I was so stuck at the end of this: tell me if I should make a part two, for it seems really cut off and like…not long enough to be one month…but I couldn't think of anything else…damn author's block…so anyway, tell me if I like NEED to make a part two to this chapter.
Ergo Proxy: Proxy of Life
Month One
Re-L was sick. She didn't know why, she didn't know how, but she was sick. She was always retching, often vomiting, with tremendous cramps in her stomachs and migraines that she was sure one day would kill her. She had asked Kristeva to do a diagnostic, but since Kristeva had been infected with Cogito virus from Pino, she was enjoying her new freedom of mind for the time being by only doing what Kristeva asked. No directions or orders from anybody else. Period. And she was always hungry. With their long journey ahead of them, Re-L and Vincent had made rations for the already limited food supply aboard the Rabbit. Re-L had barely eaten what she'd had before, trying to save as much as possible, ignoring most of her belly growls. But now she ate all of it with much gusto, forcing it down her throat and almost begging with Vincent for more (Vincent thought this was some sort of trick and refused to give Re-L extra). Since Vincent had such a kind, but wary heart that he let her have his portions that he didn't eat, but it did nothing to quench her unstoppable hunger. Plus, once she ate, it seemed that her unbearable cramps got worse. They appeared to be hungry for more food.
As Re-L lay on her cot, curled up in her blanket trying to soften the cramps that felt like her stomach was being yanked on, she tried to think of things that could have made her this sick. All she could think of was food, both for the cause and because she wanted to eat, but she began to bring forth from her memories the day that she had gotten knocked off the Rabbit by Pino's instrument and the following details that day. Could…
No, Re-L spat at herself firmly. Improbable. Impossible.
She turned over painfully, groaning and clutching her aching belly. Visions of food clouded her mind, and she fell asleep thinking of the delicacies she used to have in Romdeau dome.
. . .
She woke up and retched, wondering where all of her vomit came from, for it seemed she had no food left in her poor stomach. Trying to push her brain-splitting migraine into the back of her mind, she unlocked the door (she kept it locked at all times to keep visitors out so she could have some peace) and stepped outside, shivering, even with her coat, yet another side effect to her sickness. Pino was sitting on the ground a few feet away, playing with her hair as usual, and that seemed to be all she did nowadays. Her instrument lay abandoned hanging on the mast. Vincent and Kristeva had gotten into another argument, and Vincent looked as if he was about to rip his hair out and push Kristeva off the Rabbit. But, being the annoyingly kind-hearted man he was, he just stood there, pulling at his hair.
"Who started this one," sneered Re-L, walking up limpidly to the pair.
"We have decided to go west," said Kristeva calmly.
"Not me, you!" yelled Vincent, his temper controlling his voice.
"It's not my fault you cannot think of a barely excusable answer to go south," Kristeva sniffed.
"I did, but you just keep repeating what you said before!" Vincent was getting quite distressed now, throwing his arms all over, almost hitting Re-L and Kristeva: Re-L smiled at the thought that this might be done purposefully.
"Children, children," ordered Re-L, deciding to intervene, "let us not fight now. I will decide which way we go."
Both Vincent and Kristeva now looked at Re-L intently, trying to send thoughts that she had to choose their direction and why they absolutely needed to.
"We are going southwest," compromised Re-L, causing Vincent to smack his forehead and Kristeva to hesitate a few minutes before hauling the anchor and switching the course southwest. Re-L lifted her chin as the breeze caught her hair and whipped it around as the Rabbit began moving forward. "That's more like it." Suddenly, an overwhelming feeling of nausea engulfed her, and she vomited, looking at Vincent and Kristeva like a little lost child, then fainted.
Damn…
. . .
Re-L awoke again, feeling very pale. She was back in her bed, the blankets all tucked around her, but a cold sweat had appeared on her brow while she slept. Kristeva was sitting at the edge of her cot, looking at her attentively. She seemed to have noticed now that Re-L needed a diagnostic.
"Look who's back to being a regular Auto-rave," smirked Re-L weakly.
"Don't talk, save your strength," Kristeva said firmly, seeming a bit annoyed at her statement, taking Re-L a bit by surprise. Re-L retched in the bucket over the side of her bed, groaning as the stomach cramps panged in her belly once again, accompanied by the beginnings of a migraine.
"Oh, Kristeva, what's wrong with me?" she moaned. Kristeva was silent, turning her head to the floor, then looking at the door. "Kristeva," growled Re-L warningly. "What am I sick with?"
"You aren't sick, Re-L." Kristeva seemed distracted, and she refused to make eye contact (even though she didn't have eyes) with Re-L.
"What do you mean I'm not sick? Does throwing up and fainting and shit like that not count as sick?" snarled Re-L, getting more and more antagonized by Kristeva.
"You're not sick," Kristeva repeated. "You're pregnant."
The room began to spin for Re-L and she leaned over the side of the bed and vomited once more. "Pregnant…" she whispered feebly. "I'm going to have a baby…"
"Yes. And that makes it all the more important to find another dome. You need more food, and comfort, no distress, or anything that could raise your blood pressure, for it could harm the baby. You've been starving it enough: that's why you've been throwing up," doctored Kristeva as she picked up the bucket and threw it in the toilet, bringing it back to Re-L's bedside.
"Vincent," she whispered. "Does he know?"
"I have not told him," stated Kristeva, rather matter-of-factly, as if it was not her job to carry on messages of the sort.
Re-L swore under her breath, and struggled to get up.
"What are you doing? You must rest," Kristeva said, pushing Re-L back onto the bed.
"Have to tell…Vincent," Re-L grunted, thrusting away Kristeva's hand.
"I will tell Vincent if you sit and rest." Kristeva seemed almost desperate to keep Re-L in bed.
Re-L froze and glared at Kristeva, her eyes full of malice, which made Kristeva freeze also. With Re-L still glaring at her, Kristeva's hand seemed to melt away from Re-L as she got up and took one last look at Kristeva before walking out the door to find Vincent.
Works every time, she smirked.
She found Vincent by the wheel, gazing out behind the Rabbit, looking in deep, deep thought. Re-L took three deep breaths, then took an extra one for extra reassurance, then walked up to Vincent, gazing out behind the Rabbit in the same manner as he.
Only after a few moments did he notice her. "Re-L!" he cried. "Are you all right?" He seemed much more jumpy and nervous around Re-L these days.
"Fine," she mumbled back.
"What happened, what it something you ate? Is it the smell on here or somethi-"
"I'm pregnant,'' she murmured, but it was so inaudible that even she barely knew what she said.
"Wh-wh…what?" whispered Vincent.
"I'm pregnant, Vincent," she repeated, her voice choking up. What is happening to me?
Vincent's face got very pale as he turned to look at her, almost turning a greenish color in the dimmed light of the world. Re-L thought he was about to faint as well.
"Oh…" he muttered.
"Oh? That's all you have to say?" growled Re-L, her temper surging up within her as tears began to run down her face. "Thanks, Vincent. You're such a…a…" and with this she ran away crying, back downstairs where she retched again.
What the hell was that, Re-L, she told herself, her face growing contorted with anger at her raging emotions that seemed barely manageable. What is wrong with you?
And for the too-many-th time to count, she fell asleep.