Spindrift
Chapter 16: Star-born

I woke to the sound of Ari moaning and retching. My head hurt, every heart-beat was like atrip hammer crushing my skull. My eyesregistered nothing but flashes and sparks. As my vision gradually cleared, Ari unbuckled and crawled onto the deck,where she curled into a fetal position.

“It hurts. Everythinghurts,” she whimpered.

I wanted to comfort her, but knew that my head would explodelike a rotted gas-pumpkin if I moved. Finally, I opened my mouth. “It’llpass,” My voice croaked.

“I take back what I said about this being better thanvaporization,” she groaned and then started retching again.

Eventually, I made myself check our position. We were less than a hundred thousand kilometersfrom where we were supposed to be. Not too bad. I then checked on the others.

“We’re alive.” Windridge’s voice sounded old and tired over the speaker. “Rather hard on the pregnant girl, but Ithink she’ll be alright.”

I got up from the pilot’s seat, got down on the deck next toAri, raised her head and placed it gently on my lap.

“Better…Better,” she mumbled. We remained like that for a while, until shesat up and leaned on my shoulder. “I’malright now, I’m pretty sure.”

“I’ll set our course for New Samarkand.” I returned to the seat, made sure all systemswere operating, and then jumped as soon as the course was laid in. This leap was hardly noticeable compared tothe previous one. “We’ll be there inabout five and a half days.”

“I’m going to check on everyone.” Ari rolled over onto her tail. “Then I’m gonna see if there’s a tub orshower or any way to get wet and clean up.” She started to slide herself toward the door.

Instead, I got up and lifted her into my arms. “If you don’t mind, I believe I’ll join you.”

“Please do,” she grinned wickedly. “‘Cause quite frankly, Love, you’re startingto smell.”

We were fortunate to have a well-equipped sick bay with aninteractive AI, and that Windridge and Yuri both knew enough of basic first-aidto follow its instructions. Courierships are occasionally used as ambulances for VIP’s. The ship, named the Compass Rose, was obviously King Edgar’s personal transport, whichmade its appropriation especially sweet and the facilities on board especiallygood. Justin was pale and weak but conscious andsmiling thanks to all of the above. Parthan’s knife had punctured one of his lungs and he’d lost a greatdeal of blood, but he looked like he’d live.

Jen was ensconced comfortably in the royal suite, her lefthand swathed in bandages. Once she had restedand recovered from the micro-jump, it was difficult keeping her out of the sickbay, where she would sit by Justin’s side, sometimes for hours.

Lady Ariadne and I shared the captain’s cabin which, to herdelight, also had a large bathtub. She splashedabout in there for a very long time. Iwaited my turn, until she eventually invited me in to share.

Windridge and the marines divided themselves between theother four staterooms and the lounge.

The ship was intended to carry two crew and four to eightpassengers, so we were slightly overcrowded, but not enough to stretch the lifesupport. Food especially was plentifuland of royal quality.

The nav-computer flew the ship through hyper-space. No human mind is fast enough to make theproper mid-course corrections. Only occasionalsupervision was called for. Anyvariation out of safe parameters would trip an alarm or even, if necessary,bring the vessel back into normal space. Interception and attack was difficult and unlikely enough as to bedismissed. In addition, every instrumentand control on the bridge could be accessed from the captain’s personalcomputer in his quarters.

Therefore, I didn’t really need to be on the bridge on thesecond day out, but this was my first independent command, and the thrill hadnot subsided yet. I sat in the pilot’sseat just watching the numbers change and listening to the hum of a living ship,when the intercom buzzed, it was Ari. Jen was going into labor.

“Would be better if she could wait a few days,” I said.

“Perhaps you’d like to tell her that,” she replied, notwithout some sarcasm.

“I’ll be right there.”

I met Ari and Windridge in the lounge. Yuri was sitting just outside Jen’squarters. We had found no chair on boardfor Ari to move. We either carried her,when she was patient enough to wait for one of us, or she crawled. Thesergeant had just then brought her in and placed her on the couch.

“Can we handle this?” I asked Ari. The sergeant and Iboth looked at her.

“Just because I’m a woman doesn’t mean I know anything aboutchild birthing, especially for bipeds. Idon’t even know what to do with her legs, how do I keep them out of theway?” She shook her head.

“What about you?” Ilooked at Windridge.

He also shook his head. “Yuri and I probably could, if there are nocomplications. The young lady, however,insists on there being no men present. Iguess it’s a cultural thing.”

I turned back to Ari. She sat on the couch looking worried, with both hands over her mouth. “It’s a bit late for her to be concernedabout men and her privacy,” she mumbled.

I sat down next to her and put my arm around hershoulder. “You can do it. Women have been having babies on land withlegs and often very little help for about a million years now.”

“Oh, so you’re an expert too. Everyone’s an expert but me.” She rolled her eyes.

“Yuri and I’ll be just outside,” said Windridge. “If you need us, you can call us in.”

“If there are problems,” I asked, “would it be safe to takeJustin out of sickbay and put Jen in?”

Windridge shrugged. “Probably. I’m certain he’dvolunteer if he knew.”

“How will I know if there’s a problem?” Ari was beginning to look resigned.

“If an arm or a leg comes out first, that’s a problem.” Windridge turned toward the passengers’quarters. “I’ll go see how things areprogressing.”

A few minutes later, I stood before the entrance to thesuite, holding Ari in my arms. I let herdown. She stood on her tail and knocked.

“Remember,” said Yuri, “she has to be dilated to tencentimeters and the baby’s head down in her pelvis before she can push. Other than that, just listen to the AI.”

The door slid open, Ari nodded and crawled in.

As the door slid shut again, Ari looked around. The stateroom may have been royallyappointed, but it was also small. Spaceis limited on a courier-packet. To theleft were a desk with computer terminal and chair. On the right, a small table with two chairsand on the wall a shelf for paper books. The wall opposite the door was filled by the bed where Jen lay on herside, her face was flushed and damp with perspiration.

“How are you, sweetie?”

Jen stared at the mermaid standing on hands and tail infront of her. “Can you help me?”

“That’s why I’m here.” Ari crawled over to the desk and activated the AI, then made her way toJen’s side and brushed the girl’s damp hair from her face.

“Thank you.”

“Please state time since last contraction,” said the AI in arather bland male voice.

This is a birthing! Whoever programmed this thing should haverecorded someone a little more upbeat. ThoughtAri. Anda little more feminine for sympathy’s sake!

“What was that?” Jenraised her head, looking worried.

“It’s an artificial intelligence, a computer. It’ll help us.”

“Justin told me about computers. So that’s what that thing on the deskis. I…oh!” She grimaced and moaned. “That hurts!”

“It’s a contraction, dear.”

“I know,” she said through clenched teeth. “The court midwives told me what to expect.”

Good, then at leastone of us knows what’s going on.

“Please state time since last contraction.”

“She’s just having one. Give us a minute!” said Ari,irritated.

“One minute since last contraction.”

“No! It’s not been aminute yet!”

“Please state pulse and respiration rates or pass sensorover patient’s body.”

“Sensor? Nobody saidanything about any sensors!”

“Response not understood.”

“Oh shut up!”

“Response not understood.”

“It doesn’t sound very intelligent to me,” Jen giggled. “I feel better now, the contraction’spassed.”

“State time since last contraction,”

“Oh be quiet!” shouted Ari. It’s not even bothering to say please now!

“Shutting down.”

“NO! YOUBASTARD! DON’T SHUT DOWN!”

“Stop! Don’t make melaugh! Here, help me turn over then rubmy back for the next contraction.”

“Sure, honey, I’m sorry.” This is going to be a long day.

Time passed, the contractions came closer together and moreintense; the back rubs were no longer helping. Ari’s tail grew numb and sore from holding up her weight. Eventually, she crawled into the bed and letJen rest her head on her lap.

“I’m glad you’re here.” Said the younger female. “Evenwhen I first saw you and felt so frightened of you; I knew, somehow, that youwere a good witch.”

But a witchnonetheless! Ari tried not to laugh;she realized that Jen was sincere.

At the next contraction Jen let a loud groan escapeher. “Sorry!” she said.

“Sorry? Honeyplease! I know it hurts and no one elsecan hear you.” Ari stroked herhair. “Make all the noise you want. Don’t be embarrassed!”

“Very well. You’vehad a baby too?”

Ari didn’t know what to say, so she changed the subject. “And don’t tense up. That just makes it hurt more.”

A minute later Jen gave out a blood-curdling shriek thatnearly caused Ari to empty her bladder. “I don’t think I can take this much longer!” She grabbed Ari’s wrist with her goodhand. “I feel my bones coming apart! Something’s wrong! It can’t hurt this much!”

Ari was becoming frightened herself. “I fear it can dear. It’s perfectly normal.” She prayed she was correct.

“I’m going to push! Ihave to push, NOW!”

“Yes! By all means,push!” How do I know she’s ready? Shemust be if her body’s telling her so. Aribunched up a pillow and stuck it under Jen’s head, then slid onto thefloor. Should I call for help? No. Nothing was happening yet that shecouldn’t handle. She pulled the coversoff of Jen. I guess now is when I figure out what to do with her legs.

Ari was surprised at how quickly the baby came, once thepushing started. It was rather like a verymessy, sticky champagne cork.

The AI proved more useful after the fact. Ari followed its instructions, crawlinghither and thither, looking for what she needed while Jen cooed and sang to thelittle girl placed on her chest. Shediscovered elastic bands in the writing desk, but found nothing with which tocut the cord. She was about to give up andask for help when her gaze fell upon a plaque on the wall near thebookshelf. From it hung a ceremonialdagger. Ari stretched and extendedherself as tall as she could and brought it down. Thiswill do nicely! She drew the bladeand noticed the inscription. “To HisRoyal Majesty Edgar I, from the mothers of His Realm, for use against His foes.” Ari giggled as she separated the newbornprincess from her placenta.

I was snoozing in the lounge when Ari emerged from thepassenger compartment, stood on her tail and announced, “It’s done! It’s a girl! And I’m afraid we left a bit of a mess.”