Golden Rings

By Odlan Solaz

The spaceport was clamoring with noises when the plastic doors slid open, the strong scent of earth and bovines hitting me in the nose at once. The throng of people behind me pushed past me with a heavy gait, more than one traveler hitting me with their luggage as they passed. I shook the cobwebs out of my mind and moved on, keeping one hand around my bag. It was a very old model, ancient by most galactic standards. A simple rectangular thing that lacked all the modern amenities like a hover board or smart insides, but those things were expensive and consumed a lot of power, the latter one thing I wasn't sure I'd have at my destination.

“If it even exists, for all you know you are about to suffer the worst scam of your life," I muttered to myself, trying to will the knots in my stomach to unbind themselves, “At least that will be worth publishing: a pangalactic scam network that got the best of a young journalist. The readers will love it as much as my boss when she fires me."

An elbow dug into my ribs, sending a sharp prick of pain through my mind. I stumbled to the side and clashed against a meaty wall. The person muttered under their breath as they left, no doubt cursing my “carelessness" to the edge of the universe. I pointedly ignored the glares sent my way as I stood in the middle of the herd of passengers. A quick touch with my brown fingers only brought a faint pinprick of pain from my ribs. My thin hand then went for my shirt's pocket, where the hard bulge inside eased the tension from my shoulders. It wouldn't do to lose my recorder before I even got to the farm. I would be a joke of a journalist if I didn't have a way to record the interviews.

I rejoined the throng of people walking down the wide gray and blue corridors of the space port. My feet carried me forwards but my mind was busy making plans for my visit. I hope Mr. Braun will come pick me up like he promised. I can't make an article about the Taurian Restoration program without at least one interview from a member.

The river of people carried me all the way to the customs office, where an old cow gave me a single look of surprise with her bionic eyes before she worked through my documentation. Her fingers quickly tapping over the wooden table as her eyes stared into space, most likely into an interface that showed straight into her eyes. My journalistic instincts begged me to ask her a million questions but every time I opened my mouth the cow would lift a single finger and her brows would furrow in admonishment. With one last tap an obsidian ring appeared from a hidden compartment on the table. Lines of copper on its inner border betrayed the electronics hidden in it.

“Keep this ring with you at all times Mr. Loreto. You'll find that your passport, and any extranet browsing devices, don't work outside this building. Have a good trip," the cow said with a kind but weary voice, her smile subdued by the bags under her eyes. There is a story there, I thought to myself as I donned the ring on my finger, the black band accenting the dark brown of my skin. I gave the cow one grateful smile before I walked away. There was another story that demanded my attention. I walked along with the river of people as we passed the last set of doors, leading us to the space port proper. It was large, well over ten stories tall. Strong brown columns bore the ceiling with ease while sturdy floor of a deep brown was flooded with people, way more than I had expected from a small farming world. I had little time to appreciate this before the wall of bodies closed around me again, hiding the wonders of the port from my sight. It was just my luck that in a place where some many species were gathered, I happened to be the shortest of them all and the only one without fur. I grabbed my bag with both hands as a cacophony of shouts drowned all else. The words were beyond me, the shouts all mixing together in my head, but the meaning was all too clear. Welcome home.

My muscles slowly unwound themselves as the herd of people finally let go of me, leaving me alone in the space port's reception. I took out the glasses from my shirt's pocket and put them on. A blue sphere appeared on the glass as the OS started and the usual array of programs spread before me. My hands opened the message service out of habit and the device searched for an extranet connection before I remember where I was. A host of holographic ads materialized before me, each one more corny and colorful than the last. I fumbled with my hands as I tried to close the ads but just like in my home world, they refused to give up until I crashed against a large form head first. My body bounced off, my legs tripping over themselves as gravity embraced me with its hold. Large hands prevented the ongoing tragedy, steadying me with the ease one would move a glass. My eyes traveled over the mountain of a man and my body froze in place. The bovine man was three heads taller than me and at least twice as broad. Short brown fur covered his body while a pair of curved sand yellow horns laid at either side of his head. My tongue went into overdrive, switching between exaggerated apologies and heartfelt thanks before a deep rumble forced me to stop. It was a laugh, honest and kind.

“You okay there little one? Didn't hurt you, did I?" the large bull asked with a thunder like voice, concern painted in his eyes.

“Wha-- No, no, I'm, I'm okay. It is me who should apologize, I couldn't see where I was going with all those ads popping in my glasses. Not that I'm making excuses or anything, I really shouldn't walk when–"

“It's okay. I know how those ads can be," the brown bull said, his large hands gently letting go of my shoulders, “Take this little tip from an old bull, keep those glasses off while you're in our port. None of those fancy ad-blockers from the big cities work here after all."

“Ah, I see. Thank you, I will keep that in mind," I replied as I took off my glasses and stashed them in one my shirt's pockets. The bull gave me an approving snort before he turned half way, one large arm extended towards the exit.

“Good, it will help you a lot during your stay Mr. Loreto."

“Wait, how did you–?"

“You're the only human that came out of that flight. There aren't many like you around here," he replied with a steady tone, no malice behind his words. An amused smile crossed his face before he added, “And that ring broadcasts a signal to the person that's going to pick you up."

“Then you're Mr. Braun?" The bull didn't look like the one I had talked with over a month ago, the color was wrong and the horns were different. Then again, it wouldn't be the first time someone modified their appearance on a video call.

“Nope, I'm Andres Matiz. Mr. Braun is back at the farm. He's mighty sorry he couldn't come pick you up but there were things he had to keep an eye on. We were expecting you last week after all."

Heat rushed to my face as my late arrival was brought up, despite the bull's relaxed way of talking a part of me couldn't help but scold me for disappointing them before we even met. “I, I know. I'm really sorry about that, I wanted to be here on time, I swear it, but there was a lock down on Traestia. It was a disaster, an attempted coup that was swiftly put down, and well, I came here as fast as I could."

“Aye, heard about that from the Sire himself, bloody business it was. You were lucky nothing happened to you." The bull's amber eyes were clouded with emotion as the words left his mouth, his tail growing still for the first time since we had met.

“Yeah, that's more excitement than I ever wanted to get." I pushed aside the buzzing at the back of my head, knowing this was far from a good place to discuss such a thing. And you just met him too, have some restraint.

Amber eyes fell on me, appraising me with an expert's measure. A strong snort left the bull's pink nose and the bull's tail flicked like a whip behind him before he said, “Well, I do hope your stay with us helps you relax Mr. Loreto. Now, give me that bag and we can be on our way."

The bull led me through the last set of plastic doors and right into the afternoon's sun. The hot air hit me like a wall of bricks when I left behind the cool air of the spaceport, the humidity in the air cooking me inside my shirt. The bull seemed none too affected by it in his loose green shirt and rough-looking pants, his gait speaking of comfort and security. In a matter of minutes we had navigated the parking lot's lines until we reached a large hover. It was old fashioned, of that much I was certain, the rectangular utilitarian look hadn't been used since my father's time, and yet it lacked any bumps or scratches and even the dirt wasn't as much as I had expected. A soft laughter came from my side as Andres took out a small device and with a swipe of his finger, the hover came to life. A deep heat settled into my cheeks while I turned my face away in shame, great way to do a first impression. My companion paid it no mind and with one swipe of the device over the large trunk, the top rose and welcomed my bag in.

The silence remained as we climbed into the cabin and adjusted our seat belts. The bull focused on the many instruments that lit up the controls. He worked them over with care and patience, as if he was treating with an old stubborn companion. In a matter of minutes the hover rose into the air and flew over the fields of green.

“So...how far are we from the farm?" I asked after a couple more minutes of silence, my restraint crumbling against my boredom.

“Should be about an hour. This baby is good for transporting goods but not so much for speed." Andres said as he patted the steering wheel.

“That far?! I thought this was the closest space port!"

“What? Oh, yeah, I forgot you all have the jets where you're from. It's a wonder you don't have that many accidents with their reputation," the bull replied, his eyes never parting from the empty space before us, “We're about 300 km away from the farm. There's no supersonic train in this part of the world, not that the land would allow for one if we wanted it, But we make do with our own hovers. Slow they may be but you can fix them with just about anything and they can endure the elements a lot better than your fancy jets."

“You seem to know a lot about jets and the cities."

“For a country bumpkin you mean?" he said with a snort, his hands tightening on the wheel.

“No, no, just, in general," I replied with an apologetic tone, unwilling to burn my bridges on my first hour on the planet.

“I was raised in one of them myself. Estaria, one of the major cities of the inner Taurian circle. It was a beauty back in the day. Less so nowadays after the war and the crashes. You'd have liked it, less busy than the capital but with plenty of green to go around. Spent most of my life there, lived with my folks near the equator, it was like an eternal summer."

“What brought you here? If you don't mind me asking that is."

“No, I don't mind. That's what you're here for after all, Mr. Loreto."

“You don't have to tell me anything you're not comfortable with."

“Thanks, that's appreciated little one." Andres said as he leaned back into the seat, a few seconds passed in silence before he pointed towards my pocket and I fumbled to put on my glasses. The large bull chuckled at my antics and a large sigh left his mouth as the recording interface appeared before my eyes. I gave the bull a quick nod as a red dot appeared on the corner of my vision, indicating the device was recording.

“I guess I came here for the same reason everyone else did. I didn't have anything to return to but old memories and regret. I was an engineer you know, drafted into service when things got real bad in the war. I was around thirty back then, and I feared the world would end every single day. It did end in a way, when the war was over, well, there wasn't a single town in the whole country that hadn't felt its touch. I tried to go back home once, during the war, before the Falling Skies happened." Andres's tone was lethargic and melancholic, his body hunched over the wheel as he spoke. “I'd like to say that those days with my parents were wonderful and that I forgot all about the war, but that'd be lying and my parents raised no liar. I was restless the whole time, waiting for an alarm to go off, for reports to come and for my endless shifts to begin again. My dad was fuzzy the whole time, doing the housework with the drive of an Olympic athlete while mom withdrew inside her mind when she was at home. They tried to help me in their own ways but I wasn't comfortable in my bed, or in my own skin for that matter. Then, well, the conflict escalated with the Falling Skies, those shots pierced through our shields like a needle through a globe. My parents survived the attacks mind you, and they still live in the old apartment to this day but, those weeks when I didn't know anything, when every news we got was worst than the last. They destroyed me."

“And you came here? When the war was over?"

The bull took a few moments to organize his thoughts, his leg jumping in place with nervous energy while his tail curled around one of the hover's levers.

“No, I didn't come here right away. I spent a few months hopping from planet to planet looking for...something, anything really. I didn't know exactly what only that I'd recognize it when I found it."

“Did you?" I asked with perhaps too much force as the bull's ears shook like leaves. My companion spared me one side glance, his amber eye scanning my own pair for something. He shook his head, his horns glinting in the fading sunlight.

“Yeah, I reckon I did. It was hard, I can admit that now. I was in a dark place back then, some times I go back into that...Yeah, sometimes I go back there," Andres said with an emptiness to his voice that shook me to the core. He didn't turn his head but the tuft of his tail rubbed my leg in commiseration. “It wasn't Mr. Braun who found me, I don't think he'd spared a look my way. Raul however, that bull knows what to say to make lay your life bare before him and put you back together. He found me at my lowest, drunk out of my wits and shouting more than one unkind thing to the void."

A self depreciating grin made its way into the brown bull's face, his tone dripping with shame, “I almost got in a fight too, with Mr. Braun if you can believe it. I doubt I'd have walked out of that one with my horns intact. Raul calmed me down, gave me a dressing down my own dad would've been proud off and then... he invited me to his home for the night."

“He invited you home?!" I yelled, the unexpected development breaking my professional demeanor.

“Yeah, he's like that and he's got an eye for it too. Mr. Braun may have built the farm by himself, and he may command us all when it comes to production, but it is Raul who handles the hiring and his word is final."

“And what happened next?"

“Well, I woke up at noon the next day in an unknown bed to the worst head ache I had ever had, not that it tipped me off or anything, I had woken up in worse places by that point. Mr. Braun came in then with Raul, the Sire wearing a frown that would have been at home on a demon's face. Raul offered me to take me in for a season, fix some of the equipment that was broken, help pick up some of the crops, stuff like that. I'd had half a mind to refuse the offer right there and then, but the first time I tried to say so Mr. Braun shot me a glare that could have frozen a lake," Andrew admitted with more life in his voice, the distant look in his eyes replaced by a fond one, “I stayed at the farm that season, worked my ass off too. It turns out that most of the equipment needed a throughout check and maintenance and I was the only bull free to do it. One season became two, then three and so on. By my second year here I knew I wouldn't leave for a long time."

“I see and did you, pardon my indiscretion, but did you join the program? You know the one were you… sow yours seeds for the future" I said, feeling the heat return to my face as I expected it would happen every time I broached the subject.

“Fancy way of saying we give a lot of cum to the government." Andres chuckled at his own comment, his laugh lifting the somber mood that had filled the air. “No, I did not join. Mr. Braun offered it up to me once but I ain't that kind of bull. I'm not sure I'd ever be a father either. I help the country in my own way and the others respect that."

“And how do you feel? About the whole program I mean."

“It was weird at first, felt downright cheap way more often than I care to admit. But I can see why it is needed. I lost too many friends in that war and there are too many that can no longer– that won't have any children without help. This helps a bit and though I can't say I trust those government types much, I won't say no to a bit of good in this world."

---

The Golden Rings farm appeared on the horizon after an hour of travel, though it took well over ten minutes before we reached the main site. Six wooden buildings stood tall in a clearing, surrounded by bountiful fields. The hover landed on the farm with a soft thud, the lights of the controls fading as Andres pushed open his door. Fresh air hit my nose as I climbed out of the hover, the last rays of the afternoon sun tinting everything with a warmth orange. My back popped like a coke when I stretched and I had to stiffen a yawn as the travels of the day took their tool on my body.

“Here we are, hope the trip wasn't too boring for you Mr. Loreto," the bull said with a happy tone, his steps muffled by the packed earth.

“It was fine Andres, slower than I am used to but I managed to get a good view of the farms. And are you sure I can't convince you to call me Brian?"

“Sorry, can't do. You're our guest and you will get the respect you deserve Mr. Loreto." the bull said as he took out my bag from the trunk. “At least from me, can't say about the others."

“They're a lot less stubborn?"

“Heh, no. But they're a lot looser with things like that. See, here comes one of them. Good afternoon Mr. Gomez." Andres shouted the last part towards a portly bull that was coming out of the main house. His charcoal black fur stood out in the sea of brown and green that surrounded us. The tauren gave us a firm nod before he crossed the distance, his thick legs bulging his black pants with every stride.

“Good afternoon. You're back early. No problems on the way?" the new bull asked with a rough rumble of a voice.

“No, no problems at all sir. There wasn't too much fuss at the port either, must be a slow day," Andres replied with a respectful tone he had kept hidden during the whole ride. Mr. Gomez gave Andres a short nod before his eyes turned to me, forest green orbs staring at me dispassionately.

“And this is our guest?" there was no malice in his tone, though the pair of ivory horns pointed my way didn't help me feel welcome.

“Yeah, hello. Brian Loreto from Extra Galactic News Circle. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance," I chimed in with as much cheer as I could muster, offering my hand to the bull.

“Daniel Gómez. Farmer and engineer. It's a pleasure," The bull said as his hand swallowed my own for a shake. Despite the obvious strength behind those muscles, Mr. Gomez's hold was controlled and gentle. A soft huff left his nose before he let go of my hand and turned his gaze upon Andres.

“Sarah left some things for you at the workshop, said that you should work your magic on them or trash them if needed. Let Raul know if we'll need replacements."

“I'll get right on it sir, hopefully there won't be a need to bother Mr. García."

“Hmm, good."

“Pardon for not walking you to your room Mr. Loreto but duty calls. Mrs. Medina is not someone you want to get on your case," Andres told me as he handed me my back, whispering the last bit in my ear.

“It's okay, I understand. Good luck with... Whatever it is you're going to do."

Andres gave me one last grin before he walked away, heading to one of the large buildings by the edge of the farm.

“That's all you brought?" Mr. Gomez asked after a few seconds of silence, his meaty finger pointing towards my bag.

“Yeah, I hope it's not too much. I didn't really know what to bring." I confessed as his analyzing eyes spread the pinpricks of nerves across the back of my neck.

“Looks heavy. Give it to me and follow me. Your room's this way." The bull didn't wait for a reply before he had picked up my bag and easily carried it with one hand, as if it was filled with feathers instead of all I owned on this side of the universe.

“Ah, thank you. I hope I didn't pull you away from something important," I replied trying to be polite though I had the feeling Mr. Gomez wouldn't have come for me if he hadn't had a message to deliver.

“Not much going on right now. Just keeping an eye on things," the bull replied after a few moments, his strides kept short enough that I could keep up with him with ease.

“Is it necessary? I thought there wasn't much crime around these parts."

“It's not crime. Drones can fail, animals can mess with the plants. Stuff like that."

“Is Mr. Braun busy handling that then? Andres told me he was needed in the farm."

“No, Teddy is in the barn. It's milking day and he handles all of it," Mr. Gomez replied with amusement, his tail brushing against my leg with every other step.

“Ah I see, and this miking is--"

“Cum, yeah."

I was taken aback by the bluntness of the bull, the seriousness of his tone so different from the discreet inquiries that were more common in my world. Mr. Gomez kept walking towards the main house without missing a step and I had to trot to catch up with him.

“Pardon if this is too forward of me, but are you... a part of the program too?"

“Yeah." Mr. Gomez didn't say anything else as he opened the door to the main house. It was a tidy and welcoming place, wider and taller than I was used to but considering who it housed it all made sense. Despite its rustic-looking exterior, the insides of the house would have fit any house in my home world. Sturdy sofas and chairs were strewn around the living room, shinning with the eagerness of synthetic leather. Lines of green and blue traveled over the top of the walls while a holographic screen in the middle of the living room showed the evening news. The insides were cool without being chilly though I could not find any vents or AC units anywhere I looked. My appreciation of the place was met with another huff and out of the corner of my eyes I saw a smile cross Mr. Gomez's face. If the bull noticed he didn't say anything and walked in. I was quick to follow, the door closing behind me with a soft click. Mr. Gomez guided me through one long hallway and then through a set of stairs. His hooves didn't make a sound over the “wooden" floor, nor did they slide as I would have expected. Instead his steps and mine were muffled completely. I filed that in my head as something I'd have to ask later, but a more pressing question weighted in my mind and the silence goaded me into asking it. So I did.

“Could you tell me how you got involved in it? Why you thought to do it?"

Mr. Gomez stopped at the top of the stairs, casting a questioning look at me over his shoulders before he replied with an even tone, “If I must."

“It's okay if you don't want to, I'm just trying to figure all this out. I admit it was quite a shock to hear about the war and the program they put in place after that. So I can understand if it's a sore subject."

The bull shook his head and waved at me to follow, taking me down another long hallway flanked with rows of doors. “It's not that. I need some time to figure things out."

The black bull guided me to the farthest room in the hallway and showed me inside with a curt nod. I wasn't sure what I had been expecting when I came to this farm, perhaps I had watched one too many movies and had prepared myself to sleep in the open air or on a pile of hay. I certainly wasn't expecting to see a copy of my old student dorm. No, it was better than what I had had back then. The bed that sat in the middle of the room was at least twice the size of the one I had, and I held no doubts that even Mr. Gomez would rest easy on it. The desk to the side held a sleek terminal, one that was better than what I owned at home. The single chair that stood in front of it looked old and worn, yet its wood still looked sturdy. For the second time that day, I stared in surprise at the scene before me, though at least Mr. Gomez had the decency to pretend he didn't notice.

“This will be your room for as long as you stay here. We have dinner at nine, when everyone has cleaned themselves and tidied up their stations. The bathrooms are the doors in the middle of the hallway, you'll see their signs once I add you to our network. Breakfast is usually had an hour before dawn though Teddy told us to make an exception for you because you're new here. You'll know when lunch is ready, trust me," Mr Gomez said after he had deposited my bag in a corner of the room, his eyes analyzing me once more.

“Thank you once more, I'll try not to be too much of a bother."

“Thank the Sire when you see him, he's the one hosting you," the bull replied without missing a beat, his tone lacking the edge of judgement.

“I'll be sure to do that," I replied, giving the larger man a strained smile. It was hard to keep up with the bull's rhythm and his idiosyncrasies. The lack of any recognizable expression on his face most of the time didn't help to ease my nerves. A couple of minutes passed without either of us saying a word. The silence was as heavy as those dark green eyes sized me up, unblinking and unflinching. I gulped as the bull crossed his arms, a pensive hum coming from his throat.

“Do you still want that story?" he finally asked, his tail forming anxious eights behind him.

“I do, but you don't need to push yourself for me. We can do this–"

“No. It's better now. We're both free and the others aren't around."

Mr. Gomez took a seat in the study chair, the material groaning with the effort to hold up his weight. He pointed towards the bed and I scrambled to take a seat myself, with much less grace. My glasses were set up a few seconds later, the recording function working without a hitch. The black bull let out a deep breath before he began his tale.

“Teddy didn't take well to the military life. None of us did. It was one thing when we were fighting for survival, but the moment the peace talks were over we handed in our resignations. A few months later we had all moved back here to his farm. His parents were still alive back then, but the worry and their age had taken their toll on them. The farm was in disrepair and much of it was left unused.

“Teddy was crestfallen when he saw it. He had told us a million tales of his old farm, built it up for months over long dinners and then even that dream was gone. He cried all night that first day, muttering apologies to us all before he fell asleep. He was a farmer through and through though, and soon he was back to working the land. We helped were we could, Raul, Sarah, Lydia and I, but only Lydia knew her way around, so we were more of a hindrance than a help. They never complained. I think they needed someone to teach, to pass on their knowledge so the crushing state of things didn't wear them down. Or maybe they're just that patient."

The bull took out a small chip from his breast pocket and with a swipe of his finger a hologram came to life in the middle of the room. It was a picture of seven taurians dressed in overalls. Most of them were unfamiliar, though there were two I recognized right away, the younger versions of Mr. Braun and Mr. Gomez. The first had a carefree smile as he hugged as many of the other taurians as he could with his long arms, the second stood out a bit to the side, a slight smile decorating his muzzle.

“It was hard work. Every day. The land gives no quarter to those who seek to work it. We weren't used to that then and Teddy pushed us hard to reach impossible goals. We fought a lot during those days. We still had a lot of pain to work through, lots of loss too. It soured things for a bit, but in time we got into the swing of things and the fighting grew less common. Make no mistake, the situation was still dire, reviving a farm is no easy work and it requires a lot of funds and work. News of the program came in then. Serve your country in a new way, be the bridge to a new tomorrow, help your fellow Taurian. It was a bunch of cheap talk if you ask me, but it came with some benefits. Money was a big one, big loans made with low interest. Extra help in getting equipment for the farm and a direct channel to the few remaining experts. The only thing we had to do was give a part of our produce to some contractors and 'generic material' to some scientists. Seemed like a fair deal to me. Life for life."

Mr. Gomez put away the hologram with a quick move of his wrist and returned the chip to his shirt's pocket. There was a bit of humidity in his eyes but his tone remained even and precise.

“It took a lot of talking before we agreed to it though, Raul in particular was wary of the whole thing. Bad experiences with doctors before he said. Sarah was all for it, she understood a good part of it better than the rest of us put together. She's bright like that. Teddy agreed to it after a few weeks of discussion and accepted to become the Herd Sire. It was mostly paperwork, he had taken to the role of leadership long before that and he had earned our trust and respect over the years. Still, he put down a few conditions before he accepted. He was the first to go in, got the full check and the improvements. Sarah and Raul kept a close eye on him for months before and after the improvements but nothing popped up as abnormal, so we joined the program too. It's different depending on your equipment you see. If you've got a dick, you provide material for a week every other month. A few gallons a year total. Yeah gallons, I did say we got improved. The others go to a facility every six months, and they're on a treatment for a month before they go. Makes sure everything is on the best conditions or so I'm told."

“Have you ever wondered what they do with that?" I asked the bull as I tried to process all the information he had given me. I had done my research before I came but it was still hard to believe it was real.

“Officially, it's being used to make lots of calves and ensure our country doesn't come crashing down in a couple of decades."

“And unofficially?"

Mr. Gomez snorted, turning his eyes away from mine as he measured his words. “Probably research, experiments and the like. Wouldn't be surprised if they tried to create a super soldier or something. Could have used a couple back in the war."

“I remember reading that the adult Taurian population was severely reduced in the war, I imagine quite a few are still suffering from the sequels of the conflict. Do you know how the calves will be taken care of in that case?"

That had been one of the questions on my mind the whole way here. Like the parents, the fates of all the kids were a closely guarded secret, or at least kept secret from outsiders. I had tried enough times to understand that much. Mr. Gomez gave me a wary glance before he spoke in a hushed tone.

“This is only what I've heard so I can't promise you it's the truth. A lot of the calves go to herds like ours. Lots of adults available to take care of the kids and earn a living. More than a few have gone to couples that could no longer conceive themselves. Orphans and the like have been taken in by the state, with the help of several NGOs. The biggest hole is being patched by immigrants. Hands are in short supply, so we welcome all the help we can get."

“And do you think this situation can be kept for long?"

“No, something's going to give sooner rather than later. Of that I'm sure. Perhaps we'll be the only generation that lives with the program, or perhaps there'll be others. But it won't go on forever, that's for sure."

The black bull grew silent, his elbows resting on his knees as his eyes turned distant. I waited for him to continue, but after five minutes without a word, I shut off the recorder. Mr. Gomez didn't move until I was halfway through taking out the contents of my bag. His ears flickered like a bird's wings and a strong huff left his nose. His eyes met mine once more, conflicting emotions fighting on those green fields.

“Is that enough?" he asked with a grave and tired voice. I nodded at him and watched the tension ebb from his shoulders.

The black bull stood up with morose movements, yet his presence was diminished. He nodded my way before his strong legs carried him towards the door but he didn't leave. He turned towards me, his tail curled around his leg, and whispered “Thank you. For coming."

He closed the door as he left and it was my turn to sit down at the chair. A sigh left my mouth, the trip and the whirlwind of emotions finally taking their toll on me. My eyelids struggled to stay open and with every passing moment, the hardness of the chair became more comfortable. It took all of my remaining will to stash away my things and strip down to my pants. A quick nap will make it all right, I won't last through dinner otherwise. I thought as I laid back on the soft mattress, a yawn escaping my lips. Sleep caught me in its dark hold moments later, and the world made way for the peace of dreams.

---

“You're finally awake. Good," Mr. Gomez said from the table, closing the holographic interface in front of him with a wave of his hands, “We had a lot planned for you today, but we'll have to shift things around."

I repressed a yawn as I entered the kitchen, my mind still trapped in the drowsiness of sleep. Sleep had found me easily last night and it refused to let go of me this morning, turning my quick nap into a 12 hour session in Morpheus's realm.

“Good morning. I'm sorry for all the troubles." I said once I had pushed past the cobwebs in my mind and took a seat at the long table. Like every other piece of furniture in the house, the table was big, sturdy and made to look like wood. But it wasn't. The moment I placed my hands on the table a hologram appeared before my eyes. It showed a live news reel, with the anchors speaking about crops' prices and some debacle with immigration from a nearby country. I couldn't focus on it long enough for it to make sense and the low rumble for the bovine anchors soon lulled me into a state between dreaming and waking. A soft click on the table brought me back to the present, the sweet smell of butter and cooked corn eliciting a rumble out of my stomach.

“Huh? What are these?" I asked as I took a look at the plate. Three round patties, about the size of my fist, rested on the white porcelain, their sunny yellow surface crowned by a brown circle on the top. Steam came out of a mouth like opening to its side, filled to the brim with a variety of food though I could only recognize the perky rose of ham."

“Arepas. Common dish around these parts. We harvest a lot of corn. It fills you up, it can be stuffed with anything you like and with the proper equipment, they are easy to make," Mr Gomez replied with a proud tone, a smile clear in his eyes, “Teddy said to give you the full experience. I hope you enjoy black beans and fried plantains. They're all homegrown. Though we get the cheese and ham from Daisy a few farms over, that girl knows her cheese."

“Oh, I ...I see. That's kind of you all. Could you hand me a fork and a knife."

Mr. Gomez lips curled into a smile, his arms crossed in front of his chest while the shirt he wore strained to contain the muscles beneath it.

“You eat arepas with your hands. Age old tradition," he said with a tone that brokered no discussion.

“I see, well, I wouldn't want to break the tradition."

“Good. Now eat up. We've got plenty to do."

Mr. Gomez left the room with his tail swinging behind him with obvious glee. I shook my head and recovered from my brief interaction with the bull. He was still hard to read and I could never tell if he was joking or angry at me. I set that aside for another day and focused on the bounty before me. The arepas were hot and it took me a few seconds of shifting them in my hands until I could grab the hard shell. I gulped with anticipation as I brought the patty close to my mouth, the mix of aromas was strange but pleasing. I opened my mouth as much as I could and barely managed to fit a bit of the arepa in my mouth. The first bite was overpowering and surprising, the flavors all mixing in my mouth. There was the saltiness of cheese, the spiciness and sweetness of the black beans, the soft sweetness of the plantains, the rich flavor of ham and all of that tied in by the buttery softness of the arepa. It was strange and enticing and in no time at all I was reclining against the chair, my stomach pleased with the new haul while a smile rose to my face.

“It seems you liked it," Mr. Gomez said with the same proud tone from before.

“Yeah, it was delicious. It was a nice surprise."

“Good, Marty will love to hear that," the bull said as he took the plate away, his tail swinging energetically behind him. A soft whirring came from the kitchen moments later and it wasn't long before Mr. Gomez came back, drying his hands on a small towel.

“Now, let's begin with the tour."

My eyes went wide at that, the heaviness in my gut made me pale at the mere thought of walking.

“Could we...wait for a few minutes? I don't think I could walk a lot right now."

Mr. Gomez eyes assessed me like a machine, scanning my body up and down with a single swipe of his eyes before he replied.

“I expected as much. The others are the same, eating too much before work. It doesn't matter this time. Here, look at this." The large bovine tapped the side of the table and a holographic screen appeared before both of us, a series of tap replaced the light green of the feed with a video feed. The scene was familiar, large fields of green and yellow that extended in every direction without end. “I've rigged a few of the drones to do sweeps over different areas so you could see them from here. This should give you an idea of our farm, though you'll have to talk to the others for details."

The feed broke off into twelve different windows, each one showing a different part of the farm. I recognized a few of them from my brief flight yesterday but it was clear there was plenty more to see.

“This is what you meant by a tour?"

A conspiratorial smile appeared on Mr. Gomez face before he replied, “Andres mentioned you liked the scenery. I thought you could use a closer look for your article."

“Thank you, that's...that's really helpful." I replied, feeling a bit embarrassed by the gesture. “So, where do we begin?"

Mr. Gomez smile grew wider and he tapped one of the many feeds, enlarging it and directing the drone through a few maneuvers.

---

“Teddy, the reporter is here!" Mr. Gomez yelled inside the barn, his voice raising over the moans and the rumble of the machinery.

“Coming, give me a sec! Oh fuck that's good. Alright, alright coming now," shot back a deep voice with a musical tone. Mr. Gomez shook his head in exasperation though his tail hit my leg with every energetic swing. A few minutes of silence passed before a small door by the side of the barn slid open. There stood the familiar form of Mr. Braun, albeit much taller than my call with him had led me to believe. He was without a doubt, one of the largest Taurians I had met, raising above even Mr. Gomez. Bone white fur covered his thick body, with patches of a deep black scattered all over. A loose plaid shirt and rough pants thankfully covered most of his form, though the thick musk that hung near him left little doubt as to what he had been doing.

“Mr. Braun, a pleasure to meet you. Brian Loreto from the Extra Galactic News Circle. We had a video conference last month." I said once I had undone the knot in my throat, offering a handshake to the Herd Sire.

“Yeah, I remember you. Glad to see you could make it. It was awful what happened over there with the coup and all that. Got me worried too," Mr. Braun replied with a warmth tone, his hand gently swallowing mine in a handshake.

“He couldn't stop turning in his sleep," came the voice from Mr. Gomez from the side, amusement woven in his tone.

“How could I not Daniel? Thinking I sent a poor reporter to his death for a simple article," replied Mr. Braun with a sorrowful yet musical tone.

“There was no need to worry, the ship was kept on lock down as soon as it hit port," I was quick to point out, using as gentle a tone as I could.

“Well I know that now, didn't help much back then. You hear lots of things on the web. Hard to know which one is true in events like that."

“Teddy," Mr. Gomez said with a firm tone, his tail coming to a stop for the first time since the bigger bull appeared.

Mr. Braun help up his arms in surrender, a move that earned him a resigned sigh from the smaller bull.

“Right, right. I'm glad you could make here. Can I call you Brian? Good, I was never one for formalities. Part of why I left the army first chance I got." Mr. Braun said in an energetic rush, his black eyes barely waiting for my nod of confirmation before he moved on.

“I can understand that I wasn't much for formalities growing up either. I've acquired a taste for them over the years."

The bigger bull's ear twitched at that before he nodded and one of his meaty arms hugged me close to his side.

“I can guess why, but anyway. Welcome to our little piece of the universe, Golden Rings farm. Has anyone told you about it?"

Excitement and pride were heavy in his tone as he turned me to face the tall fields that surrounded us, filled to bursting with more produce than I had ever known.

“They told me a bit. But they wanted me to hear it from you. Get it straight from the source I guess."

I caught a muffled laugh from my side before Mr. Braun's big black eyes met mine and his lips spread into a wide smile. He waved at the retreating form of Mr. Gomez and hugged me closer to him, drowning me in his thick musk.

“Figures, they're all shy like a newborn calf when it comes to these things. But that's cute as well, so I'm not feeling too bad about it." Mr. Braun said as he guided me away from the barn and closer to the fields, where the scent of freshly moved earth subdued the bovine musk.

My glasses were set up with a few quick moves and the recording interface spread before my eyes in no time. I gave the bull a thumbs up and with a nod, he started his tale.

“Well, I guess I should start at the beginning. You see lad, this farm has been in my family for six generations, though it hasn't always been easy or prosperous. There were many more Brauns working it back in the day, but I was an only child, and as I grew up I saw my family die or leave the country for a better life in the city. Perhaps they got their life or perhaps they didn't, but it meant that a lot of duties fell on me. I won't lie and say that it was a burden I picked up easily, some days I outright hated it, but I took it up all the same. It was the only proper thing to do and I could do nothing less for my folks. Looking back, those were hard but fruitful days, though we certainly could have done with more. The war almost destroyed us though, with all the taxes and demands from the government we could hardly keep up. I could have avoided it all you see, as an only child from a far off world I was exempt from the draft. The money made me join, enough to keep my folks afloat and safe. It was a silly idea that wormed into my mind and didn't leave until I was on the shuttle to training camp."

Mr. Braun muscles grew tense, his carefree tail became deadly still as a tired sigh left the bull. His arms fell from my side and for a couple of minutes, my glasses recorded nothing but the uncaring plants.

“Then it was war and blood. I joined in with a whole batch of farm kids that dreamed of glory and justice. I'm one of the lucky few who still breathe. I don't remember their names but I have never forgotten their quirks. Those were dark days. I watched too many die while I took cover, too many who were stolen from us. I listened to their last words and sent it to their families. In the midst of all that I somehow rose to the highest post a draftee like me could get. Then, the Falling Skies happened and our military lost ships and officers in large numbers as our cities burned in the aftermath. Me and a few hundred other soldiers were called back from the front lines and given an intensive course on battle tactics using experimental education methods. It all worked out in the end, the information was in our minds, the experience in our memories and with the standard implants every Taurian had, we could execute operations like all the other officers ever dreamed of pulling off.

“That's how I rose to chief petty officer by the end of the war. Many called me a hero, they said I had saved their lives countless times and made my fair share of miracles. But I new saw it that way. Those I lost, their last words, their regrets, I could never forget them. A side effect of the experimental methods I'm told. My memory is damn near perfect and every single failure ever since haunts me. And I was one of the lucky ones. Still, the war was done and I said fuck it and dropped the military like a hot pan. I was a married bull by that time, and I needed to do something better with my life."

The bull grew silent, his eyes tightly shut as his fists shook by his side. I looked away so the former soldier could recover. A series of huffs came from the side, growing in strength and frequency the longer the silence stretched. I touched the bull's back with one hand, tentatively tracing circles to help him calm down.

“So you came back here?" I asked when his breathing had stabilized while my hand kept rubbing his back.

“Aye, seemed like a good idea at the time," Mr. Braun replied with a strained voice, “Retire to the field with my loves and some friends. The wife was in love with it, the husband grew to like it."

“Wait, you had two mates?"

A small chuckle escaped the bull's lips, life coming back to his voice.

“Yeah, I had. I guess those things are less common in your galaxy but over here marriage is more flexible, especially these days."

“So, you've got a wife and a husband?" I asked with more surprise in my tone than was professional, Mr. Braun's ears twitched and a smile tweaked his lips.

“I had one of each at the time, yeah. It's three of each right now," the large bull replied with a proud tone, his eyes turning towards the main house, “It took a lot of work to balance, even more to keep it healthy but we've found our rhythm."

“So, you've got a harem? Andres said you were chosen as Herd Sire."

The thin tail whipped the air behind the bull at the mentioned, but his tone was calm and even when he replied.

“No, not a harem. a polycule and a big one at that. Though I know why you thought of that, many think the same. We all love each other and support each other, it's not always about sex and not all relationships have me as their center. Even if I'm called the herd sire, that only means that I'm seen as the head of the household whenever such a thing is needed. Mostly mediation or dealing with bureaucracy. And believe me, the former is rarely needed."

“I see. So how did the program work into all that?"

The bull's tail got rigid at that question. His meaty hand rose to scratch the base of his horns while an embarrassed smile appeared on his face.

“Ah well, that was a curious one. You see I wasn't sure what to make of the program at first. Back then it was only Daniel, Sarah, Lydia, Raúl and me. And we had our hands full keeping things straight. The farm was smaller, yes, but we had less budget for equipment and a lot of work to do. It was my dear mates who convinced me of it, and it was them that handled a good chunk of the paperwork as well. You've no idea how much of it there was. Took us weeks to work through it. I figure you have tried to interview some of the families, so you must know by now."

I gave the bull a nod as the memories of months of research came to mind.

“Yeah it's a black box, I couldn't get a thing from anyone about it."

“I've been told it's for security and that the kids will get full disclosure once they are adults, should they want it. As for me, well I get told whenever another calf of mine is born. Last I heard my 516th calf was born a month ago. Still a far cry from the millions we lost, but it's getting there. One at a time."

I placed a quick mark on that part of the recording for future reference. It was obviously a point of pride for the bull, so perhaps it would be the same for the others.

“What can you tell me about the program itself? How it works and how was it for you?"

“Well, there's a few things I can't really explain. They fly over my head whenever they come up. But it all started with a check up, a full body check up and a full genetic analysis. The war had a toll on our fertility I'm told and the NGO in charge was focusing on those who had the best chances for success. Then after that, I was given a few shots to up my defenses and I was monitored for a few months while I was trained in the duties of the program. I'm sure you can imagine what that means. My balls never hurt as much as those days, but it was necessary to know what kind of strain I was going to be in even with the enhancements. After a few more papers were signed I begun my life as a breeding bull of sorts."

I fought back the heat spreading through my face as images of Mr. Braun's training flashed before my mind, each one hotter than the last. I gulped and asked the first question that I could think of, regrettably.

“When you say enhancements, what do you mean?"

There was no denying the smile in Mr. Braun's face, or the pleased swings of his tail behind him. His eyes shone with mischief for a moment, before his deep voice rang through the air.

“I believe it's better if I show you. Come with me into barn. The girls are all out getting their check ups, so I'm afraid you'll have to wait for their interviews but a few of the boys are right at work."

The bull's long strides closed the distance between him and the barn with marked ease while I struggled to keep up, my words catching in my throat.

“You, you mean, they're –"

“Yes, last week they'd be working on the farm instead but what can we do."

Mr. Braun's hand stopped a few centimeters from the door's lock, the green light at the top of the metal frame shone with anticipation of the incoming touch. He waited until I gave him a tentative nod before he hit the panel and the door slid open, releasing the full strength of its contents. The moans were the first thing I registered, they went from low and deep to outright shouts, but they all were thick with bliss. The smell came next, thick and heavy, it screamed of hours of sex if not days. The large bull chuckled as he led me inside the barn, the deceptively fragile wooden exterior giving was to stout frames of wood and metal that kept the ceiling firmly in place. A series of rooms were distributed all along the far side, with tall wooden panes protecting the privacy of the occupants, if not drowning their clear pleasure. The door closed behind me with a zwoosh as Mr. Braun guided me to the opposite end of the barn, where a few tables held mounts of clothes that could have served as curtains. Mr. Braun chuckled softly as he approached the only clear space on the tables, his hands already unclasping his shirt's buttons.

“I hope you can forgive our bluntness with these things but after years doing it, well, we have lost a lot of our inhibitions. It helps when a cutie like you comes by." The large bull highlighted his compliment with a coy wink and a flex from his powerful arms.

“Ah! Uh, thank you." I stammered, fighting down the heat spreading through my face. A battle that was lost when the white and black bovine threw his shirt on the table. I gulped loudly as the thick body was revealed, strong muscles balanced with a healthy dose of fat. The body of true strength if any of the magazines I read had any truth to them. As his hands glided down to his pants, a new warmth spread through my body and I had to bite my lip to remain focused. Calm down, you're here on an interview!

“Alright, let me get this thing off so you can see it well," Mr. Braun said, completely oblivious to my struggles, “The others are probably too deep into their rut to show it off."

“I think there's a lot to show off already," My horny mind said before I could stop it, another wave of embarrassment coursing through me. The large bull's ears twitched before his lips widened into an honest smile and he flexed his arms for me.

“Why thank you, I worked hard for these." His pants and underwear joined the rest of his clothes on the table, revealing the treasure hidden underneath. A plump sheath stood proudly between his legs, a hint of pink already poking from the top. Below it hung the heaviest ballsack I had ever seen, it's creamy white fur highlighting the smooth golden ring that crowned his testicles.

Mr. Braun shot me a knowing grin before his deep voice broke me out of my stupor.

“Now, a lot of the enhancements went to the immune system, reinforcing them with vaccines and a few nanobots to ensure we wouldn't keel over and die from your random disease. But the big problem was always going to be quantity and quality of our seed. As much as we bulls can keep going all night we do have our limits. And that's where this comes in, see that big ring over there. Pure gold and filled with nanobots to help our bodies keep production high, plus it gives some nice tugs when you walk." The bull was quick to prove his point, fondling his jewels with his meaty hand until he was huffing with obvious excitement. I gulped once more, trying and failing to turn my gaze away from the entrancing sight.

“I, I can see that. Does the ring really make that much of a difference?" I asked with more than professional curiosity.

“Yes, it does. Back in training I could barely fill a glass while being horny all week. Now, we produce about three gallons of seed per week of production and we're only 6 bulls."

“I... I see with such a cock, I mean duty, with suck a duty. Such a duty, it makes sense why you need all the help you can get."

The bull laughed once more, whether at my reaction or my words I could not say, but the lack of malice in his tone soothed my nerves.

“Yeah, and better than the alternative too. Having too many hormones flying around makes a bull go stir crazy. With these little trinket we get what we need when we need it and save ourselves a world of pain. Plus it has led to some interesting discoveries."

With great effort, I grasped onto that last bit of information and turned away from his glorious package. Though the constant moans coming from the stalls didn't help me any.

“I can imagine. But what kind of discoveries did you make?" I asked, trying to stir the conversation away from any more horny topics. I should have known better. The Taurian's heavy arm fell on my shoulders and guided me across the barn and into one of the quieter stalls, from which came only deep grunts. The insistent pushing from the bigger bull's arm left me with little time to prepare for what I was going to see, if there was even a way to do so. The insides of the stall were like the rest of the farm so far, a facade of low tech wooden constructions that hid a world of technology. Instead of the dead brown walls I had expected, I was met by rows of holographic screens, most of them which showed more sexual acts than I could even name but the one closest to the entrance showed a bunch of graphs that reminded me of some medical shows. The centerpiece of the stall was the big metallic machine at the center. It was a cylinder of what seemed to be leather, mounted on six sturdy legs of metal. There were a handful of worn handholds spread all over the surface and two of them were grasped by a monster of a bull. Their purpose were obvious as the giant bull man pulled back his hips and stuffed his entire member into a sloppy hole at the end of the cylinder with one strong thrust. A deep grunt came from the white and brown bull when his hips crashed against the cylinder. The thin transparent tube going from the machine to a container were enough to guess its purpose. The large bull shook his head and huffed before he prepared for another thrust.

Mr. Braun strode inside without missing a beat, the tip of his member leaking clear pre down to his sheath and balls. It was with amazement and terror that I grasped that the new bull stood at least one head over Mr. Braun, even if the Herd Sire had him beat in the muscle department.

“Just look at big Marty over here, he's our second biggest producer, only below me." Mr. Braun said as he fondled the bigger bull's balls, earning a low moan from the titan. “Well, big Marty used to always say how he was a big top bull and we sometimes clashed horns because of it. One night he came over to play cards and we got a bit tipsy. Not drunk yet, but a lot looser and honest."

I could only watch in shock as Mr. Braun's fingers danced across the brown cheeks, always skirting around the eager pucker that laid in between.

“Next thing we know big Marty is learning how to take dick like a champ. Gotta say, he may have been new to it but he had enough zeal to make up. Isn't that right Marty?"

Mr. Braun remarked his question by pressing his fingers against the Taurian's needy hole, earning a loud moo from the horny man.

“Shut up and fuck me, I'm almost there," Big Marty shouted without an ounce of modesty, his white and brown sack swinging with need between his legs.

“Sorry lad, give me a minute." Mr. Braun said as he gave me a coy wink. The black and white bull gathered a large bottle of lube from a hidden table and generously applied it to the waiting hole. His hardened dick came next. It was long and tipped, easily the size of my forearm if only half as thick. My own member woke up from his slumber at the sight. It was quick to protest too when Mr. Braun gently pried open big Marty with his member, sliding in until their hips kissed. Both bulls moaned in unison at the large but easy insertion, and I couldn't help but wonder if that was one of the discoveries they made.

“Oh fuck you're tight again, how do you do it Marty? Is it the need to breed? A special lotion? Or just a natural blessing?" Mr. Braun asked as he rubbed the bigger bull's ass with love and desire.

“It'll be a missed opportunity if you don't fuck me you big oaf." was big Marty's reply, his hands tightening on the leather handles.

“Promises, promises," Mr Braun replied, before he slowly withdrew until only half his member was inside. Big Marty was caught by surprise as the smaller Taurian pushed it all back, forcing an eager moo from the titanic man. “There we go."

The white and brown bull didn't have a chance to recover as Mr. Braun went to town on that ass. His hips moved like a hammer, striking those cheeks with relentless zeal. Each thrust of his was accompanied by a moan from the bigger bull and a strong huff from Mr. Braun. I lost notion of time as I watched the two giants fuck with needy desperation, their faces twisting in expressions of undeniable bliss.

“Fuck I'm coming. Don't pull out Teddy!" Big Marty voice rose above the rest of the noise, his hips trapped between the cylinder and his sire's third horn.

“Sorry Marty, can't cum just yet and you know I can't resist that ass., Mr. Braun replied as he spanked those brown cheeks and pulled out, conflict clear in his tone.

“I'm riding you hard when we're over," retorted big Marty, before a wave of Mr. Braun's hand increased the sounds of suctions coming from the machine and seconds later, the moans that came from the titanic bull.

“We'll see about that. Now, like I was saying lad, a week after our little tryst he's coming daily to my house to 'stretch his legs'. Well I stretched his legs, his ass and his balls. He never produces more than when I give him a good pounding, isn't that right mate?"

Whether it was the new spank on his round cheeks or the memories of their tryst, big Marty bellowed as he buried his whole member inside. A flow of white liquid flooded the transparent tube at the other end of the machine, and I could only stare blankly at the amount.

“Just look at him go, quite the stud, don't you think?" Mr. Braun said, affection woven into his tone.

“Yeah, yeah, he is."

“Would you like a taste?"

“What? No, I mean yes, thank you but I'm not sure I could," I replied, my head hurting at the sudden shift of topics while my other head throbbed in protest.

“I believe you could and Marty here wouldn't mind it either, would you mate?"

The bigger bull groaned as he drew out his dick from the machine, the flesh still slick with juices. The bull gave me a once over before he turned towards the smaller bull.

“Only if you are the one to take it this time," replied big Marty, shooting a lecherous grin towards Mr. Braun.

The white and black bull smiled as a bead of pre fell from his tip.

“Sure, I could use help with the milking."

---

“Are you okay there?" big Marty said as he walked to my side. The crisp night wind blew from the fields and sent shivers down my spine, but it was a welcome respite from all the hustling and bustling that was going on in the main house. It was far from the busy hours that I was familiar with, but there was something about the closeness and warmth of the conversations that urged me to seek refuge outside by the barn.

“Yes, yes I am. It's just been a lot and this is only my second day," I admitted when the silence had stretched for too long, the words ringing heavy in my ears.

The bull leaned against the barn's walls, his muzzle raising up to look at the sky. My own eyes focused on the sea of stars that hung over the dark blue canvas, a sight I had thought impossible until a few hours ago.

“I'd say that's a good omen for the rest of your stay," the giant bull replied with a rumbling voice.

“Do you believe in omens?"

A huff cut through the silence while muscular arms crossed over his wide chest.

“Are you asking as a journalist or as a person?"

"Both."

Dark gray orbs were set on me, searching my face for something before another huff left the bull's nose. He shook his head and took a big breath, undoing the top bottom of his shirt. One brown finger pointed at my glasses and with practiced ease I turned the recorder on. The bull nodded and after a few more moments of silence he replied.

“I do. I'm not that religious, and it's certainly been a long time since I went to see a priest, but there are things that make me think 'there's something big about to happen'."

“Like what?"

“Ted for one," Marty replied with a serious tone, his eyes never leaving the starry sky.

“Mr. Braun?"

“Yeah, but he wasn't Mr. Braun back then. He was just Ted, the kid of the Brauns. We went to the same school and to be honest I couldn't stand him," Marty said with an honest tone, his hands backing up his words with newfound energy, “There was just something about the way he acted that screamed prick at me and it always seemed he thought the same."

“I remember when he went away though, a lot of kids had gathered and decided to join the fight. And he was there, far away from the group glancing at the tablet in his hands like a lost child. I thought 'that one is not going to come back, for sure.' I was a bastard at the time. I could have used a reality check or two but I had a chip in my shoulder and didn't want to admit it."

The Taurian closed his eyes, his hands growing still for the first time since he started talking. The wind blew again, robbing me of precious warmth as I waited for the bull to continue his tail. Marty opened his eyes a couple of seconds later and conflict rang clear in those gray orbs.

"I never joined the military, I was one of the few who didn't. I was an only child and my Pa had died a couple of years before the conflict started. Mom took it hard and by the time Ted and the others went away I was struggling to keep the farm crumbling, helping my mom wherever I could. When I was told I was exempted from the draft I didn't look back. I know many in town hated me for it. Mom still had me while their children were never coming back."

The bull's hands came back to life, their movements tight and restrained. They made it easier to read him, unlike the other bulls whose faces were a mystery to me most of the time, the guarded movements provided me much insight into the pain hiding beneath his words.

“Those were harsh years, money was tight, food was scarce and good news were rarer than a celibate bull. When Ted finally got back from the war, he was a different man. He may not look like it now, but he was more subdued, more shy about the world. His eyes were often lost in his memories and it took no psychic to see that they ate away at him. He was the only one to come back from our town too. The local hero. I guess I had changed too, I was kinder, more patient, less cocky and we got to talking wherever we met.

"You heard Ted talk about our first lay, but what he didn't tell you is that he cried that whole night as he held me. And I just let him do what he needed to until the sun came out. We didn't talk about it before he left and I wasn't sure if he would come back at all." Marty's hands closed around his horns as his mouth opened and closed without uttering a sound. A grave grunt left his throat before he continued, his hands reluctantly leaving his horns.

“He was in bad shape during those days, they all were. They cared for each other's wounds as best as they could but there's only so much you can do to help when you're one bad day from falling apart. He was their rock and he couldn't crumble, couldn't let himself crumble. And so he faked a smile, squared his shoulders and swallowed his doubts. It is true that we had more sex after that first time and that I could have picked a better excuse. Yet we did nothing for months after that first time and instead we would just talk. Sometimes I'd scold him for keeping it all deep inside himself and sometimes he'd beg me to let go of my own burdens for a while. We were a sorry pair, I can admit that much."

There was a painful nostalgia woven into his tone, one that reflected in the stiffness of his tail and the tension of his hands.

“A year after that first night, we did it again and then again next month. It went on like that for eight months straight, with neither of us talking about it. But one day my mom caught me as I was leaving the house and told me to 'enjoy love while it lasts'." The giant bull shook his head, a sad smile tugging at his lips, “That's my mom for you, sick with grief and still keeping an eye on her son."

“I followed her advice that very same day, and I have no shame in admitting that I begged to be his lover. I got right down to my knees, told him I didn't mind if it was on the side or if we had to keep it a secret. I wouldn't stand between the pure love he had with his mates."

The giant Taurian walked away from the barn, his tail lazily swinging behind him. He turned around, dark gray eyes reflecting the light of the main house while a grin spread on his face.

“Wouldn't you know that made him furious. He came right on to me like a bucking bronco, clapped my hands in his and told me in no uncertain terms that I was never a side fuck and that I should never think like that again. Heh heh, he's weird like that. Instead of being angry at me for what I said of him, he was angry at me for what I said of myself. I guess I had fallen for his charm by that point and the rest of the herd welcomed me in with open arms. Well, most of them did, I still get along fabulously bad with two of them but we have found our way to live together for Ted's benefit."

There was both love and irritation clear in his voice, but above all there was warmth, the same one I had seen inside the main house.

“So when the program came around?" I asked when the silence had stretched long enough.

“I knew how much it meant to him from the get go, and championed the cause many times. Got into a few fights with Raul for it too, that man is a fierce protector of those he loves. But I stood my ground for the same reason. I think we both grew to respect each other after that." Marty said as one hand idly played with the base of a horn.

"It worked out in the end, Raul got us a good lawyer to keep the paperwork in check and having a big cause keeps Ted busy and happy. And that's something we all love."

I narrowed my eyes at that, something about that answer rubbed me the wrong way.

“I see, but why did you join then? You never said anything about wanting to help."

The bull huffed before his arms fell to his sides in defeat. He shot me an annoyed look before he replied with a serious tone.

“I joined because it takes some of the strain off him and because I saw how grim the future would be if there weren't men like him. There's not many left after the war, maybe there weren't many to begin with. If I end up with a thousand little calves running around the cosmos, then I guess it's a good thing as well."

“You care a lot about him."

“He's very precious to me. My one and only," Marty replied with love and certainty, his tail beating happily against his leg.

“So you and the others..."

“We don't think of each other like that," he was quick to reply, his gaze turning towards the main house, “I don't mind a quick lay with Andrew every now and then, but Ted's the one that's got my heart."