Chapter 2: Rules
"Yes?" Guard prompted again, impatience coloring his mental voice enough to have Security straightening their stances throughout the entire center.
"Yes, we have a list of requirements laid out from the native species of this world. Our report comes directly from the exploration team who have been made welcome on the surface. They have sent up the biologic officer to help with the most important demand of us."
Guard waited for the officer to detail the demand only to find the other flushed with no words coming from him mentally or physically. All of the room seemed to be holding its breath. What demand could these humans have made which was so stressful? What could the Zen refuse them if they were being offered safe haven on this world after the loss of their own?"
"They want to control us."
Feet scuffed the deck as officers shifted from foot to foot and the tangy scent of anxiety began to taint the air.
Guard looked at Reader out of habit, eyes falling to the other's mouth to see him biting at his lips in an effort to say less.
Reader had many tells for Guard. All those in Security did everything possible to avoid looking at the keeper of Records. His bloodline was known to record everything they ever witnessed to be passed down to the next of their bloodline for all time.
None of these wanted to be the source of a permanent record for whatever accords had been granted to the humans.
"Speak. Now."
Guard kept a sharp eye on the reaction to hearing his voice in the Security center. It was a female officer who stepped forward to offer her voice next. Her eyes were trained on the door Reader and Guard had entered through. No one wanted to make eye contact with Records.
"We have been given a full accounting of human biology. Negotiations have concluded our people will be welcomed in one of the largest free nations of the world. Called The United States of America, this is a land made up of many free cities who unite under a common capital with a common leader. They have three provisions they request be fulfilled for us to be granted the status of 'New American.' Would you like me to continue?"
"No, by all means, stop speaking now. The three provisions necessary to the acceptance of our people are unimportant."
Guard managed to broadcast the thought only to Reader and was grateful for his own prowess with his mental voice.
Reader cleared his throat before encouraging, "These three provisions are---?"
"Rule 1: Zen will take human form and live as humans while on Earth. Zen have been given full access to human biology as it is known to humanity. Zen will be treated as humans while in human form, afforded all rights of other humans, expected to follow the same governing laws as humans, and be protected as citizens of The United States of America as if they are humans by birthright."
"They don't want us using another form to suppress them," Reader surmised to Guard quietly, "We will not be allowed to use our own nature under this accordance."
Zen were not a static species. Their greatest gift came in their ability to adapt to any terrain or situation courtesy of their body's unique attributes. Even the youngest of Zen was encouraged to try as many forms as they pleased---what would their young be like if they were told to hold themselves hostage in only one shape for the entirety of their lives?
Guard nodded, "Continue, please."
"Rule 2: Zen will take a human name and register with their human government. Identification issued to Zen will grant them all the same rights and privileges of any other human dwelling in The United States of America."
Names were not to important to Zen. They tended to address one another by designation of traits. Guard saw no reason to balk at a request so simple and gestured for her to issue the last requirement of their people.
"Rule 3: Zen will find paid employment or volunteer for unpaid work to help their country. In accordance, Zen will be paid the same as any human employee or given the appropriate respect due any human volunteer. Until Zen are able to be fully self-sustaining, The United States of America will provide supplemental aid to Zen citizens as a show of good faith for honoring the laws of their new country."
Guard waved at the officer to retake her position among Security. She had given him all she knew of the situation.
"Would we be granted the right to use our gifts within the privacy of Zen establishments or dwellings?"
No one answered Reader and the stink of anxiety rose to an unmistakable level.
"We have not been told. Who has been taught the human biology?"
A male Zen stepped forward, stating, "I have been given human biology schema."
Reader extended a hand, palm up, long fingers spread to welcome the touch of the Security officer.
Guard glared at the male, but made no attempt to prevent him from touching Reader.
Their kind transferred biological knowledge through touch. He did not want this strange Zen touching Reader, but it was necessary for one of them to receive the knowledge of this new species. Reader was better at interpreting information than Guard. He would have to tolerate the exchange though it would be Reader who would grant him the knowledge in the privacy of their berth.
None of Security were to be touching Guard.
"Thank you. I understand the information we are to be briefed on is available via any screen on the knowledge nexus?"
Nods of assent met his question and Guard felt better knowing they had the information they would need in a way outside of the large gathering in the center.
"I will go learn. Please attend your duties as you must."
Reader sent a whisper of thought to Guard, "I will be waiting in our berth. Take as long as you need with them here. They are frightened. They need your calm. They need your reassurances. They need you."
"You don't need me?"
"I always need you. I live for you, remember?"
Guard bowed in respect to Reader as the last of Records left Security to return to the privacy of their berth where he would learn all there was to be learned from a screen regarding these 'humans'. If he had any luck at all, Reader would have already found a way to make knowledge simple enough for Guard to understand in one discussion.
Zen had met many species throughout their many sun-circles voyaging into the reaches of the universe. Biology tended to be simpler than many would presume when it was transferred through their natural talent. Guard could not think of any species they had been unable to replicate. Humanity would be no different.
Guard only hoped he and his kind would be able to tolerate the form. His thoughts strayed to Reader processing the new form alone in their berth. Would his heart brother already be in a human form when Guard reached him? What would he look like in this form? Would he still be lean with innate elegance? Would he still be Reader?
Neither of them had ever taken a form inaccessible to the other. Guard felt uncomfortable thinking of Reader in a body he would have to learn from nothing.
Their known bodies often reacted unnaturally to one another. Would Guard be able to control this human form around Reader?
He hoped the answer would be yes because the idea of offending Reader, losing him from his life, was more intolerable than thinking of their world being only so much interstellar dust behind them.
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
Chapter 10: On Hunters and GatherersTomEvery step through the throng of reporters felt harder than the one before it. Tom was painfully aware of how exposed his face was as he felt blinded every time a flash went off in front of him. They were out in a sunny area. Why would these people even need additional lights for their records?Nothing about the questions being posed made sense.Who would benefit from knowing how long he and John had been in a relationship? What use would humans have of their designated employments? Why would any human want to know who had 'proposed' marriage as an option for them?Questions spun around in his head until he felt dizzy, grateful for John's sturdy form keeping him upright until they reached the automobile their new human companions claimed for their own."Do you mind riding in the back? I get carsick in the backseat."'What is 'carsick'?' Tom though
Chapter 24: PactTomHuman bodies were fragile in ways which made Tom nervous, vulnerable to so much more than Zen bodies, yet they were amazing.Tom felt as if he could feel everything John could feel as he held his hardness in his hand. They were made the same in this form. Every time he could squeezed the rigid flesh, John responded a little differently: a sigh, a groan, a buck of his hips or a sharp inhale of breath.Human flesh was responsive and alive."I can feel you. Can you feel me?"John nodded as he moved to kiss Tom's mouth. Their lips were soft against each other in contrast to all the ways their bodies were hard; Tom could have given up breathing if only to kiss John for a few minutes more."I can feel you. I can always feel you."John could, too. He was true Zen in ways Tom wasn't capable of being. His bloodline granted him strong tethers to all the best gifts of
Chapter 23: ReturningJohn"What happened? Did the humans attack? Is he well?"Adam Jones of Communications needed to find his way back to the council. John gave him an inhospitable look as he crouched beside Tom to try to gain his attention.Clark ushered the Communications aide away while John fought to get Tom to focus on him."Tom? We're aboard Guardian. We need to step off the lift. There are others who might need it. You'll be taken back down to the surface if you're still on when it's called."Tom seemed to have retreated to somewhere else inside his mind; John could sense only distress from him when he tried to touch his mind voice.It was the first time John felt helpless in the face of his mate's shortcomings."Tom?"John positioned himself to steady Tom by his arm, supporting his back with his other hand. He attempted to rise from the floor of the lift and was gratified when
Chapter 22: The InterviewTom"You are to come with me."Hearing someone unknown break the silence of the food hall jarred Tom. Startled, he looked up to find a council aide waiting to be acknowledged.He was young though not as young as Scientist Eric. Tom couldn't place him. It was likely he was a lesser son of Communications which would have placed him outside Tom's experience.Communications had limited interactions with Records."Where are we going?" John asked, gathering his utensils as he cleared his space at the table, "I haven't planned our surface visit. We have only decided we'll take my blood brother to represent Security. Has the council had some kind of interaction with the humans?""The humans have been demanding to speak to you since your registration. Our council has done all they can to delay their requests. We've run out of plausible reasons to keep you from making a statement. You e
Chapter 21: PlanningJohn'Come join us. Your family wants to dine with you before we succumb to duty again.'Tom nodded before going to gather a tray of food for himself. John watched his progress through the hall with a focus he couldn't justify.No one was trying to harm them. They were safe among their own people. More than safe even as Zen would fight to protect Tom as the last son of Records. He was a literal treasure for their kind.John made sure to speak quietly as Tom settled beside him at the table, "Carrie, Clark, Charlie, Conrad, and Carter Kent. They're going to help us with our breeding request. We all agree it is of extreme importance we find a way to pass on your biology to preserve Records."If John also wanted to see a child who resembled Tom, who could blame him? Tom was the epitome of perfection to John. Why wouldn't he love to see his lover's child? There was no greater blessing
Chapter 20: BloodlinesTomScience felt too far away as Tom boarded the lift and scanned himself in to his destination. It felt as if he were waiting hours for the lift to begin moving; Tom couldn't sense any other Zen near when the doors closed or opened. Was everyone on task for the benefit of their people? Were they still going through their individual registrations? How long would it take the Zen to be given clearance from the humans to leave their landing site?Questions tumbled over each other in Tom's head as he was locked away from his brethren. He wished he could hear the sounds of his people. If Records were such an asset to the Zen, why were they the least like their kind?No one was in the hall as the lift opened onto Science.Tom waited long enough for the lift doors to begin to make a questioning sound -was he remaining aboard or did he intend to disembark?- before stepping out. He relied on his regular sense of h
Chapter 19: FamilyJohnSecurity was in chaos regarding the guard schedules for the council. None of the council members were particularly young -their sole female member was twice the age of a Zen who could cease their work days- yet all of them seemed fascinated with the human world.John listened to Clark tell him about the logistical nightmares of having four Councillors off-ship at the same time. All of them had gone to separate destinations at differing departure times with different return times; no one had been able to coordinate any parties to join together.He was beginning to get pain in his skull from hearing about it.Clark could keep the reins for the council. John would continue to handle Security details for the rest of their people. Zen were ordinarily much more courteous.Looking over the list of names Clark had given him, John realized how few members of Security had chosen to leave Zon.
Chapter 18: ScienceTomWaking alone gave Tom a shock. His heart skipped several beats in his chest as he tried to find any indication of where John could have gone.They had spent almost no time alone since waking from stasis. There were many duties which fell on John as a dominant member of Security. With his weak mind voice, Tom had no chance of being able to locate him among their brethren by traditional Zen methods.Tom couldn't hear John---but could he feel him?Empathy was a skill for Zen as much as their mind voice. Some had more abilities with it than others; Tom had learned to use his to his advantage from a very young age as he'd inherited the weak mind voice of his bloodline.No one had ever been able to tell Tom why Records were weak with their mind voice yet flawless with their mind skills. One would think they'd be linked. Why could he forget nothing yet he couldn't so much as se
Chapter 17: BrothersJohnWaking felt similar to steering too close to a solar flare: an unbearable brightness coupled with too much for one's eyes and ears to take in. John wasted several minutes only breathing before he could orient himself enough to release the security lashes holding him in his berth.Only a little dexterity was needed to hold Tom in his space inside the berth before re-engaging the lashes to allow him to continue to rest.John wanted to kiss his lover, but the desire was outweighed with a need to let him rest while he could. Who knew if they were going to be able to get any decent sleep in coming days?Their council wanted them to speak for Zen regarding their 'unnatural union.' The human recordkeepers -reporters, John remembered their human friends calling them- showed no problems intruding on the personal space of others to get their questions answered. John would have taken Tom and run if th
Chapter 16:TomSticky remnants of their passion were spread between their bodies; Tom couldn't resist the urge to touch them. The fluid felt hot and viscous to the touch. He had the sudden urge to taste it and brought his fingers up to his lips to kiss the tips."Stop! What are you thinking?"Tom was startled as John pulled his hand away from his face."I wasn't."He hadn't been thinking anything."What?""I wasn't thinking. I wanted to know how we taste. It can't be harmful, can it? It's a natural product of this body. I doubt humans poison themselves when they copulate. Besides. I think it smells of the great waters. I loved being a water creature."John looked at him as if he were someone entirely new. There was a wide wonder to his eyes Tom could not remember seeing before. It made his friend look younger, less hardened by a life among the ranks of Security."We taste of