A Change in Aura

"Augh."

Vector stopped in the doorway, his brow furrowed in concern. "Agent?" he said gently. She turned to look at him and he realized this was a poor time for teasing nicknames. "Dearest, what is it? What's wrong?" he asked, entering.

Melia wiped furiously at her eyes. "It's my damn medkit," she snapped. "I've been looking for it all morning and I can't find it anywhere." She sniffed. "And I'm starving, but I can't eat until I figure out what's wrong with me, and if I do I just know I'll throw it all up again, and I…"

"Couldn't you borrow some of Dr. Lokin's equipment? He is here to help us, we are sure he wouldn't mind."

Melia sighed. "Well, I could, but he's gone off to that rakghoul conference in Kaas City and he's taken all his diagnostics with him. I'd have to recall him to the ship, and that'll take all day, and—" She stopped, closing her eyes. "I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I don't know why I'm getting so upset about this."

"You are tired," he said. He reached out to brush back some of the hair that had fallen out of her usually-pristine bun. "We understand." He kissed her forehead. "Go get some rest. We will look for the medkit."

Her aura flared and she wound her arms around his waist, nuzzling her head into his chest.

He frowned. That was odd. He had never seen that pattern in her electric aura before. In the years since they had met, he had come to know every facet of her aura; oftentimes, he could tell what she was feeling before she had figured it out herself. To have her aura change so suddenly was…worrisome, to say the least.

He flitted through the hive mind anxiously, thinking back to see if they could remember what might cause something like this…some feeling or illness…

Then it hit him. A memory, perhaps fifty years old—it happened so rarely that it had almost been forgotten, left to fade in disuse. But it had happened. And now it happened again.

Melia had pulled away. She was staring at him. "Vector?"

"Agent—Melia." He smiled. He couldn't help it; the emotion just spilled out, turning the corners of his mouth up so far he thought he would burst. "We think we know what ails you." She stared at him, confused. Before she could reply, he knelt down before her and pressed his hands to her stomach. Perhaps he was imagining it, but he thought he could feel the beginnings of a swell beneath his fingers.

She gasped. "You mean—"

Vector nodded. "We are going to be parents."

Melia clapped a hand to her mouth. But her outstretched fingers did nothing to hide the smile on her face. "Are…are you sure?"

"We are no doctor, but the memories of the hive do not lie. You are with child."

She beamed openly, lowering her hands from her face to her stomach, where her fingers twined with his. "I can't believe it." Suddenly, her smile dropped. "Wait…is it—?"

"Fully human," Vector confirmed. He stood, still holding her hands. "It is a rare occurrence," he said laughingly. "Most human women won't even look at a Joiner if they can help it. But you have always had questionable taste in men."

"A baby…" Melia's eyes were wide with disbelief.

Vector hesitated. One of the hive had just pushed a memory to the forefront of his mind. She had a career. Her life was often in danger.

"Is…that alright?"

She kissed him in reply.

"It's wonderful."