It was an hour after Mike passed out that he started to regain consciousness. Gypsy had carefully but awkwardly carried the blonde human into a spare cabin on the ship and laid him down on the bunk inside. Joel pulled up a chair and sat next to the bunk waiting for Mike to wake up, his hand rubbing his distended stomach during his watch.
The first thing Mike had become aware of was a cold sensation on his forehead. He put his hand up to remove the cold washcloth and Joel watched as Mike slowly regained consciousness.
"Mike, are you okay?" Joel asked quietly.
Lifting his head Mike looked around the strange room then focused on Joel. "So... it wasn't a dream? I'm really... in space?"
"Afraid so."
"And you're name is... Joel?"
"Yup."
"And, uh..." Mike noticed Joel's very noticeable bump beneath his tight jumpsuit. "are you...?"
Joel put both hands on his stomach. "Yeah, I am."
"Pregnant?"
Joel nodded. "Not my idea, but I'm getting used to it."
"How... is that POSSIBLE?"
"Ask Dr. Forrester. It's his experiment, I'm just the test subject."
Mike sat up on the bunk and leaned his face into his hands. "Explains why he wanted me to read all about... 'delivery' during my break."
"Wha- oh..." Joel realized why Dr. Forrester had sent Mike up. "Aw man, I'm sorry."
"For what?" Mike asked through his hands.
"If this hadn't happened to me," Joel put both hands on his stomach. "then this wouldn't have happened to you."
"Like you said, it wasn't your idea, so you're not responsible."
"But... I... uh, I will need... help... when the time comes."
Mike lifted his hand from his hands and glanced back at Joel's stomach. "So... how far along... are you?"
"About twenty weeks, five months." Joel started rubbing his stomach again.
"Four to go." Mike commented. "Gives me plenty of time to... prepare."
"Relax." Joel reached over and put his hand on Mike's shoulder. "I'll do most of the work."
Mike laughed a little. "Joel, do you have an aspirin? My head is KILLING me."
"Well, you did get knocked out by Dr. Forrester, fell out of the rocket onto the floor, then passed out and smacked your head on the floor AGAIN."
"Maybe I should wear a helmet."
This time Joel laughed. "I wouldn't do that. You'd just be setting yourself up for pranks from the bots."
"Bots?" Mike gave Joel an odd look.
"It's a REALLY long and, equally odd, story. Let me explain things to you, then I'll give you a tour of the ship."
-next chapter-