Chapter 577: Stock Car Race (1/2)

Brentili'ik stood on the hoverlift that was suspended twenty meters over the crowd and watched as the crowd roared in approval. They lined the wide avenue of the capital city, stood to either side of the roadway that led from the starport to the military base only two miles away.

She could see the leading edge of what they were cheering for approaching.

Confetti fluttered down around her, onto the crowd, onto the street. She could see signs being waved by excited beings, see even broodcarriers excited by it all. Podlings were being lifted on shoulders so they could see better as the leading ranks approached.

Headquarters Company of Headquarters Brigade of the First Telkan Marine Division.

They weren't in power armor, but instead were in standard adaptive camouflage. All marching in perfect lockstep, parade ground precision, as they moved down the avenue. As they passed Brentili'ik's hoverlift a shout by the leader had them all turn their heads to face her. Arms moved and they saluted as they passed by.

She barely noticed. Her eyes were for the second Telkan going by, the one behind the one carrying the flag of First Telkan Marine Division.

Her husband.

Vuxten.

To Brentili'ik he looked tired. He was back to a cybernetic ear without any artificial covering. His cybernetic eye and his sole remaining biological eye were rimmed by white fur. He had white down the sides of his muzzle.

He looked tired.

He looked battered.

He looked amazing.

”look podlings look daddy is there” Synthal'la said, the normally quiet broodcarrier excited. The podlings all squeaked and bounced up and down with excitement.

”vuxten look tired” Ilmata'at said. Brentili'ik put her hand on the broodcarrier's shoulder.

She watched as the troops of First Telkan Marine Division marched by, showered with confetti, excited civilians waving and cheering. It seemed to go on and on, but finally the last of them went by and Brentili'ik sat down. She felt exhausted from waving and smiling, when all she wanted to do was go home and curl up with her husband.

She had missed him.

The hoverlift moved quickly to the capital building and from there she walked to her office, escorted by security guards and a Telkan that was so generic as to be almost instantly forgettable. She wasn't surprised to see that she had no less than fifty priority messages and nearly a dozen Telkan all waiting to talk to her.

What did surprise her was the fact there was a large Terran female with brown skin, dressed in leather and fur, with a sword on her back that was held securely with a restraining device to keep it in the sheath, waiting in the office with a large smile.

The fact the female Terran was hugely pregnant was no lost on Brentili'ik.

When she sat down she looked at her Intelligence Chief.

”Who's the Terran woman?” Brentili'ik asked.

Her Chief checked his implant and made a face. ”Uh, it's odd. Her Grace Khoonkeenadee, the Arch-Duchess of Relflagen, Lady of Magic and Beauty, the Arcane Will of King Nganto, She Who has Birthed a Hundred. It's appended with 'Call me Keena' at the end,” he said.

”What does she want?” Brentili'ik asked. The words had sounded strange and had left the taste of iron across her tongue.

”She says that this is a diplomatic visit. That as a visiting head of state she felt that protocol required her to present herself to the ruler of the system and the Telkan people,” her Intelligence Chief said. He shook his head. ”That's the gist of what's about a five minute statement full of flowery language.”

”And the sword?” Brentili'ik asked.

”Nanite infused hyper-sharp weapon,” the Intelligence Chief said. ”Security interlocks prevent it from being too far away from her. She agreed to submit to physical lockup of the weapon.”

Brentili'ik sighed. ”Send her in first. Let's not cause a diplomatic incident.”

The Intelligence Chief nodded, touching his implant as he sat down in his favorite spot. A chair slightly out of the way that he seemed to vanish into.

After a moment the door opened and the Terran woman entered.

The first thing that struck her was the woman's sheer presence. It rolled off of her and seemed to fill the room, like she was much larger than her physical body. The second thing was how round the Terran woman's stomach was. Her strange vest with fur lined breast support cups was unlaced to let her stomach stick out. Brentili'ik noted that the woman's belly button was poking out. The third thing was how large she was. Heavy muscle and bone, wide shoulders, thick arms and legs.

The woman gave a strange motion which Brentili'ik's datalink told her was a 'curtsy' before standing up straight.

”A pleasure to meet you, Planetary Director,” the woman said.

”A pleasure to meet you, Your Grace,” Brentili'ik replied.

The woman smiled, her teeth startlingly white. ”Call me Lady Keena, Planetary Director.”

Brentili'ik nodded. ”What do I owe the pleasure of this visit?” she asked.

”As I am a guest on your planet, I will require lodging. The assignment of proper lodging will prevent me from having to carve out my own place on the planet as honor and duty would demand,” Lady Keena said.

”There are plenty of hotels,” Brentili'ik said.

Lady Keena shook her head. ”As the ruler of this planet, of these people, of this region, you must apply your authority and power and assign me a place to stay,” she looked down. ”It needs to be close to the military base as I have obligations to several of your people, as well as close to a forested area.”

Brentili'ik nodded, closing her eyes for a moment. She sent a quick message to her secretary. ”That can all be arranged.”

”I thank you, Lady Brentili'ik,” the Terran said. She smiled again. ”You live up to the loving descriptions I have heard.”

”Uh, thank you?” Brentili'ik said softly. ”Is there anything else I can do for you? Perhaps make an appointment at the hospital for your upcoming birth?”

Lady Keena shook her head. ”No. There is some time yet before he will be born,” her face softened. ”He is a sleep right now, dreaming. Soon we will meet, he and I.”

”Well, Lady Keena, I'm very busy, I'm sure you understand,” Brentili'ik said. ”One of my aides will ensure that you have proper lodging.”

”Thank you,” Lady Keena said. She moved over to the door, opening it. She paused for a moment. ”I will see you soon, I think,” she said, then moved through the door.

Brenti'ilik sighed and she shook her head. ”Next problem,” she said.

---------

The day seemed to take forever to Vuxten.

First, they'd all formed up on the tarmac in the hangar just outside the vision of the front gate of the space port. Then they'd marched in formation down the main avenue to the military base.

When he'd called out ”Eyes RIGHT!” so that everyone could see his wife, his heart had leaped into his throat.