Generations of Teelan Box Set

by G. E. Stills

  “Those were my thoughts too when I programmed our trip.”

  ***

  La’lani’s eyes fluttered open. A smile creased her lips. The past two months had been fantastic. Just she and Aaron, unless you counted the robot, Shelly and Mark. She stretched and yawned being careful not to disturb Aaron sleeping beside her. Often these days they didn’t even bother getting dressed, at least not all the way dressed. More often than not what they wore was aimed at tantalizing the other and not covering.

  Let’s just see if I’m interpreting my body’s signals right.

  “You are,” Mark said.

  “We’ll soon know for sure,” she answered.

  Cautiously she slipped from bed and padded from the room. Entering the med-lab, she closed the door behind her. An hour later she left the lab. Her smile was radiant. Crawling into bed, she lay there wide awake.

  “Where’d you go?” Aaron mumbled, still half way asleep.

  “Hon, we need to talk.”

  Turning to his side, he propped himself up and gazed down at her. “Is something wrong?”

  “Oh no. Far from it.” Reaching out she guided his hand to her belly, placed it palm down and covered it with hers. “In about four months you’re going to be the father of a little girl. I’m pregnant. Six months is my gestation period.”

  “What!” He was wide awake now. “How?”

  “You’re a big boy. You know the how. You know very well, how, I might add.”

  “Don’t be coy with me. You know what I’m asking.”

  “Do you remember the time I spent with Kat? When she implanted Mark?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, she did other things while I was there. Neither of us was certain it would be successful, but it was. She worked her magic on my eggs and you are now very much capable of getting me pregnant. The proof is growing in my belly.”

  “Oh my God!” He hugged her, kissed her and then jumped out of bed. “Come on, wife. This calls for celebration. I’m going to fix you the most decadent chocolate Sundae you’ve ever had. Don’t bother getting dressed, I have other lusty plans for after.”

  Leaning over, he covered her face with kisses and rushed from the room.

  “You know I shouldn’t be eating this,” she said as she took another big bite. “It has to be tremendously high in calories. Soon enough I’ll be waddling around here looking like an ugly beached whale.”

  “Beached whale? Where did you learn that term?”

  “Rayne.”

  He rolled his eyes. “I should have guessed. I’m glad I got you away from her influence.”

  “Well you haven’t exactly gotten me away from her. We promised to message each other at least weekly.”

  Aaron groaned.

  “Rayne is very enlightening. Your sister is a treasure trove of information. She is teaching me so much about humans.”

  “Usually corrupt and twisted information,” he chuckled.

  La’lani grazed her hand up and down his inner thigh. “The best kind.”

  Aaron choked and redirected their discussion. “My love, you may get fat, but you’ll never be ugly.”

  “We’ll see if you think that in a few months.” She took another bite.

  “Yes, we’ll see.” He dipped his finger in the whipped cream topping her Sundae and dotted it to her nose. He then licked it away. “I love you.”

  “I wonder if she’ll have any abilities or if she’ll just be untalented like me?”

  “Damnit, La’lani, you are not untalented.” He scowled at her. “For one thing, I can’t get pregnant. Now can I?”

  She directed a sly smile at him. “I guess I have another talent. I landed you didn’t I…? Husband.” She stifled her laughter by taking the final bite of her Sundae.

  “Landed me? Who landed whom? If I remember right I was chasing you.”

  “You were chasing me, until I caught you.”

  Jumping up from his seat, he tossed her over his shoulder, clamped her legs in place and spanked her bare butt while he carried her toward the bedroom.

  “Beating me won’t change the fact that I caught you instead of the other way around.” She giggled.

  Splat.

  She howled in mock pain and giggled again.

  “I think we need to discuss this in bed.”

  “Now that sounds like a fantastic plan,” she said from behind him.

  ***

  They sat across the table from each other having just finished their meal. Each was composing a brief message. The message he sent his mother was short, but spoke volumes.

  Will talk more when details are available. All our love to you, Grandma. Your son and daughter, Aaron and La’lani.

  Her message to Kat was even briefer. Success. A little girl.

  “I guess I should reprogram the ship’s computer and increase our speed.”

  She looked at him. “And why would you do that?”

  “Because you’re pregnant, of course. We need to get to Youkana so that when you go into labor we’re near better medical help or in case there is an emergency.”

  “Aaron, hon, women on Youkana have been having babies without medical help for a long time. I suspect the same is true of Earth. Besides, the medical abilities available here on the Emma far surpass anything on Youkana. We have an operation room. We have Forty-five, Mark is monitoring me every second of the day and I have you to hold my hands. That’s all we’ll need.”

  “You’re damn right I’m monitoring you. This is an experience I would not pass up for anything. The baby is growing fine. All her vitals are optimal,” Mark said.

  “Thank you for the report, Mark.”

  “Mark says she’s doing fine.”

  “There are human ships there. Remember? “

  “And they have no better medical facilities than we do. Stop worrying.”

  “I just thought…”

  “Stop thinking. There’s no way I intend to cut my honeymoon short. I want to spend as much time alone with you as possible. Subject closed.”

  “Okay,” he said, in a cowed voice. “You grouse.”

  “Hormonal, deal with it.” She smiled briefly. “Now kiss the mother of your child and tell her you love her,” she demanded and winked.

  ***

  He stood looking over her shoulder breathing in her scent and feeling her long hair tickling against his chest. His hands dipped beneath the waistband of her shorts and smoothed across her lower belly, feeling the growing baby bump there.

  “You’re not wearing any underwear.”

  She answered. “I’ve never worn any my entire life. Why should I start now?”

  “Don’t start on my account. I was just commenting.”

  She sighed in pleasure and leaned back against him more. “I love you, hon,” she breathed.

  “I love you more.”

  The ship had just entered the Youkana solar system. He called PD Erlise, the Battle cruiser in orbit while tormenting his wife by teasing and playing with her.

  “Will you stop that and move your hands upward to my baby bump.”

  “I thought I was caressing your bump,” he chuckled.

  “Yeah right. Aaron, you’re a terrible liar.”

  “This is the signals officer of the PD Erlise, identify yourself.”

  “This is the Emma II, Captain Aaron speaking.”

  “Oh captain, my captain.” La’lani teased in a low voice and giggled.

  “Nice to hear your voice, Captain Aaron,” the signals officer said.

  “I need coordinates for a parking orbit around ‘Youkana.”

  La’lani leaned back further and whispered in his ear. “If you don’t remove your hands from there, captain, that poor signals officer is going to be listening to a lot of moans and groans and not much
else.”

  Grinning, he pulled his hands from inside her shorts and linked his fingers with hers. “Better?”

  “Better…no…necessary…yes.”

  “Sending coordinates now,” the signal officer said.

  The ship’s computer latched onto the signal and recorded the data. “Coordinates received,” the robotic voice stated.

  “Thank you, Erlise. Data received. See you in a few hours.”

  “You’re welcome, Captain.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Side-by-side they stood, gazing out the viewport at Youkana rotating below. “Is it nice to be home?” Aaron asked.

  Reaching out, she lifted his hand to her lips, kissed it and then said. “I am home. Here with you. Onboard the Emma. It will be nice to see my brother though.”

  “When you talked to him this afternoon you didn’t mention your condition.”

  “I want to tell him he’s going to be an uncle when we’re face-to-face. I want to see his expression.”

  “We’re going down first thing in the morning. La’lani, I’m begging you. Please, let’s just stay here until after our baby is born.”

  “Oh all right. But not any longer. I’m anxious to get started on our first exploration mission together. Forty-five has cleared the storeroom in preparation for making it into a nursery. We’ll send up the materials it needs to construct the baby furniture.”

  “Have you thought of a name for her yet? I’m drawing a blank.”

  “I have an idea. What do you think of SuRay, It’s a combination of your mother’s and Sister’s names?”

  “That sounds fantastic and both of them will be thrilled.”

  ***

  Their ALC touched down and the ramp extended. Me’kon approached with Sherella beside him. Both of them stopped and stared in amazement. Judging from the size of her belly, Sherella was ready to give birth at any time.

  “I see we’re not the only ones that have been busy,” La’lani whispered in his ear.

  “Looks as if you’re right.”

  Me’kon swept La’lani from her feet and swung her around exuberantly. Me’kon then gave him a hug. Me’kon’s initial greeting finished, Sherella stepped forward and in a calmer display, hugged both of them.

  “How far along?” La’lani asked.

  There was no question what she was asking. “Five and a half long months,” Sherella laughed.

  “Wow, congratulations. You kind of stole my thunder. I’m pregnant too. Just not as far along as you, Sherella.”

  Me’kon and Sherella’s mouth’s dropped open. “How?” they asked, simultaneously.

  “I think we all know how.” She grinned, “But to answer your real question, Kat, Aaron’s aunt, did some manipulation to my eggs to make me capable of conceiving with Aaron. The experiment was a success. Now that we know how, I’m certain there will be other Sutani-human couples.”

  Me’kon touched the tiny box suspended from his neck. Sherella had one just like it. “I notice you aren’t wearing a computer. I’m surprised.”

  “I have one. My computer is right here.” She indicated the spot just above her right breast where the tiny chip she had named Mark, reposed under her skin.

  “I will forgive you for calling me a computer…this time,” Mark said.

  “They don’t need to know your true capabilities. I doubt they would even understand. You’re getting to be just like Shelly.”

  “I will take that as a compliment. Shelly is very smart.”

  “It wasn’t meant to be a compliment.”

  “I sense that, but I choose to take it as one.”

  As they strolled together toward Me’kon and Sherella’s house, Me’kon described the changes that were taking place on Youkana. “The Sutani population was decimated. The millions are gone.” The expression on his face was one of deep sadness. “We are repopulating though as you can see.” He planted a kiss on Sherella’s cheek. “All Sutani couples are encouraged to have as many children as possible.”

  “What about the Men-gar that fled?” she asked.

  “They’ve all been rounded up. A surprising number of them chose to stay here and join us. The rest were sent out on a ship to Men-gar space with a stern warning to never return.”

  “That doesn’t surprise me, many of the Men-gar don’t like their leader’s policies,” Aaron told Me’kon.

  They walked into the town from the outskirts where they had landed. La’lani and Aaron gazed around in wonder. The houses were not fancy, but they were numerous. They also noted Sutani and humans worked side-by-side along with the many robots.

  “You’re people are amazing Aaron. Towns and villages are springing up all over the planet. The robots are working nonstop. Of course my people are helping. They aren’t as advanced technologically, but we furnish a lot of sweat.” Me’kon grinned.

  “And we’re learning the technical part, babe,” Sherella added.

  “I was certain you would. Unlike the Men-gar, we don’t mind sharing our knowledge.”

  Me’kon continued describing the changes taking place. “About a hundred kilometers from here we’re building a factory. It’s scheduled to be finished any day.” They watched Me’kon’s chest swell with pride. “It will produce our first spaceship. Soon we’ll no longer be dependent on our human allies for protection should the Men-gar choose to return. Things are progressing at lightning speeds. It’s hard for me to fathom that not too long ago I was living in a cave. A hunted animal.”

  “And what do you do now, brother?” La’lani asked.

  Sherella spoke up proudly. “My life-mate has been selected to be planetary manager. He oversees everything.”

  “Gee, world manager, that’s an impressive title and sounds like a huge job along with very weighty responsibility,” La’lani said.

  “It is, and at times it’s extremely frustrating. On the plus side, I get to interact with not only our people, but our human friends both here on the planet and in orbit above. By the way, I got over my fear of going into space. The first time I kept telling myself that if my sister could do it, so could I.”

  La’lani laughed. “Going up in space is nothing. I can’t begin to tell you how much my world has expanded since I fell in love with and went away with, Aaron.”

  “And what do you do, Sherella?” Aaron asked.

  Sherella smoothed her hand over her prodigious stomach. “My job is making babies. We keep practicing trying to get it right, although not recently.” Though she tried to keep a straight face and for a moment succeeded, she soon erupted into laughter.

  “Sherella is being modest. She is a tremendous help to me. She works with me overseeing things,” Me’kon said and rubbed Sherella’s shoulder affectionately.

  ***

  Me’kon and Sherella were onboard Emma visiting when she went into labor. Hours later she gave birth to a healthy little boy. They stayed onboard for two more days until Forty-five agreed it was safe to transport the newborn.

  While Sherella stayed home caring for their new baby, Me’kon took Aaron and La’lani touring Youkana to observe the things being done.

  “It’s amazing,” La’lani and Aaron said time and again.

  Shuttles flew between villages and towns spread over the globe. Thanks to another factory, more shuttles were put into service each day.

  ***

  “My belly gets bigger everyday it seems. So do my boobs. I swear I think something is going to tear,” La’lani complained over a meal one night. “I can hardly wait to get you out of me,” she spoke to her swollen tummy.

  “Soon, sweetie,” he said from across the table.

  “I want my husband back here beside me.” She patted the bench to her side.

  The two of them would no longer fit seated side-by-side. “I won’t fit there, hon.”

  She
pouted, her lower lip sticking out. “I know dammit.”

  Her stomach tightened. Although she had never given birth before she had done extensive research over the passing months. These tiny contractions are normal at my advanced stage. They’re painless. Unconcerned, she took another sip of her drink.

  La’lani’s eyes snapped shut as a blinding flash of pain ripped through her. She knew if she had been standing it would have brought her to her knees. She clamped her jaw tight to keep from screaming. She wondered if she really was being torn apart. The intense pain slowly receded.

  “It’s time,” Mark said.

  Her face sobered and she grimaced when another intense contraction surged to life. Her hand shook as she set her drink down on the table. She could feel sweat bead on her forehead. “Oh shit. I know that for sure, Mark,” she said to her AI. La’lani carefully modulated her voice and schooled herself to be calm when she said to Aaron, “My love…it’s time.”

  “Time?”

  “Oh damn…” She grimaced again and closed her eyes for a second. “Time to get this little shit that is raising hell, out of me.”

  It dawned on him then. “You’re in labor?”

  She gave him a half smile before she groaned. “Yes,” she hissed.

  Aaron scrambled up from the seat. “Forty-five,” he screamed at the robot as he helped her to the med-bay.

  He stood there watching and she was certain from his expression, feeling helpless, while Forty-five calmly walked her through the process. She held his hand and he shared her pain each time she had a contraction. Each time one hit, she squeezed his hand tight, almost crushing it. Hours later, both of them sweat covered and exhausted, they heard a tiny cry. Forty-five held their daughter up for them to see.

  Forty-five cleaned SuRay meticulously before placing her at La’lani’s side. After letting, first her and then Aaron, hold the baby for a while, Forty-five took her away into the nursery where he had prepared an incubator.

  When the robot returned he handed out orders as if he was in charge. “Aaron,” he spoke in his toneless robotic voice. “Everything is stable. Go to bed. La’lani will stay here tonight so I can observer her while watching SuRay too. I do not detect any complications at this time so I’m certain tomorrow night La’lani will be able to sleep in her own bed.”