Adiron doesn't look convinced. "More crackers?"
I shrug and get up from the floor…and then immediately go down again as another wave of nausea hits me.
"I'll get you some food," Adiron tells me, and leaves.
By the time he returns, I'm dressed and cleaned up and feel like myself again. My stomach growls, and when he shows up with a hard protein bar and a tumbler of water, I give him a grateful smile. "It's passed," I say. "But I appreciate the food."
"It's not noodles," he tells me, setting the food down on the tiny table and then guiding me over to it as if I'm feeble. "I made sure it wasn't noodles."
"Really, I'm fine," I protest.
"Should I talk to Kivian and Fran? Get you some medicine?" he asks. It's clear he doesn't believe my protestations.
I shake my head and take a hearty bite of the protein bar to prove that I'm fine. Adiron doesn't believe me, and keeps watching me with a worried expression, even after I finish eating and drinking. I reach over and take his hand, interlocking our fingers. "What's the plan for today? Do we just hang out in here?"
"I'm supposed to help Tarekh and Alyvos go over the systems over on the Buoyant Star to see what we can get running, but I'm going to tell them you're sick. I can do it some other time—"
I interrupt him and squeeze his hand. "You can go. Really. I promise you the sickness has passed." When he hesitates again, I continue, my expression full of smiles. "I'll see if Fran and the others need some help. I'm sure they can give me something to do. It'll be nice to stay busy after years of idleness."
Adiron rubs his jaw with his other hand, looking as if he doesn't quite believe me. After a few moments, though, he sighs. "Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"And you'll tell me if you start to feel sick again? You'll have the others send me a comm?"
I nod.
He doesn't seem happy, but eventually, Adiron agrees and we leave our room, then part after sharing a few kisses with the promise of more tonight. He casts me a worried look over his shoulder as he heads toward the maintenance rooms, and I keep my expression bright and chipper until he's gone. Then, I head for the rec room and peer in, looking for others.
Fran's inside, seated on a couch, the baby on a blanket on the floor. She's got a book in her hand and one eye on Jasmine, and she looks as beautiful and put together as usual. Her hair is sleek and glossy, and her clothes are subdued (at least compared to Kivian's) but fit her gorgeous body like a glove. She looks up when I approach and sets her book down carefully. "I was wondering when you'd come to talk."
"Me?" I ask, curious.
She just gives me a knowing look. "Adiron came into the mess this morning all frantic. He needed a protein bar for you because you were sick. Told us you were off noodles, too." She licks her lips and eyes me. "Same thing happened when I was pregnant with this one. Does he know?"
Busted.
77
JADE
I move to sit next to Fran, the weight of my secret pressing on me. She knows I'm pregnant. And if she's figured it out, it won't take long before the entire ship knows. Not that I really care about what anyone thinks other than Adiron…but I need to be the one to tell him. "I haven't said anything yet," I admit. "There hasn't been much time. I just found out when we got captured. I didn't even think it was possible."
"The mesakkah are interesting," Fran says, her voice mild. "Some of the things they do seem strange and antiquated to me, but their technology is leagues ahead of anything Earth has, and their medical expertise is incredible. Babies between two different species are easily handled, as long as you've got the money to pay for the doctor."
"Doctor?"
"Right." She grimaces. "Your path was different than mine, I'm guessing, if the pregnancy was a surprise to you. Kivian and I saved up for fertility shots. You pay a doctor that's familiar with treating humans, he stuffs you full of hormones and medical treatments, and it makes you pregnant. I'm guessing they did something similar to you while you were sleeping?"
"They must have." I shake my head. "I don't remember any of it."
"Well…I'm not going to tell you what to do with your own body." Fran picks up a metal ring with a few clanky bits on it and shakes it in front of Jasmine's face. The baby's arms and legs flail and she bounces on her stomach, trying to get to the “keys.” "But if you need to intervene, we have a med-bay on the ship that can take care of it."