Brightstar: 07:00 tines
Princess Sara, late of Earth, looked at her son. His nose was pressed up against the glass of the viewing deck. ::We’re here, why can’t we get off the ship? He’s waiting for me.:: Michael quivered in anticipation.
::Who’s waiting for you Michael?:: his new Zadda asked.
A clearly exasperated Michael shrugged his shoulders as only an almost five-year-old child could. “My new friend! We’ve been talking almost the whole trip. We talk at least three times a day.”
“Talking?” Juraens lifted his brow.
“Mind speech, Zadda. He’s nice. I like him and I think he likes me. I asked Aloysius to help me find him a kitten. Aloysius said that Shadow had a littermate. Duchess lives in his house, but he isn’t her person, her person is his mommie.”
::Michael, go find Shadow, Chou, and Aloysius and get your friend’s kitten. Your new friend’s name is Naffie.:: Michael ran out of Quarters.
“Sara, sit.”
“Is something wrong, Juraens?”
“There are certain things we haven’t had time to explain to you yet. Our Triad, Michael, and the senator are what is known as HiPsy.”
“HiPsy?”
“Off-the-chart psychic abilities. There are quite a few of us now. TeZaron and TeBron, the heads of the Elder Council, their offspring Naffie and their bonded fem, Syn are HiPsy, as are several other Triads. Now that our Warriors are bonding with Earthen fem, it seems that more and more of them are exhibiting superior psy abilities. We will dine with the Elders and their bonded, TaSyn, this evening. HiPsy is not something to be bandied about. Even on Sarran, to be that different is dangerous. I think Michael is talking to Naffie. Naffie was able to reach TaSyn on our last trip back. His psy is very strong, and so evidently is Michael’s.” Juraens sighed, sitting down on the sofa with Sara.
Sara considered this. “It will be good for Michael to have a friend right away. Especially one with the same abilities. Michael had no friends back on Earth. Bradley forbade it.” Juraens’ face darkened at the mention of Sara’s former husband’s name.
“In this case, be careful what you ask for. Naffie is special, but undisciplined. Bron and Zaron ran the war and Nara, by necessity, was left alone with Naffie and and their femspring, Nessa. When they thought it was over the Zyptz launched the attack that decimated the fem population of Sarran. Bron and Zaron lost a femspring and their fem who was Naffie’s Zinna as well as an unborn bebe.”
“Zinna?”
“Mommie, if you will.”
“Oh, that’s terrible, to lose their pregnant fem and their femspring in one terrible day and having to soldier on because a whole planet depended on them…”
“After the Zyptz attack the planet was in crisis. Naffie ran wild because Zaron and Bron were busy saving our world. He can teleport across the planet and does so frequently, much to Syn’s dismay. The cats try to keep him in line. She’s trying to gentle him without breaking his spirit. Maybe Michael can help and maybe Naffie can help Michael. Michael needs to be less timid and Naffie needs to be less bold.”
Mark walked into Quarters from the Star Chamber. ::Sarran politics is just as complicated as Earthen politics, only on a smaller scale. But much more dangerous because the players have psychic gifts.::
“Until Castle Water is renovated, we’ll live in Bron, Zaron, and Syn’s guesthouse. It’s twice the size of your house on Earth but not as big as the castle. The senator will stay with us until he bonds. But that means that Michael will see Naffie every day. I hope they balance each other out and provide less worry for both you and Syn,” Juraens said.
Michael came back and went into his room.
“Did you find a kitten?” Mark smiled.
“Aloysius said he’ll take care of it.”
The Concierge spoke. “Prince Juraens, Prince Mark, it’s time for your party to disembark.”
Mark grabbed Sara’s small bag. ::I’ll go and get Sam. I believe he’s in Quarters. I’ll meet you and Juraens at the ramp.::
Juraens grabbed the bag filled with Michael’s toys and he shepherded Michael and Sara down the corridor to the gangplank.