Part II
Jack jerked awake and slapped a hand over her mouth to block any noise she was about to make. She was shaking and felt tears rolling down her cheeks. "What the fuck was that about? Damn nightmares! Why would I dream of that? I'd rather dream of those monsters trying to eat me than that. Good one Jack. You love to fucking torture yourself. Have a dream about being pregnant despite the odds and then having to terminate it."
Jack heard a soft knock at the door and she about jumped out of her skin. She had heard that in her dream as well. Stretching she realized her entire body was worn out, but in a delicious way. She looked at the clock and it was nearly five. Hearing Riddick's voice at the door along with Eron's she crept out of bed. He had left the door to their room partially open and she decided to listen when he invited Eron in.
"It's all set up across from the gym as you wanted. No one here knows how to operate it though."
"Don't worry about that. I've used one before and she probably has, too. This one looks to be a hell of a lot more advanced than the med lab on my ship, but they all work the same."
"The door has been coded to only allow a few people entrance, including you and Kyra of course."
"I'll take her down there later tonight after dinner." Jack gritted her teeth at the thought of being drug down there to be examined like a child. Her thoughts were interrupted when Eron's com link went off. He removed it from his belt to answer it. "This is Eron."
"Where are you?" Jack recognized Vaako's booming voice immediately.
"With Riddick, why?"
"Good. I've been hailing his com link for the past two hours and he hasn't answered. We've got something he needs to see on the bridge and it can't wait."
Riddick held out his hand for the com link. "There's a damn good reason why my com link was off Vaako. What the hell is so important?"
"Riddick?"
"No, it's the fuckin' tooth fairy. What's got your panties so twisted that I need to come all the way up there?"
"Our long range scanners are picking up an anomaly. Our analysis has all but confirmed that it's a worm hole and it looks as though we'll be within its range in two days."
"Fuck! I'm leaving my room in ten." He gave it back to Eron. "Never fails. Wait here, I won't be long." Hearing him coming, Jack backed away from the door before he walked in. "Good, you're awake. I know I said I'd be with you all day but there's something important that I have to see to on the bridge."
This would be her chance to evaluate herself without him. She looked disappointed when she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Duty calls. I know you wouldn't go if it weren't important."
"I may be gone for a while depending on what we find."
"Then I'll expect you to make it up to me later."
"I can do that. I can do a lot of that." He cleaned himself up and dressed quickly hoping to make this short. Jack was sitting on the bed when he came out. "I'll send word if I'm going to be gone long. Don't wait on me to eat regardless." She nodded and he cupped the back of her head and kissed her before he left.
She watched him leave then ran back to the bedroom and quickly dressed. She was out of the room only ten minutes after he was. If she was lucky, she could get herself examined and be back in the room in no time. The bridge was a long walk round trip from their room. As long as he stayed down there for no longer than half an hour, she should beat him back.
She was in the hallway leading to the gym and found the door, presented her key card for scanning and went in. The first thing she did was lock access to the room while she was in there. She didn't want any unwelcome visitors. Taking her first look at the med lab she couldn't believe how large it was. These were expensive pieces of equipment and she imagined the Jakarnans must have spent a small fortune on it to ensure the health of their slaves.
She walked up to the table and the examination light turned on as it was alerted to her presence. "Welcome. What is your name?"
Jack took two steps away from it. It spoke to her like in her dream but this was a male voice. A very nice sounding male voice and not something doctorly sounding at all. She had never encountered a med lab that didn't talk without being asked and hesitated before offering her name. "Jack?"
"Are you sure?"
Jack would have been delighted by her encounter with a machine like this but she wasn't feeling it right then. It was run by artificial intelligence and she had never 'met' one before. "Yes, I'm sure. I wasn't aware this was an AI med lab."
"Yes, your reaction is not uncommon. How may I help you?"
"This is kind of creepy. Do you have any other voice programming?"
"Would you prefer a female voice?"
"Yes."
A new voice took over and Jack felt more at ease. "Much better. I need a full body scan."
"Please lie on the table, Jack."
"First, I need to know your confidentiality protocol."
"All information is kept confidential between the patient and med lab."
"Do you have any overrides programmed that could preclude that mandate?"
"No, Jack. Whatever your prognosis, it remains confidential." Jack was clenching her hands and her palms were sweaty. She didn't realize how nervous she was until she had the urge to wipe them on her pants and then she felt ridiculous. "There's nothing wrong with me," she mumbled it before getting on the table and lying down. "Your heart rate is accelerated, Jack."
"It's just nerves."
"This is painless. Please relax and lie still. Body scan commencing in five, four, three, two, one, scanning." Despite the warning, Jack jumped when a green light lit up horizontally across her body. It began at her feet and scanned up, paused at her head, then the light changed to blue and scanned back down to her feet where it turned off. "Jack your scan is complete."
Jack sat up but remained on the table. "Thank you-. Um, what do I call you?"
"You may call me Santé."
"Isn't that French?"
"Yes, it's a French word meaning health."
"Makes sense. Can you give me any kind of historical medical information from say, beginning two week ago?" She didn't expect the med lab to be capable of providing that information but she thought she'd try for the heck of it.
"Just a moment."
Jack's mouth dropped open. "You can actually scan me for recent previous illnesses?"
"I can give you your recent medical history based on the visual scan. I can provide you with a complete history after a blood sample is submitted, including any genetic abnormalities."
"Incredible." She said it more to herself than to Santé but the med lab thanked her anyway.
"Report ready. Approximately two weeks ago, there is evidence that you experienced a rupture of an ovarian cyst. There was some minor internal bleeding for several days following."
"Ovarian cyst?" Jack's chest suddenly hurt. The doctors said that they didn't anticipate any cysts coming back and her first thought was that it might be cancerous. "What kind of cyst?"
"A blood sample must be provided to determine. If you will?" A small opening appeared in the table for her hand to slide into and Jack hesitated, hating to get her finger pricked. "Do you have a preference?"
"Yeah, to not get pricked at all." Jack knew it was asking which finger but she didn't want to know where she'd be pricked.
"I'll be gentle, Jack." She reluctantly slipped her hand into the slot, tensed up and waiting for the pain, but only felt a slight pinch.
"Hey, that didn't hurt." She squeezed her finger and only a small drop of blood oozed out.
"My sensors indicated your anxiety level was rising so my programming adjusted accordingly for your low pain threshold."
Jack didn't care much for her analysis. "I don't have a low threshold for pain. I just do not like getting my finger pricked and I would assume there isn't a person who does."
"Point noted Jack. Now if you will give me a moment, I'll scan and analyze your sample." She waited patiently for her to speak again for all of thirty seconds then began tapping her nails on the table out of nervousness. "Scan complete."
"Give me the news."
"The ovarian cyst was of the corpus luteum variety. Are you familiar with this type of cyst?"
"I've had cysts before but that doesn't sound like the kind I had."
"Jack, there is no physical evidence of prior cysts although your DNA scan indicates that you are more likely to develop them than most women."
Jack shook her head and frowned. "That's not right. I had cysts. Several years ago. They were so bad, I had to have surgery to remove an ovary and I'm only left with a partial one on the other side."
"Negative Jack. My scan and blood analysis both concur. Your reproductive system is fully functioning."
Jack jumped off the table and backed away. "That's not fucking possible! I'm telling you I had surgery!" Tears sprung from her eyes. She had gotten over her inability to have children but it still hurt when she thought about it. She recognized this as part of her dream. Deep inside she still wished she could have kids. "Is this some kind of sick joke? My god I must be going nuts yelling at a med lab!"
"Jack," her voice was incredibly soothing, "I am not programmed for humor. Your scan indicates massive regeneration of organs, blood vessels, and skin occurring within the past four months."
She totally missed the chair when she went to sit down and fell to the floor. She was trembling violently now. Partially from the shock of learning she was whole again and also from the sheer joy she felt at being whole again. "H-how is this possible? I didn't think regen tools would work on naturally occurring illnesses that destroyed organs."
"It doesn't Jack. However, you said you had surgery?"
"Yes."
"Regeneration technology reacts to and repairs all unnatural harms done to the human form. Surgery is unnatural."
She stood up and immediately felt dizzy. "I don't feel so well. I think I'm going to faint."
"Jack, sit, put your head between your legs and breathe through your nose slowly." She did exactly as instructed and the wave passed. "When you feel better, sit up slowly."
She inhaled slowly with her eyes closed, but her hands where still shaking. "I'm okay. Wait! I'm not okay. You said I had a cyst rupture. Corpus..something?"
"Yes, corpus luteum. It is not uncommon among women of child-bearing age and you should not be concerned. Did you experience pain recently?"
"Yes. It was awful but passed after a few hours."
"That was when your cyst ruptured."
"What causes it?"
"This occurs after you have ovulated. The follicle that ruptures when the ovum is released can seal off and accumulate fluid causing it to expand into a cyst and rupture after time. In your case, it filled with blood and ruptured while many others dissipate on their own. You needn't worry though. They do not interfere with the reproductive process nor threaten an existing pregnancy."
"I don't need to worry about that."
"Jack, I have not relayed the entire results of the scan."
"There's more?"
"Yes. First of all, your body shows recent signs of excessive stress hormone production, fatigue, dehydration, and low blood sugar levels. Have you felt unwell?"
"I did faint a couple of times. But I'm better now that I've had some rest and eaten."
"It is highly important that you take care of your heath-."
She rolled her eyes. Riddick lecturing her was enough and now the med lab was doing it. "I know. It's not typical behavior for me."
"Jack, you interrupted. You must see to your health. It is vitally important during the first trimester."
"Trimester? I don't follow."
"I am obligated to answer all questions as they are posed and thus I have been prevented from relaying my entire report. You must see to your health as you are pregnant."
Jack sat there completely and totally stunned and silent. Silent for longer than anyone who knew her would have thought possible. Before she finally spoke her hands went to her stomach and lightly touched it then she snapped them away as if she had been burnt.
"Jack are you unwell again?"
Her voice shook her out of the fog she was in. "Yes, but I don't know if I'm going to faint or throw up! I can't be pregnant. This isn't possible. I can't get pregnant. I can't have kids…ever. I was told so years ago. I accepted it. I mean, I was devastated, but children weren't meant for me…for someone like me." The longer she spoke the more upset she grew until she was crying profusely. "People like me who have done the things I've done? I saw it as some kind of penance that I would have to live with."
"Jack, unfortunately, I do not possess programming for psychiatry but please remember that your reproductive system is fully functioning now. You are pregnant."
"This is just like my fucking nightmare. Please tell me that this isn't a…what was it? An ectopic pregnancy."
"No, it is not."
"I can have kids?"
"You are already pregnant Jack."
"Oh yeah, I am." She laughed hysterically. "I am. I don't believe it. I can't believe this. This isn't real. It doesn't feel real." Feeling faint again, she quickly put her head between her legs and inhaled deeply.
"I would offer to show you what it looks like but my technology is limited in that regard. Your HCG levels in your blood indicate you are very early in your pregnancy."
"Early? How big is the baby at this point?"
"Less than an inch based on your HCG levels."
"How far along? How many weeks am I?"
"I need to ask you a few questions first. When was your last menstrual cycle?"
"I don't even know. I spotted but I can't remember when. I haven't been regular at all. There's been too much going on around here and my body has been out of whack."
"Reading HCG levels cannot accurately determine exactly how far along you are."
"How early are these HCG levels detectable?
"As early as eleven days after conception."
"Eleven days….That's around the time my cyst burst." She thought back to when the 'event' could have happened then she groaned and put her hand over her eyes. "The knife fight with the twins. He drug me to our room afterwards then we had a fight. Would that fit with the information that you have? That it's been eleven days?"
"Yes, it's entirely possible. Once we can take an accurate measurement of the embryo, we'll know more. For now, let's assume that you are almost four weeks pregnant."
"Four? I was thinking less than two."
"Your pregnancy term actually begins on the first day of your last period and not the date you conceived. That would put you just under four weeks pregnant."
"I have a question. My fainting, is it related in any way to me being pregnant?"
"No, not at this time but, according to my data, you may begin to experience symptoms soon."
"Such as?"
"You may experience nausea or queasiness. You'll become more sensitive to smells and tastes and you may develop an aversion to certain foods that you usually like. Should you become queasy, east small meals often. Other symptoms may include tenderness in your breasts, fatigue, and headaches. With all of the hormonal changes you'll experience, your symptoms will vary and may become more severe."
A sudden swell of panic rose in her and she felt nauseous thinking the worst. "Santé, I've been drugged several times in the past few days, I've drank alcohol…lots of it. Is there any way to know-."
"Jack please calm down. I performed a complete scan and all growth and development is normal."
"Oh thank god!" Her eyes watered and she couldn't help herself from crying again. "I feel like such a baby. I don't ever cry like this." She sniffed and her mind drifted to Riddick. "Shit! Riddick! How is he going to react? We never had to talk about this."
"Jack, your vitals indicate you are under stress."
"That's putting it mildly! I don't even know if he wants kids. Would he? I mean he may not after the way he grew up. What do I do if he doesn't want it? I couldn't handle that. I just couldn't."
"Would you terminate the pregnancy? I am programmed for such a procedure."
At that Jack jumped off the table and backed away. "Hell no!"
"I was only informing you of your options."
"That's not a fucking option! Can you erase it? Your programming for a-." Jack couldn't even say the word. After the incredible gift she had been given she knew that would never be an option for her.
"No. There are times when, for medical reasons, terminating a pregnancy saves the life of the mother."
"Don't bring it up again. Can you provide me with a report about my current health minus the part about the baby?"
"Jack, that is tampering with medical information and it is contrary to my ethical programming."
"It's MY medical information and I need time before I let anyone know I'm pregnant. I do need to prove to someone that I'm physically okay though. Just report about me being dehydrated and stuff. That will satisfy him. Then I want you to erase the rest of my record."
"You will need to voice request a temporary override of my ethical programming, then I will do as you have asked."
"Override ethics programming."
"Override completed. Your medical report is on a data chip. You are to return here regularly for checkups, Jack. It's important."
"I will." She picked up the data chip and put it in her pocket and shakily walked to the door. Taking a deep breath, she unlocked it and before she could get her hand on the knob it was jerked open. "Shit! Eron you scared the crap out of me!"
Jack had made eye contact with him but now she was looking everywhere but right at him. He sensed something wasn't right with her. "Kyra? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." She made only the briefest of eye contact with him, then tried to walk past but he blocked the door. She was nervous and he guessed that something was going on. "What were you doing Kyra?"
"Where's Riddick?"
"You're avoiding my question."
"Where is he?"
"He'll be a while so you shouldn't expect him. I went to your room to tell you but you weren't there. I didn't gather you'd want Riddick dragging you down here since you have been so vehement about your health, so I thought you might check yourself out instead of waiting on him."
She put her hands on her hips and stood there almost defiantly. It irritated her that Eron had figured her out. "You caught me. Now what?"
He didn't say anything for a moment. He studied her face and noticed her eyes and the skin around them looked red. Has she been crying? Only one way to find out. "Have you been crying?"
Jack reacted defensively and it didn't help assuage his suspicions. It made them worse. "Crying? No! I haven't been crying." Her eyes broke contact with his. "I guess I'm still tired and my eyes just show it. I'm fine. Nothing is wrong with me. Healthy as a horse. Couldn't be better."
Eron's smile creeped her out. He folded his arms across his chest and laughed at her. "The lady doth protest too much, me thinks."
"Well that's what you get for thinking. Eron, you can take Shakespeare and shove it up your skinny ass! Now, get out of my way." She tried to brush past him but he put his hand on her shoulder.
"Not so fast. What are you hiding?" He felt her shoulder tense and he looked at her like he just discovered her deepest secret. "You are hiding something."
Jack was about to tell him to fuck off but she pulled the data chip out of her pocket and handed it to him instead, hoping this would get him off her back. "I'm not hiding shit. See for yourself."
"I will." He walked over to the computer console and read the report. The only unusual thing on it was her ovarian cyst that ruptured. However, knowing her as he did, he wasn't convinced even though the report was benign. He pulled the chip out and was about to hand it to her but held it back. "Not so fast."
"What now? You saw what it said."
"Yes, but I haven't heard what the med lab has to say. Riddick told me that these things will communicate with you." Her eyes grew big for a moment before she covered her reaction. Gotcha! He stepped closer to the med lab and it greeted him as it had done to her. "My name is Eron and I'd like some information."
"Eron, I will answer those questions that my programming will permit me to answer."
"Permit? What questions will your programming not permit you to answer?"
"Really Eron, this is ridiculous!"
"I cannot provide information about a patient's medical record unless given clearance by the patient."
"How does that happen?"
Jack began to feel panic rise in her. He would tell Riddick. "Eron, if you value my friendship, leave this alone!"
There was no doubt she was hiding something and based on her threat it had to be serious. "I value your friendship Kyra but your health is more important."
Santé answered, "A temporary override must be requested by the patient."
"An override…what other kinds of overrides can a patient request?" He looked straight at Jack when he asked it and saw the panic in her eyes when she briefly looked at him. He felt horrible for putting her through this and almost backed off. "Don't answer that question."
She looked at him then with a hint of hope that he was going to stop. "Eron?"
But it wasn't to be. "I need to know if you logged any overrides in your records for today."
"One override has been logged into the system."
Jack broke. "God damn you!" She rushed at him intent on striking him. Her arms raised, her hands fisted she got within a foot of him but couldn't do it. Her arms dropped and he caught her wrists in his hands then she crumbled to her knees and he came down with her. Her head was bent over and all he saw was hair but he could hear her crying.
"Kyra? What's wrong?"
"I can't Eron. You'll tell him."
"No, I won't. I won't lie for you but I won't tell him if that's what you want."
"It is."
"As long as you promise you will tell him and soon."
She picked her head up and moved her hair away from her face. "Okay."
"What is it? You're not horribly ill are you?"
"No Eron. I'm pregnant."
"Pregnant? You're breeding?"
"I'm not having a litter Eron, just a baby." Eron laughed and she looked at him like he was crazy. "Why in the hell are you laughing when I'm sitting here crying?"
"That's it? You're not going to die? You're just having a baby?"
"I'm not just having a baby Eron! Dammit! There's no way you can understand this."
"Try me."
"Up until fifteen minutes ago, I have been under the belief that I would never be able to have children. Riddick knows as much. There was never a reason for us to discuss having children together because of it."
"I think I do understand. You're worried about what he'll say."
"I'm terrified. My life after the age of ten was horrible and his was even worse. He's never told me much of anything so I can only assume it was horrific. Can't remember if I told you or not but he was found in a trash bin with his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck. How can you start life like that, become what he was before I met him, and then want to have children of your own?"
"I think you just answered your own question. That's what he was before you met him."
"That doesn't change what happened before."
"He loves you"
"I'm not doubting that, but sometimes it isn't enough." Eron sat down in front of her, crossed his legs, and rested his hands on his knees.
"Okay. Shall we play the 'what if' game?
She closed her eyes and shook her head slightly. "Have you lost it? I'm facing a life changing dilemma and you want to play a damn game?"
"Humor me. Worst case scenario: What if you tell him that you're pregnant and he says get rid of it?" Jack winced and he regretted asking it.
"I wouldn't. I would leave and go home and get on with my life. I have Grant and Randy back home and they would help me raise it."
"It?"
"I don't know if it's a boy or a girl. I hate calling it 'it' but what else can I do? Saying baby gets monotonous."
"Let's call it something…temporarily of course." That got a smile out of her at last.
"You're nuts, but I like the idea."
"Good, then I get to choose the name." Jack laughed at the seriously pensive look on his face. "Ah! I have it. How about Little Evil?" She made a face. "No? Alright then how-."
"I have it! Spud!" She was grinning ear to ear and he looked almost dismayed.
"Spud? You want to call it spud? I don't even know what a spud is."
"It's slang for potato."
"The kind you eat?"
"Is there another kind? Yes. You bake a potato…you kind of slow cook a kid until it's done. Spud!"
He rolled his eyes knowing that it was useless to discuss this further. Her mind was made up. "Spud it is then. Shall we get back to 'what if'?"
"If you don't mind, I think I'll go back up to my room. I'm getting hungry but I just can't deal with dressing for dinner tonight."
"Would you like some company?"
Jack smiled and took his hands in hers. "I was just about to ask."
If any of you have a medical background please don't slam me. I'm sure I deviated but it's for the story.
Reviews please. I love 'em! They keep me going!
