“That is muscle memory.My muscles have just remembered I have been eating kiosk food for most of the day.I am nearly willing to stab someone for a vegetable.”
Keska grinned.“I think he read your mind.”
A selection of juices, water, and a hot chocolate were slid in front of Diena.
He lifted her hand.“My Empress.You are looking a little pale.”
She snorted and started chugging her way through the veggie and fruit smoothies.When three were down and she was feeling better, she looked at him.“Thank you, Jenaki.”
He smiled, and Keska chuckled.“The kids have decided to take Maiette on a tour and are dragging her father with them.Sorooth is going along for solidarity and possibly trying the boxing simulator.”
Diena looked, and Keska tapped her temple.
Diena chuckled.“Oh, right.How is Hemma doing?”
“She’s still being courted.Ekbert is packing to leave, so she wants to stay close to home as long as he’s there.He’s meeting some of the dates, and things are going well.No one is going to do more than kiss her hand.So far, the best contender is an island alpha.”
“Aw, that would suck for you.”
“But it would give us a reason for a family visit a few times a year.Hemma deserves to have her own life, free of glances and whispers.”
Diena nodded.“I agree.So I have been getting queries from Salat and some team members today.They are interested in an interactive paintball course for adults.We could set up a subroutine that only comes online an hour after the kids are out, and it scans for any child suits.”
Keska nodded.“Because teens are going to try and sneak into the adult zone.Right.So we turn down the protection on the suits, keep an option available for BDC masks.”
“Right.Put trackers in the suits because this is the kind of thing folks like to steal.If a team member has to leave while playing, they will pay for the suit in its entirety.”Diena smiled.“And it will self-destruct thirty-six hours after that.”
“What would the trigger be?”
“Leaving the facility.”
Keska grinned.“I like working with you.You are devious.”
She sipped at her water.“They don’t make just anyone empress.”
They laughed and enjoyed the kids being elsewhere for a while.Eskin was speaking with Zera and Kritz.
They weren’t officially open, but the place was already comfortable enough to have chats about something with the heads of the scientific community in the city.
* * * *
Kritz sighed.“So,as soon as we go to change the diaper, there’s a fountain.”
Eskin smiled.“Get your fresh diaper ready, and as you remove the first, slide the second over it.It’s the shock of cold air that is the likely trigger.”
Kritz nodded.“The nanny said something about that, but I had no idea how much noise they made, and he was crying at the time.”
“Is he very upset?”
Kritz blinked.“No.He’s usually very content, until he isn’t; then it is a scramble to figure him out.I have been thinking about asking Khytten for some help getting him to a point where I can speak with him.”
A pleasant voice said, “Do it, and I will snap your fucking horns off at the base.The base being your dick.”
He looked at Diena and cleared his throat.“He’s my son.”
“He’s your baby.Babies cry.He is new to this world.He is learning the rules, and all he can do is tell you when he is hungry, scared, or uncomfortable.He also will sound off if he is cold or lonely.If he were a base animal, he would be yelling to get his parents because being alone is a death sentence.So make a checklist and move through it.When the physical needs are taken care of, you have the emotional ones left.I have heard Arcady talk.You had differences getting your emotions in touch with your physical needs.So extend the same courtesy to the baby, and if I have to rip off your horns and tail to remind you of emotional discomfort and vulnerability, I will.Congratulations on your new arrival.”
Kritz held out his hand.“Wait.I wanted to thank you.I am short on sleep and spoke out of turn.I can’t figure out how to manage the diapers.”
