And You Thought Larvae Were Bad... Chapter 3
Harper moaned as he came to. Looking up, he saw Trance's concerned face above him.
"You had me worried. You shouldn't be doing stuff like that to yourself, especially now that you're caring for two," she scolded.
Harper groaned.
"I thought it was a dream."
"No." She helped him sit up. "It was real."
"So I'm..I’m pregnant? Again?" He looked down at his stomach.
"Not in the sense you're thinking." Harper gave her a quizzical look. "I am a different species, but you're still human. And human males cannot physically support a child. You're body wasn't made for that."
"But you said..."
"No I didn't. You assumed." Trance let out an exasperated sigh. "Let me see if I can explain it. The only thing you're carrying right now is the essence of the baby; essentially what your kind calls a soul. The baby will draw energy and memories from you while in your body, so you are going to feel very fatigued for the next few months, and you'll probably get nauseated easily."
"Morning sickness." Harper made a face.
"Yes. Normally in my species, it takes a number of years for this process, but since you're human, this will run along the normal nine months period. You'll keep the baby for the first 4 months and two weeks. Then there will be another transference."
"Can I stay awake for this one?" Trance smiled at that.
"You will. The essence will transfer to me, where in twice the time for a normal human, the baby's physical body will develop. In another four and a half months, the child will be delivered. Frankly, you got the easy part."
"Yeah...I just get to carry an 'essence' around." Harper rolled his eyes. "So I'm just going to be tired a lot?"
"Well...you'll also be able to feel the child," Trance said.
"I will?"
"It's not hard. In fact, I'd be surprised if you couldn't feel it. It's not everyday you find yourself sharing your body with another conscious."
"One that's not going to eat me alive, that is." Harper raised an eyebrow. Trance hit him on the shoulder.
"You won't be eaten. How could you think that about our child?" Trance looked hurt. Harper immediately went into apologizing mode.
"I'm sorry! I mean, you're a gold, formally purple, something, and I'm pregnant...I mean, at this point I don't know what to expect." He laid back down. "It's all a bit overwhelming."
Trance placed a reassuring hand over his. Harper smiled and squeezed it.
"But still...a child. I mean, it's work, but it's worth it. I mean..." Trance nodded, the smile returning. "Did I mention how nice you look when you smile?"
"Save the flattery for later. You need to rest. We'll be docking with the Andromeda in a few hours."
Harper looked surprised. "How'd you get past that virus?"
"I put it in there so I couldn't move the ship. But I did want to be able to leave after the ritual was over. It erased itself." Harper looked impressed, and then his face went white.
"Oh crap. What are we going to tell the others?"
"The truth," was her simple reply. "What else would we tell them?"
"You're right. Sorry about that. Like I said, overwhelming." Trance nodded in understanding, and then went to check on their position. Harper looked around, already bored, but knowing that Trance was right. He was going to have to start taking care of himself. He wasn't the only person in this body anymore.
"Well little guy," Harper put his hand over his stomach, "it's just you and me for now...for about four months actually. Let's cut a deal right now. You treat me right, and I'll treat you right, ok?"
He couldn't be sure, but Harper could have swore he felt something.
"Well then...I guess it's a deal."
Onward To Chapter 4!
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