Chakona's News Network....

A Deadly attack on Starbase 241 earlier this week was the largest pirate attack on a Federation station to take place leaving 14 dead and dozens more injured. We go live now to Parker. Parker, can you tell us more about the attack that happened there?

Yes, hello Sandra, I am here in the shipping center of Starbase 241 where shipping comes from nearby planets and supply ships. A few days ago, as you can see from the damage behind me, this station came under attack by pirates in order to recover the slaves the Federation recovered from LNAW shipping that had crossed the border. Damage to the station was mostly small weapons fire and small explosive devices. Clean up crews are working to repair the damage to the station and they say it will be up and running again next week. However, one of the docking systems was badly damaged when pirates tried to escape and won't be back online until next month.

Parker? What did the station commander say about the attack?

We never got a chance to speak to the station commander. Sources say Lt. Commander Dreamspirit is on forced leave while investigations are underway. There were also reports of a Maximilian Pilumnus being instrumental in the saving of the station. However, reports on how he did it are vague at best. We do know from reports that if he hadn't been here, the pirates would have taken what they came for.

Life has a strange way of leading you by the nose where it needs you even if it has to do so kicking and screaming. I highly believe that the old saying 'Life is what happens while you're making plans' is quite accurate. I had gone from a lonely, quiet, shy person who couldn't get of his own way, to a complete stranger who bonded with the most unlikely of individuals and from there to having an honest to God family including a child. But life wasn't finished with me yet as my time on Starbase 241 showed me. Life decided that I should get to know the other side of the equation and forced me into a form that had never been my own complete with a tail and thick fur. It was either adapt or die then and being as that I didn't want to leave behind a fatherless kit, I chose adaptation. Now, skunktaurs are renowned for their adaptability in almost any circumstance. Too hot? Shed some fur, change your skin to reflect ambient heat instead of absorbing it. Too cold? Grow thicker fur, grow an extra undercoat, and retain more body fat for insulation. Slogging through a swamp or water environment? Grow webs between your toes and produce a special oil to help insulate your coat from water. One way or another, a skunktaur will survive.

Now, after everything that happened on Starbase 241, I might as well have been a skunktaur just minus the taur part, and I was even semi-threatened by a mad scientist of a mouse morph that she would happily finish the process if I so wished. It would only take more time in the nutrient tank and when I woke up again, badda boom, badda bing, I'd be a full-fledged skunktaur. I politely declined her invitation and ran very quickly for the nearest airlock. I hadn't had any time to adjust to what had happened to me with the pirate attack and all. Mentally, I was still reeling from everything that had happened and if it weren't for my link with Swytch, I'm pretty sure I would have had a nuclear melt down right afterwards. I've always said that Swytch is my savior. Hy has been my support, my anchor, the rock that I can tie myself to when life yanks me in 14 different directions. Just as Jackie, my other mate, has been my soul's release when the only way to assuage my grief and pain, is to sing it at the top of my lungs to a room full of patrons with a roaring band at my back. I'm certain I wouldn't be here today if not for them. Shortly after my release from the hospital wing, we were booked for travel and back on a shuttle to Chakona. I know Swytch and I both missed our kit horribly. Little Arctyc would be one year old soon and we both wanted to be there for hys birthday. Jackie was now pregnant with our child and all of the doctors, though baffled, said the fetus was healthy and whole. It seems my jacked-up genetics had found a way to bridge the gap between species and Jackie couldn't be happier. She practically bubbled with happiness and affection for everyone.

Dreamspirit on the other hand, was sulking. Shi wasn't happy with mandatory R&R on Chakona and kept attempting to do paperwork to keep hir hand in. I, on the other hand, kept hacking hir PADD and deleting everything. Shi had been too absorbed in hir work for too long, and being hir friend, it was time to take hir health into consideration. Even Dr. Sands was planning on taking a vacation to Chakona in the next few weeks to visit Swytch and the family. It was probably a good thing we had bought that bigger house when we did because it was about to get crowded, plus toss in two twin Siamese feline bodyguards for good measure.

Now you might be saying, "Max, you seem to be taking all of this in stride so far. Why haven't you freaked out yet?" Well you'd be right to ask that question. It seems I was still in a bit of shock over everything that had happened to include a full-on form shift and my mind had put a hold on processing it all until such a time as I could do so safely. I have a sneaking suspicion that Swytch had a hand in it as well; keeping it well-padded in the background for the time being, but something like that only takes one last straw to break the camel's back, or so the saying goes. If anyone had really known what a walking emotional time bomb I was, they probably would have taken steps; but from all appearances, to me included, I was handling this like a champ. The mind still is a mysterious thing really. We have a good understanding of what does what and controls what, but we still don't know what will eventually collapse the house of the mind yet.

It was a fairly long flight back to Chakona and I spent a lot of it sleeping. I felt like I hadn't slept in forever and my body was still recuperating from everything as well; so it was going to take some time for everything to settle into normal rhythms again. I noted a few worried looks from my mates during all of the sleeping I was doing, but how does one explain the bone deep weariness that accompanies a complete loss of identity and a pirate attack? The dream that I had when I had been knocked unconscious, where the human me and the skunk morph me kept flickering over and over in the mirror, was a recurring part of a lot of my dreams. More and more the human aspects were disappearing, being forgotten and overwritten by the skunk I saw in the mirror every day. I couldn't even remember what my original face looked like anymore, but JC McClellan was long dead and gone now. Even Maximilian Pilumnus's human face was starting to slip from my mind to be replaced by the black and white furred muzzle that now stared back at me when I looked in the mirror. Did Maximilian Pilumnus even exist anymore? My mind, with the help of Swytch, was keeping these thoughts from bombarding me while awake, but my dreams were another story. There were some nights when one or the other of my mates would have to shake me awake from my nightmares as my brain, my subconscious mind, tried to rationalize everything that had happened so far.

Eventually, the courier ship that took us to Chakona arrived and we all made our way through processing. No one even batted an eye at the twin's brand spanking new papers. We were authorized to take the transporters down to the planet's surface and were met by Riot, Jynxy, and two very rambunctious kids. I was actually worried that our cub wouldn't recognize me, but I guess I shouldn't have been, my scent hadn't changed, only grown stronger and slightly different and little Arctyc happily buried his face in the fur of my neck while attempting to give me a hug. A little something broke then inside me, and I held hym tightly and cried, sinking to my knees which startled everyone and it wasn't long before there was one giant, furry, group hug.

Everyone started sending feelings and thoughts of love and comfort to help calm me. My son, not really understanding what was going on reached up a tiny hand to pat me on the muzzle comfortingly before burying hys little face in my neck again with a giggle. Little Brightstreak, not to be outdone by hir nephew, also swarmed the pile of people to latch onto the other side of my neck to give hir own love and support and laughter. If anyone ever tells you that there is magic in a child's laugh, believe them, because they have children and know, as do I now, how much truth there is in that statement. Neither Riot, nor Jynxy said one word about my new appearance then. They both just hugged me, happy that I was home. I carried both cubs, in my arms, to the PTV and helped to buckle them into their car seats. Then I got to reconfigure my first PTV seat to accommodate my new tail. So many new things to learn that every other morph takes for granted. I introduced everyone to Dreamspirit and shi was a bit swamped with hugs hirself and looked slightly trapped. I had to gently disengage everyone explaining a little bit that shi wasn't raised by chakats and everyone backed off a bit. Although I think Riot took it as a personal challenge, plus we all know how Riot feels about bright colors and here was a walking, talking, grape soda for hir to be friends with.

Eventually we made it back home. I walked in with our son asleep in my arms and Swytch and Jackie at my side. The twins were staying in the background. I had only introduced them by name to everyone and hadn't explained everything that had happened as of yet. That was going to be a long story and for today, I would prefer for it to wait. I needed the balm that being home brings to someone who had been gone too long.

Everyone was set up with a guest room and I gently carried my sleeping son back to the creche and laid hym down with his Aunt to sleep the excitement off. I went into our bedroom to change into something more comfortable than traveling clothes and dug out a green pair of plaid pajama bottoms we had picked up after all of the commotion at the starbase. I had actually bought an entire wardrobe to accommodate my new form. Though my taste in clothing remained the same, Swytch and Jackie had a say in some of the items. While digging out the clothes, something flipped out of my bag with a light 'thunk' on the floor.

Leaning over to pick it up, I realized that it was the holoprojector for my lightweight combat suit. I looked at it and walked over to the dressing mirror. Holding it to my chest I triggered the human Max form and stared into the reflection of my human self in the mirror. So that's what I had looked like...

I'm not sure how long I stood there before I heard a sound behind me. Looking into the reflection behind me I saw Swytch standing there looking uncertain. I quickly thumbed the projector off and turned around and managed to spit out, "I didn't know we had brought this back with us."

Swytch just looked at me. "Max, I know that all of this is probably starting to come home to roost. You've had time to actually process everything that has happened and your nightmares are telling me that not all of it is going well." At Max's helpless look, hy quickly walked up to him and placed a loving hand on his furred cheek. "Max, you are still the same person where it matters," hy said placing hys hand on Max's chest where his heart beat heavy. "Right here. Everything else is just a shell, a wrapper to the outside world. No one can take away who you truly are; a lover, a fighter, a nerd and a singer; a father to a beautiful kit and mate to my heart. You are a father to Jackie's future child and a mate to her heart as well. You have friends who love you. You have family who loves you. You have people who admire and respect you. You are Maximilian Pilumnus, soon to be of Clan Redpaw. Your exterior does not define who you are, nor does your biology. Your heart does."

The entire time Swytch had been talking, Max could feel his mate's love and confidence flowing like a tidal wave through their link. The more hy spoke, the more Max started to shake until finally he broke down again, tears streaming from his eyes as he latched onto Swytch in a crushing hug of despair. Swytch held him just as tightly, letting some of what had been building up for so long find its way out in the catharsis of weeping. He wept for an identity he no longer had and he wept for not knowing who he was anymore. He also wept because, in his heart, he knew he would always have a family here no matter what he might become.

Eventually, the tears ran themselves dry and Swytch wiped the salty tracks from Max's fur as hy caressed his face tenderly. "Now, how about we go say hi to the family and try to explain some of what's happened. I know Dad is about to POP with questions!" hy giggled. Max turned to grab a shirt and Swytch stopped his hand. Looking at him with a raised eyebrow hy said, "Do you really feel you need a shirt? Do you feel cold? Do you feel uncomfortable?" hy asked as hy ran a hand over the red paw mark on his chest. "Or, are you trying to hide part of what you are?"

Max looked troubled. Ever since he had found out that a Redpaw had been killed to make the gene therapy that had made him, he had felt somewhat ashamed that a life had been taken on his account. He felt a bit like a fraud with that red paw print on his chest. All of this Swytch heard and felt between their link and hy laid hys hand once again on his chest. "If you feel that way about it, then make something of your life to honor hym. Do something that, without hys sacrifice, would not have been possible. Carry the Clan proudly on your chest because you are one of us," hy said fiercely. Max looked thoughtful for a moment and his face cleared and he nodded and followed his Lifemate back into the Den.

Hy hadn't been joking, as soon as he sat down Riot almost exploded in questions so Max was semi-forced to explain everything that evening instead of the next day. They broke a few times during the retelling for food and drinks and finally late in the evening, Max finished the tale of his tail and the pirates. Everyone was quiet for a bit and Jynxy was the first to speak. "So, the twins are actually freed slaves?" hy asked looking at the twins, who as usual, were sitting in positions that gave them the best view of everyone. They nodded in unison at hys question. "And now you've decided to follow Max everywhere he goes as his bodyguards?" hy asked an eyebrow raised.

Teeshan spoke first in his baritone voice. "Yes. Max was the first person to show us friendship and affection." And then Neeshan spoke, her soprano voice almost lilting. "We figured if we were truly free to do as we wished, then we would rather protect a friend than a complete stranger," she finished.

"And is Max paying you for this protection?" Riot asked curiously.

Teeshan shook his head. "We only require a place to sleep and food to eat really," he stated. To which Neeshan said with an embarrassed pinking of her ears, "Plus Starfleet is paying us for our training and as part of Mr. Pilumnus's operations team. That is if he decides to accept Shylin's offer."

Riot's tail was twitching up a storm as shi asked, "And do you plan on taking hym up on hys offer, Max?"

Max leaned back on the couch, his tail in his lap as he absently stroked it in thought. "I don't know yet. It is a big decision and I really need to discuss it with Swytch and Jackie first. I mean, Jackie is pregnant after all and I have a son I would like to be able to see grow up in person and not in pictures. Although I've been told that the training will take a couple of years to complete actually and I can do the majority of that here on Chakona," he stated.

"When would you like to be presented to the Redpaw Council?" asked Jynxy.

Max blinked. "Ummm, I'm not sure?" he made the statement more of a question.

Jynxy laughed and reached over and ruffled his cheek fur affectionately. "I'll bring it up to the council when I go back to work, we'll see what they say. Oh and do you know when your heat/rut cycle will begin?" hy asked curiously.

"MOM!" Swytch said with a gasp.

"What? You were going to just leave that out and hope it never came up, kit? If hy is mainly skunktaur now, you know it's going to happen sooner or later. It's best to prepare hym now, isn't it?" hy stated matter-of-factly using only skunktaur pronouns when referring to Max.

Max looked back and forth from mother to daughter. "What?" he said, completely baffled by the exchange.

Swytch had the good graces to look embarrassed and apologetic. "I didn't want to bring it up because there is a slight chance it might not happen. I mean, you're not a full skunktaur after all and it might not be an issue."

"Can someone please explain what the hell they are talking about?!?" Max asked a touched heatedly.

Jynxy gave hys kit a withering look and turned to Max. "You know that skunktaurs have a heat/rut cycle, yes?" At Max's nod hy continued, "And now your genetic makeup is primarily skunktaur, yes?" to which Max nodded somewhat numb looking now. "So, there could be a strong possibility that you would also have that selfsame heat/rut cycle as well, yes?" hy pushed. Max just sat there, eyes quite wide and not blinking or moving a twitch. "Great, mom, you just broke my Lifemate," Swytch admonished half teasing, half worried.

Jynxy looked at hys kit with a touch of heat. "You do your Lifemate a serious injustice by not trusting that hy can handle this as well as everything else. I know this has all been difficult for hym, and a few of us have been tiptoeing on eggshells calling hym, him; when there is a high probability that Max is now a hym. I know you feel very protective of hym," hy said purposefully using the skunktaur pronoun again. "But you cannot protect hym from everything forever my kit. Hy is a strong, healthy, attractive skunktaur, even without the taur part. We were made to adapt and hy will as well," Jynxy said without a trace of reservation in hys voice.

Each time Jynxy used the pronoun, Max twitched slightly. The thought had never occurred to him honestly. Not with everything else going on in his life. He just looked at Jynxy and then to Swytch with wide eyes and said, "Do we have any alcohol in the house???"

It wasn't long after that a very exhausted and maybe a touch inebriated Max went to bed.