Page 77 of Undone
Her eyes popped open and she sat up like a spring, ramrod straight. “Shut the hell up.”
“We forgot your shot last month.”
“It hasn’t beenthatlong.” Then, if possible, she became even more ashen as she did the math in her head, and she covered her mouth. Her abdomen heaved. I grabbed the trash can and put it in her hands just in time. “I need . . .” She panted into the trashcan. “D.”
I rushed to the door and called out for one of the medics to find Devon, but not to say a word, just to reassure him that everyone was okay. In the next ten minutes, Shavontae had begun shaking and murmuring, “I can’t do this. I gotta fight. But I can’t fight. I can barely stand. What am I gonna do?”
“I don’t know,” I told her honestly. She held out her hand and I went to her, taking it and rubbing her back.
Devon burst through the doors and came straight to Tae, crouching at her knees. “What’s wrong, baby? You still feeling sick?” He looked her over, clearly worried.
“I—” She glanced at me, as if for support, so I nodded. Devon looked at me, terrified.
“What?” he demanded.
“Get this.” Shavontae let out a small laugh, garnering his full attention again. “You’re gonna be a daddy.”
His severely drawn eyebrows would have been comical if it weren’t so serious.
“You fuckin’ with me right now?”
“Nope.” She laughed again, but this time her chin trembled, and he pulled her into his arms. I opened the door and slipped out, giving them privacy.
Top was standing in the hall with his arms crossed. He must have come when Devon was called.
“Something serious?” he asked.
I was sure Devon and Tae wouldn’t mind me telling him. Top knew everything about everybody here. “She’s pregnant.”
His eyebrows went up. “Well.” He nodded. “I suppose the Earth will need to be repopulated once we take out the parasites. The timing could be better . . .”
I wanted to smile or laugh at his dry humor, but the thought of a baby amidst all of this madness was terrifying. I couldn’t imagine how they were feeling.
“She’s in the early stages, and she’s already feeling sick,” I said. “She wants to fight, though. I know her.”
“We’ll figure it out,” Top said. “Don’t worry. We do have positions that don’t require being on the front lines. I’ll talk to them.”
I nodded. We stood in silence a moment before he patted my shoulder.
“Things are coming together, Tate. I mean, Fite.” I smiled, and he chuckled. “Just a handful more days, and everything’s going to be different. Better. And we’ll all get a new start.”
I nodded and closed my eyes, imagining. It really would be a brand new life. That morning at breakfast, as I’d put my rationed scoop of sugar in my coffee, I couldn’t help but think about how there were currently limited amounts of mass produced items on Earth. We would have to re-learn things that our society had taken for granted for decades, because eventually, things like roasted coffee beans and granulated sugar were going to run out. Things would be more simple, which I wouldn’t mind as long as we had freedom to grow again. It would be hard work, but we would rise to it. If we survived.
That gloomy thought had settled over me when Devon opened the door and looked surprised.
“Top,” he said. “I was just coming to look for you.” Devon opened the door, and First Sergeant stepped in. Devon sent me a grateful look, and I gave him a small smile before he closed the door.
As much as I hated the Baelese for taking away my ability to become a mother, I didn’t envy those two and the timing of their news.
