Chapter 20: New Mates

Laarusk and I joined the others at the table. It was clear that everyone was nervous about the upcoming communication. Karen, Emily and the kids had decided to use the main room with the fireplace in the background for the setting. Laarusk set up a box that was supposed to be the transmitter for what was coming from here, while Mallie was going to provide the audio from the parent's dream conversation. I didn't understand what was going to happen, but it seemed like we were having a TV call-in show.

Laarusk's team found a 'hard fact' that they thought would convince the parents of the dream's authenticity. Don, the kid's father, had bought a lottery ticket, using the family birth dates, on the way home. While he hadn't gotten the Mega-Jackpot ball, he did match the five regular numbers which was worth a cool million. He didn't know it yet since he had put the ticket in his wallet before leaving the store and hadn't watched the drawing. I thought it would be better if it was something more personal, like maybe something that had happened since they got home.

Jenny started things off. "Mom? Dad? Can you hear and see us?"

A sleepy female voice came from the intercom. "What? Who is it? Where are you?"

"It's me mom, Jenny. Can you see me?"

"Jenny? Why can't I see you? Is it really you, baby? Where are you? Is Johnny with you?..." Her stream of questions went on and on.

And so it began.

I pulled Laarusk aside and asked if he needed to have me here for the session. He said I didn't have to be there and thought he could answer any questions if necessary and could call if he needed me. I waved to everyone and went off to see how our guests were doing. I went by the medical area first to see how Takim was doing, but found the door locked.

"Mallie, can you open the door to Takim's room for me please?"

"Sorry Andy. No visitors by order of the doctors. I can tell you that he is coming along fine and should be up and about later this evening. The doctors will still have to release him though."

I wasn't surprised. I figured he would need privacy while he recovered no matter how fast it was. "Okay, I can wait. I was just hoping to see him before I went to his mother and wife."

"You wouldn't really be able to see him anyway. He's in an R and R unit."

"A what?"

"R and R unit. It stands for Recovery and Rehabilitation. It helps to speed recovery after surgery. In can be used in an emergency situation, or when a doctor is not available, to stabilize and repair injuries. It's not recommended though since any repairs done in the R and R unit are not corrected first. For example, broken bones will be fused in whatever position they are in and would require re-breaking and setting before it would be correct. However, if it is a matter of life and death, if the patient can make it into an R and R unit, it will most likely save their life."

I imagined the woman in an episode of 'Star Trek' that had been 'repaired' by aliens. I shuddered to think of that happening to someone close to me.

"That's good to know. Is there any way to have it only do the minimum needed to make sure the person lives?"

"It is possible, but not recommended. I would suggest using a stasis chamber until medical personnel are available instead."

"Stasis chamber? You mean the beanie thing we took off of the twins?"

"That would be them. Just put it on and push the green button. The blue deactivation button extends outside of the field so they can be deactivated when needed. The automatic circuit will only shut down the field as long as the environment around it is able to maintain life. That does not account for hostile forces, only environmental ones. For example, if you are surrounded by natives that want to kill you, the field will still shut down automatically, but if the field falls into lava with you inside it, it will not deactivate until the area around the field is suitable for supporting life again. The default setting for lifeforms is one year. Inanimate objects default to one hundred years."

"How big of an area does it cover? Can one unit be used for more than one person or item?"

"Each unit can theoretically cover any number of beings as long as they are in physical contact when the field is activated. Inanimate objects are limited by the size of the container that is used. You wouldn't be able to put it on a rock and put the entire planet into stasis. And be careful about putting an inanimate object, like a container, into stasis if there are lifeforms inside. The field would only recognize the container and default to one hundred years."

"Is here a minimum setting on them?"

"The minimum for automated mode is one day. They can be shut down at any time using the manual button."

"Can you ask Aaka if I get one for each vehicle that is set to one day? I think they would make good emergency pods. And can you tie them in so the radios act like a locator beacon if the stasis is activated?"

"I'll see what he can do for us. Is there anything else you need right now?"

"No, I don't think so. Wait. Where are Etala and the other natives?"

"Etala, Lita, Keela and Keedo are in Keela's room. Kima and Shahana are in Karen's room. And Andy, I really think you should start thinking of them as other than 'the natives'. Etala is your mate and the others are almost family. Emily thinks most of the other women will eventually be your mates as well."

"How should I think of them? They aren't exactly human like Emily, Karen, and me."

"They are similar enough that you can reproduce together. And they are from the 'Earth' of this dimension. So they aren't exactly like you. Does it really make a difference in how you feel about them or how you treat them?"

That brought me up short. How many of the social problems back on my earth had come from the separation of people by physical characteristics? I wasn't going to start that here.

"You're right, Mallie. They are just as human as I am and I shouldn't treat them as anything else. I'm going to go see my wife and her family. Can you direct me to Keela's room please?"

"Lita and Etala are on their way to Lita's room. Keela just put Keedo down for a nap and is going to rest as well. Did you still want to go to her room?"

"No, I don't want to disturb their rest. I'll just go to my room and stay out of everybody's way."

"I think you are making a mistake, Andy. How do you expect these people to follow you if you don't act like a leader? You need to check in on your followers from time to time. If you don't make them feel wanted, they won't want to stay. How much time have you spent with any of them since they came here?"

I didn't even have to think about that to know the answer. I hadn't spent any time with them at all. Karen had showed them to their rooms, and Etala had prepared their meals. What kind of a jerk am I? Etala had to feed them in the cave! I realized I needed to make some changes.

"Mallie, please direct me to where I can find Etala."

"Gladly, Andy. They just got to Lita's room."

I followed the guiding light until I came to the end of a corridor. It seemed to me that Lita had intentionally chosen the quarters furthest from everything else. I remembered that her tent had been practically outside of the camp as well. I was about to knock on the door when I heard voices inside.

"He would not want me. All I am good for is gathering and cooking, even though my cooking is barely edible. My skins do not hold up well when I make clothes. And you know I cannot give him a child. Even Tobo said it was me because he had a child before..."

"What Tobo, or any of the others said is not important. Andy does not care about what others said about you, only how you present yourself to him. He is a strange but very good man. He makes sure there is enough to eat and has provided us with these unusual skins to wear. I do not believe he will care if you can give him a child or not."

"But he has not even come to see me since we arrived. If he wanted me he would have at least checked to see if I was okay."

"Andy is a great shaman and has much to take care of here. I am sure he will visit soon."

"But will he want me? He makes me feel things I have never felt before. Just sitting and talking fills me with fire for him. I do not know what I will do when he turns me away."

"Andy is not going to turn you away. If he did not care for you he would not have brought you here. You cannot rush him though. He has been through a lot on his journey here. The loss of two life-mates in one day still weighs heavily on him."

"But isn't Emily his life-mate?"

"Yes, they were life-mates in the last world. She could not bear the loss and chose to follow him. Her arrival does not lessen the fact that he once lost her. She is unusual as well. When I first came to Andy, he would not have me in the furs. Yet when she arrived, instead of taking him herself, she had him mate with me. It was the most amazing thing I have ever felt! Later I heard them talking and I believe she wants him to take all of us as mates! He was saying he didn't want to but she was very firm."

I could hear her naming off the women. "She would have him take seven mates? I have never heard of one man taking so many. Do you think he would be able to keep them all satisfied?"

"I do not think he will have any problems with that, and neither will you once he takes you to the furs."

"I shall never find out then, for I know that will not happen."

I had heard enough. I knocked on the door before opening it.

"Hello ladies. Mind if I come in and visit for a while?"

Lita's eyes flew open. "Andy! We were just ... we were not expecting you! How did you know where to find us?"

I grinned. "I have someone who keeps track of everything and everyone. I just asked where my mates were and was directed here." I noticed Lita was turning red. "Have I interrupted something?"

"We were just ... I mean I was ... Mates?"

Etala interpreted, "I think she is trying to say we were just discussing her position here with you and she was wondering where she fit in. I believe she wants to know if you consider her one of your mates."

Lita just nodded.

"I am surprised, Lita. After our evening in your tent back at the camp I thought for sure you knew I would be taking you as a mate. Was I not clear then or has something else caused you to be unsure?"

"I was not sure when you brought me here. You have so many other women to care for, I did not think I was good enough to be one of them."

"Why would you think you were not good enough for me?"

"I cannot cook with any skill and much of what I prepare is not fit to eat. I am not good at making skins into something to wear, they fall apart after only a few days. I was told I was not very satisfying in the furs. And I ... I cannot..." she choked on her words.

"You cannot what, Lita?"

"I cannot tell you for if I do I know you will send me away" she cried.

I pulled her onto my lap and held her tight. "Please tell me what makes you so afraid. I promise you that I will not send you away."

She looked at Etala who nodded to her, then bowed her head, avoided making eye contact with me. "I cannot give you a child, Andy."

I let my mouth open and covered it, as if I were shocked at her revelation. The blue of her eyes deepened and became flecked with yellow.