Chapter 7: A Mother's Fear
A few days after the party Felix and Tamora began to notice a change in the kids. Rose was busy making toys and getting excited over the baby. Morgan looked like she hadn't been sleeping much but assured she was alright. Daniel wore a smile and helped when he could but Tamora and Felix felt a distance. The greatest came in Crystal and Tamora noticed it more. Whenever they were in the game Crystal would be in the training area with the Pla-Ce bugs and sometimes even when they were alone she kept calling Tamora, Sargent Calhoun instead of Mom.
Tamora began to grow worried but Felix assured her it was nothing. But even he began to feel the distance growing. Felix was outside fixing the penthouse and Daniel was with him. Daniel was zooming like crazy having his dad on his back tapping the broken windows. "So, Daniel just think soon you might have a little brother or sister," Felix said grinning a bit.
"Yeah can't wait Dad," Daniel said softly trying to keep his smile on and his fear hidden.
"Are you okay with sharing a room with the baby if the baby is a boy I mean?" Felix asked in a worried tone.
"I would be okay with it Dad," Daniel said tensing up a little.
"Okay I am glad I just wanted to ask for your mom and I didn't real ask you. I was worried you may think we don't care about your opinion which we do of course," Felix said quickly.
"Yeah I know Dad," Daniel said.
"Well why don't you go check on your sisters and I will go visit Uncle Ralph. He wanted to tell me about a new idea for the park," Felix said.
"Yes sir," Daniel said and quickly went inside. Morgan who was looking better was playing tea party with Rose. Crystal was with her Mom back at their game and Dr. Peters was going to give Tamora some bad news. In Heroes Duty Tamora was back in action and leading her men to victory. She held her gun tight as they raced up the tower to earn their medal. To Tamora's joy Crystal was safely training the Pla-Ce bugs.
They raced up the tower and everything was going fine. Tamora shot a Cy-Bug and Goldie attacked the other. Her men raced behind her as the tower entrance was close to her. Just then she began to feel dizzy again and her stomach began to ache. The baby had soon begun to kick or move and the motion still shocked Tamora. She placed her hand on her head to clear it when a Cy-Bug raced at her. "Sarge!" Kohut yelled when the beast hit her. Tamora shielded her stomach but before the bug touched her. A green liquid splashed on the bug and it screamed in agony. Specks knocked the monster off the tower.
"Mom get on!" Crystal cried and held out her hand. Tamora saw she wasn't wearing any armor or had a gun but had her hand out.
"Crystal get out of here this is dangerous!" Tamora yelled worried Crystal would get hurt.
"Grab my hand!" Crystal yelled ignoring her mother's comment. Tamora did for a Cy-Bug was about to attack her again. "Hold on," Crystal told her. Crystal looked up and saw the Cy-Bugs and blew a whistle.
"What are you doing?" Tamora asked her.
"Calling in reinforcements," Crystal said and soon Tamora as well as the Heroes Duty soldiers heard a low hissing noise. Soon it got louder and a whole swarm of Pla-Ce bugs clouding the area approached Crystal. "Team One, help the soldiers on the left, Team Two, you're guys' job is to help escort fallen soldiers to safety. Team Three, your job is to help the soldiers on the right. And Team Four you all are with me let's clear the way for them," Crystal said. The Pla-Ce bugs hissed and separated and the rest followed Crystal up the tower. Tamora shot the bugs that came her way as Crystal formed a protective field to shield them. The soldiers slowly made their way up to the tower as the player was having the time of their life.
Soon the doors opened and Tamora led the way her men following her. Crystal stood at the back so she wouldn't get in the way. She saw the Cy-Bug eggs surrounding them and the medal. Then her eyes saw the medal and this was the first time she was in the tower. Normally she would be the one outside defending them in case of attacks but the Pla-Ce bugs were handling themselves. "Stay close men," Tamora said firmly. She was still dizzy but had to finish the game. After it was done she would tell Dr. Peters her condition.
Just as she was about to grab the medal the room began to shake. Standing before them was the Queen Cy-Bug and she let out an angry hiss. Her eyes locking on the soldiers as she shrieked and the men fired their weapons. But her skin was tougher than the rays and she used her tail and knocked the men out of the tower. Tamora dodged and aimed her gun firing at the underbelly and smiled when she heard the beast shriek out in pain. The Queen was not happy and lunged her pinchers at Tamora who fell to her knees for the dizziness was getting worse.
"Mom!" Crystal yelled and raced to save her mother. Everything happened in slow motion Tamora saw Crystal pull her behind Crystal's back. She saw the pinchers and Crystal was too slow to react to form a force field. Tamora screamed when she saw the pincher through Crystal's body. The girl's eyes were dimming and blood trickled down onto the floor.
"No!" Tamora roared and threw a grenade at the monster. Another soldier grabbed the medal as Tamora picked Crystal up in her arms.
"I-I'm s-sorry Mo-Mom I tr-tried," Crystal said her voice weakening.
"Shh, you will be alright Crystal save your strength," Tamora said and held Crystal close. She got on Specks and the King Pla-Ce bug raced to the infirmary as the customer was cheering for winning but hoped Crystal would be okay. Tamora jumped off Specks and ran all the way to Dr. Peter's and he took Crystal from her. He undid her jacket and saw the pincher made a nasty hole and Crystal was losing a lot of blood.
"Once I give her this Crystal will be fine," Dr. Peters said and poured some of the Pla-Ce bug's tears they collected onto Crystal. The liquid flowed over the hole and soon it disappeared like it never was there. Tamora held her breath till she saw Crystal open her eyes.
"Hey Dr. Peters and Mom, what did I miss?" Crystal asked standing up. Tamora hugged Crystal tightly shedding tears grateful that she was alive. But worried for she had failed to protect Crystal and worried she was failing as a mother.
"Glad to see you are feeling better Crystal but I need to speak with Sarge alone for a moment," Dr. Peters said.
"Okay sir I will be outside Mom," Crystal said.
Once Crystal was gone Dr. Peters said, "Sarge I noticed that your condition is getting worse. In my professional opinion until your baby is born you should take it easy and not play in the game".
"What I can't abandon my men and they need me," Tamora said quickly.
"I am sorry ma'am but with all due respect your dizzy spells are becoming more frequent and I heard you throwing up a few times. If this keeps up you will die in the game and I know you can regenerate but I don't know if your baby will regenerate," Dr. Peters said in a worried tone. Tamora bit her lip her eyes full of worry for she didn't want to lose her baby. She failed to protect Crystal and now she was failing to protect her unborn child.
"Alright I will find a replacement," Tamora said.
"No need you already have one," Dr. Peters said shocked she agreed so quickly.
"Really, who?" Tamora asked though she probably already knew his answer.
"Easy ma'am Crystal," Dr. Peters said smiling.
Author's Note: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter and please review.