Scerior

by Jilly Bowling

  As Jo took in the scene, her mind went back to a medical lecture she had attended, on illness in pregnancy. She had toyed with medicine before she settled on rare species to study at uni. Her brain screamed pre-eclampsia, but she wasn’t sure enough to say it out loud so all she said was “We can’t wait for Ileya, I think we should take her to Ileya’s surgery and she can come there. It’s closer to her rooms, also I think she may have to take the baby, so we’d have to take her to the operating theatre, after Ileya had seen her here”.

  Acorus looked at Jo, then getting to his feet, he lifted Kylie in his arms and issuing orders to the Escorii and his guards, carried her gently towards Ileya’s surgery. One of the guards ran ahead to take Ileya to her surgery, and when Acorus reached there with Kylie, Ileya took one look at her and said “Operating theatre”.

  Kylie was sobbing that it was too soon, she had another three weeks to go and Acorus tried to reassure her without success.

  As he laid her on the operating table, Ileya was scrubbing up, and the Escorii were running around getting the equipment ready. Jo was standing just inside the door not knowing what to do when Ileya turned to her and said “Jo take Acorus’ place holding Kylie’s hand. This is no place for a male”.

  Acorus insisted that he stay but Kylie told him to leave, Jo would take care of her. A strange machine was slid under and around Kylie’s stomach and then the Escorii placed a screen between her stomach and chest. The machine gave off a very slight buzzing noise and Kylie immediately relaxed.

  When asked if her pain was gone, she answered “Yes” So Ileya took up her scalpel and quickly and efficiently removed the baby from Kylie’s womb. It was over so fast, Jo couldn’t believe it.

  Ileya passed the baby to one of her Escorii who took her to a table at the side of the room. It was very quiet and Kylie started to cry that it was dead. She was so distressed that she attempted to move and Ileya told Jo to hold her down.

  Instead Jo told Kylie that if she lay still and let Ileya finish operating, she would go and help the baby. Kylie agreed and Jo went to the table where the baby had been taken.

  She immediately realised that they weren’t trying too hard to make it breathe.

  Feeling angry she pushed them aside and looking at the baby even she could see that its mouth and nose were full of mucous. Looking around she found a thin tube that she used to suck the mucous out. Then very gently she turned the baby over one hand and patted it firmly on its back. Then she moved it quickly through the air and suddenly it sneezed and let out a squeak which quickly turned into a yell of complaint at the treatment it was getting.

  Jo cleaned her up and wrapping her in a fluffy towel took her to her mother. Laying the baby on her mother’s chest she told her that she had another beautiful baby girl. Tears were running down Kylie’s face and Jo couldn’t keep her tears back, no matter how hard she tried. When Kylie asked for Acorus, Jo looked at Ileya for permission, and she nodded and said “I am just tidying you up, but he can come to your head end”.

  Jo went to the door and called Acorus in; he came in quickly, asking if all was well. Ileya told him that the baby was born and she was just seeing to Kylie. Acorus then spoke to Ileya in Sceria, as he realised that she was not telling him everything. When Ileya replied his tone changed and he spoke in the kind of tone that he used to issue orders to his soldiers. Ileya spoke back sharply and Acorus stood up and going to her growled out more orders.

  Jo could see that Ileya wasn’t happy with how he had growled at her, but she lowered her head and carried on with her work.

  Acorus stood by Kylie, holding her hand, and soothing her worries. She knew something was wrong but he calmed her just by his presence.

  It took another good thirty minutes before Ileya was finished with Kylie. When she was satisfied that all was as it should be, she instructed the Escorii to remove the screen, although they still left the machine round Kylie.

  Ileya moved up the operating table to listen to Kylie’s heart, and an Escorii put a machine round her arm to take her blood pressure. When Kylie asked if everything was alright Ileya told her that her heart was fine but her blood pressure was still too high, so she would have to rest completely for a few days and then take things very slowly for quite a few weeks.

  Jo quietly asked Ileya what the problem had been, but looking at Kylie, she shook her head. Then Ileya said that Kylie should stay in the hospital area for a while, but she became upset and told them that she wanted to be in her own room with Tsera and Jo looking after her. Acorus spoke to Ileya in Sceria again and finally she sighed and nodded agreement that Kylie could go home.

  They transferred Kylie; baby and pain management machine onto a trolley and Acorus pushed her back to her room.

  When they got there, Acorus and his two guards lifted the whole mattress, Kylie and the machine onto the bed. Cuddling the baby, Jo felt such a surge of broodiness it left her breathless. She had the most perfect heart shaped face, almond dark blue eyes surrounded with long lashes, and ash blonde hair, she could have been a doll.

  Once Kylie was settled comfortably in her bed, Jo placed the baby in her arms. They looked so beautiful together that Jo felt the tears gather once. Tsera was fussing around, moving Acorus out of her way, saying that they should let Kylie rest after her ordeal.

  Jo leaned over, kissing the baby on her forehead and then Kylie, telling her to rest and that she would be just next door if needed. Acorus asked Kylie if she wanted him to stay but she said no, she was very tired and would probably sleep now, at which he kissed her tenderly and taking Jo’s hand led her out of the room.

  In the living room Jo was surprised to discover that it was late morning. Then she realised that she was very hungry and very tired. She sank down onto a couch and after he had sent Kheta and Khala for food, Acorus joined her. Taking her hand in his Acorus said “I know you are wanting to ask what happened between me and Ileya in the operating room”.

  Jo nodded “I saw that something was very wrong in there. The Escorii weren’t trying to make the baby breathe and Ileya, who was so quick doing the caesarean, was so slow stitching Kylie up”.

  Acorus took a deep breath “The only thing that matters is that Kylie is alive and I think that that is because of you. She had something wrong with her blood pressure which could lead to fits and death”.

  “Eclampsia” Jo murmured.

  “Yes I think that was it. Because the baby is three weeks too soon, she will not be as developed as she should be”.

  “But she’s beautiful” Jo cut in.

  “Not behind in her body but in her brain. That is why the Escorii didn’t try too hard”.

  “That’s absolutely disgusting” said Jo, her voice rising.

  “What you must remember is that they were probably thinking what a hard time she will have, with all the other females at nursery and later” sighed Acorus.

  “But you don’t know if there is going to be anything wrong with her”.

  “Unfortunately we do. Remember, in our pregnancies, in the first four and a half months, the baby grows to full term, and then in the last weeks of the pregnancy the brain grows, more developed than in a human baby” Acorus explained.

  Jo sat taking in what he was meaning. Then the door opened and the Escorii arrived with food and drink. They fussed around laying it out, until Jo felt ready to scream. As they left she said “Then she will have the brain of a human baby, won’t she?”

  He sighed as he answered “We just don’t know how she will develop. No baby has survived at this prematurity”.

  Jo snapped “What you mean is, no baby has been allowed to survive!”

  Acorus looked at her in horror “You mean that babies were killed?”

  “Not killed, just not given the care to enable them to live” Jo replied, feeling her eyes fill with tears yet again.

 
“Oh Jo, please don’t judge us too harshly. We are a people striving to survive. We don’t claim to be perfect. I’m aware how we might be judged but would another species on the verge of extinction have done things any better than us?”

  Jo thought back to what she had wanted to study at university and suddenly felt ashamed of her disgust at the way Kylie’s baby had been left to die. Would humans have tried as hard as the Sceriae to make a horrific situation as good as possible? She cuddled up to Acorus and told him that she hadn’t the right to judge the Sceriae, because she was pretty certain that humans wouldn’t have treated ‘aliens’ with such care.

  Then her stomach rumbled and Acorus laughed “I think you should eat something or your baby will complain that you are starving her”.

  Jo grinned and they went to the table and helped themselves to food and drink. They sat there companionably, both thinking their own thoughts. When they were satisfied they moved back to the couch, and Jo realised that Acorus was quite sad “What’s the matter?” she asked.

  “The problem with the baby isn’t all. Evidently Kylie’s womb was not good. Ileya has been worried about her through the last two pregnancies and this proved her right. She will not be able to have any more babies”.

  “So what did Ileya want to do?” Jo asked.

  Acorus shrugged and looked embarrassed and Jo gasped “She was going to put her down like a brood bitch, that wasn’t useful anymore, wasn’t she?”

  “You have to understand what Sceriae females have been through over many generations.

  They are desperate to save our race, and they have no feelings for the human females, unlike us males who, of necessity, have had closer knowledge of them” and Acorus couldn’t resist raising a devilish eyebrow at her.

  Jo slapped him and said “You are unbelievable!”

  “Sorry, I don’t mean to trivialise what has happened, especially with what has happened to Kylie”.

  “So what has happened?” Jo demanded.

  “I persuaded Ileya to take the damaged womb out”.

  Kylie will be devastated, she loves her babies”, Jo said cuddling into him.

  “We will have to look after her very carefully”.

  Jo smiled at him and said “I’m glad you have included me in that”. Then she had a sudden thought “You know if the baby will have difficulties at the nursery, she could always stay here for Kylie to look after like we do on Earth. After all she is a female who when old enough will provide citizens for Scerior, that is if the Council will allow it!”

  Acorus got up and strode round the room, frowning. Then he stopped in front of Jo “You are right. That is a perfect solution”.

  “Will it be allowed?”

  “The Council have no say in what I choose to do in my own house. Besides it will be a great experiment to see how a human child learns and grows. They will accept that reason, because she could be a problem in nursery” and he pulled Jo to her feet and hugging her tight to him said “You are an amazing female; you save the baby’s life and now what you suggest will save Kylie!”

  “It would be best not to tell her until she is stronger and her body has started to heal”, advised Jo. Acorus agreed with Jo and they decided to play it by ear. They would take one day at a time.

  Seeing that Jo was worn out Acorus called for Tchu and gave orders that Jo should have a shower, massage, and then be allowed to sleep until she woke up naturally. He promised that he would make sure that Kylie was alright before he went about his duties.

  So Acorus had a quick shower, put on his body armour and left Jo to her Escorii’s ministrations.

  Chapter 19

  When Jo woke up she was by herself, and from the light coming in from the shutters she realised that it must be early morning. She lay there going over the events of the day before. When she thought of Kylie and her baby, angry tears came into her eyes. Her perception of Ileya had been changed drastically, however when she let her brain rule her thoughts instead of her emotions she realised that the Sceriae females were no worse than humans who treated their animals in a worse way. Dogs who loved their owners and only wanted to please, were often disposed of when they were old or had become a problem.

  As Acorus had pointed out Sceriae females didn’t spend much time with the human females, so probably thought of them as a lower species. Unfortunately the Sceriae had need of the young female babies that the human females would have. When Jo thought about it, the affection, that Ileya had seemed to have for Julie, had been the same that a human would have for an amusing and clever pet! And although Ileya had been kind to Kylie she still didn’t know her as an equal. It was clear that humans had a lower intelligence than the Sceriae, especially the females, so other than producing girl babies, they weren’t considered in the same way as a Sceriae would Feeling herself become angry, Jo pressed her lips together and swore that she would spend her life trying to change the Sceriae’s mind about who or what was important. Feeling irritated she got out of bed, found a kaftan to slip on and went into the living room. No one was about so she went to Kylie’s room, and hearing voices, knocked and went in.

  Kylie was sitting up in bed, feeding the baby and looking quite sad. When she saw Jo, she smiled and put out a hand. Going to her Jo took her hand and sat on the side of the bed saying “She is so beautiful. The image of you, but with Acorus’s dark eyes”.

  The tears suddenly ran down Kylie’s face and she bit her lip. Jo leaned over and hugged her “Don’t cry Kylie, your baby is healthy and you will feel better soon”.

  Kylie held her hand tight and said “Please, Jo, you are my friend, tell me what is going to happen to her. I’m not stupid and I know she was born too early, to develop the Sceriae brain. Please help me. I haven’t seen Acorus since last night and my Escorii will tell me nothing. They won’t take the pain machine away until Lady Ileya has seen me, and will say nothing about my baby”.

  Her tears became heavier and she started to sob, causing the baby to leave go of her breast and start to cry too. Tsera tried to tell Jo to go, as if she had upset Kylie so she straightened her back and told the Escorii to get out, she would calm Kylie. She spoke so fiercely that they dare not argue with her, Kylie and the baby were shocked into silence too, amazed at Jo’s aggressive confidence.

  Jo gave Kylie a hug and some tissues to wipe hers and the baby’s face and said “Now listen to me Kylie. Nothing is going to happen to your baby. Acorus decided last night that as soon as you felt better, he would tell you the plans that have been made for the baby”.

  Kylie went to interrupt and Jo shushed her and said “Just listen. It has been decided that your baby will stay with you as long as she needs to. You will raise her like she would be on Earth. When it is time for her to go to school, not the nursery, she will go each morning and come home at night”.

  “But” stuttered Kylie “how will that be allowed? When I have another I will need to feed that, I won’t have enough milk”. She looked at Jo’s face and then she gulped “I won’t be having any more, will I? What happened during the birth? I know it seemed strange, even with a caesarean; Ileya was working on me for a long time, wasn’t she? Please tell me the truth Jo, because I’m feeling scared”.

  Jo moved up the bed so she could wrap her arms round her. She felt as if she was cuddling a child” Kylie darling, don’t worry so. You will always be here with Acorus. He loves and cares for you, he would never let any harm come to you. What Ileya discovered when she did the caesarean was that your womb wasn’t very well, so she had to remove it. You will be able to look after your new daughter yourself. Teach her and love her, take her to see her sisters, show her how to paint”.

  As Jo finished speaking she noticed that the door was ajar. As she looked it swung open and Acorus was standing there in his armour. Jo got up quickly and going to him said, “Please don’t be angry. I know you wanted to tell
her. But she was so upset I just had to reassure her”.

  She couldn’t see his face because of his helmet, so didn’t know whether he was angry or not, but as she stood in front of him biting her lip, he took her hand in his and said, “I’m not angry, Jo. I heard all that you told her. It was told with such love in your voice, I couldn’t have done it so well”.

  Letting go of her hand, he took off his helmet, and going to the bed he gently took Kylie and the baby in his arms. Kissing them gently he declared, “I’m sorry to tell you, little one that both of you are stuck with me for life. Don’t be upset, you have given Scerior thirteen beautiful females. I am so proud of you, and I am sure you’ll find so much more to contribute to Scerior that your name will be long remembered!”

  Kylie cuddled into him and told him that she adored him, and would try to make him even prouder of her.

  Jo felt a little bit awkward so she started to back out of the room. Acorus must have heard her move so he turned his head sharply and said “No, don’t go. Come here so I can hold all three of my beautiful females”.

  She went to him, and he put an arm round her, pulling her as close as his armour would allow. Kylie reached out and took Jo’s hand and they all they all sat there, vowing that they would care for each other and the new baby for ever.

  Suddenly Acorus started to laugh “I’m setting solid, too frightened to move in case I damage any of you!”

  Jo moved away from him and said “I must admit, I’ve cuddled softer things”.

  They carefully unwrapped themselves and moved apart; laughing as Acorus painfully straightened up, groaning and saying he was getting too old for four in a bed. Jo pushed him and told him to go get changed so he gave Kylie a final kiss and picking up his helmet left the room.

  The baby started to whine and Kylie changed her to her other breast saying “There’s nothing wrong with her appetite”. Then looking at Jo she went on “I hope you don’t mind but I have decided to call her Anna, after her saviour”.