Chapter 61 (Shaal Mayan)
All the hate in the world could not amount for the turmoil she was feeling. Trapped inside the room with human enemy, who could walk in at any moment, and the thought of her friend, Delenn, going through the same, just added to the terror of her ordeal.
Despite all his assurances, Shaal would never trust the man who raped her. Even as she sat on the edge of the soft clean bed, she contemplated her position and thought of ways to escape. Yet that man's words haunted her. She remembered them well.
"Don't think about escaping. Our leader thinks you're dead. If you leave this room he will kill you and your friend. I'm protecting you both!"
His words hit home. Shaal had no way of escaping anyway. And he had even promised to allow her to see Delenn.
As she looked out at the skyline, she felt a pressing sensation inside her stomach. Is this what pregnancy feels like?
But this was no ordinary pregnancy. The baby was growing fast, too fast for her to cope with the changes to her body; then again it was not Minbari. It was an alien hybrid forced into her by that human!
She knelt on her knees and wanted it out of her. She wanted it to end but that would be a cruel thing to do. Minbari valued all life. She was trapped between her body and the there greatest law.
When she heard activity from outside the door, she immediately spun to attention and backed towards the window.
It was Zack, the human animal who had done this to her. She wanted to claw at his face and throw him out of the building, but he was much more powerful and she did not dare anger him.
He strolled into the room holding several robes in his hands. She was unable to read his emotions because looking at him was hard enough. "I got some clean clothes for you."
"Where did you get that?" she demanded, without thinking, and then braced for the consequences.
"We collected many Minbari items from your attack."
"Don't you mean you stole it from our ship?" Again, she edged back, waiting for a response. She decided to test this human, see if he valued her life now after she was carrying his child.
The human, Zack, moved closer with a slight smile. "I know what you're trying to do, Shaal. I'm not going to give you a reason for me to terminate the pregnancy."
"Then why have you come?"
"To deliver these." He laid the robes gently on the bed and took two steps back. Shaal kept her distance, but a hard metallic object on her back forced her to look around. She was pressed up against the window.
"It's a beautiful view don't you think. You should see it once this city enters hyperspace, the dome creates a-"
"Go away!" Shaal snapped!
Chit chatting, being friendly, what was this human doing? Rage welled up inside her. All the nights, the evil way he treated her…this friendly conversation had to stop. He had to leave, or her unrelenting hatred threatened to kill her.
"I've removed the guards from this floor and you're free to see Delenn. She's in the room next door. You are free to move wherever you want. But you can't leave this floor unless I am with you. The city committee believe this floor is undergoing some special treatment and it's been shut down for now. The outer windows will block out all outgoing light and are sealed shut. I'm currently making plans to make your stay as comfortable as possible."
"Then what will happen?" Shaal dreaded the answer.
"Once you have your baby, I will help you return to your people. It's at least I can do."
The human sounded sincere, although troubled. She knew it was all a lie, a trap of some kind.
"What about my child? What will you do?"
The human sat on the bed, deep in thought. "I will raise the child in our capital city. Its population is diverse and safe."
The absurdity of it finally settled in. There was no way Shaal was going to allow this human to take her child. It would be used for experiments and a tool against her people. She shook at the very thought of humans raising a Minbari child, even if it was half human.
"I will never give you my child!"
"Fine by me," Zack replied.
"It might be difficult, but I will not deprive my child of her mother. This will make things complicated, but I believe it can be done, once we leave this facility."
Shaal grew tired of this man's fantasies and his presence began to frighten her. His smell, touch and taste lingered all over her body. She was constantly violated and his presence only heightened the discomfort. "I just want to see Delenn, leave me alone please."
With that the human reluctantly agreed and departed the room. Soon afterwards, once the silence isolated her, Shaal grew concerned about Delenn and decided to find her.