Chapter 2

It had been nearly three weeks since she had asked for her friends help, and while she was confident that James would be able to perform his part of her plan, Nikola was still having trouble developing the stasis chamber she needed. Time was becoming of the essence and she knew it. Already she was beginning to feel the physical changes her body was making to accommodate the new life growing inside her and in brief moments of self-indulgence she pondered on what it might be like to bring the child to term.

James entered her lab quietly during one of these moments and thought she had never looked more beautiful. "I have gone over your notes once more and by my calculations you have no more than a week before this extraordinary plan of yours is no longer viable." James spoke gently.

Helen looked up from her work. "I agree – if Nikola can't invent something by the end of the week I will have to make other arrangements."

James looked at her startled. Helen had always maintained that all life was precious, he was shocked that she would so callously considered ending that of her child regardless of who it's father was and regardless of how 'inappropriate' society would deem it . "Helen, you don't have to do anything dramatic. I know it is not ideal, or your first choice but I would be honoured to marry you and give this child my name." James moved closer and took her hand in his. "You must know how I feel about you…."

Helen looked from the hand holding hers and into James' dear face and realised what he had thought her next plan would be. "Oh James – I want this child very much I could never do anything to bring harm to it, but tying you to a marriage based on this would be wrong – you deserve so much more." She gently stroked his face to lessen the blow of her next words. "If I am to bring this child to term I must move away from here – James you must carry on our work in my absence."

"Helen.." James was interrupted by Nikola bursting through the door.

"I've done it!" Nikola looked at the couple before him. They were standing close together, almost intimately, James holding Helen's hand and Helen's other hand still gently cupping James' cheek. "Or have I just wasted two weeks of my life?"

James took one last look at Helen and turned to Nikola. "As you are immortal old boy I don't see that two weeks creating something for a friend that pushes the boundaries of science should have been too big a problem for you."

Nikola considered this. "No you are right". He turned to Helen. "You always did challenge me more than any other living soul – maybe that is why I love you so much." He grinned cheekily as he presented a metallic box to her.

It was smaller than Helen had anticipated, probably only one foot square which would make storage and transport easier than she had imagined. She studied the box carefully on the outside before looking at Nikola with concern in her eyes. "The power source?"

"And that, my dear Helen, is where the genius comes in." Nikola pointed to the back and two sides of the box. Initially she had thought they were metal but on closer inspection she saw they were made of something else entirely. "Light cells!" Nikola exclaimed proudly. "The cells absorb light and convert it to energy to maintain the internal temperature – as long as the box is placed in daylight every two or three days there is no need for any kind of external power." Nikola bowed with a flourish.

James patted him on the back. "I will concede – that is pure genius."

"You doubted me?"

Helen moved around the desk in her lab and wrapped her arms around Nikola. "Thankyou", she whispered in his ear as tears began to well in her eyes.

Six Hours Later

"Helen….Helen….you need to wake up now." Helen slowly opened her eyes realising she was in her own bedroom and James was beside her, gently stroking her hand. She tried to speak but her throat was dry and no words seemed to come out.

"Shhhh it is the effect of the anaesthetic - everything went to your plan." His eyes moved to the box Nikola had presented her with now sitting under her window housing the life that had been growing inside her only hours before. The pain in her abdomen was nothing to the pain she currently felt in her heart as she turned her head on the soft pillow and looked at that box. Tears began to fall and before James knew it great gut wrenching sobs were coming from the strongest woman he knew. Not knowing what else to do he eased himself beside her on the bed and wrapped her in his arms while she cried her grief into his shoulder.

Eventually the sobs subsided but Helen didn't make any indication that she wanted him to move so he remained lying on her bed with his arms around her and her head tucked into his shoulder as if it belonged there.

"Nikola?" she questioned quietly

"Gone – I don't think your father will be very impressed with his depleted wine cellar when he returns from Mozambique. You know Nikola – loves a scientific challenge but bores quickly once the challenge is complete. He remained long enough to ensure the surgery went well and the embryo was placed in the chamber correctly."

Helen smiled at the accurate description of their friend. "Don't leave me." She whispered.

"I'll stay as long as you need me".

"I'll always need you James."

"Then I shall always be here for you."