Page 45 of The Omega's Unexpected Bounty
My father’s eyes misted. “A tiny man I thought was pleasant enough and had good genes…,” he swallowed hard, and I could only imagine what he was thinking. “It’s fortunate he had you both when he did. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here.” He pointed to another painting and chills ran down my flesh. Dark, cubed ships blocked the sun. My father painted several Soturi and Dara men looking up in open-mouthed terror.
“The Razing of Augo,” I said before he nodded. It was before my memories formed, but every Augo citizen knows of it. High Command speculated several planets were targets, but we never assumed Augo. It was outside the major trade routes, and we thought they would pick another world. Either the Gloom believed a water planet wouldn’t have aerial defenses, or they would try to entice the Ryba to revolt against us. They failed in the invasion, but like with our Femeni, we paid a cost; millions dead.
“Your Oma died that day.”
“Second Father too,” I said.
“His last act was to throw himself over him as the rubble fell. That should’ve been my duty. The Emperor states he didn’t know they would be so bold.” His hands reddened as they balled into a fist. It was apparent to anybody with military training. We had the opportunity to kill them all, right away. Yet the Emperor offered the Hand, instead of the Boot.”
My neck muscles tensed. Criticizing the Emperor – except for one – wasn’t done, but neither was leaving the empire.
“Eventually we killed them all didn’t we?” he asked. It was more of a statement than a question, but I nodded my head. “My apologies my son. I rant when I remember those times and what should’ve been done. If you say you love your mate, I will believe it. However, does your–”
“He loves me.”
“That wasn’t my question son. Does Caan love his situation? If he does not, there are options.” He spoke the next part quickly, “Nothing against your mate, but his father – Nate, gave him up. Perhaps the fish doesn’t swim far from his group?”
“He wouldn’t do that. He’s not like his father.”
He breathed in deep. “I’m trying to give you a path out of this. You got the Earthling because you thought it would make you king. It’s obvious, and I know you made a deal for his presence.” He blinked several times fast. “I grew to love your Oma. I hope you have the same with Caan. Not all Femeni or Omegas want children. They do so because of the repopulation efforts, but perhaps he’s one of them. I think you should inquire. See if he wants to leave.”
“I don’t need to ask. Caan stays here, with our child. Balo isn’t king yet. The universe may grant an earlier birth.”
My father’s lips pursed into a frown. “Don’t expect the universe to hand you your desires. Sometimes you have to swim against the current.”
My eyes narrowed. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“If you want to stay, tell him how you feel till there’s no doubt.” He studied me for several seconds. “Is there any?”
“Absolutely not.”
He nodded slow. “Then there are things to do.” He turned around to finish his paintings of war and death. I took it to mean I should leave and did.
***
Chapter Twenty-Five
CAAN
“Do you think,” said Taleen softly, “that maybe you wanted a child all along?” He pointed to the lifeless body of Tiny in my hand.
I moved him back and forth, and he flopped like a rag doll.
“He’s from you. Not a baby, but you took a part of yourself and made something smaller. He’s a way for you to have somethinglikea baby without acting like an Omega.”
I frowned while images of Soturi, Dara and Femeni flashed on the screen. Each of the sexes but in a variety of roles from warrior to carpet weaver. I noticed Femeni came up more than the rest.
I didn’t answer, but there might have been something to it. Tiny was small, but he wasn’t a baby. Enhanced strength, stealth avatar connection, fighting programs, and the reason I’m on a hovering chair halfway through my pregnancy.
Taleen was used to my non-answers. The Volardi treated their Femeni and thus Omegas better, but there was still that old mentality with some. They would never be cruel to their third sex, but there was a patronizing attitude: a Femeni should concentrate on having babies. Anything else was beyond them. It wasn’t true, but I think he enjoyed having someone who listened. To be honest, Ikindaliked having him around. We wouldn’t shoot guns together or go on a stakeout, but neither would I – at least for now.
My fingers rubbed my one-and-a-half-month belly. I was halfway through my pregnancy. Within two months, I would have a living being dependent on me. My eyes widened. “Does this scare you Taleen?”
His voice shook. “Yes.So much. I can’t sleep some nights, and it’s not because of the back pain. I have memories of my Oma making great meals and planning celebrations. He was a wonderful man but set an impossible standard.” His shoulders slumped. “I don’t know if I can ever be like him.”
I blinked and thought about Nate. I was already ‘ahead’ of him if this was a contest. I wasn’t trying to get rid of this baby, and I wouldn’t use him as currency. Nate paid the price, but that doesn’t change the fact that he tried. I explained the issue to Taleen, and he nodded sadly. It was one of those where he offered no solution, except saying he heard. I thought about how nobody used to listen to him and decided that it was fine to be listened to myself. I didn’t have that problem with Graden, but he wouldn’t understand Omega or Femeni things.
We spent the next hour getting our ankles massaged by morphing metal spheres. Our men did it, but I wouldn’t turn down an extra one. Between satisfied grunts, we talked about our symptoms. My finger taps broadcasted my extra energy, but Taleen didn’t have that. He was tired, but I think it was from his snoring. The doctor said he produced excess hormones, and it made him loud in the bedroom. I felt terrible for him, but it kept Balo up at night; I heard it was making him unpleasant.
