"Kari, I have good news and better news," Neko said.

Kari looked up from pulling on her combat boots. "Yes?"

She was attractive, as humans went. She kept her auburn hair cut short to avoid getting it caught in her helmet, and her armored warlock robes were chosen with an eye toward form as well as function. Neko thought she was the most beautiful Guardian who'd ever walked the planets. But most ghosts thought their Guardian was the best.

Neko studied her gravely. "First, you're pregnant."

She straightened, staring at Neko. "I am?" She laid a hand on her stomach under her combat robes. It felt normal enough. A million thoughts and fears rushed through her head, culminating in general panic. She and Jayesh hadn't even had their second wedding anniversary yet.

"The better news," Neko added, "is that the child is a Guardian. I picked up the spark at once."

This piled more panic on top of the ordinary kind. Kari sat there on the sofa, nearly ready to leave for Mars on a combat mission, and faced an entirely new reality.

I'm going to be a mother. To a baby Guardian.

Neko flew down into her face. "Now, you go to Zavala and you get yourself taken off this mission. Right now."

"Why?" Kari snapped. "This is my assignment."

Her ghost shot back, "If you die and I resurrect you, it will kill the child. Don't you dare risk it."

Kari sat there as this new blow sank in. Her whole life seemed to be spinning away into the void. Neko had always been bossy, but in this case, he was absolutely right.

Jayesh walked into the room, followed by his ghost, Phoenix. He was buckling his combat robes with the ease of long practice. "Ready to go?" Then he saw the expression on his wife's face, the way she sat, gripping the couch cushion. "What's wrong?"

"I'm pregnant," she whispered. "With a Guardian."

Jayesh stood there, shocked as if she'd punched him. His brown skin turned yellowish. Slowly he sank down to sit beside her on the couch. "You're sure?"

"I'm sure," Neko said. "I detected the new spark this morning."

Jayesh's ghost, Phoenix, flew down and scanned Kari's abdomen. "I don't believe it," he murmured. "The child's barely anything yet, and already he's a Guardian. His spark is as bright as either of yours."

"She has to quit this mission," Neko said urgently, turning to Jayesh. "A resurrection will kill the child. I'm afraid to even use a strong healing beam."

"Oh my, yes," Phoenix agreed. "Any interference from us at all might do irreparable harm. Until we can find the child's ghost, neither of us can heal him properly."

Kari pressed her hands to her face. "Oh no. A ghost, too. How will we ever manage that?"

Jayesh gave her a reassuring kiss. "It's all right, lovelight. We'll face this together. Somehow. Traveler's Light, we're going to be parents." He sank back into the sofa, staring at nothing. "I ... I didn't think this would happen so fast. A baby Guardian. How often does that happen?"

"According to Tower records?" Phoenix replied. "Never. Not to Guardian parents. Ghosts have recorded meeting children with the spark in the wilds."

"How do we find a ghost?" Kari asked. "It's not like we can put out a general message to all ghosts to come check out this one spark."

"You'd be surprised," Neko said cryptically.

Jayesh embraced Kari and held her for a long moment. She leaned against him, relishing the comfort of his touch.

He drew a shaky breath and forced a brave smile. "We'd better make our excuses to Zavala."

When they told the Vanguard Commander their news, he stood there like a great, armored statue for several seconds. Then he turned to the balcony railing and stared out over the city to the Traveler.

Kari and Jayesh waited, nervously wondering if he was about to bellow at them.

Zavala turned to face them again, hands behind his back. "I can't say this has happened since I became Vanguard Commander." He regarded both of them soberly. "But it may be an effect of the awakened Traveler. In which case, I hope it happens more often."

Kari didn't know what to say, so she nodded.

"Go to the medical ward," Zavala said. "Have this pregnancy and spark confirmed by a doctor. Send the report to me, and I'll put you in for official maternity leave. After that ... speak to Ikora. She'll want to know."

Zavala turned to Jayesh. "I understand that you're supposed to leave on your assignment in a few minutes."

Jayesh gulped. "Yes sir."

"I can give you two day's leave," Zavala said. "Naturally, this is an important development. People will want to talk to you. Understand how this happened."

Jayesh shifted his weight uncomfortably. "Ah, I assume it happened the way these things normally do."

"The Guardian spark," Zavala said, lowering his voice. "You two have survived Darkness and Light few other Guardians have seen. That may have had an effect." He studied Jayesh, in particular. "And one of you has spent more time with the Traveler than most."

Jayesh and Kari exchanged sidelong glances. She'd had her own experiences with the Traveler, but kept them dead secret.

Zavala dismissed them, and the two warlocks set out for the medical ward.

"Do you think they'll set up a Guardian breeding program?" Kari whispered.

Jayesh clenched his teeth. "They'd better not. This is probably a fluke. A million to one chance."

Kari walked in silence a moment, then suddenly laughed. "Imagine if it wasn't. Imagine if we keep having baby Guardians until there's five or six little kids with ghosts running around."

Jayesh looked shell-shocked for a moment. Then he grinned. "We do carry the Traveler's blessing. Who knows?"

The medical ward erupted into a flurry of excitement. The first doctor told her fellow doctors and nurses, and soon every doctor in the ward was lined up to scan Kari with their ghost.

When her pregnancy and the child's spark had been confirmed multiple times, the excited doctors began studying the parents. They measured their Light, blood types, DNA, and questioned them on their past history as Guardians. Kari had been a Guardian a long time and had fought on the Dreadnaught, among other things. Jayesh was younger, but when he mentioned sneaking aboard the Traveler, all the staff instantly knew who he was. The media smear campaign had died down, but it hadn't been that long ago. Kari and Jayesh were more tight-lipped about their recent experiences out in the Reef, but admitted to fierce battles with Taken.

By the time the medical staff released them, it was mid-afternoon, and neither of them had had lunch. They headed to the cafeteria, but when they walked in, the smell of the food made Kari's stomach turn over. "I don't know if I can eat, Jay," she whispered, and dashed to the restroom.

Jayesh waited anxiously outside. "Phoenix, what's wrong with her? Is she sick?"

His ghost's eye glimmered with merriment. "Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. It's called morning sickness."

Jayesh stared at him. "So ... this is normal?"

"Oh yes," Phoenix replied. "It's just hormones. It's supposed to die down in a few months."

"Months," Jayesh groaned, leaning against the wall. "They'd better give her that maternity leave."

Kari emerged from the restroom, pale and shaky. "I need to sit down for a while."

Jayesh helped her to the nearest table. "Can I get you some water?"

"With ice," she said.

He did so, then picked up a sandwich from the food counter, since he was starving. Kari watched him eat it as she sipped her water. "Actually ... could you grab me one?"

Thus Jayesh learned that Kari was most sick before a meal, and could eat just fine afterward - the reverse of any proper stomach bug.

Once finished, they walked up to see Ikora Rey, Warlock Vanguard, their usual commanding officer.

Ikora had dark skin and striking features, set off by her custom magenta robes. She was in her balcony spot under a shade, where she conducted business in fine weather. As they approached, she looked up and smiled. "I've been expecting you two. The medical ward is in quite the uproar."

"And we're still stunned," Jayesh said.

Ikora nodded. "I can imagine. Kari, your maternity leave is cleared."

Kari cleared her throat. "How ... how long is it?"

"Ten years," Ikora said without blinking.

Kari blinked. "That's a joke, right?"

"Ten years is standard leave for Guardians," Ikora replied. "You must have time to raise the child, don't you? Naturally, you can return to Vanguard service earlier, if you so choose. But your first child being a Guardian has ... given us pause."

"Like breeding programs," Jayesh muttered.

Ikora gazed at him. "Do you understand the significance of this, Jayesh? You and Kari are the first Guardian couple to produce a child with the spark in the Tower's history. The entire Tower wants to know if this can be replicated. If subsequent children are also Guardians, the Vanguard may give you leave to raise as many as you want. But it may also be a one-time fluke. This is unprecedented. We don't even know if the child will live to term. Many children of Guardians do not."

Kari tried to face this information steadily, the way she faced armies of attacking aliens. But this was no enemy - this was a celebrity spotlight. She drew a deep breath. "Well. I can't sit at home for nine months, Ikora. Can I be reassigned to work in the Tower?"

"Yes, of course," Ikora said, looking at her datapad. "There's currently an opening in Intelligence and Analysis. I understand you have experience in that department."

Kari brightened. "Oh yes! I worked there for a few months after Neko ... went away." Even now, it hurt too much to talk about the period after her ghost had died.

"Good," Ikora said. "You won't be on your feet more than necessary, and you'll be analyzing battlefield reports. If you feel the job is stressing you, we'll move you elsewhere."

"I'm not made of glass," Kari said. "I can handle a little stress."

"But the child cannot," Ikora said. "Not until a ghost is found." She looked at Neko and Phoenix. "I know you two use the GGN. Send out the news. Summon your unattached brethren."

Both ghosts nodded, with furtive looks at their Guardians.

"GGN?" Kari thought to Neko.

"Tell you later," he muttered to her mind.

"You'll start next week," Ikora concluded. "Get lots of rest. And ... congratulations."

Jayesh and Kari walked through the various twists and corners of the long Tower balcony, found their favorite cafe, and secured a table overlooking the Last City and the Traveler's great, cracked globe. They sat there for a long time in silence, holding hands.

Finally, Jayesh said, "So, what's the GGN?"

Phoenix and Neko exchanged guilty looks.

"You tell them," Phoenix said.

"Why me?" Neko replied. "Your Guardian asked first."

"Because I stopped using it when they were talking trash about him," Phoenix snarled, his eye flashing red for a second.

Neko backed away from his brother ghost. "Fair enough." He faced the humans. "GGN stands for Ghost Gossip Network. All ghosts share communications through our Light, quite apart from our normal frequencies. Most Guardians don't know about it, because, uh ..."

"You gossip about your Guardians there?" Kari suggested.

"Yes, that." Neko managed to look embarrassed. "Anyway. All ghosts have access to the GGN. The unattached ghosts out in the wilds use it to stay in touch and share news, and they do enjoy Tower gossip. Once we start sharing this story of a new Guardian who needs a ghost, thousands of ghosts will converge on the Tower. This is an amazing opportunity. To be with your Guardian from birth? You can't imagine what that means to a ghost."

Kari imagined being swarmed by thousands of ghosts. The idea was both frightening and hilarious.

"Are you guys okay with this?" she asked. "I mean ... new Guardian, new ghost. Growing family. I know you two have trouble sharing us as it is."

The two ghosts looked at each other.

"Well," Neko said slowly, "it's not so bad. Ever since you got your seeds of light ... things have been different."

"We're connected more closely, now," Phoenix ventured. "It's more of a family bond. Like ... having two Guardians." He gave Kari a tender look. "I can't really explain it. But when this child comes ... he'll share the family bond. So will his ghost. So it's ... it's like clan loyalty. We're all members and there's no point in being jealous."

Kari and Jayesh glanced at each other. "I have noticed the difference," Jayesh told her softly. "And how it changed our supers."

She nodded. "I can feel Phoenix sometimes. It's strange."

Jayesh tried to hide a smile. "And sometimes, I can feel Neko resenting me."

Kari gave Neko a stern look.

He flinched. "Sorry."

Jayesh rubbed the back of Kari's hand. "Leaving you will be the hardest. Our fireteam will be down to two."

"I know," she murmured. "Our ghosts can send messages, but the further out you go, the longer it takes."

Jayesh gave her a desperate look. "If anything happens - anything - send a message, all right? We've never been apart like this since we got married. And now, with you pregnant ... and Guardians having such a hard time carrying to term-"

"It'll be fine, Jay," she whispered, leaning toward him. "Don't freak yourself out. I'm sure the baby's ghost will turn up."

Jayesh gazed out at the Traveler, biting his lower lip, something she'd never seen him do. "How long will that take?" he muttered. "Ghosts are scattered all over the planets and moons. And so many have died. Light ... so many."

Kari caught his worry and tried to shrug it off. "Come on, let's go down to the City and see a play. We can enjoy your last bit of leave."

Jayesh rose to his feet, forcing a layer of cheer over his anxiety. "Sure! Sounds great! Which one should we see?"

But he didn't relax until much later, when he finally fell asleep in bed. And it was Kari's turn to lie awake and worry.

"Shh," Neko whispered in her mind. "Rest, my sweet Guardian. The child's spark is strong and steady. Don't fret so much."

To her surprise, Phoenix's voice joined Neko's. "It's all right, Kari. We're keeping watch. If anything happens, we'll wake you immediately."

Kari fell asleep wondering how it was possible for her husband's ghost to speak to her on the personal link that only a bonded ghost could use.