Lieutenant JG Ghee'looth Xiron-Star Child
Colgin
((Sickbay, Deck 5, USS Valkyrie-A ))
Ghee’looth stood next to her partner waiting for their appointment with Sylvie Doucet. They had just reunited after another harrowing mission, but weren’t all missions on Valkyrie heroic challenges. She held zha’s hand and tried to savor the moment of peace before the next adventure. From counseling she knew this was a form of disassociation, but it was a common copying mechanism for adult Andorians.
The truth was she was frightened, maybe more so than she had ever been in her life. Her first firefight, eloping with Is’Kah, Frontier Day; that fear had been visceral, a sharp dagger threatening her soft belly. This was different, a dull feeling of dread pulsing from her stomachs to her antennae.
She realized the difference between this fear and those previous ones was of loss, loss of herself or her lover. With creating a new being it was fear of the unknown and the implication that she may fail her child. Despite her post Andorian Gender Revolution upbringing, a two-parent home was starting to feel like a ridiculously unstable home to raise a child.
Ghee squeezed Is’Kah’s hand knowing there was little chance she did not feel her strong emotions through their mind meld bond.
Is’Kah: Sh’za, are you ready?
Xiron::She lend in to touch her antennae to Is’Kah’s forehead.::Ready.::Her voice was soft as if speaking too loudly would interrupt the proceedings.
Is’Kah: You’ll make a great shreya.
Xiron: You will be the proudest zhavey at our child’s first Light Festival.
Is’Kah pressed the chime for the office.
Doucet: Come in!
Ghee’looth politely acknowledged Sylvie, and felt a little better with someone so close to her family involved.
Is’Kah: Thank you for seeing us, Sylvie.
Xiron: Yes, thank you.
Doucet: Of course, Is’Kah! I am glad you are entrusting me with this.
Is’Kah: According to the message I received, the research required to blend our DNA is done. Are there any concerns we should be aware of?
Ghee’looth mind raced over the complex biology Andorians had and her partner’s unique hybrid nature and all the pitfalls that lay before the. She felt self-conscious for the first time since sophomore year at the Academy about her race’s non-binary genetics.
Xiron: It could not have been easy with ninety-five plus percent of humanoids being binary in matters of reproduction.
Doucet: As you’re aware, there is always a risk of complications that comes with pregnancy for both the baby and the mother. Modern medicine has either eliminated or minimized pretty much all of them, but as a medical professional, I hesitate to say that there is zero risk of something happening. This is especially true with hybrid pregnancies because of the inherently random chance of mutations and, well, just how bodies work. As well, the risk of complications grows significantly with the more that has to be blended together. With me so far?
Xiron: Yes, doctor…Sylvia.
Ghee’looth wanted to climb Mount Denali, play dom-jot with a Nausicaan, or listen to her Great Aunt recite the clan honors then hear about the complications.
Is’Kah: Response
Doucet: Right! I expected you would have done your homework. I’m pleased you have. As you’re also aware, there is a ban on genetic engineering in the Federation. There are exceptions for health and reproduction and we are working within those exceptions to make this possible. So I can make this happen but I can’t guarantee that something won’t crop up regardless. We’re dealing with Trill, Vulcan, and Andorian genetics, and while there are broad similarities, there are also key differences that have the potential to play havoc with the pregnancy and the baby’s development. I don’t anticipate anything to happen barring some unforeseen event. My goal here isn’t to scare you off from the prospect. You just need to be aware that there are risks associated with this that we cannot guarantee a complete elimination of and that will necessitate close monitoring of the pregnancy from conception to birth so that we can intervene if necessary.
It was reassuring to hear it from a medical professional that she was so close to. Ghee’looth had been twisting in knots over the multilevel of hybridization. Vulcan, Humans, Klingons all had proven completely open to hybridization, some even without gene engineering. Trills had seemed less amicable to it but it did happen. Andorian hybrids existed but almost all were the product of so much genetic engineering to be almost cloning.
oO Another stigma our child may have to bear on our account me.Oo
Xiron: It is a lot to take in. So much of this child will be unique to the universe.
Is’Kah: Response
Doucet: Good. I will say I am confident in the process. Doctor Edrei’s work was thorough. I’ve double checked everything. You and Ghee’looth are in perfect health. We have some of the best medical facilities in Starfleet on board this ship and all the information we’d need to make this happen. All that is left is to start the process. We can do that anytime you’d like. Do you have any questions about any of this?
Ghee’looth’s antennae fidgeted nervously in a way she rarely let them in public, her face remained stoic.
Xiron: Only about a million but I suppose we will be addressing them one by one as we go.
Is’Kah/Doucet: Response
Ghee looked to her partner, the lady she had fallen for at the Academy and had eloped to in a night of passion on Denali Station. There was the memory of fear that iced her veins as she took this woman to her first battle site and declared love for zha. Xiron remembered the fear and the doubt but also the drive to bond with Is’Kah, and this reminded her of the strength the bond had given her.
Xiron:: A sly smile creased her face:: What are the chances our child will have spots?
Is’Kah/Doucet: Response
(TAG/TBC)
Lieutenant JG Ghee’looth Xiron
Acting Chief Engineer
USS Valkyrie
D240010GX2