A DARLING 'Little' SURPRISE

by: Mr. David R. Dorrycott

All characters, creations and realities

"Empty again 'lith"

"Exactly. It's like they just moved out."

Private Research Ship (PRS) Star Diamond drifted, holding just a hundred meters off the wreaks stern. Inside the ancient, star rotted hulk Snowaters drifted into yet another huge stateroom. As with the last thirty or so chambers this one was circular in shape. A small wooden bedframe was bolted to a far corner, empty bookshelves and cupboards lined the walls. The entire center of the room was empty, only a stylized representation of a Spiral Galaxy filled the floorspace. Carved deeply into the wood floor, the emblem was littered with strange symbols.

Almost immune to magic, Snowaters still gave these carvings a wide berth. Almost did not mean completely, and the one effective magical attack against her was still a source of discomfort.

<Something is happening.> Kalith reported, its electronic voice as always, devoid of emotion.

"What?" Snowy asked, checking her drift by grabbing a bookcase. There was a lurch, and the case began falling away from her.

"In SPACE?"

<Acknowledged. I suggest. You return.>

"On my way" she answered. As she spun around something glittered in the building green light, catching her eye. Reaching out she grabbed the drifting object as she kicked away from the wall. Seconds later she drifted through the doorway, the green fire building slowly behind her casting lurid shadows. Frightened she ignited her suitjets as she cleared the narrow opening.

"Radiation readings" she ordered as the airlock slid shut behind her.

"Eve and Dawn?"

<Unaffected. We are. Clear of the. Ship. Moving away.>

Racking her helmet she pealed out of her suit. Exiting the airlock she snatched her wrap and the strange object, then headed for the Bridge.

"Looks like its on fire" she commented as she stepped onto the bridge. "What are your readings?"

Dropping into her chair the minute woman took a deep breath.

"Triggered something did I?" She looked at the wide ?belt? in her hands. "Wonder what this thing is."

<Probably. Object unknown. At this time.>

Snowaters watched as the strange green fire billowed around the ancient hulk, seeming the reach out for the withdrawing Diamond, yet unable to touch the little ship. Less than twenty minutes after it had started the strange fire flickered out.

“Any change in the readings?" Snowaters asked. She had been examining the belt. Strange symbols like those on the stateroom floors covered its face, along with thousands of tiny runes and a few dozen stones of various types. A small gold plate on the inside was marked in the same runes. Exposed to deep space at least several thousand years there wasn't any discernable aging. That really troubled her.

"All-right. Mark this area. We'll come back some other time with robotic probes" she decided. "Set us back on course to meet Aries & Kela, it's been too blessed long." Laying the strange, now warmed belt across her legs she started setting up one of her special language programs.

<Understood.>

Four standard days, a hundred plus light-years, and one reality later two wildly different ships lay docked together in deep space. One, a battered, ancient freighter the other a sleek, fast warship. Within the freighter three women had been making up for lost time.

Aries yawned as she slid out of bed, her bladder was demanding attention and Kela was still in the bath. Hopping over to the semi-transparent door she rapped the iron-glass surface.

"Wassup" Kela answered, stepping out of the room with a toothbrush in her mouth.

"Gotta goooo..." Aries replied, sliding past her shipmate. "Have you figured out what it was we smelled when we came aboard? Reminds me of home for some reason."

Kela laughed, "Everything reminds you of home."

"Cept Snows" Aries giggled.

"Mmmmpphhh..." Kela finished her cleaning, tossing the brush into a wall mounted recycler and heading for the bed. "Speaking of Miss Energizer, she wants us to meet her. 'Follow the brown light' she says." Ignoring the sounds emanating from the open door behind her she started making the bed.

Minutes later Aries stepped from the bathroom, more relaxed now that her bladder wasn't yelling at her anymore. She tossed her own toothbrush in the same receptacle.

"Brown light huh" she replied, turning towards the door. "I'd just love to know how she does that one."

"So would a few high mages" Kela giggled, "Along with several master scientists and an ex-computer AI, now running around with her own little mouse." She gave her partner a playful push as the aforementioned guide suddenly appeared. "Well here it is."

Snowaters was sitting with her back to the door as the two murdai women entered. They could here her cooing to something as the door slid shut.

"Keep your voices down" Snowy whispered, still not facing her loves. "I'm feeding yours right now Aries, but Kela can hold hers if she's careful."

The two women looked at each other. Volumes ran between the two just with the use of body language. Finally Kela shrugged, and stepped around the chair, into the shock of her life.

Snowaters smiled as she held up the tiny baby to Kela. "Careful" she whispered. "Her bones are still a little soft."

Aries giggled when she realized what was going on. "That explains the smell" she said. "Spoiled milk and used diapers. Even the best life support system can't get it all out." She kneeled down beside Snowaters, reaching out to touch the tiny head pressed against Snowys chest. "Who, how, when, and...." she paused, "Knowing your real age, why weren't you more careful?"

Laughter danced in the humans eyes. "The two of you, it is my specialty you know, while I was working for Rachelle and I was careful" she answered. "I had to be or I would have lost these two as well."

"US?" Kela croaked, barely remembering to keep her voice low. "These are OUR children?"

"Yep" Snowy replied, lifting the now sleeping child into Aries arms. "This is Eve, she's your daughter by me" she told the delighted woman. Turning to Kela she touched the second child. "Dawn, yours. They are Mouse, Snow Leopard, Human. Their genetic structure is as clean as I could make it and they can have children if they want to." She yawned, settling back into the chair. "I'm awful tired" she mumbled, "Will you take care of them while I catch a......"

She was asleep before she could finish the sentence.

Aries and Kela looked at each other, at the children and the sleeping woman in front of them.

"I'm going to kill her" Aries muttered, holding the sleeping Eve against her own breast.

Kela nodded. "First lets get the children to bed. While she finishes her little nap I'll help you get ready."