Gundam SEED Rebuild
Ch. 9 - Passing Legacy
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam SEED. The Lockheed and Donnelly families, Glenn's immediate family, and Doug McLaney are my OCs. Andria Yamasaki is Titanic-X-21's OC. Mark Allen and Mackenzie Allen are ZAFT Convoy's OCs.
Responses to Reviews:
- SRPA Sentinel: Glad you like it, I'll do my best. :)
- edboy4926: Glad you like it. :3
- Reishin Amara: I know, and the real world just never gives us a break. Stay safe out there, and stay tuned. :3
- Just a Crazy Man: Good points you brought up. Imagine.
- Kaiser Chris: Thanks for the feedback and frankness as always. Things have been hectic, and it does tax my writing muse a bit. Still, my Discord is open whenever you want to go more in depth. I really do hope to expand further on the universe when possible.
- Aranis: Stay tuned for more. ;)
March 19, CE 54 St. Paul's Community Church, Fort Worth, Texas
The sky was as clear as glass the day of the wedding. For Jeff Glenn, the groom and man of the hour, it was the sign of a blessed, bright day to start a beautiful new life with his soon-to-be wife. He was shivering with both anxiety and excitement.
Adrian was right beside him along with the other groomsmen. "Looking good, buddy," Adrian chuckled, "slick and smooth."
The young man chuckled. "Good to hear, Adrian," he replied, "just help me look the part and I'll do the rest."
Adrian helped to inspect Jeff's suit. His suit was a nice grey color, and he wore a simple black tie to go with it. His hair, despite his best efforts, still stuck up in a few spots, but not as bad as it normally was.
"Thanks for coming here to my wedding," Jeff expressed, "it means a lot."
"No problem,"Adrian remarked with a grin.
"You go and be a lady killer with your lioness," one of Jeff's friends joked, "it's not every day you get to sweep Andria Yamasaki off her feet!" The group laughed at the remark.
With the bride...
Andria ran a hand through her hair, adjusting the dress she wore. It was tradition for the bride to wear a white gown, but underneath it, she wore a pair of white slacks to be more comfortable.
"You look absolutely amazing, Andria," one of her friends gushed.
The woman nodded. "Thank you, but I'm not one to be fixated on this," she remarked with a grin. "I'm just glad we're finally tying the knot."
"But making your impression upon your husband-to-be is the first step in the long journey that is marriage, so why not indulge him?" That voice came from Martha Lockheed, who was sitting off to the side, rubbing her pregnant belly. "Take it from someone who knows, honey," she beamed.
Andria nodded. "Oh, believe me, I know that for sure." She smiled. Andria then looked at Martha's belly. "How's little Elias," she asked, a bit concerned.
Martha smiled as she felt the baby shuffle underneath. "He's happy and excited."
The younger woman smiled. "That's good."
Martha gave a soulful gaze into the bride's eyes. "Soon it will be your turn," she told her, "you and Jeff are going to have some beautiful little ones... I just know it."
Andria nodded. "True," she said, grinning a bit more, although she did blush a bit. "Doesn't mean I won't take it easy though. Their mother will be plenty busy helping their father keep their grandfather's business going."
Martha gave a smile, though her gaze bore deep into Andria's eyes. "Yes, you do have a lot of work to do," she said, "but always remember to invest in and commit to your family heavily. After all, an excellent wife is a crown to her husband, just as a husband would love his wife as he would his own body."
Andria smiled brightly, "I will perform my duties as a good wife of the Glenn family, just as I expect Jeff to perform his as the good husband."
"That, I have little doubt about Jeff," Martha laughed, "just make sure to give each other a good honeymoon time for starters." That made Andria blush deep, and the other girls to go 'ooooohhhh' with mischievous grins. Andria did not think Martha would be so bold to say that aloud, yet the honeymoon remark made her get the butterflies in her stomach. Andria was now really looking forward to making her vows and having her way with Jeff afterwards.
Inside the sanctuary...
George Glenn and Helen held the young Derek Lockheed between them, as his parents had gone to assist the bride and groom of the hour. The two waited as people began to file into the room. Helen was radiant as she thought of how she yearned for this day for her only son.
"Looks like the boy's finally going to have a good woman," Glenn cheered.
"And a strong, faithful, and capable one at that," Helen added with a loving glance, "Jeff made a great choice."
Glenn had a wistful expression at that. His mind drifted back briefly to when he had first met his wife. She was quite the flighty young ginger of a pilot and astronaut when the both of them trained for the mission to Jupiter as the first humans around the planet. The two had hit it off once they learned of their shared love for exploring the final frontier. Even when Glenn transmitted his controversial confession to the world, much to his surprise, she had only said that it was not the genes, but the character that counted. If anything, Helen became much closer to him over the course of the years-long mission and absence from Earth. It was hardly much of a surprise when she and he had their first date in Jupiter's orbit, observing the serene lovely view of the gas giant beneath their window. However, even by the first date, they had made the decision in their hearts... the two were a match made in heaven. Thus, when Glenn proposed to Helen that same date, she just let him have it with a kiss right to the lips.
With his renewed appreciation for God and His limitless providence, Glenn could only give thanks to Him for that blessed moment among the stars that made everything seem brighter.
Derek then tugged on Glenn's arm. The First Coordinator looked at the cute boy in his little suit and tie. "You excited, Derek?" he asked.
"Mmmm!" Derek nodded excitedly. "Uncle Jeff and Auntie Andria love each other! Like Mommy and Daddy!"
The old Coordinator laughed. "They sure do!" Glenn rubbed the boy's hair.
Derek giggled as Glenn teased his hair. "Uncle Glenn is funny."
"Yes, he is!" Glenn joked as he tickled the kid's stomach.
"Hahahaha!" Derek squealed with laughter. Glenn then lifted him in his arms as he waved his arms excitedly. Helen giggled at her husband's good-hearted jesting.
The crowd finally began to settle down and everyone's eyes turned towards the door. Glenn smiled upon seeing that it was his son, Jeff, being escorted by his friends, including Adrian to the altar.
"He looks so handsome," Helen softly beamed to her husband.
"Of course, my dear," Glenn agreed, "he's got your looks."
Jeff had a skip to his steps as he approached the altar. The other guests murmured approvingly and even gave light claps to the heir of Glenn.
"Looking handsome there, Jeff!"
"Go get her, Jeff!"
The man smiled. "I'll do my best," he remarked.
"You will be at your best, son!" George shouted out, "God bless you!"
The younger man approached the altar. Adrian stood beside him as Jeff took a deep breath and smiled.
Derek was jumpy in his seat as he spotted his dad. The young boy waved excitedly. Adrian smiled towards his son.
It was then that Martha slowly made her way up to the front. Helen then spotted Martha. "Oh, hello dear," she kindly greeted the pregnant mother. "Good to see you doing well."
"Thank you, Mrs. Glenn," Martha replied.
"Mommy," Derek beamed, looking at her and her pregnant tummy, where his brother, Elias was.
Martha smiled back at her first son's liveliness as she sat down. George let Derek down from the pew, allowing the boy to run towards his mother and sit next to her. "You've been a good boy?" Martha cooed as she stroked Derek's cheek.
Derek giggled. "Yep~!" he sang.
"And here I was keeping him calm and happy," George laughed, his elderly face soft and happy from his fondness of the little boy. The boy giggled a bit more.
As everyone settled in for the wedding, everything seemed to fall into place. Suddenly, it was then that one of the church staffers rushed up to the altar with a concerned expression. Jeff and Adrian took notice of him as he came up to them.
The staffer sighed as he pursed his lips. "We have a problem..." he muttered.
Jeff looked to the church staffer in confusion.
Adrian asked, "what is it?"
"There's been a car accident. The pastor's been injured," the young staffer said. A pall fell over the groom and his friend.
Adrian could not believe it. "What?"
"It's true," the man said lowly.
Jeff was now vexed, both for the pastor, and his own wedding. Being considerate though, he asked, "how bad is it?"
"He'll be in hospital for a while," the church staffer muttered, "he was t-boned at an intersection. Doctors say that he's suffered a concussion, but with enough rest, he'll recover…"
Jeff was relieved that the pastor was alive and resting safely so far... but he was still visibly let down by the news.
"Bummer..." Adrian sympathetically looked at the groom with a pat on his shoulder. "Sorry about this, Jeff."
Jeff nodded to his friend. "It's alright, but I'm worried about how Andria will take this," he said.
George looked up with sadness in his eyes for his son on what was supposed to be a special day. Andria and Jeff had waited months for this moment. Now what was to happen?
"Excuse me." George Glenn heard a voice beside him. He looked over, and saw a young man with bright orange eyes, dark hair, and wearing a priest's garb. He was young clergy, but George had not seen him in this church before. "Perhaps I can be of assistance to your family, Mr. Glenn," the young priest said, "I was just recently ordained a pastor in another church."
"Oh?" Helen gave a surprised sound, "you would?"
"Of course, I can," the priest answered, "hearing about how your pastor is out of commission, I'm offering to volunteer my services to your family and this church for the day at least." He gave a warm smile. "It's the least I can do for brothers in the body of the church."
George looked upon the young priest. There was something familiar about this person. Glenn's eyes narrowed a bit as he tried to recall where he had seen the young man before.
Martha turned to face the young priest. "Why thank you, but who are you?"
"My name is Malchio," he said, introducing himself, "Malchio Rodriguez."
It was then that it clicked for George. "Oh! I remember hearing your speech at that seminar in Jerusalem!" Glenn remarked.
Malchio smiled warmly at Glenn recalling his contributions and speech in Jerusalem among the major churches of the world just some time after the attempt on the latter's life. "I see you have paid attention to the Jerusalem conference last year," the young priest replied in a modest tone.
Glenn nodded. "Yes. I did." Some of the world's prominent churches at the conference were tackling the question of Coordinators in society, and how they were to respond considering the news that a Blue Cosmos-inspired radical tried to murder George Glenn. Some took a guarded, yet willing approach towards the controversial Coordinator Question regarding bridging the divide between Naturals and Coordinators, while others showed skepticism and a still guarded attitude towards Glenn's conversion and political activity. The conference was at a stand-still, until the young budding evangelist from the Philippines, Malchio Rodriguez took the podium.
Malchio proved to be a calm, yet captivating speaker, calling for those present to be voices of reason and peace between Naturals and Coordinators, and to increase church ministry outreach to the Coordinator population across the world in an act of love and reconciliation to counter the polarization and hatred of Blue Cosmos.
Malchio said that while it would not immediately solve the question surrounding the ethics of specific genetic engineering issues, the fact remained that Coordinators were still human and in need of love and repentance as any other human. He even cited George Glenn as one who recognized his own need for God's love, forgiveness, and guidance. Glenn was impressed by the young man's enthusiasm and respect for everyone as human beings, regardless of enhancement or not.
Glenn regarded the priest with softness in his expression. "It's nice to meet you," he expressed. He stood up and extended a hand.
"Likewise," Malchio returned the gesture, "I will be more than happy to conduct the wedding for your son and his bride," the young priest said once more, "it's their most blessed day yet."
Jeff overheard the interaction Malchio had with his father and waved his hands. "Thank you, but I don't want to trouble you as a visitor..."
"Oh, I'm more than happy to do this," the young priest replied. Malchio made his way up to the altar. "You have a long journey ahead, Jeffrey," Malchio added, "and having her as Mrs. Glenn by your side can help you weather the challenges of life that are bound to come your way. At least let me help send the both of you off with a good start."
Jeff was touched by this stranger's kindness. "Why… thank you," he said with a slight bow of respect.
"Just in time too," Adrian remarked as he looked at his watch, "Andria should be coming in about two minutes."
"Very well," Malchio smiled as he walked up to the podium. "May I," he asked another staffer holding onto the wedding book. The staffer gave both the podium and book to him with a bow. "Thank you," Malchio said as he prepared for the wedding ceremony himself.
After Malchio quickly acquainted himself with the plans and the words for the ceremony, the double doors to the sanctuary creeked open. Everyone turned to see Andria revealed in her dress, with her father by her side.
Jeff had to hold his jaw from dropping in awe. Andria was radiant, with her white, long dress and light gold highlights hugging her figure in a rare show of her femininity, all just for the love of her life this very day. He had to keep himself in check as he watched her smile.
"She's beautiful," Adrian was grinning for his friend.
Jeff nodded. "I'll say..." he whispered. Malchio gave a slight, but very approving smile.
Andria walked down the middle of the pews with her father holding her hand. Andria's father, Hatomi Yamasaki, was overjoyed his daughter was marrying the love of her life. The rest of the guests gave murmurs and hums of approval, along with bright smiles.
Hatomi then whispered to his daughter, "Andri, you've made an old man very proud."
"Thanks, Dad," she whispered back.
"Duane also wanted me to convey to you that he's sorry he couldn't put off his deployment to attend, but he's also very proud and wishes for all of God's blessings for you and Jeff," the elder Yamasaki told her Lt. Cmdr Halberton's message.
Andria gave a smile and nodded. "Tell him thank you."
"Of course, dear." Upon reaching the front of the pews, the father let go of Andria's hand as she walked up the steps to the altar. As she parted from her father, Andria's eyes focused on Jeff's. Jeff and Andria finally stood together, side by side.
"It's finally happening, Georgie," Helen whispered to her husband, excited for her son. Glenn gave a smile and nodded back.
Seeing that everything was in place, Adrian glanced towards Malchio and gave a nod. He stepped to the side as the stand-in pastor of the day opened the wedding book handed to him. First however, Malchio decided to warmly greet the couple. "Mr. Glenn, Ms. Yamasaki," he said, "thank you for gathering here today in this house of the Lord."
"It's an honor, Reverend," Andria said.
"Likewise, Reverend," Jeff added.
Malchio nodded, before turning towards the people in the pews. "Brothers and sisters," he began, "we are gathered together for the joining of a new family in an ancient tradition. God performed the very first wedding ceremony in the Garden of Eden. Marriage is considered the pinnacle of human relationships, embodying a unique kind of intimacy, and love and is a metaphor for the deep love between Christ and the Church."
Everyone nodded. "Amen," Glenn muttered quietly.
"As God ordained on that very day, He made male and female, and for that reason He said that a man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh," the young clergyman followed up. He then pulled out two slips from the envelope inside the wedding book and handed each by name to the groom and bride.
"Let us begin with the reading of the marriage vows, starting with Mr. Glenn," Malchio prompted.
Jeff nodded and held up his vows. "My beloved Andria... when I first met you, I felt in you a brightness and vitality, even as you were going through a difficult chapter of your life. Though my path was laid for me on earth by my earthly father, it was only made complete when our Heavenly Father brought you into my life. You've inspired me to grow into a stronger man with your determination and compassion. I promise, in life and death, to always stand by your side, whether through sickness or health. As Christ loved his church and give Himself up for her, so do I love and care for you as part of my body." Jeff's eyes shone as he stared deep into Andria's.
Malchio then prompted, "Ms. Yamasaki."
Andria held up her vows. "My beloved Jeffrey... I love you and cherish you as an apple to my eye. You are the one man who accepts me as I am, strengths and weaknesses. With God as my Lord and witness, I respect and am faithful to you alone. Had it not been for your family being there when I was discharged, I fear I may have gone down a dark path. You gave me hope and gave me light in my darkest hours. And every day I give more thanks to God for your presence and love that have given me a reason to keep on living, Jeff. It is because of you that I can now share my joys and sorrows with a life partner to call my own. Let me be the crown that shines bright for the both of us in the marathon of life."
The two lowered their vows. There was hardly a dry tear amongst the pews. A few happy claps came from the crowd. It was then that Malchio prompted the ringbearer. "Let the bride and groom present their rings."
The ringbearer walked next to the couple with the golden wedding bands with their diamonds in the box. Andria and Jeff both plucked the rings.
"Repeat after me," Malchio said, starting with Jeff. "With this ring..."
"With this ring..." Jeff held up the ring.
"I thee wed."
"I thee wed." He slipped the ring onto Andria's finger.
Andria blushed with happiness. Then she held up her ring.
"With this ring..."
"With this ring..." the bride repeated.
"I wed thee..."
"I wed thee..." With that, Andria tenderly slipped the ring onto her beloved's finger. There were hums of approval, with the most audible being from George and Helen.
Malchio nodded with a smile. "By the power vested in me by the Lord God Almighty and the state of Texas," he finished, "I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss." Both newlyweds leaned in and kissed passionately.
"Hear!" George cheered out loud as he rose to clap with jubilee. The whole crowd broke out into loud applause.
Malchio closed the wedding book and bowed towards the newlyweds. "Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Glenn."
Both nodded. "Thank you," Andria said with a smile.
"Thank you for doing this, Reverend Rodriguez," Jeff told him.
"It was a pleasure," the young priest said with a smile. "God bless the both of you, Mr. and Mrs. Glenn."
Andria put a finger to her lip, breathless at what she heard. She really was Mrs. Glenn now. The thought made Andria euphoric. She looked to her family and friends, and her husband. "Jeffrey..." the name rolled off her tongue like honey as she stroked his face.
The Glenn heir smiled. "Yes, my dear?"
"Is this really happening? Tell me it's really happening."
"It is," he told her. "It's happening." With that Jeff took her hand and led her by his side down the altar as the flower girls flung the petals.
George walked behind his son and new daughter-in-law with Helen holding his arm, and Adrian following with his pregnant Martha and an excitable Derek. All of them were beaming and laughing for joy as Jeff and Andria left the church, finally married and ready for whatever life threw their way.
A week and a half later...
Glenn Health Facility, Colorado Springs, Colorado
The facility was a madhouse as scientists and technicians darted around the large lab, overseeing the production of the S2 influenza vaccine. More accurately, as George Glenn would describe it, it was coordinated chaos as the subsidiary worked to meet the deadline for launch. This facility had been one of many selected to mass produce the newly developed vaccine, as well as the treatments for those already infected.
Jeff and Andria looked down on the whole operation from a walkway, dressed in smocks as required, along with their guests. Andria had a serious look on her face as she observed with a calculating gaze. Jeff subtly clasped his wife's hand in his own. Things were moving along smoothly, she knew, but there always was a possible hint of a delay or something of that nature.
"You people don't waste any time," one of the visitors, a government official from the Disease Control and Neutralization Task Force remarked, "I hope this is not all for show."
"It's not," Andria replied. "We have every intention on getting this out to the public." Her eyes then narrowed. 'Despite what others may say...' she thought to herself.
"We can assure you all that all this is ready to ship upon final approval from your task force," Jeff answered as they continued along the walkway, "and we're already making preparations for expanded production at other facilities, including collaborations with other manufacturers as needed."
"The main thing is to get this out as soon as possible," Andria added. "The last pandemics taught us a lot about being prepared in situations like this."
"True," another official said, "now all we need is the final set of data and observations of the volunteer trials to present to the President. Our butts will be on the frying pans if we fail to return with conclusive evidence of the reliability of both vaccine and medicines. There's already been enough contention with the snap trials involving the Lockheed woman."
Andria turned to Jeff. "We do have that covered, right?" she asked.
Jeff winked towards his wife. He turned to a doctor who was accompanying them. "We do have that covered, sir, ma'am," he said, holding up a tablet. "It's not fully complete, but it is nearing the end of the trial period."
The doctor then handed Jeff the tablet. Jeff then said, "fortunately, we have more than enough data that I think will exceed all your expectations." The first official took the tablet and looked it over critically.
Jeff and Andria watched the government visitors' expressions as they passed the tablet amongst themselves. The group all nodded, though their expressions were still serious. Finally, one of them turned back to the couple. "Your data exceeds every expectation," she admitted, and Andria and Jeff caught a glimpse of a rare smile.
One of the men then put his ear to a hidden earpiece. "Headquarters, confirm you have received data." There was silence for a moment, then he nodded. "They've received the data."
"And?" Jeff anticipated the answer from the Chief of the DCNTF, hoping that it was a positive.
"The information will have to be reviewed a final time, but it looks promising so far." The agent gave his answer, but it was not quite the affirmative Jeff and Andria hoped for.
"All we want to know is," Jeff spoke up, "when we can commence sales and shipping. The S2 virus isn't exactly abating on its own right now."
"What my husband said," Andria chimed in, "we'd like to help beat this virus sooner than later." "We will see if we can hurry things along," another official said. "But that is all we can do for the moment."
Jeff kept a professional, cool appearance, but did glance back at his wife with an exasperated glint in his eye. 'Bureaucracy,' he thought in frustration as his wife gave a knowing expression. Jeff then turned back towards the government visitors. "Any questions?"
No one had any. "You've answered everything to our satisfaction and more," the task force agent told him, "thank you for your cooperation."
"It was our pleasure," Andria said, holding out her hand. After shaking several hands, the husband-wife duo saw their government visitors out of the building. After the government SUVs left, Andria let out a sigh. "That went well," she muttered.
"Could have gone better," Jeff replied, "I honestly thought we were ready to go. Maybe I just wasted our time."
"No. You didn't," Andria insisted. "That's just the red tape holding this back." Andria then held Jeff's hand again. "This will get to the public." She smiled. "I know it will."
Jeff then smiled for his wife. It was then that Andria gave a bit of a naughty smirk. This made the Glenn heir give an amused hum.
"You know, with how stressed you've been lately..." Andria stroked her husband's arm. "Come on, Jeff," she said in a suggestive tone, "how about a good time tonight?"
"You know it..." Jeff said with a slight blush at what Andria was suggesting, but he himself began to feel a bit turned on as he grinned. Now he was looking forward to some after work 'recreation' with her...
Three months after Jeff and Andria's wedding...
Jeff and Andria's Home, Jacksonville, Florida
Andria stood outside the house on the rear deck to the master bedroom, observing the seagulls flying overhead, a serious look in her eyes as she mused to herself.
Production on the vaccine was moving along nicely, and until this pandemic came to an end, there was a lot of work to be done. Granted, there were still a lot of critics and naysayers, but her father-in-law and boss had been nothing but transparent and forthright with both the authorities and the public. And that was enough to make her feel at ease. Well, somewhat, anyway.
George announced that Glenn Health had been approved to launch the new vaccine and medicine for the S2 virus from factories on both Earth and the PLANTs and was now taking orders from various organizations and a few governments. That was a huge relief to the woman, but there were still those who insisted on it being a weapon devised by Coordinators and all kinds of conspiracy theories.
However, there was also a public backlash against Glenn's critics after the sham of a hearing that Senator Warren attempted against Glenn. Warren was particularly now on the defensive in his home state and across the Atlantic Federation for how he tried to levy false allegations against the famed Coordinator. Meanwhile, more and more evidence was emerging that Glenn Health and its collaborators were indeed acting in good faith, more people began to say that it was in fact the anti-Glenn haters that were being unreasonable and exploitative. Andria smiled at the thought of Glenn being vindicated on this issue.
It was then that Andria felt gentle, masculine arms wrapping around her waist from behind, with a familiar grunt. "Hey, Andria," Jeff said with a kiss. Andria moaned as she reveled in her husband's warmth. "Hey, Jeff," she murmured. The two nuzzled each other as the sun rose to light up the Florida sky. It had been some two months since the couple moved to Jacksonville.
Andria liked the city; it was a bit like San Diego, where she once lived and was stationed during her early days in the military. Then there was the added bonus of being close to her and her husband's best friends, the Lockheeds. They were in different neighborhoods, the Lockheeds being further inland, and the Glenns on the coast, but it was only a seven-minute drive between the two.
Andria let out a small sigh, her gaze was fixed on the coastal view. "Are we spoiled, or what," she breathed out.
Jeff could only smile at that. "Probably the worst," he jested.
They could have spent more time outside, only for the doorbell to interrupt their moment. Andria groaned. "Now what?" she muttered as she pulled herself out of Jeff's arms and made her way inside. She then tapped on a screen showing the front door security camera. The camera showed two familiar faces standing outside the door.
It was George and Helen. It was then that Andria slapped her forehead, now remembering... "Oh... Right!" she grumbled before a smile crossed her face. It was good to see them anyway. However, she then looked down at herself, and realized that she only had her undergarments and a shirt on. She and her husband had not even had breakfast yet! She looked at the clock and saw it was almost nine o'clock. "Argh! We forgot!"
Jeff chuckled at Andria's frazzled looks. "I guess we had a little too much fun last night, that we forgot," he teased.
"I guess so," Andria muttered as she hurried back into the bedroom to get some clothing on.
Outside, George and Helen sat outside on the front porch bench, having waited for three minutes. Helen hummed a tune to herself while George stared out towards the Atlantic Ocean.
"Those two chose a nice place to live," Helen remarked.
"Good choice indeed," George said, but then frowned a bit, "but I don't think I actually got to warn them about hurricane season planning." George shook his head. "I just don't want them being too surprised by that time of year..."
"They'll be fine," Helen assured him.
The First Coordinator gave a smile for his wife. Then he looked at his watch. "Nearly five minutes already... maybe they're still asleep or something... I did say that we were coming over from Georgia after my business trip."
The door suddenly opened, revealing Jeff looking apologetically at his parents. "Mom, Dad, sorry about that," Jeff said, "Andria and I were just getting ready when you rang."
Glenn looked a bit surprised. "Oh! I'm so sorry," he apologized.
"It's more our fault," Jeff chuckled. The trio laughed before Andria came into view.
"Morning, George and Helen," Andria greeted happily.
"Andria, honey," Helen beamed as she went to hug her. The younger woman embraced her mother-in-law in a gentle hug.
"Good to see you too," Andria beamed.
George looked around the house that Andria and Jeff had built. The interior was nice and modern, with a few extra touches. "It's bright," George quipped.
"You like it, George?" Andria asked.
"We thought the white would go nicely with the bright sunshine here," Jeff added.
The elderly Coordinator nodded. "It works nicely." The younger Coordinator couple smiled. It was then that Andria heard the sizzling of the pan in the nearby kitchen.
"Oh, crud!" She ran into the kitchen to get the burning scrambled eggs under control.
"Whoopsie," Jeff muttered as he watched his wife go and save the eggs.
Andria managed to shut off the stove before she sighed. "That was close..." she muttered.
The elder Glenn looked at the browned-out eggs. He hummed as he smelled them. "A bit burnt, but it doesn't look that bad," he remarked.
Andria looked back and smiled. "Want some then?" she joked.
"Andria's making a full breakfast of overeasy eggs, hashbrowns, bacon, and buttered toast," Jeff offered, "you and Mom must be hungry."
Glenn looked to Helen. "Well?"
Helen gave a warm expression towards her son and daughter-in-law. "Why not?" she said.
Andria and Jeff finished making the breakfast, and all four of the family were sitting out on the rear deck, enjoying their meal and the cool ocean breeze. The sun bathed the family in its gentle rays as they began to eat.
"So... any of you homesick for Texas yet?" George teased.
The younger Glenn couple laughed. "Nope," Jeff retorted with a laugh.
"Loving it here, like San Diego, but without the Blue Cosmos California crazies," Andria snickered. She then looked upon her in-laws with a grin "So what else has been happening?"
George Glenn hummed. "Well, other than the non-stop hate trying to demonize me and our family, Helen and I are doing rather well. I'm just happy that we got the approval to finally start producing and selling the vaccine."
Andria nodded. "Same here."
"And in record time too," Jeff quipped, "we can finally see an end to this pandemic and nonstop news stream."
"Hopefully goodbye to quarantines and states of emergencies," George stuck his tongue out with a grin, "and many millions of vulnerable being properly immunized to this flu." He then sat back contentedly. "It's been too long since we've sat together like this."
Andria nodded. "Yeah. It sure has been."
"You all have been very busy, sometimes a little too much," Helen teasingly wagged a finger to the three.
Everyone cracked up laughing again. To Jeff and Andria, it was a normal moment they had sorely needed during these times.
George then grinned. "Speaking of busy... what about you two?"
"Well, we've been busy trying to make sure things are ready for the distribution of the vaccine," Andria remarked.
"That's not what I meant," George laughed as he waved dismissively, "I meant the other kind of 'business'."
The young couple looked at George with quizzical expressions. "Mmmm..." It was then that Helen mischievously understood what her husband meant with a very bright ginger grin, "what's the progress on Jeff or Andria Jr.?"
At that, the younger Glenn couple's faces erupted into rosy red. "M-Mother!" Jeff squeaked, burying his face in his hands.
Andria stuttered, not usually caught like this, but was too embarrassed to care. "We just got married a few months ago! Can you at least wait to ask us that?!" she stammered.
Helen laughed, "relax, we're only teasing."
George simmered down before looking at his son and daughter-in-law earnestly. "Anyways, Helen and I are happy for the both of you, and we hope to see beautiful grandchildren when you two are ready," George said, "no pressure."
"Of course," Jeff said in relief.
Andria looked out towards the sea, thinking of her conversation with Adrian and Martha Lockheed not too long ago on that subject.
Flashback...
"Oh... you two?" Martha raised an eyebrow in amusement and pleasant surprise as she and Adrian sat across from Jeff and Andria in the Lockheed house's backyard. Adrian was giving loving rubs to Martha's very pregnant belly as they sipped on their sparkling juices.
Andria and Jeff were rosy-cheeked as the Lockheed couple looked at them.
"Yeah..." Jeff scratched the back of his head, "Andria and I were talking about kids and parenthood..."
Andria was the most embarrassed. The new husband-wife couple had their honeymoon, but surprisingly, the subject of pregnancy and parenthood had never occurred to them, until Jeff brought it up. It was a very awkward start, and neither knew what to do. As such, they thought they would talk Adrian and Martha about it, the two being their peers.'
"So..." Andria glanced to Jeff. "What's it like," she asked, "going through all that and raising kids?"
Adrian smiled. He began, "it was not as easy as we had first hoped, but it was well worth the sleepless nights and crazy mornings. The main thing is when you have a kid, there will be times when you get up in the middle of the night to feed them. And then the diapers. Changing them is just as important as feeding."
"You wouldn't believe how busy you get after all the fun and games," Martha jested with euphemisms, to Andria's continued blushing. The young woman did manage to keep her composure, though her blush did make her rather cute.
"The other thing is you have to try and keep the baby stimulated mentally," Adrian continued, "so I would recommend bringing them out and about every so often. Oh, and do engage with them to keep their mind sharp."
"And Derek?" Jeff wondered aloud, "How did he behave?"
"His behavior was quite normal for a baby," Adrian explained. "He was sometime quiet, but he was a loud one when he was hungry." It was then that the Lockheed father smiled, "but amazingly, that didn't last very long."
"Our little trooper really proved to be an intelligent sort. He was speaking words before we even knew it," Martha remarked fondly. "Almost too soon he was learning to read."
"Sooner than many other kids," Adrian added, "he even rivaled Coordinators his age."
Andria gave a small smirk. "Not surprising. I also notice how smart he is."
"A child prodigy..." Jeff muttered, "well I hope he doesn't grow up too fast... I don't know if I can handle that with my own son!"
Martha then laughed and looked at Jeff. "What, if we two plain John and Jane Naturals can handle a child prodigy, two Coordinator parents can't?" The mother of soon-to-be brothers teased.
Both couples laughed aloud in happiness.
End Flashback
"Those two are really incredible," Jeff said of his friends, "I'm really glad we got to talk with them about it."
George looked intently to his son. "It is good then," he remarked.
"Well... Andria and I are still making the final decision," Jeff defended, "but if two Natural parents can handle that little bundle of brightness that's Derek, I think we can handle a few mini-Glenns of our own."
"I pray for all the best blessings upon you, my son," Glenn expressed with a smile.
"You two will make for wonderful parents," Helen expressed, "I know you will be a loving, yet strong father, Jeff." After causing her son to blush, she then looked to her daughter-in-law. "… and I also know that you will make for one feisty and lively mother, Andria."
Andria gave a smirk. "You know me," she said.
Jeff then looked out towards the beach. "Say, what do you think of us showing you around, Mom and Dad? You two must be wanting to see how Andria and I built this place."
The first Coordinator and his wife looked at one another and smiled. "Sure." The family put away their plates and got on with the rest of the day.
The next day...
June 15th, CE 54
Lockheed Home...
Adrian drove his car back to his house after his weeks-long special assignment at the Naval Academy campus in Annapolis. It had been a long flight back home, and he was looking to use whatever leave he had authorized to spend time with his very pregnant wife and son. Evening was setting, and he was rather irritable as he was driving against the setting sun.
While he was glad to be headed home, he was not glad he had to deal with a few troublesome cadets in Annapolis. Two cadets were found to have been bullying their fellow cadets, and it did not help that both perpetrators were Coordinators who looked down on Naturals. The bullying apparently had been going on for some time, and when it blew up in the cafeteria, Adrian was among the senior officers having to break it up. The cafeteria was quite demolished, leaving a very displeased superintendent and resulting in a PR scandal for the Academy.
It was a very unpleasant episode in what should have been a productive and instructive seminar, with accusations and racial tensions heating up in the room, not to mention the grilling and inquiries Adrian had to answer before the Navy's personnel management for the incident happening under his watch. He was still angry about it when he finally left, but not before he gave those two cadets some strict punishments. Just because the young Lockheed was friendly to Coordinators as a whole, it did not mean that he was simply going to go easy on individual Coordinators who clearly did wrong. He finally sighed and drove the incident from his mind. After all, he was eagerly looking forward to the birth of his younger son soon.
'I can't be bringing back strife into the sanctuary of my home, not when Martha needs me,' Adrian finally brought himself to smile, 'Lord bless Derek having a little brother at last.' The naval officer finally pulled into the driveway. Once he parked the car in the garage, he approached the front door.
However, as Adrian went to unlock it, he was greeted by a screech. "Daddy!" Derek came running around the corner, his young face filled with terror.
"Derek?" Adrian was confused as he knelt and held his son, "what's wrong?"
"Mama! Mama's in trouble!" the boy cried, tears starting to prick at his eyes.
Adrian's already frazzled nerves spiked as he rushed into the house. He was worried now. Not just for his wife, but his unborn son as well. He ran into the dining room area, and found Martha gasping and doubling over in pain. She let out an intense groan of pain.
"Martha!" Adrian was at her side in a flash. It was then that he stepped on something... something wet. He looked down, and his eyes widened. "The baby...?"
Martha was too weak and in pain to say anything, but her looking at him with a scream dying in her mouth said everything.
Adrian gritted his teeth. "Hang on. I'll get you to the hospital," he reassured her. With a yell and burst of strength, Adrian willed his tired body to lift his ailing wife in his arms. "Derek, get in the car! We're going!"
Derek scrambled for his shoes and he was out the door in a flash.
Adrian huffed and heaved as he tried to run with the weight of his wife in his arms. When he got out into the garage, little Derek was already trying to reach for the car's passenger door. The young boy gave another leap and this time grabbed on with one hand. His weight was enough to move it and the door swung open.
Adrian was surprised at how Derek managed the door for his little four-year-old size but had no time to wonder as his wife continued to breathe hard. As Derek got in, Adrian loaded Martha in after him. Once both were inside the car, the naval officer slid in on the driver's side and closed the door. A slam from the passenger side indicated Derek had managed to pull the door shut. Not wasting anymore time, he set the car in reverse, and raced out of the house.
Jacksonville Mayo Clinic...
Adrian's nerves were wracked. He had already come home tired and stressed, and now Martha was heaving and in labor. Little Derek himself was close to screaming out of fright for his mom and little brother. It took Adrian some willpower to even hold Derek back as the nurses rushed his wife into the clinic on a stretcher.
The young naval officer tried to console the boy, and he closed his eyes, praying to God for Martha's survival. He also prayed that the baby Elias would be birthed safely, without any further trouble from the S2 scare.
"Aagh!" Martha screamed from the stretcher.
"Just hold on, Mrs. Lockheed!" a doctor said.
"It feels like my tummy's coming apart!" The mother-to-be screeched in pain.
"That's supposed to happen," a nurse told her. "It'll be over. Just push as hard as you can once the next contraction comes."
The doctor and nurse brought the lady into the birthing room, while Adrian stopped outside and set Derek down. Adrian leaned back against the wall, trying to keep himself calm. He took in some deep breaths to compose himself.
"Adrian!" Jeff's voice called. Jeff and Andria rushed down the hall, with George and Helen behind them.
Adrian turned as he saw his friends. He gave a sigh, "Jeff, thank the good Lord you're here…" Adrian called them on the way to the hospital just as they were returning from a family outing.
"No kidding," Jeff remarked as he took in Adrian's appearance with haggled hair and uniform, "you look like crud from running a marathon." Jeff gently patted his friend on the shoulder and made him sit down next to Derek.
"Martha? How is she holding up now?" Andria looked towards the door to the birthing room with concern in her face.
Another feminine screech emanated from inside the room. This made Derek want to run inside, but Adrian stopped him.
"Very painful," Adrian answered in a weary tone. He looked to Jeff and Andria. "Can you two..."
Andria nodded. "Sure."
"Come here, Derek," Jeff coaxed. Derek looked over and a slight smile broke out on his face. He made his way over to the two.
"It'll be alright, little guy," Jeff said in assurance, "your little brother is going to be here soon."
"Mmmm..." Derek hummed.
George smiled at his son picking up the little child and comforting him. He then told Adrian, "go and be with her."
"We'll keep him company," Helen addded.
"Thanks," Adrian replied in gratitude. The soon-to-be father of two entered Martha's room, where the doctor and nurse were administering an IV to the mother, with the midwife trying to coax her into relative calm.
Martha's eyes were sunken, and she was sweating and weak from the strain of holding the contractions in.
"Honey, I'm here," Adrian said as he came by her side. Martha turned towards her husband, trying to say something, but her voice came out with a hoarse gasp.
The young husband's expression deepened into worry. He looked to the doctor. "Is she alright?"
"She's extremely weak," the woman said, her eyes filled with concern. The female doctor looked to the heart monitor and the mammogram showing the child stirring inside the womb. The heartbeat rate was much faster than would be considered normal or healthy, blood pressure was also rapidly increasing, with the baby squirming and struggling to get out.
"Your wife..." the doctor dreaded over what to say next. She paused, and the look on her face made Adrian's heart plunge. "... she may not make it through this," the doctor finally said, "... the trauma of being very sick from the S2 virus added a lot of strain on top of her pregnancy pains... We might still be able save the child, but it's a fifty-fifty..."
"..." Adrian was silent as he looked down for a moment. The horror was evident in his eyes, though. The dreadful days of February was the closest he came to losing both his wife and second son, and now he was having to relive the terrible prospects of losing either one or both. The tired and nervous father looked back towards his wife, who was watching his internal struggle play in his eyes.
"Martha..." he whispered.
She struggled with her weak voice a bit, but managed to open her mouth to say... "S-save him... please..."
Adrian gazed upon Martha with a pained expression as he wrestled with what was happening. However, he turned to the doctor and midwife, and nodded. "Do what you can for him..."
Martha then exhaled sharply and moaned as the contraction hit, much bigger than the last one. "Oh! He's coming!"
The doctors scurried into motion.
Adrian sat down and still held onto Martha's pale hand. "I'm here for you, honey."
The midwife positioned herself right below Martha, ready to help deliver the second son of Lockheed into the world. "Ready when you are, girl."
The weakened woman gave a nod. Adrian also nodded, giving a soothing squeeze to his wife.
"Alright," the midwife prompted, "push!"
Outside the room...
A series of screams emanated from Martha's room, causing the Glenn family and passersby in the hallway to wince in surprise. Derek glanced over, worry on his face.
"There, there," Andria coaxed Derek in one arm, holding a little fighter jet toy in her other hand to try and distract him. Behind her smile, she was trying not to think too much of her friend being in so much pain.
Derek glanced at the toy, and her ploy worked. He reached for it and grabbed it in his little hands.
Jeff forced a laugh out of his mouth to try and appear amused to Derek, but the screams of Martha's pained birthing were wracking his nerves. 'Kinda glad not to be Adrian now... sorry...' he thought to himself.
George Glenn himself almost wanted to plug his ears.
Andria had to rely more on her will to keep herself focused. It wasn't the first time she had done so.
Jeff could not help but ask his own mother, "Mom, was it ever this painful for you?"
Helen rubbed her chin, slightly grimacing at the memory of her own painful birthing. "It was," she admitted, but then gave a wistful smile, "but I went through all that for you, Jeff." She gave her grown-up son a soulful gaze. "And I would not have changed all that for anything else…"
Jeff was a bit silent at the admission for a bit. He then looked back towards the birthing room where the screams subsided somewhat. "Thank you… but…" there was anxiety in his tone, "she's so fragile…" He then glanced silently in Andria's direction as she played with Derek.
George just lowered his head and clenched his fists together, hoping that his doctors' earlier work with saving Martha and Elias had not been for nothing.
"What's wrong, Georgie?" Helen rubbed her hand against his stiff shoulder.
"Helen, I hope I didn't give that poor young father a false sense of hope... if so, this is the cruelest thing I've done to anyone," George whispered to his wife.
"I know you didn't," Helen assured her husband. "You and your employees did what you all had to do in that moment, and I'm sure it made a difference up to this point."
George looked earnestly to his wife. "Maybe, but we're only human my dear," he said, "... I just forget that at times."
"George, you do your best. And that's all we can do." Helen looked at him and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
George gave his beloved a gentle smile. She always seemed to have a way of making him feel better in his downer moments, and he thanked the Lord for every day he had with her, especially after that fateful day in CE 53.
It was then that a piercing shriek, louder and longer than the previous ones, cut through the air, causing everyone's hairs to stand on edge. Derek dropped his toy and groaned as he covered his ears and shook his head. Jeff and Andria held the boy tight between them, shivering from the agony in Martha's voice.
The scream continued for a good fifteen or twenty seconds, before a baby's wail of life followed.
Derek heard and felt his new brother's presence. He burst from the younger Glenns' arms and tried to reach for the door handle.
Jeff got up and helped open the door for the little boy, who rushed in.
Andria also got up and rushed in behind her husband. "Martha!"
George rose from his seat with Helen, and the two slowly walked in arm-in-arm.
Little Derek had already burst through the curtain, with the Glenns parting them to see inside. The midwife was handling a screaming baby boy in her arms, with Derek jumping up to try and reach his brother to no avail.
"Derek! Just calm down!" Andria called.
"Eli!" Derek continued to reach up to his newborn brother. Derek let out another grunt, trying one last time to reach his baby brother.
"Easy little man," the midwife said as the feisty older boy clamored at her feet. Derek backed off a little, though there was a cherub-like grin on his cute face as he happily greeted his little brother.
Jeff and Andria laughed a bit for Derek, with George and Helen giving warm smiles. However, looking in the other direction, the Glenns were treated to an emaciated and pale white Martha. She barely held Adrian's hand in her own, as he tried to be happy that Elias was born at last.
The group were all shocked at her appearance, but not as much as Adrian. "Martha… Martha, stay awake…" he cried.
It was then that Derek noticed his very sickly mommy. His mind was being overwhelmed by the presence of his brother, and the pain he was suddenly feeling from his mommy. "Mommy!" As Derek rushed over, Elias' cries became screams, causing the midwife to flinch.
"Martha honey," Adrian pleaded, "please stay awake. You did it!" He then gestured to the midwife to come over.
Martha's gaze landed on the midwife as she carried over the infant. Adrian held out his arms for the screaming baby as he was handed over.
"There there," Adrian cooed to his second son, "it's your mommy and daddy." The little one stopped crying and opened his eyes.
Martha gasped as she willed her heavy eyes to focus on the new baby. Elias had smooth pale skin, with a top of golden orange hair and hazel eyes, giving him a bit of an angelic appearance.
"Oh... my beautiful baby boy..." she whispered.
"Mmm..." Elias cooed as he looked upon his mother.
She slowly raised a shaking hand. "You are going to do good things... both you and your brother..." she murmured.
Derek raised his hands up to his daddy, wanting to be with Elias and his mommy. Adrian looked down and knelt, scooping the boy up in his free arm. "Okay, kiddo. Up you go."
The two brothers were now being held between their parents. The Glenns and the clinic staff stepped back to give the family space.
Adrian looked to his pale wife. "We're here," he told her. "You did a good job, honey." He could sense she wasn't going to last much longer.
Martha's breathing was becoming scarcer, and her eyes were badly sunken. Derek started to sniffle, with Elias whimpering as they both felt their mother's pain.
Jeff and Andria walked up slowly to the bed, with the former holding the latter steady as she tried and failed not to quietly cry. "Martha..." Andria whispered, "... you're dying."
The other woman gave a sad smile. "I guess it's my time to go home to the Lord..."
Derek's eyes widened. "Mommy!" he cried.
Elias whined in his bundle. His father held on to him, his face red from tears. "Martha... please don't leave us."
"Oh... darling..." Martha looked up to her husband, "I really... want to... but I gave... my all... for Eli..."
"Please..." Adrian was now starting to feel tears pricking at his eyes. "I..."
"Love..." Martha settled into a peaceful, loving expression, "I'm sorry... but love them both for me..."
"I... I will..." Adrian's voice wavered as he nodded.
Andria was now sobbing into Jeff's shoulder. Glenn and Helen held each other close as they cried silently for the Lockheeds. The doctor, nurse, and midwife each removed their tops out of respect and mourning.
Martha smiled sadly before she closed her eyes and finally took her last breath. "Jesus... receive..." With that, Martha exhaled her last. The heartbeat sensor and all other monitors flat-lined.
The doctor stepped forward with his stethoscope. He put it to Martha's pale chest and took the other hand to try and feel for a pulse. There were none to be heard or felt. He gave a solemn expression to Adrian, who was holding his two sons in his arms. "I'm so sorry," he expressed.
"It's okay... And thank you," Adrian said softly.
The midwife and nurse proceeded to turn off all the equipment, while the doctor proceeded to call it on record for Martha.
Adrian and his two sons looked upon Martha, who was now to sleep forever in peace, her face lacking the pain she felt in the final hours of her life.
The Glenns then surrounded Adrian and his sons.
Jeff put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Adrian... I'm sorry..."
"We did everything..." Andria added, feeling bittersweet about the moment.
Elias and Derek cried and whimpered together.
Adrian hugged his sons closely together. "It's okay..." he cooed, "Mommy's in heaven now... she's hurting no more..."
George stood behind his son and daughter-in-law, who were hugging Adrian and cooing to the children themselves. He felt his wife holding his hand and stroking it lovingly. "I understand now..." George muttered solemnly.
"Hmm?" Helen looked to her husband.
"It wasn't technology that saved Elias..." George said to Helen, "... it was God giving her the will to give her life for him..."
End Chapter 9
Not much to say this time round, except that it's been a crazy number of months that really took me off of this for a while.
Anyways, I hope you guys still enjoy GSR, and feel free to leave constructive reviews and criticism.
As always, take care and God bless.