madux must have felt Zeus’s unease, for he did not move away once Zeus gained his feet. Nor did Madux usually claim Zeus’s elbow as an escort either, but Zeus was grateful for Madux's actions. It did not escape his notice that Europa eyed Madux's proprietary hold.

  "Zeus, come. It is time to leave," Azaes called impatiently. He and Mestor stood next to the doorway with their guard of Monticore. Mestor glanced between Zeus and Europa, his tail lashing in agitation as he leaned over to whisper in Warlord Sohm'lan's ear. Blue, reptilian eyes narrowed as Sohm'lan turned his gaze towards Zeus. He was not the only suspicious Mar'Sani.

  He gestured toward the door. "After you."

  Europa's rubber-like lips pressed into a tight smile as she gave a brief bow.

  The guards surrounded Zeus and Madux before they began to follow Europa out. Zeus glanced around, searching for a familiar gray-and-red plume of feathers. With growing alarm, he scanned his group once again.

  "Madux, can you see Axis?" The healer's height meant he would see things Zeus did not.

  Madux's lips twisted into a smirk. "Yes, he is with the Chimera, ahead of Prince Azaes and Prince Mestor. For two years, Axis has been aloof. He is friendly, but normally he keeps his own company. I do not recall him being this infatuated with anyone before."

  Although curious about Madux’s meaning, Zeus did not bother to crane his neck to see. There would be no point; Madux was more than a head taller than he. However, it was a strange comment. Most Mar’Sani had a healthy respect for the Chimeras. Most did not approach them or brave their company.

  They followed the red stone pathway winding through the white sand dunes. Threatening clouds rolled overhead, and Zeus could not help but feel the sky reflected his restrained emotions. Lightning flashed in their depths and highlighted the boiling white caps of the thunder clouds.

  He was not the only one gazing at nature's display. Europa stared, and for the first time, the segmented plates of her face moved, transforming her cool blank mask into an expression of awe. Zeus glanced up again. Surely, she had seen a thunderstorm before? When he glanced back to her, she stared back at him with the same look of wonder on her pale mechanical face.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Alpha felt bloated, as if he were stretched too tight. It had been a very long time since he had experienced a day as stressful as this one. Once again, the V'Saar threatened all he held dear. Long ago, he made many vows after the loss of his loved ones. He worked hard to guarantee the galaxies on this side of the grid would never face the devastation or the heartbreak he and Zeta endured in a time he wished to forget.

  Alpha-Zetamite. It had been a long, long time since he had been referred to thusly. How many lifetimes ago had he went by that name alone and felt pride without a twinge of sorrow? A thousand? Ten-thousand?

  He and Zeta had been the first to rise to awareness, back in the beginning when there were no races, no species, no other life to be found. Together, they produced offspring: Star Eater, born first of the ancient race once called Ryo'Pardeep. Countless millennia passed, the cosmos grew, galaxies multiplied, he and Zeta drifting down different paths only to eventually end up together again. Drawn by two races, they integrated with them, knitted into a family once again.

  He deeply loved his Ryo'Pardeep offspring, but when he found his bondmates, that was the first time he had felt whole. When he fell in love, he finally understood what he lacked. He and Zeta had been caretakers for so long that they knew no other way to live.

  Living and loving were not the only lessons Jiann and Volante taught him. The day he found his beloveds in the queen's hive, he learned the concept of loss, sorrow, and marrow-eating fury. The V'Saar fled like sheep before him and Zeta. He gathered what was left of his family to him just in time for them to breathe their last.

  Nothing—absolutely nothing contained his sorrow. He did not know how long the war continued, how long he allowed murderous rage to consume him until one day he woke numb, exhausted, and tired of a conflict that would not bring back his loved ones.

  A treaty was offered to the queen. He, Zeta, and what was left of their young moved on to other galaxies, and Queen Isolt vowed to stay away. They devised the grid knowing full well that Queen Isolt would not be satisfied with the agreement. After enough time passed, she would forget the lessons of war. The Council of Neighn was formed for the coalition of races who signed the pact, swearing to maintain the grid, and live by certain interstellar rules.

  When he and Zeta came across the crippled planets of the Dar Massaga, they offered their help to the dying race. Alpha thought himself to be forever broken, and yet the Dar Massaga people slowly taught him how to love again. He counted himself blessed to have a second chance at happiness. Unlike the bond he shared with Jiann and Volante, binding the three of them together in a Trine, linking their lives to his own and allowing them to experience his longevity, Alpha's involvement with the Dar Massaga meant he would outlive each partner to whom he became a symbiote. He accepted the limitation, because he loved the people and wanted to see them thrive and prosper again.

  He and Zeta were only a small part of the Alpha-Zetamite, one being split into smaller pieces to become symbiotes. He knew of other Alpha-Zetamites who had once again found a Trine connection. At times, he either experienced extreme jealousy or joy for them, but never did he believe he would know that level of bonding again.


  Until Zeus.

  Now, with the V'Saar crossing the weak points in the grid, one faction sought to control the key and threatened his new-found happiness. The first children he had co-fathered in several millennia nestled within him. He had not chastised Zeus for worrying about their safety, because he too fretted over their small family unit. Never again would he hold his loved ones while their lives expired.

  Zeus called his name, pulling him out of his ruminations. "You were not always the symbiote?"

  Alpha felt chagrined. He did not realize his shields had lowered, allowing Zeus access to his thoughts. He had yet to share all of his past with Zeus and Dargon. However, he did not detect any negative emotions from Zeus: simply a curiosity and a bit of his own sorrow mirrored within Zeus, as if he shared Alpha's pain.

  "No, my independence cost my bondmates their lives. If I had been with them, the V'Saar would not have been able to take them. The separation from me killed them just as much as what the V'Saar had done to them."

  "Alpha, their deaths are not your fault." Zeus’s soft mental whisper held a wealth of emotion Alpha wished he could withdraw from. He did not know if he would be able to continue the conversation without sweating tears.

  As if Zeus understood Alpha's fragility, he made no further comments, merely petted Alpha with a soothing hand as they rounded the last sand dune to the landing platform cluttered with several shuttles waiting to transport them back to The Gorgon.

  Zeus sped up. Alpha sensed his desire to see Dargon, the intensity matching his own. Zeus climbed into the shuttle and made his way to the stretcher secured to the wall. A thin, soft blanket covered Dargon's body to the chin. Zeus mumbled a thank you to the guard who offered him the seat at the head of the medical bed.

  Sitting down, Zeus laid a hand on Dargon's upturned cheek. Alpha scanned Dargon's body, searching for anything Star Eater might have missed and discovered the newly-repaired nervous system working as it should. He did not understand how Dargon blocked the pain from the Qrxzl attack. From what he could see, the damage to both Dargon and Zeus had been extensive. Although their bond to him would have guaranteed their recovery eventually, he would be eternally grateful for Star Eater's assistance. The Qrxzl, on the other hand, owed his family reparations. Earlier, Zeus trusted Azaes to handle those negotiations. Alpha would wait and see what had come of them, fully expecting Azaes to show the Qrxzl no mercy. If he had learnt anything about the Mar’Sani, it was that they protected their own, responding viciously to any who threatened family safety.

  "What do you see? Will he recover?"

  How fortunate he and Dargon were to find Zeus. "As far as I can tell, he will make a full recovery."

  Zeus exhaled loudly and slouched back, almost melting into the chair. He sensed Zeus’s yearning for home, even though his lover rarely mentioned it. Apparently, Mar'Sani were never able to stay away from the Waters of Poseidon for long.

  The seats filled quickly, with the Monticore claiming those closest to Zeus after they had donned the weapons they left aboard the shuttle. Axis climbed into the pilot's seat. It did not escape Alpha's notice that one set of Chimera triplets took the seats immediately behind the pilot's chair. Madux sat in the copilot's chair and began running through the pre-flight checklist.

  Prince Mestor appeared in the doorway of the shuttle, his gaze scanning the interior until it rested on Zeus. Zeus had closed his eyes, yet he knew the moment Mestor peered into the shuttle. For being adopted, Alpha mused, Zeus’s bond to his siblings seemed as strong as a familial blood bond.

  Mestor was not the only one watching Zeus intently, Alpha noted uneasily. The Feteine, Europa, separated from Zeus by the Monticore, had not stopped staring since she claimed her seat. She seemed unaware of anything else. Mestor’s jerky movements proved it was not only Alpha that had noticed her focus.

  "Europa, Prince Azaes requests your presence."

  Her gaze did not waver. "As you wish, Prince Mestor. I would be honored to accompany Atlainticia's heir apparent."

  Alpha barely kept back a stream of harsh words. There were days he wished he was something other than what he was. Maybe with arms and legs, he would have been better able to protect Jiann and Volante. And with a mouth for speech, he could snarl at Europa and demand she explain her interest in Zeus.

  Zeus made shushing noises as his eyelids fell closed again. "She will not have me, Alpha. If she persists, I will question her intentions. Right now, I merely wish to rest, knowing both you and Dargon are safe."

  He caressed Zeus’s skin, placating him for the moment. Sensing Zeus’s weariness, he built a wall around his stronger emotions for the time being.

  Alpha watched as Europa unbuckled from the seat to follow Prince Mestor from the shuttle. Before the door closed behind her, she glanced back at Zeus. He swore he would discover what was behind her curiosity.

  The door secured, a transmission announced the platform had been cleared of all life forms. Within moments they were airborne and on their way to The Gorgon. He never thought he would be so happy to board a vessel in all his life.

  Much of Alpha's life had been spent watching and waiting. He had always had the luxury of time. Now, when he needed more, time sped by too quickly. Soon, they would reach Valespian space and face what hidden dangers lay there. This left a limited period of time to ensure his family would be as safe as he could make them.

  So, he stayed quiet and waited as Zeus made arrangements for Dargon to be moved to the captain's quarters on the Oethra 7, calling on the medic, Mayra, to document the medical issues the two experienced while on the surface. Alpha exercised extreme patience as Mayra took blood samples.

  Zeus stopped by Madux's quarters to check on Star Eater without Alpha needing to ask. They could see he had been stripped of his clothing, and laid on the sleeping platform when Madux opened the door. "Sorry to interrupt, I simply wanted to make sure you have everything you need to care for him. Although, I am not entirely sure what else I could give you. Alpha would know—simply ask and we will get it for you."

  Madux smiled warmly. "I will seek you out if I have questions."

  "We will be with Dargon until he recovers." Zeus turned to leave, but paused and glanced back at Madux. "Thank you for taking care of Star Eater. He is Alpha's son, and in a small way, that makes him mine as well. I will not forget what you have done for my family."

  "This is what I do, who I am. You do not owe me anything."

  "We shall see about that." Zeus retreated before Madux formed a reply.

  "When ... Why ... Zeus." Alpha had not noticed when Zeus shifted to accept Star Eater. He had been so consumed with Atizen and the memories that the bug had uncovered, he had been unaware Zeus made a very important decision when it came to his firstborn. He knew how protective Zeus could be of his family, and how he held them in such high esteem. To know Zeus had placed Star Eater in the same category made Alpha glow with pride.

  "I can feel your affection for Star Eater. I sense no censure or disquiet when you regard him. You do not mind if I consider him one of my own? Maybe not as my son, but a part of our family circle."

  "Your acceptance pleases me: it is unexpected."

  While they spoke, Zeus finally made his way to the captain's quarters. Dargon lay on the bed, appearing to be sleeping peacefully. In quick succession, Zeus secured the door, undressed, and then climbed onto the platform with Dargon. With every caress Zeus gave to Dargon, Alpha felt as if he were the one with the hands. Connected as he was to Zeus and Dargon, what they could feel through touch, sense through taste, even the emotions his bondmates felt, directly connected to him, allowing him to share the sensations.

  Alpha had his own senses. He could see wherever his skin was exposed. Through the same skin, he could taste, but what he perceived was different than what Zeus or Dargon would. His palate tested the components of what made the universe. He sensed the psionic vibrations within a person. As ships moved through space, people assumed nothing floated in the vast e
mptiness. To him, the so-called emptiness was thick, like water. He could undulate and move through the density without the aid of a vessel. Alone and unencumbered, he and Zeta had traveled the universe as quickly or as slowly as they wished.

  Zeus laid his head on Dargon's chest and closed his eyes. "What was the liquid Star Eater fell into?"

  "A substance you should never attempt to touch. It is primordial, yet aware in a way. We gathered it from the heart of the universe, the place from which all sprouted, where Zeta and I were born. We would not be harmed, nor could the first children, because they are primordial life forms, but simply not as pure as the source."

  "Madux jumped into the water to catch Star Eater."

  "Yes, and he came away unscathed. I do not know how. The Chi-Lin seem to be engineered, appearing on their planet as if placed there. No one knows where they come from or who created them, not even the Chi-Lin."

  "I thought that was only speculation, that the Chi-Lin were simply a private people." Zeus yawned.

  "They may be. Rest now. We can puzzle out the mystery another day. Madux came away unharmed and nothing urgent requires your attention at the moment."

  Zeus mumbled, draping an arm over Dargon before falling into a deep, exhausted sleep. Unapologetically, Alpha nudged Zeus’s subconscious deeper so he would rest better. Star Eater restored Zeus and Dargon's bodies, but a healing sleep would speed the recovery of their minds.

  Moving away from Zeus, Alpha touched Dargon, verifying he, too, slumbered soundly. Content that it would be hours before the two roused, Alpha moved to the wall, slipping up the vertical surface to a small rounded doorway near the ceiling.