Chapter 13
She turned to face Karin wholly, her shoulders and feet pointing at the doctor's, "….How…." Karin sighed and shook her head….
"Shepard, there is something different about you—You're you, that's clear….What's unclear is the question of how you were able to survive the Citadel when it came through Earth's atmosphere….My readings and historical stats, samples from you compared to what we have before us are identical," Karin indicated Braith's reflection on the surface of the window-mirror, through which they could see Casnar sitting on the table, his hands tucked to his sides and his arms crossed over his broad swathe of chest as he looked into the rectangle of glass, not seeing them but undoubtedly knowing—by his expression of irritation and impatience—someone was on the other side watching him, "….You will be evaluated for your memories, but you know who I am….You remember Thane and your past career….I would bet my salary as a commanding doctor here on this station that your….miracle….has something to do with that fetus growing in your—"
"I haven't slept with anyone," Braith snapped her face towards Karin, her patience evaporating, "….Human, Karin!…." She pushed up the fringe of her black hair to her crown, "….Casnar and I—we did screw-around today, but that would be impossible to—"
"There is a fetus in your womb, Braith, and it is certainly not typical….It's growth is apparent through the images I took….I didn't realize it would be so far along when I—" Braith's eyes were fixed on Karin's, round and large….
"How far along?…."
"About three weeks, gestationally, Braith, and with my scans, I can tell it's defining itself as both possessing Drell and Human genes….The charts I've read show DNA from both species, maybe something more," Karin paused, letting this sink in, "….Now the technology could be imprecise, but I'm not wrong about your being pregnant, Braith….The fetus has a heartbeat, it moves inside your womb but it's too small right now for you to feel it….Maybe I can draw fluid from the amniotic—" Braith stepped backwards, looking down at her belly, feeling it with her hands, her fingers bent like claws as she probed into her abdomen through the John's fabric, "….Braith," Karin's voice gentled, "….this is a scientific miracle, too….but I understand you might be scared—"
"I don't know what to think," Braith glanced at her, "….Karin, my body, I don't know if I—"
"Will undoubtedly be well, despite the mysteriousness, Shepard," Karin touched her hand which was fingers' deep into her side, and gently moved it away, "….We have yet to understand what has happened to you, but take my personal opinion, Shepard," Karin leaned confidingly to her, "….if whatever enabled you to live through a catastrophe such as what happened in London with the Citadel, you'll be able to live through this pregnancy, too….and if you do not decide to abort it, or donate it for research, you might 'highly-likely' pass successfully through a natural birth."
Braith brought the hand Karin had pushed away back to her stomach and let it stay spread out over her cloth there, "….What's in me."
She looked at Karin as the doctor put her arm around her and looked sideways at the woman, Karin's back to the window-mirror, "….First off, you're you, Shepard….Don't forget how significant that is to….to you, me, others as well," she bumped her head against Braith's temple and a tear fell down her cheek, which she quickly thumbed away, "….You're also a pregnant woman," her hand sought Braith's on her belly and together they held their hands against the cloth over her womb, the dampness on Karin's thumb from wiping her tear being felt against the back of Braith's hand, "….Whatever happened to you, maybe you were meant to be the bearer of this….Dare I say gift?…." She smiled, trying to make it sound more of a comfort, such news for both of them to realize, but Karin and Braith could hear the hesitancy in the doctor's own words, "….As for what else keeps you alive, might be causing the seizures, causing such sudden and advanced gestation….The impossible…." Karin wet her lips nervously, "….I don't know what it is that shares the responsibility of bringing you back this way—completely healthy, enabling this pregnancy, perhaps, to happen….For you to drink alcohol so toxic—and for so long without causing your organs to fail, or worse….You're practically invulnerable, Shepard," Karin moved away, still looking at her face, "….We'll learn as much as we can to keep you safe, comfortable, to keep you abreast of what's going on inside you, and with that fetus….but whatever happened, Shepard….Can you remember, so you can explain it to others, myself included?…." Braith shrugged and looked passed Karin's shoulder to the window-mirror, seeing Casnar in the other room on the table, unhappy and pensive.
"He looks pissed," Braith's voice was full of trepidation, "….I can't wait to tell him he's gotten me pregnant somehow."
Braith turned her focus back to Karin, who pointed to a small, clear nodule in her ear—a comm-piece, "….He's mad—I'm listening-in on that room, Shepard—but he's only been demanding to know where you are….Are you two….close?"
Braith shrugged again, "….It's a unique relationship, I suppose….We've never really talked, much less touched each other until today….Of all bizarrenesses, Kaidan managed to progress our 'friendship' to what it's become…." She looked to Casnar through the view and nodded, "….I'd like to see him if you'll let me….Tell him….not to worry about anything, I guess?….Or should I…." She glanced at Karin, the woman seeing uncertainty in Braith's expression, "….tell him what's happening to me?"
She saw Karin nod out the corner of her eye, Braith again watching Casnar in that room—alone as he was, "….After you dress, Shepard, and think carefully about what you wish to share," Karin moved from Braith towards the only door in the room, "….I'll reunite you with him only after you're sure you're ready to see him….What you tell him will be up to you."