Chapter 2

The Hummingbird was capable of field landings, not doing so often because Carl didn’t know many people with a field, more so than that he didn’t want to. It was easier landing at the Schren residence outside the city of Anschene where they lived, than at a spaceport for example. Fewer things to run into, for the most part. Carl had been there a few times even leaving and then returning with Maliope for a short excursion on occasion.

This landing was special, though. He had been summoned. Maybe not so much summoned, as asked by one of the women he loved to bring his other girlfriends, his other loves, for a meeting with his mother, and her mother, and see what happens.

As they walked toward the house from the large grassy area out back of the residence, large by any standard, four beautiful women with pink hair, tall and voluptuous bodies, and long legs, dressed in short silk shirtdresses and high heels walked toward them. One stopped short, kissed the youngest of the other three, then returned to the house. The other three approached, and stopped, three abreast. Carl didn’t even hesitate, moving first to his mother for a hug and cheek kisses, then to Manowil for the same, then to his love interest, Maliope Schren, one strand of the rope he wanted to weave into his family, for a massive hug, lifting her off the ground, kissing her softly then gently placing her back down.

“I’ve missed you, Maliope. Love, this is Jackie, I want you to get to know each other quickly. It is imperative. This is Helen. You two have already met, but under slightly different circumstances.” That comment brought giggles from all seven women present.

“Tippi and Tappi To, I present to you Miss Maliope Schren. You know of her, and she knows of you. I want you to bond, in fondness, and to understand ... Jackie, you too, that I love each and every one of you and want you in my life. Until it’s over. Please consider this while we visit.” They all nodded, looking at him, then looking at each other, taking in nods and smiles.

“Tippi, Tappi, Jackie, Helen, welcome to my mother’s home. I am at Carl’s, Jackie’s, and Helen’s service at any time they are present. I will do for you what I can, but you must ask if you need something as I won’t be able to read your desires without your words. I hope you understand.” Maliope held her hand over her heart as she spoke.

Maliope was a little submissive, to Carl entirely, and evidently somewhat to Jackie, and very much to Helen. Jackie wasn’t expecting that, but it pleased her to no end. Maliope also had a pet, Welsche, who would be completely submissive to all three, having been told that Helen was the most intelligent of all women, and Jackie was Carl’s human spouse in waiting. She knew she would do well to serve Carl, and his human women, gaining a place in his life as indispensable and, hopefully, kept fondly, or what humans call love. Welsche was also instructed that if the kittens needed anything, anything at all, she was to assist as much as she could without injuring herself. She knew what that meant. She was to serve her mistress and her mistress’s family without question, much the same as she might with Manowil or Grasche, should they be present.

They walked into the house, chatting, and Carl was able to fill each of the Angelene women in on new happenings and things going on in his life. Some things were left for later, but it was a great walk.

After the introductions and discussion, once in the house, in a private room, just the eight of them, Carl stepped forward boldly and asked for Maliope’s hand in mating and was granted that treasure by Manowil. She told him then, “Yes, Carl you may take my Maliope as your mate. I bore her for this purpose, to mate with my fondest female friend’s child. Carl, your mother and I, we share,” Grasche smiled at her and nodded so she’d continue, “everything. Fondness, our lives, ourselves. You father is aware, although my fondness for him does not approach the same level, I do care for him. Your mother and I are, in human terms, what William calls lovers. He and I are, in human terms, the best of friends, with some benefits, he says. It’s complicated.”

Carl answered thus, “No, it’s not, and you need not explain. Mother, I wholeheartedly endorse anything you do to be happy. Anything. Manowil is a beautiful, caring, and intelligent woman. If she is your lover, you are a fortunate woman. I understand that fortune, knowing and loving her daughter. Finding that she was created for the purpose of being my mate is a bit startling, but not unheard of in our Angelene culture, so I can’t complain, nor would I, as an Angelene citizen. I love her nonetheless and thank you for your gift.” He approached Manowil, kissing each cheek and hugging her.

“You are welcome, Prince Carl.”

“What?”

“When you mate with Maliope, especially with the fondness you two share, you become Prince of our Angelene Enclave, Carl. We hadn’t told you, due to political pressures that could have arisen, that I am the Queen of Angelene Minor. Your Angelene girlfriend, or the one your mother calls your fiancée, a human term, I perceive, is the Crown Princess Maliope Schren of Angelene Minor, and in the running, at some point in time, as Queen of all the Angelene Republic. Your mother is the fondest friend of Queen Manowil of Angelene Minor, the capital planet of the Angelene Republic. What do you think of that, son?”

“Wow?” Carl exclaimed, in question, not knowing how, exactly, to react.

Everyone in the room laughed, except the kittens. They giggled but were afraid to make much noise in the presence of royalty.

Grasche, with the stature and presence of prominence herself, saved him. “Carl, my son, everything is fine. Manowil is still my friend and has adored you since you were a child. Your girlfriend is very fond of you and wants you to share in her fondness. She also wants to share fondness and life’s happiness with Jackie, and the kittens, and now Helen. Your relationship with her has been blessed by her mother. It’s fine. Now, we are alone. The help is downstairs. Please explain Helen.”

“Mother ... Mom. Manowil. Maliope, our love, our fondness for each other should, now that we are bound by it, help urge you to understand the secrecy of this situation. No one ... And I mean NO one, can know of Helen’s true origin.”

“I concur, if it’s what I think it is,” his mother said.

Manowil agreed. “Carl, you are now my son as well, through the ritual you will perform with my child, and whatever it is, this secret, I trust you and your mother implicitly. Please share with me so I can help with whatever it is.”

Maliope took Jackie’s hand, walked her to Helen, taking hers as well, and hand in hand in hand, announced, “I am your fiancée, your consort, your concubine, your lower wife, or a sister wife, but I am yours. I will not disparage, or in any way cross you or your intentions. That would mean my demise. Carl, your direction is my path. These two are your future as well. Helen is part of you, and you are part of her, as I have told you in the past. I defer to her as well. Jackie will be your prime spouse. The woman to which we bond in that we may be yours. It is the way it is done. I need not be captain of the ship on which I travel through life. After this conversation, I will bring Welsche, my pet, to you and introduce her to her new family. Now, tell us how you made Helen, my fondest dear.”

Carl smiled at the insinuation, Maliope removing all concerns of a spousal power struggle. “There is a new fuel. This new fuel is hotter and tighter, with more energy per unit than LCN, the Lithium Conphlatranzite Nitroloxene our ships now use. Helen has told me it’s a thirty-five percent more efficient and powerful substance in the new nitrolox reactors. The waste created by producing the fuel using the formula and very specific method discovered by Jackie’s godfather, her ‘uncle’, if you will, excites stem cells and uses DNA steering. It can create life. Ignorant, infantile, ready to learn, a clean slate ... life. Helen is about three weeks old, born of a set of stem cells donated by a twenty-three-year-old blonde woman who looks much like her. Exactly, come to think of it, except for the way Jackie did her hair. Their DNA is identical, however, which is one of the many downfalls of this whole thing, another being the possibility of a rogue regime with a mad scientist taking over mankind and all resemblances thereof. The possibilities are mind numbing.”

“Helen, I know this goes without saying, but is this all true?”

“Yes, Mizz Matthews. Ma’am, after I was made, I was able to devour and process my own knowledge from the AI that is also me onboard The Hummingbird. It and I are one. We are parts of each other and parts of your son, ma’am.”

“Grasche is fine, Helen. We’re going to be close for a long, long time.”

“Yes’m.” Helen bowed ever so slightly, to acknowledge.

“Manni, Carl is right. This can’t leave this room. Ever. Tippi, Tappi, please know, this is not to be discussed outside this room. People, and I mean millions of people, in the raceless sense, Angelene people, human people, Pranese people, entire worlds could perish, if this is known.” When Grasche finished speaking, they both did a slight bow and the ageless zip a lip motion, symbolizing keeping their mouths shut, Tippi speaking for both of them.

“We understand, ma’am. Grasche. We do. There are stories and rumors that this is how our people came to be, all now having been defiled and debunked, but we wish not to have anything like what the rumors talk about happen to any other peoples in any way. We also stand with Carl, and with his permission, we’d like to know what our future holds. As adults, we are not bound to the family at home. Most stay for the work and the close family ties, but they don’t have a handsome prince, a beautiful princess, and two lovely ladies to take care of. We do. Not to mention, if you, Grasche, or the Queen of our new world are in our presence, we would like to serve, should we be asked.”

“Quite a speech, little kitten. Tappi, do you concur with your sister?” Tappi smiled, nodded, and took her sister’s hand. “Carl, you need to let these two cute little things know your intentions. Jackie needs to know as well. What does your future hold for them, Prince Carl? Your Queen wants to know.” Manowil giggled, changing the entire scene from one of serious inquisition with deadly inferences to a family gathering, prying into the love lives of one Carl Matthews.

“Ma’am, I want to marry your daughter and Jackie. I want the kittens to life bond with me, and we already know that Helen and I are one. She is mine, and I am hers. I want you, Mom, and you, Manowil, to know that we are yours, your family first, then citizens of Angelene, the United States, Sol Earth, and Pranar second,” he looked at the kittens and got nods, “and finally, members by default of the Federation. My allegiance, you know, though, is not with them, but to my family. Mom, you know that most of all.”

Grasche nodded and told the group, “Carl’s fuel must not be sold or let surface for a while. It would not be prudent for it to be in anyone’s hands right now. Not even the Angelene Space Command. I think it’s best we sit on it, as a family, for a while. Carl, use it, test it, make sure it’s all it needs to be. For all we know it degrades the sensors or pilings on the reactors. Remember several years ago an additive did that and the Federation lost a starship at full thrust. A passing freighter called it a minor nova. I don’t want my son or my daughters-in-law lighting up the sky in that fashion. Not an optimal thing for a mother to go through. Helen’s arrival is not to be discussed. At all, except in this company, and then, only if we know we’re alone. That is dangerous information. Dangerous for all of us but only if it gets out.” Everyone in the room nodded. “Good. I’m hungry. Maliope, you might want to introduce your pet to my son’s other women now. This should be interesting.” She looked at Manowil, they shared a grin, then started laughing, held hands and left the study for the dining room.

“Maliope, what were they laughing about. Is your girl not going to like us? Doesn’t she like Carl?” Jackie asked.

Helen interjected, “Jackie, my love, don’t worry a bit. I’m sure she’ll love you and the kittens, in spite of her problem. You see, love, Welsche’s problem isn’t that she doesn’t like Carl. Welsche has a ... let’s call it a situation, not a problem. She’s what you would call ‘in lust’ with Carl. She knows her mistress loves him. She knows the queen and her consort love him. It’s all she can do to keep from polishing his boots and pressing his pants while he’s still in them. She feels her job, in this lifetime, is to make sure he wants for nothing. She is that devoted to Maliope, and therefore, Carl.”

Maliope left, then reentered the room, holding hands with a creature Jackie thought was of indescribable cuteness. She’d read stories of the elves and fairies of eons past. Welsche was one of those. Cute and yet so beautiful. Innocent, yet so desirable. A perfect example of Angelene, and elven, let alone human beauty.

“This is my most dear possession. This is Welsche Mansche, now Schren, my pet and lady in waiting. She is now yours, after the proceedings, Carl, and therefore, Helen, and Jackie, yours as well.” Welsche smiled at each of them, nodding.

Jackie went to her, held her hand out, only to have Welsche kneel and pull Jackie’s hand to her lips, then kiss it gently. “As you wish of me, Miss Alden. When you are no longer Miss Alden, but Missus Matthews, I will be yours, to do with as you please.” Jackie gasped lightly. “Fear not, Miss Alden, I am but a thrall in your family’s presence. Do not take my offering lightly. Miss Helen, you know. I need not explain. Tippi To and Tappi To, I will do what I can for you, as well. Anything you want, need, or desire of me is yours.”

The kittens approached her as she knelt and snuggled with her, playing and nuzzling, until all three of them were giggling like little schoolgirls. The kittens told her as well, that they would help her, as they felt their lot in life was to serve their man and his women, as well. It was the cutest of scenes. The other four watched the wealth of affection the three displayed. Welsche thanked them, then stood, drawing it to a close. “I must prepare my princess for dinner. Will you all follow me so that I can show you to Mistress’s room? I have been told, after this night, we will all board as one, us, as a whole, until we part this life.”

Welsche touched her ear through her gorgeous curly pink hair and spoke quietly then turned to Carl. “Master Carl, Miss Helen, our porters would like to bring your things. Would that be satisfactory?”

Carl nodded.

Helen turned and faced toward the ship, then turned back to Welsche. “It is open, and our things are available. Have them touch the door and say ‘Welsche is beautiful’.” Welsche gasped. “Then the door will swing open for them. Actually, I’m teasing. Tell them to say ‘please’. We have bags in each room. Have them bring some, or all, or whatever.

“You are truly beautiful, Welsche. I have an extended database of female forms, faces, hairdos, and the like. You are in the very much to absolutely desirable range. If I ... Strike that. You are. You are not Angelene in the complete sense, though, are you?” Welsche shook her head. “You are the result of the most beautiful of the beautiful mixed with the cutest of the cute. We must talk, Welsche. Not now, but we must talk.” Welsche nodded. She knew better than to do much else. She was being spoken to by the smartest woman in the universe. Maliope said so. She was looking back at Carl, the man her mistress adored, holding hands with her mistress and Miss Alden, then Miss Helen, holding hands with the two kittens. Nothing could have pleased her more than the six smiles she saw beaming at her.

They were in the room when the bags arrived, personal belongings being drawn out to clean up and prepare for dinner. With no sense of shyness at all, now that the five of them were skinny dipping last night on their moonlit swim, Carl entered the shower, and the four ladies followed him. He didn’t expect the other two to join them, but it happened. He was surrounded by five of the seven most important women in his life, and about to find out, within days, it was six of the eight most important. His mother, and the Queen of Angelene Minor, naturally, were not in attendance.

Good thing. They were busy readying for dinner themselves, also together, happily.

Dinner was almost quiet. The food was excellent and since Carl wasn’t eating his own cooking or instant ship food, it was actually interesting to him. Much more interesting than listening to Jackie talking about the purple high heeled sandals and violet top she found to go with the black skirt ... Etcetera. But, his family, his mother and her love, and her love’s daughter, his Helen and Jackie, the twins, and then the ever-present Welsche, flitting about making sure the kitchen staff members were taking care of them, were having a ball, and that pleased him. He knew, without a doubt, as a male, on Angelene, he was, away from his cabal, worthless. A mere nothing. No other woman on this planet, or the two spinning around their sun with it, gave a crap whether he lived or died, but he was safe, and happy, and felt like a prince, figuratively, here, in these women’s graces.

They retired back to the study for a quiet talk and a drink before bed, the travelers tired and pretty much ready to lie down. Each had an after-dinner drink, the blue Tallookian sweet whiskey being most popular, probably. The kittens didn’t care for it and were offered an Angelene wine made from a type of blackberries that they just loved. No such wine existed on Pranar ... Yet!

Manowil asked, “Can we have the ceremony soon, so that you may live as fondly as you like without the worry? Carl, are you sure you will want Maliope for her lifetime? Jackie, do you understand the ramifications of the ceremony if you are included?”

Carl nodded solemnly.

Jackie replied, “Yes, Manowil, I do. I want only him as my male, my mate, and that has been certain for years, but I take your daughter as my fondest female, as you have indicated you have done with Grasche. Helen and the kittens as well, I want to take them into my life also. Helen, Tippi, Tappi? Do you agree?” They all nodded. Of course, Helen did. She was what Carl was. And she loved Jackie to no end. The kittens, too, now that they’d bonded.

“Tomorrow, if you’ll allow it, Carl, I wish to bond you and my daughter in fondness for your lives. She brings with her Welsche, her lady in waiting. You bring with you Jackie Alden, Helen Matthews, Tippi To and Tappi To. Tomorrow I will have Marischel, the High Priestess of the Gathering, oversee your joining in the fondness for your future. This is seldom done anymore in the Angelene worlds. I remember not so fondly after being abused and almost raped and killed by a typical inconsiderate Angelene male that I needed to create my own spawn for your needs, Carl. I sought out the best that I could do for you, and for your mother’s legacy. I searched and studied and now, here, the fruit of my loins I bring to you. Life here is not what it was two, three hundred years ago, when there was respect for others. Now, after the social changes ruined our society, creating a false utopia where everything was free, but there was nothing to be had, the women had to rebel, take control, return it to the values of personal responsibility and work-related reward. Times have been rough, yes, but we prevailed. We do still prevail. You know better, though. You are of fine breeding. Educated in the ways of the world. Hard working, never asking for that which you did not earn. Your mother and father have done well. Very well, in bringing you to this day.” Manowil sighed and looked down at her hands. Circumspect in her society’s past failings.

Grasche took over, before Manowil, the woman she loved, had a meltdown. “Carl, tomorrow, I give you to Maliope. You know that. As is Angelene custom, normally, she would be the leader, the head of the household. Normally. However, you are not an inconsiderate, resentful, spiteful, Angelene male. You are mostly human, but with an Angelene heart. Maliope knows you. She knows that heart. She, an intelligent woman, a prodigy in her own right, seeks to follow you, to be your woman, to cleave unto you and yours, and make her way in the world at your side, maybe a half step behind, maybe not, but that is for you two to decide and to live. We, Manowil and I, applaud your decision, not only for each other, but for bringing Jackie, Helen, the kittens, and yes, Welsche, together in your lives. The Goddess is going to reward you for your efforts. I can guarantee that. So, children, do you agree that tomorrow you bond to each other, in the Angelene tradition, in fondness of and for each other, until death you do part?”

Carl was on the couch in the study, sitting in the middle. He had Jackie on one side, Helen on the other. Jackie motioned Maliope to come over and sit in his lap. The kittens each sat on the laps of the ladies, Tippi with Jackie, Tappi with Helen, and Welsche knelt in front of Carl putting her hands around both her mistress and him, hugging them, nodding. They were all nodding. All seven of them.

Jackie, hoping for humor, but not overdoing it, said, “Bring on the Priestess, Queen Manowil, I have them all in one place for you.”

Manowil and Grasche both broke out laughing. The queen replied, “Just make sure you can do it again tomorrow around mid-day!”

The decision was made then, that the kittens would take Carl to the guestroom across the hall and keep him occupied while the others spent the night talking about him. As intrinsically intimate as things could have gotten, what happened was two Pranese kittens falling asleep holding hands on the chest of the man they adored, while four women across the hall talked and talked for about twenty minutes before they, too, one by one, fell asleep. Helen was last, and yes, she locked the ship and disabled the controls before lying down and closing her eyes. She pulled up a memory of grooms traditionally not being with the bride the night before the wedding. She assumed, since sentient AIs and human women, of which she was now one, could do that, after all, once sentient, one could fail, assuming things. In any case, she assumed he was the groom, and Jackie and Maliope were the brides. She already missed him but came to the conclusion that sleeping with Maliope behind her, and Jackie in front of her, she was fine. No reason to be a party pooper and go across the hall to her man. She looked over Jackie’s head to see Welsche looking at her. They shared a smile, touched and squeezed fingers, then slept.

Morning came, and with it the thought that she needed to check on Carl and the kittens. She told Welsche to watch the maidens two, as she called them, getting Welsche to laugh. Then went to Carl. She walked in to see the kittens snuggled to him, still sleeping. A kiss for him, then for each of the kittens, put paid to that activity and the growling and moaning started. The kittens were no better at waking up than the other girls were.

“Up, up, up. Come Carl. You have approximately four hours. Angelene time is much like ours. Within minutes, anyway. We will feed you, bathe you, dress you, then present you to the priestess as the queen is wont to do, then we will be one. Kittens, you understand that, don’t you? Bonding with Jackie and me, then being taken into a bonding of the ultimate fondness with Jackie and Carl and Maliope, you two will also become life bonded. Pranese culture is of life bonding, though, is it not?”

“Yes, Helen, it is. We bond for life as well. We are already betrothed, promised, and bonded to Carl, if he accepts us, and you and Jackie have also already stated your intentions, so as far as Tappi and I are concerned, we’re just one big happy family after the priestess does the queen’s will.”

“My life,” Carl said, smiling broadly, “couldn’t get any better. Helen, kiss me again. I love you. Tippi, Tappi, get over here and hug us. We are going to be together for a long, long time. Might as well start now!”

They took Carl to the kitchen, got him fed with the help of one of the kitchen staff, then after a few cups of coffee and discussions about the future, they took him back up to the room. Grasche stopped by to check on her son, seeing he was in good hands, then helped them make sure his good suit was ready for the ceremony and updated them on the schedule. A half hour before mid-day, noon in earth terms, they were supposed to be in the front hall to greet the priestess, the few guests that would be there, as well as Carl’s father, who was planning on surprising his son if he himself was able to show up. That now being a sure thing.

Eleven-thirty rolled around, and Carl arrived downstairs, decked out in his best suit, more of a merchant marine uniform thing, but a formal suit he wore to fancy functions. He did have some medals from when he was in the USSF years ago. He spent 6 years in the United States Space Force, learning a lot about his future plans, and how to go about achieving them, then with his mother’s help, started inventing and producing things people wanted and needed. Hovercraft, reactors, scanners and jammers, jammer jammers, scanner scanners, and any number of technical tidbits pertaining to all that. In any case, with the Astro blue wool knit suit, the silver braid on his trousers and sleeves and the civilian equivalent to a Space Force colonel or Navy captain, the spread winged eagle, perched upon his epaulets, he was ready for the reception line. Carl fancied himself the Captain of the Hummingbird and was well within his rights to do so.

His father was one of the first to arrive, so they spent some time catching up. He’d met Maliope, Welsche, and Jackie already, hugging and kissing each of them on their cheeks, but was unaware Carl had another woman friend by the name of Helen. “A coincidence of many magnitudes, Father. But they get along, so I’m not going to involve myself over and above loving them both. Father, these young ladies are Tippi and Tappi To, my loves who fancy themselves pets, but they are very, very important to me.” Drawing his father’s curiosity from Helen, Carl kissed each of them then stood between them as his father shook their hands. Both kittens made a purring sound and touched his wrists. It was a Pranese indication of acceptance and understanding. Family bonding, if you will. Being a statesman, William understood that and kissed the backs of each of their hands as they touched him. Not to be done unless the family acceptance was mutual.

“A pleasure to meet you, ladies.” Helen, Jackie, and Maliope had come forth standing together with Carl. “A definite pleasure. I think, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that my son, our son,” he reached out for Grasche’s hand, her smiling at him, then the seven of them, “is in the best of company. Manowil,” he said to his side, her coming to him and her lover, “your daughter’s hand in my son’s is an event for the ages. Jackie, this involves you, deeply, I know. Don’t think I slight you at all in this. I understand that due to Maliope’s wishes for Carl’s long term happiness, without you, there would be no union today. The Goddesses will take care of the rest.” Carl’s father was not a firm believer in the Goddess of the Gathering, but he knew better than to downplay the transformation of the Angelene worlds from chaos to order in the hands of the women that retrieved it from the brink of extinction.

“Mister Matthews, there is no slight, and I don’t feel that way at all. Carl and I have talked. Helen and I, Maliope and I, even the kittens and Welsche and I have talked, and we’re fine. We all have places to be and tasks to perform in our lives with Carl. After the ceremony, plans will be made, futures decided, a path laid out, and we’ll take out on our path. Together.”

“Well said, darling. Carl, my son, my proudest accomplishment, I’m happy for you. Tut tut, Marischel is here. William, down here with Manni and me. She’ll be welcomed by the queen, then us, then the young ones,” Grasche said, then pulled her husband down to the start of the reception queue.

They fell in line, except Welsche, who approached the priestess as she entered the hall, dipping into a deep curtsy, and letting the divine woman know she was at her disposal for the stay. The older woman gathered her gown’s train and handed it to Welsche, keeping her close as they stepped down the reception line. Kissing the jeweled glove of the priestess was the befitting act, each one in line doing so after the queen had welcomed her and thanked her for attending to the joining ceremony.

The priestess smiled, telling her, “Oh, Queen Manowil, I would not miss this for anything. Mating the children of my queen and my friend Grasche is an honor, not a task. It is truly my pleasure to present the Goddess with this joining.” She took Maliope’s face in her hands and kissed her forehead. The others saw Maliope smile. Upon reaching Carl, she took his face in her hands, pulled him down to her, and kissed his forehead. He could have sworn he felt himself warm through, like a light flash of fever. Each of the individuals in the line had met the priestess before save four. The last four. She stepped to the next one in line. “This is Jackie Alden, I presume. Jackie, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Carl and his mother speak highly of you.” She took Jackie’s face in her hands then kissed her chin, her lips, her nose, and her forehead. “The Goddess loves you, Jackie Alden. Know that.”