Page 69 of The Omega's Unexpected Bounty
Hurry.My orders were to myself and probably useless, but it didn’t stop the screams to myself while my man slowly slid over the stone floor. This wasn’t a tender gesture, but if I did nothing, his head injury might take him out for good. I took a minute to get us close to the force field without touching it. I picked up his arm and raise my eyebrows at how heavy it was. I used to fancy myself a muscled guy, but I couldn’t compare to him – at least in this way. He was massive as if he were a living stone… well man.
I hope this works.
With thinned lips I let his right hand fall toward the shimmering purple force field. Tiny sparks grew around his fingertips, and fine arm hairs stood up. Several more seconds passed while the sparks grew. Like the Volardi, it was adaptive. Only a short flash at first to let you know the force field would shock. If you persisted, it meant you were trying to escape or get someone out. If that happened, it would shock you until you got the message or lost consciousness. Graden’s body jerked several times, and I fought the urge to pull him back. The electricity would go into my body and seize my muscles. I speculated on what would happen to my baby, and none of the possibilities were acceptable.
His chest jerked up, and he screamed. Several Volardi curses about Soturi with genitalia the size of tiny shells rang out before I saw the clarity in his eyes. Quicker than I imagined, he pushed my chair back away from the field. My legs bunched up while another wave of body seizing agony went through me. The ‘large rock’ continued its steady path down my spine from the inside and I screamed while warm tears went down my face. “I’m about to deliver!” Perfectly obvious, and only an idiot wouldn’t know, but I still yelled it out.
Dark purple eyes looked down. “How far apart are your contractions?” They weren’t uniform, and I feared it was bad. I wasn’t a ‘real’ or at least typical Omega, and pregnancy might be fatal. “About a minute and a half,” I whispered.
His lips thinned, and he nodded once while his steady hand gently sat on top of my stomach. As in response, I felt another stabbing pain. His stoic expression didn’t change, and I suspected he attempted to relax me. If there’s anything I needed, it was that.
I steeled myself as best I could while the deep internal ‘pulls’ continued with every heart-pounding second. With no words, he hurried over to the matter creation unit embedded into the stone wall. Quick fingers raced over holographic buttons, and I heard his deep almost musical voice. “Diplomatic Request. I require the following items. I heard several low buzzes while he set several items on the floor just outside of my sight. “Request a prisoner release.”
An electronic voice filled the hall. “Unable to comply.”
“Contact security and have them open the cell.”
“Unable to connect.”
Graden grunted low, and his shoulders rose. “Medical emergency. Scan the cell, now!”
Again, the Volardi love of adaptability served us well. Their computers were both smart and dumb. Just intelligent enough to understand their jobs but with a bit of coaxing, someone could convince them to do other things. Smart enough to comprehend outside requests, but dumb enough to follow. Although in this case, it allowed my father to live.At least I hope so.
The purple security field flickered off, and Graden raced over to the cell where my Pa laid still. For several seconds, he lightly slapped at his face and yelled for him to wake up, then shook him hard. All that happened was a low moan not unlike what I heard from Graden earlier. His lips curled, and he looked at the matter-rearranger with a thoughtful expression. “Three Medical Orbs and a Monitor one. Record and broadcast on several emergency channels.” Through blurry vision, I watch spheres dart to Nate, Matros, and myself.
I would have appreciated his cleverness more if it wasn’t for the constant gut-wrenching contractions. If it were only one, it wouldn’t have been so bad. It was one on top of another with each one a bit worse than the previous one. I wasn’t sure what was the most accurate description. Withering in pain or worn out by the constant waves within my body. Despite the wringing inside, I smiled in appreciation while the medical orb lit my body in glowing purple light. The medical pitch was low, and from what I remembered it was a good sign.I’ll take all I can get.
Nate’s orb practically screeched and his cell filled with flashes of bright white light. They then dimmed, and the whine lowered into a constant dull hum. Common sense told me he was if not fine, than on his way to being better. Matros’ orb had a similar tone.
I turned toward the literally internal problemIhad; not my child but the upcoming delivery with no doctors. Graden raced over and held both of my hands tight. “You are my mate, and nothing bad will happen to you. I give you my word.”
I fought the urge to say: ‘How could you be sure?’ And then decided it wasn’t best. He and I would never be the same, but I recognize his need to protect loved ones and above all, to not be useless. I thought when this moment came, a team of doctors would surround me while he waited to the side. I didn’t think he would have an active role in delivering.
“You are Volardi and my mate with the soul of a Soturi warrior. We are not in an adequate place. This place is old, the fight and explosions damaged it, and we cannot get out. I’ve attempted to contact the outside, and I’m not sure we can get a message out. Peter’s simulacrum is unresponsive. Likewise for Balo’s twin. I suspect Matros’ people know we need help and are working to free us. However, for now, we are alone and have to deliver our son.”
***
Chapter Thirty-Nine
CAAN
Our son.Just two little words and yet they meant so much. This wasn’t just the creation of our love. It was a beginning. I suppose it all started when I was captured. The hated Soturi and even Volardi weren’t so bad, and neither was being an Omega. I fought against the expectations and even the burden of my sex. It wasn’t that anymore. My shaky fingers went over my stomach, and I smiled.No, not a burden, a blessing.
He handed me a vial of red liquid. “Drink it, I will return.” I did, and I grimaced at the sugary cherry taste, while he went over to the cell to check on Nate. He was still cross-legged, and with a slitted-eyed expression, I could only describe as drunk.I’d be too if I got feedback like that.Tiny was well… small, but he packed a powerful punch, even in death. I didn’t have to see my face to know my eyes misted over. The sting was plenty of proof. I heard it said that sims weren’t alive, but it was nice having him around. In a way, he came from me. Maybe he was my attempt to have a ‘baby’ without really having one. No matter the reasoning, I missed the little guy already, and I wanted to break down in tears but couldn’t.
Graden’s hurried run took me out of my daydream as he mentioned Matros was stirring to consciousness but still out. His gaze lingered on the empty vial. “Good, this will, moderate your contractions and reduce the symptoms.”
“I thought Volardi didn’t believe in pain medication?”
“As a rule, we do not. Volardi are warriors, and this includes you. However, you are the first natural Omega. Your contractions are irregular.” His expression was blank, and paradoxically it filled me with worry. His voice drew out. “How do you feel?”
I didn’t have an answer, at least not for him. It was like my monthly heats – at least before I discovered suppressants. He didn’t get those, so there was no commonality. We were both men yet not alike – both in our true sex and upbringing. I didn’t get much sex education growing up on being an Omega – just on how to avoid the troublesome aspects of my sex. My other father was from Earth, and the Volardi weren’t ‘his people,’ both of mine were of Earth. Yet I was beholden to this biology. Deep down I knew one day this would come, and I should know what to expect.
Most birthing videos were propaganda, anybody with a lick of horse sense, knew giving birth wasn’t a comfortable experience. Some like Taleen, took it on as a prideful duty; a pleasurable pain because it made them feel more proud. I didn’t see videos of Omegas or Femeni screaming in agony. The Volardi were many things, but practical described them. They didn’t want potential child bearers to fear giving birth. The public videos showed the little Omega wheezing slightly with a perpetual smile like they were enjoying the experience. Some had a few beads of sweat and then a boom, a healthy boy. I found other videos with ‘real’ births. Not all deliveries were drawn out. Some happened so fast I wondered if they were fake. Others lasted over a full day while the Femeni screamed for hours.
I wonder which one it’ll be for me? Knowing my luck…
I frowned as I thought it. Life hadn’t beenthatbad. Graden’s deep purple eyes looked down and smiled. There was a man who risked everything to be at my side. The same one who re-created the cabin and did his best to understand a non-traditional Omega.
