by Crystal Dawn
Lu was looking at Stef and not watching Risa at all. “Hey, what did you say you liked for a boy?”
“I liked Orias, but you never said anything.” Stef replied.
“It’s a good solid name.” He said then he flinched when Stef groaned.
“What about a girl?” Lu asked.
“I thought about Lily or Lulu.” Stef admitted.
“Lily is the best. People tease girls named Lulu.” Lu said.
“I bet no one would tease your daughter.” Stef said.
Lu smirked. “You might be right.”
“The baby is in the proper position. Now we wait.”
“That wasn’t as bad as I expected.” Lu admitted.
“That’s because it wasn’t your belly being twisted.” Stef grouched. “Ugh.”
“What’s wrong?” Lu asked.
“A really sharp labor pain.” Stef replied. “My water broke.”
“It’s okay. I think your baby is coming now.” Risa offered.
The pains were coming faster and Stef was sweating and her face was pale. Stef wasn’t screaming, exactly. She was making a grunting noise each time the pains hit. Win suspected it was on purpose to help distract from the pain.
“I see the head crowning. I need you to push as hard as you can.” Risa encouraged.
Stef made a howling noise. “Good, the head is out. Take a deep breath and one more hard push for the shoulders.” Risa urged. Stef made another howling sound and Risa pulled the little bloody thing out. She handed Lu the scissors and he cut the umbilical cord. “May I present your daughter, Lily.”
“Oh, my God she is gorgeous.” Stef cried as the bloody baby wrapped in a towel was put in her arms.
“She’s beautiful.” Lu agreed.
Win wondered if the red hair the baby had would affect its personality. There were some red headed demons like Lu, but demons were high strung anyway regardless of hair color. This baby was only half demon so she should be more like a god. Win looked closely to be sure, but he saw no tail, horns, or wings.
Chapter 3
Baby Doctor
Risa was tired, but happy. That she’d been able to turn the baby successfully filled her with a sense of accomplishment. She’s never considered going into obstetrics or pediatrics, but she had to admit it felt good to help bring a new life into the world.
“How are you feeling, Stef? I need to know if anything feels off. Normally I would run some test to be sure everything is just right, but we can’t do that up here.”
“I feel wonderful.” Stef said as she held her baby tight.
Risa worried because the baby was seven pounds and she had turned her while inside her mother. The potential for damage was there. It would worry her until they landed and she was able to check more thoroughly.
“You did a great job.” Lu complimented.
“Thank you. Just keep a close eye on her, okay?” Risa asked. “She also needs some food and maybe some juice. It’ll help give her the energy and strength to deal with a baby and nursing.”
“I’m on it.” Lu said taking the baby with him. That was best since Stef was asleep.
“What are you worried about?” Win asked.
“I had to turn the baby. She’s a big girl and I’m worried it may have hurt something. Stef seems alright right now, but I’d like to do an ultrasound just to be sure.” Risa admitted.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d take you for a nurturer.” Win noted.
“Don’t worry, you don’t have to take me for anything.” Risa observed and she walked away leaving Win to watch her patient.
She got back in her seat and relaxed. Observing the pillow and blanket Win had on his seat, she managed to find the one that was hers. Pulling them out from where they were stowed, she got comfortable and leaned the seat back. Risa got to sleep right away. There were no dreams and when she woke it was because Win was shaking her.
“We’re about to land. You’ll have to sit up.”
Win sounded irritated. She would never understand guys like him. It was the cool logical ones, scientists at heart, that she could relate to. The emotional creative types were as far away from her type as they could be. Risa sat her seat up and replaced the pillow and the blanket into their spot.
“Are we at our final destination?”
“Yes. You’ll need to wait a few minutes after we land before you get off the plane. When Stef is helped off, you’ll go with her so you can get started on all those tests you’re concerned about.” Win declared.
“Those tests are necessary to be sure she’s alright.”
“Fine. I have to go. Someone will come get you.”
She watched as Win stalked away seeming angry for whatever reason he had. Leaning back in the seat, she tried to relax since she was sure she would have a long wait. Risa did have a wait, but it wasn’t as long as she expected. Stef was at the exit on a stretcher with Lu carrying Lily. Getting there just as Stef was taken down the stairs, Risa followed after them.
She looked around as she walked out into the new environment she would be spending many years in. Risa was stunned that she could see the beach covered in snow white sand and the water was a deep blue. The sun was bright so it was daytime and she wasn’t sure how long they’d been in the air. There was a building being built, but no sign of the facility which told her it was underground. That was what she’d grown used to when she’d worked with Origin.
The entry to the underground facility wasn’t far from the landing strip. Origin always liked convenience. Win was in the front and he held the door open on one side while a younger demon held the other. The guys carrying the stretcher hurried through while the rest followed behind. They would head to the med lab that every Origin facility held. She wondered if it would be a small one that did only basic sample gathering and patient care or one of the more elaborate labs.
The size of the facility didn’t determine the lab size. Samples often came in from outside of the larger labs making it unnecessary to have that many individuals on hand for samples. Only certain types of experiments required the donors of genetic materials to be readily available. Some of her experiments had been like that. Not the ones she chose to run, but the ones she was given no choice, but to perform.
Risa didn’t like to think about it, but her little sister’s life depended on her doing what she was told. Leann was much younger than she was. Risa’s parents had been killed and Leann taken hostage at the same time which was just before she had been looking for a job. She’d immediately rejected Origin, but they didn’t take no for an answer. Once they let her know they had Leann who was only six at the time, she’d had no choice, but to go work for them.
They sent her pictures of Leann once a month before she’d been arrested. Now they came once every three months. She’d ask why her pictures had slowed in coming. The answer was things were tough all over. Everyone from Origin she’d worked with was an asshole. As far as she knew, she was the only one who hadn’t chosen to be there. Maybe that wasn’t fair. Her fellow coworkers didn’t know she was coerced so she wouldn’t know if they were.
The others, those she’d worked directly with, had wanted results without caring about how they got them. She’d always tried to keep the pain to a minimum and to help those in the cells as much as she could. It hadn’t helped them and it certainly hadn’t helped her. Maybe kindness was the resort of the weak.
She was surprised when she entered the med bay where they’d put Stef on a bed and it was an actual hospital bed not a tin mattress on a cot. It looked like someone had remodeled the patient area to make it comfortable. Risa had always thought being sick was bad enough without being in an ugly room with uncomfortable furniture.
There was a room for child patients that was downright adorable. How many children were here? She’d assumed Stef had come here pregnant and Lu had grown attached, but what if it was Lu’s child she’d delivered? The dark red hair was the same shade as his, but there were no signs of a demon.
That didn’t necessarily mean much since all that human DNA would stop many of the stronger traits like horns, tails, and wings. The gods didn’t have those traits and they came from essentially the same place with different amount of the god genes mixed in.
It would be amazing if the gods and demons could breed. That they could or even would hide that was also amazing. From a professional standpoint, being here might not be so bad after all. She approached Stef who was relaxed on the bed.
“I’m going to move the ultrasound machine to you. I just want to make sure we didn’t disrupt anything when we flipped the baby.” She moved the small mobile machine to her. “I’m going to put some gel on your stomach. I’m sorry, but it’ll be cold.”
Risa squirted it on and Stef yelped. “Sorry.” She put the device on Stef’s stomach and circled it around. “You can see all your organs on the display.” Her hand moved it around and she looked everywhere to be certain all was okay. “Everything looks fine. You can go home as long as you have someone there to help you and keep an eye on you and the baby.”
“I’ll be with her for a week or more if necessary.” Lu offered.
“Good. Bring her back in a week and we’ll see how everything looks.”
“Okay. We’ll see you then.” Lu said and Stef nodded.
Risa would offer them a wheelchair, but she didn’t know if they had any. There were people here that hadn’t been on the plane, but she didn’t know if they worked here or if they were just nosy. She would just wait to see who stayed once Lu left. They carried out Stef on a stretcher with Lu carrying the baby behind them. Win walked in front with a younger demon opening doors.
Once the parade cleared out, half a dozen people were still left behind. “I’m Dr. Risa Howerton. Are the rest of you part of my team?”
“I am Asog. I will be your understudy. I am working to become a doctor. Nicor, here, is the nurse’s aide. He is already trained and very capable. Wormwood is a registered nurse. He is also fully trained and ready to assist. Krampus is the custodian of the whole facility. He keeps everything clean and in good condition. Baka and Procel are just here to help remodel. They have plans for you to look over.”
“Thank you. It is nice to meet all of you. Baka, Procel you can just leave the plans and I’ll look them over and get back to you.” Risa suggested. They looked at her as if they didn’t know what to do for a second before Baka handed her the plans and he walked out. Procel followed him.
Now Risa surveyed the rest of her people. “How do your shifts work?” She asked.
“Nicor, Wormwood, and I are each on an eight hour shift. If someone isn’t available, the other two work twelve hour shifts. If a situation is serious, they either call in help or fly the patient to the nearest hospital once they’re stabilized. That’s an hour away. We also have two med techs for emergencies.”
“Who are the med techs?”
“Win and Lu.” Nicor answered. Risa was ready to cry about her luck. “There’s also another nurse. She’ll be available again soon.”
“Who is that?”
“Nurse Sheila. She just had a baby.”
“Okay. That’s a help.” Risa admitted.
“I heard they were considering bringing more Origin medical staff here. Lu was going to have you look over some names.” Asog admitted.
“There are few you would want here.” Risa said then wondered what they thought of her.
“We heard you had to turn the princess before she was able to be delivered.” Asog asked.
“Princess?”
“It’s a joke. Lucifer Prince of darkness?” Nicor chuckled.
“Oh, of course.” Risa stuttered. They had an odd sense of humor too.
“That must have been hard to turn her without lights or stirrups.” Asog wondered.
“It wasn’t as hard as you might think, but I was worried about damage inside Stef. That was why we did the ultrasound. Are there many expectant mothers to see on a regular basis? What about children?”
“We have a few. We have outsiders working here and some of them bring children and families with them.” Asog noted.
“I saw they were building something large up above ground.” Risa observed.
“Yes, it’s a hotel, restaurant, and entertainment center.” Asog replied. “We’ll bring in large groups and it will provide for all of us.”
“That sounds exciting. Will the band be playing up there?” Risa asked.
“They will, but other groups will too. Demons are good at music and acting. It’s a way to release our creativity.” Asog explained.
“I hope I get to see some shows.” Risa offered.
“I bet you will.” Asog guessed.
“That will make it more important to have medical staff available. If the groups coming in are large, we’ll need more staff.” Risa concluded.
“Yes, that’s why Lu is considering some of Origins medical staff.” Asog agreed.
“That will require some careful consideration.” Risa admitted.
“That’s why he’s going to let you cull the list then we’ll consider the rest. What is it you don’t like about some of your former coworkers?” Asog asked.
“I didn’t like working for Origin at all. Some of the doctors didn’t value life, didn’t care if they caused pain, and some were sexual predators. Those like that, thought they were in a candy store on a free day with no limits.” Risa admitted.
“What did you do?” Nicor whispered.
“Whatever I could, but it was never enough.” Risa admitted. “When does Lu plan to give me that list?”
“Tomorrow in the morning when we meet at eight to go over whatever we can. He’ll want your opinions on the plans too.” Asog concluded. “Maybe you should take the plans to your room and look them over. Go have a meal in the cafeteria and then go back to your room and rest.”
“That’s pretty good advice.” She picked up the plans and looked around. “I guess I’ll go then. Who wants to show me the cafeteria and my room?”
“I will.” Nicor offered with a wink. All the demons were sexy and built perfectly. Risa supposed that’s what manipulated superior DNA could do. They’d picked the humans with the best physical and mental traits they could find to combine with the DNA.
“Lead the way. It was nice to meet the rest of you and I look forward to us working together.” Risa said before she followed Nicor out the door.
The cafeteria wasn’t far and the scents of good food were making her hungry. It occurred to her she had slept through the meal served on the plane. “We can have lunch together and I’ll show you where your room is.”
“Okay, that sounds like a plan. Maybe you can show me what’s good.” Risa offered.
They stepped in the crowded cafeteria and the sounds dropped significantly as everyone seemed to look at her. “We rarely have new people.” Nicor admitted. “Pick up a tray, utensils, napkins, and a glass here.”
Risa followed his lead and he took her through the line making suggestions until their plates were full and they both had a drink. Next he led her to a table that was conveniently empty. “Not sharing a table will make it easy to carry on a conversation.” Nicor said.
“Indeed. Although if they have the super senses I think they do, everything we say will be heard.” Risa concluded.
“Then we’ll stick to general matters.” Nicor offered. “Where was your most recent residence?”
Risa skipped the detention center which was at the top of her list. “San Diego,near the bay. I had an old home rumored to have been built during the gold rush. It certainly looked that style.”
“Did you like living in the area?”
“Yes, the restaurants, the shopping, the sights were just marvelous.” Risa gushed.
“I wish I could visit there sometime.”
“Why don’t you? Cali is used to all kinds of sights.”
“You really don’t think they’d notice a guy with solid black wings and red horns?”
; “There are times of the year when they wouldn’t. Halloween, when certain films are being shot near town, and when any of the cons are nearby. People can be tolerant to a point. They are only scared of something if they don’t have an explanation for it. If they can attribute someone’s appearance to something they think they know, they’re fine with it.”
“Wouldn’t you feel bad about deceiving them?”
“If I was stealing from them or causing them harm, I would. But when you’re just avoiding their judgment about something they don’t know about and can’t truly understand? No, I don’t. All they are doing then is denying you the rights you have.”
“Maybe I will go with you sometime.”
“I would be honored to show you around.”
They stopped talking for a while as they ate their meal and the crowd thinned out. By the time they were done, few people were still in the dining area.
“Come on, I’ll show you were your room is.” Nicor got up and he led the way back toward medical. “Full time medical personnel are given rooms in the medical hall for convenience.”
“I’m used to that.” It was true. Origin did the same thing and it was convenient for her too.
“You’ll love this then. Your room is just the other side of medical. Our rooms are a ring around it. Anyone you select from Origin will be right here in our happy family.” Nicor cautioned.
“I’ll be careful about who I suggest. There are more who are wrong than any who will work. Thank you for showing me around. How do I get in and out?”
“I’ll have to set your lock. Look into the retina scanner and press your thumb under it.”
She did exactly as he instructed. A beep went off. “This room is now assigned to Dr. Risa Howerton.” A robotic voice said.
“Top of the line security.” Nicor explained. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He turned and walked away.
Risa opened her door and walked in. Her luggage was all here, even what had gone to the hotel. She dropped onto the bed feeling mentally fatigued. Her quarters had two bedrooms, a large master bath, and a bathroom for guests that the second bedroom also used. There was a kitchen, a gourmet one with a full dining room.
