Chapter Four
Diena entered V-Corp and scanned up to the medical facility. The pressure of the elevator made her grunt. She waddled up to the reception desk and smiled. “Back again.”
Thelli grinned. “Almost ready?”
“Pretty sure. Shall I take a seat?”
“Nope. We can bring you right in.” She held out her hand, and the nurse was waiting.
Deina paused. “New staff?”
“We aren’t just a maternity clinic. Sometimes we need someone who can do some firm handling.” Thelli smiled.
“Okay.”
Deina waddled toward the large man and turned her head. “Pointy ears?”
He grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”
She was going to ask where else he was pointy but realized that it would be harassment, and her horniness was her problem.
He helped her up onto the exam table. “So, you are nearly to the finish line?”
“Yup.”
“Are you ready for the baby?”
She smiled. “Read the file.”
He paused. “Oh. Surrogate. Have you met the parents?”
“No. They have had losses before and didn’t want to hope until the child was viable. I am hoping someone has told them by now.”
He checked and nodded. “The father has been told. After this scan, he is going to notify his spouse.”
“Oh, that’s going to be a bit of a shock for her.”
“The best kind.”
He helped her lie back and covered her thighs as she got the dress up and out of the way.
“How are you managing?”
“I am managing. I will be happy to see my feet again.”
He administered an ultrasound and got some images. “Do these go into the file?”
“They do. I want them to have a full timeline of their baby.” She sighed. “You are the new doctor.”
His eyes crinkled at the corners. “Yes. I used to do battlefield work, but this is far more challenging.”
He took readings from her belly and paused. “Have you been feeling tightness recently?”
She was wary. “Yes. Why?”
He smiled. “I think you have begun labour.”
“Aw, damn. I was trying to go to the finish line.”
“The baby looks to be about ten pounds, so be happy it isn’t going to keep going. So we can either book you into the maternity centre on Fifth or Aksalla General Hospital.”
“I am registered with the maternity centre. When do I have to go?”
“When the contractions are about five minutes apart. Are you all right?”
“I am good. I am going to spend the afternoon hanging out with my mother and little brother.”
He looked at her and set his jaw. “I am giving you a pager. If you hit it, there will be transport to the maternity centre within three minutes.”
She chuckled. “I don’t think it will advance that quickly.”
“You never know. This is your first?”
“Yes. I was a clone, so I needed proof of concept. There are also some familial complications.”
“Are you an active?”
“I have never been positive during testing.”
He gave her an amused look. “I see. Wait a moment.”
She nodded and pushed herself upright with a lot of effort, flapping her dress around her.
He was grinning. “The parents have been notified, and they are very excited. The nursery is ready, and they are just waiting to find out if it’s a boy or a girl.”
“It’s a bowling ball.”
He grinned. “It is.”
“What is your name?”
“Doctor Jenaki.”
“You aren’t from around here.”
He shook his head. “My people have recently begun to explore the world outside Renovik.”
“Oh. You are one of them.”
“I am born Khaskik. Raised in Renovik.”
“Oh, I was decanted in the capitol and raised there until I applied to Aksalla during a hiring surge.”
He took her hand, and his fingers took her pulse. “You are in amazing health.”
“Thanks. I work out. Only gain muscle in one area lately though.” She patted her belly.
He smiled and slipped the call button on her wrist. “You will probably not be in active labour until tomorrow, but just in case, this is also set to monitor your contractions, and when you reach four minutes apart, it will hit the notice without you having to do anything. Help will come.”
Diena nodded. “Thank you, Dr. Jenaki.”
He smiled. “I will be there when your little one arrives, Diena.”
“Oh, great. I should have waxed.” She chuckled and nodded. “Right. Thank you for an interesting introduction.”
He grinned. “I look forward to your anticipated event. Have a good day and keep your alarm with you.”
She looked at him and grimaced. “You are having a drone follow me, aren’t you?”
He smiled. “You are very intelligent. Yes, you will be followed. It is part of your contract.”
She sighed. “I know. See ya tomorrow, hopefully.”
Diena smiled and summoned a vehicle as she majestically waddled out of the office. She smiled at the receptionist. “Next time you see me, I will be considerably thinner.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thanks. I owe my feet a pedicure.”
Thelli gave her a follow-up appointment in a week and wished her luck.
Diena tried to feel what her body was doing, but it was just a fleeting tension that was moving across her lower pelvis. She exhaled slowly and tried not to panic. She knew one thing. She wanted her mom.
The playpark was remarkably occupied when the transport pulled up, and Diena stepped out. The unmanned vehicle pulled away, and Diena walked in through the doors and listened to the happy shrieks and yelling of the children.
She walked up to the desk and said, “Hey, Bella. How is the shop today?”
“Full. I was just about to put the capacity sign up.”
“Nice. Well, at least we will make rent.”
Bella laughed. “We made rent an hour after opening.”
“Excellent. I am looking for a woman who looks like a not-pregnant me with two boys who are shockingly well-behaved.”
“They came in ninety minutes ago, and everyone is wondering if she’s your sister.”
“She’s my mother. Where did they end up?”
Bella smiled. “Whoa. Excellent genes.”
“I know. I look forward to being hot and ancient. Where are they?”
Bella checked her screens, and her eyes flickered. “Second floor, shooting lessons.”
“I am going to take the accessibility lift.”
“Sensible. How much longer do you have to go?”
“Not long now.” Diena smiled and headed for the lift. A moment later, she was on the second floor. She waddled to the shooting lessons and smiled at Alody taking her turn.
Alody finished her round and set the stun rifle down. She saw Diena and grinned, walking over. “How did it go?”
“Well, things are moving fast. The parents have been warned, and I am on contraction watch. When I get to five minutes between contractions, I have to press this button, and someone is going to come and fly me to the birthing centre.”
Alody smiled and asked, “Can I touch it?”
“The baby is only moving a little today.”
Alody touched gently, and there was a small fluttering. “Ah. That is adorable.”
“Isn’t it. I am really glad I called.”
“I am, too.” Alody hugged her.
Diena hugged her back. “I am glad I could see you before the delivery, Mom.”
“I never experienced it, but I was excited by learning you were in the world.”
Diena smiled. “Knowing was necessary.”
“Very.”
Diena felt the twinge that wrapped around her, and she exhaled.
“Diena? What is going on?”
“I am in the first stages of labour. My doctor says I will be about a day before there is a chance of emergence.” She smiled. “Apparently, the parents are excited and doing final preparations right now.”
Alody stroked her hair. “How are you feeling?”
“I wanted my mom.”
The hug was warm, and Diena felt smaller arms wrapping around her. She smiled. “Hey, Ithal. Thank you.” She sniffled and wiped her eyes as Alody let her go. “I made it all this way and fell apart at the finish line.”
Ithal smiled. “It just means you are ready to stop being strong for a bit. Like seeing the finish line after a long race.”
Diena chuckled. “Why am I feeling it before the finish line?”
Ithal looked at her with the wisdom of someone with rocket pyjamas. “Because the hardest part comes at the end. We will cheer you on if we can.”
Diena looked at Alody. “Really?”
“He has the week off, and he knows the baby isn’t yours to keep, so we thought it would be nice to have you at home healing and being spoiled.”
Diena smiled. “Thank you, but my place is bigger.”
Alody nodded. “We will put overnight bags together and be ready when you go to the birthing centre. You will leave that facility without the baby, but you will not leave that facility without family.”
Diena looked at her mother, looked down at her brother, and burst into tears.
Vaken paused his exercise, and his eyes went wide. “Do we need chocolate?”
Diena laughed. “No, but thank you. I am sorry to disrupt your day. I will get you additional passes for another time.”
Vaken looked upset. “We have to leave?”
“Of course not. I just feel bad for disrupting your first visit here.”
Ithal patted her belly. “It’s okay, but this place is lots of fun, and no one is recording the results, so we are safe to start experimenting here.”
Diena smiled. “That is the purpose of this place. To let you figure out what you can do before anyone gets hurt, including you.”
Alody looked at her. “This place is yours?”
“With a few others. Yes. I am the main shareholder, and I designed the different levels.” She smiled. “Did you want a complete tour?”
Ithal smiled. “I can wait until the next time. What do you need, sis?”
She looked at them, and she and Vaken laughed. “Chocolate. I will be in the food court. Please play out here. I will be fine doing businessy things.”
Alody nodded. “We will meet up with you in about forty minutes before we attack again.”
Diena grinned. “I will see you there. Don’t judge me for the amount of food I will have gone through.”
Alody chuckled. “I won’t. The boys will just be impressed. Are you good to go there on your own?”
“I am pregnant, not injured. I will be fine, and I have an unlimited snack account that is linked to your passes, so take your time.” She ruffled Ithal’s hair as the idea of unlimited snacks ran through him.
She laughed and returned to the lift, heading down to the main floor and to test the limits of her snack counters. She was nothing if not devoted to quality control.
She smiled. Going to her family was a need, and her family was good with need.