Chapter nine, Barricades

When things most seem right is when they tend to go wrong.  The war against the Insectoids was rolling on with minimal causalities on our side.  The Titans seemed to be getting the message and had a better than 50% chance of getting there before I had to exercise 'stupid' options.

Omi was with my son and my hier, the most beautiful woman in my universe was about to grace this one with the most awesome and beautiful thing she could.  A Child, a Son from my loins, that it obliged me to marry her was nearly as great a thing.  Then circumstances changed, the center did not hold, life and Murphy came crashing into me with a vengeance.-Archon Prince Victor Ian Steiner-Davion

Diona One month since misjump

Aezhay looks at Omi again, "not to be tactless but you have a bump on, or in your belly", 

Omi Smirks "it's those huge eyes your seeing things", 

Thurfrit "I am your size and Lady Omi it seems your belly is a touch bigger, also you saw this Diedria Lear person, I thought she was a doctor...", 

Palsa Temis "even half a Titan like I can see it", 

Omi smiles "it just my little Kitsune" 

Aezhay having Omi resting on her palm "you've been tired a lot, your eating somewhat more, did you and Victor... oh sorry I am a touch tactless though".  

Gae "leave the poor woman alone, if she is with Victor and her child then stressing her will not help, and if she's a bit sick and fatigue while gaining weight again pestering her won't help".  

Thurfrit "Lady Omi isn't Kitsune Japanese for Fox", Omi nods, he continues "the Fox is strongly identified with your fiance's house, most notable you told us Victor's father was nicknamed the 'fox' for his intelligence, guile, and cunning",  

Omi "that is true, but foxes play an important role within many Combine religions and cultures, it's just a happy happenstance that my Beloved's house's Totem animal is also a key Totem to the Combine" she smiles the only way she could make it more obvious would be to name him 'yellow bird' as she politely chuckles.

Aezhay "so what news from the war front?"  

Temis "our fleet is mustering outside of the federation and the inner sphere, well it ain't pretty to be a bug!".  

Omi "Victor, Hohiro, and Kai are fighting the threat as they should, I am proud of them all"  

Aezhay smiles "but especially Victor" as she gently rubs Omi's back, Omi just shyly smiles.

Back at the Aenur Foundation Lodging 'connecting FCS Yggdrasil, Archon-Prince Victor Steiner-Davion link', 

Victor happily asks"Omi?", 

Omi ecstatically nods "Victor Beloved", 

Victor "are you well Dr. Lear says you have something" Victor arches his eyebrow, part of what she has he feels she 'caught' from him while she was overseeing his recuperation.  

Omi shrugs "Dr. Lear says it will linger for a few months, but after a fairly intense fever breaking" Victor stifles a laugh "it will correct itself Victor my love, Dr. Lear was most professional and did say it was a common occurrence".  

Sorcha crames herself in so she can see his pad "oh hello Lady Omi", 
Omi chuckles "Dr. Freeman, I hope you are well", 

Sorcha "Victor keeps me busy, for him being so tiny and being overwhelming Royal he's actually a nice guy" as she strokes his back in a friendly manner.  

Omi laughs "it's taken many years to de-dour him, you know he doesn't want the job..." she giggles, 

Sorcha, smirks "oh I haven't heard, that in the last five minutes".  

Victor laughs "I have to debrief our MI-6 and I have a Hive homeworld to pelt with very large asteroids, even Sorcha thinks there big," he says with his eyes smiling.  

Sorcha "they are, well if you go I figure I can arrange U.N. Transits and supplies from Vorsha."  

Omi "Victor has business, please Sorcha speak with me a moment,"  

Victor shakes his head "Ok ladies, Omi take care of that bit of biology that you have going on, 'Kitsune' sounds like a cute sneeze" he chuckles as he leaves

Sorcha can tell through the display the depth of Omi's love for Victor, she feels a bit guilty, she and he have been getting along great, Victor has an almost supernatural ability to gently cut her off before she goes too far, well in anything but particularly 'THAT'." As Sorcha can read Omi, Omi can read Sorcha, Victor is everything good of Ryan, Odin, Joseph and others combined to her, she's not blind, but every day she feels something growing inside her, that Omi actually has their lineage developing in her womb makes her a bit envious, though she knows Omi is too good a person to hurt, Omi picks up on this.

Omi "five years ago we would have fought over him", 

Sorcha "no, he's always been yours...", Omi "ten years ago you might have had a chance" she giggles, Sorcha, snuches her face and learns forward-looking confused, Omi beams "Victor has a thing for tall women...", both shake heads and giggle, 

Sorcha "well your 1.8 meters is in the 'somewhat' normal range for humans as opposed to my roughly 42 and a quarter meters", 

Omi smiles "It wouldn't of matter, Victor always goes for the most difficult of challenges, and I have heard you were quite challenging back then."  

Sorcha "I am going kill Odin, or was it Ryan?" her huff becomes a laugh, 

Omi knows it's a sore spot, but one she's growing out of "Aezhay seems to have all the good stories.",  

Sorcha smirks "could be worse, you could have Aisell out for you..."  

Omi nods "I heard of some of the 'punishments' she's inflicted on wayward tribe members."  Sorcha "and that's her being controlled with humans she can easily 'deal' with, make trouble as a Titan and see what happens."  It felt good for both of them just to chat, Omi back to task nods "So if anything happens to me...",  

Sorcha "it won't!", 

Omi "Sorcha from what I have seen of Titan culture, you don't really have a God... no real concept of an afterlife or things science can't explain.  That's in part why humans have been oppressed and left as pets."  

Sorcha "cause you all believe in such silly things" being agnostic on good days, mild to moderate Athiest on most.  

Omi shakes her head "since Titans are the biggest and most advanced species, they believe no one can judge them but themselves, that they are the essence of right.  The need to protect..." Sorcha nods "without a belief that something, someone moral will judge...",  Omi "you become the judge, we Kurtians suffer somewhat from this, We are the Emperor and Shogun Combined! We are the God-Emperor of humanity, but we are nothing as compared to the arrogance of Titans, good and bad, good will listen even allow 'equals' to make decisions, but they will try to veto anything remotely hazardous to those same smaller equals, Aezhay tried to confine me to bed rest."  

Sorcha "you do look tired...", 

Omi shakes her head "it's the Titan in you"

Sorcha "intellectually I understand what you are saying but it's genetic and cultural, there are few braver then the humans I associate with, but even I who identify as human want to snatch them up and place them somewhere safe before a battle starts, we are bigger and stronger we feel we need to be out front."  

Omi "but size is a single dimension", 

Sorcha "yes and we lose out on your intelligence and adaptability, we even shove those things to the side because we BIG TITAN we PROTECT tiny 'dumb' humans..."  

Omi giggles "when that human has the solution..." 

Sorcha smirks "to that and the next four issues in the near term, when you got a problem that needs a quick solution find a human when you have YEARS a Titan,"  

Omi contemplative "so do you have a soul Sorcha?"

Sorcha "I don't know... I hope I do, but mom and dad...Religion wasn't really discussed", 

Omi looks down "I have been a Buddhist all my life, then this Christian comes into my life..." 

Sorcha "Victor's a New Avalon Catholic and member of the Unfinished book movement..." 

Omi Nods and places her hand on her chin and looks to the heavens "I hate to believe the humans of my Earth needed two saviors Buhda and Christ... that's a bit much for any species."  

Sorcha "I don't know how many saviors Titans would need, enslaving your people, abusing you, treating you as unintelligent things"  

Omi smiles and looks her in the eyes "that's where you are wrong, if the Christians are right, the very being who created us, shed his own blood and life for us, powerful isn't it, an omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent being so full of love that all us lesser beings are saved just by belief, and we are saved even if we have been in revolt for 99.9% of our lives, just beg for forgiveness as your life ebbs and mean it... no judgment till the end just LOVE...he or she doesn't cage us, he or she might visit us in dreams or make arguments with our conscience but they don't use that vast power to force us to do anything, they don't look down on us cause we aren't all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present, they love us cause we are limited but we are working on making things better..."  

both are crying Sorcha "what you ask is too much for mere mortals Omi, Titans if they were to think like this, well the empire wouldn't have oppressed  the Ler, Dunnerc, Avertale and Humans, this God of yours values each soul as his own, Titans can't quite get there, neither can humans I am afraid..."

Omi nods, "but my beliefs have shifted since I have known and loved Victor, I can't find all knowledge in Budha and Christ though undoubtedly my brother doesn't provide all the answers either.  I guess I am confused, but I need both right now."  Sorcha listens without judgment, Omi continues "my dreams since the misjump, they are so vivid..." Omi seems serene and calm "I am called by whom I am just getting to know to help free his people and help those who enslave them..."  

Sorcha "you are doing that right now, you march for everyone", Omi looking beyond everything with tears "I will be killed by the black block, I will be in Steiner Blue, Davion Yellow, and Kurtian Red, my unborn son will be martyred, I hope I can save some of the marchers..."  

Sorcha "that's crazy Omi, you can't know...", 

She smiles, one full of love for her sister Sorcha "just a year ago I would have agreed with you, but baring me being crazy or a chance my father is calling me home...  When he does you must be there for Victor!!!  He will be angry, he will like his father Hanse want to take vengeance on those who did it.  He will maintain his honor and compassion, but his pain will be so great, he won't show it, but it will destroy him if he loses focus, loses love, loses faith.  Only you can stop him when his pain, hurt and anger reach their peak.  Save his soul Sorcha, keep his body safe, and when it is done we will all live in love."  

Sorcha says "oh Omi" as the link breaks...

Two hours later

Aezhay huffs "Sorcha, she seems fine to me, she's pregnant, she's in a WHOLE NEW UNIVERSE, aren't you the one tell most Titans ease off the protective instincts and let humans be humans?"  

Sorcha looks down a bit guilty "yeah", 

Aezhay "we'll keep an eye on her like all the other protestors, but we can't bully, protect or shelter them, not any more not after what that's done to them..." she says with a tear "Aisell would tell you what it cost her and Luke...", 

Sorcha half sad, half exasperated "I know in most cases I agree, but..."  

Gae interjects "but what, they have free will and intelligence, we can help, but when we start taking away choices Sorcha... I lost my husband, he was martyred to the cause of freedom" Gae tears up a bit "I could have kept him alive if I restricted his movements if I kept him at home if I had treated him like a PET!  Better for even those who killed him or celebrated his death that he died on his feet an intelligent being full of wisdom and compassion, rather then a base creature I would have forced him to be if I kept him in a cage like that!"  

Sorcha calms down a bit "you've seen the conversion, you tell me what I should do?"

Thurfrit "as a human, I would watch her, care for her and pray as she might say that 'this cup pass her by'" he had been reading the Bible and other earth religious texts of the late Yamanu use of Dr. King's philosophy and tactics had impacted him.  He continues "she's not seeking death, she feels that death is appointed to her, if there is a conflict, well she's even fiercer then her husband to be, she will STAND and if that is her decision then we must honor it.  If she is afflicted or we can save her without destroying her in the process we do that as well".  

Aezhay smiles at her tiny little husband "I am so glad I married you" as she traces her necklace, and nuzzles her nose into his chest ever so gently.  

Sorcha "Ok, I guess I will let you get back to it, we're just waiting before we mass drive Hive one, two and three."  

Aezhay "good, tell Victor to give those bugs what for!"  

Sorcha smiles "just all of you be careful, it looks like the loss of their hive ship and their fortress worlds have severely diminished the Bugs, but for you all it only takes one idiot to turn a march into a massacre."  

Thurfrit nods "that it does, Sorcha, that it does..."

Three hours after that

Naskia "I think your father knows," she says grinning, 

Sorcha "mom, he does and if you left your pad or med scanner anywhere near him he knows the sex, estimated body dimensions, intelligence level estimate...", 

Naskia "Niall you wouldn't read my pad would you", 

Sorcha hears her dad Chuckling madly "not for any of your journals or private stuff, but HELL yes I read your medical data Petal"  

Naskia taps her pad's history and his overt and deliberately placed markers that he was there! a couple of journal entries he thought were medical that he back out of in nanoseconds 

Naskia "Niall", 

Niall "before you get angry Petal how about you check your access to my pad" he smiles disarmingly, 

Naskia huffs and counts to ten "I just want to make sure you are ok Sweetie." 

Niall "I am not stupid enough to go near even pertinent data on your well-being without having plenty of evidence you were doing the same and at a higher rate I may add, than I ever conceived of doing" Niall ends with an amused laugh, 

Naskia smiles warmly but with just a touch of menace "well dear since you did make sure I knew what you were up to and I was a bit" Niall laughs, Naskia continues "a bit sneaker and worried more broadly about you", 

Niall smiles "it's ok Petal, I forgive you", 

Naskia can't believe her lovable, little husband has outmaneuvered her on what should be an easy case of 'your wrong, you need to be punished', that she was worse wasn't the question, she wanted just a touch of her dominance she and he was enjoying in the bedroom to migrate to normal life, she would have backed off knowing she's done worse but the arrogant bastard that's her husband beat her to it.  She smiles, his intelligence and the way he's tamed her are very much parts of why she loves him, she just wishes he could miss a thing or two when she's trying to guilt him!!!

As her mom and dad on her Uncles flagship ISS Gyfjon play like a couple of teenage lovers Sorcha clears her throat, Naskia stops her gentle and loving caressing of Niall, who shakes his head "Petal I think she wants to speak on Omi and Victor..", Naskia turns remarkably serious in seconds.  It's always amazed Sorcha how her mom can be the most loving and caring of being but when something demands her attention the silly warm Naskia become as focused as any dour scientist.  Naskia "Tuppy what's wrong", Sorcha isn't aware of any cues she might have given her mother, Naskia "baby you look like that when you told me you almost killed Alesia before first contact", 

Sorcha "I don't know what you are aware of with Omi..."

Naskia "Tuppy you can't do anything, she has to make her own decisions, right Sweetie",

Niall "I have seen enough of the insanity of organized religion that you don't want my opinion, it will be to embittered and coarse!", 

Naskia nuzzles him "as opposed as arrogant and prideful" she chuckles, 

Niall "Damn Right" he laughs, Naskia giggles, as he continues "she's not suicidal and she is her own being, the only way you have a slight chance of getting her back is having Prince Victor call her back" he tries not to have contempt for the title, he likes Victor as a person, but being born...Well he didn't ask for it and he's not going on benders like some royal family members have (well at least on Earth, the Colvones line seems to take their status as seriously as Victor takes his lineage as both being a Steiner and a Davion in his universe) after his slight pause Niall continues "only Victor, Hohiro can't, Kai can't, you can't."  

Sorcha "thank you, so you will brief uncle Aertimus?"  

Naskia "of course baby, I been doing for the last few days, now your father and I have some more reviewing of inner sphere tech then we are going to have sex like a couple of teenagers...",  

Sorcha "MOM!!!" 

Naskia and Niall laughs as they disengage the link, Niall "do we...", 

Naskia has dropped her bra beside him "I believe you were going to ask if we needed to review those techs before we enjoyed marital bliss?" 

Niall gulps as she flashes her well-endowed and much larger then he is right breast to him, loving his consistent and awed reaction, for over a hundred years and the man is reduced to a puddle of mush by her body, not that she doesn't get hot and bothered when is small form is naked, 

Naskia purrs playfully "I don't think two children will be enough, and though it will be a couple of Terran years till Hussal makes his appearance, I think you need to be in shape and practiced for the next one, you agree don't you."  

Niall nods as he gently but firmly takes her right nipple into his hands Naskia "Oh, that feels nice..."

four hours later

Lunch went well, more briefings, they had some nice small talk and chats on what was going on in the Federation and Donia.  Sorcha asked for five minutes with Victor, Victor is used to the two or more rule, in which he ALWAYS has an aide or officer there in the office so that they can be sure he didn't do anything improper, or has security in case someone wants to kill him.  

Galen shrugs "if she wanted to kill us, well she would of" he half grins, 

Sorcha sarcastically "oh little ole me" with a smirk to match the statement, 

Renny "yeah if she going to off you Vic you really couldn't stop it..." with a cutish grin.
 
Victor "ok, five minutes Sorcha",  

Sorcha "thank you, Victor, thank you."

Sorcha "Jana you go play with Galen", 

Jana "I have some maintenance and reports, I can't just go into the converted dropship and...", the 114-foot tall titan sees a slightly upset 142-foot tall hybrid who is likely five times as strong as she is and Sorcha Really, Really wants her out.  Jana "yeah I can converse with Galen and Focht on our supply runs and fleet positions...",  

Sorcha puts on her plastic smile "Great Jana, why don't you do that?", 

Jana, as she leaves with an alacrity Sorcha hasn't seen in her before, says "on my way boss"

Victor chuckles "if people weren't so scared of you, they would love you", 

Sorcha "are you scared of me Victor," she says with a playful predatory grin, 
Victor "No, I have seen death one too many times, I know if I am afraid and let it rule me my people will pay, basic once the foe has me I am died anyway, to beg or delay would only hurt those I need to protect."  She tests him places her hand down hard and nudges him on, Victor just shakes his head "if you wanted me dead I would be", she curls her fingers hard enough to be painful, "again your point?", 

Sorcha is a bit flustered, he is afraid, but not of her, not of death, but of failing his people, it makes it very hard for her to intimidate him, the same is true for Omi...

Victor "so are you going to crush me or tell me something?"  

Sorcha eases off "sorry", 

Victor "it's ok, you've been tense since at least lunch."  

Sorcha "I am worried about Omi", 

Victor "hrmph, yes DMI4 gave me a copy of your conversation."  

Sorcha nods "did you watch it", 

Victor "only what they considered vital for my understanding of a 'foreign important personage' and her state of mind."  

Sorcha "I am no the 'important personage'"  

Victor "No, I know how it must seem to you, you haven't talked about your faith, I am not even sure you have one, but for Omi, it is very important..." 

Sorcha with a bit angrier then she intended "Important enough for her to die?"  

Victor "if that's her belief, Should  Yamanu of placed his life ahead of 'pet'" he says the last word with contempt and bile, 

Sorcha "That's not fair, he wasn't looking for death, he responded the best he could when hell found him..." Victor strokes her hand, it feels good, almost too good as she says "please stop, I don't want to comforted I want you to recall Omi", 

Victor "do you also want me to never mount Prometheus again, never enter a combat zone?", 

Sorcha knows a good part doesn't, but he is a Prince, a Marshal, a Commander, a Soldier, and a Warrior, he can't, she gets misty eye "it's not like that, you have to do what you do, it's not fair, but you choose it" not quite believing the last, he's a Davion they don't get to choose not to fight...

Victor "this is her choice if she falls I don't know what I would do, but I can't lock her away in a cage, she must be able to do what she wants and needs."  

Sorcha "I keep telling myself how human I am, how I need to keep our kin out of cages, but when it's someone I call friend or care about, I either try to kill them to keep them out of danger" harsh guilty giggle "or try to cage them like the pets I sware they aren't!  What's wrong with me Victor?" as she nuzzles him, 

he again begins to stroke her palm "you have all that physical power Sorcha, you are convinced you are right and those that disagree need to get out of your way.  Those that could be hurt need to shut up and be safe.  You believe what you believe but when it hurts you quickly look for exceptions and add-ons to it.  You don't want to be hurt, you don't want those you care for to be hurt, but in doing so you lock them away.  It's your Titan need to protect, it's in such a strong physical form, and we 'mere' mortals are so small and you are so bright, your strength and intelligence have to be right..."  

Sorcha "I don't mean to when I calm down I usually do better" she tears up, 

Victor "I know you do, Omi knows you do, your best friend  Alesia knows you do, Maybe Alesia can keep an eye on her their both expecting, they would have that in common"  

Sorcha "so instead of pulling her out I am supposed to put a friend with a child on the way in?"  

Victor "you know it's wrong to make decisions for others" Sorcha nods guiltily, Victor continues "Alesia has a good head on her shoulders?", 

Sorcha smiles "yes, she smarter than me", 

Victor "I am amazed blood isn't shooting from your nose right now" he chuckles, 

Sorcha caresses him with her cheek "I am arrogant Victor, not stupid" she giggles "but yes she could likely make Omi see the danger if danger was there.  Then she would be able to either convince her or get help and yes everyone would have a decision as well as a choice without me banging my fist or placing a sentient and good being in a cage..."  

Victor "good you can learn" as he signals he wants down, 

Sorcha shakes her head, "not without a reward my Archon-Prince", She kisses his head, she means it to be a friendly gesture, but it is more tender then she meant and lasts a second or two into the awkward phase, well for her...  

Victor "Thank you, Sorcha, next time a nuzzling hug might be a touch more appropriate "he smirks, 

Sorcha "yeah I think your right" as she does nuzzle him and lets him down gently.  

Victor looks back and wonders what his world would have been like if she entered his life ten years ago, he shakes his head, he will keep her in the friend zone and she will be ok.

Sorcha feels her heart beating rapidly, what did she just do, how did it happen, with every question she realizes more and more that she's falling for him...  It's ok, Omi will be ok, she can be their friend and it will slowly fade, she's sure it will, yeah just like she was sure humans need to be free until it hurts her or those she cares for...  She will get a hold of her overprotectiveness, in fact, she focuses on it since she dare not focus on her other moral dilemma...