Kits and Space Stations: Chiya and Ketvia's Story

The pair's visit to the Abstract Destiny was brief, simple, and relatively painless. Relatively, because the good doctor Schroeder had needed to draw blood from Chiya to use in the creation of offspring for her. Aedelian accompanied them, since he knew about how things worked much more than they did, and could "translate", if needed, the more technical language into something simpler, and vice versa. He could reassure Chiya that the blood draw was necessary, and reassure Ketvia that it wouldn't hurt her more than a prick.

Chiya had been very disappointed that she wouldn't actually be able to carry her own offspring, but Doctor Schroeder was adamant that putting the developing kits into eggs was both safer for mother and for offspring and firmly refused. The Light dragoness had to be content with merely taking watch-and-entertainment duty over the eggs themselves, rather than letting one of the Abstract Destiny personnel take the job. Ketvia, of course, promised that she would be enough protection for both of them, if need be, to reassure the ship's head of security.

To Aedelian's surprise and immense amusement, while Chiya had been ensconced with one assistant, getting blood taken and answering a small hoard of questions, Ketvia actually presented herself to Doctor Schroeder with the gruff, embarrassed demand that she donate, as well, since such a thing was possible. She had even surprised herself with the spur-of-the-moment decision, but Schroeder took it in stride and took her aside, as well, with the promise that no, he wouldn't tell Chiya, at least not yet. He did ask, with some amusement of his own, whether Aedelian would like to donate to the mix, as well.

"Oh, goddess, no," Aedelian had laughed. "I already have a mate and two children to raise, begotten in the normal way, and that is quite enough for me."

As a somewhat stunned-seeming Ketvia and a hopeful Chiya made their way out, leaving behind contact information and the promise to return as soon as eggs became available in the Alpha bay, Aedelian hung behind for a word with the doctor himself.

"Excuse me," he said, "but if I could have a word, about my friends' offspring...."

"But of course," Schroeder replied, sounding surprised. "Should I call them back?"

"That won't be necessary," Aedelian said, shaking his head.

"Whatever would you need to tell me that the mothers do not need to hear?" Shroeder asked, looking confused, but Aedelian guessed that he wasn't confused at all, or not just confused, but a little suspicious-- guessed, because the man was under a powerful mindshield that made his usual snooping quite impossible.

"My mate and I had a much larger clutching than anticipated," Aedelian explained. "Fourteen, when I'd expected no more than seven, and only knew how to care for two or three. So we had to put most of them up for adoption-- I'm sure you heard about it, we were in the public bays at Star City." At Schroeder's cautious nod, he continued, "Avengaean dragons do not bond naturally, and we had one daughter who was... extremely injured that we wanted to 'abandon' her to strangers, as she put it. If she'd only told me how she felt, we would have gladly taken her in, but...." He sighed heavily at the old pain of that rejection. "I don't want Chiya and Ketvia to have to go through that, too, nor would I want to see a kit of theirs so bitter."

Shroeder nodded again, this time in understanding; he could undoubtedly see where this was going. "That is understandable."

"I could get you bonding scrolls from my homeworld, the way we did for my children," Aedelian continued, "but you would have to make certain that every child knows what is in store for it, and is happy with that future, if that is at all possible.... Or find some way to include in their genetics that bonding comes naturally to them, so they will not feel so... abandoned."

"I'm sure everything will be fine," Doctor Schroeder chuckled. "There's no need to be concerned."

"But you will contact me if you need any bonding scrolls?" Aedelian pressed lightly.

"Of course, of course! I know you don't want to see your friends hurt, but I promise, we won't be sending out any unhappy children, if there's anything we can do about it."

Aedelian sighed, just once, thinking of Lha. "All right, I just wanted you to know."

"And thank you for that. Go on, congratulate your friends," Doctor Schroeder chuckled. "If we need you for anything, we'll know where to find you."

There wasn't anything more to be said, so Aedelian nodded, gave his things, said his farewells, and went to catch up with Chiya and Ketvia and do just that: congratulate them. They were, after all, going to be parents!