"We do something wrong?" Oliver asked as he caught the look in Jason and Nathan's faces.
Nathan looked at his boyfriend helplessly. Jason shrugged before carefully choosing his words, "Well, no. Not really. We just need to talk."
Commander Susan Bateman looked sadly at the brother and sister, before looking over at her captain and Dafydd. They both moved over to her. She said softly, "I have the video discs, but... I can't give it to your children, sir."
Dafydd tilted his head slightly as he said, "Why not?"
Susan blinked at him, then looked pleadingly at Sulu. Sulu whispered briefly into Dafydd's ear.
"Ah," he said with understanding. "Commander, these children have seen and experienced worse, some directly, some indirectly. My sons can handle it. In fact, they will need the information in order to help Oliver and Jessica."
The little boy and younger girl looked up at that, then blushed and became shame-faced. "We're dirty. We'll go now. Sorry," mumbled Oliver. Jessica began to cry.
"No," Jason said, as he stopped them getting up to leave. He pulled them into a joint hug. "We don't think you're dirty, no matter what happened. Come on, we'll help you. We promise."
"But..." Oliver sobbed out as he started to break down into tears as well, "...we've done stuff that's dirty, and we're bad, and..."
Nathan joined his beloved and made it a four way hug, "We don't care what happened, and we don't sense anything other than that you are two wonderful kids. Listen to Jace, guys, and come with us, okay?"
"'Kay..." Jessica forced out through her tears. She climbed into Nathan's arms as he stood straighter, and Oliver did the same with Jason.
The Commander handed a bag to Antony and said, "Make sure only those who need to see these do so."
"Thanks, Commander; we'll make sure," Antony replied as the group started to move off. Telez and Korris guided Donna between them, and together they followed behind the others.
"Spock is about to take them to the Ambassador's place," Dafydd said as they left, "and I'm sure he'll assist them. Hikaru, are you joining the briefing that Sarek is giving me and my command staff?"
"Yes, Daf. Kirk, too, I believe."
Dafydd smiled as he turned to leave. "Good. Come on, let's see what the Vulcan High Command has me doing, shall we?"
In the Secure Briefing Room within Starfleet HQ, Ambassador Sarek sat at the head of the table and watched the Command Staffs from the USS Hood, Enterprise and Excelsior file in and find places. The conversation that had been audible outside in the hallway was muted as the collected crews sat down. Sarek rose to his feet to address them.
"Thank you for coming. Needless to say, what I am about to reveal is under the highest classification possible; 'Yon'kur Wuh'. The only people outside this room that may hear what information I will give are those who are also under the same Code covering the USS Hood; chiefly the children of Dafydd Evans and their sworn brethren, as well as my son, Captain Spock, who is absent from this meeting."
He looked around the room checking for any dissent. He found none. Looking at Dafydd, Sarek added, "There may be an item or two of the following information that I would request you not tell the children, but that will be at your discretion. It may be information too difficult for them to deal with. However, you know your children better than I, Captain."
"I will take what you say under recommendation," Dafydd nodded.
Sarek moved back and sat down. "This will take some time, so I will field questions as the briefing progresses. If you need something explained, do not hesitate to ask: especially those from the USS Hood. Understanding is critical in this endeavour, for the fate of the Federation may hang on the outcome of this mission."
A brief and troubled murmur ran through the assembled Starfleet officers.
'What first, Jace? Ollie and Jess, or what Pop wants to talk about?' Nathan asked silently as the group of children followed Spock through the front door.
'Pop says that he'll help us with this, but that we really need to hear what he has to say first. Vic is keeping both of the kids calm, so they should get through this nicely,' was Jason's response.
Nathan half nodded, 'And if this is a 'Clan Meeting,' then they'll see that they're not alone. I like it.'
Harry was last in and closed the door behind them. "This is a lovely home, Captain," he said, looking around.
"My father will be glad you think so, Henry. He hopes that you, like your new brothers, will visit here often," Spock replied as he led them all into the front lounge area and sat down with Riti cuddled on his lap. "You do not have to use my title, however. You may call me Spock, if you wish; or even some variation of 'father', if it makes you more comfortable. You are Jason's brother."
"Thank you, Pop," Harry smiled.
"Jason," Spock turned to the boy, "you may start the meeting, and Antony can update the others who were not present for the first. Then I have some items that need to be addressed."
"Sure thing, Pop!" Jason smiled, Oliver cuddled into his own lap as firmly as Riti seemed to be on Spock's. "Guys?" he said, addressing Matthew, Tristan and the two androids, "We never got a chance to tell you about our secret 'Clan' before now, so Antony will first give us the Clan's History, then you can tell us your stories, if you want. Know that what you say in the Meetings is what is on public access to others in the Clan. The stuff you want to keep private won't be shared to others, unless you do so yourself. Also, don't think you have to tell us everything anyway, not even to Antony privately for the full records. Only as much as you are comfortable with should you say. Deal?"
The newer boys nodded their understanding, but all four looked nervous.
"S'cus me, but what about me, Ollie and Jess? What's happening with us?" Donna asked, her eyes darting around.
Nathan answered, "Well, right now, you're part of us; our 'Clan'. As to who you'll be staying with? That's up to you. You guys don't have to tell us anything right now, though. We'll have another meeting to 'swear' you guys in later."
"Okay," she nodded, and cuddled back in between Antony and Telez.
Antony smiled nervously as he moved to stand, but Donna's whimper made him sit back quickly. "I'll sit for this," he half giggled, pulling Donna into his side tighter as her whimpers halted. "If anyone needs me to explain something, just stop me, okay?"
They all nodded, and so he began.
"Vulcan is older than most of you know," Sarek said as he started his meeting. "You are aware that seventeen centuries ago our world was gripped by internal war, and that a group separated themselves from us to leave for space. They did not agree with the new wave of Logic over Emotion that swept Vulcan in the wake of Surak's death. You now know that group as Romulans."
Most there nodded, and only one or two looked surprised at the revelation of the origins of the Romulans.
"From that incident," he continued, "you can deduce that we had Warp capabilities at that time, and if you took the course in the Academy, you will know that we had Warp drive long before that. What is not told to many, not even those on the General Senate of the Federation, is that we Vulcans have been space faring for far, far longer; at least 65 thousand years. The High Council of the Federation is aware of this, as are key members of the planetary governments of the Founding worlds. Our open Public records show, to any that look, that we have been Warp capable for more than two and a half thousand years, only, however."
Kirk raised an eyebrow at that, but said nothing. Nor did Dafydd, who was equally as surprised.
Sarek continued, "That is not all. Our Race had been in space before then, but those records are lost, even to us. What we do know, and have found, is that we had a fairly advanced civilization five hundred thousand years ago. There is a ruined city near to my home on Vulcan that was uncovered two hundred years ago, and it contains engravings and writings that show a technological level we are only now getting back to. There is even a detailed star chart engraved on one wall, showing this entire galaxy. That chart has four main focuses amidst the many referrences. Vulcan, a world very near us, another world on the far side of the galaxy, and a certain point on what is now the border of the Federation."
"Wait, wait," Graham said, his face showing a large amount of confusion and disbelief. "You are saying that you have been Warp capable for more than half a million years??"
"Correct, Doctor Fisher," Sarek nodded. Graham now looked simply stunned. "But, as I mentioned, our detailed records go back only 65 thousand years."
"And that map?" Kirk asked. "What are the other three points marked on it? The main ones?"
"One you know quite well, Captain Kirk - Earth itself. It is labelled as Sa'kai-T'Khasi. The next, you also know, for it is near to the Core-ward side of the Primary Hub of the Federation; a place you barely managed to escape from." Sarek watched as Kirk's face paled.
"And the last? The furthest from Vulcan?" Sulu asked nervously, remembering the incident with Sybok quite well.
Sarek sighed. "That," he said, "is almost lost to knowledge, except for two articles of preserved information. The oldest records we have preserved is of a ship landing on Vulcan 65,321 years ago. On board was one 'person' who invited a number of our people to go with him. He took them to that world, and then brought them home. From that, we gained a method of contact to that world. Obviously, this was not the first time this 'visitor' had been on Vulcan - others of his race, or even he himself, must have made contact 500,000 years ago or more for my ancestors to have had the map made."
He paused as he collected his thoughts, then, "Our second surviving record is from fifty thousand years ago; and the information says that that world, and all it's people, vanished without a trace. All that remains is a name."
Kirk half whispered, "And that world is... or was?"
"Gallifrey," Sarek responded, "and all we know of the one who visited us is that he called himself Ish-Hassu; or, in your language, 'The Doctor'."
"...Then, Korris and Poppa Spock saved him from the man who was... using... him," Antony said, but what he intended to say, to close, was interrupted.
"He did..." Donna started to say loudly in response to that vague revelation on Belar's past.
Jason quickly interrupted her with his mind. 'Please, Donna,' he sent to her, 'please don't let Bel know what happened! He doesn't know howthe man hurt him, only that he made his butt hurt. We haven't found a way to tell him yet; a way that wouldn't confuse or frighten him regarding sex.'
Donna nodded at Jason seriously, but curiosity was in her eyes.
'I'll explain after,' he added, before pulling Belar in closer to his chest to cuddle with Oliver.
The tiny Bajoran looked up at him and smiled his toothy smile before settling back to watch Antony.
"And that's about it for us, guys," Antony finished, smiling at Tristan and Matthew. He turned and rubbed the shoulders of his two android sons. "None of you have to say anything, right now, if you don't want to. In fact, you never have to. If you don't, then in the next meeting the bare minimum of what you were rescued from would be given. It's entirely up to you."
Both androids nodded seriously, as did their human cousins. "Later, maybe," Matthew said softly, squeezing Tristan's hand. "When it don't hurt so much."
Jason smiled at them, then looked at Spock. "Pop? You want to tell us your news, now?"
Spock nodded and shifted slightly. Riti chirped at him, "Want me to move, Pops?"
"No, child. You are calming to cuddle," Spock replied.
Riti happily chirped a few more times, then settled in and relaxed as Spock began to talk.
"My father has already cleared authorisation for the following from the High Council of Vulcan, and the High Command is very interested in working closely with a group of human children once more. Jason is already aware, at least in part, of the VSO Divisions. That is what you will be: it is the visible authority that you need, since you cannot be officially a Clan, yet."
"Once more?" Telez queried.
Spock nodded, "Yes. In 1922, the crew for the first human starship was gathered and taken to Vulcan for training. They were the first of many such youths. From 1922 until 1938, Vulcan directly trained what would become Earth's own Space-Fleet. Then Terra Main was built on the far side of the moon, and Earth took more control over their fledgling space fleet. Once the Federation was founded, however, it was decided that Earth's 'Space-Fleet' should become known as the UFP's 'Starfleet' instead."
"Oh," the Andorian nodded. "Why? I've never found the reason why it was Earth's fleet that was used for the beginnings of Starfleet. Why not the Vulcan Space Command? They've got more experience than even the Andorian Imperial Fleet!"
"It was found that humans have an ability that few other species have. Unlike almost every other known race, humanity has more than a small handful of active cultures. The Vulcans have five, with about 20 sub-divisions. Earth has 265 countries, dependent areas, and other entities. When there is a common purpose, humans work together, despite their differences - better than any other race. It is just saddening that humans find very little that unites them for long. It was also one of the reasons for Earth being the Seat of the Federation Council and Senate."
"Thanks, Pop," Telez replied with a smile.
"You shall be leaving Earth on the sixth of January for training at the VSO Academy in Shi'Kahr, the capital of Vulcan. While there, you shall stay with me at my Family's residence," Spock continued.
"Poppa? How long will we be there?" Antony asked curiously.
"Three months, to begin," he replied. "Should longer be required, you shall have longer. Initial training usually takes two months, but you shall need time to become acclimatised."
"You are serious, aren't you?" Telez said, his blue face paling. "You want to drag me to what would be a suburb of Hell?!"
"We are aware of what our climate does to Andorians, Telez; however, there are three Andorian diplomats on Vulcan already, and they are quite comfortable," Spock answered, understanding that the blue boy was not being insulting with his outburst.
"But... I won't be able to play outside as much! How can I? In Florida I lose about 10% of my body's water in a morning, playing outside!" Telez was close to tears, now, "And how can I train if I..."
Spock raised his hand, "My child, do not be concerned. Just as Riti has a biosuit for use here on Earth, so shall you and your brothers for use on Vulcan. We do not expect Human children to train in our climate without such. Those we trained in the past also had the same suits."
Telez thought for a moment, while Antony wiped his boyfriend's tears away and kissed his cheek.
"Okay," he murmured. "I hope... I trust you, Pop."
"Umm, what about our parents?" Jason asked, suddenly. "Dad'll be off on the Hood, but what about Mam and Aunt Mary?"
"We will need to speak with each, but I believe you shall be on Vulcan without them. Training would only take longer with their presence, but it is not something we would enforce. Children need parents, and if your need outweighs your ability to be without them for brief time periods, then they shall come as well," Spock half smiled at his son. "Nevertheless, should they and you elect for them to remain behind, they shall be visiting at least twice. You are not, and shall not be, cut off from them; be assured of that."
He watched as they all nodded at him with relief. He continued, "I must make you all understand, however, that the training is not easy. There will be sweat and tears and pain. It is also your choice. We can only open the doors for you; it is you who must choose to walk through them."
Jason shared a look with all of his brothers and sisters, for he had already classed Donna as such. Some of them might be his children or nephews, but right now, for the 'Clan' stuff, siblings was what he thought of.
They all nodded seriously at him, barring Oliver and Jessica. Even the nervous Tristan and Matthew nodded.
"We will do it, Captain Spock," Jason answered formally, for all of them. "We will do it."
It had taken over half an hour to explain Gallifrey and the Doctor to a group of mostly humans who had the hardest time believing him. Sarek had to connect to the Vulcan Information Database at his Residence to download all the pertinent files, before questions of doubt were halted.
"Regarding the mission," he managed, once silence had been regained, "The Hood and the D'Tir are going with two Romulan and two Klingon ships to the planet that is relatively near us from that star chart."
"Why?" Kirk could not help but interrupt.
"To examine the basis in fact of a legend. We have been studying all other cultures surrounding us for nearly two thousand years, and in many of the worlds we visited we found hints and shadows of a nameless terror. On many more worlds, long since dead and gone, the same Terror was mentioned. Just as it is on Vulcan: Panu Ketñcheleb, the World Destroyer."
Scotty raised his hand hesitantly, as if a child in school. He looked at his hand for a second before his cheeks coloured slightly. "Ambassador; do legends really have any impact, here and now?"
"Yes, as we have found to our dismay," Sarek said, as he sat back in his chair and placed the tips of his fingers against his face in thought. "There is a world currently in our Neutral Zone with the Romulans that bears the scars of an attack, on a level we have no way of matching. When we went there six hundred years ago, long before the Star Empire grew to its current size, we found one remaining cache of information that had survived for over seven billion years. It showed us an industrial age race that was about to reach sublight space flight, but then they were wiped out by something they only called 'The Evil Light'. It took us over one hundred years to translate what we found, yet it matched clearly the remnants of legends we have been finding in far younger races. It is as if there is a collective memory in all the races of this Quadrant that has been passed in whispers since those far gone aeons. Your report from the Nimbus Three Incident, Captain Kirk, matched it again. This time, with certainty. There is a being beyond the Great Barrier that very well could be the Destroyer; this 'Evil Light'."
There was silence, now, in the room. Everyone looked at each other, yet could not say anything; what could they say?
McCoy asked quietly, "If this being is so powerful, so much so that he wiped out all life from entire worlds, how is he trapped behind the Barrier?"
"That is a question that has no definite answer," Sarek answered. "Some of the few words recorded from Ish-Hassu, the Doctor, that remain mention a being called 'Destroyer' that was somehow defeated by them, billions of years ago. It may be that the Lords of Time contained him, although it is noted in the records that when questioned on that Ish-Hassu was doubtful as to how much effect he and his race had on that being. What he said regarding creatures he called 'The Runi' seems to suggest that what the Time Lords did was a distraction only... if that."
"Who are the Runi?" Dafydd asked curiously.
Sarek nearly shrugged. "The Vulcan recording this was an emotive, as you would expect. It was long before Surak and the Age of Enlightenment. He annotated that name with the Vulcan word for 'angel'. I would surmise that they, the Runi, are a super-evolved energy based race. Much as the Destroyer himself. It is not logical to believe they really were what we now consider 'angels'."
"At this point," Kirk murmured with a half smile, "I would not discount it, either."
"So, what does the Federation, Vulcan, Romulas and Q'onos want us to do?" Dafydd asked, as the chuckles in the room died down.
"Survey," Sarek replied seriously. "Probe and scan. Send in unmanned probes to take power readings. We have adapted the techniques my son Sybok used to break through the Barrier to allow probes to do the same without damaging the Barrier itself. If that Barrier is a prison, we cannot risk adding more cracks to it, as you and the Klingon Bird of Prey did seven years ago."
Kirk looked surprised, "We cracked it?"
"Yes," the elder Vulcan nodded, "the power readings from the Enterprise scanners were examined when you came back for repairs, and the readings before you entered were not the same as when you left. There is a 'crack' in the Barrier, and we don't want to add more."
"How much of a threat could this being be, in all likelihood?" Dafydd asked, his eyes boring into Sarek's.
"I have a great many doubts, if that is what you are asking, Captain," the Vulcan answered. "I have suspicions that this could be the Destroyer, but no hard facts until you return from your mission. Even if you did bring back enough that made it close to irrefutable, there would still be room for doubt over this being's origin. As for the danger, your best source of information is Captain Kirk."
After a few more questions, mainly from the Hood Bridge Crew, the meeting ended.
Dafydd and Kirk were the last to leave, and Kirk said, "I don't envy you your mission, Dafydd. That is one place I do not wish to return to."
"I don't think I want to go the first time, but even so, I find it hard to believe a god-like being is there. Never mind the fact that 'Doctor Who' is real," Dafydd answered, with a wry smile.
"When are you leaving?" Kirk asked as the two men made their way down the hall.
"My orders state that we are to be ready to depart on the 6th of January, but we are ready, now," the Welsh Captain answered easily as they turned to head for the Officers' Mess.
"So, how does joining the VSO link with those names that Levi and those two Rainbows gave Jace?" Antony asked Spock curiously after the Captain had finished telling them of the training they were about to go through.
"All VSO Divisions are named after an animal or creature of some type," Spock answered. "Real or mythical. In your case, mythical. The name of the Division is always chosen by the seven appointed to lead it. If we can be sure of the information from this Levi, then you shall be the 'Dragon Division', and so your code-names would therefore fit."
"Daddy! I's hungry! Me belly is all growly!" Belar suddenly started to protest.
Jason giggled, "I think we'd better feed it, then."
Spock nodded, "We have been here for more than an hour. It would be best to seek sustenance, now."
Nathan looked between Spock and Jason, then nodded at Oliver and Jessica who were now running out of the door with Victoria and the other younger children. Jason grew serious. "Poppa. Nath', Tony, Tel and I need to go over the information on those two. Can you stay with the little ones while we do so?"
"Of course," Spock answered as he stood. He quickly left the room, leaving Jason to talk quietly with the other three.
Korris also remained behind, "I knew them briefly on that Space Station. I shall assist you."
"Do you know what happened to them?" Antony asked softly, as he watched Nathan open the bag containing data pads, discs and a even few VCR tapes.
"Only that they have been sexualized," Korris answered, his eyes flashing with sudden heat. "I don't know how many have abused them, nor what they went through, but I do know that."
"Kinda guessed that," Nathan said, as he placed everything from the bag on the nearest table, "I felt dirty every time my father used to touch me, and so I recognised them saying it, too."
Jason picked up the main datapad first and quickly scanned the information there. "Seems like this video is the first we should see," he said, pointing at the VCR tape with a blue sticker. "Meant to be a trial run of whatever the people doing this to Oliver and Jessica wanted to sell."
Korris turned the tape over in his hands. "What the hell is this ancient piece of targ shit, then?" he asked with complete confusion.
"A video tape. Like a Data-disc, only not as good," Telez offered, with a smile, "my Dad still has a few. Only I don't think Grandfather Sarek's going to have a VCR player in his home, do you?" he asked Jason.
"Doubtful, but I'll ask Pop," Jason replied, as he turned to leave.
Nathan picked up another padd and read it quickly as they waited for Jason to return. "They have not been touched by anyone," he murmured after a moment. "The man who bought them from the Orions twenty months ago never laid a finger on them... nor did anyone else, but they've made sex ta... oh, shit. I don't think I want to know!"
"Kahless," Korris gasped as his face paled. "That's why they kissed that way!"
Jason returned that moment with a remote control and pointed it at the cabinet in the corner. "Here, guys. Grandfather has all types of record-playing equipment in this house, and... what the hell did I miss? You lot look as sick as Edison must have after making the first light bulb and finding an estimated bill on his front mat the next morning! What've you found?"
Korris, not having a clue as to what Jason had meant, simply gave him the blue labelled tape and grunted, "Play it."
Jason took it, put in into the machine and, with one last wondering look at the four pale faced boys behind him, pressed play.
At first the five boys were shocked and sickened at the 'advert' they saw - brief snippits of Oliver and his sister engaged in all manner of sexual acts. Not half the short tape had played when Nathan had asked to turn it off, but something had caught Jason's attention. "Leave it," he ordered quickly, as he started going through the collected tapes, discs and datapads before him.
"What've you seen that we missed?" Antony asked, his face a little green at having to watch a brother and sister being forced into these acts.
Jason nodded at the screen while continuing to sort out the items into different piles, "They don't look coerced. Look at their eyes, guys. They don't look forced. And where's the adults or the other children? There's over ten 'movies' portrayed there, and all just with these two... I don't think that feels or seems normal, for perverts."
"You are correct," Telez said after a moment. He had stared hard at the faces of the two on screen, whenever the faces came to view, and saw what Jason had. Or its lack, really. "They seem... happy."
"Turn it off," Jason said suddenly, "I've got the first one. It's labelled as 'Stroke of Luck'. I don't think this is a movie, though."
Nathan quickly turned off the video while Jason placed a disc into the player. They sat back and watched this new disc, only, at first, they wondered why it was even in the pile.
"It's just a security camera, Jace," Antony said as they watched extracts from different days stream by in brief segments. "It's just a camera from the room whomever had those two locked in."
Jason nodded, "Keep watching."
They saw the day Oliver and Jessica had been led into the room and left there by their 'owner', then, a few days later, with no contact from anyone, they watched as the two kids started playing around with sex.
"What the hell?" Nathan muttered with confusion.
"That is no ordinary sex play," Korris added.
Jason agreed, "That much is obvious. The real question is 'why?'. See Oliver's face? Neither he nor his sister are entirely happy with this, but there's still love there, and... well, a protection. What made them do this in order to protect themselves? Unless their owner edited out the bit where he had been there to threaten them, of course."
"I read his mind," Oliver's tearful voice came from the doorway, and the five older boys spun around to see him and Jessica standing there with Spock behind them. "I read his mind... I didn't want to, but..."
"Turn it off, Jace. I think we best talk instead," Nathan said softly as he got up and gestured both children into his arms.
Spock nodded at them and left again to watch over the others, leaving the seven children to curl up together on the largest sofa.
"Do you want to tell us, Ollie?" Jason whispered into the brown hair of the boy he held tightly in his lap.
Oliver sniffed, "'kay, but you'll hate me."
"No. Never," Jason and Nathan said together, before smiling at each other briefly.
Jessica gave her brother's hand a squeeze before curling up tighter on Nathan's lap. Oliver nodded at her before he started to speak, "Our home was on Vega 2, New Indiana Colony, and it was my... my birthday. I was six and we was havin' a party an' then... then the aliens came and stole me and Jess 'way." Oliver stopped talking, as hot tears started running from his eyes. "I saw my Mum and Pop shot, and... and..."
"Shhh," Jason crooned into his ear, "don't think of that, now, sweetheart. Shhh."
After a moment or two, Oliver stopped weeping softly and continued to tell his tale, "The aliens, the Orions, sold me and Jess to a human man, and we were taken to another colony; an older one. Dunno which one, he never said, and we were locked up most of the time, anyway. He talked to us a few times..."
"He tried being nice to us," Jessica offered quietly, "but I didn't like 'im. He had things in his head that made me scared."
"Yeah," Oliver added, as he reached and held his sister's hand. "I saw stuff; bad stuff. He wanted me and Jess to do sex with each other, and he was gonna force us to do it. He'd done it before with other kids. He'd hurt them lots to make them do sex with each other."
Jessica was nodding her head. "I was only four, but I saw that he didn' care... he'd put his dickie into lil' girls and boys before to punish 'em if they didn' do stuff with each other."
"He'd even killed a few, that way," Oliver said sickly. "He'd hurt them a lot and they bled and died. 'Cos they won't do sex. So... so when he left us in that room alone, we talked in our heads. I didn't wanna do anything with Jess, but I didn't want her to die! I really didn't wanna do it, you have to believe me!" he finished frantically, as he looked between all the older boys, looking at him, before twisting about to stare into Jason's eyes. "Please beli..."
"We do," Jason said softly yet firmly. "I do. We all do. I can feel you tellin' the truth, Ollie," he said with a small, sad smile.
"Ollie was nice," Jessica said quietly, as Nathan wiped her tears from her beautiful brown eyes, "he was gentle and I didn't hurt or nuffin'. He made me feel good, too. We both saw what that man wanted from us, so we... we..."
"Learnt to do it, together," Oliver completed, as he stared at his fingers, small hiccups betraying the pent up emotions still inside.
"I even did stuff to him like that man wanted me to, or he'd have hurt Ollie, too," Jess said as she trembled in Nathan's lap. "I wanted to protect my brother like he protected me, so we both did everythin' together."
"Yeah," Oliver whispered. "But then we grew to like it. It felt real good, and stuff."
"And we were always alone in that room, or alone in other rooms with cameras," Jessica continued, "and we had no toys or books or colouring stuff or nothing. We was bored a lot, so we talked in our minds and played games and did sex a lot. It felt nice, and... I..."
"We knew it was wrong, or, I did, at first. Jess felt that way, too, over the last few months. But we... we still wanna do stuff together. It feels nice," Oliver finished with a deathly quiet whisper, and the others could feel and hear the shame in his voice.
'What in God's name do we say to this, guys?' Jason sent to the other four boys, making completely sure that the two younger children didn't hear him.
'Jace, this is not a normal thing at all, not for humans,' Telez sent back quickly, 'especially not since they would have been forced to do it, anyway, but they did nothing wrong; not really. On Andoria, what you call incest isn't a big deal. It happens rarely, but sometimes siblings Bond this way. Love is love. It's only genetics that is the problem with close family Bonding, and with today's technology, that is easily overcome.'
'I would agree with that assessment,' Korris added. 'Most laws on Qonos about incest is only due to bad genetics being passed onto any children. There's no... no deep moral reason to not Bond with a brother or sister. It's just not common, is all.'
'We just have to help these two see that, and get them to just be kids again,' Telez finished.
Nathan weighed in, 'It's really illegal here, but that's about the same background reason for it. Genetics. They didn't do anything wrong. They made love together to stop each other getting hurt. That's love, plain and simple. But how do we help them? They both feel ashamed about this, and they are both going to be so used to making love together that we'll have relapses. How do we handle this?'
'Simple. We talk. And if they have sex at some point in the future, due to all this, so what?' Jason answered his boyfriend before kissing Oliver's hair. "Sweety," he said, lifting Oliver's face so that the small boy was looking at him soulfully, "First of all, neither of you did anything wrong, okay? You did nothing wrong."
As Jason was whispering to Oliver, Nathan was doing much the same with Jessica. Telez moved to sit on the other side of Jason to help him, while Antony cuddled close to Nathan's free side to help with the little girl. Korris, however, stood and slowly paced back and forth before them.
Jason and Telez were listening attentively as Oliver whispered out his fears, "Brothers shouldn' do that though. They shouldn'... it's not right!"
"Ollie," Jason whispered, "you said it yourself. If you hadn't, that man or others would have hurt you both; badly."
"You did the right thing, Oliver," Telez added. "You may not have done such things in a normal situation, but this was anything but normal. You made your sister feel safe, and even good. And she did the same for you. That is not bad. Not at all. That's love, Oliver. Love."
"But..."
"No 'buts'," Jason said with a small smile. "Sex isn't a bad thing, Ollie. Many brothers and sisters 'play' a bit when they grow up. Yeah, most don't go as far as you and Jessica did, but there's nothing wrong if you're not forcing the other. In your case, you had little to no choice. And both of you wanted to do it, to help and protect the other, so you didn't force your sister, either. What is wrong is that you were in a position to have to make that choice to begin with. What you did was okay, for the reason we've just said, but why you felt you had to do it wasn't. That is that man's fault. NOT yours. Okay?"
As Oliver nodded and started to quietly think on what he had just been told, Jason took a second to look up at the pacing Korris. As he cuddled the small boy in tightly, and as Telez rubbed small circles into Oliver's back, Jason's eyes were fixed on his Klingon brother. For the briefest moment, Korris locked his gaze with Jason, and quickly looked away.
Jason felt a chill run up his spine, for he had seen fear in Korris' face - just for an instant - and that concerned him greatly. He put it to the side of his mind, resolving to talk to Korris about it later. He turned back to continue whispering comfort to the brown haired child on his lap.
It was an hour later before those helping Jessica and Oliver joined up with Spock, Harry and the others in the Kitchen to find that the younger kids were in the middle of a food fight.
"God, we can't leave them for a moment, can we?" Nathan giggled, as Davy launched a fistful of jelly at Victoria and scored a direct hit to her cheek.
Jason shook his head, then turned to Spock. "Poppa. Can you ratify the use of the SHA, and make Oliver and Jessica mine and Nathan's kids, please?"
Spock nodded his head, "I will need to know the reasons why you are using the Act. Please transmit all pertinent data."
Jason focused his mind on his Pop's, and a moment later Spock's face seemed very far away. It was not long before he focused himself and nodded again, "Please allow me time to prepare the paperwork, but as of this moment, Oliver Jack Mason and Jessica Mason are now your children. Do they wish to take your last name?"
Both Oliver and Jessica nodded, and their faces were now peaceful and they both sported happy grins. "Yessir, Uncle Spock... we both wanna be Evans," Oliver bubbled happily.
Jason whispered something briefly to him and his sister, and suddenly Spock had his arms full as both of the children crowed out 'Grandpa!' and launched themselves at him.
"Sorted," Nathan giggled as he hugged himself close to Jason and smiled. "I'm hungry! I hope you lot ain't wasted all the food!"
"Wes not wastin' foods, Poppa!" Belar's indignant cry came from somewhere behind the table. "Wes eatin' it alls!"
Jason glanced at Nathan, shrugged and then walked to look behind the table. He fell over laughing, for both Belar and Ross were naked and covered in jelly and frosting from the sweets and cakes on the table. "Yep, they're eating it up, all right!" Jason laughed as he rolled about on the floor.
"This is sickening," Jason heard Korris say, from the main living room of the mansion house. He entered to see his two Klingon brothers watching the television with Antony and Telez. "Someone needs to catch that p-taq and kill him!" Korris bellowed in anger.
Jason looked at the screen and saw that it was the BBC news channel. He sighed as he read the briefing at the bottom of the screen. Another child's body had been found; dismembered and, from the preliminary reports, the boy had been tortured and raped prior to being killed. "That's the second one this month," Jason said sickly. "Have they said where?"
Koth grunted, "Somewhere called Cardiff."
Antony nodded, "And it's almost exactly the same as the one found in Bristol, Jace. Whoever is doing this is moving our way."
"Let them," Korris grated. "I will find him and kill him for this! GGahhhh!" he finished with a vicious yell.
Jason sighed again, then asked, "Anyone seen Matthew?"
"Not recently," Telez muttered, his face pale as he continued to watch the news. "He vanished upstairs as we arrived home, when we were saying good bye to Harry," he added, sparing a quick glance Jason's way.
Jason nodded and headed out of the room. He took the stairs a few at a time, bounding onto the landing before racing towards Matthew and Tristan's room. As he passed his sister's room, he heard Riti and Tristan's voices coming from within, so he stopped and poked his head around the door. "Matt in your room, Trist?" he asked.
"Yeah. He's moody and asked me to leave him alone for a while," Tristan replied, seriously. "Don't go in, Jace. He wants to be alone. He does this a lot."
"Yeah, and I think I know why - which means he shouldn't be alone. I've felt a bit off since we got back, and it's only now that I figured it out to be coming from Matt."
Victoria looked up, "I don't feel it."
"No. I talked to Poppa Spock. He said that since I'm Matt's friend I'd know before you, if he's hurting."
Victoria nodded speculatively. "Sounds like it makes sense. I'm not trying to feel him either, so yeah."
Jason half smiled before leaving the doorway and heading for Matthew's bedroom. He knocked softly and waited.
"Yeah?" came a soft query from within.
Jason opened the door and slipped in, closing it again behind him. There, on the bed, Matthew was lying face down on his stomach and by the looks of his face, he'd been crying for the last hour, since arriving home. Jason was next to him in a heart beat, and laid a hand gently on his back, "Want to talk, bro?"
Matthew shook his head violently, before burying his face back in his pillow and sobbing more.
Jason did not press the issue, but rather he laid down next to Matthew on his own stomach and wrapped his closest arm around his friend. Then he just stayed there as Matthew continued to sob and cry softly.
Jason lost track of the time. In fact, both he and Matthew had fallen asleep for a short while. Jason felt himself being shaken awake, and he opened his eyes to see Matthew smiling sadly at him. "Thanks," Matthew whispered.
"No charge," Jason responded, as he sat up and hugged his friend.
Matthew relaxed into the hug, resting his cheek on Jason's shoulder. "You're my oldest friend - do you know that?" he asked with a deathly whisper.
"No, I didn't. How do you mean?" Jason asked curiously, increasing his hug on the trembling body in his arms.
Matthew pulled back and looked at Jason with watery eyes. He kept his trembling arms around his friend, just as Jason was keeping his around his own shaking body. "Remember when we first met?"
Jason scratched his head, then he smiled and nodded, "Yeah, in nursery. In the sand-pit. You tipped a bucket of sand over my head, so I buried your legs in the sand then tickled you."
Matthew nodded with a weak smile. "I was told off by my... by them for that. I wasn't to have friends, but you were always friendly to me, even when I never spoke much to you."
Jason nodded again, "I always wondered why you never played with me, after that. I saw you about, and I was friendly to you, but you seemed like you wanted to be alone."
Matthew sniffed, "I always thought of you as my friend, though. Always. Even though I was ignoring you, you'd always help me out. When I was being bullied, you helped. When I was crying, you'd give me an apple or something from your lunch. And when Nathan came to the school and you two became friends, you both got through to me - eventually. I could have friends, and I kept it a secret. But you've been my oldest friend. And my best."
Jason felt his eyes fill up. "I meant that much to you? I never knew... sorry, Matt."
"Yeah, you did. Thank you," Matthew said brokenly, before crying again, abate much softer this time.
He was pulled into Jason's arms all the tighter and comforted, while Jason cried quietly, too. "I'm sorry I couldn't help you before, bro," he whispered eventually.
Matthew nodded against Jason's chest. "But you did. More than you'd know," he whispered.
"You're my best friend, too, then," Jason said a few moments later.
Matthew looked up in shock. "But... Nath'. What about Nath'?"
"He's my boyfriend, and lover. That is a whole different class. You're my best friend."
Matthew felt a smile growing on his face. He couldn't say anything, for the words just wouldn't come, but he did lean forwards and kiss Jason tenderly on the lips. "Best Friend Kiss," he whispered as he pulled away.
"Can I get one too?" Nathan asked from behind him.
Matthew turned his head to see Nathan floating a few feet away. Hence the reason he'd not heard him approach. He reached out and Nathan was soon mashed into a three way hug with Matthew and Jason. Then Matthew kissed Nathan as well. "You're... I can't have two best friends... can I?" Matthew asked, hopefully.
"You can have as many as you'd like," Nathan giggled. "Especially if we get those nice kisses for being it!"
Jason giggled as Nathan pranced off happily, after Matthew had given him another kiss. "He's such a..." Jason started, then looked confused as he searched for a word.
"Princess?" Matthew asked with a wicked giggle.
"I heard that, you pricks!" came Nathan's yell from the hallway.
"Good!" Jason shot back, then he winked at Matthew and said loud enough for Nathan to hear, "He's my princess. Now all I need is a pretty pink dress for him!"
"You better be fucking joking!" Nathan yelled as they heard him break into a run, heading back to Matthew's room.
"NATHAN SAMUEL EVANS! WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE, YOUNG MAN!"
"Boy, your mam can shout!" Matthew giggled as he and Jason heard Nathan's 'Sorry Mammy!' being yelled back.
"Yep. Her hand hits hard too. If she was here, now, Nath's butt would be sore," Jason giggled.
"I'm going to get you for getting me in trouble like that!" Nathan said, as he poked his flushed face around the door frame.
"Okay, Princess," they both giggled, which caused Nathan to yell out in anger and charge at them.
The Tickle War was soon under way...
It was nearing midnight, and everyone had gathered outside, to welcome in the new year. Riti, Koth and Korris were mystified as to this ceremony, but Telez was trying his best to explain it to them while watching as Dafydd, Spock, Graham and Mary set up all the fireworks in the large garden by the light of hand torches.
"When did Harry say he'd be back?" Davy asked, as he cuddled into his big brother's side.
Antony looked down at him and grinned, "Tomorrow. He's a prince, so he has things to do on special nights like this."
"Oh. 'Kay," the blond boy giggled as he turned back to watch his new dad at work.
"Umm..." Donna murmured from Antony's other side. "Can I ask you something, please?" she asked, looking up at him with a pleading look.
"Sure," Antony nodded, as he hugged her closer.
"What's goin' to happen to me? Ollie and Jess got new parents. What about me? I won't go to a home! I just won't!" she whispered fiercely as hot tears spilled from her eyes. "I want to stay with you and Tel. I like it here and... and..."
"And what?" Telez asked, as he finished speaking with the Lo'Garn and Klingons. He walked nearer and wrapped her in a loose hug from behind.
"... I wish you two could be my daddies..." she sobbed, softly.
Jason smiled as he looked over at them. He turned and thought at his father and at Spock, and both men soon joined him.
"I agree," Dafydd said after the silence between them was broken.
Spock nodded, "As do I."
"Oh, Tony? Tel?" Jason called sweetly as he turned back to where they were cuddling Donna, with Davy and Drew helping.
"Yeah?" they both answered.
"You're both her daddies."
Antony's jaw dropped open, and he looked back and forth between Jason, the two Captains, and his equally shocked mother.
Mary closed her jaw, then started to howl with laughter. "Grandmother again! I love it!"
"Guys?" Angela called, suddenly.
Everyone turned to look at her.
"Happy New Year!" she shouted.
The cheers from everyone assembled (except Spock and Tulek) were almost completely drowned out by the myriad fireworks that suddenly leapt heavenward.
This was a very good look into the past, for us. We learned quite a bit of the background from before there was a Clan Short. Of course, Levi had already made his presence known. I do wonder how long it will take, before we are brought up to date with the main timeline.
I am glad that everyone is getting on, pretty well. As we all know, from other stories, there are good things ahead, even for those who have not yet found their happiness.
Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher
Welcome back Silver Dragon and what a way to come back. I suggest that everyone read this chapter at least twice in order to make sure that they take in all of the information provided.
I do wish Jason and Nathan lots of luck and lots of love, they are going to need it trying to heal and help Jessica and Oliver grow.
I only have one question, where is the next chapter?
The Story Lover