Chapter 4
Street found herself lying in a medical unit, while an Atavus healer ran all sorts of tests on her and her baby
"The child seems to be more Atavus than human." The healer said approvingly. At first he had seemed rather disgusted that Gren had not only slept with a human, but had taken one for his mate. "You're genes are strong."
"It has always been with my line. Our child will be strong." Gren said in approval
Street smiled shakily. She felt stronger than she had ever felt in her life, but she knew her strength came from another's life force. Street felt guilty, but there was a small part that relished in it. And it was the part that scared her most.
"Can I get up now?" Street asked, uncomfortable, not really liking the Atavus healer looking at her child.
The healer nodded. "You're going to need to rest. The baby needs energy, energy that you cannot provide for the two of you."
"I will continue to supplement that energy." Gren interrupted. "It is my right."
"Yes it is, but I can provide a serum that will provide the energy for the baby and the necessary vitamins you mate will need to aid her in carrying the child."
"You have concerns for their safety?" Gren asked.
"There has never been a child born of human and Atavus. I cannot know how her body will react to the changes."
"What do you mean?" Street asked, alarmed.
The healer shrugged. "We will not know until further into the pregnancy. I want her to come here every few days so I can monitor her progress and changes to her body."
"I have a name you know." Street mumbled to herself.
Gren nodded. "She will be here as required." He helped Street off the unit and took her to his room.
"Do you think everything will be okay with the baby?" Street asked, holding her hand protectively over her abdomen.
"Everything will be fine. I would not allow anything happen to either of you."
Street rolled her eyes Gren was too arrogant; thinking that by sheer will he could prevent anything from happening to them.
However, before Street could say anything, the door opened and Howlyn strolled imperiously in, heading towards Gren.
"It is true then. The human carries your child."
Gren nodded, bowing slightly. "Yes, my King."
"I have sent Sandoval to recover all information on Lili Marquette and her Jaridian child."
Gren looked pleased. "Then the probability that my child will survive is high."
Howlyn agreed. "Yes, however she was permanently changed as a result."
Street jumped in. "That doesn't mean that will happen to me. Jaridian's couldn't handle the earth's atmosphere. Vorjak had given Lili his blood to help her."
"Then I will give you mine." Gren reasoned.
Street's eyes widened. "You can't do that. Lili was given Jaridian blood before she was pregnant, your blood might harm the baby." She stalled.
"The healer will know more." Howlyn informed her. Of course he wasn't thinking about Street's safety, he was thinking about Renee. He knew that she would come looking for her friend, again. This time when she came to the mothership, she wouldn't be leaving.
"Juliet will be seeing him in a few days, we will broach the subject then."
Street winced at Gren's use of her name, there was a reason she didn't go by it.
"Look," she said. "I'm really tired, do you think the two of you could continue this somewhere else?"
Howlyn hissed, such disrespect from a human, but a human he needed at the moment. If she were able to carry the child to term, then when the time came and Renee was his, he could continue his own line, with a strong woman by his side.
Gren nodded and led her over to the bed. "You rest, I will send someone to you with your evening meal. Do not leave this room."
"Sir, yes sir!" Street said sarcastically to his retreating figure. Well, she thought to herself, it looks like I'm back at square one. She knew that there was no way she could get herself out of this. She was in real trouble this time. Being stuck on the mothership was one thing, but being pregnant by an alien was something else entirely.
Street spotted a global on one of the tables and immediately thought of Renee. She could still be at the spa with the hybrids. Street didn't know why, but she called Renee's global anyway, and was shocked when the woman herself answered.
"Renee!" She cried. "What happened, how did you get out?"
"Blew the place up." Renee answered simply. "What the hell happened to you? I've been worried sick."
"I'm..." Street hesitated, knowing that Renee wasn't going to like the answer. "I'm on the mothership. Gren brought me here."
"And you let him?" Renee demanded, shocked that her friend could get herself into the most difficult of situations.
"I didn't have a choice at the time. I'm pregnant Renee." Street blurted out.
"What?" Renee yelled. "How could you let this happen?"
"I wasn't really thinking clearly at the time." Street said dryly.
"I'm coming to get you." Renee informed her.
"You can't," Street said sadly. "I have to stay here."
"Why?" Renee demanded.
"I need them."
"No you don't."
"You don't understand, Renee. My baby is part Atavus."
"What the hell does that have to do with anything?"
"It needs to feed." Street told her quietly.
Renee's eyes widened, but she didn't say anything.
"That Atavus doctor says he can make me something to give the baby the energy it needs and give me the vitamins I need to help me carry it." When Renee stayed quiet, Street cried, "Say something!"
"I'll talk to a doctor, see what I can do to help you. I'll figure something out." Renee sounded calm but there was a haunted look in her eyes that made Street feel extremely guilty.
"Just be careful. Howlyn had a weird look in his eyes when he was here earlier."
"Thanks for the advice."
"Oh, and Renee? Do you think you could get all the info you can on Lili Marquette and what her pregnancy was like, what happened to her."
Renee nodded, understanding in her eyes. "No problem. How should I contact you?"
Street shook her head. "I'll contact you after I see the Atavus doctor in a few days. Don't take any risks for me."
Street reluctantly turned off the global and hid it in one of the plants in the room before going to the bed and lying down in exhaustion.
*****
"You have given me hope, old friend." Howlyn told Gren as they made their way to the main deck.
"Thankyou, my king." Gren answered, confused. "But may I ask how I did that?"
"We don't need to stand on formality, Gren. Your family has served mine for a number of generations. You know you don't have to act this way."
"That is true Howlyn. But I ask again, how did I give you hope?"
"Your new mate, she's pregnant. That gives me hope for a certain human and I." Howlyn explained.
"Renee Palmer." Gren put in. "If you'll permit me to say so Howlyn. I don't think she's suitable. She's intent on destroying our race. Why do you find that attractive?"
"It's her determination, her passion that draws me to her. Once she is brought around to our way of thinking, she will make a strong queen for our people." Howlyn explained, a distinct gleam in his eyes as he thought about what he would do with Renee when she was finally his.
And she would be his. He wasn't the King of the Atavus for no reason.
"You intend to make her a hybrid." Gren surmised. "Doesn't the Taelon core energy inside her prevent you from doing that?"
Howlyn waved it aside. "A mere obstacle to overcome. I have a team working on removing the core energy from her body. And if that fails, we will see what happens to your mate during her pregnancy."
"You wish to see the changes she undergoes."
"Yes," Howlyn responded, moving over to a console and bringing up the files for Lili Marquette. "As you can see here, while Lili Marquette was pregnant with her child, she began to take on the features of a Jaridian. Now, if that were to happen to your mate the changes could remain permanent. She could retain Atavan DNA in her system."
Gren thought about that. If Street retained his DNA after giving birth, she could be more inclined to remain with him, be less reluctant to try and leave with their child. He searched through Lili Marquette's file. Stopping when he found, what he thought, was disturbing information.
"It says that Lili Marquette's Jaridian characteristics disappeared after the birth. How do we know they will remain in Street?"
"Lili Marquette was forever changed after the birth. Partially from the blood given to her by the Jaridian and the other was left over from her child." Sandoval answered as he arrogantly strolled onto the main deck.
Howlyn hissed in frustration. "I don't recall summoning you, Sandoval. Why are you here?"
"I have an update concerning Miss Palmer."
"What is it?" Howlyn demanded.
"She too is recovering all files regarding Lili Marquette. Apparently she also knows that Miss Street is pregnant."
"That is not possible." Gren informed him. "Street didn't even know she was pregnant when I found her. Renee Palmer could not know."
"Well it looks like you are mistaken. Juliet Street is an exceptionally intelligent woman; it is most likely she found a way to inform Renee of her condition."
Howlyn smiled. "This will work for me. I will not have to go after Renee, she will come straight into my hands."
"Renee Palmer is too smart to come here again." Sandoval started.
"She will do whatever is in her power to get her friend back." Howlyn interrupted.
"I will not permit my mate to depart the mothership. She cannot leave, it is too dangerous for her and the baby." Gren stated.
"Of course," Howlyn agreed. "When Renee comes here I will have her before she can get anywhere near your mate."
Sandoval watched the two Atavus as they discussed Renee Palmer and her techno friend, Street. Sandoval hoped that Renee would come to the ship, but he intended on finding her before Howlyn did, and when that happened he would ensure that Renee Palmer met with an unfortunate accident. He almost smiled at the thought. Finally he would get his revenge on the woman who had foiled his every attempt for control.
Street found herself lying in a medical unit, while an Atavus healer ran all sorts of tests on her and her baby
"The child seems to be more Atavus than human." The healer said approvingly. At first he had seemed rather disgusted that Gren had not only slept with a human, but had taken one for his mate. "You're genes are strong."
"It has always been with my line. Our child will be strong." Gren said in approval
Street smiled shakily. She felt stronger than she had ever felt in her life, but she knew her strength came from another's life force. Street felt guilty, but there was a small part that relished in it. And it was the part that scared her most.
"Can I get up now?" Street asked, uncomfortable, not really liking the Atavus healer looking at her child.
The healer nodded. "You're going to need to rest. The baby needs energy, energy that you cannot provide for the two of you."
"I will continue to supplement that energy." Gren interrupted. "It is my right."
"Yes it is, but I can provide a serum that will provide the energy for the baby and the necessary vitamins you mate will need to aid her in carrying the child."
"You have concerns for their safety?" Gren asked.
"There has never been a child born of human and Atavus. I cannot know how her body will react to the changes."
"What do you mean?" Street asked, alarmed.
The healer shrugged. "We will not know until further into the pregnancy. I want her to come here every few days so I can monitor her progress and changes to her body."
"I have a name you know." Street mumbled to herself.
Gren nodded. "She will be here as required." He helped Street off the unit and took her to his room.
"Do you think everything will be okay with the baby?" Street asked, holding her hand protectively over her abdomen.
"Everything will be fine. I would not allow anything happen to either of you."
Street rolled her eyes Gren was too arrogant; thinking that by sheer will he could prevent anything from happening to them.
However, before Street could say anything, the door opened and Howlyn strolled imperiously in, heading towards Gren.
"It is true then. The human carries your child."
Gren nodded, bowing slightly. "Yes, my King."
"I have sent Sandoval to recover all information on Lili Marquette and her Jaridian child."
Gren looked pleased. "Then the probability that my child will survive is high."
Howlyn agreed. "Yes, however she was permanently changed as a result."
Street jumped in. "That doesn't mean that will happen to me. Jaridian's couldn't handle the earth's atmosphere. Vorjak had given Lili his blood to help her."
"Then I will give you mine." Gren reasoned.
Street's eyes widened. "You can't do that. Lili was given Jaridian blood before she was pregnant, your blood might harm the baby." She stalled.
"The healer will know more." Howlyn informed her. Of course he wasn't thinking about Street's safety, he was thinking about Renee. He knew that she would come looking for her friend, again. This time when she came to the mothership, she wouldn't be leaving.
"Juliet will be seeing him in a few days, we will broach the subject then."
Street winced at Gren's use of her name, there was a reason she didn't go by it.
"Look," she said. "I'm really tired, do you think the two of you could continue this somewhere else?"
Howlyn hissed, such disrespect from a human, but a human he needed at the moment. If she were able to carry the child to term, then when the time came and Renee was his, he could continue his own line, with a strong woman by his side.
Gren nodded and led her over to the bed. "You rest, I will send someone to you with your evening meal. Do not leave this room."
"Sir, yes sir!" Street said sarcastically to his retreating figure. Well, she thought to herself, it looks like I'm back at square one. She knew that there was no way she could get herself out of this. She was in real trouble this time. Being stuck on the mothership was one thing, but being pregnant by an alien was something else entirely.
Street spotted a global on one of the tables and immediately thought of Renee. She could still be at the spa with the hybrids. Street didn't know why, but she called Renee's global anyway, and was shocked when the woman herself answered.
"Renee!" She cried. "What happened, how did you get out?"
"Blew the place up." Renee answered simply. "What the hell happened to you? I've been worried sick."
"I'm..." Street hesitated, knowing that Renee wasn't going to like the answer. "I'm on the mothership. Gren brought me here."
"And you let him?" Renee demanded, shocked that her friend could get herself into the most difficult of situations.
"I didn't have a choice at the time. I'm pregnant Renee." Street blurted out.
"What?" Renee yelled. "How could you let this happen?"
"I wasn't really thinking clearly at the time." Street said dryly.
"I'm coming to get you." Renee informed her.
"You can't," Street said sadly. "I have to stay here."
"Why?" Renee demanded.
"I need them."
"No you don't."
"You don't understand, Renee. My baby is part Atavus."
"What the hell does that have to do with anything?"
"It needs to feed." Street told her quietly.
Renee's eyes widened, but she didn't say anything.
"That Atavus doctor says he can make me something to give the baby the energy it needs and give me the vitamins I need to help me carry it." When Renee stayed quiet, Street cried, "Say something!"
"I'll talk to a doctor, see what I can do to help you. I'll figure something out." Renee sounded calm but there was a haunted look in her eyes that made Street feel extremely guilty.
"Just be careful. Howlyn had a weird look in his eyes when he was here earlier."
"Thanks for the advice."
"Oh, and Renee? Do you think you could get all the info you can on Lili Marquette and what her pregnancy was like, what happened to her."
Renee nodded, understanding in her eyes. "No problem. How should I contact you?"
Street shook her head. "I'll contact you after I see the Atavus doctor in a few days. Don't take any risks for me."
Street reluctantly turned off the global and hid it in one of the plants in the room before going to the bed and lying down in exhaustion.
*****
"You have given me hope, old friend." Howlyn told Gren as they made their way to the main deck.
"Thankyou, my king." Gren answered, confused. "But may I ask how I did that?"
"We don't need to stand on formality, Gren. Your family has served mine for a number of generations. You know you don't have to act this way."
"That is true Howlyn. But I ask again, how did I give you hope?"
"Your new mate, she's pregnant. That gives me hope for a certain human and I." Howlyn explained.
"Renee Palmer." Gren put in. "If you'll permit me to say so Howlyn. I don't think she's suitable. She's intent on destroying our race. Why do you find that attractive?"
"It's her determination, her passion that draws me to her. Once she is brought around to our way of thinking, she will make a strong queen for our people." Howlyn explained, a distinct gleam in his eyes as he thought about what he would do with Renee when she was finally his.
And she would be his. He wasn't the King of the Atavus for no reason.
"You intend to make her a hybrid." Gren surmised. "Doesn't the Taelon core energy inside her prevent you from doing that?"
Howlyn waved it aside. "A mere obstacle to overcome. I have a team working on removing the core energy from her body. And if that fails, we will see what happens to your mate during her pregnancy."
"You wish to see the changes she undergoes."
"Yes," Howlyn responded, moving over to a console and bringing up the files for Lili Marquette. "As you can see here, while Lili Marquette was pregnant with her child, she began to take on the features of a Jaridian. Now, if that were to happen to your mate the changes could remain permanent. She could retain Atavan DNA in her system."
Gren thought about that. If Street retained his DNA after giving birth, she could be more inclined to remain with him, be less reluctant to try and leave with their child. He searched through Lili Marquette's file. Stopping when he found, what he thought, was disturbing information.
"It says that Lili Marquette's Jaridian characteristics disappeared after the birth. How do we know they will remain in Street?"
"Lili Marquette was forever changed after the birth. Partially from the blood given to her by the Jaridian and the other was left over from her child." Sandoval answered as he arrogantly strolled onto the main deck.
Howlyn hissed in frustration. "I don't recall summoning you, Sandoval. Why are you here?"
"I have an update concerning Miss Palmer."
"What is it?" Howlyn demanded.
"She too is recovering all files regarding Lili Marquette. Apparently she also knows that Miss Street is pregnant."
"That is not possible." Gren informed him. "Street didn't even know she was pregnant when I found her. Renee Palmer could not know."
"Well it looks like you are mistaken. Juliet Street is an exceptionally intelligent woman; it is most likely she found a way to inform Renee of her condition."
Howlyn smiled. "This will work for me. I will not have to go after Renee, she will come straight into my hands."
"Renee Palmer is too smart to come here again." Sandoval started.
"She will do whatever is in her power to get her friend back." Howlyn interrupted.
"I will not permit my mate to depart the mothership. She cannot leave, it is too dangerous for her and the baby." Gren stated.
"Of course," Howlyn agreed. "When Renee comes here I will have her before she can get anywhere near your mate."
Sandoval watched the two Atavus as they discussed Renee Palmer and her techno friend, Street. Sandoval hoped that Renee would come to the ship, but he intended on finding her before Howlyn did, and when that happened he would ensure that Renee Palmer met with an unfortunate accident. He almost smiled at the thought. Finally he would get his revenge on the woman who had foiled his every attempt for control.