Chapter 54 (Zack Allen)
The revelation had hit him like a raging storm in the middle of the night. He had no idea what to do. The news that he was suddenly a father appeared like some cruel joke by the persons involved.
But it was no joke, this was reality and Zack was constantly reminded of this every second he stood in the medical ward watching Shaal undergo detailed scans. He was speechless, but his mind roared on with thoughts, cries and hope for the future.
He analysed the room and watched, as the doctor probed Shaal, extracted blood and had her lay down on a examination table. The trio of doctors all huddled around examining the miracle that was taking place. Zack thought it was a miracle that he managed to seed a child, let alone get a Minbari pregnant. It might have been front-page news if he got a Centauri or Narn pregnant, but a Minbari?
From his research and the intelligence gathered from other races, the Minbari were a very close race and it was unheard of for them to intermix with other species. In fact, it was rare for any race to mix, unless it served their purpose. But the human population did have a tendency to break boundaries and spread into all forms of life.
The doctor approached from the mass crowd by Shaal and he began. "Good news Zack: despite the near fatal incident at the airlock, it looks like your baby will be fine. But there is something I should tell you."
"Go on doctor," Zack replied, dreading the answer. If two completely different species were to have children, chances were that some difficulties would occur. He knew all too well that changing the human genome would cause some form of cancer, or deformity. He could not imagine the damage the child could go through. But what kind of changes would fool the doctor in thinking the baby was okay to begin with?
"We've detected a unusual amount of protein being drained from the mother, Shaal, that's why she's been fainting frequently and her illness." The doctor picked up a tube of brown syrup substance and handed it to him. "Adding this organic crystal based formula into her diet should reverse the damage the baby is having on her body. We still don't understand the fundamentals of what's going on, but from what we do know the baby's organic makeup is completely different from that of Minbari and human alike. It's amazing on a complexity I've never seen before. Its skin and bones are comprised of organic crystal far superior to our own design and her development is worryingly rapid. In the space of just two weeks, she's progressed over one month and the signs are already beginning to show. We estimate she'll be born within a few months, perhaps less."
Zack almost fell onto the side cabinet he was using to rest on. Half the news was unbelievable and the rest was way beyond his understanding. His initial thoughts were on the miracle of having a child. Then to suddenly find out he was having a girl spooked him even more. He had always wanted a girl, a baby daughter he could love, hold and bring up as a tough little character. Had come across many strong willed women in the past and he would love to bestow those characteristics into his own child, perhaps escalate her development into becoming a very important person. It was a tall order, but he knew each child went down their own path no matter how much you wanted them to follow your guidance.
Then again, she had already defied all the odds. She came into existence when he was told time and time again he could not have children. Her mother was Minbari, the very race that had destroyed Earth and if that was not enough, the Minbari were hunting them down like animals.
Zack felt the pressure of yet more questions bang at the door of his mind. How would she grow in a society that would hate her no matter what side she was on? If she were raised in human society, she would be resented for being part Minbari. If she was raised in Minbari society, she would be resented for being human, perhaps even killed. All the thoughts raged on in his mind until a voice brought him out of his daydreaming.
"Are you listening to me?" The doctor angrily raised his voice. "Don't make me repeat everything I just said."
Zack was not in the mood; the main question still echoing in his mind was, "How? How's this possible? You told me that I had no chance of having a child?"
"As I explained before, you had a low chance of producing a child, about one percent. I did not say it was impossible. Chances are that because Minbari reproductive organs are so close to where your seaman would be ejaculated, it increased your chances of impregnating her dramatically."
The doctor changed the subject. "But Shaal has to be monitored closely and any irregularities must be reported. Immediately."
Zack held a small bottle of grey tar like liquid that swashed around in the tube. "What's this?"
The doctor pointed to the tube, "this substance is what your child is made up of. It's an organic crystal substance that Shaal must inject frequently." Zack was sure the doctor explained this before. "When your child is born she'll need to take this frequently but the exact details are still unknown. When she is born, I can run more tests and find out more."
The doctor was almost babbling with excitement, Zack interjected with a stern warning. "Now wait doctor. I'm warning you, I will not have my child probed and experimented on like some lab rat!"
The doctor took a step back, waving his hands in apology. "I didn't mean any offence. I have analysed your child's DNA and despite Dr Franklin's notes on Minbari physiology, there're lots of things I still don't know."
The doctor carried on, and Zack tried to listen and follow what he was saying. The last thing he wanted was a doctor who ran away with excitement. Over the doctor's shoulder, Zack could see Shaal still lying in bed. She looked exhausted and he himself was tired too.
"We still don't know why the baby is developing the way it is. The organic crystal is very advanced and we can only relate it to a long lost animal that once lived on Minbar. We are certain the Minbari evolved from them and that gene had been released inside your child."
"How did you know that?" Zack asked. It was strange the doctor knew all this information about a race they were unable to defeat.
"It became common knowledge when Dr Franklin's data was released to the general public and expeditions to the world by the Vanguards have herald more information. The biogenetics warfare division wants to create a plague to wipe out the Minbari, but the president refused to lower the human race to that level. What you have done, Zack, has upset the balance of everything." The doctor's eyes radiated with excitement.
"I don't understand."
"This pregnancy has changed everything. When news about this spreads, and it will, Minbari society will be changed forever. It's unheard of for the Minbari to procreate outside of there own race. This could change the way the Minbari think of humans and usher in a new era for humans."
Zack leaned on the table, not knowing where this conversation was heading. He too felt more bored than ever. He just wanted to take Shaal away from all the doctors and have her all to himself. He did not like her being prodded like that.
"It was lucky you used Airlock Number One. What exactly happened? Why did the airlock fail to work?"
"The other airlocks were updated two months ago. They removed the safety checks John Cho installed years ago. Airlock Number One was next to be updated, but the maintenance team weren't bothered to do it…So when it detected life signs, as a safety precaution the explosive bolts detonated sealing the airlock permanently until the engineers can repair it."
"What will you do about Elvis?" the doctor asked. He had brought up a valid question and it would be hard to explain what happened to airlock One. Elvis would want the Minbari executed but there was no way Zack would let Shaal die!
"Don't worry about him. I'll take care of Elvis. You just get Shaal ready for transport to my personal quarters on the city Euria.
Zack looked back at Shaal who was passed out on the medical bed. Delenn was there too, angry, perhaps ready to kill him. He did not care; all his attention was on Shaal now.
Later that evening, when the commotion settled down, Zack returned home to find Shaal sitting in the corner of the living room with fear clearly on her face. She appeared weak and unable to move.
He stepped into the room and glanced around, looking for any signs of tampering or missing items. Once satisfied that everything was still in its place, he placed his jacket and a few items from his pockets onto the wall cabinet. He stared at her intently, knowing that his own child was growing inside of her. He had thought she might try and kill the child, so he had a security guard constantly watch over her all the times. In his worry, he had even hesitantly approached Delenn, asking whether Shaal would try to end her pregnancy. Delenn had spat with contempt at the very suggestion, calling it "barbaric."
Zack did not care if Shaal saw the child as a Minbari child. Its appearance would undoubtedly speak for itself, and he felt an overwhelming sense of joy to know she would not try to end the pregnancy.
He stepped closer, she flinched.
He moved even closer. She was shaking with fright. Finally she found the will to speak.
"Please don't rape me again."
Zack kneeled on the floor to match her height. All thoughts were on his child growing inside of her. He wrestled with the thoughts all those months ago, the moment his hopes were shattered by those doctors. The many failed attempts at getting any woman pregnant, the experiments. In the end it only took one special Minbari. He gently held her hand and replied as soft as he could. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you anymore."
She flinched, just seconds from passing out, weak. Zack knew what must be done.
He pulled out a tube of tar-like liquid the doctor had given him, and remembered the instructions the doctor gave him before they left the medical bay. With the substance oozing in the tube he opened the end and attempted to place it in Shaal's mouth.
Rightfully she edged back, concerned. "What's that? What are you doing?"
Zack realized his error. He had forgotten to tell the Minbari about her condition. He wrapped his fingers around the tube for a better grip and explained everything to Shaal.
After the explanation of her condition and that of the baby, Shaal reluctantly took the substance and waited for the effects, good or bad. Zack assumed Shaal must have thought the vial contained some kind of poison, but even he would not give her anything to harm his unborn child. He could only guess, thank and surmise her thoughts. But he could see much improvement in her skin tone and body shape.
All hate for the Minbari had vanished and Zack had never felt this level of calm and happiness before. He stepped back and looked at her from afar. She remained motionless with the pregnancy barely noticeable under her long clothing. He made sure to gather as much fresh clothing and provisions to look after her. He knew this was serious and there was no room for error. He was about to become a dad—and soon by the doctors' estimations. —His life would change and Zack had to make plans for the future.
"What are you going to do to me?" Shaal asked.
Zack did not have an answer right away. His only concern was for the child. "I'll take care of you and our child. For the moment you are to remain here until this city leaves for hyperspace. If my commander in chief sees you, there's very little I can do."
"What about Delenn?"
"She's safe. As long as you do what I say and don't do anything reckless, she'll be well looked after."
"Can I see her?"
Zack thought for a moment then nodded. But he would have to arrange the meeting carefully. At the moment Delenn was being held under guard in one of the empty apartments one the floor below. Once the city repaired itself from the attack and moved into hyperspace he could then move Shaal to the spare room and keep an eye on her once her child was born. Naturally his child would stay with him, but his mind did not venture too far from the present.
Elvis was the problem and if he found out about what he did, there would be no telling what would do.
Zack was filled with excitement. All he could think about was his future hope and joy - yet for the present, the feelings eluded him. He had beaten and raped this Minbari. He knew deep down she would not forget and the situation was growing direr every second.
She slapped him across the face and he could tell she feared for her life, now more ever. She must be wondering what he would do.
But Zack could do nothing. Under normal circumstances he would have dragged her to the bed and raped her, but he could not do that. He felt a heady weight upon his heart. He was a changed man.
