Page 11 of Warrior's Captive
She doubted her genetic profile was in any way, shape, or form a match for the father of this baby.
That wouldn’t bother her, because all those dreams were dust now, except that she still yearned, despite everything, for . . . kindness, if not love. Contentment. A man who would like her hidden personality and not the government sanctioned one.
A husband, not just a legal partner.
Vivian smiled bitterly, wondering at her own emotional health that she was even capable of desiring love after her experience in the pens, and glanced at the comm unit secured around her wrist. Before her escort to the halfway house where staff provided a room and clothing along with a New Visitor orientation tablet, Ibukay had placed the thin metal cuff on her and activated its instructions for operation. Evidently it would serve as a homing beacon, link to Ibukay and Vykhan during her transition, as well as provide her with GPS and other data she would need to navigate this new city.
New, and strange. And quiet.
There was no vehicle traffic on the ground level, for one. Only pedestrians. She craned her neck to look above her head, amazed at the transports flitting high above. She assumed there was some mechanism to control traffic; no one crashed.
But down here, people on foot competed with nothing faster than a stray mammal on two legs that hopped and sometimes flew short distances between buildings.
“Mommy, there’s an alien,” a high-pitched voice said as a woman walked by with a poppy skinned child in tow. “I want to talk to it!”
“It’s a she,yadoana,don’t be discourteous.”
People glanced at her, some stared. Vivian didn’t blame them, there was no particular hostility in any of the looks. So far she’d seen several aliens, but only a handful of humans, and those only in passing.
The unit on her wrist intoned instructions into her aural unit and she adjusted her course; the restaurant where she would meet the baby daddy was only a minute away on foot. She waddled along, and when she approached, was greeted with a pleasant beep alerting her she’d arrived.
Outside the cafe was a bench. Vivian lowered herself onto it, tired and a little dizzy from her walk. She’d exited the transport too far from the meeting place, wanting to explore. That had been a mistake, but then this was the first time she’d experienced a long walk while pregnant. She had not understood how draining it would be, especially since she was undernourished from months of confinement. A staffkheterhad prescribed her several supplements, and she was to eat six small meals a day and one nutrient shake to replace lost calories, fat, and protein.
She closed her eyes and enjoyed the sun on her face. So quiet here. No loud arguing, no creak of old-world buses painstakingly repaired over and over. No fumes.
Was this what freedom felt like? A quiet afternoon walk where no government officials stopped you to randomly check your business? Sitting on a bench and enjoying the fresh air?
Her comm unit beeped.Incoming,it intoned.
Opening her eyes, she tilted her wrist as she had been shown to accept the communication. Ibukay’s face sprang into view in the palm of her hand.
“You made it,” the princess said in a cheerful tone, then frowned. “You look a little pale, Vivian. I think. It’s a bit difficult to tell. Reign is browner than you.”
Who was Reign? “I wanted to walk and overestimated my endurance. I’m sitting now.”
“Well, take your time when out and about and don’t forget you can activate your distress beacon if you need help. And there are public med links.”
Vivian had seen the symbols, brightly colored and indicating a distressed individual could receive basic first aid and request transport to a facility. She’d studied this city’s emergency protocols before leaving this afternoon.
“I only wanted to wish you good luck for your meeting with Tai’ri, and comm me if you need anything. And remember, nothing will happen unless you give consent. You are in control here.”
Vivian wasn’t certain she believed that, but Ibukay seemed sincere. “Mr. Vykhan seems intent on Tai’ri and I coming to an understanding.”
“Mister.” Ibukay snorted. “Vykhan thinks he knows what’s best for everyone, but his intentions are good.”
Intent was the tiny, niggling line that separated him from thekheterat the facility. That woman had made it clear she thought Vivian shouldn’t be allowed to choose what happened to her and the baby—Vykhan also had strong opinions about what should happen, but at least he was willing to give her an illusion of choice. She wasn’t locked up.
Inside her, the baby moved. Somersaults had slowed over the last several days, probably because it was growing. Pressure low in her groin, like a tiny leg flexing for room. Vivian winced.
“Thank you,Bdakhun,” Vivian said. “I’m sure everything will go well.”
Ibukay signed off soon after—she had to be busy as a province royal and also with her anti-trafficking platform. But she still made time for Vivian. Of course, Vivian’s baby was special to them.
She let her eyes drift closed again, a wash of tiredness coming over her. A nap would be fabulous, but first she had to get this meetup out of the way and learn if the princess and crew really meant what they said when they insisted everything was Vivian’s decision.
“You well?” a deep, calm voice asked.
Vivian opened her eyes.
