Wow, everyone really seems to like this story. I'm very flattered by the response its received. I hope you will continue to read and enjoy this. Thank you.

-Bojack727

BLUE SUB: "NEW LIFE"

Chapter 2: "Blood Lines"

.o.o.o.

Mutio was sleeping for the moment, her stomach enlarged by the life inside it. The darkness in the room allowed for her to relax a bit more than normal. At the moment, her life signs were being carefully monitored.

"The heart rate and blood pressure are normal for her species, so she's in good health." Dr. Warlock informed the others. "However, there is a lot we don't know about this."

"Mutio, and the other hybrids are already part human, and the fact that she's pregnant must further prove that our DNA must be compatible." Hayami offered.

"The gestation seems to going according to plan." Jinnah added. "I'll continue to monitor her progress to term." He added.

"Yes, the Hybrids would have a significant level of primate DNA in them- and there's only a 2 difference in the genes of humans and apes." She reasoned.

"The child will most likely be healthy." Dr. Warlock explained. "That man- Katsumo- you mention," He began. "You said that he was genetically augmented into a hybrid."

"Yes, he's right." Dr. Jinnah began, washing his hands as he spoke. "We have a lot of unknown factors to take into account- such as the condition of the child or if she can properly birth it."

Kino looked in through the window, at the sleeping hybrid. "Do you think she might have trouble giving birth?" She asked.

"I don't know." He replied. "She's already undergoing physical changes in her body- she's filled out more in her breasts and hips and she also a bit taller then she was several months ago, according to the data." He paused.

"Her body is producing hormones at a high level to better enable her to give birth. Still, there is some possible danger in vaginal birth." He added.

Hayami looked up at him. "What are you saying?" He asked calmly.

"That the child might be too big for her- if that issue does arise- then I am more then capable of performing a caesarian-section on her." He answered.

Dianna put her hat into one of the pockets on her long gray coat and then hung it on a hook on the wall. She joined the others. "Can you use ultrasound to determine the gender?"

Jinnah shook his head. "Actually, the child is covered in a strange placental membrane, so I can't give you that information." He replied. "Though, given that these 'Kats'- as far as I can tell- seem to be mostly clones- so the child might have always had a genetic predisposition to being female."

"That's an interesting theory." Dianna replied. "She obviously hatched from an egg as she doesn't have bellybutton- but it's interesting to see that she can give birth like this."

Doctor Warlock spoke up. "That's an interesting point, her body may actually be evolving to adapt to this situation."

Hayami was silent for a moment. "You mean she's evolving to accommodate the pregnancy?" He asked, slightly taken back.

"It would seem that way." Dr. Jinnah replied. "Or, her kind may have retained this ability in some way at some point in their evolution."

The Doctor then turned to leave. "I had better be getting home now," he began. "I'll be back in the morning to check up on her- contact me if anything unusual occurs." He told them.

Dr. Jinnah gathered his things together and left the lab, waving goodbye for the night to the others. Kino gave Kisaki a ride back home, while Dianna remained at the complex with the others.

.o.o.o.

Dianna leaned on the railing of the balcony, looking out into the ocean. She smiled and ran a hand through her hair.

"You stare at the ocean a lot, these days." Kino remarked as she joined her outside. The two women stood silently in the night air as a faint breeze blew between them.

Dianna turned and smiled to her. "I'm restless." She began. "I spent three years trapped in the compound, and I've been here for a while now." She explained.

Kino nodded. "What do you want to do now?" she asked with a hint of amusement in her voice.

The taller woman smiled at her. "I've been thinking about getting a boat and traveling for a while." She explained. "I want to see the world- make a fresh start with things." She added with a smile.

Kino sighed. "It won't be the same without you." She admitted. "When you leave, it'll just be me again with all these guys." She confessed. "I like having you around."

Dianna regarded her gently. "I like being around all of you, but I think it's time for me to move on- and besides, Mutio will still be here."

Kino hesitated. "I really don't know here- I haven't been around her very much." She replied, crossing her arms. She was still somewhat bitter at the idea that the hybrid was amongst them.

Dianna looked at her. "Then change that, spend time around her- get to know her." She offered in a genial tone.

"I'm not sure if I can get along with her…" Kino replied, flushing slightly.

Dianna placed a hand on her shoulder. "I think it's time you faced your fears- give it a chance." She told her with a smile. "Mutio is going to need someone she can relate with- and that includes another female."

Kino nodded and watched as the other woman walked back inside. She then turned back to look out into the ocean and smiled. "Yeah, I guess it is time…"

.o.o.o.

Dr. Dumont monitored the data on a computer in one of the laboratories. "The Hybrid Emma- as I have named her- continues to improve, though I'm somewhat hesitant as to what to do with her." He spoke in dictation as he typed in some data on the keyboard.

"Do you think we should keep her hear for observation?" Warlock asked.

Dumont sighed. "I'm worried that she's not adjusting to her new settings as well as I'd hoped. She's still pretty jumpy around us." He replied.

"I know, but we have to keep in mind that she has suffered a considerable amount of trauma recently- this may be some lingering form of post-traumatic-stress syndrome." Warlock offered.

"Is suppose you're right," Dumont replied. "We may have simply observe and see what happens next."

(- End of Chapter 2 -)

.o.o.o.

This chapter under-ran in terms of length. So, when I realized that there were some issues that needed to be addressed, it came out better- closer to what I was trying to write. I hope you all liked this chapter, as it was a pretty wordy one.

-Bojack727