Chapter 21

"What can I do?" Refik asked as he and Lion-O arrived at the Med Bay. Tygra was checking over the puma who had been helped onto a bed by her husband, Ben-Gali, and Cheetara. The machines tracking her vitals were beeping and it added to the level of cacophony in the room.

"You have medical training?" Tygra gave him a look.

"I'm a medic," the monkian said. The tiger pulled him aside and heaved a sigh.

"What is it?" Refik asked.

"She's in labor and she's way too early. I need to prep an incubator for the cub, if it is born alive. I realize that Thunderian physiology isn't something you studied but can you help her through the birthing process?" Tygra wanted to know.

"You think she'll want me down there? I mean I am new here and a Mutant," he said.

"Hopefully, I'll be able to construct the incubator before you have to do anything but if not…" Tygra explained. Refik nodded and the two turned back to the group.

"Lion-O, I need your help. Please follow me," the tiger told him. Lion-O nodded and followed the orange tiger.

"Ok, Miss Pumyra. My name is Refik. I am here to help," the monkian tried to be calm as possible so as not to freak her out. She cried out in pain in response. Quickly, he checked the vitals machine. Pumyra's blood pressure was high and her pulse along with it. He grabbed a stethoscope and tried to listen for a fetal heartbeat. It was there and internally the monkian breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's bad isn't it?" Pumyra asked. Having medical training herself, she half-knew the answer but couldn't help but ask.

"The baby has a heartbeat so we're still in good shape. Now, I can't give you anything for the pain, but we need to calm down your heart. Did you and your husband go through the breathing classes?" Refik asked.

"We did," Ben-Gali nodded as Pumyra gritted her teeth – a wave of pain passed through her body.

"Ok, start breathing, and I'm going to have Miss Cheetara help me," he smiled slightly and then turned to the cheetah. She moved next to him and the two communicated through hushed tones. Quickly, the cheetah fetched the required things that the monkian needed as he moved Pumyra's legs so he could get a better view of what was going on.

Cheetara covered Pumyra's lap with some paper and handed Refik a flashlight, while he wheeled over a low stool and sat down on it. Luckily, with Ben-Gali and Pumyra distracted, they didn't say anything of him checking on the puma's intimate parts. Refik sucked in a breath, glad that no one could see him. Luckily, the puma was not fully dilated but she had started and once they got to a certain point, there would be nothing to do but to help her give birth.

"Is this your first?" Refik asked as he stood up.

"Yes, and probably my last," Pumyra admitted. The pain had subsided a little, but it wouldn't stay that way for long.

"I'd say hold that thought unless you intend to whack your husband between then and now," Refik chuckled as he gently pressed on the puma's pregnant belly. He was trying to see if the baby was positioned properly.

"He'll be dead before then!" Pumyra gritted her teeth as another wave of pain passed through her.

"My mom said the same thing and then she had my brothers after me," Refik smirked. He felt pretty confident that things were progressing well despite the fact that the little one was coming so early.

"If you'll forgive me, what is Tygra doing?" Ben-Gali asked.

"He's getting an incubator ready for the little one. You two have names picked out?" Refik was trying to keep them distracted.

"We thought you had more time," Pumyra admitted.

"Well keep thinking. You'll want to be ready," Refik smiled and looked up from his patient and over at Cheetara who indicated with her eyes that they needed to talk. He excused himself and went over to the cheetah.

"What are the chances the cub survives?" She asked. With a possibility of the baby being improperly formed at such a premature age, there was a good chance that the cub wouldn't make it.

"You have advanced medical facilities here. While the little one will struggle, you have better odds than my youngest brother did," Refik was being honest.

"What happened to your brother?" Cheetara wanted to know.

"He was born a month early. We didn't have facilities for him. He died in my mother's arms only hours after he was born," he explained.

"I am truly sorry," the cheetah said.

"Thank you. Can you check on Tygra's progress? I'll check on Miss Pumyra," he smiled slightly. Cheetara nodded and then headed off. Refik quickly went to check on his patient. Her dilation was moving along and he hoped that the tiger and lion were done soon. What he didn't know was that Mandora was in the Control Room fighting a battle of her own.

To Be Continued…