Bab 12: 12 Misha
I stepped away from the wall. That explained it. She was already prepared to offer herself to secure her people. I bent in front of her to make myself her height. 'How long are female humans able to breed?'
She seemed somewhat offended by my question but still answered me, 'It depends. Most can have children for at least thirty years. Typically we have one child every couple years. Although some can fall pregnant every year and as I have said before multiple children at once is possible. According to my doctor and my bloodline I should have another fifty years to have children. Assuming I do not die early.'
We all froze. Most females could only get pregnant a paws count of times. Maybe four or five pregnancies in a lifetime. If they managed to have three children each pregnancy they would be considered highly fertile. Twelve children in a lifetime was considered a rare occurrence that made the female treasured even after generations had gone by. A human female could easily reach that standard if provided for well enough.
I would have to let the IPU know. They would contact the Royal males who were still unmated. The Princess would have her pick of males willing to see to her every need so long as she even looked at them. It was common practice for a female to take a multitude of males in other races. The act of it provided more security as well as genetic diversity. Suitable mates for Royals were few and far between. Many Royal Females took even more males. It was a practice option that males just did not have.
'Granted the more children we have the more it takes a toll on our bodies,' she added after a time. So it would take a pack of males to make sure she and the unborn one were safe. I nodded and left the room. She was a Royal which might be why she was so sought after. That she could have more children than the average female would make her highly prized alone. I could already see the group of Royal males waiting for her at the station. Only Royal males would be able to ensure she received the care necessary.
I sat at the control deck and called our direct contact. He would pick up no matter the time now that he knew we had a female on board. A royal one to boot.
"You better not be calling me with some bad news Misha," Conta hissed out. Conta was a large male from the Zeahu race. They had arms with four digits on each paw and a hooded head. They had a bunch of small pointed teeth in their mouths and silted eyes. The did not have hind legs. Instead they had a long torso that eventually stretched behind them into a tail. Conta was light grey like Vin Smoke.
"I have good news actually. The Princess has expressed interest in making a diplomatic mating. She seems to have deemed her own males lacking. Instead she is looking for males how can provided for her and her people better."
His brow ridges rose. "What can she offer in return?"
"She will be fertile for the next fifty sun revolutions. I do not believe she need offer anything else."
He hissed. His silted pupils srunk to a pin point. "I believe you are right about that. What else do I need to know?"
"She seems to have a longer breeding span because she is Royal. However her pregnancies require much care. Human pregnancies seem to be fatal if not handled well. I suspect that is why she has not taken a mate yet. From what we have learned many human males care less for the female than the cub she can give them."
His hood flared, "No female would claim a male like that!"
"Female royals are expected to maintain the care of their Kingdoms while pregnant. It seems to be a very active role with little time for rest. Apparently they do not even have time to see to making a nest. Despite their small size humans can carry multiple cubs at once although it's rare."
"So she is looking for Royal males who can provide her people with protection so she may focus on her pregnancies?"
"That is my belief."
"A reasonable request considering a bad pregnancy may result in her death and therefore less young," he pulled out a tablet. "Tell me more."
"She is versed in over seeing of her people. She is the last of her line. That means one of her cubs will inherit her Kingdom. She knows how to run a Kingdom on some level and seems to be awear of how the military works. She has killed before and physically is built like a female warrior. So I believe she has fought to survive and protect her own." All of these things would make her desirable to any royal male. Unlike humans who seemed to want a passive female who would do as they were told. For most races females set the rules and males followed. They were also the last line of defense for the children. "She is also gentle unless provoked."
His head snapped up, "What do you by that?"
"She has proven herself capable of drawing blood and harming us if we offend her. She does not attack us otherwise. Although she has shown great curiosity, and seems to like touching us often, she does not strike us without cause. She has made every effort not to offend us even. She asks questions. Honestly if not for her assurances I would think her young. Although perhaps she is." He was staring at me. Clearly I needed to explain. "Her people court before they mate. There seems to be a number of ways in which this is done, although she has been hesitant to share them with us. So I believe since she is still actively in the courting stage and not her breeding stage. Like an ... Adolescent!" I finally said remembering the word so many other races used.
"So her kind pick mates before they breed?"
"Yes. Maybe it is due to how long they breed. She did mention her people place high value on one's bloodline."
"I will inform the Embassy of this development and information. I am sure many of them will be happy to mate a Princess from a new planet. Do you know how many mates she is looking over take?"
"That has not come up yet. Human females typically take one male it seems. I think that has more to do with a female's survival rate than anything else. The Princess stated that some males will kill the mother of their cub not long after the birth so they can raise the child to be controlled." Conta hissed. His mouth opening to show a set of long fangs.
"The more I hear of her males the more I wonder how the race has survived."
"The Royals," I said. "She told a us some of her duties. Males are quick to get themselves killed if I had to guess. In addition the females seem to form bonds to care for one another as much as possible. Death from pregnancy is common enough that there was a group of women who cared for her while growing up without question. Her 'Aunts', that's what she called them, cared for her after that.'
"If the females took more males they may survive better."
I heard the door behind me open. I smelt her before I heard her. The Princess. I stood and looked at her. 'Is something wrong Princess?'
'I was just looking around. I have never been on a spaceship before.' Her eyes flicked from me to Conta. Her eyes narrowed and her leg slid back. Her body lowered and I watched in shock as her hands balled.
'He will not hurt you!' I yelled quickly. The smell of fear coated my tongue and clogged my nose.
'He is a cobra!' She hissed at me pointing at him. 'Cobras are never good!'
"Misha who and what is that?" Conta asked.
"Conta give me a moment please. Apparently how you appear is triggering the Princess' fear response."
"That is the Princess?" He lowered his hood and hid his fangs. Most races would consider the opening of his hood a threat. Every race considered showing teeth a threat.
'This is the Zeahu Diplomat at the IPU capital station. His name is Conta and he would never harm a female. None of the diplomats would.'
She looked between the two of us. Clearly trying to decide if she believed me or not. She approached the screen stiffly. Her face was tight and her eyes were watching to see if he so much as twitched. 'It is an honor to meet you Lord Conta. I am Princess Venus Crimson Best,' as she spoke she placed her hands at her hip and bent at the knees. It was an oddly graceful movement that spoke of years spent training.
"What is she doing Misha?" Conta asked me.
"She is greeting you, I believe. As you are a diplomat it seems you are supposed to be honored by her movement. She also introduced herself as Princess Venus Crimson Bast. It seems her name holds importance."
"You understand her?"
"She does not have a communicator yet. We do not have any on board we could give to her. We are lucky that she has some telepathic ability. It is how we have been communicating with her."
"Can you find out what exactly about me upset her so much?"
"I will ask." I turned my attention to the Princess who had rose from her position and seemed to be very uncomfortable in her clothes. Clothes that were showing more of her skin than her dresses had. She wore a red top that hugged her chest tight. She had lost her skirts and now wore pants that like the shirt left nothing to imagine. All of it tied and interwove together into cross shapes. The thin tie in her hair wove with her hair pleats. Her arms and lower legs were on full display as was her stomach.
'Why are you scared of him, Princess?'
'He is a cobra!' She told me again. As if the word should mean something to me.
'What is a cobra?'
'A snake that can kill a human in just fifteen minutes with a single bite.' Her no nonsense tone made me awear that like myself Conta was similar to an Earth animal. Only he was far more dangerous to her than I was.
"You look like an animal from her world. The cobra she called it. We also look like Earth animals and when we are not careful we trigger her fear response."
"She is comparing me to an animal?" He did not sound offended. Most males would take being compared to an animal as a compliment. Animals killed the sentient life of every known race. They were strong and feared.
"I believe your fangs were the cause paired with your form. She said a cobra could kill a human with a single bite in just fifteen minutes."
"A reasonable thing to have a fear of me then. I will ensure that a communicator is waiting for her when you arrive." With that he closed the com screen.
Hadiah
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