Jei shook his head, “She’s in a fragile state, I didn’t want to get her hopes up in case we failed. She still mourns for you terribly.”
That was enough for Jane to stop asking, “Fine. Let’s do this so I can see my daughters.”
Dru walked over with a black box and a silver instrument. It was the equipment for binding tattoos. “I chose a pattern I thought fit the occasion,” Dru said evenly.
“No,” said Jei when he saw it.
Rea laughed.
Jane smiled, “It was the joke that I conjured up for the High Priestess anyway. Why not?”
“Are we all in agreement?” Dru asked looking specifically at Jei. It was possible to choose whatever pattern you wanted for a binding tattoo and it was customary to choose one that was ubiquitous.
“I accept the peach binding tattoo in its most deadly form,” Jei said looking directly at Jane.
“And you will be accepting more too,” Jane replied. “Jei, you go first since you killed me.”
Jei looked at Jane in disbelief, “And I brought you back as well. Let’s not forget that.” He retorted but he didn’t hesitate as he unbuttoned his black uniform and took it off revealing a strong and handsome body, despite his two centuries on the planet. All his ranking jewelry hung seductively on his naked chest and he had numerous tattoos already. He looked at Jane, who already had the tattoo instrument in hand, “Where would you like it, Wife?”
Jane scanned his chest and it was already so busy with tattoos, “Take off your trousers.”
Jei was surprised but didn’t bother saying anything more. He removed his black trousers and was wearing nothing underneath.
Jane took in her lover’s body and caught her breath. She had a flood of strong emotions connected to her memories with that body. She wanted to make new ones too. A voice instead her kept saying, He did bring you back. But a stronger voice kept saying, But he also killed you. “Turn around and bend over.” Jane then bent down and put a peach tattoo on Jei’s left butt cheek.
Jei had done this enough times, he knew what he needed to say, “I, Jei of House Rega, give you my oath on pain of death never to speak of what we have done here together.”
“There. Now anyone who sees you will know the goddess of humanity has been here.”
Rea couldn’t help but laugh at Jane’s comment.
Until Jane turned to him, “You too. Trousers down.”
“Jane,” Rea protested.
“I’m serious. Do it,” Jane said.
Rea obeyed and said the oath as she cut into his flesh.
Then it was Dru’s turn. She gently lifted her sleeve and exposed more of her left wrist.
Jane put the peach mark there.
Jei and Rea were shocked that Dru would wear it so openly. It would be visible in every dress she wore as Alliance dresses always revealed the wearer’s wrists. But neither said anything assuming this must be a human understanding between them.
Jane then handed the tattoo instrument to Dru, “Make this as strong as binding as you possibly can. I don’t want to jeopardize Jei’s position. When I say mortal, I mean it. If any of you speak about this, you will die.”
“From a brain hemorrhage,” to be exact Dru said emotionlessly. “I have sorted it and I will try to use influence as well, so we forget.”
“Everyone but you,” Rea pointed out.
“I’m the most trustworthy here. Is this not my office, my name? Have I not kept Jane’s body here while I tried countless times to bring her back? I think I have earned the right to be the one to deliver the influence Doctor Rea,” Dru stated irritated by his comment.
“Fine,” Rea backtracked. “Do it. Use influence to block as much as you can out.”
Dru looked at Jane, “Where do you want the tattoo?”
“Her breast,” Jei said.
Jane turned and said, “Absolutely not. I’m the goddess of humanity after all. Let’s have it here, on my neck just above my collar so everyone can always see it without having to look at my wrists.”
“Don’t you think that’s flaunting this?” Jei asked.
“You just brought me back from the dead, at the most prestigious hospital in the Capital City, which breaks a quite a few Alliance laws but you’re worried a little peach tattoo is ‘flaunting it’?” she looked at him in disbelief.
Jei shook his head, “Remember this will be with you in all of your seven lifetimes. Mir’s tattoos never disappear. You can do what you want.”
“And I will do what I want,” Jane replied and then nodded to Dru. “I, Jane of House Human, goddess of humanity, reincarnate, give you my oath on pain of death,” she stopped then thinking and then added, “in the Afterlife I guess, never to speak of what we have done here together.”
When it was done Dru put away the box and then she and Jei stood opposite one another. He pulled out the marriage bracelets. They were ornate and proud just like Jei.
Jane didn’t know if she was ready for this, but he had agreed to everything and they had all taken the oath. She could suddenly feel the Doctors’ influence then. They were both enveloping them in calm and security.
Jei stood taller and spoke more confidently than he ever had previously that night, “Jane Johnson of House Human, originally from Earth, now the reincarnate goddess of humanity whose symbol is a peach, I pledge my life, devotion and honor to you in wedlock.” Jei said the words as he slipped the bracelet over Jane’s wrist.
Jane took the other bracelet and Jei’s hand, sliding it on as she said, “Jei, Admiral of the Fleet, Guardian of my daughter and the Head of House Rega on Alliance Planet Two, I accept your pledge and will bestow on you my life, devotion and honor in wedlock.”
Then Dru asked them all to join hands. They did. “Close your eyes,” she commanded them.
No one knew how much time passed while Dru used her influence to marry Jane and Jei and to secure the binding tattoos.
“It’s done. May the gods grant you many more daughters,” Dru stated formally.
“Continue to walk in their light Dru,” Jane said. Then she looked at Rea, “I don’t know if I have my old job back or what?” Then looking at Jei, “I do have my old job back, don’t I?”
Of course, Jei could not say ‘no’, not that he would have any way. “Yes, and your quarters on the Kzi.”
“I think I will just live with you all the time. To watch you.”
“I…” Jei was about to disagree, but the binding tattoo stopped him with a terrifically painful headache. After a minute to compose himself, “I will make my quarters suitable for us.”
“Good, Rea, I will see you soon. First, I must see my daughters then I must tie up some loose ends here,” Jane said as she began to walk towards the door.
“Go with the gods,” Jane said as she walked through the door out into the Imperial level of the hospital.
“It will be an honor to serve with you again goddess of humanity,” replied Rea with a smile. He then looked a Dru and said, “I’m impressed you managed to pull this off without getting arrested before now.”
Dru waved a hand dismissing it, “As you know, Jei and I have paid a lot of UCs to a lot of people. I also used the leverage of promising my sister to some men for courting.” Alliance doctors needed to be telepathic and as it was still one of the galaxy’s mysterious traits. To ensure all offspring were telepathic it was best if both parents were telepaths. Not only were there few telepathic women left in the Empire, most of them were not nearly as young and attractive as Jesse. Once she had become a member of House Vo, she had shot to the top of most eligible Alliance doctor’s lists. Even after her marriage, men still were asking if the marriage would be annulled by the High Council, which of course Dru had told them it would be annulled.