Chapter 52: Rescue Part 2

Shooter

I was a little surprised at how protective I felt towards Everrie, and how hostile I was towards Jalis. He seemed like he was just genuinely concerned. It wasn't right to fault him for not trusting a complete stranger with his son's fate. But I could feel that primal part of my brain fighting for dominance. It felt like he was challenging me.

Even more than that, I didn't like him questioning Everrie. She clearly held no affection for him. The fact that he had sired her child was... Well, I couldn't even put into words exactly how it made me feel, but I didn't like it, and I knew why: I liked Everrie. My primal brain saw him as a rival, but he didn't even deserve to be. He had touched her, fathered a child with her, but she didn't like him. She was clearly uncomfortable around him, and he wasn't showing her proper respect! He deserved to be the one cowering, not her!

I suddenly realized I was standing taller and clenching my teeth. I probably would've been snarling at him if it had felt right in my current form. The longer he stood, mulling over what I'd said, the more tense I got. If I didn't reign it in, I might have literally snapped at him if he made a sudden move.

"Alright." Jalis ran a hand through his hair and turned, taking several steps away. The submissive posture did put me more at ease. "Just... Be safe." That seemed to be the end of the conversation.

"You can come too..." Everrie said softly. I glanced down and she meet my eyes for a moment. She seemed nervous, but also pleading. Ah, crap. She didn't seem to like him, but did care about him.

He shook his head. "Thank you, but I can't." He never looked back, just shaking his head and keeping one hand gripping the back of his neck.

Everrie looked a little deflated but just nodded.

I let out a heavy sigh. It'd be easier to just leave him, but it felt like it would leave unfinished business from this part of Everrie's life. Someday her son may ask about his blood father, and why he was left to live as a slave...I couldn't just leave it.

"Who is it?" I didn't bother to really hide my resignation, but oh well.

"What?" Jalis turned back and met my eyes. There was just a hint of hopefulness, but it quickly faded.

Yep. I was right. "Obviously, there's someone you just can't bare to leave behind. Who is it?" If he had a partner, that actually suited me just fine.

He hesitated for a moment. "My...husband."

"I didn't know you had a husband." Everrie commented, sounding curious and suddenly a little sympathetic.

"No one did."

Glancing around the room, I could see everyone else who had gathered looking just as surprised.

"He's the bodyguard of one of the Master's associates. Neither master approves of same sex relations, and prefers to keep us as breeders." His whole body cringed on the last word. I felt Everrie shutter as well. I touched her mind gently and felt a mix of emotions, but sympathy seemed to be winning out over the others. It dawned on me that he was technically just as much a victim as Everrie was.

I thought of my dad, and my brother that he didn't want to sire. They had taken his DNA. He hadn't mated with Karule's mom. I knew he'd never do that to Mom. But even that had felt like a violation. And yet, he still ended up loving and taking in Karule after his mother died. Though, I think it had initially been Mom's decision. It was before I was born, but I'd gotten the impression dad wasn't proud of how he'd first reacted to Karule and his birth mom. So, maybe I shouldn't be so harsh against this man. He may feel just as violated and awkward towards Everrie, but it seemed he was trying to be responsible for the child they'd made together.

"Does he have a bunch of people he couldn't bare to leave?" I started doing calculations in my head. I had enough energy for an extra jump, but if we added another big group, it might get dangerous.

"No. He has no family. No one he's close to. Bodyguards like us don't even usually interact with the house staff." He glanced towards the woman who had been caring for Arroka. It seemed maybe she had made a little extra effort to involve him as the boy's father.

"Alright. We can pick him up on the way to meet up with the rest of our group." I gestured for everyone to gather close. I couldn't afford to make a separate trip, so everyone was going to have to come along. No one questioned it and circled around, pushing the children closer to me and the adults standing behind.

It took a little encouragement to get everyone as close as possible. Jalis seemed the most uncomfortable standing so close in front of me and Everrie. Once everyone was in place, I touched his shoulder. "Focus on the one you want to see."

He nodded hesitantly and I saw an image of a man about his age, a bit older than me and Everrie. He looked a bit hardened, despite the general small and soft build of Nehwalians, but Jalis remembered him with a gentle expression. I could feel the tenderness and affection he felt for his husband, and I followed the connection through spacetime to a man resting alone in a small bed in a room the size of a large closet. Too small for the whole group.

I expanded my mind from that spot and felt the space outside. There was a garden area outside a large house that had enough room for our group. Maintaining that connection and reaching out around me, I delicately wrapped each individual with my energy. That part was significantly easier in this form. Then I pulled us all through to the space I'd selected. The transition was smooth, barely even rocking everyone on their feet.

The night air was warm and humid. "Ok. We'll wait here... Do you think you can get your husband without alerting anyone?" I whispered.

Jalis smiled at me and vanished. I instinctively sniffed the air, searching the space he'd been with every sense. He was just gone, not even a lingering scent.

"That's his ability." Everrie explained. "He can alter other's senses. If he doesn't want you to know where he is, you can't perceive him." She looked up at me with a tight smile. "We both have abilities that can affect other living beings. Such abilities are seen as dangerous. Breeding for such individuals is even more regulated than typical and our population is...kept low."

"Huh." I was starting to get a picture of what kind of society this was.

***

Everrie

It only took a few minutes before Jalis called out, "We're ready." I looked up from resting my cheek on Arroka's head. Jalis was standing a few feet away, holding the hand of another man. It was a little surprising to learn he had a husband. He hadn't mentioned it during our time together though I doubted this was a new relationship.

I had been a virgin. My master listed me as a breeding vessel once I came of age. His master was the first to commission me. It's not that Jalis had been unkind. He was very polite... And gentle. But he had also been very reserved. He hardly looked me in the eye. The coldness had made the experience...painfully awkward.

If he had told me he had a true love, I would have understood better. Many breeders who find a beloved will exchange vows that include how they will behave during breeding assignments. Whatever they feel well help maintain a sense of fidelity to their spouse. Treating the ordeal as a chore with no personal connection is rather normal. I shouldn't have taken it personally.

Jalis's husband's eyes fell on me as they moved close for the teleportation. He glanced from me to Arroka and back, then smiled softly and bowed his head with his eyes closed. It was a small gesture, but every gesture has meaning in our culture. He was showing that he respected me as Arroka's mother and would defer to me. It also showed he didn't see me as a rival or resent me for having had a child with his husband.

I smiled back and nodded my head just before the darkness swallowed us. The whole time, I could feel Shooter's arm around my upper back, and his energy gently encasing me and Arroka in my arms. I felt like we were insulated from the cold and rushing sensation that had accompanied the first few jumps we had made this way. Though, it did seem to take a little longer this time.

When we arrived at our destination, I was momentarily surprised by the sunlight. I'd forgotten it wasn't night time here. The rest of the group we'd left all gaped and moved forward to offer support for anyone who was a little unsteady.

"Ok. Two more stops to make." Shooter sighed, then got a far away look on his face. The man looking for his wife and kids stepped forward hopefully.

"Your wife is still trying to gather a few more people." He sighed. "Probably good I take a little break before jumping again."

"You can really get her whole family?" He asked sheepishly but hopefully.

"Well," Shooter plopped down on the mossy ground, "I didn't exactly give her a limit... And well... It would be kind of crappy to leave anyone behind. Looks like she's got...six kids, and seven adults total... Kinda a big group on my own, especially at the end of a long day." His face dropped a little and moved to the stream to get a drink of water. "But doable. Your younger kids are the ones I'm worried about." He looked up at the other woman. "They're not alone. I don't think I'll be able to get them out quietly. So I need more energy."

"We have some food! Here, let us make you a meal. Is there anything else we can do?" The woman who'd been tending to Arroka offered and starting rummaging through her bags."

"Food is good. I'll have to hunt later... But for now, sugary things, especially fruit or pastries would be good!" Shooter smiled brightly and bounced a little.

Someone produced a cup from a bag and lifted water from the stream to fill it before handing it to Shooter. Someone else handed him some fresh bread they'd packed and one of the kids pulled out some cookies it looked like they'd smuggled in their pockets. It seemed everyone was eager to help anyway they could. That wasn't surprising. It was also good no one seemed to notice his comment about hunting. Nehwalians are traditionally vegetarians, so they may have become suspicious that he isn't actually one of us.

Then I noticed Jalis eyeing me curiously, glancing at Shooter. He looked like he wanted to ask something, but then thought better of it and moved to stand a distance away, pulling his husband along. His husband caressed his cheek. They both seemed to hesitate, glancing around for a moment, then they kissed. Softly at first, then deeper. I looked away to give them privacy. They'd probably never been able to express such affection in public or without risk of being caught and punished.

"Thank you! This all helps." Shooter laughed and started munching on some fruit someone had produced. He was definitely more brazen than most nehwalians.

"Is there anything else that would help you recover?" I asked as I sat next to him, setting Arroka down on the soft ground, but keeping a hold of him in case he decided to crawl towards the stream.

"Well..." He looked at me and seemed to be considering something. "You could order me to make the next trip." He got a strange glint in his eyes that made me blush. No one wanted me to use their ability on them, many feared the possibility even though it's only supposed to work on animals.

Shooter continued to smile and stare at me expectantly. Everyone else looked between us with confused expressions.

Finally I nodded. "If you think it would help... But would that actually make you more likely to succeed, or... Just force you to try without being ready?"

"I think if you tell me to do something, I'll definitely do it, without fail." He smiled wider and hummed a little. Then he looked towards the sky and got that far away look." His wife's family is all gathered. Can't leave them waiting, some left where they're supposed to be so they'll be in trouble if they get caught. I need to go now."

He turned back and stared at me expectantly, almost holding his breath.

"Alright... Go get them and bring them here safely." I poured my power into the command, willing it to give him strength.

His face brightened and he whooped lightly in delight or amusement as he moved his feet under him and suddenly sprang up and vanished in a whoosh of air.

Everyone stared at me silently. I blushed and ducked my head, focusing on Arroka as he babbled and patted the moss under him.

A minute or so later, another sudden gust of wind rushed through the little clearing. A few people instinctively stepped away just as a large group appeared out of thin air. They all staggered a little and fought to stay on their feet.

"Woo! Ta-da!" Shooter laughed out loud, raising his arms in a triumphant gesture before falling back onto his backside and laying out flat. "That was fun!" He laughed some more. "Ok, just give me a minute then let's do that again!"