Kneus: A Terraneu Novel (Book Four) Read online

  “Well you will have the perfect companion in the male sacathie.” Amber looked to Gwen, “Mairi chose the female brindle, and that means Cat and Knaleg get the male. You should have seen it Gwen. Cat had thought to wait for a different litter and hope for a female. Knaleg was on the ground rolling around talking baby to the male sacathie before she could even say no.” Both Cat and Amber laughed remembering the image of Knaleg and the sacathie. “Even more amazing was Cebat and Tabec left them alone, and the little male was attached to Knaleg the whole time he visited.” Amber looked around and Gwen would have sworn she was counting...one...two...three. Looking back to Cat she asked. “Do you have a name for him yet?”

  “Knaleg is letting me pick since I am not getting to wait for a girl sacath. But I haven’t decided yet.” Her voice trailed off.

  “Well as soon as you have a name picked out we will start using it to call him.” Amber suddenly hurried over to where Brennae was taking a few teetering steps, quickly moving toys from behind the toddler in case she fell back. When she noticed the woman watching her Amber laughed, “I don’t think a fall on her bum is going to hurt, I just don’t want her to fall on her bum and get stuck by the toy she lands on.”

  Before either she or Cat could say a word there was a knock on the door. Amber yelled out, “Come in.” Then smiled when Mairi rushed inside.

  “I don’t know how you did it Amber.” She was pushing the twin stroller and Gwen could see the girls were sleeping soundly. “They only sleep for four hours at as time if I’m lucky, then they are up and ready to be fed.” She paused in mid rant to see Catherine and Gwen sitting on the couch. “Oh hello.” She smiled weakly, “I swear Gwen if you hadn’t used the medical unit on me and healed my lower extremities I don’t know what I would do. Not getting any decent sleep is one thing, but to be in pain too...” She flopped dramatically onto the couch across from Gwen and Catherine. “I sound like a wretch don’t I?” Before anyone could answer she continued on, “I am grateful for all the help I’ve been getting. It is the only time I am able to get things done around the dome. I just seem so overwhelmed. I thought it would be easier somehow.” She ended on a pitiful sigh.

  “You need to get more assistance if you are feeling overwhelmed. There is no shame in asking for and getting help to keep things running smooth. Even parents with one baby can feel as if they are drowning in uncertainty, with multiples it can be even harder.” Gwen interjected before Mairi could continue. “I would also like to do a medical check to make sure your hormone levels are back to normal. I won’t take no for an answer, we can go to the medical dome after your visit with Amber.” When Mairi went to argue Gwen said, “Unless you want Knollig to be consulted.”

  That earned her a glare from Mairi because everyone knew that when it came to their mates, the males would have them in the medical dome all day long checking their health if they thought it was needed.

  “The triplets sleep through the night now and I can give you the names of my helpers if you want Mairi.” Amber hurried to break into the argument that was brewing, “The only problem you might have is that you are breastfeeding, and I was bottle feeding. They won’t be able to assist you with that, but they can help with the other things.”

  “That’s okay Amber, I already have a lot of help. As much as I hate to admit it, this might just be a physical issue. Your pregnancy was a nightmare and afterward it’s clear sailing. My pregnancy was smooth, and now I’ve hit a rough patch.” Mairi looked to Gwen, “I won’t need Knollig to convince me to get a check-up. After visiting I will go to the medical dome with you.”

  As if on cue one of the twins stirred in her stroller. Mairi rocked the infant gently until she fell back asleep. The talk went around the room, they discussed babies, the sacath, and the plans to make the next dance even better. No one was surprised when there was another knock on the door and Jen came in.

  “I have great news. See this?” Jen glowed with excitement her finger pointing to a small red mark on her face. “It’s a zit!”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Kneus and the other council members were waiting for Thian to join them in order to start the meeting. He was talking with his brothers, and it was a relief to honestly be able to say that he wasn’t having nightmares. Lying to them and knowing they knew he was lying was added stress he didn’t need. He had been free of the nightmares for the past three weeks now. Getting extra water and sun, not to mention how happy he was to be dating Gwen must be helping keep them at bay.

  “I have great news.” Thian burst into the dome, “Jen thinks she is pregnant. She woke up with one of those ‘zits’ the women seem to freak out over.”

  Kneus wasn’t surprised, nor were any of the others. Thian and Jen had been trying for a baby, so this was indeed good news. Congratulations went around the room, even Ailech and Asteen seemed to get a little misty eyed at the idea of another baby...or babies.

  The conversation moved around the room. The council discussed the lack of any progress in cracking the archives. The males teased him about his growing attachment to a certain doctor.

  “On another note...I have something that needs to be discussed with the female council.” Asteen stated drawing everyone’s attention. Kneus wasn’t sure what to expect since Asteen rarely brought a problem before the council. This must be very serious, so he was shocked into silence by the next words, “I have been listening to Earth music and there is some of it that I find very disturbing. Why just today there was a song about some poor fellow named Jessie, and the male singing was not a man of honor. He sang openly of wanting to take this males female away from him.” Asteen had really taken to his topic and continued passionately, “Should we allow this type of message to be conveyed, when it goes against all of our codes of conduct? Maybe we should consider censoring what music is allowed?”

  Kneus had to hide his laugh behind a cough, and then explained to Asteen when his glare turned to him. “Sorry.” He coughed again. “I haven’t had enough water today.” He grabbed a glass and took a huge swallow then coughed again, “Dry throat.” He cleared his throat. The idea of trying to tell the women that they couldn’t listen to certain music was laughable.

  “Asteen.” He reasoned, “I know that some Earth music may be disturbing to us. And believe me I heard my fill on Earth and I even censored out the extremely violent songs. The ones that made it through might have messages we don’t always agree with, it is part of accepting those songs as a piece of the females Earth heritage. What kind of society would that make us if we cut even further into their choices? Besides we know the males are not going to change overnight to fighting in the streets and stealing each other’s females.” Kneus finished with an imploring look at his brothers.

  Knaleg came to his rescue, “I know that the males find the music entertaining and don’t think of the words as some type of doctrine to follow.”

  Kniam had composed himself enough to add, “We have had thousands of years as a community together, I don’t think that the males are going to throw away their beliefs and high code of honor over some Earth music.”

  “We are committed to enforcing any law that is broken and the males know it.” Ailech drawled from his seat. “The thought of music making any male break the law is absurd.”

  “I don’t agree with banning the music, and I don’t think that is what Asteen was saying.” Knollig interjected. “I think maybe we need to be vigilant to the changes the males are going through now that females are here. Amber did warn us, and we tried to prepare...but I think the message to take from Asteen’s warning about the music is that with all of the changes the males are going through we need to have a stronger presence in the community, not a weaker one.”

  Kneus noted that all of the males were listening intently as Knollig continued, “We have been guilty of pulling into our own lives and not noticing as much as we should about the community and it’s changing around us.”

  “I am guilty of that.” Kniam spoke softly,
“First with Amber, then the triplets and sacathie.”

  Knaleg spoke next, “I haven’t taken time away from security to be with Cat. She is always up for training.” He thought for a moment and then added, “But I am guilty of listening to the males less. When I’m around Cat I tend to focus on her alone.”

  “Which is as it should be Knaleg, Cat is your mate.” Asteen said, “Ailech and I have been around the unattached males and it is like Kniam said, they are not going to change dramatically overnight.”

  “What do you recommend we do for now? The community will never be the same as it once was, there is nothing we can do about that.” Kniam added, “I wouldn’t go back even if there was a way to do it.”

  “We are aware of the issue with the males.” Ailech sighed, “All we can do is keep an eye on the situation. Our genetic code demands honor and they cannot overcome that. We could be making mountains out of mole-hills.” Ailech smiled at the looks on the other male’s faces. “One of the females taught me that saying.” Everyone laughed with Ailech glad for the chance to lighten the mood.

  “Thian, when are you going to know for sure about a baby? Is Jen getting scanned?” Kneus asked to change the subject back to a happy one.

  “She is telling the females now.” He looked around at the men, “I think she was going to your dome Kniam since that is where everyone always ends up.” Thian laughed, “After she tells the females she is going to call for me and we will have the medical scan done.”

  After more discussions about security, and the health of the community Thian suddenly jumped in his seat, “Jen is on her way to the medical unit in New Haven.” His smile was enough to light the whole of Terraneu.

  “Meeting adjourned then!” Kniam insisted with a crack of his gavel.

  Thian had moved toward the door then turned back to look at Knollig, “Males are reporting that Mairi has gone in also.”

  Knollig looked confused, “That isn’t odd, she is friends with Jen after all.”

  “They are reporting just Gwen, Jen and Mairi.” Thian argued, “Nobody else. Not even the twins are with her.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  “Well the scan is showing your body chemistry is off.” Gwen read the report again to make sure. “I am going to use the portable unit and do a fix on those levels. It is just an after effect of the pregnancy and nothing to be alarmed about.” Gwen assured her friend. When she had said her chemistry was off Mairi’s eyes welled with tears and for a moment...fear.

  “Thank you Gwen.” Mairi sniffed, “I appreciate the help.”

  “Of course Mairi, we are friends.” She held Mairi’s hand until the portable unit got in her way. “You are young and healthy, this is just minor hiccup. We will have you right as rain in no time at all.” Letting go she moved to the other table.

  “Thian should be here any moment.” Gwen smiled at Jen, “I’m pleased you got to try out the new medical gown, what do you think of the design?”

  “They are really comfortable and my butt is covered!” Jen laughed.

  Before Gwen could comment the door’s opened and in rushed Thian... Knollig, Knaleg, Kniam and Kneus.

  “What...” Gwen got out before Knollig hurried to Mairi.

  “I was told you were in here too!” He rushed out, “What is wrong? Gwen? Kneus? What is she in the medical unit for?”

  Gwen looked to Kneus who was absently reading the computer console. He raised his eyes to her, and then nodded his head slightly. He was going to let her answer his brother! She found that oddly sweet that he was deferring to her.

  “Mairi has been feeling overwhelmed, which is entirely normal after giving birth. Just to be safe I wanted to check her hormone levels and body chemistry to make sure there wasn’t anything seriously wrong.”

  “And? You have the medical unit working on her which means you found something wrong.” Knollig sounded on the verge of panic so Gwen hurried to answer.

  “There is only a slight issue with her blood work and the medical unit is fixing it.” Gwen assured him, “Mairi had a really easy pregnancy, and sometimes it is only afterward that issues arise. We caught it early, and she is going to be fine!”

  “Honestly Knollig stop harassing Gwen. She is only trying to help.” Mairi laughed up from the medical table. “You need to let her move on to Jen...I can’t wait to hear the news.”

  Gwen looked at Jen and Thian who had sat patiently through Knollig’s questioning.

  “Do you mind having the scan with others in the room?” she asked.

  Thian was the first to answer, “We talked about it this morning when Jen discovered her ‘zit’. We are happy to share this moment with everyone.”

  “Okay then.” Gwen said as she moved another portable unit to scan Jen. “Please lie back for me.” Jen instantly rested back on the cushions. Gwen noticed that she was holding Thian’s hand tightly in her grip, his poor fingers were beginning to turn purple. “Here we go. I only need to place it over your lower abdomen and run a pregnancy scan.” Gwen placed the unit where she had indicated, then pushed a button.

  Everyone held his or her breath. Less than ten seconds later there was a loud beep. Gwen jumped because it had come from the unit behind her. Mairi had finished it seemed and just as she turned to Mairi another beep sounded causing her to jump again. Gwen started laughing in nervousness.

  “Okay, who first?” she asked, torn between Mairi and Jen.

  “You can see to Jen first.” Mairi helped her out by saying, “Knollig can get me out from under here.”

  Gwen gave Mairi a grateful look then turned back to Jen. “Let’s see what the scan says.” After taking a second to move the portable unit she glanced at the readings. “It will show in the archived data that on this date, the mated couple of Thian and Jen were confirmed to be...pregnant.” Gwen informed the couple. Jen immediately burst into tears, Thian frantically whispering that whatever was wrong he would fix it. Gwen looked to Kniam and Knollig since they had gone through this with their mates.

  “It is because of happiness she is crying.” Kniam told his friend, moving to slap his shoulder.

  “Yes. The hormone levels will jump around and your mate will act totally irrationally at times.” Knollig informed Thian.

  “Hey! I resent that.” Mairi had joined the group at the bedside of her friend. “We do not act totally irrationally when pregnant!”

  “Really?” both males looked at each other and Kniam raised his eyebrow.

  “Okay, maybe Amber was willing to go through the port pad. We don’t know that it was harmful though.” Mairi felt like she was defending all womanhood since Jen was still incoherent on the bed. “There’s a lot going on inside a woman’s body when she is making another human being. Give us a break!”

  “We need to let Thian and Jen have a moment alone.” Gwen ushered the others away from the bed and toward the door. “Maybe we can have a surprise congratulations party at the swimming pond for them later?” she whispered as they reached the opening.

  “I like that idea!” Mairi whispered back. “I will go get Amber and the others to help. We will meet you at the children’s swim area just before dark.”

  Gwen nodded then turned to Kneus and Knollig, “If they stay together make sure both of them get to the swimming pond. If they are not together, you make sure Thian gets to the swimming pond, and we will make sure Jen does.” She made sure to add, “It is a surprise so don’t say why, make up an excuse to be there.”

  “We understand the idea of it being a ‘surprise’ Gwen. We won’t let it slip.” Kneus gave her a quick kiss then hurried off with Knollig.

  Gwen sighed in frustration. She was forever getting quick kisses from Kneus. She knew they were attracted to each other. When Kneus let his guard down and she was able to be close to him for longer than two seconds, the sexual chemistry between them was obvious. Was the fact that they had gone from working together as colleagues, to friends, then colleagues who were friends, to a couple who happened to be da
ting that was the problem? Maybe Kneus was confused on what type of physical affection to show, and when it was acceptable to show it. She would have to talk with him tonight at the party. She didn’t think taking care of her sexual frustrations solo was going to satisfy her for much longer.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The party was a huge success. Thian and Jen had decided to wait on finding out the number and sex of the baby(s), since Terraneu pregnancies seemed to result in multiples, so in order to decorate Amber had gone with every color. Ribbons were floating on the breeze and she had lights flickering on every tree. They had music playing in the background and extra lounge chairs brought from other areas of the swimming pond. It was open invitation so almost all the residence of Terraneu had at one point or other in the duration of the party been by to congratulate Thian and Jen. Mairi and Knollig had stayed for as long as they could, then left for home when the babysitters had informed Knollig telepathically that Chloe and Celeste were in need of feeding.

  Kneus and Gwen had spent time on the lazy river, drifting around on the current. As the night settled over them, some couples began dancing. Gwen jumped at the chance to get close to Kneus, and talk with him about where he felt they were headed as a couple. Did he want a physical relationship or to stay as they were? Moving into his arms for a slow song Gwen took the opportunity to start a serious conversation.

  “Kneus, can I ask you something?” She waited for him to be looking at her then she blurted, “Do you still find me sexually attractive?” She felt relief at asking, now she had to hope she liked the answer.

  His face showed surprise for a second then he answered, “You are very desirable.”