wondering what he should say.
“You keep looking at me oddly. I assume it’s the pregnancy?” Valeria asks, catching Alan off-guard again.
“Yeah,” he says. There’s no keeping secrets from this lady.
“I heard that on your world, women do not die in childbirth,” Valeria says. “It must be nice.” There was no bitterness in her voice, only sadness. “Worse is that I did not choose this fate. I am a kast’ka . The commandos caught me, only the worm did not take. They left a different kind of parasite inside me instead.” She looks down at the invisible floor.
“I am truly sorry,” Alan says, not knowing what to say.
“You don’t have to apologize. War is a terrible thing, with terrible consequences. Of which I am just one.”
“There are other solutions, you know,” Alan says. “You don’t have to die.”
“That is not my way,” Valeria says. “I have made my choice and accepted that any day may be the end. Fate is a cruel thing, but it is what it is.” She shakes her head. “You and Vash... both kast’ka , yes?” Alan nods. “Tell me, is it true that the Humans accept kast’ka ?”
“Yeah,” Alan says proudly. “Yeah, we do. On our ships, too. Which is good, because I haven’t been home in seven years.”
“Seven years. It must be a long time to be away, especially in a short Human life. Vash says you plan to return. A shame. We could use one like you, but I understand.”
“I want to see my family,” Alan says. “I wish that I could stay and help, but it’s not my war.”
“It is okay. You do not have to explain.” Valeria stands, then clutches her stomach. “It is time,” she says sadly. She pulls a communication device from her pocket and pushes a red button. “Go,” she urges Alan. “I do not wish for you to see this. They will be here in moments. Do not fear for me.”
“I can’t just leave you,” Alan says. He takes her hand and holds it tightly. “Let me help you.”
Medics show up at the door and pull Alan away. He sees Vash at the door wearing a grave expression and walks over to him. “Vash, there has to be something we can do!”
“There is nothing,” Vash says. “This is the way of our world. We are born of blood, death creating new life. I would not have you see this, Alan. Please come with me.” he puts his hands on Alan’s shoulders, gentle and reassuring.
“No,” Alan decides. “No, I can’t. I have to see for myself. I have to know.” He walks across the room. Vash follows, but makes no attempt to stop him, simply follows in his footsteps as he approaches the medics. They move aside, and Alan kneels down beside Valeria, whispering something in her ear.
“Okay,” Valeria says. “Forgive me for the nightmares... oh!”
Alan squeezes her hand as she splits open like a rotting fruit. She screams and Alan squeezes her hand, but he’s no longer sure who he’s reassuring. The medics pull at what’s left of her, trying to extricate the child within.
“Give her some pain relief or something, by the Gods!” Alan yells at the medics, but they shake their heads.
“It is not possible, Alan,” Vash says. “Our bodies are not like yours. Any magic or medicine will kill the child. Surgery does not work, either. It seems our lives are based on magic, and that magic must be taken from the mother or the child shall die. See, she does not die just from the brutality of the birth, but from the passing on of her magic, her life essence. The shell only splits because it is no longer needed.”
Alan sees green light in the air, coming from Valeria and swarming into the squalling, bloody child that the medics hold up. Valeria’s hand is still in his, but he’s no longer conscious and he thanks the Gods silently. He checks her pulse and feels it slowing until it comes to a stop. He reaches across and closes her eyes. His whole body shakes as he struggles to stand, Vash supporting him. He turns into Vash’s arms, his whole body shaking with
“You keep looking at me oddly. I assume it’s the pregnancy?” Valeria asks, catching Alan off-guard again.
“Yeah,” he says. There’s no keeping secrets from this lady.
“I heard that on your world, women do not die in childbirth,” Valeria says. “It must be nice.” There was no bitterness in her voice, only sadness. “Worse is that I did not choose this fate. I am a kast’ka . The commandos caught me, only the worm did not take. They left a different kind of parasite inside me instead.” She looks down at the invisible floor.
“I am truly sorry,” Alan says, not knowing what to say.
“You don’t have to apologize. War is a terrible thing, with terrible consequences. Of which I am just one.”
“There are other solutions, you know,” Alan says. “You don’t have to die.”
“That is not my way,” Valeria says. “I have made my choice and accepted that any day may be the end. Fate is a cruel thing, but it is what it is.” She shakes her head. “You and Vash... both kast’ka , yes?” Alan nods. “Tell me, is it true that the Humans accept kast’ka ?”
“Yeah,” Alan says proudly. “Yeah, we do. On our ships, too. Which is good, because I haven’t been home in seven years.”
“Seven years. It must be a long time to be away, especially in a short Human life. Vash says you plan to return. A shame. We could use one like you, but I understand.”
“I want to see my family,” Alan says. “I wish that I could stay and help, but it’s not my war.”
“It is okay. You do not have to explain.” Valeria stands, then clutches her stomach. “It is time,” she says sadly. She pulls a communication device from her pocket and pushes a red button. “Go,” she urges Alan. “I do not wish for you to see this. They will be here in moments. Do not fear for me.”
“I can’t just leave you,” Alan says. He takes her hand and holds it tightly. “Let me help you.”
Medics show up at the door and pull Alan away. He sees Vash at the door wearing a grave expression and walks over to him. “Vash, there has to be something we can do!”
“There is nothing,” Vash says. “This is the way of our world. We are born of blood, death creating new life. I would not have you see this, Alan. Please come with me.” he puts his hands on Alan’s shoulders, gentle and reassuring.
“No,” Alan decides. “No, I can’t. I have to see for myself. I have to know.” He walks across the room. Vash follows, but makes no attempt to stop him, simply follows in his footsteps as he approaches the medics. They move aside, and Alan kneels down beside Valeria, whispering something in her ear.
“Okay,” Valeria says. “Forgive me for the nightmares... oh!”
Alan squeezes her hand as she splits open like a rotting fruit. She screams and Alan squeezes her hand, but he’s no longer sure who he’s reassuring. The medics pull at what’s left of her, trying to extricate the child within.
“Give her some pain relief or something, by the Gods!” Alan yells at the medics, but they shake their heads.
“It is not possible, Alan,” Vash says. “Our bodies are not like yours. Any magic or medicine will kill the child. Surgery does not work, either. It seems our lives are based on magic, and that magic must be taken from the mother or the child shall die. See, she does not die just from the brutality of the birth, but from the passing on of her magic, her life essence. The shell only splits because it is no longer needed.”
Alan sees green light in the air, coming from Valeria and swarming into the squalling, bloody child that the medics hold up. Valeria’s hand is still in his, but he’s no longer conscious and he thanks the Gods silently. He checks her pulse and feels it slowing until it comes to a stop. He reaches across and closes her eyes. His whole body shakes as he struggles to stand, Vash supporting him. He turns into Vash’s arms, his whole body shaking with
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