Copernicus sighs as he gets out of the meeting and strettttttttches like only a feline can. He can't wait to get off Tharhome and back with Melora on the mining station, especially with those idiots mangling the gate so nearby. The meetings are getting a little better. As trade starts back up the council calms down a bit, and most of the hardliners either changed their tune or were ousted. He walks along towards the edge of the roof when Nebula and Imbri approach from overhead.
Nebula lands softly next to Copernicus and purrs, "It's time for the hearing son."
Imbri drops nearby and behind, pulling up at the end of her flight then settling easily on her four paws. She looks anywhere but at people.
Copernicus grins at Imbri then frowns, "Take it easy. It's not that big a deal. The cubs are perfectly healthy."
Nebula looks tense also, not happy with her role in this situation.
Imbri takes a bit of a breath and nods, "I know.. an it will do them good to be up there for now, if it's a bit difficult on their digestive systems. I'm just, well, preoccupied with matters, Coper."
Copernicus pads over and headrubs with Imbri, "It'll be ok. So where to mom?"
Nebula purrs, "It's down stairs in the council building. They're waiting."
Imbri shuffles her wings a little, settling the feathers a bit and using it to ward off her preoccupied expression.
Copernicus kisses Imbri on the nose, "You'll be fine. Let's get this over with, lead on mother."
Nebula nods and pads into the building towards the gravity tube.
Imbri wishes silently that she could be so sure of that, and follows. Noticeably, the fur on her tail is puffed out behind her with that anxiety that's pulling at her for this meeting.
The tiger striped felitauress hops into the tube and floats down over halfway, then palms the wall and an extra exit irises open. She hops from the tube to the opening and waits.
Copernicus hmmms at the hidden entrance and lands there too, waiting for Imbri.
Imbri follows, looking for all the world to have expected this landing.
Copernicus starts giving Imbri and his mother odd looks as he pads towards a wall, "What kind of medical review is this?"
Imbri purrs quietly, "probably the most important one of my life, Copernicus. It's that way.." she points.
Nebula purrs, "A very serious one unfortunately. I need remind you Imbri, at this point all comments need to wait till we are in the chambers."
The wall wavers as Nebula just walks through a section.
Imbri nods her head and looks down at the floor. Her ears flick back once or twice.
Copernicus blinks and looks at Imbri?
With a nod, Imbri disappears through the wall too. Copernicus shrugs and walks through too, he feels a buzzing sensation pass through his body and then he enters into a room that's dark. Dark in a way the night is never dark. His eyes, designed for the low light of deep space, can see only vague forms of felitaurs in the shadows ringing the edges. There is a couch in the middle, lit up, where Imbri reclines nervously. Nebula stands in the middle, and motions to another couch on the other side of her, also lit up.
Nebula purrs, "All but one of us knows why this meeting was called. I shall act as prosecutor for this session of the Silent Ones. Are there any objections before we start?"
A few murmurs can be heard, but none speak up. Nebula purrs, "Imbri, as the one charged, you will explain what your crime was to Copernicus."
Imbri lifts up her chin, her voice clear as her words are calm. She says, just loud enough, "Eighteen hours after accepting the care of Melora, Copernicus' mate, I introduced to her bloodstream a small sample of a treatment I believed would stabilize her medical condition. Her cells were dividing and changing at a rate that they were unable to survive without assistance. That treatment was a small quantity of nanites, which were able to rebuild cellular structure."
Copernicus blinks, stunned, "Nanites? Well, I mean, it's better than her dying, but why can't you just destroy the things now, get them out of her?"
Nebula sighs, "It's not quite that simple. Imbri, where did you get these "nanites" that you used?"
Imbri shakes her head, "Once introduced, they create colonies which then instated themselves into the central structure of the body. To remove them would be death of the host." She looks down at the couch a moment then says, "the nanites were of my own body, extracted with their agreement."
Copernicus swallows, "What do you mean, with "their" agreement? Who's agreement?"
Imbri takes a breath and explains, "All beings of our race, in order to allow us to be space capable, as well as allow us the use of the feathers and such, are hosts for a race of nanites. Certain of us know their existence, and do communicate with them. Others... do not know of their existence and generally do not have need of such knowledge."
Imbri says, "It was a violation of the treaty that was enacted with the embedded colonies to introduce nanite and nanite technology to your mate."
Copernicus is having trouble accepting this, "These things are alive? They are in all of us? And now my mate?"
Nebula stands to the side, letting those two talk it out. She sighs at her son, it's not looking good.
Copernicus unconsciously starts to scratch at his arms.
Imbri nods her head, "Alive in a manner. They're sentient, containing intelligence. They have always been with us, as a race.. and honestly, I didn't know of any other way to help her. Within hours her body would have taken itself, and the cubs, apart."
Nebula says, rather harshly even to her own ears, "Your well meaning intentions are not in question Imbri. But it is a violation of the treaty we signed with the T'Thar so long ago. And because of it, Copernicus will have to join the Silent Ones, at least partly. Do you understand what has been told you so far Copernicus?"
Copernicus shakes his head, "We are told such things are...abominations. Now you say that they are in all of us, even the First Mother? What, what will they do to my mate? "
Imbri says, "Nothing, though the full integration for her species isn't known. Her body already has some interesting adaptations of it's own, not of their doing. Probably just inhabit quietly."
Copernicus eye's are wide, and his breathing is a bit fast. Obviously this is a bit more than he wanted to hear, "If this is so secret, why tell me this?"
Nebula purrs, "Because, once you have proof that what we say is true, you have to decide whether to hold Imbri liable for what she did to your mate. In violation of the treaty. You can also decide that she has done no harm, and you could, possibly, pass this information to your mate if you feel it necessary, but only by going through this body first. Before contact is made, do you have anything to say in your defense Imbri?"
Imbri shakes her head, "Nothing to defend myself against. I admit to doing such. Though, perhaps some to Copernicus' own defense and emotions."
Nebula frowns, "If you have anything to tell Copernicus, anything at all, do it now. He will not be able to talk to you till he makes his decision."
Copernicus has got the wonderful "deer in the headlights" look as he looks around the darkened hall, looking at his own mother with a great deal of confusion.
Imbri says in a level tone, understanding, "Copernicus. I regret ever causing you hurt, or any sort of anxiety with knowing this now. It's a heavy secret to bear, but we must hold it secret. So many more hold their minds and emotions so much more closed than you have. These beings have always been within us, from birth, from our mothers births and before from the time of the First Mother and her children. They help us, they live with us. But, to know.. to know that they are there changes us not. You're still the one I have gotten to know, as I am still the one you know."
Copernicus swallows hard and nods shakily, "I'll take your word on it. I've known you long enough to know you're a good person."
Imbri murrs quietly, "I believe you know me fairly well. I've lived with you, with your family, for some time now. Watched over your children to be born carefully. Know this- I would never have done harm to your mate. And were these to harm her, or you, I would do my best, as friend and nurse, to help."
Nebula mentally sighs and then states, "However, Copernicus, when your own T'Thar inform you of the details of the treaty, you must make your decision as to whether she is to be punished or not based on all the information."
Copernicus just nods again at Imbri, then looks at his mother.
Nebula purrs, "Anything else Imbri?"
Imbri shakes her head. She looks down, somewhat deflated and almost alone looking.
Nebula sighs, "So it is time. Have the objections been worked out?"
Several muted voices speak up, till one states, "His word shall be enough. We see no reason to fully include him in the Silent Ones, his role is in our public government. His T'Thar will be informed that contact with him shall be sporadic."
A few muttered comments, but this seems to satisfy.
Copernicus finally finds his voice, "What am I supposed to give my word on?
Nebula purrs, "Not to tell what you know to another living soul, with the possible exception of your mate, but then only with our permission."
Copernicus hmms nervously, "That sounds reasonable enough. If this is true... by the First Mother, how people would react. My word is given as always, with the condition that if keeping my word would harm someone other than myself, or somehow threaten what is right, then I would not be bound by it."
A female voice, incensed, speaks up from one of the darkened areas, "There can be no exceptions to the swearing. It's no good if a promise has it's loopholes."
Copernicus whirls at the voice, "What good is a word of HONOR if it makes you do something dishonorable?! So far I've never had reason to use an exception. It's not a loophole. If..if this is all true, then I understand the need to keep knowledge of these ...things from the public. But I will not give such a blind pledge that could force me to do something fully wrong."
The same voice growls, "And can you name one such instance, when the knowing doesn't change the being. When they are not evident in any fashion to our average Chirr'T'Thar?"
Copernicus nods, "I understand what you are saying, and as I said, it is unlikely that will ever come into play. And if no such instance ever occurs, then I am bound by my word as always. I do not do this to make it easy for me to break my word. Ask anyone who knows me, I will go to great lengths to keep it, including risk my own life. But I am the way I am. I will not let my saying "I gave my word" be an excuse to do something wrong, much like other races soldiers say "I was only following orders." In this situation, I doubt it would EVER happen. But I can not change how I give my word."
Another growl and the voice replies, "Then remember your word to truth, that should notion of this become public knowledge, then it is no longer the harm of one at sake, but of your entire people. Weigh that knowledge well and before, as it weighs every single one of us here."
Copernicus swallows and nods, "I shall. Believe me I shall. I do not give my word of honor lightly, but I must give it as I believe it to be still honorable."
Nebula steps in, "If he also agrees to consult his T'Thar before doing such a thing, will that help? I would comment on his honor, but as you know, I am a biased witness."
A little muttering is heard from that side but is stilled.
Nebula nods, "It seems that is sufficient. Are you ready Copernicus?"
Copernicus shakes his head, "No, but I don't think I could ever be. So what does this take?"
Nebula pads over and rubs foreheads with Copernicus, through her T'Thar she relays, *Permission is given. Be careful. He is so scared I can smell his fear.*
The T'Thar inside Copernicus acknowledge and get to work as Nebula pads away.
Copernicus blinks, "That's it? So when do they say hello?"
Even within the Chirr'T'Thar, the nervous system itself has little sensation. After a few minutes, Copernicus feels a bit light headed and then a voice, no, more like swarm of voices saying the same thing, state *Greetings Chirr Host Copernicus.*
Nebula sighs at the limp form of her son on the floor, "I guess he could have taken this worse."
Imbri flicks her ears back, looking into another corner of the darkness herself.
And the T'Thar inside Copernicus sigh collectively, *What a twit.*