Planet Zar: Nexus

It had been too long since the Refugium advertised a clutch. Since the incident at the luung hatching Janardan had turned his tyrannical roots toward security. Clutches became quiet affairs, those requiring candidates were put under stasis or has novos put through invasive screening and subjected to the worst sort of telepathic mind-probing. Things were... unstable. Unwell. But no further eggs went missing and Kutoth dragged himself out of his private chambers to suggest the Refugium return to business as normal - polite, but brooking no room for argument. Dragons needed to be born, species needed to be saved, and candidates needed to feel welcome.

"If they come to take my eggs, I will eat them." Atefes was a monstrously large creature, one of the largest dragons Janardan had ever met and certainly the largest of the udraku. She spread her massive, leathery wings over the peat mounds carrying her eggs.

Janardan rarely felt so small as he did now. "You're welcome to do so."

Atefes made a low grumble that felt like amusement in Janardan's mind. "And I will meet all these candidates personally. No one comes near the nests unless I welcome them."

"Agreed." The swamp biodome wasn't a popular tourist visit anyway. Janardan had security posted at all entrances and the myriad of udraku sleeping in the murky waters was enough to drive away any thief with half a brain. "You're sure you're ready to see candidates?"

"The eggs are getting ready," Atefes grumbled. "Bond better as babies. Use your... electronics... and your connections... find my children suitable candidates."

"We'll use everything at our disposal."

The eggs weren't truly all Atefes'. They were an amalgamation of all the eggs laid on her home planet at the time the Refugium found them. Indeterminate parentage for most of them, but that was just find. Atefes was happy enough to take responsibility for the lot and Janardan couldn't think of anyone that was better security than an angry old udraku broodmother.

The clutches would be safe. They'd have to be.

Janardan took his leave with a polite nod and prepared to make arrangements.