by Abigail Myst
“You’re gonna have to let go of me for a second,” Humility told her.
Once free, Humility took a spot at the end of the table, reminding herself over and over that women had been giving birth for thousands of years. Alien babies were just a slightly new aspect, but nothing to write home about. How would her vid sound to Wendy tonight? ‘I brought a new life into the world. And he was green.’ Or at least she thought he would be green. Mahdfel sons always took after their fathers. She’d make it sound passe, like something she did every day.
Once Odette began to bear down, things moved quickly and suddenly, Humility was holding a pale mint, nearly white baby in her arms. It let out a caterwaul that pleased his father to no end. Humility took no time in handing the little warrior over to his parents and turned to help Clover.
Scrubs had her cut open and was carefully separating the child from his mother. Without missing a beat, Scrubs handed him to Humility and went back to using both his hands and a laser tool to seal up his wife’s innards.
“Make him cry,” he instructed her. Perhaps it was instinct but Humility checked his air passages before giving him a swat on the butt. The little green guy let out a splutter and then a wail. She cleaned off the baby the best she could, but turning to Clover, she could tell the new mother was in no condition to hold her child.
Humility didn’t know why, but she was suddenly bawling herself. She cradled the little nameless creature in her arms and stared into its tiny minty face. She’d never seen such eyes of blue.
Looking over at Scrubs, she could see that all his attention was focused on his wife. His movements were much less rushed and frenzied now, knowing Clover would be fine. She would soon be able to meet her newborn son and coddle him until they sent him off to warrior school.
“Shall we present our new sons?” Athen asked, as Scrubs stroked his wife’s forehead. Humility didn’t want to hand him over, but she allowed Scrubs to take his son. The warriors headed outside and there was a roar of excitement.
Humility stayed with Odette.
“Thanks. I owe you one,” Odette said.
“It’s nothing. It’s what anyone would have done.”
Clover shifted in her sleep. Despite having a C-section a few minutes ago, her belly was complete and unscarred except for a pink line that would probably fade in time.
“Their medicine is amazing,” Humility remarked.
“The doc is pretty hot too, if I do say so myself,” Clover mumbled. “I still can’t believe he let them take my damn ship.”
Humility furrowed her brow.
“Oh, she’s been going on about that,” Odette explained. “Apparently Zenik took Clover’s ship. Her personal ship. It’s not like Athen can call them back now. They’re probably deep into Suhlik territory by now.”
Clover jackknifed straight up in the med bed, making a sudden realization. Several alarms went off. “They took my cat!”
“Scrubs got her a kitten,” Odette said.
Before Humility could explain, Scrubs bolted through the door and over to his wife’s side.
“My cat!” she cried to her husband.
“I know, love, I will get you a new cat. I promise. Now lie back down.”
“You don’t just trade cats,” Clover mumbled as she settled back down onto the bed. Scrubs pushed a few buttons, increasing her sedatives so she’d sleep more peacefully.
Meadow came in holding the newborn. “I want one.” Scrubs grabbed the med scanner and gave her a pass.
“In nine months.”
“What?”
“You’re pregnant. Mazel Tov.” She nearly dropped the baby but Humility took him before she could. Meadow let out a little squeal and then ran out, probably to go shout the news to anyone who would listen.
“I don’t think she’s Jewish,” Humility said.
“Clover has encouraged me to study multiple forms of congratulatory salutations. Is that one inappropriate?”
“No, just generally for Jewish people.”
Scrubs got a look on his face that Humility interpreted as a warrior confused by crazy Terran ways, planning to research the topic at a later date.
“I also think we should keep the details on just how messy Clover’s delivery was under wraps,” Odette said.
Humility nodded. Panic and worry were the only things that could result from tales of gruesome C-Sections. Besides, with the advanced Mahdfel medical technology, Clover wouldn’t even have a scar.
“It was my fault,” Scrubs spoke out. He continued to stroke his wife’s forehead. “I did not do a DNA match before we mated. The child was at risk because of my own hubris.”
Humility didn’t know what to say. She was just as guilty at thinking she could solve the world’s problems. Kave was stuck with her as a mate because she had thought that money would cure her father’s problems. Instead, she’s just managed to muck up everyone’s lives.
Chapter Twenty-one
Kave
Kave was at his wit’s end. He needed to figure out how to get Humility to love him again. It was driving him crazy. She wasn’t mean to him, and perhaps that was the problem. She just avoided him in that cold way that only a female could manage, with an indifference that made his heart ache to see her smile.
She had not smiled since she had helped deliver the two warriors. It should have been a moment to be proud of. His mate had seen a problem and then calmly proceeded to organize and delegate until the crisis was over. Without her, the medic would have been overwhelmed, and with the complicated deliveries, one or more of them might have died.
And yet she would not smile. Humility wandered to the garden every morning and hacked away at the vegetation. She read on her tablet and dealt with all the problems and duties that came her way but mostly avoided him. Kave had tried to give her little gifts, but everything was polite, without a hint of romance. He was afraid to touch her, lest she turn him away in rejection. He would not be able to bear it if she turned away. Kave had to find a way to make her happy again.
Kave had to get her father treatment. He had to get her father here. Here, it would be a simple matter of telling the medic to treat him, but if he remained on Terra, red tape would keep the matter tied up for years. It took connections to get someone that kind of Mahdfel care on such a backward planet. Even if he could get him off the planet, it would be months of travel by ship, and such a trip might not be something he’d even survive. But Kave had already cashed in all his favors with Etlon. And there was no way that Athen would show him any favoritism now either.
“You look gloomy,” Odette said to him, as she cradled her new son. She’d swaddled the child so that he’d probably die of heat exhaustion. Although she had been told that her children could not burn, that Mahdfel skin was too tough for that, she refused to let the little warrior get any direct sunlight.
“My mate will not forgive me,” Kave said as he sat down next to her at the mess table.
“Yeah. I kinda got that.” Odette did not sound sympathetic, but Kave did not need sympathy right now. He needed action.
“You will talk to her?” he prodded. He tried on his best sad face but Odette didn’t seem fazed.
“That’s not what she needs right now. She needs her father. He is sick. Dying. And the only way to get her father treatment is if he comes here.” Odette had obviously been discussing this with her mate.
“True,” Kave replied.
“And the only way to get him here is through something like compassionate leave.”
“That is also true.”
“Then it would seem that Humility needs to catch some fatal disease.”
The thought of Humility near death sunk his heart. For a moment, he couldn’t breathe. Surely killing her was not the only answer.
“You ever heard of this play called Romeo and Juliet? It’s one of the most famous of Terran literature.”
“I have not.”
“Well, in the play, there are two lovers whose families are from rival
houses, clans, if you will. So their friends hatch up this plan where Juliet takes a potion that simulates death. Romeo is supposed to pick her up after a few days and they’re to run off together with her family none the wiser.”
“Simulated death.” Kave was beginning to see where Odette was going with this.
“Yeah. Except things go wrong and they all die in the end.”
“Things will not go wrong.”
“That’s what they thought. But anyway. I’ve been studying some of the local botany and I might have found a plant with similar properties. I can’t guarantee that it won’t have any bad effects on a pregnancy though.” She placed a vial on the table between them.
“You have already created it,” Kave said, glancing at it.
“I have created nothing. I’m just leaving this here on the table. It has nothing to do with me. I will say that everyone knows what would have happened the other day if Humility hadn’t taken over. Train wreck. So I owe her one.”
“But you wish no credit.”
“For poisoning her? Hell no.”
“Shall I tell her ahead of time?”
“That’s up to you. But if I were her? I’d think I’d like a little notice.”
The baby started to fuss. Odette stood and walked away, leaving the vial on the table. Kave scooped it up. It looked innocuous enough. Just a clear blue liquid that could be anything.
He didn’t have to use it. He could find another way. She would forgive him if he waited long enough. But every cold glance, every quiet night in bed made his heart break a little more.
Later that evening, he laid in bed next to Humility who was trying desperately to pretend to be asleep. Didn’t she know he could tell the instant her body relaxed next to him, that he could hear the changes in her breathing and the slowing of her heart rate?
“What if I could make you happy?” he asked her.
“What kind of question is that?”
“It is underhanded.”
“Pardon?”
“The way I could make you happy. It is not truthful.”
“How is that any different than what you normally do?”
“It-” Kave sighed. “I am normally very truthful.”
“Yup.”
He suspected that was sarcasm on her part. Or skepticism. Or maybe both.
“There are risks. Should I take them? If I think it will make you happy?”
“Look, do what you want. I have a feeling that’s what you always do. Either way, I don’t care.”
***
The plan had been simple to follow, and it was only when he saw the deathly pallor creep over her skin that Kave began to realize the complete ramifications of what he had done. He had presented her with oatmeal for breakfast. Mixing the vial with the sweetener she insisted on using, the blue tint was hardly noticeable. The effect was near immediate. One second, she was standing up to head to the garden, the next, she was in his arms, her breathing nearly stopped.
What if she didn’t wake up? What if Athen didn’t play along with his plan? It was a clear misstep to think that Athen would automatically grant the compassionate transfer. And what would he tell her family? He could not tell the truth over the com. Kave would have to tell them that she was dying. Just the thought of having to relay such news sent his soul howling, and he actually knew she wasn’t dead.
It was done now. Time to clear his head and take responsibility. Kave scooped Humility up in his arms and then sprinted over to the med bay.
Clover and Odette were already one step ahead of him. Clover practically ripped the med scanner out of Scrubs’s hand.
“Yup. Deadly all right,” Clover said before she handed a tablet over to her husband. “Authorize this.”
“I have yet to examine the patient.”
“I’m your wife, and if you want to have a second kiddo, you’re going to authorize this.” Clover gave him a slow, deliberate look.
“After I authorize, you will let me examine my patient?”
“Of course!”
A stare down ensued, but the medic did not have the backbone to stand up to his mate. He authorized it and handed it back to Clover.
“Whatever substance she has ingested has not been registered on our med scanner. It will take a while to process. Until then, she appears to be stable,” the medic said.
“Good. Here.” Clover handed the authorization tablet to Kave. “And you better remember this when it comes time to requisition me a new ship. And I want my cat back. Not a new cat. The same cat. Got it?”
She didn’t wait for a confirmation. She kissed her husband on the cheek, picked up the baby and left.
“My wife is very particular about her pet. Her grandmother gave it me to give to her. It is very soothing, this cat, with an adorable pink nose and white paws,” Scrubs explained.
Odette nodded, and patted Kave on the arm. “Now you just need to break the news to her father. Good luck.”
Chapter Twenty-two
Humility
The last thing Humility expected when she woke was to have her father hanging over her, looking intently at her face. There was a moment of tension as he saw the surprise in her eyes, and then he smiled. Her father actually smiled.
“Good morning, sweetheart.”
Humility sat up so fast that her head began to spin and she nearly puked her guts out on the floor. Except, she wasn’t sure she had anything in her stomach to puke.
“Dad!”
“It’s me. And listen to this!” He took in a deep breath, and then another. Not a raspy cough in sight. He didn’t have the oxygen tube in his nose either, and his color was actually good. In fact, if she wasn’t completely mistaken, he had a bit of sunburn on his ears.
“Why am I in the medical bay? And how long have you been here? How did you get here and why the hell am I in the med bay?”
Humility swung her legs over edge of the unit. It adjusted underneath her and she nearly wanted to upchuck again.
“The last thing I remember was Kave and that damn scanner.” For some reason, in the the past few hours, her galoot of a husband had decided to attack her with the scanner. At first, he’d been secretive about it, but when she’d asked him about it, he’d given her a full scan before telling her it was just for ‘standard medical purposes,’ and then wandering off again.
After Odette and Clover had begun parading around with their new babies, baby fever had struck the camp. Everyone was all about booties and little sun hats and diapers. Kave had probably caught the fever too, and was hoping his own mate was pregnant.
Humility would probably fail at that too. It seemed that she was failing at everything lately. She’d managed to stab her husband, and then just when she’d thought she’d gotten a handle on things, a new gaggle had shown up and become the center of attention. She didn’t mind slipping back into the old supportive role, but every time she looked at Kave, she was reminded that she had even failed with their relationship.
They had very little in common and Humility felt ashamed that she had been most excited by the fact that she could use him to finally get what she wanted.
But here was her father, healthy and present, and she couldn’t figure out how Kave had managed it. He had offered her some hypothetical situation the other day, but she’d only been paying half attention.
The med door opened. Wendy’s head popped in.
“You’re awake!” Wendy ran in, gave the stunned Humility a hug.
“How long was I out?”
“We’ve been here for at least two days. It’s hard to keep track. There’s a lot of man meat running around and the hours don’t seem to match up with the ones on Earth. How strange is that? We’re wandering around on an alien planet!”
“I don’t understand. How did you…? Why are you here?”
“Well, the Mahdfel have a compassionate leave clause in their contract. In the unlikely situation that you become deathly ill, your closest relatives are ported to you to say goodbye. And once w
e were here, it was a snap to cure Dad, apparently.”
“I’m not deathly ill.”
“You were. Oh, and Kave told me to tell you that we were met directly at the pad and we didn’t have to wait by ourselves at all. He’s been rather accommodating. By the way, what time is it? Now that you are okay, I don’t feel so bad joining the girls’ volleyball team. Got a match soon!”
Wendy gave Humility another hug, and then ran back out again.
“You have to forgive her. Once she learned that you weren’t actually dying, she’s been having a ball. I mean, having her father back, her sister back, and being transported to a tropical paradise all in one day has been an emotional roller coaster,” Mason said.
“She can’t stay. Nobody’s thought this through, have they? She’s never going to find a man here. They just don’t exist, and when she hits her birthday-”
“Sweetie. Let her be happy for a few days. We’ll worry about the rest as is comes. After all, remember, you left her a ton of cash. And let me tell you, your brothers were extremely unhappy with you.”
“Oh, darn,” Humility replied sarcastically.
Scrubs entered and eyed her up and down with the cold and calculating doctoral eye. “Any nausea?”
“Plenty.”
“It will pass. Your mate was not very precise with his dosage.” He gave her a glare, as if it were her fault that Kave had done something stupid.
“What exactly was I dosed with?”
“A chemical of undetermined origin that just so happened to be covered in the DNA of Kave and Athen’s mate. But I am not allowed to complain about the reckless behavior that put your health at risk.”
So Kave and Odette were responsible for this.
The doctor had the look on his face of a man that has said too much. “I said nothing. I know nothing. Ask your mate.” Scrubs suddenly found something else to do, off in the corner, and turned his back on Humility and her father.
”Like she said Kave really has been great in all of this. I mean when a guy finds out that his daughter is going to marry an alien for money, he gets a little apprehensive but this Kave fellow actually seems pretty decent and he's head over heels for you,” Mason told her.