Void's Psionics (24 page)

“
When Jake called me up a
couple months back, it brought all the old and happy memories back.
I knew Isabelle had died in childbirth and I cried for weeks when I
got word because I had been thinking thirty years ago about calling
her up and ask to see if we could rekindle our relationship.”
Andrea wiped a tear away as the emotion was coming back. “But Jake
sent me data on Oliver and you and I was floored to say the least.”
She smiled. “But then the Hunter Deegen and the wolf Bell were
killed and you were kidnapped.

“
Now that I’m older and
wiser, my nature had tempered to where I could see things more
clearly. Even over a century later Jake hadn’t changed. Family is
still the most important thing to him. I didn’t understand just how
much till I had a son and daughter of my own. I know I would do
anything to see my children returned safe and Jake is a very
paternal person if you look past his appearance.”

“
And just what is wrong with
me appearance?”

“
You look like a well
groomed hairy barbarian,” Lifted a second finger. “wear skirts
better suited to women” Then a third finger raised. “and you don’t
wear underwear so one breeze and your dong will poke the eye out of
anyone in the crossfire.” Andrea deadpanned.

Silence lasted hardly a second before Oliver
burst out laughing followed by Jessica, Stephanie and Renee.

“
It’s a
kilt
to honor me ancestors and
Scottish heritage!” Jake billowed.

“
It’s a
skirt
. If you wore underwear it would
be a kilt. It’s sexy for a woman to wear nothing under a skirt.
Showing pussy is less terrifying than that monstrosity of a tree
limb you tote around. For a hairy bear like you it’s normal, but to
normally average height people it’s like fearing getting slapped to
death by an anaconda if you turn suddenly. Hell,
I’m
on the receiving end
of that monster every time we go to bed so you ought to thank me
for pointing it out.”

Renee was laughing so hard the tears flowed.
“I never knew anyone other than me or Jess to banter with Papa
about his skirts.”

“
Kilt. It’s a damn Kilt. K.
I. L. T!” Jake huffed. “Men
don’t
wear skirts. And kilts were originally worn
without undergarments.”

“
I missed this.” Oliver said
and the laughing settled down. “It has been far too long and
serious. Andrea, please continue the story.”

“
Very well. Where was I? Oh,
importance of family. Well in the past century I calmed down after
having children and being a mother. So after Jessica and I climbed
back up the stairs you threw us down and knew you were taken… I
knew Jake’s temper and how to help. I paid to keep you from having
body parts sent to us. Oliver was frightening the crew with
whatever he was trying to do during those first weeks. But seeing
Jake in turmoil with you gone reminded me of how bad I was after
hearing about Isabelle’s passing and I’m no telepath, but I knew
Jake would be thinking he couldn’t lose you too.

“
Before leaving Havannah I
met up with my mates and thanked them personally for the past few
years together and we separated on good terms. You see, I never
told Jake and Isabelle ‘No’ to their proposal. I still loved and
still do love your father.” Jake smiled down at her as Andrea kept
eye contact with Renee who kept listening. “Jake, as everyone in
the galaxies know, has a very short temper and even shorter
patience on some things. Something you’ve clearly inherited. So I
did my best to keep him from going after you before your mate came
back.” Renee looked to Oliver and they smiled at each other to
squeeze their intimately connected hands. “Jake made many plans,
but the likelihood success of rescuing you was pitiful in
calculated percentage. He is a stubborn, but determined man. It is
what drew me to him and your mother back then too.

“
So I came back into Jake’s
arms and had forgotten how virile he is.” Andrea gave a wry grin.
“And it’s not just his prowess in the bedroom, I’ve fallen in love
all over again. And we decided to hold off the marriage till we got
you back. We wanted it to be right and not rushed on account it
would be seen as a spur of the moment against near certain death
had we come to get you early… and for… other reasons.”

“
What reasons?” Stephanie
asked, batting her bright blue eyes.

“
She’s pregnant.” Oliver
said.

“
What?” Jessica shot to her
feet so fast she lifted a meter off the ground.

“
How did ye know, Lad?” Jake
asked, digging a finger in his ear as Andrea nodded with a great
big smile of satisfaction.

“
She has a similar smell as
Vanessa when she carried Taylor. But it is faint. She can’t be far
along.”

“
I’m going to have a baby
brother or sister?” A smile grew on Renee’s face. Using Solarian
speed Renee sped forward to scoop the little athletic woman in her
arms and laughed. “Thank you! I always wanted siblings!” Renee sat
the stunned Andrea down and when the shock wore off she giggled and
Renee said “What did the tests say? Oh, I always wanted to say this
first.” She turned to the captain. “Papa, seems like you’re not
shooting dust after all huh.”

Jessica giggled and threw her arms around
Andrea next. “Now Jake will be too busy with the new little Dorgen
to pester me and Steph. Thank you!”

Jake’s brow furrowed as he tried to
understand Renee’s quip. When he did he glared, but it didn’t last
long as his beard could not hide his grin to become a father
again.

“
I don’t really know how far
along I am. I unfroze my cycle three months ago and last week I was
checked and found pregnant, but I wanted to find out in nature’s
course. I’m a high risk carrier for miscarriages. My first two
children were close after twelve other miscarriages.”

“
No way in hell am I losing
a sibling. Get on the table and I’ll splice the issue right out and
see what gender I have to look forward to doting on.” Renee
commanded, so caught up in the second best news of the day besides
freedom.

Out slid a bed from the sanitary white walls.
Andrea looked to her mate and saw him nod so she took a steadying
breath and laid down her athletically toned body on the warm azure
gel of perfect comfort. Andrea placed her hands beneath her small
breasts after rolling her shirt up as a drone dropped down to scan.
Renee whipped up the counter-solution to combat the miscarriage
defect within her own body and delivered it directly in Andrea’s
neck. Andrea looked to only see Renee’s right arm pointing at her
and furrowed her delicate brow. “What are… Wait, is that the
bracelet that female Solarians use to administer stored solutions
they collect into themselves?”

“
Yup. Oh and it’s not called
a Multi-tool. It’s original name is a Valek. I store tens of
thousands of basic hormones, liquids and minerals inside my bones
at lethal concentrations. I even learned a few poisons that killed
more of those bastards than they knew and I never left a mark on
their body. One I even gave an overdose of heavy metal poison by
using the titanium door they closed me in. All in all I killed half
their Phantoms without them suspecting a thing with this innocent
little trinket they didn’t know at all about. It came in useful all
the time and they could never figure out how the hell I did half
the shit they knew I pulled. Until they used the prisoners I was
actually having fun playing. Now hold still. I’m going to collect a
few traces of dead cells in the amniotic sac. By the way, scans
show you are just seven weeks pregnant.” Renee cheerfully smiled
while painlessly spearing a needle close to the womb.

In a few minutes she cheered “A BOY! I’m
going to have a baby brother!”

“
A son? Ye’ve blessed me
with a boy!” Jack scooped a laughing Andrea into his massive arms
and kissed her full on the mouth and she seemed to enjoy it. “I’m
going to retire with me bride to be.”

“
Hold your horses, Wooly
Booger!” Andrea pushed against his thick barreled chest, but wasn’t
set down. “Before we go back to celebrate we need to discuss after
Verard.”

“
Verard?” Oliver crossed his
arms.

“
Aye… about the five
planets. The Queen castles you found in the nursery. We discussed
it with Rose since Sparky was asleep and decided we ought to visit
Valley Prime, the Drake home world first. To find this Queen
castle. She said she doesn’t know about it, but maybe the Elder
Drake council does. Ye decide when it is time as we will not go
till ye are up for more adventure. Next’ll be Zerika. We found the
ice and volcano world, but they are a bit of a stretch and need
time to prepare for preliminary extreme conditions we’ve detected
from long range telescope views. We are still searching for the
fifth one. The ocean world seems to be a bit elusive. Ye tell us
when ye are ready. Sister, Stephanie, ye fill them in on yer
project.”

“
Sure.” Jessica
replied.

“
Oh, Papa, I want to ask if
I can raid your liquor stores. Since I’m not on medic duty for a
few weeks I plan to get wasted and try getting my idiot Match to
catch a buzz.”

“
Take whatever ye need,
Lass. I will see ye for lunch though. Keep it in mind.”

“
I promise, Papa. Now you go
take care of my new girlfriend and don’t hurt my baby brother or so
help me I’ll spice you to shrivel to a safer size.”

“
Not without
my
permission.” Andrea
winked. “I hope we become close friends. I don’t want to come
between you and Jake.”

“
Don’t worry about that. I’m
mature when it comes to seeing my Papa happy. Don’t count on being
called Ma, but I get the feeling you’ll bring some more laughs into
the family.”

“
Speaking of family.” Jake
paused at the door. “Lad, I already incinerated that present ye
left behind before ye left. Can’t take too many precautions yer
seed gets in the wrong hands. Rose has already checked for more
threats to the crew and found none are disloyal to me rule. Can’t
have another Deegen fiasco. Still, yer seed can change the world. I
eliminated it being used without yer blessing.”

“
I haven’t thought twice
about that. Thank you.” With that, Jake and Andrea left hand in
hand.

“
A baby brother.” Renee sat
down with a wistful smile. “He’s going to be so
spoiled.”

“
Just like his big sister if
I have any say. But hopefully a bit kinder and not a biter when
throwing a tantrum.” Jessica laughed as Renee flicked her off. “Now
let’s come up with a better name for thekid than…”

“
Shamus! Stars, is Papa
still wanting to call his first son…”

“
I didn’t know Andrea was
pregnant, but Jake is still determined to call his first son that
awful name. We’ve
got
to intervene. The little guy will never live that name down,
even if Jake
is
his
father. Children are mean.”

“
We better pull Andrea aside
and warn her.” Stephanie added and the other two women were in for
it.

“
I’ve noticed that though
she is a bit eccentric, Andrea can hold her own in a battle of
wills. She knows Jake will never strike her and when she wins he
has this little laughing twinkle in his eyes. Also he seems to
relax whenever she is around.” Jessica told them her
observations.

“
I’m glad Papa finally found
someone to love. It’s been too long. Now I can screw with him by
planting ideas in her head.” Renee chuckled evilly.

“
Don’t underestimate her,
Sweetheart. She isn’t stupid. Next to Jake, she one of the foremost
intellectuals in the scientific community…”

Oliver saw his presence wasn’t needed as the
conversation was out of his league. This was a time for girls to
gather, but sensing his intent Jessica said “Oh, before we head out
to give you two time to recover from the separation I wanted to
tell you about a few nifty things that has happened while you’ve
been gone.”

Oliver paused half way and slid back into the
seat with a curious expression. “What kinds of things?”

“
Babe, you’re up.” Jessica
leaned back, playing with her own auburn hair.

Stephanie smiled and leaned forward. Reaching
behind she grabbed something and brought around a baby blue
metallic sheathe holding her glittering pink dagger.

Quicker than a striking snake the knife
vanished from her hand and she looked up to find it in Oliver’s
large hand. He had the knife handle in one hand and the little
sheathe in the other. “You finally did it. The sheath membrane is
so thin, but you were able to fold the lip back around so you
didn’t cut yourself sheathing it.”

“
Correct.” Stephanie calmed.
“After Renee’s kidnapping Jake kept up pretenses going to the other
worlds he banks with or funded. Jess and I contacted his fastest
ship in the fleet and under his orders we took command and brought
along the stubborn little Jacob Wrench who hopped around till his
leg grew back. We brought along the Gravity Forge, as Jessica
coined.” Jessica crossed her legs smugly. “We had the prototype and
brought along Steven, Visor and about a thousand kilos of varying
sheets of metal. From there we slid into subspace for about three
weeks to get as close as we safely could to the core of the
Andromeda galaxy, being outside the deadly pull of the closest
super-giant black hole.