Back at the hotel, I am knelt over Korre. Her hands are cold, and I can sense the life in her is fading. “Come on, girl. Don’t do this. Your stronger then that.” I try more of my healing magic, but it isn’t working. I look at the med droid hovering nearby. “What’s happening!?”
“She has lost too much blood, mistress. We are attempting to infuse her now, but her condition is so far unchanging.”
“And the child?” The droid doesn’t not answer, which is answer enough in itself. “This is all Sucal’s fault... MY fault...” Korre is shivering intensely, yet when I feel her forehead, she in burning up. “No no no no.” I call on more of my magick to help, even though I fear it is of no use. “Korre, can you hear me?”
I can hear Xan, though it sounds like she is far away. I am fading in and out of reality in a sort of half dream state. I can’t tell what is real and what is not. I feel like I have been pushing for years in a never ending time loop.
A hand gently touches my cheek, and I look up through half swollen shut eyes. I smile at the pleasant face looking down at me. “It’s you...” the kind old man nods, smiling behind his white beard. “I... I’m dying, aren’t I? I can tell... I can’t feel anything anymore.”
The old man doesn’t respond. He just keeps stroking my hair.
“What do I do?” I ask. “I’m afraid. For my son... I don’t want him to die. And I... I don’t want him to grow up without a mother. He already doesn’t have a father and... He deserves the best chance.”
The old man nods, looking sympathetic. Something about his presence gives me hope, like he can somehow make things better. I don’t know if he is a doctor or what, but I’m glad he’s here. “Can you help me? Please.”
Carefully, the old man reaches out and touches my belly. Immediately, I can feel warmth spreading from his touch, and it begins to slowly spread throughout my body. “Thank you, sir... Tell me, what is your name?”
The old man leans in close to my ear and whispers his name, and it is the most beautiful name I have ever heard.
Korre suddenly jerks and gasp, and I nearly jump in surprise. A moment later, the Med droids fly in close and begin chirping to each other in binary speak. Tiny ones close to Korre’s head whisper confronting words and making soothing tones, and the ones at her feet fly into action. I look up at the monitors and am relieved to see Korre’s vitals are rising again. Before I know it, the droids are pulling away from Korre, holding a newborn child in their spoon like arms, and I let out a sob of joy.
All at once, everything has fallen silent... and it takes me a moment to realize that isn’t a good thing. The baby isn’t crying. I look from Korre, who was breathing slowly and steadily, to the droids surrounding the child. “Well? Is it...”
“The child is healthy, mistress. A bit small, perhaps, but we understand Humans range in size to some degree.” The droids gently pivot, allowing Can a clear view of the newly swaddled child. He appears alert and awake,but he does not cry. The droid hovers over to Xan and offers her the child. “Congratulations, mistress. You are, as they say, a grandmother.”
I carefully take the child in my arms, making sure to support his head like I’ve heard you’re supposed to. I run my fingers through the gift of black hair atop his oblong head. In response, the child looks up at me with big amber colored eyes.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, but I was too overcome with emotion to care too much. “Look, Korre.” I whisper, leaning in to show her. “This is your son.”
I smile weakly, taking my child from Xan and laying him against my chest. “My son... I have the perfect name for him.” I lean my head close to his. “My sweet Valkorion.”
END OF SCENE
