The Big Day

  V’Daha Settlement

  Darcy's Cabin

  Darcy stands before a large mirror. At least for now, all she wears is what amounts to a neck to ankle slip made from thin black netting. She takes in her body from nearly every angle, judging herself the entire time. Pressing a hand against her abdomen, she attempts to suck it in. Mifbon admonishes her with a friendly hand swat.

  "Stop trying to make things smaller which are impossible. For an ooman who has already birthed one childling...And will soon birth another...Your stomach shows very little signs of it. You are fine."

  "So I am pregnant?" Darcy exclaims, looking down at her belly in surprise. "I thought I might be, but I was afraid to mention it to Vildif. Or Yau-tala. Yau-tala seems so smitten with Teresa's son. She adores him. I think it is because she wants children of her own. With the one she calls an eril'k. I didn't think it would be fair to rub it in her face. Considering the eril'k is no longer here."

  Mifbon chuckles and shakes her head solemnly. How little these ooman females understand. Even after so long amongst the inhabitants of this forlorn settlement. What they cannot read in a book, or view on a device, oomans refuse to believe. Instinct, and the use of all one's senses, are not ooman strong suits.

  "If I am aware...Then, both Vildif and Yau-tala are aware as well. It is a yautja tradition not to divulge information which has not been asked for. Yau-tala is a healer. She knows more about such things than anyone else alive on V’Daha. Vildif is a male. They are very good at sniffing out which females can or cannot be mated with. Due to the level of their heaviness or who they are mated to. In a very short time, you will start showing. Then, all will know. Approximately three ooman months into a cycle of heaviness, the fetus will double in size nearly overnight. It is a mechanism which aids the yautja's survival as a species. But do not ask me to explain it. The details are not so fresh in my old mind."

  "Double in size overnight? What will that do to my skin? Won't I be hurt?" Darcy nearly yells, her voice straining from excitement.

  "No. Right now, your skin is being fed nutrients which will increase elasticity. I exaggerated a little. It may take as long as four or five ooman days for the change to become noticeable. You will not be injured. Before the child is birthed, your body will reverse the process. Of course, I am basing most of my theorizing on yautja physiology. As well as the experiences of Dr. Boyd and the other oomans. All of the ooman females who have birthed yautja hybrids did so with remarkable recovery times. And very little damage to their bodies."

  "All except one!" Darcy protests, crossing her arms over her chest. "Eldress Lex! She died."

  Mifbon cringes at the mention of the Lex ooman's death. Eldress Lex had been a dear friend. Kind and gentle, with a fierce spirit. In so many ways, Teresa mirrors Lex, but she can never replace her. Mifbon realizes Vildif may be following in his grieving father’s footsteps, reaching for the next best thing.

  "That was not the same thing, Darcy. Eldress Lex was much older in age than is normal for an ooman to bear a childling. Even strong elixirs cannot always cheat the hand of fate. A gamble was made. The cost of such a gamble was Eldress Lex's life. A tragic loss. I loved Eldress Lex as if she were a sister. She was a dear friend."

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  "I'm sorry. I don't mean to be offensive," Darcy says, dropping her arms down and staring at Mifbon with an expression akin to fear. "I'm just nervous."

  "I know, dear. I was not offended."

  "Okay. Good."

  Mifbon walks behind Darcy. Though she is much older than the ooman female, she towers over Darcy by about a foot. Placing her hands around Darcy's middle, Mifbon cradles the young woman's stomach over the thin netting covering most of her body.

  "When Eldress Lex was heavy with Vildif, I held her the same way. She had many of the same worries and anxieties you now have. The only difference was...Eldress Lex had never before birthed a childling. Ooman or otherwise. Vildif was her first. I sat with her for nearly two days. I held her, I consoled her when she cried, and I sang to Vildif in the language of his ancestors before he was even birthed. We became very close. I can do the same for you, Darcy. You do not have to do this alone."

  "Oh, Mifbon. You're always taking care of others. What about you? And Halyiis? What time will you two have together?"

  "I am old, Darcy! All I have left is time. I am much too old to think of childlings. Of my own anyway. I derive great joy from helping young mothers navigate motherhood. I enjoy the time I have with each and every childling. Your offspring will be no different."

  "Thank you, Mifbon. Thank you."

  Darcy turns in Mifbon's arms and hugs the large matronly female. She quickly becomes embarrassed, her near nakedness making her self-conscious. Dropping her arms from Mifbon's shoulders, Darcy backs away.

  "I'm sorry. I get really emotional sometimes," Darcy rambles. "That's how I ended up with my child's father. He was my boss on Weyland Station Thirteen. He saw me crying one day and invited me out for a few drinks. One thing led to the other. Then suddenly, I was pregnant. I really need to learn how to control my emotions."

  "You have been through much. Just as Dr. Boyd has been through much. I am not surprised you both ended up here on V’Daha. This is a planet where those who have suffered much can find solace. I offer solace to you. I will help you care for your childlings. However I can."

  Mifbon steps forward and grips Darcy's slender shoulders, staring down into her tragic brown eyes.

  "But first, we must get you ready for the joining ceremony."

  -

  -

  When Darcy emerges from the temple entrance, crossing under the newly constructed floral archway, she is no longer dressed in only netting. The thin material of the white gown Darcy wears hugs every curve of her body, while obscuring any view of said curves. Mifbon follows closely behind the young woman, a wide smile on her hybrid face.

  Every member of the settlement is present. The crowd stands to either side of the path from the temple, hoping to catch a glimpse of the vil’par of the elder's son. While joinings are nothing new on V’Daha, neither of the elder's descendants has ever taken a vil’par. Until now.

  Darcy's confidence slips as she views the size of the crowd. She had no idea the settlement's population was so large. Reaching back, Darcy grips Mifbon's much larger hand. Mifbon squeezes Darcy's slender hand reassuringly.

  "You'll be fine," Mifbon whispers.

  A few meters away, Elder Scar and Vildif are standing under a second floral archway. Elder Scar is dressed in full elder garb. Vildif is adorned similarly, lacking only a robe. Vildif’s brand new combistick hangs on his muscular right hip. With the exception of his unique mask, the rest of Vildif's suit was created by Elder Scar and Halyiis, as a gift for his joining. Straining the already finite resources of the settlement. After the joining ceremony, the net slip Darcy wears will be repurposed. Vildif's suit will not.

  Darcy nearly shrinks into herself as she approaches the two hulking figures. Doubts race through her mind and she glances to one side. Can she change her mind? Should she change her mind? But she does love Vildif.

  Courage finds Darcy again when Vildif smiles and offers her his hand. Darcy swallows down a lump in her throat, licking her lips. She continues forward until she is standing directly in front of Vildif. Elder Scar smiles as well. It is now time for the joining.