(Note: I have no idea what Dylan's father's name was, so I made one up :-))
Unexpected News, part 13
Dylan was woken by a kick to the ribs that sent him tumbling from bed. He was about to ask Rommie why when he saw the look on her face: She was in pain. For a moment he couldn't think why, then he remember: the baby, she was in labour!
He blinked a few times: Trance had said it wasn't due for at least another week. Well, something can't be predicted, even with modern technology. He grabbed his shirt and pulled it over his nightclothes, then helped Rommie from the bed. She leaned on him, panting like Trance had told her to, her vice-like grip almost crushing his hand.
Andromeda had, at Rommie's request, been monitoring the baby for the last mouth, and automatically called Trance to medical. The gold-skinned alien walked through the hatch yawning, "Ok, how far apart are the contractions?" Andromeda's holographic form appeared, "The last two where 98-seconds apart." Rommie screamed with pain. Andromeda shrugged, "Make that 67- seconds apart."
Trance activated the ultra-sound, "Ok, look's good. Rommie, do you want painkillers or do you want to do this naturally?" Rommie grabbed Trances collar, her teeth clenched, "Give. Me. The. Drugs!" Backing away, Trance nodded, "Ok, I think we'll use the painkillers. Dylan, can you pass me the tray over there please." Dylan did as he was asked, and Trance gave Rommie a shot.
She seemed to relax almost instantly, "It's times like this that only having so many nerve-cells is a real advantage." Dylan rubbed her brow, "You're doing well." Rommie grinned, "Why don't we change places, then you can experience it for yourself!" Dylan laughed, "I don't think that's medical possible. But if it hurts again, just squeeze my hand."
Another contraction hit, and Rommie did as she had been told: there was a loud crack and Dylan's face went white. Trance looked at him, "Um, Rommie, I think you just broke Dylan's hand." Rommie looked at Dylan: he was kneeling on the deck, his mouth opening and closing slowly, tears forming in his eyes, "Opps! Sorry about that." Dylan slowly nodded, "It's ok. Trance, can you pass me that painkillers please." Trance handed him a couple of pills and went back to delivering the baby.
Word travel quickly in such a small group of people, and the others stood in the corridor outside medical. Harper looked at the nearest screen, "So, Andromeda, how's it going?" Andromeda smiled, "Well, Rommie just broke Dylan's hand." Beka gasped, "How?" Andromeda grinned, "He told her to squeeze it if the pain got too much. I guess he forget just how strong she is." That made them all laugh.
In time, Trance opened the door, "Ok, you can come in now." Tyr Beka and Harper all but pushed past her to get a look at the newest member of the crew: the baby lay in Rommie's arms, apparently asleep. Harper pulled out his camera, "Say cheese!" Dylan and Rommie smiled, "Cheese!" Tyr took a step forward, "So, is it a boy or a girl?" Rommie smiled, "A boy: we're naming him Paul after Dylan's farther." Tyr held out his hand, and Beka placed a credit chip in it, "Would it have killed you to have a daughter?" Rommie laughed, "Maybe next time."
TBC
Unexpected News, part 13
Dylan was woken by a kick to the ribs that sent him tumbling from bed. He was about to ask Rommie why when he saw the look on her face: She was in pain. For a moment he couldn't think why, then he remember: the baby, she was in labour!
He blinked a few times: Trance had said it wasn't due for at least another week. Well, something can't be predicted, even with modern technology. He grabbed his shirt and pulled it over his nightclothes, then helped Rommie from the bed. She leaned on him, panting like Trance had told her to, her vice-like grip almost crushing his hand.
Andromeda had, at Rommie's request, been monitoring the baby for the last mouth, and automatically called Trance to medical. The gold-skinned alien walked through the hatch yawning, "Ok, how far apart are the contractions?" Andromeda's holographic form appeared, "The last two where 98-seconds apart." Rommie screamed with pain. Andromeda shrugged, "Make that 67- seconds apart."
Trance activated the ultra-sound, "Ok, look's good. Rommie, do you want painkillers or do you want to do this naturally?" Rommie grabbed Trances collar, her teeth clenched, "Give. Me. The. Drugs!" Backing away, Trance nodded, "Ok, I think we'll use the painkillers. Dylan, can you pass me the tray over there please." Dylan did as he was asked, and Trance gave Rommie a shot.
She seemed to relax almost instantly, "It's times like this that only having so many nerve-cells is a real advantage." Dylan rubbed her brow, "You're doing well." Rommie grinned, "Why don't we change places, then you can experience it for yourself!" Dylan laughed, "I don't think that's medical possible. But if it hurts again, just squeeze my hand."
Another contraction hit, and Rommie did as she had been told: there was a loud crack and Dylan's face went white. Trance looked at him, "Um, Rommie, I think you just broke Dylan's hand." Rommie looked at Dylan: he was kneeling on the deck, his mouth opening and closing slowly, tears forming in his eyes, "Opps! Sorry about that." Dylan slowly nodded, "It's ok. Trance, can you pass me that painkillers please." Trance handed him a couple of pills and went back to delivering the baby.
Word travel quickly in such a small group of people, and the others stood in the corridor outside medical. Harper looked at the nearest screen, "So, Andromeda, how's it going?" Andromeda smiled, "Well, Rommie just broke Dylan's hand." Beka gasped, "How?" Andromeda grinned, "He told her to squeeze it if the pain got too much. I guess he forget just how strong she is." That made them all laugh.
In time, Trance opened the door, "Ok, you can come in now." Tyr Beka and Harper all but pushed past her to get a look at the newest member of the crew: the baby lay in Rommie's arms, apparently asleep. Harper pulled out his camera, "Say cheese!" Dylan and Rommie smiled, "Cheese!" Tyr took a step forward, "So, is it a boy or a girl?" Rommie smiled, "A boy: we're naming him Paul after Dylan's farther." Tyr held out his hand, and Beka placed a credit chip in it, "Would it have killed you to have a daughter?" Rommie laughed, "Maybe next time."
TBC
