Mutant Miracle Baby 3
anonymous
December 18 2013, 19:44:34 UTC
Some discussion of abortion in this section.
“From the scans I can estimate you at about five weeks along,” Chakwas explained, showing Shepard an image that was (supposedly) her baby. She tilted her head, trying to make heads or tails of it. Maybe if she looked at it from another angle… Nope. Still just a blob.
“The embryo is doing surprisingly well. Your body appears to be having no adverse reactions to it. We can’t rule out the possibility of your body rejecting the embryo, particularly as it appears to be entirely dextro-based, but miscarriage is always a danger during pregnancy.”
The doctor paused, eyeing her patient shrewdly. “Shepard, you don’t have to go through with this,” she said softly.
Shepard let out a choked laugh. “Don’t I?”
Chakwas sat down next to Shepard on the edge of the exam table, gazing at the younger woman with compassion. “No one can force this on you, no matter how much their scientific curiosity would wish it otherwise.”
Chakwas put a comforting hand on her arm, wishing she could banish the lost look from Shepard’s eyes. “What do you want, Jane?” she asked, no longer speaking as a doctor but as a friend.
The commander shook her head. “I don’t know. I mean, is it going to end up handicapped or ostracized? Some cross-species freak? Stuck as a lab rat for curious scientists? I couldn’t do that to any child,” she said decisively, her brows lowering as she thought of some of the worse fates that could befall him or her.
Chakwas considered Shepard’s concerns. “The embryo is identical to a turian embryo at this stage. Based on our initial tests, it seems that the child will grow into a normal, healthy turian,” she explained. “Everyone will be far more interested in scanning you than the child, I’m afraid, whether you go through with the pregnancy or not.” Chakwas cleared her throat. “What about personally, dear? You don’t have to discuss this with me if you don’t want to, but I’m more concerned about you than the child.”
Shepard let out a sigh. “It’s not like I have anyone else to talk to,” she said with a wry smile. She looked down at her feet. “I don’t know, Karin. Garrus and I weren’t exactly at this point in our relationship. I hadn’t even told him I loved him before I got dragged back to Earth. I don’t know if he wants kids, or…” Her voice got quiet. “Wants kids with me.”
Chakwas gave her patient’s shoulder a small squeeze. “Garrus doesn’t do things halfway, Shepard.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Shepard murmured cryptically, furrowing her brow. “This all may be a moot point. How could I possibly consider bringing a child into the galaxy when we’re on the verge of a reaper invasion?” She gazed up at Chakwas with troubled eyes.
The doctor gave her a small smile. “Jane, you never answered my question.” Her eyes bored into Shepard’s. “Everything else aside, what do you want?”
Shepard looked bewildered by the question. How long had it been since she’d asked herself that? Her shoulders slumped. “I don’t know.”
Chakwas gave her shoulder a pat. “You have time,” she told her.
Re: Mutant Miracle Baby 3
anonymous
December 19 2013, 07:47:01 UTC
I enjoy the dialogue here. It flows well. It makes me want to know how your character's choices will influence the outcome. So, ah, hope you don't mind campers cause I'll be setting up here.
“From the scans I can estimate you at about five weeks along,” Chakwas explained, showing Shepard an image that was (supposedly) her baby. She tilted her head, trying to make heads or tails of it. Maybe if she looked at it from another angle… Nope. Still just a blob.
“The embryo is doing surprisingly well. Your body appears to be having no adverse reactions to it. We can’t rule out the possibility of your body rejecting the embryo, particularly as it appears to be entirely dextro-based, but miscarriage is always a danger during pregnancy.”
The doctor paused, eyeing her patient shrewdly. “Shepard, you don’t have to go through with this,” she said softly.
Shepard let out a choked laugh. “Don’t I?”
Chakwas sat down next to Shepard on the edge of the exam table, gazing at the younger woman with compassion. “No one can force this on you, no matter how much their scientific curiosity would wish it otherwise.”
Chakwas put a comforting hand on her arm, wishing she could banish the lost look from Shepard’s eyes. “What do you want, Jane?” she asked, no longer speaking as a doctor but as a friend.
The commander shook her head. “I don’t know. I mean, is it going to end up handicapped or ostracized? Some cross-species freak? Stuck as a lab rat for curious scientists? I couldn’t do that to any child,” she said decisively, her brows lowering as she thought of some of the worse fates that could befall him or her.
Chakwas considered Shepard’s concerns. “The embryo is identical to a turian embryo at this stage. Based on our initial tests, it seems that the child will grow into a normal, healthy turian,” she explained. “Everyone will be far more interested in scanning you than the child, I’m afraid, whether you go through with the pregnancy or not.” Chakwas cleared her throat. “What about personally, dear? You don’t have to discuss this with me if you don’t want to, but I’m more concerned about you than the child.”
Shepard let out a sigh. “It’s not like I have anyone else to talk to,” she said with a wry smile. She looked down at her feet. “I don’t know, Karin. Garrus and I weren’t exactly at this point in our relationship. I hadn’t even told him I loved him before I got dragged back to Earth. I don’t know if he wants kids, or…” Her voice got quiet. “Wants kids with me.”
Chakwas gave her patient’s shoulder a small squeeze. “Garrus doesn’t do things halfway, Shepard.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Shepard murmured cryptically, furrowing her brow. “This all may be a moot point. How could I possibly consider bringing a child into the galaxy when we’re on the verge of a reaper invasion?” She gazed up at Chakwas with troubled eyes.
The doctor gave her a small smile. “Jane, you never answered my question.” Her eyes bored into Shepard’s. “Everything else aside, what do you want?”
Shepard looked bewildered by the question. How long had it been since she’d asked herself that? Her shoulders slumped. “I don’t know.”
Chakwas gave her shoulder a pat. “You have time,” she told her.
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