Mysterious Circumstances (pm to discuss joining)

[slippedhalo]

"We were fighting a sea monster..." April began. She realized how crazy it sounded. "I know that sounds odd but the details will be put into a report later. I decided it needs to be recorded for the website so we or others know...Um, anyway, we shot at this thing and it went at Kate, knocking her out of the water, really hard. The MeRPs say she has a concussion and a bunch of things broken, cracked and bruised. They're working on the brain swelling first, then the broken vertebrae in her neck, then the rest...Once that swelling on the brain goes down she should recover...um, there had been internal bleeding but they stopped it already. They brought us all back from worse. Yuet had almost the same injuries and look at how well they fixed her up....should be fine, I hope."

She dared not mention the unspoken concern about the tiny embryo and nobody knowing if that was ok or not, or if David and Kate were even aware there was an embryo to be concerned about, yet.

 

[Othermoose]

Austin gingerly stood up then slowly limped over to David and April. Austin glared at David before opening his mouth, preparing to say the cruelest thing he could think of. Austin was about to tell David about Kate's pregnancy, about how his child would probably never see life, but he stopped himself. He imagined the sadness in Kate's eyes, and the disgust on April's face if he did something like that. So Austin turned to April and pulled her into a hug. "I'm going to get some sleep. Get me when Kate wakes up." He whispered into April's ear before giving her a quick kiss and limping out of the room.

David watched Austin leave. It was clear to him that the teen had some barb prepared, but didn't say it. David decided to just ignore what Austin was doing, putting his attention back on April. David wanted to say something, but no words came to him. After a moment he reached out and gently squeezed April's hand, silently thanking her for watching over Kate.

 

[slippedhalo]

Yuet arrived and passed a limping Austin as she entered Med Bay. She took in the scene and read Kate's medical readings on the various things the MeRPs had her hooked up to. Yuet turned to April and David with an encouraging smile. "She was hurt bad but she already improving. They considering aging her about thirty days to quicken healing time. It her best chance to beat this quick. Should I tell them We say to go for it?"

 

[Othermoose]

David looked at Yuet in confusion. "Age her thirty days? They can do that? How?" He asked trying to wrap his head around the concept. "Actually nevermind. I don't want to know how it works; that's too complicated for me. Will aging her thirty days harm her at all? Or is she actually going to be unconscious for a month while she recovers?" David asked Yuet before glancing over at Kate, concern etched on his weary face.

 

[slippedhalo]

Yuet explained, "It takes about a minute to age somebody a day using this purple fluid and this machine. They put her inside, like M.R.I., very claustrophobic...But, they can do it within thirty-two minutes. Then, she only have broken bones to heal in couple of week. No problem with brain or swelling or aneurysms, she get neck brace and cast and go home with us tonight. I say yes? We wait half hour for her?"

 

[Othermoose]

David nodded. "Yes, go ahead and do it, just make sure it doesn't harm her in any way." He said to Yuet. David turned at the sound of a door sliding open. Erik walked wearing only the tattered remains of a pair of jeans. The left side of his body showed new pink skin and only slight hints of his severe burns. "Skin grafts." Erik explained to David, noticing the questioning look on his face. "I fought a dragon, don't ask. How's Kate doing?" Erik asked sitting down in a chair and looking around the room for Natalia.

 

[slippedhalo]

Yuet gave the go ahead to the MeRPs and Kate was sent into the unit for cellular aging. "I go watch an make sure they do correct time, ok?" Yuet said to David with a supportive pat of his hand before following the MeRPs with Kate.

Natalia was tired and Adriana had calmed down and seemed ready to see more of where they lived. Nat was pleased to see Erik. She hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek. "Erik, let's bring Adriana to the lake for the night. Nobody should have to sleep in a hamster ball."

April nodded her agreement with Nat then looked to David, "You going to wait here then? Should I bring you and Yuet something to eat or drink? I'm going to get something to eat myself. Famished!"

 

[Othermoose]

David shook his head slouching in the chair. "No, my stomach is upset. I'm just going to rest here until Kate wakes up." David said closing his eyes and almost instantly falling asleep.

"Alright. Lets go." Erik said standing and giving Natalia a kiss on the lips before heading to the door. "Just follow us Adrianna." Erik said to the mermaid. He and Natalia led Adrianna through the maze of the ship.

Once they made it to the park, Erik was surprised to see that Adrianna showed little interest in the environment around her. "Guess I'd be quiet too, if I had that kind of bomb dropped on me." Erik thought as the group made their way to the beach of the lake. Erik and Natalia waded into the water and opened the ball. Adrianna gracefully slide into the water, and swam around getting used to her new home. After a quick look around she returned to Erik and Natalia. "Thank you for helping me. I think I'll like it here." She said to them, a soft smile on her face. "It's not a problem Adrianna. We're going to go now, unless you need anything else." Erik said to the mermaid woman.

 

[slippedhalo]

"There's fish in here?" Adrianna asked.

Natalia nodded, "I did see some. I hope they're a kind of fish you like."

"I shall try tonight and let you know in the morning. Leave the ball floating on the surface. I can then use it on my own in the morning."

"Great idea." Said Natalia. "Goodnight, Adrianna."

Aziz had been walking through the park to clear his head after a full day. His head hurt a lot and he was really sleepy. He thought he'd begun having hallucinations too. Walking slowly up to Erik and Natalia, he asked, "Did I just...was that a mermaid?"

Nat nodded.

"Whoa! Listen, you'll have to tell me all about it at breakfast time. Yeah? I'm too tired to stay up so I'm off to bed now. Goodnight."

The pair told him goodnight too, watched him go, then headed off hand in hand, "I want a cheeseburger and fries, and a large Coke. Then, I think I want to sleep for a thousand years!" Joked Nat as she and Erik entered the kitchen where April was fixing a plate of food for herself and Austin.

 

[Othermoose]

"That sounds like an excellent idea." Erik said ordering two cheeseburgers and a large plate of fries for him and Natalia. He nodded to April as she left with her and Austin's food. Erik grabbed two bottles of coke before sitting down across from Natalia. He popped a fry into his mouth and chewed before smiling at Natalia. "Normally I'd ask for a roll in the hay, but I think you're right about getting some sleep. Of course I wouldn't say no to a roll either." Erik laughed taking a sip of his coke.

 

[slippedhalo]

A half hour had passed and Yuet helped the MeRPs to shut down the ager. She watched as Kate was brought back into the room where her hospital bed waited and helped them get her into the bed, detach the accelerated iv, injecting Kate with a compound she and the medical team knew would help her to wake up without the trauma of too abruptly. So, she awoke in stages, finally opening her eyes and blinking to adjust to the light after David bent over her for over ten minutes. Kate couldn't turn her head, something was holding her neck still...Yuet softly explained the broken vertebrae and neck brace necessary for two more weeks. Kate's arm and shoulder were braced. Her ribs had cracked in three places, her arm had dislocated at the shoulder and broke in two places also her wrist had sprained and her middle finger was pinned because of a fracture. The overall analysis seemed to be that she'd be in braces and casts for almost three weeks in total.

Kate considered this, "That sounds pretty short considering all the damage." She said.

Yuet shook her head, "It was longer but we aged you a month to speed up healing."

Kate was astonished. "What? You...But, how?"

Yuet explained the procedure and that her body had been aged thirty days, it wasn't that thirty days had passed while she was unconscious.

Kate went to nod her understanding but pain throughout her body and a neck brace stopped her. Wincing, she replied, "I think I understand. Thank you. " Her focus, back on David. She looked up into his face and smiled, "How was your day at work, dear?" She joked.

 

[slippedhalo]

"That sounds like an excellent idea." Erik said ordering two cheeseburgers and a large plate of fries for him and Natalia. He nodded to April as she left with her and Austin's food. Erik grabbed two bottles of coke before sitting down across from Natalia. He popped a fry into his mouth and chewed before smiling at Natalia. "Normally I'd ask for a roll in the hay, but I think you're right about getting some sleep. Of course I wouldn't say no to a roll either." Erik laughed taking a sip of his coke.

Nat shrugged, "I could just lie there and sleep and let you have your way with me...But, that's not much worth it, is it?" She raised an eyebrow, "You're warm and snuggly, so I'll sleep with you. But, I still feel more sleepy than sexy tonight, Cutie." She said, stroking his arm affectionately.

 

[Othermoose]

"That's an interesting thought." Erik chuckled. "I've never tried sleep sex, but I'm happy to just cuddle and sleep. I can't be sure until a try it, but you're right about sleep sex sounding boring" He laughed standing up. "Are you ready for bed now?" He asked stretching and yawning. "I think I am." He said.

 

[slippedhalo]

Natalie ans Erik finished their meal and showered then went to bed. April and Austin ended up doing about the same but about a half hour afterward. Aziz had already been out like a light for two hours by then. The night passed quietly in the living area of the ship.

In Med Bay, Kate and David were still trying to make sense of everything. The MeRPs began scanning Kate's abdomen with a wand attachment. And a soft, and fast, but rhythmic "...shush, shush, shush, shush, shush, shush..." echoed on a speaker in the room for a moment. Yuet smiled at this, checking readings on a monitor the couple couldn't see."Oh, yeah. That was accelerated along with you. The baby looks healthy."

Kate's eyes widened, "Baby!"

Yuet blushed as it suddenly occurred to her that the only people who hadn't been told Kate was pregnant were the actual parents, she and David. "Yes. Embryo nearly fetus. That sound was healthy heart."

Kate stammered but got out the question burning in her mind since the whole birth control issue had been brought up the other day. "...How long were we dead before we were revived? How long afterward were we on this ship before we were awakened?"

Yuet thought that was odd information to request after being told one is pregnant but she acquiesced to look these facts up on the computer. "Uh...nobody dead more than three days before revive. Nobody take longer than two weeks to heal and awaken, some less than a day, others full two weeks."

"And, me?"

"You...revive, twenty-six hours after death. Awake in five days."

Kate did some math in her head. "Can you tell the age in days of that embryo? If it's what we all hope, it's thirty-two, maybe thirty-one, days old. Otherwise...if it's older..."

She shivered.

Yuet was starting to understand. "Spermazoa can live up to two days outside of body in certain environments, as can a fertilized egg...Ok, I see age of embryo..."

A long moment passed as Yuet checked the measurements of the embryo.

 

[Othermoose]

David slowly stood up and walked over to Kate. He gripped her hand in both of his and gently kissed her finger tips. "It's mine Kate. I know it." David said, not feeling nearly as confident as he sounded. For Kate to have one of those men's children instead of his own... David dreaded to think of the affect it would have on Kate.

David turned to Yuet, still holding Kate's hand. "Yuet, would it be possible to do a DNA test on addition to checking the age? I think that would help to settle our minds more than just knowing the age." David said to the young woman before turning back to Kate. He gave Kate a loving look trying to relay that he'd support and love Kate and the child, even of it wasn't his own.

 

[slippedhalo]

Yuet nodded, "We cannot do the DNA test for several more months. The embryo is thirty two days and two hours old. I hope that helps. And, my apologies for not checking that right away, Kate. I did not know there had been a rape involved in your death."

Kate winced at the "r" word even as distanced from it as she currently was. David was being very reassuring. "Thanks, Yuet...Aren't you tired? It's past midnight."

Yuet shrugged, "I am but I wanted make sure you OK first. Kate, thank you for being my first official patient. I will give you a prescription for prenatal vitamins, suggested reading list, and we'll make an appointment for a check up in two weeks, actually, we can do it the day your casts and braces can go off. Good?"

Kate smiled, "Good. Thanks, Yuet. Go to bed. I'll be fine here with David and the MeRPs."

Yuet said good night to them both, handed off a bottle of vitamins to David, because he had two working hands instead of just one, then she left them alone.

Kate sighed and in the moment of quiet with only David to witness it, she wept. "I'm sorry...I'm not really sad or happy...just...I guess kind of scared..." Kate admitted.

 

[Othermoose]

David held Kate as she sobbed, gently stroking her hair. "It's alright. I'm scared too. Terrified actually, but whatever happens I'm with you." David said softly. "Does knowing the age help to know...?" David let the question hang, wishing they could just take a DNA test and be sure.

 

[slippedhalo]

Kate tried to nod but the pain and the neck brace stopped her again. She swore softly, "Ouch! Bollocks..." Then replied, "It's not possible for their...stuff to have lived a full...seven days...Oh, oh, it just hit me how much has happened in basically just a week!" Eyes wide, she shivered again, her good arm gripping David tightly as she whispered, "I hope it's yours. I'm positive it is. I don't know why I'm scared. It's more about feeling totally blindsided and completely unprepared. You and I have just barely begun our relationship and now we have to face becoming parents on top of everything else we're being tossed into? Starting a new life on some unknown planet, having to face meeting aliens, building homes and farming, learning about the community we'll be expected to learn to fit into...That's all already quite overwhelming! With a pregnancy on top of all of it...yeah, I won't admit it to the others because they need my calmness. I know that. But, I'll admit it to you, David. I'm terrified."

 

[Othermoose]

David nodded and gently hugged Kate, making sure to avoid her injured parts. "I know you are. I am too. But we'll figure this out, together. I love you Kate. I'm going to everything I can to make sure we have a long and happy life together." David said before gently pulling away from the hug. He smiled at Kate, his face filled with nervous excitement. "To be honest I'm excited too. I'm excited to be a dad again. It's terrifying but wonderful, like a roller-coaster. You're nervous at the beginning, and at the top, just before you fall, is the worst part. But then you take off and you smile and scream and fling your arms in the air and enjoy the ride. And your second time on the ride is a little less scary then the first one." David chuckled and looked deep into Kate's eyes. "You're going to be an amazing mother Kate." David said gently kissing her.

 

[slippedhalo]

Kissing David, smiling through her tears, feeling like a lunatic for this, Kate let her worries drop for the time being. She was glad that stupid test was finished. She had been the one who was supposed to stay out of the way yet she and Erik both nearly died from the elaborate illusions. "Do you think we could both fit in this bed tonight. I'm exhausted and you look pretty tired too, dearest. Come, lie on my right side. That's the uninjured side (just bruised like a ripe plum) she added the joke under her breath which got David to laugh out loud. Hearing his laughter was balm for her soul after such a fragile moment. She moved gingerly to make room for him beside her, sleeping soon after he was beside her and still.

(Ooc:Morning soon. She can go back then and don't forget the unopened box she's got to unlock. )

 

[Othermoose]

David got into the small bed with Kate. He gently wrapped his arm around her, doing his best to avoid any tender areas. "I love you Kate." He whispered before falling asleep next to her.

================================================================

Austin awoke with a startled shout then a fit of coughing. After a few moments of coughing he stopped, and looked over to April who was looking up at him with concern. He slowly laid back down, his body still tense with fear, before he turned to look at April. "Sorry. It must be annoying to get woken up like that all the time." Austin whispered hoarsely before a few more coughs. "At least I don't remember what it was this time. Just blood and fear." He said pulling April close to himself and burying his face in the crook of her neck.

 

[slippedhalo]

In the morning the six who'd been asleep in the living quarters managed to all get up and to the dining room at around the same time. They were pleasantly surprised to find Kate sitting at the head of the table, all bandaged, braced, and casted up, but still, she was sitting up unaided and held the mysterious box with her name on it in her right hand, resting it on the table. David sat to her left to help her on her bad side. He was also sweetly offering her sips of tea through a straw because of the neck brace she was already fed up with. "Hi everybody! Great job yesterday. I was impressed and proud of everyone. I've seen what's in this box. It's for you..."

 

[Othermoose]

"What's in it?" Erik asked curiously as he sat next down next to Natalia, setting down their plates of food. "Also, more importantly, it's good to see you up and about. How're you feeling?" Erik asked their leader before biting into a sausage link. He turned at the sound of April and Austin coming in. They sat at the end of the table, and greeted Kate. April also said her hellos to everyone else, but Austin remained silent after saying a quiet hello to Kate. Erik turned back to Kate, ignoring April quietly convincing Austin to eat. "So I'm guessing you're going to pop open the box and give us our prize, but what's the plan after that? If at all possible I'd like to avoid life threatening situations for the next week or so, two weeks if you can swing it." Erik joked.

 

[slippedhalo]

Kate grimaced, "I know, Erik. I agree. Everything hurts. I never thought, not in my wildest dreams, did I imagine sand could be so cruel. But, as it's resting atop thick deck plating keeping us all from being sucked out into the cold vacuum of space, I guess it makes sense and can be forgiven." She joked.

"In this box are kits for very personalized cybernetic armband computers. Each one is designed with general functions much like the tablets and laptop but they also each have functions that differ from the rest. One here, for example, is for a town Sheriff and Head of ship's Security. We all know that'd go to David." Kate handed him his kit. "Your rank is official once you have your kit." Kate explained.

"Behind it is his Deputy' s kit. Erik, you've proven yourself to be admirably team safety oriented and brave. I'd like you to be on David's team and his right hand man planetside." She said, handing his kit over to him. Adding, "He fought a dragon for us and nearly died. An incredible warrior!"

The next kit picked up was explained, "Doctor Yuet...I'm honored to be your first patient."

Yuet took the kit and smiled, "I honor you let me treat you so soon after I completed my training."

"Aziz, master of logical thinking. You are the Head of Engineering and Technology. Planetside, you'll also be Head Architecht. Prepare to be a busy man."

Aziz laughed at that, took his kit and thanked Kate.

"April, Natalia, I was torn for quite a long time. Both of you possess strong leadership qualities. Both of you kept the good of the group and ship in mind at all times. But, in the end, I also know you outside of these exams. Natalia, your heart is with the animals. You have a strong sense of duty to a group of people but you truly come alive when you're around cattle and horses, outdoors. This is your calling. I won't deny you of it even if I think you would make a great second in command. Natalia is our Head of Animal Care and Breeding. You will be better trained than you already are in both things shortly, after breakfast. You don't require much extra. You'll be finished before lunch."

"Now, April...Your uncanny ability to swing between being responsible and sensible to the needs of the group yet being independent and thinking quickly on your feet, are important. Your sense of diplomacy and boosting morale are perfect and necessary in leadership at times, as is it important to have a good knack for knowing when to drop expected protocol and just get things done. You, April, have such an amazing sense of leadership qualities I think you should have been chosen as First in Command ahead of me. But, I don't get that option without dying or mutiny. So...April Foster, I bestow upon you the rank if Second in Command. Thank you for your quick thinking in there. You saved Erik's, Adrianna's, and my life, in there, and Austin's out here. You're simply awesome!"

"And, speaking of Austin. He's no write off. I saved his for last because of how special it is. Yes, special, and not in that, "Everybody wins a trophy.", way, either. Truly remarkable...Austin has a natural talent most humans are not born with and incapable of learning past the age of four. Austin has a very special connection between his ears and his mind which allow him an esteemed position in Colony Society. Only one other human possesses the same talent and she's an elderly woman in her seventies now. She isn't perfect and the program she designed does have gaps and flaws she's hoped for a protege to help her fix and improve upon, someone to pass the Xenotranslator torch to one day...That someone is Austin. As he's the first human with this ability shipped in over thirty years and it's crucial for communicating with another species of intelligent life on that planet, a race of distantly related aliens they call, "The Cousins", Astin will be needed to maintain the peace and cooperation between their people and ours since we're all together in the same boat and survival mandates it." Kate looked at each person as she said this to make the point abundantly clear, "Austin is considered more valuable to that planet than all of us combined." She landed on David and her expression pressed the point before she looked again Austin's way, smiling and handing him his kit. "Congratulations Xenotranslator Austin. I'm proud of you. You saved our bums out there twice and gave Adrianna the means to communicate with us as well. You're an asset to the survival of our species outside of Earth. Thank you."

This ended in applause from the group. Then, everyone relaxed and ate breakfast together, spending much if the morning helping each other apply their kits to their non dominant arms and learning the varying functions of them via playing with them. Adrisnna's hamster ball arrived around this time and she was thrilled to see so many happy people around her.

Kate further explained to all assembled that Austin needed to have Rapid Ed. in Cultural Sensitivity and Diplomacy as well as Linguistics, Natalia was to get Vetrinary training in Rapid Ed., April, some general Command Training in Rapid Ed., and Erik, some mixed martial arts, diplomacy, and legal education in Rapid Ed. Austin and April's would take until 15:00. Nat and Erik' s would be over by 13:00. They were expected to head to Med Bay for this in ten minutes.

 

[Othermoose]

Austin accepted his armband computer silently. He didn't hear the others talk as his mind raced. Once Kate mentioned the rapid learning he shot out of his chair, and left the rest of the group behind. He leaned against the wall in the hallway before sliding to the floor. He folded his arms around his legs and slammed his forehead into his knees. As he brought his head up for another strike, he saw April standing above him, a concerned look on her face. "I can't do it. I can't be a fucking diplomat." Austin quickly shot to his feet, rage on his face. "How the fuck do they expect me to keep peace!? I can't even fucking talk to people!" He shouted before slamming his fist into a wall.

Austin punched the wall several more times before stepping away with bloody knuckles, but apearing calmer. He sat back down in the same spot he was in before and looked at April with complete hopelessness on his face. "I can't do this. I'm going to start a war and get us all killed. You know me. You remember how we met. They can't really expect me to be an ambassador." Austin said before slamming his forehead into his knees again.