Teresa awakens lying on her back on the mattress, Vor'taalnis' weight presses down against her chest and stomach. The childling has fallen asleep on top of her, his head nestled under her chin.

  Teresa enfolds him in her arms and kisses the top of his head. The toddler chitters softly and raises his head, green eyes focusing sleepily on his mother's tired face.

  "Muth-er," he says, followed by low chittering sounds.

  Teresa struggles to maintain focus on Vor'taalnis' face, her eyelids feeling especially heavy. She strokes his thick dreadlocks with her left hand. Attempting a soft whisper, Teresa barely recognizes her own voice due to the hoarseness of it.

  "I'm here, baby. I'm here," Dr. Boyd manages weakly, before passing out again. Vor'taalnis gazes down at his mother with an expression too mature for his tiny face. Something is clearly wrong.

  Vor'taalnis chitters softly and nuzzles his mother's chin. He strokes the side of her face with a tiny hand. Hours later, when she finally awakens, Vor'taalnis is still asleep curled atop her chest and abdomen.

  -

  -

  "Teresa...Dr. Boyd," N-Vorl says, his green eyes riveted to Teresa's slumbering face. For what is easily the tenth time, she has fallen asleep in front of her computer, after staring for hours at notes and various scientific charts.

  "Maybe...You should rest in your quarters?" N-Vorl says with a cruel sneer, as Teresa opens her eyes and yawns noisily.

  "And maybe you...Should leave me alone!" Teresa shoots back, straightening up in her chair and returning to the research at hand. N-Vorl steps closer, drawing in the ooman scientist's scent. She is not really angry, simply annoyed. She is also extremely tired, her eyelids low and heavy.

  N-Vorl turns up the open disdain another ten degrees. He leans on the edge of the desk.

  "That is not part of my duties."

  Teresa whirls in her chair to face him, her light skin flushing with anger.

  "Oh...To hell with your duties! You're a cruel idiot. You enjoy making me uncomfortable...Making me feel incompetent. I'm guessing...You were never taught that the best way to a woman's heart is through kindness. You'll be waiting a long time."

  N-Vorl's mouthfolds grow taunt, and then balloon out, with his bottled up anger. Standing to his full height, N-Vorl flexes his left hand at his side. Teresa's chest tightens. What will he do?

  "You are no good to us...Asleep at your station. I will inform Elder Glandis that you will be in your quarters...Resting."

  Without another word, N-Vorl storms off.

  -

  -

  N-Vorl's clawed hand caresses Teresa's cheek, slowly sliding down one side of her neck and across her chest. She trembles slightly as he trails his finger around her navel.

  "A childling..." N-Vorl whispers into the silence, muttering almost to himself.

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  "What?" Teresa sighs, as if she has not heard him.

  She arches her back, encouraging her lover to continue. N-Vorl leans forward and kisses her forehead.

  "Nothing," he says softly. "It was nothing."

  Kissing her passionately on the lips, N-Vorl pulls Teresa close.

  -

  -

  Teresa's eyes shoot open and she attempts to bolt upright in bed. Only Vor'taalnis' weight on her chest prevents her from sitting up. The toddler's eyes are open, gazing worriedly up at her.

  "Oh, baby...I'm sorry. I woke you?"

  Teresa readjusts Vor'taalnis and sits up on the bed. A sharp pain courses Teresa's back and abdomen, and her breath is nearly stolen away. The former scientist's eyes grow wide and she presses one hand to the side of her stomach.

  "Oh no. No. I...I have to speak with Yau-tala. Oh no. It's been about six months since we left the facility. I only slept for three. And not all at once. How far along would I be? No. Not again. Oh no."

  Carefully depositing Vor'taalnis on the mattress, Teresa climbs gingerly off the bed. Another sharp pain causes her to gasp for breath and grip the bed's frame. Yes. That's what this is. She's pregnant. Again. At three months, the yautja fetus' growth nearly doubles. It uses the energy and material it has stored up to quickly add mass to its bulk.

  But this feels somehow different. Staring down at her stomach, Teresa swears that it already looks more bloated than when she stepped out of the shower mere hours ago. She had believed she was simply approaching her menstruation cycle. The scientists aboard the Weyland station hadn't bothered to supply her with any form of birth control during their torture treatments. Floating alone in space, with only her son as company, she hadn't considered it necessary either. It wouldn't have done much good anyway. She is pregnant. Thank goodness, it can't possibly be felon Norris' baby. Not with this rate of growth.

  "Vor'taalnis, I need you to stay here. Can you be good for Mommy? Can you stay here?"

  Vor'taalnis nods with a tiny smile and flexes the tips of his fingers in a gesture which mimics a child's feeble hand wave.

  Teresa's heart nearly breaks as she watches her son attempt to communicate. She quickly buttons up her blouse. Without another word, she turns and heads out of the house, to find Yau-tala.

  -

  -

  Scar is just crossing the village square when he catches sight of Teresa. The ooman female seems distracted, hurrying toward the cabin where Yau-tala performs her medical activities. Her tiny son is nowhere in sight. The surrogate elder's eyes narrow as he watches her go. Something has her greatly distressed.

  -

  -

  Vor'taalnis is seated alone on his mother's bed, one clawed hand playing through his thick hair. He glances up as Elder Scar enters. Unsure of who this new visitor is, Vor'taalnis chitters excitedly. Scar closes the distance in only a few long strides. He drops to one knee beside the bed and runs a clawed hand over Vor'taalnis' head.

  "We must ensure you look the part, young one. I will see to that."

  Bending forward, Scar kisses Vor'taalnis' forehead. A tiny chitter escapes the hybrid's mouth and Scar's eyes widen. Could it be?

  -

  -

  When Teresa returns home, Scar is no longer with Vor'taalnis. The childling seems extremely animated, chittering loudly. However, his chittering seems more rhythmic--almost like true phrases. Phrases he repeats over and over.

  "Vor'taalnis? Are you okay, baby?"

  "Mother!" Vor'taalnis says, extending his hands forward.

  The rest of the childling's words are lost in a jumble of chitters and soft sounds. Teresa takes very little notice. She rushes to Vor'taalnis and takes him up into her arms.

  "Oh baby. I'm sorry. I didnt want to leave you alone. Mommy needed to check on something. And now that I know for sure...I might as well tell you too. You're going to be a big brother, Vor'taalnis. Twice over. No wonder, Mommy's been so tired."

  Teresa knows that her son cannot understand. She simply needed to say it, in order to truly believe it. Twins. Oh hell. And no med pod? N-Vorl's words of caution replay in her head.

  "Oh hell," Teresa whispers to no one in particular.

  -

  -

  Standing before Lex's alter, Scar smiles the smallest of yautja smiles and touches his hand to the resin chamber containing his late beloved.