The reddish yellow sun of Tharhome system is nearly directly overhead as mid day approaches. After getting free of her training duties, Andromeda flies back towards the Skygazer tower, intrigued that yet another of her brother's mysterious friends has shown up. She chuckles to herself, "They all seem to know how to make an entrance too."
Jenora is inside the tower at the time, lounging about up top in the sun... gating around is rather tiring, it's nice to just relax and be relatively normal for a change.
Kainudy dozes under a tree nearby, preferring some shade.
Andromeda grins at Kainduy resting on the roof, and banks down, she mrrrowwls as she sees Jenora lounging in the sun. Her wings kick up a little bit of dust and leaf litter as she lands about 20 feet from the new feline.
Jenora stretches a bit as she hears the sound, then slowly sits up.
Jenora says, "Ah, hello."
Andromeda purrrs, "Kainudy, nice to see you learning felitaur ways. And you must be Jenora? I think I may have seen you at that festival long ago, where my brother took care of Titan Nova."
Kainudy cracks one eye open, "I'm too old to learn anything."
Andromeda purrs with a grin, "You seemed to be willing to try new things a few nights ago."
Jenora smiles, nodding. "You probably did see me there, yes."
Jenora grins at Kainudy. "Now, now... you're _NEVER_ too old to learn new things."
The young felitauress hmms, "I know what our greeting is, but what is the proper way to greet your race Jenora? I am Andromeda Skygazer. Copernicus is my brother."
Kainudy doesn't comment..
Jenora says, "Well, as far as I know I'm the only one of my race, so I tend to make up greetings as I go along."
Andromeda blinks, "The only one? Well then, welcome to Tharhome Jenora" and then pads up and rubs foreheads with the feline visitor.
Jenora purrrs, and rubs back, bowing her head just a little.
Andromeda purrrowls softly then steps back, "I begin to see why my brother stayed so long on your odd planet. Well, what have you two been up to?"
Jenora chuckles softly. "Resting, and recharging, mostly."
Andromeda hmmms, "I know why Kainudy might need to recover, but what are you recharging from?"
Kainudy coughs lightly into her claw..
Jenora peers over at Kainudy, then chuckles. "I won't ask. Much more interesting to find out."
Jenora says, "Anyway, I'm recharging from the gate jump here... that sort of thing takes a lot out of me, and that's when I do it the easy way."
Kainudy stretches and preens her feathers.
Andromeda blinks, "I've been busy with the training center, so I'm not up on all the news, is our gate working already? I thought we'd had one misfire already because of an over eager forefelitaur?"
Jenora says, "No... I gated myself in."
Jenora says, "I don't need an outside gate to do it. Though I can't gate other people around easily."
This puzzles Andromeda and she finally asks, "And how do you do that?"
Kainudy says, "Clean living."
The dragon's comment utterly confuses the winged felitauress and she blinks, "If it's a secret just tell me. I know we felitaurs are a bit nosy sometimes."
Jenora says, "Well, it's just a matter of creating a point of extremely high density, nearing a singularity but not quite. Then you extend the depression formed in the local space-time and cross-connect it with the destination, forming what is called in some worlds an Einstein-Rosen bridge."
Kainudy hmms. "I didn't know you could get those to work within the same universe."
Andromeda hmms, "But to even open a small bridge takes a lot of power."
Jenora says, "You can do it within the same universe, though it's more work... usually easier to cross to another universe and then back, 'tacking' about that way."
Jenora nods to Andromeda. "Yes, it does, even when I do it at atomic scale like mine are. Which is why I need to recharge."
With her curiosity fully up now, she purrs, "So, you are the power source? And you said you were the only one of your race? Do you mind if I ask what you are?"
Jenora says, "No, I don't mind at all if you ask."
Jenora smiles.
Andromeda blinks and finally giggles, "I see my brother's sense of humor corrupted you a bit. So, what are you? ;)"
Jenora says, "Oh, trust me, I didn't need that sort of corrupting."
Kainudy says, "Our Lady of the Eternal Fusion Torch.. }:)"
Jenora smirks at Kai.
Jenora says, "Kainudy is pretty close... I'm sort of a small star; a self-contained plasma bottle."
Andromeda, "Fusion? Like a stellar body? OHHH!! I need to be more specific when I ask my brother questions. He just said one of his friends on that planet was a powerful star, and I thought he meant a holovid actor. ;)"
Jenora laughs. "Yes, that was a bit of a joke for a while..."
Kainudy says, "Well, she might have appeared on Heavenly Bodies.. I think she was voted Miss Main Sequence once too.. }:)"
Andromeda purrs, "Well, it seems my brother and my birthmother are in some sort of meeting today. Why Kainudy, you do have a sense of humor. I need to talk to my brother about you it seems. So, what would you two like to do? I have some free time now that my training session is over."
Jenora clears her throat loudly. "Kai... what is the maximum temperature your scales can withstand? Do you want to find out?"
Kainudy gives Jenora her 'sometimes I just can't help myself' smile.
Andromeda smirks a bit, "I think I've been a bad influence on her too. But please, it would be a nasty political mess if one of our guests fried another on a roof top. There are other ways to get even if you want. ;)"
Kainudy blinks.. "Don't give her ideas, Andromeda!"
Jenora says, "Oh, I know, and I wouldn't really fry her anyway. She's too interesting a person to want to have to do without her."
Andromeda grins that feline smile that means mischief.
Andromeda chuckles, "Well, regardless, I'm up for doing something. How about you two? Anything you'd like to see or do in particular?"
Jenora says, "Well, considering how little I know of what's on your world, I can hardly ask to go anywhere in particular, can I? The only place other than here I really know is the gate, and I'm not sure if they've settled down from my last visit yet."
Kainudy says, "Is Chareka the only city on Tharhome?"
Andromeda shakes her head, "No, but it is by far the largest and oldest on Tharhome. Right now we are bursting at the seams. Usually only about 25% of our races population is on Tharhome at any one time, except for a few festivals."
Jenora says, "And now they're pretty much all here, aren't they?"
Andromeda nods, "About 300,000 in the ships in our system and exploring the new systems. The other 2,000,000 are on Tharhome right now. Very unusual for us, as we are normally very spread out. It is helping with some of the reforms though. It's harder to make heavy handed decisions when the entire populace is on planet."
Kainudy says, "I'd hate to see a Chirr'T'Thar riot."
Andromeda's wings shiver a bit, "So would nearly every Chirr'T'Thar, thankfully. Hmm. Kainudy, maybe you have something in mind that Jenora might like? That or I'm just going to suggest something."
Kainudy thinks, o O { Or even just a party, for that matter.. }
Jenora hmmmms, nodding as she thinks...
Kainudy says, "I have to confess not knowing much about what Jenora would like, other than social interaction.."
Jenora says, "Well, I'm just as curious as you are, Andromeda... I'd like to know more about this place, and about your people."
Andromeda shrugs, "Well, I've taken Kainudy to our history museum. Shown her how we play chess. Had her babysit with me. Taken her sky dancing. She was VERY popular at that."
Jenora says, "Oh, I bet she was..."
Kainudy coughs again.
Jenora does a little pirouette, spinning about quickly. When she stops, she's standing on the point of her toes... a little bit _above_ the surface.
Kainudy says, "Jenora's a better dancer."
Jenora bows.
Andromeda grins, "Very lovely. She'd be very popular. I must say it is hard to figure out what to do though."
Kainudy says, "Are there any special events or performances going on today?"
Andromeda purrs, "Well, nothing big. But we have plays, musical performances with dancers. That sort of thing."
Kainudy says, "What sort of plays?"
Andromeda pads over to the roof opening and hops down into the main living room. She calls up a screen on the wall behind a fig-like vine and hmmms, "Well, we have a few classics. One is the re-enactment of our getting free from the slavers with the first mother's help. A few on the establishment of the 50 clan lines, though that one doesn't have much acting in it."
Kainudy hmms, "Anything involving revenge or betrayal or giant white sperm whales?"
Jenora says, "A lot more fighting?"
Jenora blinks at Kainudy.
Kainudy smiles to Jenora, "I've always been a fan of Moby Dick."
The sound of confusion can be heard below, "What? Oh no, there was no fighting involved in establishing the 50 clan lines. Well, not what WE would consider fighting anyhow. What is a "whale"? And, I mean, a sperm whale?"
Kainudy says, "A large sea-going mammal.. nevermind."
Jenora says, "Ah, I see..."
"Oh. Foreign plays. We have a few of those I think.
Jenora says, "Well, no, I don't know about foreign plays... I would like to learn more about your people. As I was telling your mother, you can learn a lot about a society from its art."
Kainudy says, "Rooting around in their closets reveals a lot too."
Jenora laughs.
Andromeda blinks, "Closets?"
Kainudy says, "See? }:)"
Andromeda just shakes her head, "So, a play or one of our musical performances?"
Kainudy says, "I'd like to see either of those.."
Jenora hmmms. "How about a play, then?"
Andromeda nods, "Well, it's been ages since I've seen any of the historical plays. We can catch the one on the re-enactement of our fight for freedom against slavery?"
Jenora says, "Sure."
Andromeda nods, "Well, it starts in about an hour, I'll make reservations. Also, want to get something to eat first?"
Kainudy grins at the bottomless Chirr'T'Thar appetites..
Jenora says, "Of cours."
Andromeda hops back up to the top of the roof and purrs, "Good. Training really works up an appetite. Any place you want in particular or just take you to one of my favorites?"
Kainudy blinks.. "Eat in public? Uh.. sure. Where do you normally go?"
Jenora says, "It doesn't matter to me, your favorite is probably a good start."
Andromeda shrugs, "Lots of places, but we have a good restaurant that serves just about anything you want. It's in the ambassadorial section of town."
Jenora says, "Makes sense, you'd want more variety and foreign dishes there..."
Kainudy says, "And they probably aren't getting much business now.."
Andromeda shrugs, "A little. A few races were trapped here when we, er, moved."
Jenora hmmms. "How are they doing?"
Large wings stretch along with her feline back as Andromeda shrugs, "So so. They thought they were going to die, along with most of the solar systems nearby before my brother fixed things in his normal manner. Many have pledged to help us in return for getting a gate ride back home."
Jenora says, "Your brother's 'normal' manner is anything but. But anyway..."
"Well, I'm famished. Shall we be off? Do you need a ride Jenora?"
Andromeda giggles at Jenora, "You know my brother well."
Jenora glows brightly, and floats up into the air. "No, I don't, but thanks for the offer."
Kainudy spreads her wings and gets ready to take off.
With a small purrrowwll of appreciation at Jenora's flying with no wings, Andromeda dives off the roof, letting gravity speed her up before snapping her wings open and curling back up, wings pumping, "Ready Kai?"
Jenora says, "After you."
Jenora chuckles to Andromeda. "Did I mention that I flew here from the gate under my own power, without a ship?"
Kainudy drops off the edge in turn.
Jenora dives off as well, arms outspread as she arches into flight...
Andromeda nods, "You did. But I kind of forgot what that implies. Sorry. Ok, follow me, it's not too far."
Jenora grins, and zips along behind Andromeda...
Kainudy thinks, o O { Who else are we going to follow? } and adds some extra speed to keep up.
The young Chirr'T'Thar female keeps her speed low for Kainudy's sake, and finally banks toward a slightly more normal looking building, though the roof is still open. With a wing wave to her companions, Andromeda lands in the reception area, where few people are waiting.
Jenora zips in low, arches back up, 'stalls' in mid-air, then drops right back down to land on her feet.
Kainudy circles the roof once before landing behind Jenora.
The manner of the two aliens' arrival attracts a bit of attention from the diners, but not too much. An elder male, distinguished in his jet black fur and silver armbands and earrings, pads up.
Andromeda purrs, "Andromeda, party of three. By the band if you could."
Jenora looks over at Kainudy, and whispers quietly, "You know what the policy here is for tipping?"
Kainudy shrugs, and whispers back, "I don't even know what they use for money.."
The male nods, "Certainly. I'll have your table ready in a minute." and pads quietly off.
Andromeda grins, "So, sounds like you two have a few questions?"
Jenora says, "Just a question about protocol in dining; things such as tips."
Andromeda chuckles, "Oh, that's usually built into the cost of the meal."
Kainudy asks, "Do you use fingerbowls?" She's remembering a confusing incident from her past, apparently..
Andromeda blinks, "How would you make a bowl out of fingers?"
Jenora chuckles. "It's a small bowl to wash your fingers in."
Andromeda puzzles on that, "Like a mini-bath for your fingers? Intriguing idea. We usually just groom ourselves or each other after a meal. If you are really happy with the service you can tip your server by giving them a kiss or a hug."
Jenora says, "Well, it's needed for some types of foods that you eat with your fingers and tend to be sticky..."
Kainudy mutters, "Doesn't anybody just shake hands anymore? At least it's not as bad as some of the canine worlds.."
With a sly grin her tongue comes out and licks her nose, "We don't really need that. But I can bring it up. Some of the aliens might appreciate it."
Jenora grins, shaking her head. "I hope I haven't started something..."
Andromeda chuckles, "Well, it should be interesting to see how folks deal with a "finger bowl".
The host pads up and purrs, "This way ladies."
Jenora nods to the host, and follows along.
Kainudy nods. She can already see the confusion it'll cause..
Jenora chuckles softly, then goes quiet as she looks around, taking it all in.
As the three walk through the restaurant, the odd dichotomy of the Chirr'T'Thar expresses itself again. A mixture of plant and even some animal life is everywhere, and an artificial stream meanders through the place, with a few tiny waterfalls and fountains here and there. A few birdlike creatures visit some of the flowers, adding to the pastoral nature of the scene. Yet, mixed in with this is a variety of well hidden computer consoles, floating robot trays that help with table cleaning, and many other well disguised high tech amenities.
Jenora nods, looking around. "Not bad..."
Kainudy ignores the technology, for the most part.
As the trio passes what just looks like a shady area, the noise level suddenly goes way up, and a Chirr"T'Thar band can be seen performing. Obviously the shade disguised a subtle force field.
Jenora says, "Impressive."
Kainudy folds her ears back at the sudden blast of.. music.
The band is made up of a male on drums. His arms and forelegs are used on a drumset of four different drums, while his tail thumps against a base type drum behind him. One male is playing what appears to be a flute, though the pitches are a bit lower. And a female is playing a keyboard style instrument, also in two levels so she can use her arms and forelegs. This seems to be an instrumental beat, made for dancing, at least if you have four legs. It's not incredibly loud, but the drum beats do echo inside you a bit.
Jenora's tail twitches to the beat.
Andromeda nods to the host and curls up on a couchsized cushion next to a table.
Kainudy eyes the drummer clinically. He looks like a Chirr'T'Thar, but she still holds to her pet theory that drummers are actually a mutant subspecies that all races eventually spawn..
Jenora chuckles, and folds back into a pillow or whatever's back there to sit on...
Kainudy curls up in the corner seat.
Andromeda's whole taur body sways lightly to the music as she purrs, "So, what do you want to eat?"
Jenora says, "What's this place good at?"
Kainudy says, "Do they make sandwiches?"
Andromeda churrrs as she winks at the drummer then re focuses her attention on Jenora and Kainudy, "If you can describe it to our server, they can try and make it."
Jenora says, "Well, I'm in the mood for something different. I'll probably just have the house special for tonight."
With a press of a few locations on the table, a small screen comes to life under the fern and Andromeda checks it out, "Several house specials this evening. Oh, I think Deluvian Cephalopods may be a bit much."
Kainudy peeks at the screen.. "Do they have shells?"
Jenora says, "What are they?"
Andromeda lights up the screen by her two friends and what looks like a small shelled Nautilus with three foot squid like tentacles comes up, and she purrs,m "They put up quite a fight, but are good."
Jenora says, "Ah, I see..."
Andromeda hmmmms, "You might like what we consider deserts. Cooked and spiced meats. We also have salads for herbivores, and mixes for the occasional omnivore."
Jenora hmmms, nodding...
Kainudy says, "Is that a shish-ka-bob?"
Andromeda blinks, "A what?"
Jenora says, "Well, I'm certainly an omnivore."
Andromeda nods and taps up a suitable menu for Jenora and Kainudy on the screens in front of them. She keeps eyeing the Deluvian Cephalopods.
Kainudy says, "Different cooked meats, fruits, and vegetables served on a skewer."
Andromeda hmmms, "Should be doable. Here's a list of the fruits, vegetables and cooked meats you can choose from, and we can have them put on a skewer and cooked. And you Jenora?"
Jenora says, "So many choices, so little stomach..."
Jenora hmmms. "I think I'll have an assortment plate to try a number of things out..." She starts picking a few small combination and side dishes.
Kainudy picks out about a dozen different tidbits for the ka-bobs.
The band finishes and switches to a slower song. A few Chirr'T'Thar are dancing to the side. The slower dances involve a lot of rubbing flank to flank and small spins and wing flutters. After another wink at the drummer, Andromeda finally orders the house special and purrs, "Anything to drink? I'll send our order in."
Kainudy says, "Anything with little umbrellas?"
Jenora hmmms. "Nothing with alcohol in it, thanks... some fruit juices would be preferable."
Andromeda nods and punches in the orders then seems to wiggle in her seat a bit.
Jenora says, "Something wrong, or just settling in?"
Kainudy describes a concoction to Andromeda that she calls a 'Caiprinha'..
Andromeda smiles, "Oh, I always feel a little twitchy after a day at the training center. And this music makes me want to dance, but I want to dance with the drummer, and he's busy."
Andromeda nods as she listens to Kainudy too.
Jenora looks up at the drummer. "Yes, he is, and doing a rather good job of it too."
The drummer, who has been returning Andromeda's winks, now grins as Jenora gives him some attention.
Kainudy hmms. One of these days, she'll catch a drummer still in it's pod stage, or sprouting tentacles from its ears..
Andromeda purrs, "I'll see what can be done about your drink Kainudy. You seem to be giving the drummer looks too, but I still have troubles reading your expressions."
Jenora grins right back.
The drummer fluffs up his fur like a bird fluffs his feathers and sort of struts as he plays, winking a bit at Jenora now.
Kainudy blinks at Andromeda.. "Errr.. just the lighting in here."
Jenora says, "And the physical structure of the face doesn't make it any easier."
A quiet nod of agreement comes from the felitauress, "My apologies, but it's true. I haven't met any other dragons before. Oh, here comes our food."
Four food servers walk up to the ladies' table. One places what look like fairly safe kabobs in front of Kainudy, though an occasional claw, beak or hoof can be seen on some of the meat pieces, and a few of the vegetables look like they may have been animate before being cooked, but the gentle smell of spices from them show that they have been cooked properly.
Kainudy smiles and thanks the servers.
Kainudy's server bows and headrubs and slips her one of her feathers before walking off to her next table.
Kainudy blinks at the feather, wondering if it's going to explode or not.
For Jenora, several small dishes and platters are placed in front of her. Many meats, a few cheeses, and a few dishes that seem to still be moving slightly..
The feather has the slash like Chirr'T'Thar writing on it.
Jenora hmmmms, looking over the selection, then smiles and nods to the server.
Kainudy sets the feather aside for now. She'll ask Andromeda about it later..
Kainudy thinks, o O { Maybe it's the bill. }
The last two servers are carrying a box approximately a meter on each side, and thunk it down in front of Andromeda, along with a pitcher of iced milk.
Andromeda gives her servers a hug and a small kiss, and nibbles on one felitauress's ear before turning to her companions and purring, "So, did you get the right food?"
Jenora nods, looking over at the plates. "I think so, yes..."
Kainudy nibbles on her kabobs, and nods to Andromeda before holding out the feather, "I think I got the bill.."
Jenora looks at Kai, then at the feather, then chuckles. "I doubt it."
Two of Jenora's entre's get into a small fight as Andromeda reads the feather and chuckles, "No, that's a personal invitation of sorts Kainudy."
Kainudy blinks. "Invitation to what? Do you both get to go with me?"
Jenora frowns, looking at the 'food fight'... then slaps at them both, hard.
Andromeda is idly turning off the stasis field on her meal as she purrs, "No, she's apparently curious about you personally Kainudy, and would like you visit with her to learn more about you, and you're invited to sleep with her family for the night."
The two entres yipe at Jenora, then stay in their dishes and behave. Who ever thought vegetables could be so aggressive.
Kainudy blinks again in mid-bite. "This is about that sky-dancing thing, isn't it?"
Jenora starts picking bits and pieces of things, starting with the non-moving ones.
Andromeda blinks, "Why would you think that Kainudy?"
Kainudy says, "Well, why else would I be recognized?"
As the female Chirr'T'Thar talks with her dragon friend, one tentacle starts to squeeze out of the box in front of her.
Andromeda hmms, "Not necessarily. My brother has pushed for understanding other cultures, and this is a place that many off worlders frequent."
Kainudy ohs, and eyes Andromeda's lunch. Maybe it's trying to attack Jenora's meal..
Jenora zaps the errant tentacle with a tiny puff of flame.
Andromeda purrs, "It might be a nice change for you. And you've been sleeping with my family since you got here, so that shouldn't bother you."
Kainudy says, "I had Copernicus to introduce me though, and your family is used to strange people."
The tentacle flinches, but then the others pop out and wrap around Andromeda's torso as a squid like creature emerges from the box. With a feral grin she pops her claws and dives at her dinner.
Kainudy finds new interest in her kabobs..
Jenora hmmmms, then shrugs and goes back to her own dinner, starting in on some of the more obviously mobile pieces, to see what they're like.
One bowl that seems to contain tomatoes is a real pain, as they keep rolling away from Jenora's fork. These are the famous Notoes that poor McKrishna had to try and eat once. Andromeda is really getting into her meal, obviously not fighting all out so as to savor it. However, the Deluvian Cephalopod seems to have more arms than in the picture, and no shell. The drummer, who was still flirting with Jenora blinks as he looks at Andromeda's lunch.
The band's number comes to a sudden halt and the drummer hops off the stage and races over to where Andromeda is hissing and snarling and having a good ole time as the squid creature is wrapping his arms all over her torso. The drummer shouts, "Hey, hold on! I think he's a friend of mine. Benny, is that you?"
Jenora blinks at this... and stops eating.
Kainudy finishes her own meal, and examines the metal of the skewers. She heard somewhere that a skewer through the heart is the only way to kill a drummer..
The felitauress and her food both seem to stop. Andromeda suddenly notices that the Deluvian Cephalopod looks an awful lot like an Anterian Octor, which are sentient and old trade partners of the Chirr'T'Thar. The Octor gurgles something that the translators put out as "Starvos? Why are you playing this gig?"
Jenora blinks, shaking her head... then just starts laughing.
Andromeda looks embarrassed, "Oh my, I'm so sorry. I thought you were a Deluvian Cephalopod. My apologies."
Starvos nods to Benny and grins as the Octor blushes while removing his tentacles from Andromeda's chest. The Octor gurgles, "It's Ok. It's not the first time this is happened."
Kainudy hmms, looking from the alien to Andromeda. Was the creature trying to defend itself.. or just being fresh?
Jenora leans over onto the table, holding herself up with her arms, and giggles.
Starvos butts in before Andromeda can embarrass his friend any more by offering to make this up to him later in private by purring, "Say Benny, want to take over for me for a couple of sets? I could use a break. ;)"
The Octor notes the other type of predatory look showing up in the females eyes and nods eagerly to Starvos. His friend has now saved him twice in a row.
Kainudy picks her teeth with a skewer, and eyes Starvos suspiciously..
Benny quickly oozes over to the drums while Starvos pads next to Jenora and purrs, "May I sit with you, lovely female?"
Jenora pops a couple more pieces of food into her mouth... then turns towards Starvos. "Little old me?"
Starvos purrs, "You look quite young to me, and size is relative. ;)"
Jenora chuckles. "Yes, it is... _very_ relative."
Andromeda sulks for a few minutes, having been thwarted twice, before finally dialing in another meal.
Kainudy thinks, o O { I wonder if the Chirr'T'Thar have ever encountered a shape shifter like Jenora before.. }
The Octor starts up a truly frantic beat on the bilevel drum set, that the rest of the band quickly adapts to and several younger Chirr'T'Thar move out onto the dance floor. Occasional bumps and foot stomps are taken in stride, even though this is NOT slam dancing. Andromeda sighs, "Well, is your meal agreeing with you Kainudy?"
Starvos purrs, "So, may I sit by you?"
Kainudy says, "Oh yes, Andromeda. I never argue with my food."
One of Jenora's main courses notes the distraction and tries to make a slither for it.
Jenora says, "I don't see why not, as long as the others have no problems with it."
Jenora grabs at the entree. "Andromeda, how is this supposed to be eaten?"
Andromeda blinks and nods, "That makes sense to me, no point in having food you can talk to, oh, Starvos is it? Could you take care of that for Jenora?" and points to the bipedal feline female.
Starvos nods and takes out a large pita pocket, stuffs the critter in it and adds mustard, then stabs a metal skewer through it, holding it in place and killing it instantly.
Jenora says, "Ah, I see. Thank you."
Starvos purrs, "Ah, you are forming a mating group with these ladies? You will be very popular for such diversity. Do either of you mind if I sit with you?"
Only one server comes towards Andromeda this time, carrying a huge plate of about 40 sandwiches of some sort. Andromeda flicks her hand at Starvos, "Feel free. What about you Kainudy?"
Jenora just smiles enigmatically, and deliberately doesn't answer as she starts eating the pocket.
Kainudy tries to figure out what she's agreeing to, exactly.. but gives up and just nods.
Benny the Octor starts in on a rendition of "In the Air Tonight" that would have made Phil Collins jealous. Squid really get around it seems.
Kainudy thinks, o O { Everyone knows drummers reproduce by implanting parasitic larvae into groupies, so I'm sure they were just joking about the mating group thing.. }
Starvos nods and purrs, "Thank you kindly ladies." and curls up next to Jenora.
Andromeda purrs, "I hope this is better. It's supposed to be a favorite food of an odd planet called Chesapeake Bay or some such." as she takes up a sandwich and raises the top slice of bread.
Kainudy peeks at the sandwich.
Under the mustard the outline of a deep fried crab-like crustacean can be seen, legs, and eyestalks and all. While quite dead, it appears to be looking right at Andromeda. She puts the bread back on and purrs, "It's called a "soft shell crab sandwich".
Kainudy says, "Interesting. Why not just breed crabs that have shells made of bread?"
Jenora continues noshing on bits and pieces of things, making mental notes about some of the better ones.
Andromeda pauses after finishing her eighth sandwich and purrs, "Actually, they supposedly get the crabs just after they've molted, when their bodies are soft and then fry them up. But how could you possibly select for a bread like carapace?"
Starvos orders a drink for himself and then purrs, "So, what brought you to our world? Oh, and my name is Starvos, and you are?"
Jenora finishes what she's working on right now, licks her fingers slowly, then smiles. "I am called Jenora. And I came here to tour, and to visit some old friends."
Kainudy says, "Add lots of yeast. I wonder if these kind of crabs do their mating during their soft-shell periods.. hmm."
Starvos nods, "Ah, so you are here for pleasure then? ;)"
Kainudy thinks, o O { Be careful how you answer that one, Jenora.. }
Andromeda nods around a mouthful, then purrs, "Yes. We tend to study other races' and species' mating systems. The male literally pierces the female's shell when she is soft. It's the only time they can mate."
Jenora smiles. "Depends on your definition of pleasure. If you mean not for business, it's largely true... I did have some unfinished business to deal with."
Starvos purrs, "Pleasure is pleasure. Something you enjoy and that makes you feel better. For some, business is pleasure. Again, like size, it's a very relative thing. Have you been enjoying yourself on our planet Jenora?"
Kainudy says, "You might find the Stelya-rhyan worth studying sometime then, Andromeda.."
Jenora says, "So far, yes, I have."
Chomping on her 20th sandwich, Andromeda ponders the prospect of watching miles long living ships mate, and the idea obviously intrigues her a great deal. Swallowing she purrs, "That would be something to watch I'll bet."
Kainudy says, "I suppose so.. if you have the patience."
Starvos purrs, his tail curling around Jenora's lightly, "That is good to hear. I assume you have had some good company during your stay?"
Andromeda purrs, "Why the need for patience?"
Jenora says, "Oh, yes, most intriguing..."
Kainudy says, "They don't stop until the child is ready to be born."
Starvos looks at Kainudy and Andromeda and grins at Jenora, "I'll bet. ;)"
Andromeda shrugs, "We're capable of mating right up till birthing time too."
Kainudy hrrmms.. apparently not having explained it correctly to Andromeda.
Jenora chuckles softly. "Not entirely that way."
Starvos hmmms, "Oh? So you're not sure about your mating group yet? If you haven't gotten familiar with each other yet, I'll hold off putting myself up for a try out."
Kainudy says, "It's not quite like that.. both parents have to contribute an equal amount of biomass, so they stay connected throughout gestation."
Jenora says, "Well, I wasn't planning on staying here all that long, as I have other old friends to visit, but who knows."
Andromeda blinks and swallows the 40th sandwich, "And as they always live in space, that doesn't make it difficult to get around. That must be a lot of fun. ;)"
Starvos looks confused and purrs, "You three are not a mating group?"
Kainudy says, "We're a lunch group."
Jenora says, "Did I ever say we were a mating group?"
Starvos looks embarrassed and purrs, "No, but you didn't say you weren't either. My apologies, I pounced to conclusions it seems."
Several of the band members make a play for poor Benny, and the poor squid slips away and spends the evening hiding in someone's casserole.
Jenora nods. "I'll admit the idea is moderately intriguing, but I doubt it would work."
Starvos, trying to recover, checks his armband and then looks even more uncomfortable as he turns to look at Jenora.
Jenora smiles back to Starvos. "Yes?"
Starvos sighs, "Er, your prefences aren't on file for some reason. Your friend is listed as "not overly interested at the moment", but yours is blank."
Jenora says, "That's because I only just arrived in the last couple of days. Not everything is set up yet."
Andromeda turns to watch Jenora and suitor with some amusement.
Starvos hmms, "How odd. If you landed your ship at the space port, you have to go through customs. I would have guessed things would be back to normal by now. We've been here for a few months now."
Jenora says, "I... didn't land at the space port."
Kainudy hmmss, and should check up on her shuttle soon, to make sure it isn't allergic to the other ships or anything.
This really startles the young male, but he remembers that Andromeda is of the regulator's clan, and shrugs, "I see. Well, I know nothing of your race, but was wondering if you would find it offensive if I asked you, and your friends if they wish it, to come spend the evening at my place some evening?"
Jenora looks a little embarrassed. "In fact, I don't have a ship either."
Kainudy watches someone else be confused for a change.. }:)
Starvos blinks three times and purrs, "I haven't heard of another engineered race that is space worthy. But how do you fly without wings?"
Jenora says, "I wasn't engineered either. As for flying, it's a fairly simple matter of distorting the local gravitational fields to create a local warp trace that I fall into."
Starvos' jaw drops as he tries to ponder who and what this person is, as he notes Andromeda seems to be taking this in stride. His tail touches Andromeda's momentarily, as if checking something before looking back at Jenora, utterly confused.
Jenora tries to smile innocently, but it dissolves into more smugness too quickly.
Kainudy smiles, "Why not just show him your.. inner beauty.. Jenora }:)"
Jenora looks around. "All right. Don't want to disturb things in here too much, though..."
Andromeda swallows as she ponders the amount of damage this could create.
Kainudy says, "I'm sure your shielding can hold."
Jenora holds a hand out towards Starvos. "Don't touch it."
Jenora's hand is motionless... but soon shimmers like heat can be seen above it, and the air starts to feel warmer.
The young male nods and curls his tail and clasps his hands, out of politeness as he watches.
Jenora's hand starts to shift color as the black body radiation from the heat gets into the visible spectrum... it starts glowing red. Then orange. Then yellow. Then white...
Kainudy waggles her ears, and elbows Starvos, "A really hot babe, eh?"
The eyes of all the Chirr'T'Thar nearby seem to widen, even as the pupils narrow to catlike slits. Starvos blinks and nods, taking Kainudy literally, "Indeed."
Jenora separates her fingers, and wriggles them, showing that it's still her.
Jenora's hand is creating sufficient heat that some of what food she still had left is starting to brown on the nearer side, as is part of the tablecloth.
Starvos nods, "Impressive. How is it you can generate such heat?"
Jenora's hand returns back to normal. "Trust me, the question isn't how can I generate such heat, but how can I _NOT_ generate it."
Off to the side, one of the ambassadors trapped on Tharhome when it moved is heard to say to a waiter, "There's a Squid in my casserole!"
Kainudy says, "Jenora is a life form based on stellar plasma."
Jenora says, "You see, I'm sort of a self-contained plasma... a living star, as you might say."
Starvos wrinkles his nose as he ponders the implications of that, and about when the common sense circuits of a non Chirr'T'Thar male would be kicking in like a texas mule on steroids, he purrs, "Does this mean it is not safe for one not of your species to be intimate with you?"
Jenora says, "Oh, it's perfectly safe, as long as I maintain some control..."
Starvos ponders that again, while his tail reflexively curls under him protectively (even with the Chirr'T'Thar, a few of the normal defensive instincts still exist). Finally he quietly purrs, "Oh. Well, my offer still stands about you staying the night during one of the nights of your stay. What happens will of course be up to you. Just make sure to warn me what acts as an intoxicant to you so I can make sure you don't get ANY."
Jenora chuckles. "I will keep that in mind, certainly."
Starvos gives Andromeda a dirty look, as she is rolling on the floor on her back gigglepurring. He leans over and rubs foreheads with Jenora, "Good hunting in your travels Jenora. I have to get back to work. Here's my comm number." At which point he hands the lovely feline a small feather with writing on it.
The food server shushes the Ambassador, "Keep it quiet, or everyone will want one, and we're nearly out."
Jenora bows her head, smiling. "Thank you."
Starvos nods and curls his tail with Jenora's before padding off to his drum set, ignoring Andromeda's convulsions of laughter on the floor.
Jenora keeps a perfectly straight face. Well, more of a cat and canary grin, but she's not laughing, anyway.
With their normal drummer back, they kick into a rendition of "The Lion Sleeps tonight". The Chirr'T'Thar really love to join in with the "Aweemaway" parts.
Kainudy smirks, thinking, o O { And people think *I'm* cruel.. }
Andromeda finally gets her breath back and pants, "So, you still want to see a play after entertaining yourself so well? ;)"
Kainudy looks to Jenora.
Jenora says, "Certainly, if there's still time..."
Jenora says, "I really shouldn't enjoy that so much. But the bigger the ego, the more amusing it is to watch it deflate."
With a few last chuckles Andromeda purrs, "It's not truly ego Jenora. It is part of our nature. Having dealt with more aliens, I know enough to act a great deal less friendly to someone I don't know well. Course, you do that so well. ;) Maybe you'll understand us a bit better after the play. Or maybe not. Shall we get going? If we hurry we should make the opening of the first act."
Kainudy nods..
Jenora nods, and stands up. "Well, I can understand some of it all too well... your people are so used to being near invulnerable that I suspect the idea of a potential object of attraction reacting badly is less of a threat..."
Andromeda blinks, "All you have to do is tell us that you are not interested, and leave you alone and we will. We do NOT take advantage of someone, whether they are weaker than us or not."
Jenora says, "Oh, I never said you would... I'm sorry, that was phrased poorly. I mostly meant that your whole species' attitude towards life is colored by the fact that so little can permanently damage them..."
Kainudy says, "You certainly DO live fast lifestyles."
Andromeda hmmmms, "I never thought of it that way. Normally I'm used to dealing with aliens who feel that any race that enjoys love making as much as we do must be full of rapists and creatures who prey on children. Both are utterly abhorrent to us. The reasons for our strong feelings on that will be explained at the play. Very true Kainudy, we do tend to meet life head on. Shall we get moving for the play?"
Jenora grins. "Admittedly, mine is similarly colored, and more so... but I've always been more of the teasing sort."
Andromeda grins, "Ah, teasing and flirting. Two of the finer social arts Jenora. ;)"
Jenora says, "Yes. I'm just rarely as direct about it. I like sounding out my chances a little longer."
Andromeda chuckles, "Each race to their own. Well, we are running late, shall we fly?"
Jenora bows. "After you."
The force field curtain rises as the three ladies find their seats in the amphitheater. And the history of the Chirr'T'Thar is played out. The mysterious slavers are presented as amorphous bipeds, who take a feline race and mold them into tools for their ships and toys for their bedrooms, making their newest slaves, the Chirr'T'Thar. And then the First Mother gains sapience and her free will, and passes on what she has gained during her numerous encounters with other members of her race during those times when the slavers want their slaves to perform for them.
Several things become clear during the play. The utter abhorence for slavery, for being forced into performing sexually. And the Chirr'T'Thar's internal war between their engineered love of space and technology, and their more primal predator instincts.
As the play progresses, the Chirr'T'Thar break free of their slavery, wiping out the slavers. As they wander in search of their long lost home world, the First Mother is shown helping found the 50 clans with her 50 mates. The one odd thing is, even though a few couples are making love in the theater, the actors themselves are barely touching. Any of the scenes where intimacy or sex would be expected to be involved, rather sterile ritual movements are used. Romeo and Juliet's kiss was several orders of magnitude more steamy than this play, though the parts about freedom etc are passionately played.
Jenora watches quietly as the events unfold...
The play finishes with how the present mating system was arranged to insure survival of the species, and give the males a feeling of having some say in things. Though the males feel that it was a way of giving the females some say in things. (All in all a well designed system ;). Finally, after about 3 1 hour acts, the lights dim on the stage as the audience claps.
Jenora applauds as well...
With a roar of approval Andromeda adds her own clapping, before turning to her companions and purring, "So, what did you think?"
Kainudy claps lightly, pondering..
Jenora says, "Very interesting..."
Ears flicking thoughtfully, she nods, "Our races history is even stranger than our present."
Jenora says, "A good thing for some of your people to remember..."
Kainudy says, "I have to admit to more curiosity about what they DON'T remember.."
Andromeda nods, "Oh, we all do. Very much so. We will not deal with races that abuse or take advantage of others. We have gone to war to fight slavers. What do you mean Kainudy?"
Kainudy says, "You don't remember who the slavers where, or how they altered you. You seem to know very few details at all that predate the First Mother."
Jenora nods to Andromeda. "I'm not fond of slavers either. I'm a firm believer in having control of your own destiny."
Andromeda nods deeply to Jenora, "It's why your comment in the restaurant set me off. Being accused of taking advantage of others is very insulting. Yes, our past history is very blurred. Course, the events you saw were over 500,000 years ago."
Jenora says, "I did notice one thing, though..."
Andromeda nods, "What?"
Jenora says, "The actors would barely touch each other. Every contact was done as if it were some long ritual."
With a soft smile, the felitauress nods, "Many find that very odd about our plays. The audience members will often be making love, but you never see any true intimacy in our plays. Love making and intimacy is for joy, for cementing friendships and relationships, and for the health of the spirit. The slavers made us perform for them, cheapening the meaning. For that reason, we do not EVER perform in such a manner for anyone."
Jenora says, "Ah. Understood."
Kainudy nods.
Andromeda chuckles, "As my brother says, what makes different races so interesting are their eccentricities. Shall we head home? Or do either of you plan to take up your invitations? In your case Jenora, if you are truly not interested, just don't respond. It would be a shame to burn a cute young mel like that, even if he's a bit clueless."
Jenora chuckles. "I'll think about him for later... but not tonight. I've got enough to think about for one night, I think."
Kainudy says, "I as well."
The rest of the audience has cleared out, except for one mating group in the back that is busy grooming each other and discussing the deep message behind the play. Andromeda chuckles and nods, "So, off to home then. My brother and birth mother should be out of that meeting by now."
Jenora raises an eyebrow. "Perhaps we should be home, then."
Andromeda blinks at Jenora, "Why do you say that?"
Kainudy says, "We'd like to see Copernicus again is all. }:)"
Jenora says, "Well, Copernicus had seemed a bit apprehensive about the meeting, I just wanted to see if he was more relaxed now."
Andromeda hmmms, but notes she can't tell their true meaning without touching them so shrugs, "As would I. He'll be heading back to the gate soon, as his mate and newborn cubs are there, but we'll get a chance to say hi. Well, let's go."
Jenora nods. "Let's be off."
The sun sets on Chareka as the three fliers land in the main living room through the roof. Pacing nervously back and forth is the large tiger striped felitauress, Nebula Skygazer.
Andromeda blinks, "Mother?"
Jenora lightly touches down.
Kainudy smiles to Nebula.
Nebula lets out a large sigh and nods to Jenora and Kainudy, "Copernicus is in the other room, and there is a privacy field on, I think he'd like to talk to you. As for you daughter, we need to go to a late night training session."
Jenora nods. "All right."
Nebula grabs Andromeda's arm and nearly pulls her up through the roof, quieting her complaints with a stern, "We need to leave them alone, and NO I can't explain."
Kainudy nods to Jenora, and heads for the other room.
Jenora sighs, shaking her head, and pads over to the door.
The door, which is normally retracted unless someone actually wants privacy, slides back. Copernicus can be seen to be resting on a futon like couch, though he's facing away from Jenora and Kainudy.
Kainudy sits down to one side of the couch.
Jenora knocks lightly on the wall beside the door.
Copernicus turns his head to look at the intrusion, his eyes REALLY wide, pupils dilated fully.
Jenora says, "Hello."
Inside his head Copernicus hears "Complaint 4536: Annoying a female lupine who can utterly destroy mountain chains."
Copernicus swallows and purrs, "Ah, hello."
Copernicus's ears are flat back and his fur is standing all on end.
Kainudy smiles, and asks, "So, how are you doing, Coper?"
*Complaint 4537: Flirting with living stellar plasma sources.
Jenora says, "I take it things have been... far too interesting."
Copernicus just nods softly, eyes still saucer sized.
Jenora sits down quietly.
*Complaint 4538:Not running when the Kainudydragon smiled.
Copernicus softly says, "How did you know that life has been....too interesting Kai?"
*Complaint 4539:The solar system debacle. Enough said.
Kainudy says, "Your mother told us."
Copernicus's foot claws are dug deep into the couch below him, and his hands are dripping purple blood from burying his own claws into them. He starts as if shot, "She told you? She told you what?"
Jenora says, "Well... both of us had suspicions before anyway. She merely filled in a few gaps."
Kainudy says, "Ahh.. that you were going to be introduced to your symbionts."
*Complaint 4540:Embarrassing us in front of Silent Ones Council by fainting.
Jenora says, "You remember, back when you were going to be taught Magic, that the teacher complained to you about your own 'inner lives' or something like that?"
*Note to host Chirr Copernicus: Future complaints will be made at time of incident. Also note, living to produce more host Chirr does weigh in your favor, and we hope to continue our association for century time demarkations to come. Thank you for your support.
Copernicus swallows and nods, "I see. Weird, but apparently, so long as there is no official proof, telling other races isn't that big a deal."
Jenora says, "Well, I think it was more than just that..."
Copernicus slaps the side of his head loudly, "Take a break already, give me some peace you little parasites!"
Jenora says, "It _was_ a big deal, but you're somewhat of a special case. Apparently not many of your species get told about this as late in life as you were."
Copernicus scowls, "Aren't I the lucky one."
Kainudy says, "Symbionts, Copernicus."
Copernicus purrs, "Symbionts? They live off of me, can't survive without me."
Kainudy says, "It is quite possible they are the ones responsible for your freedom, however."
Jenora says, "And your entire race's rather amazing capabilities, like surviving in space unaided..."
Copernicus suppresses a snarl as Kainudy adds to the confusion, but he calms and purrs, "Try and be a little clearer than normal Kai. I've had a rough day, and the little buggers just read off 4540 complaints."
Copernicus nods grudgingly to Jenora, "That much I've figured out."
Jenora says, "Well, yes, I would suppose that after several years of not being able to voice said complaints, they would have racked up quite a list."
Jenora says, "But at least that part is over with, yes?"
Copernicus hmmfs, "Well, no way I can counter complain, I didn't know about them. Do you have any idea where they hold their religious services?"
Kainudy says, "Err.. well.. nanoscale entities tend to have a faster rate of evolution than macroscale ones. They probably broke the slaver programming first.. and helped the First Mother."
Kainudy shrugs, "I'm just guessing of course.. you'll have to ask them yourself."
Jenora says, "Religious services? I don't think I _want_ to know..."
With a roar Copernicus leaps at Kainudy. The prior strain of the day has left him drained, and he just presses Kainudy into the padded walls, "TAKE THAT BACK!"
Jenora clears her throat, loudly, at Coper. "Calm down."
Copernicus is shaking bodily, and finally lets Kainudy down. It's unclear as to whether he did it deliberately or because he couldn't concentrate well enough to hold her anymore, he growls, "Everything I've been taught about my race was proved to be a lie to me today. And now you're even saying that the First Mother didn't do it, that the Chirr'T...that the Chirr could not free themselves."
Kainudy blinks and tries not to panic..
Jenora says, "They probably could have, but nowhere near as quickly..."
Copernicus staggers over to the blood stained couch and slumps, looking down at the floor, and softly purrs, "What am I?"
Jenora says, "Coper, that's not a question that could be answered inside of a few years even without this added complication..."
Kainudy regains some composure.. "Right now.. you're confused. Otherwise, you're the same person you were before.. just living in a slighter larger universe."
Copernicus purrs, "Slightly confused? Kainudy, how would you feel if you found out your rear end was a shrine?"
Kainudy clears her throat, "It's my belly, remember?"
Copernicus blinks a few times, "Oh, that's right. You have...things living inside you too, don't you Kai?"
Kainudy says, "There's a difference.. I *made* my little helpers, they're a part of me. But even ordinary beings have symbionts. Bacteria to help them digest food, mitochondria in their cells to process energy, and so on. Life has always been a communal effort."
Kainudy says, "So, your symbionts can talk. Other than that, it's perfectly.. err.. natural."
Kainudy flaps her hands about as her reasoning fades at that point..
Copernicus looks at Kainudy like she's totally crazy, "Natural? It's highly likely that they were put in by the slavers and they lost control of them. Just lucky for us that the little gizmos felt they were better off with free hosts, from what you're implying."
Kainudy says, "Err.. well.. yeah. I guess. Evolution in action, and all that.."
Copernicus looks at Jenora, hoping for some support.
Kainudy looks to Jenora for support as well.
Jenora shrugs. "They wanted freedom every bit as much as you do. That's probably part of why they don't like you knowing about it; if you know they're there you'll start expecting things of them."
Kainudy says, "Like taxes?"
Jenora says, "You could ask them what their reasoning was... assuming you could understand the response. Nanotech forms tend to have a rather different outlook on life."
Copernicus carefully unclenches his other hand, pulling his claws from it. He watches quietly as the wound is repaired. And doesn't even flinch when he only hears *Complaint 4541:Self inflicted hand wounds.
Kainudy says, "Well.. it can't be any worse that dealing with a labor union.."
Copernicus purrs, to no one in particular, "They'll eventually explain the history of the Chirr vs T'Thar war, and the articles of the treaty. Not sure I really want to know."
Kainudy does privately wonder if the T'Thar have been maintaining the high sex-drive just so they can communicate with other populations more easily..
Kainudy says, "Oh? A war? I wonder how many were actually involved in that.."
Copernicus purrs, "Want me to asK?"
Kainudy says, "Err, only if you feel like it."
Within Copernicus, but not to him, a conversation of sorts is going on, and it more or less translates to *Is this talking about T'Thar with non hosts wise? *Silent One host Nebula thinks appropriate. You wish to lose host now?
*No. We barely got him to host making age. Objection withdrawn.
Jenora hmmms, and taps the side of her head, looking at Coper for a moment. She shakes her head.
Copernicus hmms and his eyes unfocus for a few minutes.
Kainudy hmms, and hopes Copernicus' nervous system isn't getting cluttered up with e-mail..
Copernicus comes out of it and blinks, "How bizarre. Seems the T'Thar started it, apparently a group didn't believe they actually needed Chirr hosts to survive. They eventually surrendered out of sheer embarrassment."
*YOU HAD TO TELL HIM THAT PART!?!?!?!?!*
Kainudy says, "Embarrassment??"
Jenora chuckles.
Kainudy says, "Well, then again... few wars have rational causes anyway."
Copernicus nods with amazement, "They would have wiped themselves out if they had wiped us out. So they surrendered and a treaty was made."
*Shut up already. There's a lump forming inside his lower descending colon. Go remove it.*
Jenora nods. "Makes sense."
Kainudy says, "Ahh.. so the secrecy bit was just to avoid embarrassment then?"
Copernicus's eyes go wide again at Jenora, "This makes sense to you?"
Jenora says, "Well, the surrendering part... the voice of reason finally won out. I don't entirely see why the war started in the first place, but then, there are always nut cases willing to start fights over something that isn't true anyway."
Copernicus nods, "One thing that had bothered me, and I asked about that. They can communicate with other T'Thar when we touch, so I wondered if...."
Kainudy says, ".. If they were taking advantage of a natural tendency, or encouraging it?"
Jenora says, "Probably some of both. Whether you like it or not, sex _was_ something designed into you people."
Kainudy says, "Maybe designed into them.. no way to really know. It may have been present before, and was one of the reasons the Slavers made the 'toy' modifications."
Copernicus nodnods, "True. And to be honest, now as apparently back then, we did like it, just so long as it was our choice, and that's how the agreement worked out. They can communicate just fine by us just touching."
Copernicus frowns, as if trying to work things out.
Jenora nods...
Copernicus purrs, "That is the difference isn't it?"
Jenora nods...
Kainudy says, "So, do you think you'll be able to come to terms with your janitorial staff?"
Copernicus purrs, "Everyone, even natural beings, have to learn to deal with the limitations of their biology. You can either let it rule you, to the point you have to suppress it or outlaw it, or you can embrace it and modify it to make it a positive part of your life.""
Jenora smiles. "Very true. Admittedly, my own situation on that is close to unique..."
Kainudy says, "And I took the route of taking control of it.."
Copernicus looks up and nods, "And you don't think any less of me, or my race because of this?"
Kainudy says, "Huh?"
Jenora says, "Why? You haven't changed."
Copernicus purrs, "A lot of what I did in defense of Genesis and others, wasn't really me. I made the decision, but the abilities weren't mine."
Jenora says, "And in what way weren't they yours? You expecting half your body to decide to get up and leave on you?"
Jenora says, "Copernicus, the fact that you didn't know any of this before doesn't lessen what you did in any way."
Jenora grins. "Insert stirring speech on bravery in the face of unknown odds here."
Kainudy says, "I've led armies where the soldiers where much more capable than I was. You do what you have to do.. because you have to, not because you're able or unable to."
Kainudy says, "In Ragath's realm, you got HURT by an arrow.. but that didn't stop you from taking risks later. So being invulnerable didn't really mean that much when it came to your actions."
Copernicus frowns, "Actually, no. Despite all their complaints, they also are happy to have the runt grow up and live long enough to have children. I guess you are right Jenora, Kainudy. I knew what my limitations were before I knew what was responsible for them. I could have gotten myself killed numerous times, as they reminded me about 4500 times. And my skills, the things I have learned, those are MINE. That is apparently part of the treaty."
Jenora nods.
Copernicus blinks again, "Now that's an odd feeling."
Jenora says, "Sounds like a decent treaty."
Jenora says, "What is?"
Kainudy says, "Sorry for calling them janitors, Copernicus. Unless, that's really their function of course.."
Copernicus purrs, "It's the same feeling when Melora was sick. And even more so when my cubs were born a week ago. I'm responsible for another group of lives now.""
Copernicus shrugs at Kainudy, "My calling them parasites was a lot nastier I guess. It's just, I was trained to think such things were obscene. I could barely deal with you Kai, or your children for such a long time."
Jenora nods. "Part of why I said that your race is hardly ever told this late.
Copernicus frowns and nods, "So what do I do now when other races accuse one of my kind of the truth? I've always done my best to be honest. There's no way I can tell them they are full of kitty litter anymore. And I can't hint at the truth."
Kainudy says, "Hmm."
Kainudy says, "Tell them: Prove it!"
Jenora says, "That is a question, yes."
Copernicus shakes his head, "We make it a policy. No genetic or blood samples at all. There are a few suicide T'Thar that float around. When removed from our bodies, they activate and destroy the sample."
Jenora nods.
Copernicus purrs, "I need to be able to say something true that sounds like I don't believe we have these things."
Copernicus looks to Kainudy for some reason.
Kainudy says, "Well, you could say.. "If that were the case, surely I'd know about it, wouldn't I?""
Kainudy says, "It's a truthful statement that implies that you don't know anything about it."
Copernicus hmmms and frowns, "That's a thought. Or maybe...maybe...Our parents, our elders and our medics tell us that it isn't true, and that other races are just jealous. So if I tell them that is what I have been told, not that I believe it anymore, that's at least mostly true. It's misdirection, but I'll have to live with it. Now, I just have to figure out what to do about Melora and Imbri."
Kainudy says, "Why does this involve Melora? Isn't Imbri her nurse?"
Jenora hmmms. "Melora is an interesting problem, yes... actually, her kittens are more of the problem."
Copernicus purrs, "The whole reason I was told at all was because Imbri infected a non Chirr with the T'Thar to save Melora's life. Her kittens would have had them normally. As I was the sire, that is Ok. I've always wondered why cubs by other races are nearly normal Chirr'T'Thar.""
Copernicus hmmms, "In Melora's case, her magical nature must have overridden that a bit."
Copernicus purrs, "The question boils down to this, do I tell Melora or not?"
Kainudy says, "Melora might think they were spirits possessing her.."
Jenora sits down, pondering this.
Copernicus swallows, "I can tell her without having the communication barrier removed. She would then just think I'm crazy. Course, she already does."
Jenora says, "I think you should, but not without consultation. The rules have been bent a lot on this already..."
Copernicus nods softly to Jenora, "Bent like a ring puzzle in a singularity. And Imbri's life hangs in the balance."
Jenora nods again. "Well, as I've said, I think not without consultation on this. But you should suggest it be done. When your mother gets back, let's talk to her."
Copernicus nods, "Probably a good idea. She's known since she was 15. Yet she still taught me to...I don't think I'll be able to do that. I'll let me mates teach them about it."
Kainudy nods, "This isn't something that you can decide alone."
After a few hours, Nebula returns and talks with the group about Copernicus's options. Finally, the family curls up into their sleeping pile, with Kainudy and Jenora joining. Copernicus sleeps a bit fitfully, having a few odd dreams, one having him flirt with a toaster. Whether or not he'll truly adapt to this knowledge, or Melora either for that matter, remains to be seen, but that is for another day.