Captain Long meets Kane in the hangar bay, and sure enough, the huge Grodrrn is following her. His aura is very different though. Even compared to when he was on his own ship, Dzor is far more relaxed and calm. He doesn’t say much, but it’s clear he’s following Long to protect her from something –most likely the Zarakyssn Queen- than as her servant or anything.
They all exchange greetings and thanks, and Long asks, “How much did Captain Dodge explain?”
“Just that you have the Queen, pretty much. And, that we’re… keeping some of the Grodurns?”
Dzor replies gruffly, “I choose stay. End of discussion.”
Long chuckles, saying gently, “He did. Primarily to protect Craw. He had his chance to betray us, and he hasn’t. I’m thankful.” She smiles up at him. The huge reptilian averts his eyes, and Kane watches a silently stunning display. He says nothing, though.
Long adds, “As for the Zarak Queen, she’s in that hauler over there. She claims they want some sort of spiritual unity with all other beings in the universe, but after some prying, we found out it’s not good for the non-Zarak race. She’s semi-cooperative, but our biggest hurdle is how can we trust her? She turned herself in, essentially, because her hive mind link is gone for now, but we have no way of verifying it. With it, her fellow Queens can silently find her, and they can communicate. For now, we’re jumping daily, but we can’t keep this up. As much as I’d love to learn more, we need to survive first.”
“Any reason to believe she might want to defect?”
Both Dzor and Long look at each other. They shake their heads, and Long replies, “She seems pretty devout in the Zarak belief system. There are some secrets, such as the name of her people’s homeworld, which she guards. She is afraid that her status will be very low in the horde due to losing so many of her soldiers –all of them- because of her injury. She also claims she’s curious, which is why she did it. Last important note, she has an egg. She’s been taking care of it, which pretty much seems to be keeping it clean and rotating it to ensure its temperatures don’t stagnate. She offered it to us as an olive branch. We don’t intend to separate her, but we don’t know what to do.”
“Mind if I try talking with her Captain? Maybe she’s less comfortable with Dzor present.”
“I’ve been hoping you would. But, are you’re sure you’re okay? We can wait.”
“I’m fine, Captain. Would you please watch the Princess?” He offers the incubator to her. However, Dzor reaches over her, taking the capsule surprisingly gently so he can inspect it. He states, “Hoomins hovv eensteencts to protect all offspreeng? Not joost own?” He listens closely to the pod.
Kane replies, “I suppose so, yes. Children can be taught anything. Doesn’t matter what they are. I have no other children at the moment, so why not a princess?”
Dzor adds, “Your voice… Cave Queen spissies need stimoolashin?”
Kane scoffs and nods. “Yes, Yarjen. Wish we figured it out that faster.”
“Seen before, boot wouldn’t hovv nississarily known. I protect Craw egg. Boot, I grateful for hoomin help. I, een turn, hilp.”
There’s a quiet pause. Kane is the most surprised. The last time he specifically spoke to Dzor, the Baskylla Jardzen threatened to use Kane’s spine as a backscratcher. But, that was admittedly a few weeks ago, and he’s not Captain Long.
Long says softly, “Thank you, Jor.”
He nods at her. Just as Kane’s about to ask if there’s anything else he needs to know, a shrill, buzzing shriek comes from the direction of the hauler.
Kane runs briskly as the Marines nearby circle up and aim at the Zarak hauler. One barks orders, but unless Kane missed something, the Queen doesn’t understand.
The insectoid alien is bigger than the soldiers, but not as big as Kane expected. He’s not a fan of insects, typically, but she’s not altogether hideous. She does appear to be panicking, though, standing at the plasma door to her cargo hauler and trying to communicate. She keeps making hand gestures and occasionally paces in a panicked circle.
Kane asks, “What’s wrong!?”
The Marine trying to calm her retorts, “We don’t know Sir! She just started freaking out.” Kane looks at the alien as she desperately pleads, now holding her egg protectively.
Long asks from nearby, “Jor? What’s she saying?"
The Grodrrn replies with an amused smirk, “I don’t know. She is crying.”
Kane says, “Yarjen, please! Maybe we can help her. Does she need help with something inside?”
The Grodrrn looks at him coldly. He says, “Problem solve self.”
Long puts a gentle hand on the Grodrrn’s forearm as he holds the incubator gently. She urges, “Jor, we talked about this. Please?”
Kane looks. The Queen is now pleading directly to the Grodrrn commandant. He’s silent for a long time. He finally glances at Long, and then the incubator. He says quietly, “She say sheep power fail. She losing heat. Timporchur floocshooate hurt egg.”
Kane shouts quickly, “Get an electric blanket and extension cords! Captain, I recommend gathering anyone who’s figured out their tech take a look! I’ll go in and try to help.”
“What? How?” asks Long, surprised.
“Trust me. Dzor, ask her how warm it needs to be, please.”
The Grodrrn replies, “Cannot. Notheeng for point at.”
Long explains, “Grodurns understand the Zarakyssns, but they can’t pronounce the language.”
Kane nods. He says, “Alright. I’ll just have to try.” He jogs to an EVA kit, throwing it on quickly as the Marines bring a heating blanket and an already plugged in extension cord, as well as a portable heater. Long asks, “What do you intend to do?”
“Hopefully, my gauntlet will let me heat the air around me. I’ve done it before, so it shouldn’t be a problem. But, I’m relying on D-… uh… someone to keep the power going.”
Long whispers, “You’re remembering?”
Kane smiles cryptically, replying, “Things.” He takes the equipment and jogs towards the plasma door.
As he approaches, the Queen frantically tries to stop him. Long and Dzor are still close to him, and Dzor states, “She warn door burn.”
Long states, “She’ll have to don her eva suit, and…”
Kane states, “I’ve got this.” He places his right palm to the very threshold of the plasma door, and he can feel the static tingle it gives off. He concentrates on the golden device clamped to his arm. He feels for the connection to its power source, somewhere VERY far away. It is powered up, and he is able to draw on it to channel through his gauntlet. The rings scuff a little as they twist under his EVA suit, but the protective barrier generates quickly, and prevents further contact. This barrier is exactly what he needs. He extends it to his hand and around himself, and with it, he is able to open a small hole through the plasma, allowing him to safely step through with the equipment without the two atmospheres ever touching.
Everyone else is stunned, but he calmly sets up the heater and unfolds the blanket, passing the plugs through. He drapes the blanket over his shoulders, and then gestures for the egg. The insectoid Queen is staring at him in apparent astonishment.
Kane urges with his hands for the egg, and the Queen reluctantly hands it over. The barrier around him glows again, and he cradles the egg under the blanket. He explains, “I can hold this for a bit. She has the compartment about a hundred ten Fahrenheit. The blanket and heater won’t work.” Kane heats himself to 115 degrees Fahrenheit using his gauntlet.
Captain Long orders for nearby spacers to contact the science team, and the Queen murmurs something softly in her own language.
Dzor didn’t miss it. He snarls as he storms toward the door. He spits out caustically, “I KNEW was deceit! You shoul be float een void ozz we spick!”
Long quickly confronts Dzor gently, urging, “Calm down, Yarjen! What did she say?”
He snorts, breathing heavily on the plasma barrier. “She say ‘You actually help?’”
The Queen cowers a little, knowing fully well a Grodrrn will not be deterred by a simple plasma barrier, no matter how much pain it might cause him.
Kane says gently, “Captain, Yarjen; could I please be left alone with the Queen? She’s afraid. She’s good at hiding it most of the time, but I sensed genuine fear the whole time.”
Long nods, “Yes, Lieutenant Commander. Jor, please, let’s leave them alone.”
The big Grodrrn snorts again. He says coldly, “Do not troost, hoomin. She KNOW heeve meend will save her een teem. She WEEL stall.”
Kane nods, replying, “I have to hear what she says first, of course. Thank you both.”
They walk off, and Kane sits idly for a moment. The Queen reaches under the blanket several times, feeling the egg. She doesn’t say anything or panic, so he must be doing okay.
He can feel it in the back of his mind, though. Like a language he learned forever ago, he can feel it filling his subconscious. His device is downloading the language to his brain. It’s an old one –very old-. He’s not certain of how he knows that, but he feels it. He knows the strange artifact on his arm is safe enough, but he doesn’t want to think about its implications, or what that means for both his past and future.
Instead, he listens intently when the Queen speaks again. And, just as with the Grodrrns, he can understand her already, “{I wish I knew how you do this…}”
Kane replies politely, somehow able to make the needed noises –and instinctively making them-, “{The device on my arm.}” She recoils in startled surprise, and he adds, “{If you understood me, then somehow –I’m not sure how- it translates for me.}”
“{I… I understand you… I cannot believe it. You are not a Shining Daughter, and yet, you speak as if you are.}”
“{Is that offensive to you?}” asks Kane cautiously.
“{Offensive? No! We have spent centuries trying to teach races during unification, and yet so few can muster more than a few words.}” She gently prods at Kane’s mouth, inspecting him for some sort of secret.
The Lieutenant Commander replies, “{It’s strange to me, too. But it should make all our lives easier.}” She finally stops prodding him, and he adds, “{I’m told I should avoid talk of unification with you. Apparently, our kinds disagree on what is good and bad inter-cultural behavior.}”
The Queen whines in a surprisingly immature-seeming way, “{It’s not fair! The Fieve-um, ‘Grodrrn’ can speak your language, and he’s inflicted HIS people’s view on yours. The human Long, she doesn’t understand!}”
Kane poses a thought to the Queen, “{Maybe we don’t. But then, why did you have to wait until your hive-connection was gone to pursue a personal curiosity?}”
The Queen buzzes in surprise, but it’s a meaningless noise. She stares at him, trying to form an answer.
Kane adds, though, “{I don’t know what all has been said to you already, so I’ll just say this; we WANT to live our own lives. That’s it. Whoever wants to walk beside us can. Whoever tries to kill us or force their ideals on us; we won’t let them. Do you understand?}”
“{What if it meant an eternity of darkness?}” asks the Queen.
“{We would build a light.}”
The Queen buzzes more irritated now, and Kane begins to suspect her race is actually closer to bees than their appearance lets on. True, their bodies are fairly generally insectoid, rather than distinctly bee or anything else, making ‘roaches’ the easiest names to call them, but her behavior AND noises remind him more of a bee.
The Queen retorts, “{See, not even you understand. The Divine Queen will ONLY return to the universe when all non-beliefs and blasphemies have been cleansed. We are all wanderers in the dark without her. Your kinds close your eyes and pretend it isn’t dark, and with your heresy, keep darkness around us all.}”
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
“{Have you seen the Divine Queen?}” asks Kane bluntly.
“{Of course not! She has been absent our universe for many generations. You THINK such basic logic will trip me up, but I will not be swayed by empty blasphemy. Our most ancient texts speak of the Divine Queen, Long before your world even existed.}”
Kane says bluntly, “{I wasn’t going to say that. I know what you’re calling the ‘Divine Queen’, and I know it is inevitable. But, it isn’t one of your Queens. It is the engine of the universe. ‘Queen’s of the sky shine. Never alone, twinkling forever. Daughters of the Divine Queen roam. Blessed are we who stand together in the light. May we shine as they when we join the Divine Queen’s embrace. Together, forever.’}” The Queen recoils in shock. Her language is one thing; the proverb is something else entirely. No outsider is taught the proverb. Only Queens know it, and they would never say it aloud to outsiders.
Kane continues, “{I notice your language uses the same word for two meanings. ‘Queens’ is interchangeable for your leaders and the solar bodies.}”
The Queen whispers fearfully, “{H-… How do you know those words?}”
“{I’m genuinely not sure. I’m sorry. I just… knew to say it, I guess. The point is, the Divine Queen is the crossroads between creation, destruction, life, and death. We ALL meet her when we die. No sooner, and no later.}”
There’s a pause. Kane gently inspects the egg in his arms. It’s dark brown, and has an even darker core that only barely seems to have any form.
The Queen is still spooked, replying, “{This… It’s impossible.}”
“{You think I’m lying?}”
“{I… It’s impossible for you to know the proverb… I don’t know what to think…}”
“{I can’t prove what I’m talking about until it’s far too late, but let’s go back. WHY were you curious about us? If you eventually want to kill us all, why save a Marine’s life and hide out in plain sight?}”
“{I told the others. I wish to understand why you resist.}”
Kane shakes his head. “{I don’t think it’s that simple. That’s the excuse you intend to use on your own people. I think you saw three different races cooperating, celebrating each other, helping each other. You couldn’t identify ‘a’ leader the way you have because we all worked together. You had a clear mind all to yourself, and you wanted to know what it’s like to have your own thoughts on everything. You don’t have to answer. I’m pretty confident I’m not wrong.}”
The Queen stares at him silently for a long time. She then looks down at where her egg is under the blanket with him. She’s silent for several more long moments.
She finally asks softly, “{Why did you help? When I asked, and the Grodurn translated, you didn’t hesistate, even though we are enemies. Why?}”
Kane smiles. He replies, “{We don’t want to be enemies. We’d love to be friends, actually. We’re just as curious about you.}”
He then asks, “{Will there be more eggs, or just this one?}”
The Queen relaxes a little, replying, “{Not unless I can find a mate. And… because I lost everything… I have to start over with the worst ones…}” The Queen looks at him, teasing, “{Unless of course, you’re offering.}”
Kane chuckles. He replies, “{That’s rather forward of you. We don’t even know each other’s names yet. I’m Carmine Kane. You can call me either Carmine or Kane.}”
The Queen stares at him blankly. She’s never given it a single thought before. None of her Sisters use a name for her because the way they communicate, they just KNOW who is being spoken to or about. She doesn’t even remember if she was ever given one. In fact, she doesn’t even actually know who laid her. She knows her mother is a Blessed Queen, but she’s not sure they’ve ever crossed paths since being laid. Such is the way of the Shining Daughters. Typically, Blessed Queens have entire armies to tend to their offspring, where as she will be tending her own once more, due to this egg being her last.
The human asks gently, “{Do you have a name? A way to personally identify you?}” She looks at him again. She has no idea what to say.
Kane continues, “{It’s okay if you don’t. It’s just a little surprising. The report I read on the way over here, plus what you said, indicate that you have a personal status based on your offspring count –living-, as well as your conquests. It seems strange to me, how hard you must work, to not be identifiable.}”
She looks away. Still, the human presses, “{I think your status is a way to punish failure, short of execution. It also makes you jaded to naivete. I imagine the highest status Queens have the least amount of curiosity and ask the fewest questions. So sayeth the Stones.}” The Queen’s gaze snaps to his. She growls quietly, “{You read minds. That is your secret.}”
Kane replies sincerely, “{I do not. I just know what it’s like to have questions. All humans do. We thrive on questions. Just recently, we all asked a big question; ‘How do we escape the Shining Daughters?’ We kept supplying answers until we did.}” He then shifts, saying, “{As for the proverb and the text of the stones, my device was translating that;}” Kane points. She follows his finger. On the back wall of the hauler are strange scratches, artistically and smoothly formed. But, they are little more than patterning on the wall of the old hauler. Similar patterns were scattered about her battleship, which was passed to her by a retiring Uniter Queen. Many ships of the Shining Daughters have rich history.
She retorts to him, “{That is merely texture. I will not fall for your deceits.}”
Kane stands up gently, approaching the wall. He asks, “{Can you truly not read it? It’s everything.}” He points, apparently reading as he cradles the egg, “{‘All must join. For the Divine Queen to once more show herself to her glorious Shining Daughters, all must become one. So sayeth the Stones.’ ‘Blessed is the heart held pure. So sayeth the Stones.’ See how this part repeats across the text? It’s the phrase ‘So Sayeth the Stones.’}”
She accuses, “{You omitted some. ‘All must become one. Many resist, but their understanding is lacking. They have been led astray, and blasphemy and doubt have dimmed the Divine Queen’s light. So sayeth the Stones.’ And ‘Blessed is the heart held pure and absent all questions. So sayeth the Stones.’}”
Kane replies gently, “{I swear, Noble Queen, it doesn’t say that. See? This here is ‘all must become one’. Then, ‘so sayeth the Stones.’ You can even check; see; ‘Shining’ and ‘Divine’ share the same root, and ‘All’ is part of ‘Daughters’. I don’t think this is a command. It’s a statement. Everyone joins the Divine Queen, which is true. We all become one when we die.}”
She whines, “{You know I cannot read it, so insisting makes no difference.}”
“{I could teach you, Noble Queen. There’s text all over this ship. If I teach you to read, it should all make sense. That will be our proof.}”
“{And why would you do that?}” asks the Queen, guarded.
“{To prove I have one motive; to extend peace. YOU are special, because like each and every one of us, YOU are an individual, with aspirations and desires. You want to learn about things around you, not just conquer them. I just want a chance for you to see what it is we fight for; the chance to be ourselves. Tell me you don’t want to trust me, and that’s it. I won’t bring it up again. But, curiosity is a path best shared by the curious. So, tell me, why did you come to us?}”
The Queen is quiet once more. She’s never been told anything like this. The Queens all praise each other on being Queens, but criticisms are quick to fly as well, and are often harsh. This mammal, so seemingly under-evolved and blasphemous, has yet to throw it in her face that his race defeated hers –or, at least, her specifically-. Instead, he’s encouraging her to EMBRACE the decisions she made, decisions her sisters would deem risky, foolish, and unnecessary.
She looks at him, studying his appearance. She finally says softly, “{Teach me, and I will observe you. If you prove yourself, then I will teach you. I will cause no trouble, and I will tell you when my bond returns –you will likely know because I will speak differently-. But, I will only help your PEOPLE on one condition; I get to choose my mate.}”
Kane, a little confused, replies, “{Help us? How? Telling us your bond is back?}”
“{No. That is a sign of faith if you are faithful in teaching me the ancient language. I will help your people in battle, in medicine, or construction with my children; but only if I can choose my mate. That is non-negotiable.}”
“{If you can make us trust you, Noble Queen, then that sounds like a good deal. The only problem is, we don’t have the resources to capture one of your males. God willing, we can avoid the Shining Daughters for the rest of our days.}”
“{That won’t be necessary. If and when that time comes I will handle it. Do we have a deal?}”
“{I can garuntee the teaching. I will need permission from… our Queen to make that other agreement. But, I will strongly make your case. I want an arrangement between us.}”
“{Promise.}” orders the Queen.
That word jabs deeply into his memories, but he is able to focus. He replies, “{I, Lieutenant Commander Carmine Kane, promise to broker peace between the human fleet, and this Noble Queen of the Shining Daughters in the pursuit of mutual coexistence and understanding, one part of which is the Queen’s choice of mate.}”
She nods, saying, “{Good. I agree. I can tell I am healing, but there is no connection yet.}”
“{I believe you. So, back to names, then. Do you have one, or would you like one? Or should I continue calling you ‘Noble Queen’?}”
She never lets on what effect him calling her that is having on her. But, she is curious as to the course of this conversation. She replies, “{Curiosity dictates I try having a name, yes? Who is to choose? You?}”
Kane chuckles, “{Only if you wish, Noble Queen. You should pick if you want, so it’s a name special to you. If you have trouble, I can pick…}”
“{You pick. I am curious what you would call me.}”
Kane nods, “{Very well…}” He thinks for a moment. He says, “{Syretia is a name for an independent, curious girl. How do you like Syretia? Shining Queen Syretia.}”
The Queen carefully pronounces the name; “Ser-eh-shu?” Kane nods.
The Queen nods. “{From henceforward, you may call me Syretia, and I shall respond.}”
“{It would be my honor, Noble Queen Syretia. Thank you.}”
He has no idea what he’s done. But, she will reveal it in time. For now, she must remain polite. And, anything is better than dealing with a Grodrrn. Overgrown brutes.
They start the first lessons as the humans work on a rug to heat the ship from their power. Never does the human Lieutenant complain about holding the egg or remaining in her ship. He works with her, teaching her the “letters” which are the individual markings on the walls. Combined, they form words, but he’s starting with letters, and quickly, she can see the repeated letters intentionally made, instead of just random texturing. It’s strange, but just one more curiosity for her and Kane to pursue later.
***
Petty Officer Rena Coulson looks around the Alpha team ranks as Chief Grey sits on a crate at the front, and Chief Tachibana reads over her tablet for the day’s information. Grey is chewing on something that looks like it could be jerky while he re-rolls his infamous cigar on his thigh. He swears every day that he’ll finally smoke the cigar one day, especially after so many near misses that would’ve prevented him from doing so, but he never does. He seems to be afraid finally smoking it will be the end, even though every day passed is a day closer that the tobacco gets to going bad.
Tachibana has mellowed out a lot, too, since the fall of Earth. She’s still far more straight-laced and professional than Grey, but back then, she’d already be calling role call, even though her squad was a handful of people.
Who Rena isn’t seeing, however, is her own twin sister. Rena and Mina are probably a lot closer than most people, but they aren’t attached at the hip. They stand their own watches, have their own hobbies, and have always had their own friends with overlaps. BUT, what the circumstances have forced upon the twins –or, at least, they accepted the burden- is that they share a bed. Or, they had been. This was the first night where Mina never returned to the suite followed by not showing up to muster. Watch explains one or the other, but not both. And, her uniform was still in the wardrobe.
Rena squeaks, “Has anyone seen Thing Three?”
Tachibana replies calmly, “Petty Officer Mina Coulson has been transferred to Biosciences. She reports to them now.”
“What? Why? Is she okay?”
Grey replies, “She’s fine, Thing Four.”
“Why so sudden though!? Chief, what’s going on?”
Tachibana growls, “Transfers happen, Coulson. Needs of the Navy.”
Grey licks the edge of his cigar paper, finishing his rolling. He adds, “She can tell you all about it, Thing Four. After muster.”
How is she supposed to pay any attention now? She’s distracted the whole time. Something about a handful of Grodrrns staying, something about repair status, and normal watch rotation per the Watchbill. The second they’re dismissed, Rena makes a beeline.
Rena storms into her father’s office near the lab, screaming, “WHERE IS SHE!?” He looks up at her from a fairly distressed position with his forehead in his hands on his desk. Rena’s guard lowers a little, and she worries even more.
Dr. Coulson sighs. He asks, “Any secrets you wanna tell me, Cupcake?”
“Dad, what? No. What’s going on? Why won’t anyone tell me anything?”
“Mina’s in the lab. Medical bed. Y-… You’ll see.”
Rena bolts out of his office and to the lab. She stumbles through a door, narrowly avoiding ramming through a scientist trying to come through the opposite way. She yells, “MINA! Mina where are you!”
She halts when they make eye contact. Mina is surrounded by scientists and has monitoring equipment on her, but she has a contented smile, if a little embarrassed. Heloise is sitting in a chair next to her, holding her hand.
Mina says a little awkwardly. “Hey, Baby Sis. Sorry for worrying you…” Her voice is hoarse and weak as well.
Rena stumbles forward in disbelief. Mina looks like she gained forty pounds in just her abdomen overnight. Literally. The last time Rena saw her, she was normal-sized, and that was two nights ago as they went to sleep.
“W-What happened? M-Mina? Are… you okay?”
Mina smiles and nods. She croaks out, “I… volunteered myself. Everything’s okay.”
“I… I don’t understand… Did the Queen do this to you?”
“At MY choice. Yes.”
“S-So… You’re carrying…?”
Mina nods.
Rena pulls a stool up next to Heloise, trying to stay out of the way of the scientists. Rena asks, “D-… Does it-… hurt?”
“A little. But, I swear, Baby Sis, I CHOSE this. I knew the risks, and I’m okay. Really.”
“Okay!? You can barely speak!”
Mina blushes, replying softly, “That’s my fault. I’m fine.”
Heloise adds, “The doctors are checking for permanent damage, Sweetie. So far, it’s just bruising.”
Rena shouts, “And, you’re okay with this!? Mom! Look at her!”
Heloise sighs, gently stroking Mina’s hand with her fingers. She replies, “It’s not ideal, but then, what in life is? My biggest fear for both of you was always you getting knocked up or abused by some druggie or other lowlife. The Queen may be an alien, but she’s more human than them.”
Rena sighs, fumbling for words, “I just… we… She… Mina-…” She takes another breath and looks at her sister. She says softly, “I LIKE serving with you, dumb-dumb. We make the Best team. Mom’s right, the Queen’s awesome. I just… never thought…”
Mina takes Rena’s hand, whispering as smoothly as her weakened voice will allow, “We ARE the best team, Thing Four. But… I owe the Queen everything. And… when I saw how affectionate she is… A-And how kind and sweet she is… I knew. I’m sorry I didn’t warn you…”
The two share a long gaze, and Rena sighs more confidently. She says dryly, “You know, whenever I pondered being an aunty, I thought it’d be to one little critter. Not… How many?”
Mina blushes. “F-Forty seven.”
Rena’s eyes widen. But, she remembers that males of the Queen’s species don’t get much bigger than when they hatch, and they don’t develop sentience. She smiles, though, joking, “I am NOT changing any diapers. Especially forty seven.”
Mina and Heloise giggle, and Rena asks softly, “S-So… Dad?”
Heloise replies, “He’ll be fine. It’s a shock. Like me, he’s torn between the excitement of a living subject and host, and the concern that his baby is pregnant.” She adds, “It’s… A lot to take in.”
Rena scoffs, teasing, “Tell that to her.” Mina whines playfully, “Hey!” The unencumbered twin relaxes, asking warmly, “Need anything, Baby Sis?”
“No, thank you, Baby Sis. And,… Thank you for understanding.”
“Of course I understand. We’re twins. I’m mad because you beat me to it.”
Heloise groans, “Oh God… Please don’t even joke, Babies.”
The twins laugh together. The three sit together peacefully, Heloise and Rena keeping Mina company while the doctors find new ways to boringly torture her with tests.
It’s a shock for Rena, too, but her sister seems truly content. And, that alone makes Rena just as happy.
***