Child of Light, Children of Darkness

Posted on 26 Jan 2014 @ 1:08pm by Lieutenant Teth Miir

910 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 05 - Solstice
Location: Caitian District, Dusseldorf, Germany
Timeline: MD 22, 1320

ON:

Teth walked slowly alongside his sister. She was breathing heavily and grasping her abdomen. This was their fifth trip around the block since 0600 hours.

"I need to sit down." R'lara said as she managed to squat down to street level and plopped herself onto the curb. Teth sat beside her and absentmindedly rubbed her mid back with one hand.

"So you still don't want to tell us who the father is?"

R'lara just shook her head in silence and then grimaced for another moment.

"It isn't important. He won't be a part of their lives." her voice sounded empty and almost tearful. Teth wondered if it was because of the secret she insisted upon keeping or if it was just the labor pain. He decided it was likely a combination of the two.

"We're all here for you regardless. I know you wouldn't let any of us accompany you to the prenatal visits, but if there is anything I can ever do to help-"

"You're about to go into deep space, Teth. You aren't even going to be here."

The caitian man sighed, "You know I am always just a subspace communique away. I am sorry I won't be here in person, but if you ever want to talk, all you have to do is call."

"I know." she said, pushing herself back onto her feet. As she did, a shocked expression spread across her face.

"The first amniotic sac ruptured," she said, a slight twinge of urgency in her voice, "we need to get home."


==M'thii Residence==


Twenty minutes had passed since Teth arrived home with his sister. He and his mother and father were gathered in the living room and R'lara was now accompanied by a Caitian midwife and her human assistant. In typical Caitian tradition, the entire family was to be present for the birth, but Teth couldn't help but feel reluctant. He sat on the far side of the room and out of viewing distance of the action.

His mother and the midwife's assistant were helping support R'lara and she cried out in pain, followed by silence.

"We have baby girl number one!" the midwife announced finally, followed by the shrill squawking of the infant. After her cord was cut was handed over to Teth's father, who proceeded to dry and swaddle the child. He held it up to R'lara, but she couldn't stop to hold her, she had three more to deliver.

Babies two and three were born in quick succession and placed, dried and swaddled in a bassinet next to the first. Teth stood over the crib and stared down at his nieces. They were beautiful and soft and new, but something seemed strange about them. The violet tint to their dark fur and bright green eyes set them apart from the rest of the family.

"It makes you wonder where they came from, doesn't it?" his father, M'zeo, asked rhetorically. He stroked the head of the middle child lovingly, "I suppose it doesn't matter in the end."

Their conversation was broken by another shriek from R'lara and the frantic scurrying of the midwife and her assistant, pushing everyone out of the way. Chimes on a medical monitor sounded loudly and everyone's attention was suddenly on the team and R'lara.

"Just push." the assistant said as the midwife prepared a small variety of instruments. The baby fell out, limp and unresponsive.

"We don't have a pulse, apply cortical stimulation."

R'lara fell back and stared on in horror, tears streaming down her face, matting her fur and her jaw hanging open wide. An expression that was mirrored in her parents and brother.

"Attempting resuscitation," the midwife said, "everyone stand clear."

After about twenty seconds which stretched for an eternity, the final infant finally cried out. R'lara used her remaining energy to spring forward and take her from the midwife, cradling her against her chest as the rest of the room breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Teth walked to his sister's side. She was holding the last and the smallest of the infants. She seemed to be about half the size of her sisters, her fur was a bright shade of white and her eyes were crystal blue. Teth was mesmerized by the tiny albino child. He stared deeply into her eyes, and as she stared back, he felt as if she was reaching into his mind. He shrugged it off and hugged his sister from the side.

"Congratulations." he said, still feeling somewhat disturbed by his brief exchange with the infant. "White is good fortune."

"I know." R'lara said, her voice trembling in exhaustion. "I can already tell this one is special. She can see right through us. I can feel it."

Teth just swallowed hard and nodded in agreement. He wondered if the baby could in fact 'see through' them as his sister suggested. He only knew of one felinoid race with such strong telepathic capabilities, and he hoped and prayed to the gods that his new nieces weren't a part of it.

But before he could try to push the idea out of his mind entirely, the human assistant spoke up after scanning the child with a tricorder.

"You didn't tell us that these children were half Kzinti, R'lara."

The new mother just stared at the floor, refusing any response, and the room fell silent. The confirmation of what was on everyone's mind made birthday felt more like a wake.

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