Surprise 3

 "What is wrong?" Dorien asked his son.

"We just ran into one of the Izaberne transfers, he was pretty persistent in asking if we needed help. He chased us down to the transport. It was unsettling. Has Allurai relented in upgrading the gates and doors like I requested?" Liem looked at his father, his eyes scanning his fathers face. Liem felt a pang of disappointment as his face changed. Dorien was the worst hiding information. "So she has not even considered it? I will not cover up a second incident. I will leave and never come back." Liem threatened Dorien. Dorien's face flushed at the threat. 

"Son, she is new and you know how popular she is right now. Especially with the exciting news. Of course people would be excited." Dorien explained.

"Anyways, It is normal for some workers to get overly excited to help, he probably recognized you and her and was trying to gain more work merit to get better accommodations. It will become very ordinary to you now that you are bound to someone so famous. I went through the same." Dorien said. Liem gave his father a nervous look. 

"This was very out of the ordinary, we were followed right out of the facility. He pounded on the transport. I took care of him already. But there might be others that we are not so lucky with." Liem said as he reported to Dorien what happened at the hospital worriedly. "I will not feel safe sleeping here if you do not do more about the security. Clan Sedai or Halid may be more willing to listen if you do not. Halid does not even have an heir. Imagine how they would welcome her?" Liem said.

"I will get a crew to install a gate in front of the building that will use only Allari approved Interfaces as a pass. She rejected the Setton Prime Gate because of the optics of it. Can you please just stay?" Dorien pleaded to his son. If he lived with the Halid then he would not see his son or his own grandchildren.

"Father, you can justify Mother's behaviour all you want. I am telling you what I need in order for her to be safe here? The security here has not been increased since I was a boy. Now we have three pregnant women here and a Matriarch Prime. We need the appropriate gates and security upgrades." Liem argued.

"I think it might be too early to react like this, and it would be difficult for Nora to move to another building now. We have just had you home for barely three cycles. Please Son. Your Mother is waiting for you inside. Just talk with us." Dorien pleaded. Allurai would lose face and not take it well if he were to leave again. Dorien hugged his son. He understood the need to be protective over a Matriarch, he was unsure as to why his son felt the need to install extra security. 

'Who would dare to infiltrate their home? The windows were high grade and could take a transport collision without breaking. Additional measures would make the complex their home look very imposing. If it kept his son home longer than it was worth it. He could explain it as a way to make the 'Northerner' feel more at home to visitors and employees to the main building. Even though it would marr the aesthetic of the building.' Dorien thought. Liem silently nodded to Dorien to pacify him for now. His heart conflicted, he knew this meeting with Allurai would give him a headache. She would dismiss his concerns again.

 "I do not know what it will do to me if something happens to her Father. I warn you." Liem said, with a pissed off sigh. 

"It will be very secure. I will consult with Setton. It will not be an inferior product. We are Allari." Dorien said, surely he could feel safe with that. 

"Fine. For now it will do. Can you tell Mother that I will be checking on Nora first?" Liem said with an annoyed sigh, he did not want to meet with Allurai anyways. Dorien waited until he turned his back to let the exasperation finally wash over his face, he dreaded contacting Setton. His shoulders slumped and he heaved a sigh before going to update Allurai and the rest. He looked at the garden he had just gotten right with a little grief.

 'The things you did for love.' he thought bittersweetly. 

Liem made his way into their home, he turned on the biometric locks. He plodded into the main room bringing a tense air into the room. His face shifted from aggravated to concerned as he looked at Nora softly breathing form and then to Kadir. His irritation and anxiety was evident. Kadir knew what the assault had done to Liem. He probably would not hesitate to kill anyone that hurt Nora, let alone try to do that to her. Liem was kind enough to allow the Peacekeepers to execute the one he did not kill. That fate was merciful compared to what he would have done to them if he was intent on making them suffer. 

He knew what to hurt on the body that would not be numbed by the interface. Liem was at heart a very sensitive man, but when challenged he fought like a ruthless predator. The outside world knew him as a charming and studious explorer, however he had a darker reputation amongst those in the fight pits of Dai' Hrene Station. It was just that he was forced to build a hardened shell and a facade like everyone else. Like a sea creature that had to protect itself from its environment he could change his colour and camouflage his real emotions. Liem was unmasked around her. Earlier he would have torn that Doctors face off by the nose if he had tried to touch her. That is the reason why Kadir started to handle the situation. Liem quietly held his eyes briefly and went into the office. 

Kadir now could understand why he was panicking since all of those men travelled all the way from Izaberne to follow her here. He hated that he was right. He saw an example. The behaviour of that Doctor earlier was alarmingly obsessive; since she was not conscious in Izaberne Station. He was surprised that he did not listen to them or seem threatened by him or the others and followed and struck a transport. With the three of them by her side she was always protected. It would take a lot of strong men to overcome them. One Doctor of his stature would not be able to attack her with them around. Even so he was still incensed on the inside as he stroked Nora's hair as she napped and checked her vitals. He would make her some water with Cane syrup if Cerez took any longer. He was supposed to have ordered from the kitchen. Kadir quietly stood up and departed from their room upon hearing her lightly snore and quietly made his way to the kitchen. When he opened the door he could hear Cerez muttering to himself while he cooked. Cerez was much more open with his emotions. He was glad he was more straightforward then Liem, he had a meaner fist than him as well. At least there would be a chance to talk oneself out of a fight with him. He joined his fellow spouse in the room. 

"Speak quietly, she is in the next room." Kadir said in a hushed tone. 

"I do not want to go home. I know you do not want to go home." Cerez said quietly. He did not know how his brothers would be able to handle being around Nora. He did not want to be called 'Tiny' around her. Kadir raised his eyebrows. Amrita would not give them much privacy, his sister was a very petty person. The residential area was not secure enough, so security staff roamed around. There were simply too many variables at Sedai. Halid was out as it would not be too long until they were pummeling his brothers. Kadir himself knew the Halid brothers had really bad personalities.

"My home is too insecure. There is lots of land around us. Like it or not the shore is the best location until we complete our home. The inner courtyards leave no perimeter security issues. We just have three points of entry. One for each of us." Cerez said as he seared off a piece of meat and placed it into the oven to get the temperature perfect. He then started to prepare steamed vegetables. They were lighter on the stomach. He did not dare use the juicer. 

"We will have to consult with many firms on our residence when we build ours." Cerez said as he heard the door open as Liem walked in.

 "It looks like we will stay put for now. Judging by the look on his face." Cerez said. Liem joined them in the kitchen and sat down heavily and sarcastically sneered at Cerez. They heard Nora's hasty foot steps as she ran off to the bathroom. They heard her loud retching. Cerez gave Kadir a knowing and sad look. He took the opportunity to use louder equipment.

 "Can you make her some Uzuza juice? I picked a lot of them off the stem this morning, you just need to press them." Cerez asked. Kadir nodded and quickly rose to make the juice. She needed the nutrients anyway. He took one of the bowls of fruit and put them in a mesh bag and put them in the press. Cerez had prepared a lot. He was so stressed out from that doctor that he bent the handle of the press slightly. He put some ice and Cane syrup in a cup and mixed the juice with it. 

"Have her rinse her mouth after. That juice tastes bad after rinsing your mouth, remember." Liem reminded his fellow spouse. Kadir poured the finished juice in a pitcher, and then a separate portion.

 "I will bring her some. I have sweetened it. You may want to add some water to the rest." Kadir said as he sat the pitcher down in front of Cerez and Liem. 

"Liem, that made me really nervous as well." Kadir admitted to his friend. 

"Me as well Liem." Cerez easily admitted back. It being their first outing they finally understood why Liem was so obsessive about her security. 

"You understand now?" Liem said. They understood that she was beautiful and smelled alluring, since they were around her so much they could hold themselves back. The undisciplined would be unsafe. Seeing how obsessed that Doctor was startling. It was not just two demented men, this proved that it was not just paranoia. Liems' concern was legitimate. 

"Now we all have more to protect as well. Do not let her see the fear, she will worry." Cerez said as he pulled the meat out to rest it. He scattered some salt, butter and let it rest. He left the room to find Nora. He would let Cerez talk Liem down from the emotional ledge he was sitting on. Cerez was empathetic and wise. 

"Nora, how are you feeling?" Kadir called out as he entered the bathroom.

 "Well, I managed to not get it in my hair this time. I wish we could find my hair tie." Nora said, her voice slightly hoarse. She walked out of the bathroom and exited into the bedroom and plunked herself on the bed. Liem had been looking all over for her 'scrunchie'. The only item from home that she could keep since it was caught in her hair during the decontamination process. Kadir walked into the room behind her.