The Odyssey of Scylla

Chapter 3

The whir of the scanner relaxed my body. When I had approached Dr. Traverse about my pregnancy, he had become immediately concerned.

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"The Kukunda don't typically produce offspring outside of their species. Instead, they have a hive where a single female broods hundred of offspring. Generally, males aren't produced. But, when they are, you get what you are now a part of."

"That aside, Traverse, can I carry this fetus to term, whatever term that is?" I held my hands close to my abdomen.

"If we keep an eye on it. The child's growth could become erratic with two different gestational periods, not only that female Kukunda, lay eggs."

"That's exciting." I couldn't hide the fear from my voice.

Traverse patted my knee. "Well, you could easily give birth to an egg and then immediately the child be born from it. Or you could simply birth the child like you described."

"Can I tell him?"

Traverse made quick and straightforward eye contact. "I'd advise against it, but with him being so, intimate I doubt you could hide it from him."

"Yeah, tentacles and telepathy, so weird." I stood and rubbed my head.

"I'll let you know how it goes."

He touched my shoulder gently. "Please do. Death has not fathered children before. He's the last of them to do so. But, then again, he didn't take to any female Kukunda."

I chuckled. "So, I've heard."

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The scanner's sound stopped, and Traverse patted my leg. "Well, your pregnancy is progressing well. But I would like to adjust your translator and atmospheric regulator while you're here. The translator seems loose, and your regulator isn't converting enough oxygen for you."

I smiled. "Oxygen is good."

He helped me down from the scanner table and moved me to another. I laid down on it, and he began twisting the implants behind my ears. I squeezed the edge of the table and tried to think of something other than the pain.

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Hokuto stood beside Death, whispering to one another. I waited patiently for them to notice I was standing in the doorway. Hokuto finally looked up, and his head twitched. He whispered to Death and collected what they had been discussing.

"I will return at a later time to finish." Hokuto headed from the room and leaned in close. "He is in one of his dark moods. Tread carefully, Scylla."

I reached up and rubbed his ear crest. "I'll do my best as always, Hokuto."

He left my side quickly; the whoosh and soft click of the door indicated he had locked it. I again waited until Death acknowledged me.

"Come, Scylla." He held out his hand and a few tentacles as well.

I crossed the room and took his outstretched hand. Death didn't look at me but pulled me to his lap and stroked my back. One of his smaller tentacles played with the hair at the base of my skull.

"Death, I need to talk to you about something." I pulled his hand that was resting in my lap to my stomach.

"Is something wrong?" The rest of his body stopped moving.

"That depends." I took a deep breath and steadied my nerves. I pressed his hand to my stomach harder. "I'm pregnant."

I looked at him, and his forehead furrowed. "Pregnant? Is that something to be concerned about?"

I smiled. "Pregnant isn't something that happens with your species. Dr. Traverse said females lay eggs. However, humans give birth to their babies."

Death turned my face to his. "You're carrying a child within you?"

"Our child." I took the tentacle touching my chin and pulled it to my lips, kissing it softly.

Death pulled me tightly into his embrace. "I didn't know I needed this news until now. Thank you, Scylla, thank you."

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"All adjusted. Take a breath and let me know what you think." Traverse hovered above me.

I inhaled deeply and noticed a significant difference. "Oh, I didn't know I needed that. That's much better."

He helped me sit up. "Good. Good. You get out of here and go make sure Death knows that mother and child are doing well."

"Thank you, Traverse." I headed out of his infirmary. "I'll see you in a few days."

"Yes, we need to keep tabs on your health during this time."

I looked back, and he was typing away on his computer. I closed the doors behind me and headed for Death's quarters. I pressed my hands to my stomach again, this life meant so much to us, and I was so happy. That was until my world went black.