Page 50 of Quick on the Claw

Tiffany shook her head weakly, wincing at the movement. “No, Zak,” she whispered, her voice hoarse. “You saved me. You saved all of us.”

Zak’s arms tightened around her, careful of her injuries. “Let’s get you to the medical bay,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “It’s over now. The rebellion ends here.”

As Zak carried her away from the scene of carnage, Tiffany felt the adrenaline slowly ebb from her system. The pain of her injuries throbbed in time with her heartbeat, but beneath it all was an overwhelming sense of relief.

They had faced this threat together, and together, they had triumphed. The future of Nova Aurora stretched out before them, bright with promise. And Tiffany knew with absolute certainty that her place was here by Zak’s side, come what may.

Tiffany winced as Zak gently carried her into the medical bay, her injuries from the attack still throbbing. Dr. Viiks rushed over, his iridescent skin pulsing with concern.

“My goodness,” he exclaimed. “Let’s get her into the healing chamber right away.”

Zak carefully lowered Tiffany onto the bed of the pod-like structure. As the translucent cover closed over her, Tiffany felt a wave of anxiety.

“Zak?” she called out, her voice wavering slightly.

Zak’s golden eyes met hers, full of reassurance. “I’m right here, my love. I’m not going anywhere.”

The chamber hummed to life, a soft blue glow enveloping Tiffany. She felt a tingling sensation spread through her body as the advanced alien technology began its work.

“Zak,” she mumbled, her eyes filling with tears. “There’s something I have to tell you.”

“What is it, love?”

“Grixxar and Rickon killed your dad. I don’t know how, but his death wasn’t an accident.”

Zak let out a slow exhale. “I had a feeling about his death for a long time. My father and I had been making plans to make changes. He wanted to incorporate my ideas into new legislation and he was excited to do it. When he died right before we got to work on that, it seemed like a tragic accident. But when I found out his shuttle crashed, I knew there was more to it. My father was a skilled pilot. He’d never had any issues with his shuttles and it had undergone routine inspection with the system working properly.”

“I’m so sorry,” she cried. “What they did was horrible.”

“I know, my love. But they will never hurt anyone again.” He met her gaze and warmed her with his sweet look. “And my father…I miss him…but he’s in a better place, I know this.”

She gave a soft nod and tried to sit still for Dr. Viiks’s scans.

The doctor studied the readouts on a holographic display, multifaceted eyes widening. “Fascinating,” they murmured. “Your Majesty, it appears that Miss Tiffany’s immune system is remarkably strong. Even more so than I would have expected given her recent experiences.”

Zak frowned, his hand resting on the chamber’s surface. “Is that unusual?”

The doctor’s skin rippled in what Tiffany had come to recognize as a smile. “Not unusual, Your Majesty. Simply unexpected. It seems that your child’s robust immune system is already benefiting Miss Tiffany.”

Tiffany’s heart skipped a beat. “Child?” she gasped. “What child?”

Dr. Viiks blinked in surprise. “Why, the child you’re carrying, of course. Did you not know?”

Zakhar’s face was a picture of shock and joy. “We’re... we’re going to have a baby?”

Tiffany felt a rush of emotions - surprise, happiness, and a touch of fear. “I... I had no idea. How is this possible?”

Dr. Viiks chuckled. “Well, my dear, when two beings love each other very much...”

“That’s not what I meant,” Tiffany interrupted, laughing despite herself. “I meant, how could neither of us know? Wouldn’t he have known from scent?”

“Ah,” the doctor nodded. “It’s quite rare, but sometimes a shifter fetus will mask its scent with the mother’s to ensure protection. And it seems your child will have the best of both worlds - your adaptability and His Majesty’s strength.”

As the healing process continued, Tiffany and Zak marveled at the news, their hands intertwined through the chamber’s surface.

Once Dr. Viiks declared her healed enough to leave, Zak carefully helped Tiffany to their room, insisting on carrying her despite her protests.

“I can walk, you know?” Tiffany grumbled, though she secretly enjoyed being in his arms.

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