Hard and Fast

Chapter 7

Setg got up early and let Carly sleep while he prepared for them to leave. When they land at their home planet, he would take her to temple and perform the life partner ceremony and hide her from his Elder father. But first he needed to talk to the healer Bekken and tell him that he would take his help.

Leaving the room he started down the hallway and made his way into the bowels of the ship to where the healer lived. Setg buzzed the intercom and awaited a response.

A voice crackled over the intercom..."yes?" It was Bekken.

Setg hesitated at first, "I will accept your offer of help..."

The door slid open, again the room was completely in the dark. Setg entered and awaited for Bekken to appear. The curtains rustled behind him and he appeared, creaking as he walked to his chair and sat down.

"So what is the plan, when do you want me to take her?" Bekken asked dryly.

"We are going to the temple and I am going to perform the life partner ceremony. I want her... always... I can't imagine her not being in my life... I need her...." Setg wrung his wrists briefly before calming. "There is no one else for me."

Bekken causally raised an eyebrow and then sighed. "After you go to temple, I will take your mate to a...private place where she will carry out the remainder of her pregnancy there and give birth. I must warn you. Oomans are not really designed to give birth to... large sucklings... your ooman has narrow hips, her birth will be...fatal... so I will need to cut her open and remove the baby. This is the only way for them to both survive birth."

Setg gasped...."She will live right?"

"Yes. But she will need to be with me. She can stay here and do it, but you will have to face your father and who knows what he will do."

Setg nodded. "Then it will be done. After the ceremony, she will go with you."

Bekken nodded. "Go prepare then. I will see you later."

Setg left the healer's place and his heart felt so heavy. Was this the right choice? Did he have to fear his father that much? What was his issue? The dreams flashed in his mind and his father appeared killing his beloved. Shaking his head clear, he breathed deeply. It will be ok. Making his way down the hall, the dreams haunted him. As he turned the corner, his father loomed in the hallway, those baleful red eyes of his appeared to target Setg and bore into him. Setg reeled. What was his father doing here? Setg's father Ramses suddenly had the same expression, his mandibles flared in surprise.

Ramses approached Setg, his expression of concern evident on his face. "What are you doing here son?"

Setg gaped for a moment and down cast his eyes in respect for the Elder. Ramses approached him and placed one hand on his shoulder. "Son, why are you here?"

"Im just.... Visiting the healer." It wasn't exactly a lie but it wasn't the truth either. He felt the taste of shame in his throat. He needed to do this for Carly.

Ramses removed his hand from his son's shoulder. "Tell me the whole story. Do not degrade yourself with lies."

Setg glared at his father. "Its none of your pauking interest. I am an adult and this has no concern to you or the clan."

Ramses smacked Setg across the face. "You forget your place. I am your Elder. And its my concern if you are visiting...Bekken......" He hissed..... His mandibles flaring before settling back to the calm front. Setg stung from the slap but it was more of a warning then a threat and looked at his father's now calm expression.... But Setg could see into those red eyes brewing a storm. "You need to stay away from him. I will not allow you to see him anymore. I have also sent your brother away; it will be for the best... he needs to clear his head, the ship can sometimes be a cage...."