My heart twists in my chest and I touch my belly. “Ah…I guess I heard them before?”
“When?” She leans forward. “They were across the room the whole time.”
“Um.” I think fast. “When you were on your comm, I think? They came a little closer. They didn’t know I was listening, I guess.”
“Oh. Well, it’s not unexpected. They’re such rascals.” She laughs, but her face shows pride and joy. “I bet you can’t wait for your own to be born. May I?” She hovers her hand over my stomach, and I nod. “Oh, the young is moving. I remember those moments.” She sighs.
“I bet yours were pretty aggressive, though.” I look over at the two boys, who are eyeing us with the look of children who are figuring out just how much they can get away with.
“They kicked my ribs so hard they almost dislocated one.” She shakes her head. “But it was worth it. Dr. Daneth had to cut open my belly to take them out, but apparently it’s not a complicated procedure, considering. And I healed just fine.”
I shudder, thinking of Akron’s claws, his cold eyes. Sweat breaks out on my brow and I wipe it away, taking a deep breath.
“They give you a medication so you feel nothing, Danica. I promise it. No pain at all, just pressure. And it’s over in a blink—so fast! They stitch you up so effortlessly and the wound seals up, as if it was never there. If they need to do that, I’ll come be by your side, all right?”
I grab her hand and nod, trying to compose myself. “Thank you.”
When I forget about my past, everything and every being are so perfect, and I can trick myself into thinking this is mine forever. I feel such overwhelming love for this life: My mates. New friends. My freedom. Learning to cipher, allowing my brain to expand. Making love by the stream. The ability to eat a red berry bursting with sun and flavor, with a friend. Simple pleasures I could never have dreamed of, back serving Akron.
But I don’t deserve these friends, my mates, this whole life. Everything is a lie. I thought coming here would buy me time, but all it’s done is make me fall in love with everything…that I’ll eventually have to give up.
“So I hear that you’re doing great things with electronics. Do you want to join a math class I’ll be teaching? I’m ready to start the calculus classes now, and I’m trying to get all of us human women enrolled.” She pops another berry into her mouth.
“I’d like that.” I smile at her, and pretend the future is secure. “That sounds perfect. Oh! Oh.” I grab my belly. “That’s…hmmm.”
“Everything okay?” Janette cocks her head. “You’re not due for a few months, right?”
“Yes.” This wasn’t a kick, it was more of a squeeze, a tight pressure. Like my body was clenching up. I take a deep breath and hold it, relieved when it doesn't happen a second time. “Just a momentary thing. I’m fine.”
“I’m glad you’re here.” She squeezes my hand. “This life is so much more than I ever expected. And it keeps getting better.”
Gorde
“You wanted to see me?” I knock on the half-open door, peering into Dr. Daneth’s lab.
He turns and beckons. “Gorde. Come in.” He frowns as I approach. “I need to talk to you about Danica’s pregnancy.”
“What is it?” My voice comes out rough from anxiety.
“Close the door.” The doctor blinks his amethyst eyes and waits until I do so before he speaks again. “Gorde, I don’t think the young is yours.”
“It’s Benn’s?” I break out into laughter. “We talked about it, and that’s not a problem. Whichever one of us is the father will make sure that—”
“No. I mean it’s neither of yours. Not Zandian at all.” His voice is cool and even but I think I see a flicker of compassion cross his face.
“No, that can’t be right.” My blood boils. “Upon what grounds would you suggest that?” I step forward, growling.
“Stand back,” he snaps, putting up a hand, and I immediately stop in my tracks. “I examined the sono in detail and used info mapping to create detailed 3-D images. This is what I found.” He holds up his holo device and flashes up pictures in color.
“I don’t know what I’m looking at.” My voice rises with frustration. “Explain what you mean.”
“This is the heart.” He points. “Here are two legs and two arms, which is good. The head. No horns.” He swipes to a new picture, this one clearer, and by the stars, I swear the little creature looks intelligent, and pretty, almost like Danica. But my heart sticks in my throat because the young has delicate green scales up and down its arms. Pointy ears. That’s not human or Zandian.
“What?” I shake my head, dizzy for a moment.
“It’s a species called Akronicans.”
I shake my head. “Haven’t heard of them. What are they like?” I flick through images on the screen.