Chapter 1: Arrival
A warm weight pushed Guard further into the berth; the smell of heat and clean male skin told him the identity of the other man before he even opened his eyes. Reader had a scent Guard would recognize anywhere. It was always Reader who captured his attention.
"Are you well? Your restraints seem to have failed."
Reader pushed his face into the curve of Guard's neck, his lips tickled as they moved with his words, "I loosed the restraints as soon as I felt the awakening mist. I've been waiting on you to recognize we've arrived. I thought you might be---harmed."
Injury during transit was rare, but it did happen. Guard could tell Reader was voicing his concern out of genuine feelings rather than interest in appearing more sincere than his capacity.
"I never wake easy from stasis. I am well. We have made landing? It feels as if the gravity generators are still online."
Guard did not ask why Reader was vocalizing rather than using his mental voice as Zen preferred. They had known one another from the creche, nursed at the same breast, slept in the same cot. Reader did not have a strong mental voice; he had always preferred vocalization when they were in private.
Unfastening his own restraints, Guard steadied Reader with a hand on his lower back, pressing his friend's lean body closer to the solid wall of his own. He hoped they were still in orbit. Reader would need to remain with him in his berth if they had not landed. Guard knew he would be able to enjoy his friend's scent and sound for hours more in orbit whereas Reader would most likely choose to go his own way once Guardian was docked.
"Have you heard anything regarding our landing zone? Should I shift?"
There was room in the berth for a shift of form as the space only held the two of them when it was designed to keep three in stasis.
Guard had chosen a Xuhelion form as his last preference because the heavy body was muscular enough to allow him to do his job as capital guard effectively against most other forms. He had no idea why Reader had chosen to bear the shape of an Ormali. The best guess he could make was for the elegant hands and the speed of the lithe body while in motion.
"I don't know. I can't hear anyone except you."
"Stasis can cause problems for some. You hear fine. It is a side effect from the journey. Nothing more."
Reader caught Guard's eyes as he smiled sadly, "Of course. It's temporary. I'm sure my mental voice will improve as I adjust."
"Yes. It will. Let me concentrate for a moment."
Reader sagged back into Guard's embrace as Guard reached out with his mind to touch their Zen brethren. He learned they had traveled many years with all their kind in stasis. Only the exploration team had been awakened during each ten sun-circle cycle. Everyone seemed to disagree on how many cycles the explorers had experienced, but all minds were certain they were orbiting a suitable new home.
"These are a new species on this world. They're called 'humans.' We have been in orbit for almost a full sun-circle. Year. Their people are offering us the ability to land. We need to go to the security chambers. I need to know what provisions everyone is arguing over."
Reader nodded against his chest before straightening. His posture was perfect and Guard admired his poise for a moment before palming open the berth door. Guard followed Reader with little of the grace his friend showed. His boots made solid thunks against the deck flooring as they made their way to the lifts to go up to Security.
"I should stay in the berth. You know this?"
"You should stay with me. I know that."
"Security may argue with you when we arrive."
Reader had a mild voice in every form. Humor colored his words whereas every thought Guard projected was clouded by a stubborn refusal to accept any answer other than his own.
"Security will not argue with me for you. I am Guard of the Capital Guard and you are Reader of Records. Your place is with me."
Guard was surprised to see Reader's shoulders lower slightly -almost as if he were relaxing more- at the statement.
How could he think anyone would argue Reader belonged in any place other than with Guard? They were brothers of their heart. All their lives had been spent orbiting each other in their own miniature universe. Guard would never tolerate anyone to take Reader from him.
"My place is with you," Reader agreed quietly before darting a glance at Guard, "We remain together on this world? Pact?"
Guard stilled at the request.
Pacts were sacred vows among the Zen. No one broke a pact without the reason falling to death or disaster. Guard and Reader had made a pact to always choose each other when a choice was to be made for companionship. Reader had thought their pact did not apply when it came time to load Guardian.
Guard knew he would not be in the lift moving to consult with Security were Reader not at his side.
There was no universe Guard wished to live in where Reader did not also live.
"Pact. Reader remains with Guard. Guard remains with Reader. Always."
Reader reached over to trail the back of his hand over Guard's face before letting his arm fall back to his side. Guard breathed deep to trap his friend's scent in his nose as long as possible. If their two forms had been more compatible, Guard knew he would have exhibited physical signs of more than friendship.
Thankfully, Ormali and Xuhelion were not physically compatible which allowed Guard to keep those traitorous thoughts to himself a little longer.
The lift opened onto the deck where Security could be heard bustling about. Guard bowed slightly and gestured Reader to proceed him onto the deck.
"You are Reader of Records. I am Guard. I am your Guard. Take the room as if they are blessed by your presence. They won't question you if they feel you belong. Remind yourself you belong."
"I am Reader and you are Guard. We are together because we are meant to be together. Together we are complete. Apart we are not. Yes. I understand."
Guard hoped Reader held the certainty close to his chest as they entered the Security center.
They would have to brazen their way through this encounter or else their pact to remain together might be revoked before it had even been used on the world below them.
"Guard has brought me, Reader, to be instructed on the details of our descent. You may begin immediately. I will keep record."
Glances were exchanged in the center as Security tried to make their understanding of Zen policies work alongside the appearance of Records.
So much separated Reader from the heavy forms of Security. Guard knew they were criticizing his vocalization, his slim build, his elegant hands, his lack of fighting prowess, and especially his bloodline connection to Records which was the peaceful cornerstone of Zen culture.
They would not accept Reader were he to slip in any way.
Supporting Reader fully, Guard sent out a sharp mental prod, "We do have a full ground report? Yes? What provisions are the native species demanding? Records cannot keep anything accurately if we cannot accurately report what we have learned. I'm not in the habit of wasting my efforts. Are you?"
Chapter 2: Rules"Yes?" Guard prompted again, impatience coloring his mental voice enough to have Security straightening their stances t
Chapter 3: Being HumanLearning all Security was meant to be privy to took longer than Guard had imagined. He was kept off-balance as he tried to incorporate all the new words, turns of phrase, and human expectations into his mind alongside the knowledge he already had of dozens of other worlds.
Chapter 4: Human Anatomy"I have read their texts. Seen their biology as you have learned it from me. I don't know all the ways to be human."John couldn't stop staring at the red staining Tom's lean cheeks. Blood flowed through the body as a result of emotions as much as biology. He couldn't think of a reason for Tom to be flushed. Sickness wasn't possible. Their kind rarely became ill. Heat was unlikely. They were both sharing the same berth with the same temperature flowing over them. What caused his face to flush?"I don't like it when I can't hear your mind voice. You seem too far away. I'm human now. Your voice won't change me. You know I can hear you."Tom reached out to stroke his hand down John's arm, squeezing his bicep gently before letting his hand fall to his side once more."It's hard to speak with my mind. For me. I do not have the talent for it you do.""I can hear you."John freed himself from the security lashe
Chapter 5: Kissing LessonsJohn breathed him in before instinct drove him to seek Tom's taste with his tongue. The slight difference in their height allowed their mouths to meet with a tilt up from John and a tilt down from Tom. Kissing was an entirely new experience for them both."Is this allowed?"Tom nodded his answer even as he bit at John's lips, angled his head to the side and tried to get closer, taste more of him, feel more of him."Humans kiss this way?""Lovers kiss this way."John felt the words down into the very marrow of his bones.Their pact had kept them together throughout their lives as they grew up, changed, took on the roles of their bloodline rather than their choosing. If they had remained on Zon, this moment would never have happened. Zen took lovers for procreation, rarely for recreation. John could not name a pair of lovers who were same-gendered.
Chapter 6: Guardian DescendedTomRecords were left to their own devices. Most Zen chose not to associate with the historians of their race without just cause. It was disconcerting to think of someone remembering every single word or action without effort.Perfect recall was the one gift all members of Records shared in their bloodline.In exchange, Records were unable to connect to the rest of their kin with the ease all other Zen families possessed.Guardian descended with the stately grace of a much smaller vessel; alarms were sounded to signal Zen to begin their descent protocols. Everyone had a job. Except Tom. Avoiding the thought to spare John any discomfort, Tom focused all his energy on feeling calm, cool, and collected.Earth was going to be their new home. Earth was a new planet. Earth would need all of Tom's focus for a time as he tried to learn its history to place it alongside the
Chapter 7: DisembarkingJohnZen were forming into orderly groupings when John was told they were all meant to be escorted to registration.Immediately upon exiting their ship.How was he meant to register with Tom if he was to be taken to registration as soon as he disembarked?John was not given the chance to panic due to an issue with his blood brother demanding his attention -"Have you seen my mating unit? They went for our female. She was berthed on the other side of the deck."-followed by concerns as to whether Security should escort each group to registration or not.The Zen had been promised a peaceful welcome so long as they followed the rules set out for them to join the United States. All of their preparations had been done in advance far before the passengers had been woken. There were many reasons to be concerned about adapting to a new planet. Should they be concerned their people had e
Chapter 8: RegistrationTomAll the orderly lines of Zen were divided into separate queues upon entering the registration depot. Tom was able to make out the words above the door using the information he'd gleaned from the human version of Records. They were registering at the County Clerk Office where it seemed many types of registration were available.Queue directors helpfully shuffled the Zen from one path to another in order to try to keep an even number of registrants before each human worker; Scientist Serena was moved to the queue beside Tom and John before either of them had an opportunity to protest. Tom knew he would have tried to insist they remain together.Tom didn't want to admit he knew John would have felt otherwise regarding the Scientist.Surprisingly, the pair in front of them were human."What are we doing for you gentleman today?"Tom listened to the cheerful worker greet the pair
Chapter 9: NewsworthyJohnQuestions continued to be fired at them with the speed of stun bolts and they had the same effect on Tom who was trying -unsuccessfully- to tuck his taller, leaner body behind John. It was instinct alone which had him wrapping an arm around Tom's waist to pull him into his body; Tom responded beautifully as he ducked enough to tuck his face into the crook nestled between John's neck and shoulder.Why did he have to be shorter in this form of all forms?"We are unable to respond without permission of our expedition council."The answer was not entirely truthful as no Zen was forbidden from speaking as they pleased. The human recordkeepers seemed to understand and accept it all the same which was relief enough for John.Feeling Tom trembling against him was rousing his protective instincts."Hey! You guys were right behind us!"John glanced over to see