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Vivian groaned, curling up in Quin’s arms as she began to pant and hold onto her own stomach. “Oh, God! It hurts, Quin. It hurts so bad. I need a toilet.”

“Here, bring her in here,” the nurse said, throwing doors opened and switching on lights. She threw back the hydraulic lid on a strange looking bed and stepped back indicating that Quin should place Vivian on the strange looking bed.

“I don’t think you need a toilet, Sirena. I think you need a birthing platform. We’ve got one, and it’s been calibrated for you based on the information your usual physician provided. It’s all ready and waiting.”

Vivian was panting, her gaze taking in the bed — if you could call it that — that seemed to be a cross between the beds and stirrups that most women were accustomed to from regular visits with their gynecologists, and a healing chamber. But instead of lying down, she’d be sitting up, her legs in the stirrup-like supports, her feet pressed against two rectangular pieces of metal, and what could only be described as a clear bassinet of sorts placed lengthwise from where the baby would exit her body and extending toward her toes.

“What the hell is this?” she demanded between gritted teeth.

“It’s a birthing platform. You sit there, your legs are supported here, and your feet are pressed here so that you can brace yourself to push the youngling out. We’ll recline the platform enough to be sure you’re comfortable, but not so muchso that you impede the view of those who’ve gathered to witness the birth,” the nurse explained with a bright smile. “If there are complications, the lid is even clear so that all witnesses can still see.”

“No! Hell no! Get me Doc! Now! In fact, get me to the ship, right fucking now! Nobody is witnessing this birth except me! In fact, I’m moving back there! Now! Tonight! You can come or not! I don’t really give a damn, Quin.”

“Vivi!”

“Don’t Vivi me! You let anybody in this room except us and Au'revele, I swear to God I’ll cross my legs and there will be nobody being born here tonight! Get me Doc, or get me to Doc. And whatever freaky practices you people have; forget them, it’s not happening!”

“I’m here!” Au'revele said excitedly from the doorway. She had the bag Vivian had packed in preparation for being in medical for a couple of days in one hand and smiled expectantly at everyone.

“We are not having a baby here! Get me out of here, now!”

“Sirena! You cannot stop a baby once it’s begun its entrance to the world.”

“Watch me!” she struggled, kicking and shoving at Quin until he put her down. She was so much in fight or flight mode and struggling to stand upright that she didn’t realize he was accessing the com unit implanted near his ear.

“Sirena…” Au'revele started, dropping the bag on the floor and hurrying to Vivian’s side to try to help steady her.

Vivian continued trying to force herself into an upright position, totally ignoring Au'revele, but at least she didn’t push her away.

“Vivian,” Au'revele tried again.

Vivi paused long enough to look up at Au'revele with tears in her eyes. “I don’t want people watching this. This is insane!”

“No one will watch. Our Sire will not allow it. Even now he is speaking with his people. It will be as you wish.”

The sound of more people rushing in ended up being three males in green coats similar to lab coats. They at once startedtrying to nudge Au'revele out of the way, which ended up with Quin bellowing at everyone in the medical suite. “EVERYONE STOP!”

Chapter 11

Time seemed to stand still for a second or two, then Vivian whimpered again, causing Au'revele to try to help steady her once more by speaking calmly and soothingly while rubbing her back.

“Where is the vidcom?” Quin demanded.

“It’s in my office,” one of the physicians answered.

“Turn it on, answer the call hailing this channel now.”

“At once, Sire,” the same physician said.

“I’m doing it now!” the first nurse responded as she ran from the room.

“Ehlealah, Doc is calling in now, he will guide the physicians to treat you just as he would.”

“I want him here now,” she begged.

“They are too far away from here for him to make it in time. But he can be here virtually.”

“I don’t want anyone to watch me give birth.”

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