Chapter 10: Lady Justice

At Mishka’s request, BEM found and gave them a luxury passenger van capable of comfortably transporting the entire family, including pets. Jackie excitedly entered the van with the family. The cats, though willing to accompany Imp anywhere, were not as enthused.

The family’s visit to Tawny and Peace in Athens, Georgia, was both instructive and pleasurable. They had been present on the day The People had begun arriving - greeting and hugging and assuring them of their welcome. Now, The People had ensured all bodies had been removed from Siobhan’s apartment building and had moved all her family’s possessions to one of two penthouses on the top floor. A large master bedroom had been furnished with a specially assembled bed, capable of sleeping the entire family. The living and dining areas had sufficient furniture for them all, plus guests.

Upon their arrival, they were greeted by Tawny and Peace and an excited Pounce, who grabbed Imp’s hand to lead the way to the new apartment. On the way, he told her that his mother and aunt had moved into the adjacent apartment so they could be nearby when the family visited.

When they had completed their tour of their new quarters, Tawny offered to take Siobhan to visit her mother’s grave by the chapel where the Nexus found the young girl.

They returned, and all were seated on comfortable leather furniture holding refreshments. Tawny began, “There are important matters to discuss, but first I have a request. This is not a part of the negotiation, but a simple request. Would you and your family consent to let us stay with you tonight? Neither Peace nor I are in estrus, but we have a need.“

<Of course!> came the joint response, surprising the recipients with the mental communication.

<Momma, Auntie, we have become very special, > added Imp. She smiled and told them, <Plus, the sex is beyond wonderful!>

Once assured of confidentiality, Imp and her Nexus outlined the family’s encompassing relationship and abilities. <Auntie, BEM told us that females closely associated with a male were unable to be drawn into a Nexus. Otherwise, I think you might be family now. Having a young son - and him present - might have been a barrier.>

<This changes everything and nothing, > said Tawny, and she began to elaborate. <Did you never wonder about Imperial - Imp’s - name? It wasn’t her attitude like it is for Pounce. She is truly the royal among The People. You see, our society uses matrilineal succession. Her brother is dead, and her first male offspring will be The People’s next leader. You might say ‘king’ or perhaps ‘emperor;’ but ‘alpha male’ is more descriptive of the reality. Imperial’s first female offspring will bear the alpha’s successor, though not necessarily by him.>

<At some point, Imp will need to choose and mate with a male of The People. Perhaps that will be Pounce, but that is for her to decide, > she finished.

Newly acquainted with Imp’s relatives, Cyd explained their findings and need for more information on the Trading Association’s structure, and particularly their legal organization and processes.

<We suspect that all the Seeker, not just the purported rogues, have been experimenting and surreptitiously interfering with other species in the Trade Association, > she explained. <They now fear that this disaster will bring their duplicity to light and want to rush us though the process they’ve defined. Apparently, the Seeker have set up the three entities as scapegoats. The fact that they are guilty is almost secondary. The main issue is why they are being setup as scapegoats. Their leaders hope to rely on our ignorance so that we will accept a review by the Seeker’s justice panel and thus conceal, or ameliorate, the damage caused by what we suspect is their whole species’ involvement or acquiescence. So far, no mention has been made of justice or review beyond that of the Seeker.>

After absorbing these assertions, Tawny replied, <There is indeed a Trade Association and a legal review process. I’m not sure how a cross species trial or review would be handled, but if you are to present your recommendations to their review panel, you would have an opportunity to introduce your additional concerns.>

<So, we will need to leave the Earth to accomplish this?> Mishka asked. Receiving an affirmative reply, he consulted with his family and told them, “We won’t be separated, so we will need representation - caretakers, stewards - on Earth. In our laws, a vessel completely abandoned at sea is available for salvage. This principle can’t be allowed to be applied to Earth.>

Tawny and Peace looked to each other, and Tawny replied, <You have been more than generous with us. We understand your concern and will act on your behalf to preserve your planet and your rights to it. Our family is experienced at ruling and politics, and you can rely on our competence and goodwill.>

Tawny looked thoughtful and told them, <You raised a point that I had not yet considered. The destruction of our home rendered it marginally habitable at best, and it will be a long time before it would be suitable for our return. We are few in number, and it would not be well if some other species claimed it as abandoned.>

Mishka consulted, then offered, <Tawny, Peace, we offer The People alliance and welcome to share Earth with humanity as long as you need or wish. Further, when your home is able to support you, we will assist you in whatever way that we can.>

<Thank you, friends and allies, > she looked at Imp, <and extended family. Our two tragedies brings home the dangers of being confined to one planet or even one star’s system.> Her beautiful, chocolate eyes surveyed the humans, and she decided, <This is an offer that is beyond generous, and I will bring it to all of The People so that they know. I will also tell them, when it is ready, we will share our home with you on an equal basis.>

Mishka grinned and told her, < Done! And tonight, your request for your needs will also memorialize our negotiations, and this time, Peace will be more than a witness!>

Jackie was banished and the cats were wary observers.

On the huge, lavender silk-sheeted bed, the sex that night was steamy, wild, and by the family’s agreement, totally devoted to the pleasure of Tawny and Peace. While they couldn’t share the ‘feel’ like the members of the Nexus, they could use <mind-speak> to express their needs and their passion. As the night progressed, Mishka was aided by Imp’s experience and detailed anatomical suggestions.

This wasn’t to say the Nexus felt no pleasure and passion, on the contrary. Through their links with Mishka and their overall togetherness, they were much pleasured. Then, Peace was there, <Oh, so this is what it’s like, but where’s Tawny?>

As they lay in the bed wondering, they became aware that Siobhan had drawn Mikey and Pounce to another room to conduct her own explorations. As the others recovered, Siobhan and Mikey demonstrated what they had learned about oral stimulations. Now, when Siobhan motioned for Pounce to use his rough tongue between her legs to demonstrate what he had seen, the entire apartment shared in her pleasure.

Suddenly, Mishka’s Nexus had three new members, and for the first time ever, a female initiated the bond. Siobhan had figured it out, and the two families were forever one. Neither Tawny nor Peace were worried that, also for the first time, the imperial family contained members not of The People.

Coincidentally, Siobhan had just selected Imperial’s mate for her.

The young attorney lead the family’s deliberations, helping them work the law and legal theory. The Nexus discussed fairness, guilt by association, degrees of guilt, forgiveness (not!), and a variety of other concepts that the collection of legal amateurs wanted to explore.

After a week of discussions and deliberations, Cyd summarized the proposed fates of the renegade Nexuses.

“We will walk among the three Nexuses to try to determine if any members are slaves. We require that any so found be released to our custody.”

“Any experimental children - or adults, like Jade - will also be released to our custody. On a case-by-case basis, we will assume custody of other children or give them over to the larger Seeker community.”

“All records and tools relating to Seeker experimentation on humans and Seeker are to be turned over to us or our representatives.”

“The remaining members of the three Nexuses are to be banished forever from their home planet, and if possible, everything allowed them should be from a culture completely unknown to them. They are forbidden contact with any Nexus involved in this plot and from their species as a whole. All wealth is to be forfeited to preserve the Earth and humanity’s heritage.”

“The Peace Nexus is to provide labor to assist other species in disaster recovery. They are to be supervised labor with no decision-making powers whatsoever. They may recommend actions to their supervisors, but nothing more.”

“The Mercer Nexus is to be stripped of their wealth and political influence. We will confidentially advise the council to investigate the possibility that this was not their first transgression of this nature. If the council can find a use for them, much like we specify for the do-gooders, they are free to do so.”

“Horeb’s Moshiach eugenics Nexus is to be exiled to an uninhabited planet as similar as possible to that of the Seeker’ home planet. They are to be given minimal basic tools needed for survival, and again, none of the tools, clothing, or possessions is to be from the Seeker. Each year, they are to be visited and sanctuary offered to any offspring not already in a Nexus, and whose parents desire them to be ‘rescued’. Otherwise, they are to be left alone until the last ‘original’ dies. At that time, the Trade Association’s council will decide the fate of any survivors.”

“The Seeker will be told they are to be held responsible for financing the preservation and recovery of the Earth. Until we meet with the Trade Association’s council, we will not inform the Seeker that their presence on Earth will be forbidden. We will also convey to the council our suspicion of the Seeker society’s condoning of the meddling with humanity and possibly with other species.”

<Have I forgotten anything?> Cyd asked.

Mishka’s Nexus asked to meet again with BEM, and when he arrived at their cabin, Mishka went straight to his questions. “Is it possible for one of your people to leave - we call it ‘divorce’ - a Nexus? For instance, what happens if the Prime dies?”