Fiction:The Fortunate Son

Aboard the RASC Worldfather's Grace, the personal command vessel of the Imperial Paragon, there was a special moment approaching. For the past year, Alensia had been nursing a clutch of eggs within the depths of the royal apartments. Few ever got a chance to see the inside of this part of the ship, even fewer would be invited to witness the hatching. Such an event is often considered a celebration, and with the passing of recent events there was perhaps a more genuine sense of exitement more than ever.

For all the blood, death and darkness that had shadowed Andromeda recently, today was a rare day that could be celebrated. Uriel had invited some of his closest friends to witness the event. At one time this might have been an event only his family witnessed, but with the renewal of the Imperium, Uriel opened the doors and had inviteda select few aliens to join, such as the Zazane warlord Karvon Daktis, the Draconis-descended Maxius Telvennum and the youthful son of the old Lord-Councillor Tyraz, Kezoreg, whose expression made him appear somewhat irritated and disinterested. The Paragon had invited Kithworto to the event, and despite the Kicath's schedule in the Borealis Galaxy, decided to attend, taking a vessel to Andromeda. The young Zazane mutant glanced towards the Kicath as he made his presence known, and he passed a feint smirk and a chuckle.


 * Kezoreg - You not got much else to do these days? No daemon gods to be destroying, no cultists or criminals to be tearing apart?
 * Kithworto - They tend to avoid individuals who they know are to be able to do that.
 * Kezoreg - I have no idea why Uriel would want us here to see this... whatever it is.
 * Maxios - He invited us to witness a hatching. A rare opportunity for those outside of the family.
 * Kithworto - It is an important custom in Draconid society. Not that many foreiginers would know of that.
 * Maxios - Indeed, especially among the nobility - too many opportunities to sabotage a rival, you see.
 * Kithworto - You are not expecting hostilities, are you?
 * Kezoreg - Nah, that would be too fun and interesting.
 * Maxios - The paragon has many enemies, not too surprising especially after dressing down the Lord-Admiral the way he did.
 * Kithworto - I would imagine that today, hostilities would be an unwise course of action.
 * Kezoreg - Exactly. And because our enemies are stupid, that is why we should expect at least something to go wrong.

As the attendants spoke among themselves, Kezoreg felt a chill sliver up his spine as a hand laid itself upon his shoulder from behind, causing him to almost jump out of his skin and scales before taking a moment to regain his composure; standing at his rear and gently shoving the Zazane aside to walk forward, the renowned Tā warrior-hero, Hachiman, walked into view with a smile on his face, wearing a more formal dress than his usual attire with a bowtie around his neck and his hair tied back into a ponytail.


 * Hachiman - Hello everyone--
 * Kezoreg - You cretinous sack of shit! Never sneak up on me like that!
 * Kithworto - Language.
 * Kezoreg - ... Sorry.
 * Hachiman - I have not missed anything, have I? I was worried I'd be late. ... Can't say I like this thing strapped around my neck, either.

As they spoke amongs themselves the door to the rest of the ship was opened. Dressed in a fine gown and striding towards them with an ethereal grace was Alessa, who had a smile on her face as she examined the group.


 * Alessa - Do not worry Mr. Hin-Sha, you are not late. But you do look rather dashing.
 * Hachiman - Hgk... C-Compared to Kezoreg, anyway.
 * Kezoreg - The invitation said I can attend in whatever I feel comfortable with! If it weren't for the fact I was feeling modest, I'd have come without clothes at all.

Alessa blinked at the shock of the thought.


 * Alessa' - Well I- am honoured you felt the need to be modest, Kezoreg.
 * Hachiman - You will have to excuse him. He never gets invited to anything so he doesn't know how to act at events. It's likely he came just because he thought there'd be food.
 * Kezoreg - I came because I felt like I owe Uriel a favour for all those times he looked after me when I was a kid. ... There is going to be food though, right?
 * Alessa - It is a celebration of life, Kezoreg. So yes, food has been prepared. Would you gentlemen kindly follow me to the hatchery?

Alessa indicated for the group to follow her with a hand signal and returned to the doorway. She walked though and the Blood Dragons at the door kept it open for the others to travel through into the roya lapartments.

Typical of Draconid aesthetic, the apartments were a lavish display of wealth and warm colours; golds, reds and warm whites displayed with velvet, silk and marble. The apartments themeselves were i nessence apalace withi na starship. The hatchery was within the inner sanctum, and so Alessa led the group through the main hall and under a large golden chandelier. Hachiman looked in awe at his surroundings, his hands on his hips while he glanced around, somewhat overwhelmed by the rather glamorous environment he had been brought into while Kezoreg scowled somewhat at all of the glimmering lights and folded his arms, gritting his teeth quietly. Maxios, a familiar of these chambers was more interested in Hachiman's reaction. Alessa did not stay in the great hall long and the group returned to the corridors. She knocked on one and the door opened to a Blood Dragon who looked over the guests and nodded, opening the door to let everyone inside.

Within the room was Uriel and Alensia, who were busy keeping themselves occupied, while on the right-hand side of the room was an ornate incubator machine that housed five neatly-arranged eggs underneath a glass case. When the group entered, Uriel and Alensia looked to them and stepped forward to present themselves.


 * Uriel - It is a pleasure to see you all again! I hope that your journeys were uneventful.
 * Maxios - Pleasnatly so.
 * Kezoreg - What an awful thing to say to someone--
 * Hachiman - Not at all, sir. It is good to see that you and your family are all doing well, in spite of all the recent happenings and whatnot.
 * Uriel - I do believe the dust is finally settling. Which is a good sign, Alensia sired her previous clutch under the dread atmosphere of war. But this day may be different.
 * Hachiman - Let's hope. Things tend to go sour when everything is quiet, in my experience. But that is probably just my paranoia speaking for me.
 * Kithworto - We all have had experiences to warrant paranoia.
 * Uriel - As much of a morale blow that is. Still, let us hope--

As Uriel was about to express comfort, the incubator started making a droning noise. Alensia jolted out of her seat and ran to it, checking the readouts, with dread emerging on her face.


 * Alensia - No no no please! Lifeafather...please!

The Tā attendant looked towards the incubator device before dashing over to observe what happened to be occuring, while Kezoreg raised an eyebrow and followed behind at a more casual and slower pace, tilting his head as he analyzed the situation. As Hachiman got closer, he had to cover his ears as the beeping began to make his head ache. Kithworto remained where he stood, somewhat lamenting the situation in silence. He folded his arms, covered in his black raiment, and his tail curled closely to his legs. Kervon, a stoic figure with a history of a thousand murders, watched with concern while Uriel approached the console and attempted to console his consort.

The readouts frightened both of them - all five eggs' life signs were dropping rapidly. Hachiman placed his hands against the glass, glancing into the machine with widened eyes while Kezoreg stood back, keeping his pace slow as he watched their reactions, and began to close his eyes as if he felt the need to concentrate on something peculiar.

Alensia collapsed into a fit of weeping, pressing herself armed folded againt the glass and struggling ot hold back tears.


 * Alensia - Lifefather...please...Please do not take them before they have seen the light of the world!
 * Hachiman - W-Why is the machine beeping? What's happening to the eggs?! You sure this is an incubator?!
 * Kezoreg - ... Now that is peculiar.

Uriel turned to Hachiman, looking worried himself.


 * Uriel - All of the young inside are dying. It is normal for there to be a chance of one or two to be stillborn...but all in a single clutch is...
 * Maxios - ...Dreaded.
 * Hachiman - Is there not anything you can do?
 * Uriel - Normally incubators are designed to diagnose and treat what may be threatening the young. But it is trying everything it can estimate to work, yet nothing. It is as if these young are simply destined to never see the world...
 * Kezoreg - The machine is not going to be able to understand what is going on, I can tell you all that much. This is outside of its scape of understanding.
 * Alensia - Sometimes...sometimes the young bear genes faulty enough to simply kill them...But surely the incubator would have warned us. Before today they were all perfectly healthy.
 * Kezoreg - ... Tell me you can feel it too, Tā.
 * Hachiman - W-What? What are you talking about--
 * Kezoreg - Stop panicking and calm down, you clutz. Just... "feel", you know?
 * Hachiman - ... Something is not right.

Alensia pushed herself from the incubator as the tone stopped. But the readings were still of alarm. Trying to hold back anguish, Alensia looked fiercely to the two aliens.


 * Alensia - My clutch are dead...and both of you are acting cryptic. Are you trying to hide knowledge of my childrens' deaths from me?
 * Hachiman - F-Forgive me, miss, it... I-It's very difficult for us to explain and for y-you to understand--
 * Kezoreg - If you want the truth, those eggs are producing, if faintly, a trace degree of... well, dark energy. Descension energy. I am guessing the babies inside were too weak for it.

Alensia turned her attention to Kezoreg, her features looking furious.


 * Alensia - Descension...you mean to tell me that your species' foul poison has killed my latest clutch!?
 * Kezoreg - ... One: ouch. And two: maybe.

Alensia clenched her hands into fists and lunged at Krzoreg, reaching to grab him and toss him at the incubator. Before she could lay her claws upon the young abomination, Kithworto suddenly appeared at the side of the Draconis, clenching on to her wrist with his own hand, completely halting her from moving forward any further.


 * Kithworto - This is not the time for violence.
 * Alensia - There is only one source my young could have been poisoned like they have done! And a representation of that is standing right here.

She turned to glare at Kezoreg.


 * Alensia - And before my very eyes!
 * Alessa - Mother...
 * Kezoreg - Hmph, sure, blame me. Just ignore the fact that your husband has been hanging around with a heavily-Descended, unstable Zazane warlord for ages now and likely contaminated your eggs for you.
 * Alensia - That isexactly who I refer to! Are you not of his blood?
 * Kezoreg - That bastard was not my father!
 * Hachiman - Guys! I think we have a more immediate situation on our hands than arguing about who gave who a disease!

As the group bickered there was a faint chink, the sound of cracking eggshell. Kervon widened his eyes and took two steps forward while Uriel moved from his consort's side to inspect the incubator. One of the eggs began to move, shaking as whatever was inside attempted ot break out. Hachiman pressed his face against the machine as he watched the egg begin to seemingly hatch, while Kezoreg glanced over with a curious display written on his face, his brow perked as he stepped towards the incubator with his hands at his sides. The egg rocked further, a crack emerging on the yellowed shell. Alensia looked and while everyone stepped forward, she stepped back.


 * Uriel - The incubators were reading no vital signs...
 * Kervon - With good reason, my paragon.
 * Kezoreg - Descension hosts do not have vital signs.
 * Hachiman - I think I can see a foot! And a hand!
 * Uriel - Kezoreg you claimed the eggs may have been contaminated through my proximity to Tyraz. If your hypothesis is correct, the energies that have been passed on to the child would have come from Tyraz through me. Yet I have studied stories of Descension's nature, I do not bear the symptoms.
 * Kervon - You smell of it...just.
 * Kezoreg - Pft, I cannot see what is so hard to understand. It's like a disease; just because you do not show the symptoms does not mean you can't pass it around. You don't have to be wholely Descended to give stuff Descension energy.
 * Uriel - So becoming a carrier is a possibility.
 * Kezoreg - A possibility? You look at those eggs and tell me that it's not a certainty.

Uriel turned to look at the eggs. One of them continued to crack, large chips appearing on the shell as something inside attempted to break open its enamelled prison. With a push, the first signs of the hatchling were seen as a darkly-coloured hand burst through, the imbalance toppled the egg and it landed on its side. The hatchling inside began to make screeching noises as it attempted to claw the eggshell apart.


 * Uriel - It's coming...
 * Hachiman - I can see a hand! It looks like the baby is going to be alright!

WIth a crack, the top of the shell splintered, revealing a draconid head. The hatchling's features came into full view as it pushed itself away from the egg; a large head of burnt umber scales, two stubby horns and two large eyes. Hazel irises were surrounded by dark scilera as the newly-hatched creature looked up towards the glass of the incubator, blinking and cooing. Uriel left the incubator and walked over to Alensia, who sat in a lounger on another side of the room. He put a hand on her shoulder and tugged her close.


 * Uriel - ''Alensia, come and welcome your new son into the universe.
 * Alensia - You mean...he is healthy?
 * Hachiman - Aww, look at him! He is so small and cute!
 * Kezoreg - Yep. Looks just like a healthy tyke to me. ... A rather eager one, at that.

Uriel nudged Alensia and helped her out of her recliner, the two of them walking towards the invubator, which had been opened up now that the only known ot be living hatchling had emerged from its shell. While the hatchling appeared comparatively normal in most regards barring pigmentation, Kezoreg eyed the youth with a raised brow and had noticed various small, otherwise unassuming yet out-of-place features sported by him; small claws of an ashen shade rather than the lighter colouration of the average unmodified Draconis, two small spiked protrusions, albeit stubby, rather than a single one on the joint of each of his wings, a pair of what looked to be stumpy bumps beside his horns which appeared to be proto-horns, and most notably, a scar stretching diagonally across the infant's stomach and lower abdomen as a birthmark. Despite the fact he shared a great many features with normal hatchlings, his parents could see that he was quite obviously different. The infant turned his head and smiled at Kezoreg, crawling itself towards him as Uriel and Alensia approached. Alensia became unsettled seeing the infant, but nonetheless Uriel cooed for him to call for his attention. When it got close enough, Uriel lifted the infant from the incubator and rested him within the Paragon's arm.


 * Hachiman - Aw, would you look at that! He looks... kind of like his father? If you squint your eyes a little, maybe?
 * Kervon - A little? He is barely from his egg and already the taint shows itself! What will become of the hatchling as he matures.
 * Kezoreg - Chill it, guy. I think you're overreacting. The kid looks healthy like a normal baby should be, and if he's brought up alright, he should come out okay.
 * Alensia - Clearly you know little of Draconid infants, Kezoreg!
 * Uriel - And if we treat the boy as bearing something unwanted that is what he will become!
 * Kervon - As much as I respect your father Kezoreg, his energies have now poisoned the Godsbane's dynasty!
 * Alensia - ...Is this how it will be? Am I now destined to mother corrupted children?
 * Hachiman - Erm... I think the kid looks cute. He doesn't look too bad for apparently being infected with this Descension thing. I mean, I've seen a lot worse.
 * Kezoreg - Eh, maybe, maybe not. Not sure whether Descension taint wears off or not on those who are not actually Descended. I don't understand why you're all panicking about this, anyway. Septimus was fat when he hatched and you treated him like a normal kid.

Alensia glared at Kezoreg and charged for him, engraged at his words she intended to knock him to the floor. Kithworto coughed sharply as he cupped his hand against his snout, in a bid to gather Alenisa's attention. Alensia turned sharply to look at Kithworto. Glaring at him as she was still furious over Kezoreg's comments.


 * Alensia - He is here with you, is he not, Kithworto?
 * Kithworto - Kezoreg has not been under my watch for a number of years.
 * Alensia - My concern is for my son's well-being. With these...affectations, the child could be mocked by his siblings, students, what if word gets out that his blood is contaminated with this...this energy!
 * Kezoreg - Yes, because I am sure someone is going to be stupid enough to mistreat the Paragon's son for looking a little different than usual. Treat him like a monster and he will end up becoming one, trust me.
 * Alensia - Explain that to any suitors!
 * Kezoreg - ... Ahem. I have a "suitor" I think you'll find, and I am one of the worst-looking excuses of an abomination you can find on this side of the universe. That kid is only minutes old and he looks better than I do.
 * Hachiman - Damn, Draconis women must be harsh if they only value looks and possible daemonic spiritual and physical corruption over personality.
 * Alensia - That corruption is exactly what panics me. What wil lahppen to his children, what if he is the start of something monstrous!
 * Uriel - Hachiman is right, Alensia. The poor boy is nurtured correctly then we should not worry. Regardless of his condition he is still an Ultanos. More importantly he is of our lineage. What example do we set by casting him aside?
 * Kezoreg - Probably a bad one. Maybe. And I would not worry too much about his descendants and all that; Descension tends to dilute as it gets passed on.

Something clicked in Uriel's mind. He looked up, eyes lighting up with exitement.


 * Uriel - Tyraz...The child's nature came from Tyraz, passed through me and into a scion hatched merely a few years after his passing. This seems more than coincidence.
 * Kezoreg - Eh, it certainly sounds like a coincidence to me.
 * Hachiman - Ah, don't be so heartless. Fate has weird ways of working itself out... Really weird ways, I gotta say, but it works nonetheless.
 * Kithworto - Your assumption would appear to be correct. The result of this child's descension was due to Tyraz...though I am not so sure how.
 * Uriel - I wish not to delude by suggesting the child is Tyraz. We were always close, brothers to a degree. And for much of that time I recall he always wished for a life that was not his own.

Uriel knelt down, still cradling the infant and rested a hand on Alensia, who shill had Kazoreg pinned to the floor.


 * Uriel - Alensia...let us give him the life he longed for.
 * Alensia - ...Tyrus. We can name him Tyrus.
 * Uriel - A wonderful name.
 * Hachiman - Hmm... Tyraz... Tyrus... Tyraz, Tyrus.... Tyraz... Tyrus. Not sure I see the connection.

Kithworto's eyes had narrowed, though generally due to the demeanour of Kithworto, it went unnoticed. Though none of them were aware, nor would they ever be, Kithworto knew of a future that, with Uriel and his newborn possessing the power of descension, would alter Andromeda for the worse. He had only hoped that this future was not coming into fruition.


 * Kithworto - Keep your child safe. And more importantly, keep yourself safe.
 * Uriel - ''We shall. A recent contact on the praetors' council once approached me regarding a matter that may benefit the boy.
 * Alensia - ...He is our son Uriel. No matter what happens to him...he will have us to look up to. As well as all of you here.
 * Kezoreg - Aw shucks, you're going to make me blush. Really, my face is turning all red. ... Mostly because your damn hands are wrapped around my oesophagus.
 * Alensia - ...I apologise'

Alensia let go of Kezoreg's throat and stood to her full height with Uriel's help. She turned to her husband and accepted the infant in his arms, looking at him as the newly-named Tyrus settled within the cushion provided by her arm. She looked at the boy for several minutes while Uriel moved close, while Kervon looked on from another part of the room


 * Alensia - I still worry for the press, who may latch on to his condition to his disadvantage. We shall care for him, but the universe remains cruel.
 * Kithworto - Censorship is advisable, in this respect.
 * Uriel - Yes. We shall keep Tyrus' condition a secret from the public. We could say that he was a survivor of an attempt on your life, my dear Alensia.
 * Alensia - Cold, but it would not be the first time my children were threatened.
 * Kithworto - You would find that keeping the child away from the prying eyes of the Gigaquadrant may cause hardship with the media. Though that is worth enduring until he is old enough to make his own decisions.
 * Hachiman - I would not cut him off from other people entirely, though. If you want him to have a connection to people and how to evade becoming a monster like some may fear for him, he needs to have some exposure.
 * Uriel - He shall have siblings and relatives, and as he becomes older and comes to better understand himself, we will introduce him to the courts. Perhaps one day he will be ready for the throne.
 * Alensia - You are all the first people the child knows..will you support his upbringing?
 * Kezoreg - ... Well I haven't got much of a choice now, have I?

Kervon stepped up and took a deep breath.


 * Kervon - Despite my reservations. I shall aid the child.
 * Kithworto - Whatever I would advise, I cannot intervene with.
 * Hachiman - I will do my best to keep him from walking a dark path. ... Plus, I can't get enough of how cute he is! Draconid babies are so adorable!

As Alensia cradled the child, Uriel ushered his guests out. He had arranged for drinks and a meal to celebrate the occasion. As they enjoyed the evening, Alensia settled the infant boy into a cot, staying close to him for his first night in the universe.