Circa 2100 A.D.
Alone on the escape craft, Teresa pulls Harold’s pocketknife from a pouch on her cargo pants and cuts the material of her brown t-shirt—starting just below her chest. She parts the two resulting flaps and rubs her distended belly with one hand. For what seems like an eternity, she stares off into space, a solemn expression painted on her face. She exhales loudly as a stabbing pain courses through her midsection. Using the armrest of her flight-chair, she climbs to her feet.
Teresa walks to a nearby console and punches in a few short commands. She removes Theodore’s small USB scalping device from its protective pouch and inserts it into the console. Graphics appear on the screen and Teresa scrolls until she finds what she is looking for. She grabs a portable scanner sitting on the console and presses it against her torso—adjusting its position as necessary. An enlarged image replaces the previous drop-down menu.
Dr. Boyd gapes at the image in wonder. The scanner displays the interior of Dr. Boyd’s womb and lower chest cavity. Growing inside Teresa’s belly is a small fetus. Obviously of the yautja variety.
“Oh hell,” Teresa whispers. “You have got to be kidding me! I cannot believe this! This…After only three months? It was only half as big a month ago. Ha. How fast is this baby going to grow? And how big? Geez! I forgot to ask N-Vorl exactly how long a normal gestational period lasts. But then again, this isn’t exactly a normal situation.”
Teresa slams an open palm against the edge of the console and immediately regrets it. Another sharp pain radiates through her midsection and she gasps for air—bracing herself against the console.
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“How could I have been so stupid?” Teresa berates herself, the isolation already taking its toll. “I could have gotten that information from Glotis? Oh…No, I couldn’t. Because, N-Vorl and I would have been killed. I mean…What could I have said that wouldn’t have raised suspicion? Damn! N-Vorl—”
Teresa drops the miniature scanner back onto the console and enters another set of commands into the computer. A warning message flashes and Teresa hovers her hand over the keyboard—ready to input the command to power up the stasis pod.
“This isn’t going to work. This is too fast,” Teresa mutters, fear and indecision gripping her heart. “I’m gonna have to go into stasis.”
Dr. Boyd whirls away from the console, looking around with worried eyes. She exhales multiple times, in an attempt to calm her nerves.
“But for how long?” Teresa says. “We could be out here for years. Years.”
Teresa releases a sigh and slides down the console in a dejected heap. She glances around the tiny escape craft and ponders how long the systems can function without maintenance and repair. What about the power cells? How long until they deplete?
“Years,” she hears herself repeat.
Dr. Boyd’s face hardens and she clenches both fists at her side. She breathes in deeply, closes her eyes, and slowly releases the air she drew in.
“No. I will not go into stasis,” Teresa says, running a hand over her stomach. “Not yet. Not until I’m much further along. Not until…There’s no other alternative. Then, I’ll go into stasis. Piece of cake. I want to spend as much time as I can with my baby. I may never get to see them be born. I’ll wait.”
Teresa peers off into nothingness, a faint smile touching her lips. Tears stream down her face as she continues to rubs her belly. Fond memories dancing though the convoluted corridors of her mind.
“Hello, Little One,” Teresa says, finally looking down at her distended abdomen. “I wonder what color your eyes will be.”