Strange Men Bearing Gifts

Posted on Thu Jan 4th, 2024 @ 7:20pm by Lieutenant JG Jaya Maera Garlake & Lieutenant Colonel Storr Garlake & Lieutenant Commander BaoJun Qiao

1,867 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Season 1 Interlude II (E5.5)
Location: Yuna Tarka Medical Facility, The Garlakess room
Timeline: ID 7

It had taken some doing but Bao had managed to slip away to the markets on Risa and obtain what he wanted. Not being human certainly had its advantages at times, like actually being able to pay for the items one wanted. It didn't really matter in the end, he supposed. He hadn't visited the Garlakes at the hospital yet. Partially because he wanted to go to the markets first, and partially because he knew there were others far closer to them than himself who would want to file through. Still, the birth of children was something to be celebrated by all, and, he'd heard that Jaya had been blessed with two sons. Such good fortune demanded acknowledgment. That and, having 8 siblings of his own, some of whom weren't even born when he'd left for the academy, he fancied he might actually be helpful in a more mundane and practical manner. He repressed a smile, remembering how much of an unholy terror his youngest sister had been for his parents but how she'd calmed around him or FeiFei. Enough woolgathering. He pressed the silent bell and spoke gently, "Hello, Mrs. Garlake. It is Commander Qiao. May I come in?" It certainly would not hurt to be polite, and he did not wish to cause disturbance should anyone be indisposed.

"Please!" sang out Jaya's voice, more melodic than ever. "By all means!"

When Bao entered, Jaya sat in the armchair with all three triplets—both boys suckling at her chest with the baby girl nestled in her lap. A sheer blue covering draped over her shoulders. "Forgive me, but the little ones are just finishing. They'll have to go back into the incubator in short order."

The Lagashi did a quick doubletake. He hadn't expected to be invited in while Jaya was in such a state. Certainly, his mother would have never entertained a man outside the family while doing so. He composed himself in short order, reminding himself that nothing inappropriate was occurring, he had no plans on staring, and he had been invited in, which would indicate that Jaya, at least, was comfortable with the situation. He made sure to point his eyes at her face when he spoke, doing his best to avoid looking at her breasts. "So I see," he said. "If you would like, I can return in a few minutes. I thought to check in on you and see if you needed any assistance," he added, failing to control the slight blush on his ears and cheeks.

It was her first day as a mother, and Jaya had eyes for no one else. The President of the Federation could have entered without her giving him any more regard than she did Bao. But his discomfort was hard to ignore even without visual context. Jaya could sense it emanating from across the room. "Oh, Bao, I apologize! I wasn't thinking. It'll just be another moment, but you may do whatever you need to be at ease. I'll take no offense either way."

The Lagashi moved towards the door. "Thank you, ma'am," he said. "I will wait just outside until you are done. Should you need assistance, however, please ask. I promise my discomfort would be far outweighed by my shame at being so ill-mannered as to deny you help," he continued, intending to step just outside the door and allow it to close.

The door opened, but the way was not clear. Storr's eyes clicked up an inch into the Lagashi's, quickly over to his radiant wife's topless form with two suckling babes and one asleep, then back to Bao.

"I assume you were just leaving? Each man should be satisfied with his own garden, and I believe you're peeking over the walls." the clack of crutches reverberated in the corridor as the Commandant hobbled aside to let the scientist pass.

Jaya furrowed her brow. "Storrrrrr..." She dragged out his name, hoping he would get the hint. "Bao brought gifts and well wishes. Wasn't that thoughtful of him?"

"Quite..." Storr replied, only somewhat rebuffed. "Though I think that we might need to discuss appropriate attire choices for when visitors call. For everyone's comfort, of course." Turning back to Bao, he lifted a corner of his mouth.

"Thank you for the gifts and well-wishes, and I apologize for the...situation. This is our first time, and it's more than a handful. Scotch?" Storr made his way past the Lagashi and to the sideboard, adeptly placing two ice cubes in three glasses with a finger of amber liquid (two in his) from the crystal decanter in each. Handing one to the Lieutenant Commander, he set his crutches against the wall, and part fell, part slid onto the couch with a grimace and a *whump* beside Jaya, the Scotch in each glass violently threatening to splash out but somehow resisting the urge. Giving a glass and a kiss to his beloved, he raised his glass, clinked it against Jaya's, and motioned towards Bao's.

"To life!"

Bao felt a little like he was getting whiplash, and he had a feeling Storr wasn't entirely mollified, especially since Jaya was, strictly speaking, still topless. "Life, and your health," he said, tipping the glass back and drinking a respectful amount. He could tell it was good liquor, even if not his usual fare. He resisted the urge to laugh at Storr's comment. "There is no need to apologize, colonel. It is not quite the same, but I do have 7 younger sisters and a younger brother. While I do want to stress I have no designs on Mrs. Garlake, this does not make the top 10 for awkward or unfortunate childcare-related situations I have ever been in. No one has been urinated, vomited, or explosively defecated upon. I assure you, that counts as a win," he said, taking a rather bemused expression as he remembered something.

"You are just fine, Bao," Jaya pressed. "If you would set the gifts on the table over there..." She nodded toward the far end of the maternity suite. "I'll make myself more presentable and lay the little ones down to rest."

The Lagashi nodded. "Right," he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out three jade rooster pendants: one in black jade with gold filigree, one of Imperial jade with gilded bronze, and one of deep blue with silver, each with a matching chain. He passed them over to Storr first. "These are traditional gifts to young Lagashi. Apart from their aesthetic value, they also have a small transponder and an emergency transporter unit hidden inside," he explained. The range wasn't really that great either, but that was probably a given. He carefully sat next to Storr.

"These are...incredibly thoughtful, thank you," Storr said as he spread the three pendants across his large palm. They glistened in the light, and each held their unique qualities while sharing overall design features and functionality. He would never have thought of such a gift to give, let alone receive, and he felt the need to backpedal his earlier reaction somewhat. He ran a hand over his barely stubbly chin in thought of what to say and grimaced at the missing facial hair, his mind instantly flashing back to the undersea facility. The reconciliatory moment passed.

After placing the triplets back inside their shared incubator, where they grabbed each other's hands, Jaya pulled her sari back over her torso. "All right, boys, I believe I satisfy the average culture's standards of decency." She let out a giggle, though not too much. Storr's jealousy was one of his most attractive qualities, and she wouldn't want to diminish him for it. "Thank you, Bao, for your kind gestures. Those are very thoughtful."

Bao inclined his head, finally managing to look directly at Jaya without risking having body parts removed. Undoubtedly, Jaya found the protective jealousy arousing. Bao might, too, were he not the target of it, but he'd also be keeping that thought to himself lest he arouse the temper of the marine he did belong to. He sat his alcohol glass down. "I can only express sadness that such gifts are potentially practical as opposed to paranoia. At any rate, it is good to see you both up again, though surely there was a less extreme method of getting more time off."

"Hah!" Garlake guffawed and slapped the Lagashi's back. "Jaya's always telling me I'm working too hard and need to take a breather, but yeah, there are far better ways to go about spending more time together." The Afrikaner flashed a smile at his Deltan bride, her maternal glow sending desire coursing through his veins. He toyed with his licentious thoughts while holding her gaze before looking down at the adorable newborns (if that was the right name for their current status). His heart burst with pride and protection as he took a deep breath and let it out slowly before finishing the last of his drink. This was good. It was all good. God is goed.

"We will be doing a homecoming tour," Jaya said. "Earth first, then Seyann. And we will have an armed escort during each transition point. I think we will be just fine." She kissed her fingertips and placed them on the incubator. Her heart had broken into several pieces and taken shape as triplets. "All the same, it will be wonderful knowing that we will know where our little ones are at all times." She glanced up at Bao and Storr. "How many cataclysms do you think Memory Theta will prevent by the time we get back to standard duty?"

"Considering they have canceled the leave that was outright forced upon us, I presume there is one currently pending. Although, at this point, how many cataclysms does it take before that word loses meaning?" mused the young man. "Then again, arguably, Memory Theta should qualify as a cataclysm in its own right."

"So pessimistic," Jaya teased. "Maybe I should prescribe you mandatory shore leave. None of this went according to plan." She looked almost sullen for a moment, but then she looked back at her sleeping babies. "Worth it, I have to say."

Bao smiled at Jaya. "Heaven, sleeping a light sleep, waits patiently. Never having left, it is experienced when the time is right. But the right time knows no time¹," he said. "I think I have had rather enough leave for the time being. Further communing with nature, as one says, is not needed." He paused for a minute and finished his own drink. "I am certain we will regret not having you with us, Colonel, but I believe it is time I leave that you that you might both rest."

"That was beautiful, Bao," said Jaya, recognizing a beatitude when she heard one, even if unfamiliar. "Thank you." She gave Storr an elbow which prompted an acknowledging agreement in grunt form while she gave the aloof Lagashi a brief hug. "Do stay in touch. Paternity leave will be over before we know it and we'll be back to active duty. Take care of yourself."

The colleagues turned friends parted ways, each to follow their assigned paths.

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