Zeta made it through her first conscious day on Anlo's world. She steps out of Anlo's bathroom in her nightgown and all of Anlo's brothers are standing there grinning at her.
"They wish to say good-night to you," Anlo informs Zeta.
"Is this typical when you have a guest," ask Zeta.
"No," answers Anlo, "it is not. They are all trying to impress you and win your favor."
"Win my favor," questions Zeta. "You mean they're hoping I'll start to like them enough to have sex with them."
"Yes," confirms Anlo.
"Don't they understand that I'm with you," ask Zeta.
"Zeta," Anlo reminds her, "you are on a world with a shortage of females where brothers share a mate. For them, if you are with me, you should also be with them. They are desperate for you... Just let them say good-night to you. They made me teach them how to say it. Start with Bayden, the oldest always gets to go first."
"Oh, alright," Zeta steps up in front of Bayden.
"Good-nighht, Zeta," then Bayden takes her hands and kisses her knuckles.
"Good-nigh, Zeta," Rayee and Rayou say together. Then they both lean over and kiss her cheeks.
"Good-niight, Zeta," says Zarek, and he leans over and kisses her cheek.
Sextus says, "Goood-nigh, Zeta," next. But he leans over and kisses her neck.
Septimus looks as if waiting for his turn has him ready to wriggle out of his skin. He did some extra research. He takes Zeta's hand and says, "I happy you here...You very pretty... Good-night, sleep well, Zeta." And he's just fast enough to press his lips to Zeta's.
Zeta says, "
"
Zeta turns to say something to Anlo and gets goosed by one of his brothers on their way out. Zeta waits for all of them to actually exit Anlo's quarters.
"Did you see which one grabbed my bottom," ask Zeta.
"Does it really matter which one it was," ask Anlo.
"I guess not," answers Zeta.
"That was the first time, but it will not be the last," says Anlo messaging her shoulders. "Try not to be angry with them when it happens again, because it will happen from time to time. Please, try to be understanding. They are desperate."
Back home on Earth, Zeta and her short curvy body had never gotten much attention from men. She had been a virgin on her wedding night, something that had surprised and pleased Bryan. Plus, she was eager to please him. Bryan had told her once that the problem wasn't her, it was men. He told her that she was so beautiful, men were afraid to approach her. That they were sure she must already have a serious boyfriend, or were afraid of being shot down so they didn't even try to approach her. He also told her that some men, no matter what their faults and flaws, felt like they deserved a super model on their arm.
So, knowing how most men think, when Bryan went out with his buddies, he always went up and started a conversation with the most beautiful woman in the room. She would often be dancing with a group of her girlfriends, rarely would a man have the courage to ask her to dance. Sometimes she would be sitting alone at a table or the bar by herself, sipping her drink while her friends were dancing with men that had asked them to dance.
Bryan's method worked well. He often quickly found himself a regular girlfriend or two to date while he was stationed where ever. But the first time he saw Zeta smile at him, Bryan had known he'd hit the jackpot. He was instantly head over heels in love with her. And she was quite simply the most intelligent person he had ever met. She didn't drink alcoholic beverages. She would either order a virgin version of a drink or a tall glass of ice water with a lemon or lime wedge. It gave her the appearance of drinking socially. His own drinking instantly grounded to a stop. He suddenly didn't need it anymore to have fun. Time with her was enjoyable and relaxing. He had never seen live chickens or goats before, and Zeta taught him how to milk a goat.
He had a three day leave coming up. They had only know each other three months so Zeta had expected him to go spend it with his family. She had been quite surprised by his request to come to Vegas with him and get married.
Now, she is suddenly on another world with a man she has come to love just as quickly as her husband. Bryan hadn't been the jealous and insecure type, but could be a little possessive from time to time. Which makes her worry about being here with seven men that seemed to want her when she only wants one of them. It seems to possibly be a very volatile situation.
"Anlo," Zeta ask," doesn't it bother you that your brothers are being so bold with me? I know if it was the other way around, I would be having trouble. I would probably be trying to rip my sisters' hair out by the roots."
Anlo explains, "Contention is bad for a family. Selfishness is bad for a family. We must be able to work together to oversee this land and the herds. Otherwise the land would suffer and so would we.
Part of me wants to be selfish with you, have you all to myself. Except I would not be a good elder brother to give in to my selfishness. I know how they suffer. I know how desperate they are physically and emotionally. And the more their suffering grows, the bolder and stupider their actions will become. It is your choice, Zeta. Just please, try to remember that they are suffering. But right now, I need you to relieve my suffering."
In her conversation with her children the next day, Zeta learns that her children had seen their grandfather come out of the motel room carrying her unconscious body. They had run to her scared. Afraid that she had died like Daddy. But their grandparents told them she had fainted and their grandfather was taking her to a doctor. When he came back without her hours later, they told them that she was spending the night with the doctor. Then their grandparents started telling them that Zeta was overwhelmed by being a single mother, that she could no longer deal with the stress of raising two children alone and had run away and left them.
Gabe tells her, "I knew Grandpa was fibbing, Mom. But I'm just a kid, I didn't know what to do."
Her poor babies. Both of them knew their grandparents were lying to them and had been helpless to help her. The police had asked to speak with her children to see if they possibly remembered anything that would aide their search for Zeta, but her in-laws wouldn't allow it. Her children had finally felt empowered when her in-laws were arrested the previous night and they finally got to tell the police how Grandpa had put her, their unconscious mother, in the back of a rent-a-car and drove away with her.
Three months slips by quickly. Zeta is very much looking forward to her call home to her children. It's Jasmine's fifth birthday. Zeta had never imagined that the most she would be able to do for one of her children on their birthday was call them. She usually bakes a homemade chocolate cake. She has learned a lot about what it takes to oversee the land Anlo's family lives on. And she's starting to speak Anlo's language. Jonina and Septimus have learned a lot of English too.
Most days Zeta wonders how she manages to walk straight. Anlo is insatiable. He makes love with her at least twice sometimes three times in the morning before breakfast. She could find herself making love with him again at almost any time during the day almost anywhere, then at least twice more after they retire for the evening to his quarters. And sometimes he wakes her in the middle of the night to ravish her too. And all of his brothers have made it obvious that they want her attention. She's starting to get used to being manhandle and occasionally slobbered on, on the daily basis.
Normally, when Zeta calls home, only Anlo is with her. But today, the whole family is in the communication room with her. Jasmine and Gabe both shout, "Hi, Mommy, we love you."
"I love you too. I love you both so much." Then Zeta counts to three, "
At the end of the song, Jasmine says, "They learned to sing Happy Birthday for me. That's so nice. Thank you. Thank you so much."
"We were all very happy to learn the song for you," says Anlo.
"I see quite a few neighbors behind you," Zeta observes. "Mary, did you plan a big party for Jasmine? I don't want you spoiling my children while I'm away."
"Everybody misses you," Mary tells Zeta. "It's more people than fancy. They just wanted to help make sure Jasmine has a happy birthday."
"Thank you all very much," Zeta says to her neighbors. "I really do appreciate you being there for my family while I can't."
"Don't you worry about a thing, Zeta," calls a neighbor, "We got your back here. You just take care of yourself there."
"Zeta, you look a bit peaked, honey," says an elderly neighbor. "Are you feeling unwell?"
"You do look a little sick, Mom," observes Gabe.
"Anlo, you better be taking care of my sister," Mary says worried.
"She has not complained of feeling unwell," Anlo tells Mary.
"Anlo, had me inoculated my first week here," shares Zeta. "But I was still bound to catch a bug and get sick sooner or later. I'm sure it's not serious. I've just been kind of sick to my stomach for a few days and we just had breakfast so my stomach is trying to rebel."
Then Zeta starts to tear up and sniff, "I'm sorry. I don't want to cry. I just wish I was there to bake your cake."
"It's OK, Mommy," says Jasmine. "Mrs. Wilson baked a cake for me."
"Oh, that's wonderful," says Zeta smiling. "Thank you, Mrs. Wilson. A cake from you is much better than a cake from me or even a store. Yours look good and taste good."
"Mommy, your cakes always taste good," says Jasmine, "very good."
"But I stink at the decorating part," says Zeta with a sad smile. "They're always funny looking."
"That's okay, Mommy," insist Jasmine. "Your cakes are the best because I love you."
That basically undoes Zeta.
"Anlo," calls Gabe, "have Mommy take a nap. When people are sick, they need plenty of rest and juice. Do you have juice there?"
"I can make juice for her," answers Anlo. "And I think you are right, she should get some extra rest. We will call again soon."
"We love you, Mommy. Bye-bye."
"Bye, babies. I love you too. Be good for your Aunt Mary."
"We will," Jasmine and Gabe call together.
The screen goes black and Zeta can't stem the tide of tears. Anlo pulls her onto his lap and holds her. Large hands reach out and smooth over her hair and rub her back comfortingly.
After a few minutes, Zeta straightens up and wipes her face. "I'm fine. I'm alright."
"But you have not been feeling well," says Anlo concerned, "and you did not tell me you have been feeling poorly."
"I'm probably just having a bad cycle," says Zeta. "Every once in a while I have a bad cycle where my hormones swing a little more out of whack than usual and I feel ill for a few days before my cycle actually starts." At least she thinks it's about time for her next cycle. She's had two cycles since she's been here on Anlo's world. But she usually kept track of her cycle using the calendar on her phone. Except she doesn't have her phone and doesn't know what happened to it. She wouldn't mind being a Nokotoan female. They only have a cycle twice a year. And the usual birth controls most earth women use that stop the menstrual cycle, weren't available here and didn't agree with her anyway. She has always had to put up with her monthly cycle.
Zeta didn't know it, but all the women that agreed to come here were dealing with their monthly cycles. All had agreed to stop their birth control before they left Earth and had. A couple had even endured reverse tubaligation surgery to be eligible to come. The few males that had been allowed to come had to have a healthy sperm count with healthy mobile sperm. And the officials of Earth had used the Nokotoan need as an opportunity to rid Earth of a few high maintenance people like Zeta's new friend Lizzy who would require years of therapy to rehabilitate from the years of abuse she had suffered at the hands of her ex-husband.
"Maybe Ika should scan you," suggest Anlo.
"I'm sure it's nothing," insist Zeta, "and I'll be fine in a couple of days. I don't want anyone worrying or fussing over me."
Anlo's not happy, but he tells her, "Go lie down. I will bring you some juice. If you start to feel worse, please inform me immediately."
"I will," agrees Zeta slipping off his lap. Rayee gooses her as she walks past. She barely gives him an irritated glance.
"
"
Anlo tells his mother, "
It'll take a few minutes for Anlo to make the juice. So Septimus decides he'll look in on Zeta.
As Septimus slips into Anlo's quarters he calls, "Zeta." But Zeta doesn't answer and he doesn't see her. He expected her to be lying down on Anlo's bed. Then he hears a noise coming from the bathroom and finds Zeta kneeling over the toilet retching into it. She's vomiting.
"Zeta," Septimus very concerned, "how may I help?" He wants to get Anlo, but he doesn't want to leave Zeta.
Zeta tries to catch her breath, "just... hold my hair.'
Septimus does as she request. He is relieved when he hears Anlo come into his quarters and call, "Zeta?"
"Anlo, here," calls Septimus urgently.
Anlo sets the juice on the table and rushes into the bathroom just as Zeta is heaving a good load into the toilet. "Zeta," he says kneeling by her. "
Septimus runs to get their mother.
Zeta's stomach seems to settle down. She catches her breath and slowly stands up.
"Are you alright," ask Anlo.
Zeta nods as she steps over to the sink, "I think so." She brushes her teeth. Then just stands there leaning on the sink for a minute.
Anlo picks her up and carries her to the bed. As he's laying her down, Septimus rushes in with their mother.
When Jonina reaches the bed, she begins to scan Zeta, "How do you feel?"
"A little better, actually," answers Zeta, "and tired."
Jonina tilts her head at the readings of the scan and tells Zeta, "Rest."
Zeta's too exhausted to argue and closes her eyes.
"
Jonina answers, ""
Jonina sits on the bed by Zeta and runs her hand over Zeta's head as Anlo rushes to contact his associate Kamaki.
"
Jonina answers, ""
Anlo is pacing as he waits for Kamaki to appear on the transport pad. When he appears, Anlo rushes to greet him.
"
Anlo tells Septimus, "
"" Septimus careful not to wake Zeta as he slips off the bed.
Jonina shows the scan she took of Zeta to Kamaki. Kamaki's eyebrows rise as he says, "
Anlo ask Kamaki, "
"
Anlo ask,"
Kamaki is smiling as he answers, ""
"
" And now we know we can reproduce with them naturally without the aid of fertility doctors. The volunteer females are still settling in with their new families and haven't begun mating yet. Their mates will be glad to know that they can reproduce together. As for the males from Earth, they will most likely be able to impregnate our females as well. There has been no manipulation of their DNA to alter their sperm, making female offspring just as likely as males. We have many families that are desperate for a female child. We can start scheduling the human males for stud services, encourage those families to have their females mate with them. Again I say congratulations, Anlo. You and your brothers are going to be fathers.>" " Kamaki looks at Anlo and ask, " Anlo answers and explains, " " Anlo tells Kamaki, "" "" Kamaki tells Anlo. Jonina tells Anlo, "" Septimus waits for their mother to step outside, then he asks Anlo, " " Septimus tells Anlo, " "" Anlo assures Septimus. Septimus leaves Anlo's quarters. Anlo watches Zeta sleep. She wakes up about an hour later. Anlo ask, "How are you feeling?" "Much better, thank you," Zeta standing and stretching. "I put your juice in the cooler. Would you like to try to drink it," ask Anlo' "Yeah, I think I can keep it down," Zeta going to the table and sitting down. Anlo steps over to the small refrigerated unit where he keeps snacks and cold drinks, gets Zeta's juice and takes it to her. "You said you hadn't felt well for a few days," reminds Anlo. "Have you vomited any of those days also?" Zeta sips the juice and shakes her head, "No, this was the first time I threw-up. Before I was just feeling nauseous for most of the day. Ika scanned me, right? Have I contracted some type of stomach virus, bacteria or did I just eat something bad?" "Bring your juice here and let me hold you," request Anlo. Zeta slides her juice over and slips onto his lap, "Am I dying or something?" Anlo smiles, "Or something." He kisses her slowly. "What can you tell me about morning sickness?" "Morning sickness," repeats Zeta finding the question odd. "Are you sure you've chosen the right words for your question?" Anlo thinks for a moment and nods, "Yes, those are the right words." "I don't know what pregnancy is like for women here," says Zeta, "but for women on my planet it is often accompanied by morning sickness which can be just a little mild nausea or light headedness to extreme nausea and vomiting. Each pregnancy is different." "What were your pregnancies with Gabe and Jasmine like," inquires Anlo. Zeta shrugs, "Fairly normal, no complications... I didn't get morning sickness right away, not until I was about four months along with each of them. With Gabe I threw-up a lot for a little over a month. I kept expecting to see my shoes appear in the toilet. With Jasmine I only had about a month of mild nausea. Why do you want to know?" Anlo kisses her again very slowly. "You make me very happy, Zeta. I love you very much." "Are you sure I'm not dying?" Anlo laughs, "Very sure. You have not contracted any type of ailment. You are pregnant." Zeta laughs in disbelief for a few moments. She finally says, "Your mother must be mistaken, I'm not a Koto female and you're not a human male. We're not the same species." Anlo shrugs, "Different planets, different solar systems, different evolutionary paths to being self-aware sentient beings, but in many ways more alike than different." "You have two sex chambered hearts," states Zeta unhappily. "I only have one four chamber heart." Anlo is confused by her upset. "For me this is happy news... You have said you love me. Do you not love me enough to want a child with me?" "Oh, Anlo, that's not it," Zeta having trouble wrapping her mind around it. "It's got to be a mistake." "Ika had me send for Kamaki. He scanned you himself while you were sleeping. He confirmed that you are pregnant." Zeta starts to cry. "I can't be very far along. I haven't been here that long. Do you know how far along I am." "Kamaki said you were only a few weeks pregnant," answers Anlo. "And I'm this sick already," says Zeta shocked, "I don't think I've even missed a period. And if I'm this sick already, what's the rest of the pregnancy going to be like?" Anlo didn't have an answer for her. His mother's pregnancies had been extremely happy times for the family. He doesn't recall his mother having morning sickness or complaints of any kind, and he remembers her last three pregnancies very well. After Septimus was born, his parents decided to stop trying for a girl. It was going to be next to impossible to find a mate for seven brothers. "Are you hungry," ask Anlo. "Do you think you can keep some food down now? Kamaki said you would need extra rest and nutrition." Zeta nods, "I think I can keep something down." He grabs a piece of fruit from the cooler, "You can snack on this for now. But we will go over to the kitchen in the main house and I'll make you something." As they step into the main house, they are greeted by the sound of men's angry voices yelling loudly. Zeta hasn't learned enough of their language to follow what's being said. She has only mastered some of the basics that allow her to be polite like yes and no, please and thank you, sorry and you're welcome. But she catches her name and the word unfair. When she and Anlo come into view, every one falls silent. Anlo tells his family as they pass through, " "" Jonina volunteers. In the kitchen Jonina ask Zeta, "Feeling better?" Zeta responds with a shrug. Jonina ask Anlo, " " Jonina turns to Zeta, "Happy news, yes?" Zeta's too scared, confused and guilt ridden to be happy about it. So, she shrugs again. Jonina turns back to Anlo, " " Jonina ask him, " "" he tells his mother. Jonina responds, " " "Zeta," Anlo says softly, "please sit down, try to relax." Zeta sits down at the counter. She feels numb. Her quietness a reflection of the numbness she's feeling. Anlo sits a plate of food in front of her. She eats quietly staring off into nothing. She eats most of the food on her plate which pleases Anlo. "Feeling any better," Anlo ask Zeta. "Fine," answers Zeta flatly, "just peachy." "Is there anything else I can do for you," ask Anlo. Zeta shakes her head. "I'm just going to keep myself busy with chores." "I will come with you," offers Anlo not wanting to leave her alone. "No," Zeta tells him, "I need to be alone." Anlo gives her a slow nod, "Okay." Then he watches her leave the kitchen. Zeta busies herself cleaning the guan coop. Guan are a type of lizard. And the people here use them the same way chickens are used on earth, for their eggs and meat. They're larger than chickens and they lay eggs larger than a chicken egg. But caring for them is basically the same as caring for her chickens back home and Zeta finds comfort in the familiar activity. "Zeta," says Bayden stepping up to her and touching her hair. Zeta slaps his hand away, " Yet Bayden isn't deterred by the slight sting created by her tiny hand nor the serious tone of her voice. He pulls her back against him, slides a hand over one of her breasts, and kisses her neck. It's the most bold he's ever gotten with her. He whispers, " Zeta's response is to stomp on his toes, grab a sturdy stick and begin whacking him with it repeatedly as she shouts, "" Bayden trips and falls trying to get away from her. He gets a brief reprieve when Krag stops a couple of meters away. The animal has never seen such a spectacle and has no idea it's in any danger until Zeta charges it screaming like a mad woman whacking it one good. Sending it running and screaming. Anlo grabs Zeta off her feet, pulls the stick from her hand and tosses it away. "Zeta... Zeta... Calm down... Calm down..." Zeta goes limp and starts to cry again. "It is alright," says Anlo soothingly. "It is alright." "No it's not," sobs Zeta frustrated and angry. "It's not alright. My baby turned five years old and I wasn't there. I couldn't even bake her one of my lopsided birthday cakes. I can't even hug and kiss the two children I already have. In a couple months, Gabe will turn seven and I'm not going to be there. As a parent, you worry constantly. Did they get enough to eat? Are you reading them the right stories? Am I spoiling them? And now you tell me I'm pregnant. How is that fair to Gabe and Jasmine? I'm here screwing my brains out with you getting myself knocked up. What kind of mother am I?" Anlo tells her sincerely, "You are a good mother, much better than you give yourself credit for. Only a good mother would question herself the way you do. You judge yourself too harshly." Anlo carries her back to his quarters and lays her on his bed, "Try to relax please." He steps outside to let Zeta be alone for a few minutes and take a deep breath himself. Bayden stomps up to Anlo, " " Bayden is annoyed by the laughter of their brothers as he asks, " " Rayee asks tauntingly, " " Rayou informs Anlo, "" " Rayou describes what he saw for Anlo, " Anlo responds, " As for you, Bayden, you should have listened to her and respected her request not to be touched... I do not believe any of you are ready for a mate. I have asked her to be patient and understanding with all of you and she has been trying. But where is your patience and understanding for her. All you think about is getting your own needs met, easing your own suffering, getting what you want from her. You have no regard for how she is suffering. You all know she missed her daughter's birthday today. But have you really thought about how she is tortured by not being there. And I know you are all upset that she is pregnant and there is no doubt I am the father. Except she's not happy about it either, she did not think it was possible. So stop being so selfish and give her the time and space she needs to adapt to everything that is coming at her. You could at least try to learn a little of her language like Mother and Septimus. She really appreciates that they have done that for her. Stop trying to just mate with her and take a little time to get to know her. She is a person with deep thoughts and feelings. And you need to keep at the front of your minds that she did not volunteer to be here.>" Rayee snorts, " "After I took the time to get to know her,>" responds Anlo. "" The next week that goes by is tense. Meals are unusually quiet when Zeta attends them. She's obviously still angry with Bayden. Anlo brings most of her meals to their quarters and eats with her there. But she really doesn't leave their quarters much over the next week. Kamaki arrives to check on Zeta's progress, and he has company with him, the Elders' Council. Anlo and his mother, lead them into Anlo's quarters where Zeta is sitting by herself staring at nothing. "Zeta," Kamaki says cheerfully, "How are you feeling?" Zeta barely glances at Kamaki and the Elders. " "" Anlo's mother Jonina answers. Kamaki speculates, " "" says the most senior female Elder, the Eldest Elder. Anlo adds, " " Kamaki answers matter of factly, " " Anlo shrugs as Kamaki answers, "" " Kamaki sets up his equipment. He brought along some extra equipment today. He tells Zeta, "Zeta, I know you are not feeling well. The Elders here were very excited to learn that you are pregnant. It is the first of what we hope will be many. We do not have a complete medical history on you like the volunteers and because this is the first pregnancy between your people and ours, it has been decided that it should be monitored closely. I will be coming once every seven days to check the progress of your pregnancy. The Elders Council has accompanied me for this exam." "Elders Council," Zeta says with a scoff. "You mean the people that won't let Anlo take me home to my children." "Surely, Anlo explained...," starts Kamaki. "Of course Anlo explained," says Zeta angrily. "Don't treat me like a child. I don't care what the reasons are. That day you scanned me seven days ago was my daughter's fifth birthday. How many more will I have to miss? Perhaps seven or eight of them if they don't complete the gate on schedule. And they don't care, my children's father is dead. My children don't have their father and now they don't have me either. For all intents and purposes, I might as well be dead too." "Zeta," Anlo taking her small hands, "do not talk this way." "They don't care," says Zeta angrily. "They have their children. They see them every day. Every day they get to touch them, hold them, hug them, kiss them, smell them. Why didn't the Generals just kill me? It would be better to be dead than to suffer like this." Tears run over from Anlo's eyes. He kisses her small hands and presses his face into them. "Do not say such things. I did not tell you because I did not want to upset you. The oxygen saturation was not calibrated properly. I think your father-in-law meant for you to parish in the stasis unit. But I am glad you live. My hearts would never recover if something happened to you. I would not want to go on without you." Zeta hugs Anlo tightly realizing she's not as alone as she feels and he is suffering with her, "I'm sorry, Anlo. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I don't want to hurt you." Kamaki feels deeply for both of them. He cannot imagine the depth of their sorrow. But he has a job to perform and the Elders are waiting expectantly. "Zeta, would you please lay here on the bed so I may scan you?" Zeta nods as she wipes tears from her face. She steps over to the bed and lays down. A male Elder suggests, " " The Eldest Elder puts a hand on Jonina's shoulder, " "Look, Zeta," says Kamaki pointing to a laptop size screen he brought with him. "Here is your baby. Of course, it is magnified. It is not anywhere near this size yet, and it is too early to tell if it is male or female. But it seems strong and healthy." Zeta squeezes Anlo's hand. More tears squeeze from her eyes, but she smiles too. "Anlo, that's our baby." Anlo kisses her hand relieved to see her smiling, "Yes, that is our baby... I hope you are happy, Zeta. I want you to be happy. I want you to be happy we are having a baby." "It's so hard to let myself be happy. I miss Gabe and Jasmine so much." Zeta admits, "But I'm happy I'm pregnant by you. I really am. But it's tainted. I feel guilty, like I'm somehow betraying Gabe and Jasmine." "During your next call, tell them," suggest Anlo. Zeta shakes her head, "No, not yet. I can't yet." "" says the Eldest Elder and everyone, including Anlo, exits his quarters. "Hello, Zeta. I am Elder Coo. I am the most senior member of the Elders' Council. I guess you could say I am like your president. I am two hundred three years old." Zeta stares at the imposing woman. It's obvious Nokotoans don't age the same way humans do. The woman does have some barely noticeable crow's feet and laugh lines, but she doesn't appear elderly in any way that Zeta is familiar with. She notes the pink streaks in the woman's auburn hair and wonders if they are signs of her age. "Kamaki thinks you are suffering from an ailment he called home sick," says Elder Coo. Zeta nods, "I have never been so home sick before in my life." "I am very sorry for your suffering," says Elder Coo sincerely. "I cannot even begin to truly comprehend what you are going through on top of the culture shock you are experiencing. But there are many advantages to being a woman on this world. The hand full of males you saw that are on the Elders' Council have no real power and are mostly for show. They come in handy for dealing with planets that are totally male dominated. While being a woman here can be stressful sometimes because men are so needy, needy sexually and emotionally, women here are not taken for granted, and seldom ever abused or neglected. We have become too rare and precious. The typical male here will make a total fool of himself for a woman. Women are the heads of households and make all major decisions. Since the decisions of men created our predicament, we don't let them make any significant decisions. Jonina's three mates would never dream of making any significant decisions for their household without Jonina." Zeta shakes her head, "But when we go to the market, I see women trading sex for items they want or need." Elder Coo nods as she sits next to Zeta. "All the female volunteers seem to find this disturbing. The male volunteers have a very different reaction. They cheer. To the woman doing the trading, the man accepting a few moments of pleasure is foolish. She got what she wanted or needed and technically gave nothing for it. Even I and Jonina have done such trading to stretch our families' resources." "You mean before you were married, while you were on your own," ask Zeta. "We do not marry the way you do, but I understand your question. Women here are never on their own anymore. We live with our parents until we go to live with our mates and their parents. But the state of whether or not we have mates has nothing to do with it. For a woman with mates trading sex is not seen as unfaithful, only frugal." "But what if she gets pregnant," ask Zeta. Elder Coo shrugs, "That may be the mating that blesses her family with a baby girl. On a world where brothers have to share a mate, we do not worry about who fathered which child. It would cause contention." Zeta nods, "Anlo explained that to me." "Good," comments Elder Coo. "Now we need to discuss how your pregnancy changes your status here. You have technically become Anlo's mate for all intents and purposes here, which also makes you the mate of his six brothers. It is causing contention among them, affecting their ability to oversee this land. House Voltrand has been the caretakers of this land for many generations. But if they cannot oversee it properly, they will lose their home here and be reassigned to something with less responsibility and less honor. Anlo's brothers believe he is being selfish with you when all he is doing is honoring your wishes like a good mate should." "Are you trying to tell me I have to start having sex with all of them," ask Zeta. "No one is going to make you do anything you don't want to do, Zeta," states Elder Coo. "I know you love Anlo and care for his family, even his brothers with their immaturity. Jonina and his fathers adore you. So how will you feel if they lose their home due to contention over you for such a little thing?" "It doesn't feel little to me," states Zeta. "To me, it's a very big deal." "I know it is," says Elder Coo sympathetically. "Plus, there are seven of them and only one of me," states Zeta. "How is that supposed to work?" "Usually, mates stop trying for a daughter after three or four tries," says Elder Coo, "But Jonina wanted a daughter desperately. It has been a very long time since a family has produced so many children. So none of us has any advice on how to divide your attention between them. I only have two mates and I alternate spending a night with each one. Other women with two mates sleep between them both every night. We just ask that you try to be a proper mate for them; even though, we know you are not here by choice. Yet you are here, and we do not have another family that knows this land as they do, that could oversee it with their competence. We do not wish to remove them from this land. Now, I have a bit of a proposition for you." "What," ask Zeta warily. "We have been in contact with your world for nearly as long as I have been alive. Much of that time was spent learning each other's languages. And the conditions required for folding didn't allow us to visit until recently and of course they had to return before the conditions were gone again. But there is still so much we don't understand about your cultures. We know your laws and had our team of ambassadors visiting your world study them before they left so they did not accidentally break a law. So we know it is legal for men and women to trade sex for money on your world, and it surprised us that all the women that volunteered to come here were all shocked and offended by our trading sex when such a thing is legal on your own world." "Legal and considered morally correct are often very different on my world," explains Zeta. "And sex out in public simply is not done." "You see," says Elder Coo, "we need someone to make us aware of such things. That is why I would like you to become an advisor to the Elders' Council. You would accompany Jonina every eight days to our meeting, answer questions, ask questions and give advice on things related to your world and the volunteers that have relocated here from your world." It doesn't sound too complicated and like she could be useful, so Zeta agrees, "Okay, I'll do whatever I can to be of assistance." "Good," Elder Coo smiling brightly. "Now, Jonina is very worried. She said you have hardly come out of here for several days. Why don't you come outside and get some fresh air?" "Okay," says Zeta standing up from the edge of the bed. And she walks outside with Elder Coo.