Bound by Fate-The Next Generation

Szin's Story

~Age 10~

“Why do we have to do this?” Szin demanded once again as Dale ushered him toward the flyer.

“You and your brother turned ten this week,” Dale said for the fifth time in as many minutes. “This is when young are tattooed with the royal symbols, sweetie. It’s why we’re going to Ta’Nar. The Royal Office is where it’s done by a royal tattoo artist. They’ll match what your dabba and I have on our necks. It's an honor to be tattooed; our traditions only allow the best warriors and royalty this privilege . After that we’ll visit with Hamza; he’s excited about seeing you both. ”

Szin dragged his feet as he and his daddy approached the flyer where his dabba and Raiden were waiting. “Daddy? Raiden says it hurts, really bad.”

“I’ve heard that it does, yes.” Dale rubbed his hand over Szin’s hair. “Your dabba insisted I be given pain relief so I couldn’t feel the pain. Oh yeah, I forgot. Here, I brought this, just in case you get thirsty on the way to the palace on Ta’Nar.”

Szin took the bottle that had his favorite drink.

“Come on,” Raiden yelled. “By the God’s, you are slow!”

“Shut up,” Szin mumbled.

“You shut up,” Raiden hissed back.

Finally everyone got in the flyer, and the young settled in the back. The fighting started as usual.


“I wanted to listen to the dopi, I just downloaded some new music,” Raiden complained.

“I remembered to bring it, so I get it first.” Szin plugged the dopi in to the flyer power source. “You have the koobeton.”

“But I want the dopi,” Raiden hissed.

“Tough,” Szin replied.

Raiden reached over and tried to pull it away from Szin, who wouldn’t let go. A short, snarly argument broke out quickly in the back of the flyer.

“Stop it, you hair ball!” Szin yelled.

“You knew I wanted to listen to it on the way there.” Raiden hissed as he wrestled with Szin. “Give it to me!”

Szin slapped Raiden’s hand, which resulted in a loud, distressed yip.

“Oh stuff it, that didn’t hurt.” Szin rolled his eyes.


“That’s enough,” Keyno said loudly. “Szin had it first, so he gets it for now. I will tell you when it’s time to switch. And Szin? No name calling or hitting, I mean it. Raiden? Leave him alone.”

“Awww dabba, that’s—”

“Or Szin can keep it the whole way, if you argue with me. Your choice Raiden,” Keyno said, cutting off his other young.

There was some soft mumbling in the back of the flyer.

“If you have something to say—”

“I didn’t say anything, dabba,” Raiden huffed as Szin snickered. “Daa-aad! Szin’s laughing at me. Do something! I didn’t do anything to him.”

“By God, don’t make me come back there,” Dale threatened, turning around to face his young.

A small smile played around Keyno’s lips as they eased into warp drive. Dale had taught both young early on to call him “dad” from Dale’s first language even though both young called Keyno “dabba” from the Ta’Narian language.

Silence reined in the back seat. Dale maintained eye contact for a moment more, determined to make his point. Satisfied, he turned back around.

“Oh Lord, I sound like my parents, Keyno. Those two have turned me into my parents. Mom said I’d get repaid for all the fighting Susan and I did as kids. And she’s right.” Dale spoke softly to his mate.


“It’ll be okay, love. They’re just excited and nervous about the tattoos. Did you fix Szin something to, ah… drink?”



“Yeah, I did. I feel bad about the pain blocker I slipped in it, but since he’s all but human—”

“It would be bad for him, my mate.” Keyno reached and grabbed Dale’s hand. “He just doesn’t have the tolerance Raiden has, and I don’t want him to hurt any more than necessary. He’ll feel enough to be able to say he endured it.”

Dale glanced back at his young who were now sharing the drink—the drink with the pain blocker.

“Oh damn,” Dale whispered. “Raiden’s drinking Szin’s drink too. Great.”

Keyno just laughed. “Oh well, not much we can do about it now. Dale, if you make a big deal they’ll know we did something. I’ll handle it, my mate.”

“Okay.”

“Raiden, you have your own drink up here, don’t drink all of Szin’s.”

“Oh, okay. Can I have mine, then?” Raiden asked.

Dale handed the other drink to Raiden. After the young sat back down, Keyno winked at Dale. “This brings back memories.”


“Whatcha mean?”

“Remember when you were tattooed?”

“Are you serious? Of course I do. We had just finished up shopping for clothes. Jeez, the look on your face when you saw me dressed.”

“You were the sexist thing at the celebration. I was hard all night looking at you.”

Dale snickered as Keyno purred softly. “Down, boy. That’ll have to wait until tonight. Anyway, you could have told me I’d be given pain relief. When you said the process wouldn’t hurt I assumed there was minimal pain involved. I had to find out from Doc that the tattooing was very painful, and that he wouldn’t be doing the actual tattooing.”

“Oh? That’s all you remember?”

“Well, there was that little deal with you threatening to kill the royal tattoo artist just because he made a comment about me being weak because you insisted I be given pain relief. You slammed that poor male against the wall so hard pictures fell to the floor. And let’s not forget the marks you left on his neck either from strangling him.”

“He was lucky I didn’t break his neck for what he said.”

“I think he kinda figured that out. Having your feet dangle a good foot off the ground tends to get your attention.” Dale shrugged. “Speaking of which, what are the possibilities that the same tattoo artist will still be there?”

“Pretty good, I’d imagine. Why?”

“I was just wondering if we were gonna end up having a repeat of what happened last time if the same male is there. Once was enough, thank you. Would you be okay with the same one doing the young?”

“I would, yes. I made my point with him—one that he won’t ever forget. And if there is a new artist, I’ll be more than happy to explain everything again. If that involves nearly choking him to death, I can do that.”

“I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: Jeez, you guys give new meaning to machoism.”

Keyno raised an eyebrow. “I don’t hear any complaints when I’m making you scream with pleasure.”

“Oh damn, Keyno, stop that! Your scent will be all over the flyer and the young are already asking questions about that smell. I am not ready to have the ‘birds and the bees’ talk with them.”

“By the Gods, Dale, what does birds and bees got to do with anything?”

“Tell you what, I’ll explain it to you, too, when I have ‘The Talk’ with the young.”

Keyno grabbed Dale behind the head, pulled him close and kissed Dale hard. “You do that—explain sex to me while I put you on your hands and knees, tie you in place, and fuck that ass for hours.”

“Ewww!” Raiden yelled from the back of the flyer. “They’re kissing again!”

“Oh hush, Raiden.” Dale huffed out a quiet laugh. “You damn alien, now I’m hard.”

“You can explain what I need to do with that too.”

“I will, believe me, I will… later.”


The tattoos went fine. Raiden stayed near Szin the whole time, holding him close. A few tears escaped the young, but he got through it. Raiden never made a sound. Later they went to eat in the capital city at a place that resembled Earth’s Chuck E. Cheese. It was geared more for climbing and hunting with trees and caves to explore—perfect for growing young. They spent the rest of the evening visiting with Keyno’s uncle-King Duran, his mate, Juan, and their young, Hamza.

TBC