Private The Birth

[Vera Mina]

Aboard: Memory of Denithel


Wearing: Medical Scrubs


Earlier...

Nathan's paranoia as the pregnancy had approached a zenith.

After the final sign she was ready to give birth occured, she had been rushed somewhere fortified and mobile.

It had happened so suddenly. Nathan had been taking a few days off to relax, and then Vera had needed to go to the hospital.

Nathan knew it was selfish. Irrational. He had staffed the entire hospital wing with Veterans from both his Force and the House Io Defectors. Medical Nuetralizers were handling the birth, with Nathan himself supervising, holding a shotgun as he wore doctor scrubs, a hair net, and a mask, daring the universe itself to try something, particularly the Cult.

It would not happen. Not again. Not while he breathed.

Vera had switched on her capacity to feel pain for the birth. And boy, was it a pain like none she had ever known. Vera's cries in the operating room brought him back to the day of Julia's birth.

The pain of losing Julia twice would never stop haunting him. But he had to keep going. He had to protect his new family. The ship was crawling with veterans all armed to the teeth. Even the doctors delivering the baby were packing heat.

Despite all of this, Vera was actually extremely happy in a way that she hadn't been before this point.

She had started out as nothing but a soulless killing machine. Something that enjoyed inflicting suffering for its own sake.

What a difference a couple of wars and upgrades make.

Even with her husband's (entirely rational and completely justified) paranoia, Vera was about to actually create life instead of destroying life for a change.

That was why birth pain was important to her. If she wanted this, she would have to work for it.

It was an all hands on deck situation. The entire inner family had been called. Vera AND Nathan wanted this to be a happy day for the family, in spite of the raging paranoia in them both.

Just a reminder, though, it's NOT paranoia if someone really IS out to get you...

(Random-ass cutaway to Moya for some reason)

Thel Bloodscrawl and Draco Miles would both hopefully get here in time. All Vera's personas wanted them to be here. Nathan's sisters already were, with Melissa in charge of setting up photos. David, a Model 1 Nuetralizer known to both Thel (Thel for being a sort of tutor in asymmetric warfare and almost sort of an uncle) and Draco (for being one of the very first Nuetralizers she had ever met when Arianna had brought her to Khemost) was in charge of security (and in fact had become the de facto leader among the Mechanical Nuetralizer defectors). Sera Mina had rushed to the vessel at the news...

It was going to be a long day. Vera had rarely experienced such pain. But she would not rest until her son was brought into the world.

The lights were bright and the delivery room was spacious. The passageway outside was guarded by defector Black Knights in full heavy armor. The vents were crawling with traps. And of course, there was Nathan, absolutely ready to kill to defend his wife and newborn son. After what had happened to him, he didn't think he was going overboard at all...

To be honest, neither did Vera. She was ecstatic at the prospect of being a mother, but she had NEVER felt this vulnerable before...

 

[Draco Miles]

Man, was it nice to not be overdressed for once. Having heard the news and dressing herself in her personal ship while vera was transported, Draco was able to show up just as Vera Mina was admitted into the operation room. Armed with the light side duelist saber gifted by Nathan and the custom saber gifted by countess Belasko, Draco had shown up to this birth in power armor. Ready as if she were going to war more than witnessing a birth, allowing her to at least remain calm while the screams of her master echoed through the halls. She was sat down outside the room, finding inside to be far too unbearable and difficult to concentrate. At least giving Draco the opportunity to remain vigilant through the force through the entire endeavor, opting to instead push through the surrounding area and try to sense for any danger, leaning much more heavily into the paranoia than anyone else would've. Did she look ridiculous taking such measures? Most definitely, but she also didn't care. Today was far too important to relax or let anything happen.

 

[Thel Bloodscrawl]

Thel arrived wearing one of the tailored suits Vera had made for him in the colors of House Bloodscrawl. He was noticeably nervous as he entered the room, clutching a vase containing a bouquet of red roses in one hand while the fingers of the other twitched at his side. The tremors stopped as he made eye contact with Nathan. He gave his adoptive father a nod in greeting as he passed, placing the flowers on the table near the bed.

Vera's screams of pain were audible even at the other end of the hallway, where he had first stepped off the elevator. Being in the actual room with her was overwhelming; he could only take so much of it before he decided it was best to wait outside. He wasn't the only one. Draco Miles was also sitting in the waiting area.

She certainly stood out. Not because she was wearing armor - everyone was seemingly armed to the teeth - but because unlike most members of House Bloodscrawl, she wasn't humanoid. She must've been a pretty close friend of the family for Nathan and Vera to trust her enough to invite her here.

"Hey. I don't think we've met," he greeted Draco, holding out a hand. "I'm Thel. Nathan's ward."

Nathan Bloodscrawl Vera Mina​

 

[Draco Miles]

She stood up as he held a hand out, thinking it best to greet standing instead of sitting. Clasping his hand, the 6’11” Draconic woman stood on bipedal digigrade legs with tyrannid feet, the most alien features she had to be frank, with the composition of her legs alone similar to the hind legs of an animal, perfected for bursts of speed. Traveling up the body, a tail spouting from the end of her spine above her butt lazily rested down to the floor, but was thick with muscle and power. Her torso and arms were at least closest to humanoid, but above the shoulders was where she looked alien once more. An elongated snout filled with razor sharp teeth twisted itself into a warm smile that seemed so sinister, especially to whom was essentially a stranger. Her fiery amber eyes burning holes through him as if she saw him as nothing more than a meal. Overall, a very intimidating look despite how her words and actions may seem

“I don’t believe so either, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Thel. I am Draco Belasko-Bloodscrawl, adoptive daughter of Nathan and Vera. Good choice on the flowers though, should’ve thought of that myself… actually feel a little foolish for not bringing a gift. Would you mind telling me a little about yourself, and what a ‘ward’ is? I don’t believe I’ve heard the term before.”

 

[Vera Mina]

Vera's pain was like nothing she had ever experienced.

It was the most insane effort she had ever personally undertaken. She screamed to the top of her lungs as she pushed. Nathan nodded as Thel Bloodscrawl dropped off his flowers, on pins and needles as Vera continued to scream...she was in so much pain she didn't even know Thel had come and gone.

Vera's pain was so immense, so staggering that her telekinesis crushed a nearby chair and made some of the Medical Nuetralizers develop a massive 'Oh $#&+' expression as they followed procedure.

"Push!" The lead doctor instructed. "Push! You're almost there! Just a little more!"

Vera pushed.

One mercy was afforded to Vera...due to her biology, that actual birth giving was much quicker than most cases... albeit twice as painful.

Vera was genuinely struggling, simply not used to feeling pain period... Nathan began to grow concerned.

Just then another figure came into the room.

One that was genuinely unexpected. Nathan's eyes went wide.

Vera's eyes also went wide as Westenra Mina in her psychologist form stepped in wearing medical scrubs.

She and her sister had been estranged for a very long time over West blaming her for not doing enough to help stabilize Laertia psychologically.

Vera's mouth, sweat clinging to her skin, stared up in shock.

"You showed..." Vera whispered.

"I'm here, Vera..." West said quietly, holding her hand. "Mother's here too..."

Indeed, gliding down the passages to Vera's hospital room in a way that looked unnaturally smooth due to her hooded green kimono with white rose embroidery on the shoulders disguising the movement of her legs, was Nine Lives , only the purple dots of light at the center of her eyes visible due to her hood being up, head movements twitchy like that of a bird. Her tall stature and outright creep factor made many of the organic personnel get out of her way.

She stopped when she saw Thel and Draco Miles .

"Greetings." Nine said. "I'm Vera and West's mother. I presume you two are her adopted wards?

 

[Thel Bloodscrawl]

As Draco rose to her feet, Thel had to crane his neck to meet her gaze. She certainly was a hulking, imposing figure. But Thel was no shrinking violet, and he had been raised to view all species as equal. He showed neither fear nor suspicion.

“I don’t believe so either, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Thel. I am Draco Belasko-Bloodscrawl, adoptive daughter of Nathan and Vera. Good choice on the flowers though, should’ve thought of that myself… actually feel a little foolish for not bringing a gift."

"Thanks," Thel said. "Eh, I'm sure they won't be offended that you didn't bring a gift. Your presence here is what's most important to them."

"Would you mind telling me a little about yourself, and what a ‘ward’ is? I don’t believe I’ve heard the term before.”

"It means I'm adopted too. It sounds like you and I are brother and sister." Thel's raised eyebrows revealed his surprise at the news. "Sorry, I'm a little stunned. They haven't mentioned you to me yet." He scratched his head, feeling a bit awkward.

Before he could say more, another figure entered the waiting area: a woman wearing a kimono with a hood that hid her face. The eerie fluidity of her movements, more than anything else, immediately drew Thel's attention to her. His eyes followed her as she approached them, his gaze somewhat wary - though even so, he had seen much scarier people.

"Greetings. I'm Vera and West's mother. I presume you two are her adopted wards?"

Had he met West yet? He didn't think so. Crikey, this family just kept getting bigger and bigger. "Yes," he replied. "Pleased to meet you. I'm Thel." He held out his hand to her in greeting, just as he had done with Draco.

Draco Miles Vera Mina​