Humility
“Where. Is. My. Lab?” Odette punctuated each word poking Goru’s stomach. Humility almost felt sorry for the warrior staring down at the boss lady. She didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but the entire thing was taking place in the middle of the quad, and Humility wanted to get to her quarters on the other side.
Goru shrugged. “Etlon?” he said, as if expecting her to slug him any second.
“I was told that a new module would be set up for me here.”
“It will.”
“When? And remember, a warrior doesn’t lie.”
“Six months, give or take.”
“And what am I supposed to do in the meantime?”
Goru looked down at her rounded belly and then back to her face, as if it were perfectly obvious.
“I want it now.”
“The warrior will come when he comes.”
“I meant my lab, not the baby.”
“It is not my duty.”
Odette let out an exasperated huff and stormed off, probably looking for some other warrior to grumble at. Humility decided to take a different approach.
“How do I request a module? It’s for another wife,” she asked Kave who had put his hands on her ass the moment she walked into their quarters.
“Is it a reasonable request? That will improve the entire camp?”
“Of course it is.”
It was as easy as that. Kave showed her how to customize the basic cube, gave her the authorization, and voila, the computer would pull the pieces together and craft it to specification then a warrior would be assigned to place it. Humility had to guess which items Odette would want in her lab, but at least the botanist would have a place to start.
The next day, almost as if by magic, a new module appeared in the line along the north side of the quad. It didn’t take long for the news of who had requisitioned it to spread and it had the whole camp buzzing. Humility tried to ignore most of it as she went back to hacking the vegetation back from the edge of the garden.
Odette suddenly appeared in front of her.
“Okay, everyone else is too afraid to ask. What’s the module for?”
Humility didn’t miss a beat in her shoveling.
“It’s a lab.”
“My lab?”
“If anyone asks, it’s just a lab, not yours. If you happen to set it up the way you like it and use it all the time, that’s just a coincidence.”
“Oh!”
“It’s no big deal. The green guys are just a little-”
“Oh shit!”
“I’d say overprotective, but sure.”
“No. I think my water just broke.”
“Oh!” Humility dropped the shovel. Sure enough, a big wet splotch had formed on the surface of Odette’s dress.
“Guess the lab will have to wait,” Odette said as she swiveled back toward the clinic. Humility grabbed her arm and went along with her.
They nearly collided at the door with Clover and Meadow.
“We’re having a baby!” Meadow shouted.
“So are we!” Odette shouted.
Every warrior in hearing distance took off running in a different direction. A moment later the klaxons began to ring.
“What the fuck?” Ruth, the nurse, came out of the clinic. “Shit.” She took one look at the two pregnant ladies and turned green, pushing Meadow out of the way and began to puke her guts out in the bushes.
Humility took the moment to pull Odette and Clover into the clinic. The ruckus was still nearly unbearable.
“Tell them to shut those things off,” she shouted to Meadow.
“You cannot both go into labor at the same time. I have only prepared for one at a time,” Scrubs said as he approached them. He stared from one to another, but it was clear he was eyeing his own child with a bit more apprehension.
“Warriors don’t always pick the most appropriate times, but it’s clear they are both on their way. Deal with it.”
A flood of people came through the door. Led by Meadow, Athen, Kave, Brale, Goru and Leif, all crowded into the clinic which hardly held two patients comfortably, much less a horde of giant green aliens.
“Medic!” Athen shouted, clearly upset that Scrubs was just standing there.
“Where is the nurse?” Scrubs asked.
“She’s outside,” Meadow said. “I think she’s got morning sickness.”
“It is her duty to prepare the beds.”
Humility rolled her eyes. Men were useless. “All right. First things first. If you’ve got green skin, and you aren’t a blood relation to one of those babies, get out.” Nobody moved. “Don’t make me stab you.”
Odette actually laughed, but it was interrupted by a contraction. Athen scrambled to his wife’s side. He waved the rest of the warriors out and they went.
“Meadow, why don’t you run point outside. Make sure we don’t have the whole clan in here getting in our grill,” Humility said, beginning to coordinate.
“I can do that,” Meadow replied, heading out of the clinic. Now it was just husbands, wives and Humility, who would have to appoint herself to nurse.
Getting the beds ready was actually simple. The aliens had most things set to a push button mode. A moment later, the warriors were helping their wives onto the beds. Scrubs seemed calmer now that the initial shock of soon becoming a dad had settled in. He started applying little stickers to various parts of the ladies. She assumed they were some sort of sensors. Scrubs put down the scanner and started watching the screen that appeared behind them.
“How long is this going to take?” Odette asked.
“We just got started. My mom was in labor for eighteen hours and she never let me forget it,” Humility quipped.
“Eighteen?” Athen stroked Odette’s arm.
“I am sure the Mahdfel will be quicker than that. We are faster at most things,” Athen said.
“Uh huh. Hope it’s like dating. Over before you blink. In a sniff and woof!” Clover said, punctuating the woof with another contraction.
There was some more light banter, but then it flew into a flurry of duelling women, both with babies determined to be born at the same time.
“My son will be first,” Athen said with a glaring look at Scrubs, as if he would blame the doctor if Scrubs’s son came first.
Scrubs said nothing because just then, he saw Clover turning a sickly shade of white, opening her eyes wide. The screen started bleeping in alarm, and Scrubs’s skin rippled with a greenish hue that Humility had never seen before. It was neon in spots and an army gray green in others. It was not a flattering look.
“My Soul!” Scrubs said.
Humility stepped back and took up Odette’s other arm as Scrubs went to work. Odette squeezed her so hard she thought she’d break every bone in her hand. Scrubs looked over at Odette.
“Don’t you fucking let her die! I’ll be so pissed off I’ll have Athen deposit you in the middle of the jungle on the other hemisphere!” Scrubs turned his attention back to his wife and Odette turned to Humility.
“Ever delivered a baby?” Odette asked.
“A lamb?” Humility said sheepishly.
“Hey, you hear that, Athen, she’s got birthing experience!”
“I hear. The medic will-” Athen began before being cut off by Odette.
If he’d been wearing a shirt, she would have grabbed him by the collar. Instead, she just grabbed his shorts and rattled his waistband.
“The medic is busy. Got it?”
The warrior said nothing nor did his skin change the color of annoyance like other Etlonians. Humility chalked that up to practice hiding behind command,remaining completely in charge of his emotions.
Another few minutes passed, and sparing a quick glance at Clover, Humility could see her color returning, but that fighting look had begun to fade. Scrubs wouldn’t let his own mate die, but she wondered silently about the child.
Another squeeze and Humility turned her attention back to Odette. A quick check and it was clear her baby was coming.
“You’re gonna have to let go of me for a second,” Humility told her.
Once free, Humility took a spot at the end of the table, reminding herself over and over that women had been giving birth for thousands of years. Alien babies were just a slightly new aspect, but nothing to write home about. How would her vid sound to Wendy tonight? ‘I brought a new life into the world. And he was green.’ Or at least she thought he would be green. Mahdfel sons always took after their fathers. She’d make it sound passe, like something she did every day.
Once Odette began to bear down, things moved quickly and suddenly, Humility was holding a pale mint, nearly white baby in her arms. It let out a caterwaul that pleased his father to no end. Humility took no time in handing the little warrior over to his parents and turned to help Clover.
Scrubs had her cut open and was carefully separating the child from his mother. Without missing a beat, Scrubs handed him to Humility and went back to using both his hands and a laser tool to seal up his wife’s innards.
“Make him cry,” he instructed her. Perhaps it was instinct but Humility checked his air passages before giving him a swat on the butt. The little green guy let out a splutter and then a wail. She cleaned off the baby the best she could, but turning to Clover, she could tell the new mother was in no condition to hold her child.
Humility didn’t know why, but she was suddenly bawling herself. She cradled the little nameless creature in her arms and stared into its tiny minty face. She’d never seen such eyes of blue.
Looking over at Scrubs, she could see that all his attention was focused on his wife. His movements were much less rushed and frenzied now, knowing Clover would be fine. She would soon be able to meet her newborn son and coddle him until they sent him off to warrior school.
“Shall we present our new sons?” Athen asked, as Scrubs stroked his wife’s forehead. Humility didn’t want to hand him over, but she allowed Scrubs to take his son. The warriors headed outside and there was a roar of excitement.
Humility stayed with Odette.
“Thanks. I owe you one,” Odette said.
“It’s nothing. It’s what anyone would have done.”
Clover shifted in her sleep. Despite having a C-section a few minutes ago, her belly was complete and unscarred except for a pink line that would probably fade in time.
“Their medicine is amazing,” Humility remarked.
“The doc is pretty hot too, if I do say so myself,” Clover mumbled. “I still can’t believe he let them take my damn ship.”
Humility furrowed her brow.
“Oh, she’s been going on about that,” Odette explained. “Apparently Zenik took Clover’s ship. Her personal ship. It’s not like Athen can call them back now. They’re probably deep into Suhlik territory by now.”
Clover jackknifed straight up in the med bed, making a sudden realization. Several alarms went off. “They took my cat!”
“Scrubs got her a kitten,” Odette said.
Before Humility could explain, Scrubs bolted through the door and over to his wife’s side.
“My cat!” she cried to her husband.
“I know, love, I will get you a new cat. I promise. Now lie back down.”
“You don’t just trade cats,” Clover mumbled as she settled back down onto the bed. Scrubs pushed a few buttons, increasing her sedatives so she’d sleep more peacefully.
Meadow came in holding the newborn. “I want one.” Scrubs grabbed the med scanner and gave her a pass.
“In nine months.”
“What?”
“You’re pregnant. Mazel Tov.” She nearly dropped the baby but Humility took him before she could. Meadow let out a little squeal and then ran out, probably to go shout the news to anyone who would listen.
“I don’t think she’s Jewish,” Humility said.
“Clover has encouraged me to study multiple forms of congratulatory salutations. Is that one inappropriate?”
“No, just generally for Jewish people.”
Scrubs got a look on his face that Humility interpreted as a warrior confused by crazy Terran ways, planning to research the topic at a later date.
“I also think we should keep the details on just how messy Clover’s delivery was under wraps,” Odette said.
Humility nodded. Panic and worry were the only things that could result from tales of gruesome C-Sections. Besides, with the advanced Mahdfel medical technology, Clover wouldn’t even have a scar.
“It was my fault,” Scrubs spoke out. He continued to stroke his wife’s forehead. “I did not do a DNA match before we mated. The child was at risk because of my own hubris.”
Humility didn’t know what to say. She was just as guilty at thinking she could solve the world’s problems. Kave was stuck with her as a mate because she had thought that money would cure her father’s problems. Instead, she’s just managed to muck up everyone’s lives.