My Interview with Dale from The Harvest pt 2

~I would love for Dale to tell me the weirdest Ta’Narian custom that he just can’t wrap his head around and doesn’t take part in?

Long ago, in what I call their more barbaric period, Raztna Anuge was performed. It’s a tradition in which a greased Branta is suspended over water. Young Ta’Narians jump from water crafts and attempt to rip off the head of the Branta.

This competition served as a way for the young Ta’Narians to prove their strength and eligibility to probable mates. In addition to winning the adoration of a mate, the winners also got to keep the Branta.

~Before you came to Ta'Nar what was your occupation? I briefly remembered computers being mentioned but I don’t remember much else.

Man, that was so long ago. It feels like a different lifetime now. That other person is someone I barely know now. I hadn’t been out of college long and had a degree in computer science. At the time I wasn’t working, there had been major lay-offs in our town. It’s why I was living at home in my early twenties when I was harvested.

~Did you ever think about really studying botany? It seems to come natural to you, the way you turned the Ta'Narian catnip flower into a fragrance that you could control the potency is genius; the average person can’t do that.

Well thank you! I don’t know if what I did was really all that special. I mean, I have equipment that I call ‘retard resistant’. *Laugh* if it can survive Chad…

I have thought about it, maybe when the young get a little older. I’ve used the device that downloads information into the brain to explore the subject a little. Mainly I’ve stuck with the plants that are native to Ta’Nar but I did use it to study Ta’Narian Katnip. Of course I had a reason. *Laugh*

~I know that you have implemented earth customs in the Ta'Narian society. Since Ta'Nar is now mixed bearers do you think that other customs and celebratory days from the other planets could be interwoven?

What I did wasn’t done on purpose; like the young shower for example. It just kind of happened. That was supposed to be nothing more than a little party for just a few friends. And we all know how that turned out! Celebrating Christmas came as a shock to me.

But yeah, I do think our mates will now be more open to introducing new customs. I’d like to see other customs shared here on Ta’Nar. I think that would be cool. I also think it would help mates to adjust to a new life. I think it can only help Ta’Nar grow as a planet to embrace new idea’s.

~The theory or the ramifications of the “Harvest” was reconstructed to be more humane, is that just on earth or did that change on for the other planets too? Since you did such a great job at the meeting with the new applicants will be you going to more recruitment sessions?

I do believe-since the last Harvest on Earth went so well-King Duran will use that approach from now on. It was time for some changes. I said from the beginning they acted like bullies on the playground. Now they have seen what a little less fear and a little more willingness to work with other species can do.

I plan to; I really hope I can. I mean, you never know what life has around the next corner but this is something I want to do. It makes a huge difference. What I would like to do is have mates go back to their home planets and recruit. I think it would make a bigger impact coming from their own kind. Then they could also see others of us that have become mates and hear our stories.

~Do you and Keyno plan on having more children? If so what would be your reaction to having the first dual Ta'Narian? I know I’m asking for a miracle but you were double dosed and you are really special.

Okay, did Keyno slip that question in? *Laugh* I don’t know that I’ll have a choice about having more young. It depends on how my Estrus Cycle goes. But I do want more, just not right now. I have my hands full with these two. *Laugh* don’t even mention anything else odd happening to me! I’ve met my quota. I’m praying that having twins was a once in a lifetime thing.

~Have you or Keyno noticed that your children have chosen their mates from the womb? Is this normal with Ta'Narian’s or is this something new with the mutation of interspecies breeding?

I caught it first. But then, I had these little voices whispering to me. *Laugh* I didn’t say anything cause… well, look at how Chad acted when I told him he was in trouble. Ended up I was right, and don’t think I haven’t remained dumbass of it, but still.

As far as I know this isn’t normal. I’m guessing it revolves around just my circle of friends. It’s possible that my being double dose somehow did all this. Just like everything else connected with me, no one truly knows why this happened.

~Okay, I understand security for the king Duran and his mate Juan. How often do the other children interact with his new baby?

Hate to say it but it’s restricted to just our circle of friends and others that King Duran trusts. King Duran is very careful who he allows near his young, especially since it took Juan so long to get pregnant. Can you imagine what would happen if another group like the sknom went after Juan’s young?

It wouldn’t have to a group from Ta’Nar, either. What if another species that the Ta’Narians pissed off, and there were many before the war with the Onfre, decided to get revenge by killing King Duran’s young?

~Now that you know about your brother in law’s friend Hunter and his son, would there be more interaction with him and the other children? I know his dad is not part of the space crew but it seems that the new generation is just different and are somewhat closer with one another?

I think there will be. I hope so. I like Hunter; he seems like a nice guy and all the young got along very well. Even if I question Hunter’s choice in friends. *Laugh* I’m kidding, of course. Evan and I made our peace over Christmas. Or maybe I should say Evan made peace.

~Would family gatherings with your earth family occur more often? I remember when your family came over for the holidays the children were initially caught off guard because they have not seen a female before.

The Ta’Narians are just now learning to open up and trust other species, and the same can be said of other species, too. I think we’ll be going to Earth more in the future. The Earthlings will need help with their space program and that will be the perfect time for us to visit.

Keyno, and other starship captains, will be needed to help the humans train to command a ship. Plus train a crew, too. So yeah, I think there will be plenty of opportunities’ for all of us to get together.  

~Why in the hell hasn't he reduplicated a pair of tight ass jeans and gotten out of those yoga pants? I'd love to see him bare-chested and poured into a pair, all hot and yummy. Bet Keyno would too! Not while preggos of course, but any other time.

Okay, okay! *Laugh* Which one of you guys has that overgrown alley cat been talking to??? He’s been after me for that very thing. I guess, out of the goodness of my heart, I’ll make some jeans up and put a smile on his face!

~I know you like to work with plants; do they have schools or universities? Do you want to do something when the boys get older?

Do you remember the device that Keyno used that transmitted knowledge into my brain? That’s what’s used. It starts at about 2 months of age. As they get older more appropriate material is fed to them. Of course, they are tested before they can move on though. If they fail they have to repeat the course.

The Ta’Narians do not have a school system like Earth. Raiden and Szin will train with other groups of boys that either have connections to the royal family or are connected to the palace three times a week from age eleven until age eighteen. That’s ages in Earth years. They learned how to use different weapons, and the skills needed to fight. There are many training type facilities based on Ta’Nar.

~Does Szin and Takeo being mates effect your and Keyno’s relationship with Cielo and Ti in anyway?

Not at all. I know M took some heat for that chapter in our lives, but it is what it is.

(I should mention that Dale was very uncomfortable about this subject, and not because of the few negative responses I got on that part. He blushed the whole time on that subject, lol. Wonder why, lol?)

That's the end of Dale's interview. Be watching for the next one!

~M

My Interview with Dale from The Harvest Pt 1

~What are some of the things the children do with Keyno? I know he likes to throw them up in the air but is there something that just the three of them like to do without you around?

Oh, he makes sure he has plenty of play time with them. Keyno and the twins fish for tuort at the waterfall and he’s showing them how to use a spear like his ancestors used. He also is working with both on their tracking and stalking abilities.

And, god help me, he’s trying to get them interested in restoring this old flyer he found at a local space junk yard. I have to say Szin has shown more interested in that than Raiden. But then Raiden likes stalking more than Szin. Not a big surprise, either.

~I was thinking along the line of how you were such a help to John when he first came on board. Though the new Earthlings had the opportunity to choose to come, have you thought of possibly starting a support group for any who are having a hard adjustment?

Soon after we landed I checked into that very thing. Even though they had volunteered to come, it stood to reason there might be problems adjusting. The very first thing I did was arrange several doctors to come speak to these guys about the DNA mutating process. Doc was one.

I wanted the new mates to clearly understand what would happen then, and what would happen down the road. Human males do not grow up thinking about having children, not in this way at least, and it can play havoc with your mind. One of the things I screamed at Keyno in the beginning was that he was taking my manhood from me. 

Then I found mates who were willing to be… I guess mentors. This way the new mates had access to someone they could talk to and also, build a friendship with. Chad, John, and I all did this. The great thing is I made a new friend. This is all new territory for us, but I think it’s going good. *Laugh* we’re working the bugs out as we go, I guess you could say.

~What feature of the society in which you now live is the most unlike Earth, and which have you found it most difficult to adjust to?

Everything is different here. If I wanted a diamond tennis bracelet I reduplicated it, if I wanted a Coke… same thing. *laugh* Of course diamonds are nothing more than rocks here. Maybe that’s the hardest thing to adjust to. What was important on Earth has little meaning here.  

~Has having a baby changed you fundamentally? Has it made you feel less human?

Oh you bet having young changed me. I mean, I never dreamed I would give birth. What man does? Biology speaking, Earth men dodged that bullet. Then… I’m altered to have young. That’s hard enough to adjust to, but I had to go and have twins and do it the old fashioned way.

I’d have to say I don’t feel human anymore. I’m not, really. Earth isn’t ‘home’ to me now. I told Keyno once that if given the chance to return I wouldn’t take it. 

~It must have been quite a culture shock to go back to Earth after having submersed yourself so completely in a completely alien society. Was there anything that you had already forgotten about life on Earth, anything that shocked you on your return?

Ta’Nar is ruled by one person. It was strange to return to Earth and see so many countries fighting for things like oil, land, religious beliefs. There are so many governments and no one can seem to agree. Hell, look at the U.S. government. I guess I had forgotten how split Earth is as far as having so many different ruling bodies and their inability to get along.

I guess the other thing would be that same-sex relationships are still frowned upon by so many.  If I want to hold Keyno’s hand while we’re out, then I do. I don’t worry about someone freaking out, getting upset and calling me names. It’s disappointing Earth hasn’t progressed past this. 

~How are the kids? Are they still in the public eye for being twins? Are most people curious or hostile? Are the children aware they're different to other children? If so how do they cope? How do they respond to curiosity/violence?

They are doing well! Yes, there’s still a lot of curiosity about them, but I guess that’s normal, considering. Raiden takes it in stride, but Szin is beginning to notice he’s considered different. Some would say… less. But if Keyno hears them, well…

I don’t know yet how Szin will react to that later on; it may be a problem for him. Szin becomes  quiet when it’s mentioned he looks human, and Raiden wants to stomp on anyone that makes fun of Szin for it.

I worry about Szin sometimes. He’s the deep thinker of the family. Yeah, they know they’re different. Not much getting around that, you know? Just the fact they are part of the royal family makes them different, then throw in this.  

~Are you happy?

Oh, I am very happy. That’s not to say I don’t miss my family; I do. It’s not like I can hop on a plane and go see them, you know? Or pick up a phone and call my mom for advice. Family is very important to me as most of you guys know. But I have another family here, and we’re close. 

~Are you psychic now and if so does that make the kids psychic?

After Szin and Raiden were born I lost the connection I shared with them. No one knows why; for that matter, no one knows why I had it to begin with. But there are times I think they are able to communicate with each other psychically. There’s this look they get, usually right before they sneak off to plan something. *laugh* I really can’t explain it. 

~You and Keyno are very close to Cielo (Colt) and Ti. Have you thought about living together?

Naw. We are close but we all live different lives and have different responsibilities. Ti is still very involved with his home planet just as Keyno is. Just living close to each other is enough. 

~Hello Dale how are you, I have enjoyed your travels with Keyno. Just curious of the activities that you do with the other bearers on the ship? It’s a big ship and the crew members and their mates are quite extensive.

Hey! I’m doing good! Hmm, I guess it depends on the mission. Sometimes we hang out in Ten Forward, that’s a good place to unwind, have a light meal, talk, play some games or whatever. Then there’s the Holo Deck. That’s cool. There are shops that offer all kinds of stuff. Sometimes we go to the nursery area and play with the young. 

~How often do you visit other planets?

Pretty often. We go to Onfre some, and of course Aploi. There’re a few planets the Ta’Narians have treaties with that we may be able to visit later. That’s still up in the air right now.

*Part 2 of the Interview will be up very soon, guys.

Quick Note...

Okay, have a wild idea here. I'm thinking of doing an interview with Dale from The Harvest. Any of you want to send me a question to ask Dale? It could be about anything you have ever wanted to know. If this has a good turn out I plan to do it for all the characters.

So, let's see. Let's say Feb 7th is the cut off date for questions. That will give me plenty of time to write up the interview, get it edited and post it the following weekend. :)

Post the question on here if interested!

~M