For Love

Story by xansteel on SoFurry

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#31 of Finding One's True Self Webseries

Ohm manages to get close to one of the Four Headsand learns a frightening truth, as a pregnant Tarina gets captured by the Fifth Head.

Musical inspiration - Psychopomp by The Tea Party

Major Edit


Finding One's True Self Part 31

For Love

By Xan Steel

Two cycles had passed during my investigations on the Four Heads of the Alliance, and though its been slow going I still managed to fit all the pieces together. One of the neat things about replicators is that you can have any alcoholic drink made completely devoid of any actual alcohol in it. I did this with the help of the proprietor of 'Happy Tails' as I filled him in on what I was doing there. He turned out to be a really swell male, for a Darlogian. A species that I believe Rubicant mentioned being, trying to remember that species, ah yes St. Bernard like.

I did managed to actually get to talk with Gor for a while at the counter of the establishment, and after a few drinks in he became the life of the party so to speak. Now this is where one would start to asked questions about the case to him, but I felt I needed to wait a bit longer, and see if he would open up to me. You see, I didn't hide who was from him, in fact, I let him know right up front before he even started to drink, and after his sixth drink in he warmed right up to me. This lead me to think that this Fifth Head wasn't telepathic, or if they were this was some sort of resting time for them, and gave the Four Heads a moment of peace. Hence the reason for showing up here at the same time, and we continued on like this for about six months.

He admitted to me that he wasn't happy in his position, and wished he could be a captain on a ship again. I asked him if something had changed that made him feel that way, and his mood changed to a depressed one, saying something had but that he couldn't talk about it in public. I replied in a way that made it appear that I was drunk, "Oh yeah, thats top secret stuff. Gotta have like, like clearance level a hundred to know." I give a fake laugh, but he bought it. "Ohm, my frend yous unders stand mes. Tash wha I lick about yous. Teel yous wat," He started to scribble down on a dry napkin. "Eet mes hare tommurrow at this time." He said with more effort in his speech. I took the napkin and looked it over, and then reached over and grabbed his shoulder and said, "Anything for a good friend."

I wished him well as he slowly stumbled out the door, as I looked back at the napkin. Even though it was sloppy writing I could still understand it. 'Help us' was the first thing written with the last part being at a public park about four hours away from here, if I remembered correctly. I took the napkin and folded it up into my coat, and then dropped a good tip in the proprietor's tip jar and bid him farewell.

I took the rest of the day off, and went home to see Tarina, and my younglings since they had the day off from school. I was mob greeted at the door when I opened it by both Dilna and Frin, as I picked them both up in my arms, and carried them around as they squealed out in delight. I took them over to the couch in the living area, and plopped them down and began to tickle them relentlessly until they started to tickle me back. "Aaaah no, I give up you win." I said laughing, as they stood up cheering. I heard Tarina standing near the kitchen laughing, "All of you are just plain silly." I looked at her, and for the first time I saw a glow about her, and her belly was bigger than I remembered. I got up and went to her, "Now what is this beautiful glowing female doing in this old males home?" I asked as I kissed her softly. "You big flirt you probably say that to all the pretty females." "Only to the ones that carry my young." I replied while gently rubbing her belly and kissing her cheek. "What did the doctor say?" "I'm due in about four months with triplets, while he said everything was looking good, he also said it wasn't normal for a Derlenian to give birth to more than two young at a time, and stated I may need to have a cesarean if any problems should arise. It makes me nervous to say the least." I pulled her into a gentle but tight hug. "If the doctor said everything is 'Looking good' then we shouldn't have need to worry hun." "Oh I know, its just my first time and I want to make sure everything is done right." She started to tear up a bit. "I don't want to loose them for either of us." I hugged and kissed her again while trying to send her some mental reassurances.

Later that evening after both dinner, and the younglings were put to bed. We laid in bed together as I give her a back massage to help her relax from walking and standing all day, as I moved to her legs and ankles, above her split hooves. Once I finished I leaned down and saw she was out like a light, so I kissed her softly and covered her under a sheet then cuddled up to her for the night. I laid there thinking about her, and about tomorrow with Gor, as I had a sudden nagging feeling that I should send her away to my Te'dar. I mean I'm just now getting closer to them than the last investigator did, and they sent him away when he got to careless, and now I'm starting to have that feeling. Perhaps it was my instincts kicking in and being more over protective with them. I thought about it for a while before deciding to let her sleep and talking about it with her tomorrow.

Morning came as I got up with her, but it wasn't a normal getting up, as she pushed me down on the bed and began to ride me hard. Her mind was crying out to me with a need of me being inside her. I loved her enough and was more than willing to give her what she desired the most. We mated for a good hour before she finally relaxed feeling satisfied. "I'm sorry." She said. I brought her eyes to meet mine, and seeing how beautiful she was this morning. "Well, good morning to you too." I said as I kissed her deeply. "Now why is my lovely mate sorry?" I asked as she looked back at me. "I don't have a normal mating drive. Most Derlenians mate once a cycle, but I have urges four to five times a cycle. I'm sorry I forced it on you." She finished as she started to cry. "Hey, no need to cry you've done nothing wrong. I'm yours whenever you need me, whether it's once a cycle or hundred times." She relaxed and mentally thanked me as we got up and dressed. I talked with her about my worries that I had last night and she then remembered something she forgot to mention yesterday. "Dilna and Frin's elders Erail and Ariel where coming to pick them up for a week. They left the number for the transport for you incase you wanted to talk with them." She finished as she handed me the number, and then said with as close as she was to giving birth the doctor wanted her to stay close and to not travel. While that part did concern me for her and the soon to be triplets, I couldn't help but agree. I then asked her if she would be ok if I was able to persuade Zanthy to come and stay with us to watch over her. "I would be ever grateful if she could as I could use the extra help" she replied.

I went to the living area and typed in the communications protocol and contacted them. Ariel came on first, "Good morning Ohm." She said. "Good morning, you know you have impeccable timing on your part." "Oh why is that?" I explained my concerns to her as Erail came on and listened as well. "Do you think Tarina will be safe with you there alone?" Erail asked. I told them I was going to talk with Zanthy and ask that she come and stay with us for the time being to watch over her and help with anything she needs. They then asked how she was coming along. I motioned Tarina to come over to the view screen to let them see. "Oh wow sweetie, that's a big belly you're carrying." Ariel said as Tarina smiled at them, "Yeah I'm bringing three little ones into our family." "Three?!? Isn't that dangerous for Derlenians?" Erail exclaimed. "Yes, this is why the doctor doesn't want me to travel off world, until after I give birth." "Sounds like a reasonable precaution." Ariel turned to look at me. "Would you rather us stay there with her?" I told them that wasn't necessary as I was going to persuade Zanthy come over to watch her, even though I wanted to have Dilna, Frin, and her off world, alas having the younglings safe was my only option right now. They both nodded, and understood my feeling on the matter, and then said they should be arriving in a day or two to pick them up. I thanked them for understanding and closed out the channel. Tarina wrapped her arms around me. "Hey its gonna all right hun. I know you're worried, and I agree with you and your instincts. Having worked with you long enough I know they've never been wrong." She said in a reassuring tone. I thanked her and kissed her handpaw, as I began to type in the communications protocol for Zanthy.

After a few minutes Trey appeared on screen. "Ah Ohm glad to hear from ya, and who is that pretty female behind you with that big belly." Tarina's ears went flat in embarrassment. "Trey you know it's me." She replied. He laughed a bit, "Oh I know though it does seem like you two have been a bit busy. So how many?" He asked as Zanthy came on. "Triplets." We both replied. "WHAT?!" Zanthy exclaimed. "By the Master sweetie that's dangerous for you!" "We know, that's why I'm calling." I said as I went into the details of my concerns, and what the doctor said in relation to her and the younglings health. It didn't take any convincing on either of out parts as Zanthy turned to Trey and told him to pack his bags, and then said they would be here in a few days time, before ending communications. "Well that went better than expected." I said as Tarina leaned in and hugged me tightly, "Though now I wonder what I'm in store for." I laughed lightly, "Oh she's likely going to pamper you pretty good." "I hope not to much. I don't want to feel like an invalid in our home." "Hun if it bothers you to much just let her know, she'll understand." I got up and helped her to the couch as I saw she was getting tired. Once she was sitting I went and got her some fresh water to drink.

Later that day I went to meet Gor at the park to find out what he knew of this Fifth Head. I continued to walk around the park trying to find him. Though maybe he was having a hard time finding me as I wore plain clothes to deter any unwanted eyes from following me. As I rounded a corner down one of the winding paths I saw Gor sitting on a bench about fifty feet away. He saw me as I approached him and motioned me to sit down. As I got closer I turned on the little device that Altair had given me, and then sat down. "Glad you could make it Ohm." "Anything for a friend" I said calmly. "Sorry to have you come so far away, but it's the safest place I can talk without prying eyes and ears. He's on to you." "Who?" "The head of the Helfligger family." I had no idea who that was but honestly there was a lot I didn't know about this world still. "Your ex-mate was being used by his twin to watch your every move. They know you know who the progenitor is and they want him alive if possible." I suddenly didn't feel good and tried to reach out to Tarina. Sadly she didn't respond, and I could only hope that her abilities weren't strong enough yet. "Tell me something Gor, Is he the one controlling the Alliance right now?" The was a short pause between us before he answered. "If I tell you they will kill me." "Then you didn't tell me." "I also didn't tell you where you can find him." He said handing me another piece of paper. I got up thanking him and quickly left the area and back to my transport to rush home to check on Tarina. Along the way I kept reaching out to her hoping she would hear me.

By the time I got home she had not responded at all to me and it worried me greatly. As I parked my transport I hopped out and ran to the door, only to find it wide open. My nerves went on edge while my heart started pounding in my chest. I ran inside and started to search for her, Dilna, and Frin as I called out to them. The house was a mess with furniture moved and tossed, shattered dishes thrown about. I kept searching and calling out as I heard a soft pounding on a door in the living area closet where I had the surveillance system installed and recording. I quickly opened the door to see Dilna and Frin standing there crying and saying they took her. I pulled them into a hug to calm them down and asked them if they could remember any details no matter how small. They began to tell me everything they heard from within the closet as I wrote it down. Once they finished I went to the communications terminal and opened an encrypted channel to Erail and Ariel. "Ohm what's wrong you look terrible." "Can you get here in the next hour?" I asked as I could feel tears start to form. Erail stated the obvious to which I nodded in agreement with. He then left as Ariel came on. "Do you have any idea why or where they took her?" I nodded again and explained the whole situation and their possible reason for wanting her, not to mention that Danora may have been forced into cheating on me in the attempt to protect me and Dilna and Frin, something I would need to find out later. Erail came back and said the pilot would have them there within twenty minutes using his jump drive. I thanked them and closed the communication.

After they had left with the younglings back to Travaina IV I set about my task to get Tarina back. I grabbed everything I would need to make this both official and personal, also I called the office and let the chief know what was going on before I left and to be prepared with a medical team in the area just in case. I then hoped back in my transport and headed into the heart of the city. I only hoped she and the triplets were still alive, because I don't know what I would do if they weren't. The traffic on the way in was heavy at this time of the day causing me to take longer to get to the main building, but once there I was the only one in the parking area. I got out and headed towards the building after grabbing my brown hat and putting it on. As I walked towards the main entrance I notice two Phalynians standing out front. I reached into my trench coat and turned my energy pistol to full stun, and then pulled out my pipe and lit it. As I got to the front door the two males stopped me. "Please put out your pipe and follow us, as you are expected." "But I just lit it, can't you make an exception this one time?" "I'm afraid not sir, please." I didn't see an extinguishing tray nearby, so I did something uncharacteristic, and gently tapped it on the hand rail letting the hot ashes fall to the ground, adding insult to injury so to speak. The looks and huffs I got from them told me all I needed to know. They took me to an elevator and hit the thirtieth floor button, and then waited in silence with them. Once the elevator stopped and the doors opened I only saw one door with a handpaw scanner near it. "I take it mister big is in there with my mate?" "Yes, she has not been harmed, as she is pregnant. Though I must say she did put up one heck of a struggle." "That would be her police training." I said smirking a bit as both of them looked at me in shock. "This is not Danora?" One of them asked as I shook my head. "No she cheated on me, so I broke off our mateship and found another." This clued me into the fact they didn't have all the information on me as they thought. Once we were at the door and their attention drawn to opening it, I pulled out my pistol and stunned them both, and then proceeded to tie them together. I then used one of their handpaws to open the door and walked in.

What I saw made my heart stop, as Tarina had been tied down to a table with her arms and legs strapped down and spread wide. Her clothes had been completely removed, leaving her naked on the table. The table itself was at a seventy-five degree angle and faced to the window I was looking through. The chair behind a desk that was sitting in front of the window moved as I aimed my weapon at it. "You can put that away Ohm, or you can watch your mate die. It doesn't matter to me." The voice said from the chair. I hesitated for a moment before putting it back in to my coat still powered. "See that's so much better, now all you need to do next is tell me where the progenitor is and she's free to go home with you." He said as he turned around in the chair to face me. It was in that moment I saw who he was. "You're probably wondering why I look like the male that was fucking your mate back on Travaina IV. That's because he was my twin Te'dar, abet a sick twin Te'dar, but family nonetheless. Which brings up another question, how are 'His' younglings doing?" I lit my pipe again and took a good long puff of it before answering him. "Our younglings," referring to Tarina and myself, "are doing just fine, they are almost top grade students in school." I finished. He gave me a nasty look, and I wasn't sure if it was because of referring to Dilna, and Frin as ours, or the lighting of my pipe.

It was at this point I heard Tarina crying out in agony as I looked up, and saw her body shaking. "Well now, this should be interesting to see" he said. She cried out as I saw something coming out of her from between her legs, was she giving birth now without any assistance? I watched as more came out of her, until it broke off and slid down the table on the floor. A few seconds later she started to squirt a yellow fluid from her vaginal area that ran down her legs and the table to the floor, and shortly there after her face and muzzle curled in disgust as she started to heave, and then vomited all over herself causing her to cry in embarrassment. I dropped my pipe and pulled out my weapon again and aimed it right at his head. "What the hell did you do to her?" I angrily said as he hit a button. "What just happened? Why did my body do that? Eww that smell!" I heard her say in a confused tone. He started laughing hysterically. "You'd think she'd never taken a shit before, much less pissed herself." He turned to look at me, and saw that I was aiming for him. "I turned off her Sanitation Implant. This must have been her first time experiencing these bodily functions." He pressed another button, as a large device raised from the floor in the room she was in, "If you don't put that away I will kill her." He said again, as I watched a blade flip out at the head of the machine, and then a small arm like mandible out the top with a, I want to say a six inch needle with some tubing behind it. Tarina saw it, and cried out will shaking her head. "Look Ohm, just give me the information I want and all of this ends, and you both can go home." "I don't know the current information on this individual." I said while slowly lowering my weapon. A door opened in the room Tarina was in and I saw Altair walk in. He started cleaning up the area as well as Tarina, and then went over to a console and started working on it. "Altair what are you doing?" Mr. Helfligger asked over a comm channel. "Every Time you run this machine I need to make sure it's calibrated right so that it functions correctly Sir." "Make it quick." He turned back to me. "Then tell me what you know." "The last bit of news I got about his location stated that he was in the Fayriden Galaxy traveling to start a new colony." I wasn't about to tell him anything more, but outside of knowing he was in this galaxy I couldn't really say where. At this point an alarm sounded from his desk, as he turned and looked at it. "Altair, you are a traitorous bastard." He said calmly as he pressed another button. Altair was suddenly electrocuted as his body flew back hitting the wall and becoming a lump on the floor. Tarina cried out to Altair after witnessing this. I couldn't take it anymore, as I took aim again just as he looked up and fired a full stun shot at him. It hit him hard enough to cause him to crash through the window and onto the floor in the room. I went over to him and bound his handpaws and footpaws together.

Tarina turned and watched me come through the opening and started to weep. I went over to her and kissed her softly. "I'm such a mess." "I don't care your safe right now." "I don't know why my body did that." "It's all right sweetie, this is just your first time experiencing these normal body functions that your sanitation implant normally takes care of for you. Mr. Helfligger turned yours off somehow." "I couldn't reach you mentally with the device they put on my head, it somehow blocks me." I took it off, and the machine powered up and slowly started to move towards her. I tried to remove her tie downs, but they were mechanical and inside the thick metal table. I went to the console to see if I could shut it down, but unfortunately it was locked down. I did notice that Altair had managed to change the type of blood it was looking for to any type, not just hers. I quickly checked on him, and discovered that he was unconscious but alive. I took my hat off and set it down on the console, and walked back to her as I took my coat off and wrapped her in it as best I could. "Ohm, what is it you're hiding from me?" I kept my mind clear as I leaned in a kissed her deeply before pulling back. "I came here to rescue you and the triplets, and I'm going to do that." "Ohm, you're scaring me." "Don't be scared sweetie. I love you so much and I'm going to get you out of that table ok." "Then tell me what you're planning." Her tears were non stop. "Listen, I need you to do something very important." "What?" She said meekly. "Please don't watch."

As I turned to face the machine, and begin my walk towards it as everything seem to slow down. Sounds became muffled around me, except for my own heart beat, and foot steps. They say you see your life flash before your eyes before you die. I never really understood what they meant by that, but here and now, I was remembering my life. Remembering all the happy times, the sad times, and the times of regret. In the last three cycles Tarina had given me the most happiness I had ever had. I had hoped to have a long life with her raising a large family together, but fate it seems didn't agree with what I wanted. My biggest disappointment I would have to say is not clearing the air with Danora. Yes, even now, with all that I had been through with her I still loved her a great deal, and wanted to understand what happened between us, and if it was true what Mr. Helfligger said. Another step. I know this was breaking Tarina's heart, but neither of us had any technical skill to figure out another way of getting her free. I could hear her pleading in my mind to stop, and not to go through with it. They say love makes you crazy, and if this moment was an accurate representation then they were right, because I would walk through an erupting volcano for her.

I completed my final step in front of the machine as it sensed me and attacked. It had two sets of mandible like arms that came out from its sides and grabbed me around my waist and chest areas. The head like section that had the blade and needle on it slid back poised to strike as the machine lifted me off my footpads. I pleaded one last time for her to not watch as the machine struck my chest hard. Tarina yelling my name in pain.

Hearing the sound of my own bones cracking and breaking was intriguing, not to mention the blade entering my chest felt like ice. Even more intriguing was feeling the needle enter my chest, and pushing its way to my heart. Slowly feeling my life fade away, as I watched it drain the blood from my body. The farther parts of my body grew cold quickly because of how rapidly my blood was drained. I started to lose consciousness, as my body went limp. Tarina's cried out as the strength of her love pushed through her telepathic restraints and began to form a telepathic wave. The last thing she ever wanted was to loss the male she loved and cared for so deeply.

It was at this point Helfligger woke up and began to watch with mild satisfaction. Only it didn't last long as Major Garitin pulled him over the wall. He grunted as he landed on the floor, and looked up. "You are under arrest Mr. Helfligger with a very long list of charges. Officers take him away please." Helfligger protested "No wait please, she's starting to awaken, and I need to see this." Garitin replied back, "Sure you do, and Im sure you need to find the mythical progenitor as well." He finished as he motioned the officers to continue while he protested about staying to watch. Garitin then turned and watched, as he hears the familiar sound of tinkling metal rings. "I wondered when you would show up, GrandMaster." He gave a light laugh as he approached. "Yes, I've been watching this whole time."

Tarina was in so much mental anguish, but she couldn't stop herself from reaching Ohm as he hung there on the machine. She touched his cold body and then pulled back. Her tears of pain and cries of agony could be heard throughout the floor, and as fate would have it, yet again. Her mind was joined by three younger ones, "Memaw." "Where's Pawpaw?" "We can't sense him anymore." She didn't know how to respond to them, and only cried harder causing her body to shake violently. She spoke to them mentally, "I'm sorry little ones, I couldn't stop him, he wanted to protect and save us." A chorus of 'No's' rang through her mind.

As Garitin and the GrandMaster stood on watching the GrandMaster spoke up, "Ah this were things should get interesting." "I take it she about to awaken?" The GrandMaster nodded. "You're not going to stop it?" Garitin asked puzzled. "I can't as its beyond my abilities. What we are about to witness hasn't been seen since the dawn of our species."

With their minds blending together the telepathic wave intensified so much so the air felt heavy and sticky. Tarina's fur rippled as if there was a breeze blowing along her body, until it pulsed outward from her and into both Garitin, and the GrandMaster. They watched as she stood up, and looked towards the ceiling of the room. Her eyes began to glow brightly, as her three littles inside her pushed her mind to new depths. It wasn't long after that the glow surrounded her body as an audible ringing was heard around the planet as the wave had finally completely engulfed it. Every Derlenian on the planet felt her mentally, but not in a painful way, but instead as a cry for help. Each of them sharing a bit of their own ability to her, even Garitin, and the GrandMaster. She looked back at Ohm's lifeless body still hanging before her and reached out with her handpaw, as she commanded the machine to return his blood. It surprisingly listened to her as it reversed its system, and in a few minutes his blood was back in his body. She then touched the machine telling it to release him, as the arms holding him there slowly opened. He started to slide off the blade, but she reached in with both arms and pulled him the rest of the way off and laid him on the floor. She saw the wound the blade had made on his body, and leaned in and began to lick it gently. It amazed them both as they watch the wound heal, just from being licked. Once she finished with his chest, she moved to his face and muzzle, as she gently petted his head she leaned in and kissed him while sending a small bit of her energy through him, and jolting his heart back into beating again. He took a deep and sharp breath.

"I'm at a loss of words with what I just saw." Garitin said. "I know, and it's the second one that happened, ever since the progenitor arrived in our galaxy." Garitin turned to him, "Wait he's real?" The GrandMaster nodded.

I opened my eyes hardly believing what had happened, as I looked up at Tarina who was gently stroking my cheek. 'Were her eyes glowing?' I thought to myself. "Please don't sacrifice yourself for me sweetie" she said with tears streaming down her face and muzzle gently landing on me. "There is nothing I wouldn't do to save and protect you, you mean so much to me." I said hoarsely. It was at this point I heard three other voices in my mind. "Pawpaw!" They exclaimed as I felt all of our minds blend together. Ophelia, Omni, and Talina were the names they had picked out for themselves. I slowly and gently touched Tarina's belly while smiling, but I couldn't stop my own tears of happiness for being alive again to hear their voices.

A medical team arrived into the room, and began to examine us and Altair. They turned her sanitation implant back on as it immediately cleaned her up. Altair was being placed on a antigravity stretcher and taken out of the room. "Well, you look good and the young lady is going to need a lot of rest, but the other male is going to the medical center for observations. You may want to visit him in a day or two." He finished with a smile.