Nemo__404
patreon
Deathworlders Should Not Be Allowed To Date! 52
🕑 Added 2024-09-15 16:20:20 +0000 UTCLuna VI query: Set the source to the translation logs of Princess Amara Auralyn.
No Problem!
Luna VI query: Tell me about Amara's first medical appointment with Reynolds.
***
Amara shifted slightly, her claws lightly grazing the soft sheets. The room was heavy with tension, though none of her friends voiced it. Aldrinch’s stubborn insistence that she stay in bed only worsened her frustration. She glanced over at him, his tail stiff and unmoving as it hovered just above the floor, his orange eyes locked on the door, waiting for the doctors. The deep purple rippling across his skin betrayed the anxiety he tried to suppress. He might be her mentor, but his protective instincts felt more suffocating today than ever.
Her gaze wandered to Elysira, sitting composed on the other side of the bed, her long, shiny hair flowing down past her shoulders. Amara felt the faintest twinge of envy, something she had learned to suppress over the years. Still, there was something undeniably striking about Elysira’s appearance, even after losing her tail she looked beautiful on Amara’s eyes, her mere presence conforting.
Nathan’s presence beside her was a different kind of comfort, though it was starting to grate on her nerves. His large hand gently held the tip of her tail, and while his face remained calm, it was almost too calm. He didn’t look remotely like someone who was partially responsible for her current condition. The fact that he wasn’t panicking—at all—only added to her frustration. Here she was, likely pregnant, and yet he had the nerve to look completely unbothered. If anyone should be feeling the weight of this moment, it should be him too.
A sudden knock echoed through the room, and Aldrinch's tail twitched slightly as he moved to the door. Amara watched as he inserted his five claws into the locking mechanism, twisting it open with his frail hand. The door gave a soft hiss as it unlocked, and Amara could hear the muted voices of the two doctors getting permission from the guards to enter.
The first to step inside was the human doctor. Amara wasn’t particularly skilled at distinguishing humans by their clothing or posture, but she could easily tell this one was male. He was shorter than Nathan by a good margin, and his skin had a slightly darker tone compared to Nathan's. There was a quiet confidence in his stance that caught her attention. His face was sharp, with high cheekbones and slightly tired eyes framed by dark circles—the same kind she saw on Nathan whenever he skipped a night of sleep. His expression, however, remained composed, his lips pressed into a focused line. Despite being on an alien planet, surrounded by guards, the doctor’s posture showed no fear, something that, oddly, gave her a small surge of confidence in him. At least he didn’t look like he was about to panic.
The second doctor was Irisian, also male—though older than her, he wasn’t as old as Aldrinch. His skin shifted subtly with his emotions, but Amara could read him far better than she could the human. The small flicker of discomfort as he entered the room didn’t escape her notice. His eyes quickly scanned her body, and she could almost see the gears turning in his mind. Even in those brief seconds, Amara knew he was already forming his first diagnosis, analyzing her state. His gaze met hers, and she knew he was looking at the emerald rings around her eyes, his expression belonging to someone who had seen those rings on many patients before.
The Irisian doctor was the first to speak, his voice slightly worried. "Princess Amara," he said with a respectful bow, his tail wrapping tightly around his legs as he lowered himself closer to the bed. "I am Doctor Arkror, and it is an honor to serve you today."
Amara noted the formality, but more importantly, she noticed how he hadn’t bothered to introduce himself to Aldrinch first—a significant break from what she expected when an elder was present. The way he bowed so deeply, his tail tucked in close, told her more than any words could. He wasn’t just treating her as another patient; he was already acknowledging her as the future queen. His actions alone confirmed that he saw the gravity of the situation. No one had uttered a single word about her health, yet she knew that in his mind, the pregnancy was likely confirmed. His respectful attitude told her he was already preparing for her new role.
The human doctor followed with a much less formal approach. "Princess Amara," he said, his tone friendlier, "I'm Doctor Reynolds. Nathan," he nodded casually toward the towering figure at her side, "good to see you."
Amara couldn't help but notice the significant contrast between the two doctors. While Arkror stood rigid, tail coiled in a respectful display, the human appeared far more relaxed. He stood beside Arkror near the bed, looking casual, as if this were any other patient visit.
Nathan smiled slightly and inclined his head toward Reynolds. “I remember you from before the mission,” he said. “Apologies for making you leave the space station in such a hurry. I imagine the training must’ve been brutal with such short notice.”
Reynolds chuckled lightly, shaking his head. “No need to apologize. I always wanted to come to the surface anyway. And truthfully, the data we’re gathering is invaluable. I’m particularly glad to have another Irisian to compare with all the information we’ve collected from Yelara’s sister. It's fascinating.”
Amara blinked, momentarily stunned by how casually the two males were speaking, as if the tension in the room were nonexistent. She glanced over at Elysira and Aldrinch, sharing a knowing look. They had picked up on the same odd dynamic. This situation was anything but ordinary, yet neither the doctor nor Nathan seemed particularly concerned.
What startled Amara the most, though, was the fact that Arkror was still bowing, his form frozen in deference. It was almost comical how he seemed completely disconnected from the energy of the room, trapped in his formality.
"Doctor Arkror," Amara called softly but firmly, "you may raise your head."
Arkror straightened, though the stiffness in his posture lingered, and his tail remained curled around his legs.
“You can drop all formality, as the human has,” she continued, glancing at Reynolds for emphasis. “Your expertise is what matters today. Politics and titles can wait.”
Arkror nodded slightly, though she could see the difficulty he had in shedding the ingrained respect for royalty. Tradition was not easily brushed aside.
Turning to Reynolds, Amara shifted her gaze to the human, her skin hiding her curiosity. “And what is your preliminary opinion, Doctor Reynolds?”
Reynolds met her gaze, his calm exterior giving way to a more serious undertone. “I have no comments to offer before we run the tests,” he said, his tone more professional now. “But let me share something from behind the scenes. The possibility of something like this happening was brought up by our team back on the space station. No one really took it too seriously, of course, but we discussed how your species can survive high levels of radiation without suffering lifelong damage. The fact that your children can be born healthy after years of exposure to the radioactive light of your star... that might actually be the key to understanding this unlikely scenario.”
Amara felt a subtle shift at her side. Nathan’s hand, which had been resting gently on her tail, now gripped it a bit more tightly. She knew he hadn’t fully believed in the possibility of her pregnancy—he’d been calm, almost dismissive of the situation. But something in Reynolds’ words had evidently struck him, and now the weight of it was starting to settle in.
Taking advantage of Nathan’s silence, Amara spoke up. "And what kind of tests will I need to undergo?" Her tone was firm, though, on purpose, she let a hint of purple show on her skin.
The worry in Elysira’s and Aldrinch’s gazes didn’t escape her. They had been so good at containing their emotions that no human would have noticed the subtle signs, but Amara did. Nathan, however, hadn’t reacted visibly to her concern, and she took that as a positive sign—likely, the tests wouldn’t involve much pain.
Reynolds’ expression remained professional. “There are too many tests to list in full right now,” he began. “But the first step is simple. It will start with two drops in your eyes, just like it was with the installation of your translator.”
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room. He looked to Elysira, then Aldrinch, and finally Arkror, as if gauging their reactions.
Reynolds turned back to Amara, his voice gentle but serious. “I need to ask, Princess Amara—would you prefer to go through all these tests now with everyone present, or would you rather have just Nathan stay with you? We can make this as private as you wish.”
Amara scanned the room, taking in the faces of those around her. Her voice, when it came, was resolute. “Unlike you humans, my species will not allow anyone we do not trust close to us in moments as delicate as this. If someone is in this room, it means they can be trusted.”
Her gaze lingered on Elysira after she spoke. The unspoken tension between them had begun to ease, especially after Elysira confided in her about her conversation with Ivanov. Their bond felt like it was on the verge of mending. If Amara showed trust now, she sensed their friendship could return to what it once was.
Reynolds nodded, understanding her silent decision. “If you’re ready, I’ll apply the drops,” he said, stepping forward. But before he could get closer, Aldrinch’s voice cut through the room.
“Wait,” Aldrinch said, his tone rich with the authority that came from his many years of wisdom. “Young one, you should hear what Arkror has to say before accepting anything from the human.”
Aldrinch’s movements were slow, burdened by age, but his message was clear. His tail pointed accusingly at Reynolds as his skin shifted to a deepening red, though the change was delayed—another sign of his age.
Amara quickly surveyed the room, reading the emotions of those around her with ease. Nathan’s expression was hard, his eyes fixed on Aldrinch, glowing with anger at the interruption. Elysira, despite her control, couldn’t suppress the purple hue creeping into her skin—she was watching Amara closely, waiting to see how she would respond. And then there was Arkror. He might have been masking his feelings well, but Amara could sense the fear bubbling beneath his calm facade. He wanted to leave; that much was obvious.
With a tone rarely used among her friends but often reserved for her enemies, Amara spoke with authority. “I said everyone in this room can be trusted, and I mean it.” Her gaze shifted to Reynolds. “You may proceed.”
Reynolds resumed his approach, though Amara couldn’t miss the worried look Aldrinch cast her way. His concern was clear, and it lingered even as Reynolds gently applied the drops to her eyes. The cool sensation spread, and Amara instinctively closed them, her thoughts drifting.
Despite Aldrinch’s fears, she wasn’t troubled by the possibility that humanity might be hiding something. She knew she could be wrong—there were always risks in trusting the unknown. But her decision had been made long ago. The humans represented her species’ last hope, the only real chance to save their planet. Given the choice between the uncertainty of humanity and the certainty of betrayal from the Alliance, she would choose the humans every time.
Reynolds explained that it would take some time for the nanites to spread through her bloodstream, and Amara simply nodded, mimicking a gesture Nathan had taught her. The conversation that followed between Reynolds and Arkror quickly turned technical and dull, in her opinion, as the two doctors discussed her condition as if she weren’t even present. Reynolds seemed especially interested in how much Arkror could infer just from looking at her skin’s changing colors, something that was the most basic observation an Irisian doctor could make.
Amara let their words fade into the background. She shifted her focus away from Aldrinch and Elysira, turning to Nathan. He stood still as a statue, his eyes sharp, scrutinizing every word exchanged between the doctors. She could feel his hand tightening around her tail, his grip slowly growing more uncomfortable, though she didn’t pull away. It was almost as if he wasn’t aware of what he was doing, too absorbed in the discussion unfolding before him.
She endured the discomfort, letting his unintentional pressure remain more for his sake than hers. Nathan’s silent curiosity was something she was used to, and though it sometimes irked her, it was also a reminder of his concern. He might have seemed calm before, but now his focus was locked in, not missing a single detail.
At some point, Reynolds’ face lit up with excitement, breaking the monotony of the conversation. "I’ve got a connection," he announced, as if struck by sudden inspiration. “I can show Amara’s data to everyone who has an integrated translator if she allows it.”
Amara knew who that applied to. Besides Nathan, who obviously had one, both she and Elysira were equipped with integrated translators. Without hesitation, she agreed. “I accept,” she said, curious now to see what would be revealed.
As if anticipating her response, Reynolds acted swiftly. A digital pop-up window materialized in front of them, hovering just above the lower part of the bed. “Move in closer,” he suggested, his tone somewhat light but instructive. Amara, Nathan, and Elysira leaned forward as the display illuminated the room softly, an illusion Aldrinch and Arkror couldn’t see. The data began to flow across the screen, slowly being stripped of text as Reynolds moved his hands. Despite her lack of expertise, she could tell at a glance that what she was seeing was a microscopic image from inside her body.
Reynolds pointed to the floating image, the details showing what appeared to be a sphere composed of millions of smaller, red orbs. "What you’re looking at is a reconstructed image of what made you sick during the meeting," he explained. Amara stared, mesmerized by the intricate form. Its organized structure was almost beautiful in a strange way. Then, without any further preamble, Reynolds dropped the news. "Congratulations, Princess. You’re pregnant."
The room seemed to freeze for a moment as those words sank in. Amara’s mind spun, giving the appropriate weight to what had just been a vague idea. Pregnant? Her? She glanced at Nathan, who looked even more blindsided than she felt. But before she could fully digest the revelation, Reynolds continued, his eyes shifting toward Nathan.
“There’s no doubt it’s yours, Nathan,” he said, his voice steady.
Nathan, who had been stone-faced just moments before, suddenly snapped to attention. “Wait a minute, I’m not surprised you have a sample of my DNA, but how can you be so sure this isn’t something else? This was too fast. I can think of a few—”
Reynolds interrupted him smoothly, already prepared for the question. “We’ve been studying the Irisians, Nathan. While you were busy studying the planet, we were studying the people. We already had data from Yelara’s sister, and now, with Amara’s added to the mix, we can see the immense genetic variations her species exhibits across individuals. On top of that, they possess remarkable mechanisms for recovering from severe radiation damage. What you’re seeing was once a single cell, selected among billions of slightly different copies that her body kept creating until it found the right combination.”
Amara’s mind whirled, barely able to focus on the words. She was no stranger to her own body’s processes—she had known for many harvests how her species worked, how the radiation shaped them and made them resilient. But hearing it laid out like this, in such human terms, made it sound almost alien. As Reynolds spoke, describing something she had always thought of as normal, Amara realized that her species might be more unique than even she had given them credit for.
With motherhood no longer just an abstract possibility, she caught a glimpse of Nathan’s startled face. Whether or not she or Nathan were ready, this was happening. Her gaze drifted to Nathan once more. He had let go of her tail now, his mouth slightly open, his eyes wide as he absorbed the information. For once, it looked like he had no more questions, no more denials. He was finally beginning to accept it.
A voice broke the silence with concern. It was Aldrinch, who had remained silent since her earlier outburst. “Will her heir be healthy? Will it be one of us or one of you?” The question sent a wave of purple across Amara’s skin, betraying the fear and uncertainty she had managed to keep buried until now.
Reynolds, however, didn’t respond to Aldrinch’s question directly. His eyes flickered across the room, lingering on Nathan and Amara, but he seemed to deliberately avoid Aldrinch’s gaze. “I understand that you trust everyone here, Princess, but there are a few things I, as your doctor, feel more comfortable discussing with only you and Nathan.”
Before Amara could even fully process his words, she felt a nudge at her side—Nathan’s elbow, gently but firmly reminding her of what needed to be done. She straightened and addressed the room with a steady voice. “I apologize, but I think we should continue this discussion in private.” She didn’t like this, but she did what she considered best for the moment. “I promise I will speak with both of you later.”
Elysira moved gracefully toward the door, her expression unreadable. She didn’t seem bothered by Amara’s request and left without resistance. Aldrinch, however, hesitated. His orange eyes glared at them, protectiveness and suspicion simmering just beneath the surface. For a moment, Amara thought he might argue, but finally, he relented. With tired movements, he motioned for Arkror to follow him, and the two left the room, closing the door as they exited.
The silence that followed felt heavy. Only Nathan, Reynolds, and Amara remained. Reynolds was the first to break it. “I’m sorry I had to do that,” he said, his voice softening. “You and Nathan are new to this, and I think you both might need some time to adjust to the idea that you’ll be responsible for more than just yourselves soon.”
Amara hadn’t thought of it in those terms, but his words resonated with her. They were going to be responsible for another life. Not just any life, but one that could hold the future of her species in its hands. Her mind struggled with the enormity of it, and yet, strangely, the idea also brought a sense of clarity. This wasn’t just about herself and Nathan anymore.
Nathan, who had been uncharacteristically silent, finally spoke up. His voice was firm, but there was a trace of vulnerability beneath the surface. “Will... our child be healthy?” he asked, echoing only one of Aldrinch’s questions. Amara stayed quiet, but her silence fully supported Nathan's words.
Reynolds’ expression grew serious—more serious than Amara had ever seen him. His tone shifted, and there was a gravity in his voice that was hard to measure. “My AI doesn’t have the processing power to extrapolate the data that far into the future, and I don't believe any AI does,” he admitted, his words hitting like claws into her heart. “I can tell you that humans and Irisians share some similarities, but there are also key differences. If any defects occur in the body’s development, we can likely fix them with science. However, if the issue lies in the brain’s structure, then... there may be nothing we can do.”
Amara’s heart sank at the gravity of his statement. It wasn’t the reassurance she had hoped to hear. For the first time, the uncertainty of the future felt worse than the looming danger of their star exploding.
What Amara craved now was a moment alone with Nathan. Just a brief reprieve from the gravity of everything, long enough to let her emotions flow freely, to see what color her body would shift to when she finally stopped holding back. But before she could voice that desire, Nathan spoke again, his deep voice erasing the silence.
"How optimistic are you about the chances of that not happening?" he asked, his tone betraying the weight of his concern.
Reynolds didn’t hesitate. “There are no precedents for an opinion, much less a scientific answer." He paused, looking between Amara and Nathan as if searching for something deeper in their expressions. Then, with a hint of warmth that felt more personal than professional, he added, “But I can say this—with the amount of effort her body has already put into bringing things this far without any assistance, I wouldn't be surprised if life actually found a way.”
His words were not quite scientific but contained a quiet hope. On the spur of the moment, Amara let her emotions run free, and to her surprise, there were hints of yellow existing among the mixed hues—a color that did not go unnoticed by Nathan, who took a deep breath and replied with a tender smile.
That brief moment reminded her that they had beaten unknown odds before, so maybe they could do it again—now as the three of them.
***
This was an account based on Amara's first medical appointment with Reynolds. The previous narrative is based on the events of the forty-eighth day of the exploratory mission of Irisa. According to your current settings, no queries will be suggested.
