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Morning sickness, as I was finding out since we had evacuated the Sovereign, is something that is greatly misrepresented. Having needed to wrench myself from Masters warm loving arms to run to the bathroom each morning, only to then throw up, was not something I enjoyed doing first thing in the morning. Master had stopped trying to stop me after the first time he held me back to ask what was wrong… only for me to answer by puking onto the floor. I had gotten the sensation that Master hadn't been the only one who had been disappointed in me for that. Milgais seemed to try to keep a path to the bathrooms available to me after that event.

The trip to the royal capital would have been quicker on a standard star ship owned by the empire. Four long jumps at least were required to make the distance from the border. While the amount of jumps was the same, Milgais needed more time in between jumps than a non-biological ship would require. The stresses to his body and the unique radiation he was exposed to were deleterious to his health if he wasn't given some time to rest in between.

The main part that I was struggling to get my head around was the constant, casual nudity from everyone. Even Master dressed down to just a jockstrap while we were travelling with Zox'i and his family. Hunter, who I assumed would be more shy and nervous without clothes on, seemed to be more relaxed and open than I expected.

Not that anyone was complaining really. The time away from his royal duties was good for Master, although he was feeling antsy from not having anything to do. He did receive reports from the front lines and the listening posts. The fleet was holding position easily enough, no ships had arrived since the first assault. The listening posts had different information to report, which was simultaneously comforting, and concerning.

“From what we can tell, they spent seventy percent of their forces in that first attack, so either they are hiding a huge portion of their fleet somehow, or they are regrouping to come up with a new tactic." Reon reported. The prince was acting as a middle man, so Master's status and location would remain secret. Master had snorted in derision at the report.

“If a full on, frontal assault was the grandest of their tactics, I shudder to think what their minds could come up with for a more well planned attack…" he replied with some spurn “It's like they are fighting trench warfare with ships in space… throw wave after wave of men and machines at the enemy in hopes they run out of bullets, or the bodies in front act as a shield. While we are playing chess they are playing yahtzee."

“They also seem to be claiming they have killed you, it's being reported in the Theocracy that the Sovereign was sunk, and that you went down with it," Reon added amusedly “The advisors and the war council wanted to respond to the propaganda… I had to stop one guard from nearly killing the most vocal supporter of that idea. It didn't take much convincing to get them to let you make the announcement yourself when you are ready."

“Thank you for that… I will make a statement when we arrive tomorrow," Master replied with a smile “And thank you for acting in my stead while we are travelling… as much as I wish I could announce that I am fine, I can't expose that I'm aboard a Kiqu ship. The Kiquvari would be furious."

“Yeah I get it, doesn't help that I don't exactly have the personality or training for all this… or the patience for the war council's bullshit."

“I'll reward you as promised when we get there… till then, Leniad, out."

“Surprised you've been doing all your calls with the video off." Bogra said from beside Master on the sofa.

“Last thing he needs is to see more people naked," Master retorted with a chuckle “He gets enough of that at home, and I need him to focus right now on what he is doing." We looked up as the view through the screen started to change, Mil entering Jump speed.

“Well he won't need to do it for much longer," Bogra explained with a shrug “This should be the last jump, in twelve hours we should arrive at Liovis."

“In the meantime, I think it's time for a checkup," Zox'i called out as he walked into the room, belly amazingly flat “Both for Hunter and David."

“Is that what you have been doing all this time?" Master asked “Didn't realise you were ready to push that one out."

“You should have told us," Bogra said with a little grumble “You know I enjoy helping you with it."

“I wanted to do this one on my own for once," Zox'i replied with a chuckle “Anyway, C'mon you four."

“Four? What about Ov'ids?" Bogra asked and the Kiqu smiled.

“That's who I meant, you get to stay here and cool your jets."

“You tease."

“Hey the room isn't big enough for all of us and a pod," Zox'i retorted as Hunter slowly got to his feet “So you can either sit here and keep an eye on what Milgais is up to, or explain to Leniad why he can't be in the room while I give David his natal checkup?" Bogra seemed to go rigid and his eyes slowly turned to look at Master who only released a low, rumbled growl.

“I'll stay here."

“Good choice." Zox'i replied as Master helped me to my feet.

The examination room wasn't as tight as I had expected, but I could see why Zox'i had said it would be too small with everyone there. In the centre of the room was a large bed, much like the ones that the Kiqu had introduced to the Sovereign, just bigger. One wall appeared to be where Zox'i kept his medical equipment. A shelf was recessed a little into the wall like a window frame, an array of medical equipment I didn't recognise was laid out and ready to use. What drew my attention most was a tree-like structure that sat in the corner. A large pod was attached to one of its limbs, within which was a baby. The infant looked remarkably like Joka, although its fur was a chocolatey brown instead of red, a little tuft of white on its head and tail, and it only had little nubs for horns.

I was stopped by Master before I could make my way over to it and he just shook his head gently at me. A silent instruction not to get close to it. A brief look into the lion's eyes showed even he was emotionally shaken seeing the kit in the pod.

“Normally, we would have the family present when the infant is born, or atleast close by," Zox'i explained as he looked to the pod in the corner “At least the… recipient… will be waiting for us at our next destination. The pod will keep the baby stable till then. Anyway, hop up."

He pat the medical bed and Master lifted me up with ease, eliciting a startled sound from my throat. He gave a soft chuckle as he carried me over, then me laid down gently. I sank a little, the surface adjusting automatically to my body to almost perfectly support and comfort me. It pressured and cradled, cooled and warmed in just the right spots, eliciting a natural response of relaxation from my body.

Zox'i pulled out the tools he needed, placing them on a floating tray before pushing it over. He himself gave a huff and sat on a stool that rapidly grew out of the floor below him and pushed himself over to the bedside. He waved his hand a few times by the side of the seat, and slowly it raised him up to be sitting at his usual head height.

“Ok, let's see what's going on in there." he mused happily and picked up two of the devices on the tray, placing one on my chest, and the other, which almost looked like handcuffs on my belly. Immediately two holographic readouts popped up in front of his eyes, both in his own language so I couldn't read them even if I had tried.

“How's it going Zox?" Master asked, watching the Kiqu work.

“Hmm, stress levels are still high… not dangerously so, and it is certainly understandable why, but I am still uncomfortable with it being elevated," the Kiqu mused as he kept reading “A little dehydrated, suffering morning sickness I take it? Seems you have some minor irritation in your throat from stomach acid…"

“Surprised you don't know I'm suffering from it, certainly hard to miss." I answered sarcastically.

“What was that hun?" he asked jokingly, not even looking up at me yet a smile started growing on his face “The kitten is looking healthy, just the one it seems, guess Leni didn't fuck you hard enough for a full litter this time."

Both Master and I choked and coughed, a blush blooming on my face. Master looked ready to give the Kiqu a kick, while Hunter was softly giggling in the corner with Ov'ids at his feet. Zox'i looked quite pleased with himself, but continued to look through the data readout like he hadn't said a thing.

“Still too early to ascertain gender or fur colour however… fur doesn't start growing till approximately two months off… gender we may be able to get next checkup." Zox'i explained as he kept looking at the data “I mean I could check easily enough, I can just read the genetic data, but, why spoil the surprise? Meanwhile… I suggest an increase in Calcium and Iron. I'll have Mil make you some meals more focused on that."

“If you could ask Mil to stop singing to us at night, I'd be greatly appreciative of that too," Master mused making Zox'i chuckle “It may be comforting for you Zox, but for me, it's just a little on the discomforting side, especially since I am used to near silence."

“I'll put in the request… if he stops or not is up to him," he answered “However last time we asked him to stop, he sang angrily for a week, it was really hard to get him to stop doing that."

“I'm sure we can make due with it for one more night." I suggested looking up at the large lion “Right?" he heaved a sigh and nodded.

“Anyway, you are progressing perfectly," Zox'i explained with a smile “Right on track, another month or two and they will start moving and kicking, that'll be even more fun!"

The next day we arrived at Masters homeworld without any fanfare. I had heard some small tales about how big the palace was, even seen some pictures of it, but I hadn't been quite prepared to see the real thing. Over the multiple millennia since the empire had been forged, the castle had been added to and expanded. Master had needed to sit me and the others down to tell us about the dangers of the castle.

“Originally, parts were torn down, restructured and rebuilt," he explained as we dropped slowly into the atmosphere “It then just became… Taboo… to tear anything down, no ruler seemed to have any right to remove and replace what was built by a previous one… we just added onto the existing structure. Now every generation of monarch adds more to the outside to make it more fit for their uses."

We passed through the cloud layer, and the truly monstrous castle came into view. It took up a seemingly ludicrous amount of land. The structure was like a city where all the buildings had given up on being separated, and tens of thousands could live within its walls. The tallest spire was just poking into the clouds, yet around it were thousands of other spires, all in various different construction styles and states of repair.

“At some point a new foundation structure was built to facilitate the ever growing frame, the building is sound, however," Master continued to explain as we flew closer, his tone turning to one of warning “That does not mean the entire palace is safe. While we inhabit the outer reaches, much of the inner zones of the castle have crumbled away. I feel I must caution all of you against exploration.

“Much of our history is buried within the depths of this… deathtrap I am forced to call home… for some reason, every excursion into the depths of the palace's ancient heart to find long lost artefacts and history, never return… if anything, let that nail home my warning… Don't go exploring alone, and if an area is sealed, stay out. Understood?"

“Yes Master." I answered

“If you say so." Zox'i answered too as we flew closer and closer to the huge structure, master pulling up a holographic overlay of the castle.

“The Royal and Diplomatic landing bay is here." Master explained as he poked a spot on the map, Mil changed his course in response.

“Have you never sent teams in to try to work out what was going on in the depths of the Palace?" I asked curiously as I watched the view.

“We have tried scanning the Palace, but because of how the damn thing has been built, we can never scan deep enough," he explains with a sigh as he gets up slowly and picks up the clothes he had sitting beside him “And while I have never attempted to, there have been some attempts in the past to send in soldiers. Most of those excursions didn't go very deep, and while some came back… some didn't.

“All we know for sure is, if you go back more than one hundred years into the castle, most of the structure has just collapsed and is an empty pit that descends into blackness. The only thing that remains is some walkways that are either original or made by excursion parties, and the foundations." He started to pull on the clothes he had as we approached the landing area.

“You will need to investigate eventually," Bogra muttered as he pulled on a pair of shorts “Those foundations won't hold up forever."

“Believe me… I have been tempted to level the palace and start from scratch." Master grumbled as he struggled with his jacket. I sighed and stood up to help him with it, he gave me a cheeky kiss to the lips when we were face to face “However, it isn't as easy as that… we don't want to lose anything, so it would be like peeling back an onion, taking off a layer, salvaging what we can, then removing another layer."

“I'm sure if it wasn't for the war you would probably be looking into that right?" Zox'i asked as Mil started to settle down at the landing bay.

“Yeah… I may just get it underway anyway… I am the only monarch so far who hasn't made an addition to the place yet."

Landing was a… fiasco… for me anyway. Once Milgais had landed, we disembarked down the ramp like nothing was different. However, Master was immediately swamped by servants and courtiers, separated from myself, Zox'i and Bogra, and almost dragged into the palace interior without us. I was left, blinking, safely pressed to Bogra's side, watching the white furred lion vanish before our eyes.

“Well that was…" Zox'i started but was interrupted as three servants approached with their eyes set on me.

“Slave David Ursus, you will come with us." they said bluntly and made to grab me. However Bogra cut off their approach, pulling me behind him to be held by Zox'i and gave a threatening rumble. Even Ov'ids growled at them, stepping forward to be beside me.

“David is under our protection." Bogra informed them menacingly, his tone giving no room for disagreement. They however returned the anger, even trying to reach past the huge male who could probably flatten them to the ground with ease.

“Emperor Leniad Leo himself placed him in our care," Zox'i explained “We are two of his registered guardians and I am his personal Doctor. That aside, you have slipped on your diplomatic courtesies. Has the Emperor not declared that ALL Kiquvari are to be treated with full diplomatic privileges? How dare you treat us in such a manner?" They backed away, looking at each other questioningly. Bogra stayed in their way while Zox'i heaved an irritated sigh.

“Where has Leniad been taken?" Bogra asked simply.

“To his quarters to be dressed," one answered, his voice snobby “He is underdressed, it appears that his slave was not trained properly."

“What did you intend to do with David?" Zox'i asked next.

“The slave is to be taken for punishment, ten lashes, for its failure to dress our Liege properly." answered another, sounding irritated like he was above the questioning. At this Zox'i heaved me into Bogra's arms and pushed past him. I had never realised that the Kiqu had been slouching a little, but he straightened himself up to be almost as tall as Bogra and Loomed over the courtiers.

His hand lashed out lightning quick and grabbed the last one to speak by the neck and heaved him up into the air. His other hand grabbed another who tried to get away from the Kiqu's obvious fury. The one in the air choked and coughed, trying to pull at the Kiqu's hand around his throat, but was clearly getting nowhere against the vastly stronger individual.

“YOU PLANNED TO WHIP THE ONE WHO BARES THE EMPEROR'S HEIR!?" Zox'i demanded angrily, yelling as loud as he could “That would endanger the unborn kit! The threat alone counts as TREASON to the crown and a personal insult to ME! Give me a reason why I shouldn't kill you myself and save Leniad the trouble!?"

“ZOX'I!" A familiar voice called out urgently and our heads all snapped in its direction, seeing Prince Reon at the entrance to the docking bay.

“Put. Him. Down." the lion requested, carefully enunciating each word. The kiqu looked back at the one in his hands and huffed annoyed. He let him drop to the floor in a heap.

“If I see you come near David again without Leniad around…" Zox'i warned them then looked to Reon who gave his own exhale and walked over.

“The three of you," Reon grumbled eyeing the servants “Report to the servant quarters immediately, your punishment will be handed down to you shortly. PREY that my brother does not hear of this. Dismissed." They nodded and walked off quickly, looking back every once in a while before they were through the door.

“They probably don't realise how lucky they are that I am not my brother…" Reon mused with a huff then looked to a Lioness who was just behind him wearing a suit and tie “You know what to do and who to report to… Go." They bowed and walked off, acting like none of this was new.

“They are lucky that you came in when you did," Zox'i said and released a gusty breath as he shrank back down and groaned “Urgh, that hurts…"

“Remind me never to piss you off," Reon said flatly as he walked over “Sorry you went through that. Would you like me to take you to your quarters now?"

“I think we will stay on Mil till Leniad is free," Zox'i answered with a sigh then motioned to me “We will relinquish him to your care however, I'm sure that Leniad would like David to get settled in."

“Sounds good to me," Reon replied looking down to me “C'mon, I'll keep my hands off you… for now."

“From what I hear of this place… if the floor gives way, you have full permission to put your hands on me." I replied with a chuckle and he rolled his eyes.

“No trouble there," he replied as he escorted me from the docking bay “They did place you in one of the older bedrooms, but we are in one of the more recent wings of the palace."

“Is this not your fathers wing?" I asked as we walked looking around. It certainly did look posh and heavily embellished, much like the Sarengheti had been.

“Our fathers wing is sealed and off limits," he answered with a shrug then pointed out a window to a section of the castle that was adorned with gold trimmings on the outside of the building “The amount of secrets that old fuck has burried in there… We have people hunting non stop, day and night, for new hideaways and stashes. Anything could be hidden… something that could break the empire, something that's a national secret which should never fall into the hands of others… hell it was in there that we found the documents that said we had another brother."

“Why do you think your brother hasn't built a wing to the castle himself?" I ask as we start walking again, heading deeper into the palace.

“Probably because, like me, he hopes this dump will fall down and need to be rebuilt long before then," he answered honestly “We both hate it here, it's why he had the Sovereign built as soon as he took over the throne."

“It's really that bad?"

“Worse than you can…" he went to answer but there was a rumbling sound that made us both stop and look around. It came again a moment later and I felt the floor sink a little beneath my feet.

“Reon…" I started wanting to tell him I didn't feel safe, when the ground beneath me gave way and I fell into the now open hole.

“DAVID!"