The sun starts peaking into the edges of the Skygazer home, made easier of course by the windowed walls and open roof. The vines and plants that grow all over the place hide abundant life, and a cute little lizard climbs a wall and chirps a happy wakening tune to the pile of snoozing felines and one saurian.
A few wake up early. LaGrange, Copernicus's father pads off to an early meeting. Andromeda heads off too, leaving just the three matriarchs of the family and Jenora and Kainudy.
Jenora mrrrrrrs, stretching and shifting the moment the sunlight hits her.
Nebula, the dominant tiger striped female, shifts a bit as she purrs.
Kainudy blinks and stretches groggily.
Jenora mrrrrrs, sitting up and stretching so as to catch the most possible sunlight.
Kainudy, on the other hand, curls a wingtip around to shade her eyes from the sunrise.
Metora and Shatter roll over on their backs and stretttttttttch as Nebula purrs, "So Kainudy, I didn't get a chance to meet your friend. Though I think Copernicus has told me about her too."
Jenora stands up and walks over to the edge of the platform...
Kainudy blinks and hides her blush behind the rest of her wing. "Errr.. probably."
Jenora stretches, peering out over the city.
Nebula motions to Metora and Shatter to go make some food. She purrs, "You are Jenora? Another friend from that world that held my son for nearly 2 years?"
Jenora turns around lazily, and smiles. "Yes, I am."
Jenora walks back towards Nebula. "Jenora Feur."
Nebula pads up and rubs head with Jenora, "Welcome to our home. I am Nebula Skygazer. Copernicus's mother as it were. ;)"
Jenora purrrrs. "I had guessed the latter, yes." She smiles. "And thank you."
Kainudy thinks, { With another feline around, maybe they'll notice me less. }
Nebula grins, "Truly? What about me makes you think I'm his birth mother and not Metora or Shatter? Do I already have grey hairs in my fur?"
Jenora says, "Well, you did say 'the world that held my son', which rather gave it away anyway."
Nebula listens to the rest of her mating group preparing first meal in the kitchen and giggles a bit.
Jenora stretches again, walking around. "I mostly came to see how people were doing here... I spent more time back there after most of the others left just to help clean things up, and make it comfortable for those staying behind. As I can travel under my own power, I was one of the obvious ones to stay."
Kainudy says, "You are also your own source of magic. }:)"
Jenora says, "Well, yes, that too..."
The felitauress nods, "I see. Yes. Ah, this *magic*. For something that we're not supposed to believe in, it's had a rather large effect on our lives. I wonder if that was why Copernicus ended up on that odd world. It was interesting to visit. I think I met you there Jenora."
Jenora says, "Quite possibly. Given the number of your people who showed up all at once, it was hard keeping all the names straight."
Nebula nods and looks at Kainudy and Jenora. "Well, first meal will be ready for you shortly. My son is doting over his mate. I've never seen a female so large with child. And after nearly losing her to that sickness, well, he can be forgiven for being rude."
Jenora chuckles. "In some cultures it's _expected_ for the male to dote over the female. Of course, in those cultures the female usually isn't quite as capable of tearing apart any male who gets too close..."
Kainudy grins silently at Jenora's comment.
Nebula grins, "Actually, one on one, in a true out and out fight, a male would probably win over a single female. But if you fight with one, you fight with all three. And there are other ways to keep males in line. Copernicus has no chance. I never thought to see him be taken by a fourth, but Melora has him. And I think she's gotten to the rest of us too. So, what shall you do while you are here Jenora? And has Andromeda shown you a good time Kainudy?"
Jenora hmms. "I don't have anything in particular planned at the moment, to be honest. I mostly came to see if Copernicus was all right, I got worried when the whole system wasn't where it was supposed to be."
Kainudy clears her throat. "Andromeda has been a good guide, yes."
Nebula ahems, "Well, other than the odd feeling of the whole system being squeezed through a leather bag, we seem to be fine, and safer than we were. I do hope he can get that gate of his working. Good Kainudy, though I noticed you seem a bit melancholy lately. Do you miss others of your own race?"
Kainudy blinks at Nebula. "I don't have much in common with others of my race. I don't miss them."
Jenora does a little pirouette in the sunlight, then starts a few warm-up exercises.
Kainudy tries not to look at Jenora. Morning people.. who can figure them out?
Shatter and Metora pad in with a tray of steaming breads, some fruits and juice, and something in a small box for Nebula. Metora purrs, "I'm not sure if our new friend likes meat or not Nebula. Oh, and we have to help with some of the alignment figures for the new gate. It's giving everyone headaches."
Jenora smiles. "Oh, I can eat just about anything... meat is fine, but not necessary."
Nebula nods, "Then take off you two. We need to spend some time with LaGrange tonight. Poor mel has been taking a lot of flack for just about everything lately."
Kainudy wakes up a bit more at the scent and sight of the bread.
Breads, cheeses and butter are on the tray. Including lots of fruit. Though Nebula's box squeaks a bit.
Kainudy happily slathes butter onto some of the bread.
Jenora starts picking bits and pieces of the various foods offered, trying a little bit of everything.
Nebula curls up by the low table and purrs, "I hope you enjoy it. I'm going hunting with my mates this evening, so I'm just having a snack." With this she picks up the small cage.
Jenora says, "Have fun."
The box opens with a snap and Nebula deftly flips the rabbit sized rodent into her maw, which closes with an impressive crunching sound. After a few chews, she swallows, "Oh we will. Our hunts are always a lot of fun."
Kainudy munches on her bread, and doesn't comment on hunts. Her mouth is full, after all.
Jenora nods, trying another piece of cheese. "Not bad."
Nebula grins, "I'm glad you like it. Cheese and milk are quite good here. We don't eat much in the way of breads, but as an council member's mating group, we entertain a varied group."
Jenora says, "Anyhow, as I said, I don't have any real plans... I'm mostly just here to visit, see the sights, and so on. I don't think your people have much of a tradition of mendicant monks or the like, but that's sort of what I am... I wander around, visiting different places to learn new things."
Nebula chuckles, "Oh, we're actually quite nomadic. Part of our space heritage. Kainudy has seen some of the sights, maybe she'd like to show you around? Or is there anything in particular you'd like to see?"
Kainudy blinks, thinking of going to places without Andromeda to make excuses for her..
Jenora says, "Nothing in particular right now, though perhaps in a while I'll go back to look at the gate... after they've dropped the panic level from when I showed up there before."
With a sigh Nebula purrs, "You'll have to forgive us, we're a bit touchy. We're in a totally new galaxy to us. It'll take us a while to calm down."
Jenora says, "No, that's all right... to be honest, I expected some of that. That's why I showed up out on the edge of the system instead of deeper inside it."
Jenora says, "It is, after all, always polite to knock first."
Kainudy says, "I'm probably partly to blame for the reaction, Jenora. At least they didn't send a fleet out after you though. }:)"
Jenora turns to Kainudy. "Do I want to know what you did?"
Nebula nibbles at some of the cheese as she watches the two females interact. An impressive group of people that her son has met. Probably the best set of teachers he could have ever had.
Kainudy says, "I was asleep at the time. It's not my fault, really."
Jenora says, "Oooookay."
Nebula chucklepurrs, "Your friend's offspring scared several of our scouts half out of their fur. No one had believed my son's stories of living ships."
Kainudy says, "Understandable. I have trouble believing his stories about miniature golf."
Jenora says, "Ahh... yes, some of her family can be rather... impressive up close."
Kainudy hides a smirk. She doesn't know if Copernicus has seen any of Jenora's shape or size shifting..
Nebula blinks, "Oh, you'd like to play miniature golf? We have a practice course downstairs."
Jenora hmmms, nibbling at one piece of a segmented fruit. "This is quite good, what is it?"
Kainudy says, "Does it have a windmill?"
Nebula nods, "Of course. It's a traditional course. As one of the clan heads, we often hold mating ceremonies here."
Kainudy blinks. Mating ceremonies? What do those have to do with golf or fruit?
Jenora grins.
Kainudy hmms, "I think there may be some aspects of miniature golf that Copernicus hasn't fully explained to me.."
Jenora stretches out after nibbling at the fruit, and starts looking around the room in more detail.
Nebula ahs, "It's the symbolic competition at the end of the signing of the contract. It's also one of the last times the male gets a fair chance to win. ;)"
Small statues are here and there amongst the tables. Most of the first mother in the midst of one of her incredible feats or poses. The house is an odd mix of technology and horticulture, as vines and plants abound.
Jenora stands up for a moment, says "Excuse me for a moment," and wanders over to look at some of the statuary.
Kainudy quietly admires Jenora's unflappability in the face of Chirr'T'Thar art..
The particular statue is of the first mother sprawled on her side, nursing a litter of Chirr'T'Thar cubs at her belly with one of her 50 mates curled against her back, beaming that silly male smile.
Jenora mmm-hmmms, and looks around some more.
The next one is with the first mother looking over her shoulder, tail curled up as she lies on the floor, giving a large predatory smile as she beckons to the observer.
Nebula watches the two carefully, and looks thoughtful. As if she's trying to make a decision.
Kainudy stuffs her face a little more..
Jenora turns around, looking back at Nebula. "I've heard it said that you can tell a lot about a culture by its art. I'm not sure what to think right now."
Nebula smiles softly, "Well, a lot of races don't know what to think about us. The first mother was an incredible spirit. She founded the 50 clan lines, and freed us from slavery. We're a rather sensual race, as you no doubt learned from Copernicus."
Jenora says, "Yes, that part was difficult to miss..."
Kainudy gives silent thanks that the artwork isn't interactive.
Nebula nods, "But we also are a hard working race, and an honest one. We care for our children, and we just want to get along with other races. But our lifestyle seems a bit hard for other races to deal with. "
Jenora nods. "Unfortunate." She shrugs, and grins. "I've been traveling for a long time. Run into dozens... no, hundreds, of other races. After a while you get to be able to take just about anything in stride, because there's always something weirder out there."
Nebula chuckles, "I guess I should be thankful we're not the weirdest thing you've encountered. I was wondering if I could ask your advice. I'm worried for my son."
Jenora moves closer, giving Nebula her full attention now. "How so?"
Kainudy says, "There just aren't many folks that are built to keep up with the Chirr'T'Thar.."
Nebula nods to Kainudy, "In more ways than one. I would like to ask that you treat this conversation as if it never existed. That way if you ever do bring it up, I can say it never really occurred. This is not something I could normally discuss with Chirr'T'Thar."
Kainudy blinks, then nods.
Jenora sits down. "All right."
The felitauress grins slightly, "A quirk of my race, thank you for being understanding. A question of you Kainudy. Your race employs living technology, correct?"
Kainudy says, "Well, I wouldn't call it technology. They're people, not tools."
Nebula nods, "Then you may be able to advise me. Have you ever used any of your "technology" to alter yourself?"
Nebula looks down at the silence, "If it's too personal a question, I'll understand Kainudy."
Kainudy hmms.
Kainudy says, "Well, I used the same principles, yes. My kind doesn't have wings, naturally."
With another nod Nebula purrs, "Are you both aware how the Chirr'T'Thar view genetic manipulation? And have you ever wondered how we survive in space and do the things we do?"
Kainudy says, "I've wondered, yes.. and I have my suspicions."
Jenora nods. "I've heard some of it, but possibly not the whole story."
Nebula purrs, "Well, the story goes that we were genetically manipulated into being the tools and toys of an ancient race of slavers. That is why we dislike genetic manipulation. That is also the public reason that no tissue samples can be given by one of us. I have no doubt that your suspicions are typical of most other races Kainudy. Can I ask what they are?"
Kainudy says, "Well.. I've seen that you don't consciously control most of your enhancements, like I do.."
Nebula nods, "Though we do have some control over our feather production. But go on."
Kainudy says, "And you don't undergo any training to invoke them, either. It would seem that either your cells are intelligent but uncommunicative, or that this is a cybernetic system that regulates things."
Nebula chuckles, "A cybernetic system? I haven't heard that one before. Your first guess was very close Kainudy. It is also treading on a deep secret of the Chirr'T'Thar."
Jenora nods. "One of the people back on Genesis commented at one point that Coper's body seemed to be full of another life of its own."
Nebula sighs, "And how did he react to that comment?"
Kainudy says, "A symbiote?"
Jenora says, "He didn't seem to understand what the person was talking about."
Nebula hmmms, "Did it upset him at all?"
Nebula nods to Kainudy and listens to Jenora.
Jenora says, "Somewhat, yes."
Nebula hmms, "He was trained to be upset at that. Kainudy is right, partly. We have a collection of symbiotes that live within us, forming their own society of sorts. They allow for the more...flamboyant aspects of our abilities."
Jenora nods...
Kainudy takes a guess, "And they don't want anyone to know about them.. even their hosts?"
Nebula continues, "Very few ever know of the T'Thar, or even what our name truly means. About .01% of the population is informed, and we become the silent ones. Yes Kainudy. I can't go into the reasons why, but we have a treaty with the T'Thar, which precludes most of my race from even knowing about them."
With a sigh she continues, "The remaining 99.99% are taught to dislike such things. Luckily few other races have them, or it would promote bigotry. It's not the best of solutions."
Kainudy says, "Are they hiding from some enemy?"
Jenora hrrms...
Nebula ahems, "Not exactly. Well, sort of but...please, I'd rather not go into the treaty itself. That's not the problem right now."
Jenora nods...
The tiger stripped felitauress shakes her head, "Normally only the most stable and responsible of us are ever brought into the silent ones."
Jenora nods, suspecting where this is going but not saying anything yet.
Nebula looks at Kainudy and Jenora and partly guesses their minds, "So you have probably guessed who's going to be informed that we hadn't planned on?"
Jenora nods. "Who else. Copernicus."
Kainudy says, "I would have assumed your leaders would be informed anyway.."
Nebula shakes her head, "Oh my no. Normally a good leader doesn't want to have to deal with the fact he or she is not one being. Can you picture what will happen when Copernicus has the rest of his body talk to him?"
Jenora says, "Copernicus has enough problems already, given that his body is somewhat modified from the original in other ways..."
Nebula ahems, "True. That may be to his advantage in dealing with this. But I was wondering if either of you could give me any advice?"
Kainudy hmmms.
Jenora hmmms. "For a start, make sure there aren't any others of your people around when he gets told, he's likely to say something stupid at the time."
Jenora smirks.
Kainudy says, "He does know a few 'composite' life forms.. maybe they can help him."
Nebula tries not to laugh at that and giggles slightly, "It will be in a closed conference of the silent ones. We are not a careless people, despite our reputation."
Jenora says, "To have kept a secret like this for this long, obviously not."
Nebula purrs, "Which friends are these Kainudy?"
Kainudy says, "Well, Lothrhyn and Charon are probably the ones he knows best. Both have.. decentralized minds."
Jenora says, "Not quite the same thing, but..."
Nebula nods, "True, but it may help. Unfortunately someone else's life balances on how he reacts to this."
Kainudy arches an eye ridge?
Jenora hrrms. "My own experience is rather different... I have a centralized mind, but a decentralized body in some ways."
Jenora says, "On the good side, I will say that the time on Genesis has greatly broadened Coper's mind... I suspect he'd be more likely to take it well than most of your people."
Kainudy says, "Do you want us there when you inform him of this?"
Nebula nods softly, "He may come to you afterwards. Just make sure he takes some precautions in security. I hope this won't be insulting, but as far as the treaty is concerned, you don't count. So long as the Chirr'T'Thar don't know and don't believe the T'Thar exist, that's all that's needed. I hope so Jenora. While we were a bit lax in our training with him when he was young, normally we would be trained to reject such information. However, the way he will find out will leave no doubt. I wish you could be Kainudy, but that isn't allowed. Just be a friend when he needs it. That should be enough."
Jenora nods...
Jenora says, "When is this going to happen?"
Kainudy nods, and mutters, "Fnord.."
Nebula sighs, "It's being delayed till after Melora's cubs are born. It's caused a bit of a stir."
Jenora says, "I bet it has."
Kainudy hmms, and asks, "Just how intelligent are these T'Thar?"
Nebula hmms, "They are a collective intelligence. The individual pieces are not much, but as a whole they are sapient and intelligent. They create their own civilization inside us, and mostly just want to be ignored."
Jenora nods.
Nebula pads over and snugs both Kainudy and Jenora, "Thank you, and I appreciate you not being here for this talk that never happened."
Jenora smiles innocently. "What talk?"
Nebula grins, "He does pick good friends, that much I can say for him. So, surely you two would prefer to do something more interesting than sit in our home all day?"
Jenora says, "Oh, most likely... I am here to learn, after all. I just don't know what yet."
Kainudy says, "Well, it IS a comfortable house.. }:)"
Nebula chuckles, "We are sensualists by nature. Of course it's a comfortable house. You were speaking of art Jenora? You may note that most of our sculpture is in honor of the first mother. But our buildings are a mix to technology and nature. Often what seems to be a very odd hybrid. That may also tell you something about us."
Jenora nods. "It does, yes. Technological amenities for comfort, but a natural recognition of the limits of the technology."
Nebula purrs, "And the fact that we are a mix of instinct and technology ourselves. Engineered for space, yet having the instincts of predators."
Jenora nods. "Makes you a very interesting mix."
Nebula nods, "I don't think we quite understand ourselves yet. Well, I need to help with a few things. I can get Andromeda to guide you around again if you wish?"
Jenora says, "Sounds fine with me."
With that Nebula places a call and leaps into the air. Kainudy and Jenora are left waiting for their guide into their next adventure on Tharhome.