Mysterious Circumstances (pm to discuss joining)

[Othermoose]

Austin followed April to the kitchen as she dropped off the plates. The couple then made their way to the med bay, walking down the hall in a comfortable silence. They entered the med bay and walked to a MeRP. "Welcome, Austin Greene and April Foster, how my I assist you?" The MeRP asked. "Throat. Talking." Austin croaked to the machine. "Do you wish to know about the healing process to your throat?" The robot asked. Austin nodded waiting as the MeRP checked its records. "Austin Greene, your shaving accident caused irreparable damage to your throat and vocal cords. It is unlikely that you will regain full use of your voice, but eventually you should be able to speak at low to medium volumes with little to no pain." The MeRP turned to April when Austin made no reply. "How may I assist you, April Foster?"

 

[slippedhalo]

Erik smiled at Yuet and Aziz. "I'm not a thinker like you two. Just call me over if you guys need a brute. I'm going to see if Natalia needs help." Erik said with a laugh as he walked over to an excited looking Natalia. Erik playfully slapped her ass before smiling and asking: "so how is everything looking? Am I going to get a fresh steak soon?" He joked.

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David gave Kate a sad smile. "I'm glad she isn't here. And I'd prefer not to name the horse after her. The memories are kind of painful." David walked to Kate and pulled her into a tight embrace. He held onto Kate for a few moments before letting go and looking into her eyes. "I know your heart was in the right place but I'd just prefer to keep Molly here." David said tapping his chest.

Natalia raised her eyebrows in mild alarm. "Nooo! These beauties are too valuable to slaughter..." But, then she realized Erik had only been joking and relaxed. "Erik, they're magnificent beasts. Probably the best I've ever seen. They'd all win blue ribbons. Do you like fresh milk and cheeses? That might be better use of them."


Kate looked down and inwardly berated herself for having inadvertently caused David pain. Her cheeks were still slightly flushed as she whispered, "I'm sorry." She petting the foal in question and worked to compose herself. "...I'll think of something else soon, Sweetheart." She said to the little horse.

 

[slippedhalo]

Austin followed April to the kitchen as she dropped off the plates. The couple then made their way to the med bay, walking down the hall in a comfortable silence. They entered the med bay and walked to a MeRP. "Welcome, Austin Greene and April Foster, how my I assist you?" The MeRP asked. "Throat. Talking." Austin croaked to the machine. "Do you wish to know about the healing process to your throat?" The robot asked. Austin nodded waiting as the MeRP checked its records. "Austin Greene, your shaving accident caused irreparable damage to your throat and vocal cords. It is unlikely that you will regain full use of your voice, but eventually you should be able to speak at low to medium volumes with little to no pain." The MeRP turned to April when Austin made no reply. "How may I assist you, April Foster?"

April launched into her request, "I wanted to know if you can give us birth control."

The MeRP blinked and replied, "You are one of the females deemed unsuited for pregnancy at this stage. You have been provided a copper I.U.D. while in healing. Do not be alarmed if this lessens your menstruation or perhaps stops it completely. The Intrauterine Device was used because it is less of a hassle for all concerned compared to stocking and restocking pills or condoms. We have condoms as well if truly wanted. April Foster, you are properly and temporarily sterilized. In the future, all you'd need to do is have the I.U.D. removed from your uterus and you'd be fertile once again without an artificial waiting period. Do you wish it removed?"

April sighed and shook her head. "No thank you. I'll keep it for a few years, I think. It's good to know it's there. You really should have told all of us ladies we have them."

"All of you do not. Half of you do.If that is all, have a nice day." It returned to its ceiling mount leaving April stunned.

 

[Othermoose]

"Fresh milk and cheese sounds almost as good." Erik joked as he looked at the farm animals. He turned to Natalia with a thoughtful look on his face. "Can you even get milk from a sheep?" He asked kneeling down and petting a sheep.

=============================================================

David pulled Kate to his chest and gently kissed her forehead. "You have nothing to be sorry for. You were just trying to be helpful. It's just, thinking about Molly is bitter sweet. I'll always remember and cherish the time a had with her, but it hurts that I'll never see her again. Not see her grow up, or teach her to drive." David's voice began to grow choked as he continued. "I won't dance with her at her wedding, or get to hold my grandchildren." David felt tears streaming down his face. He pulled Kate closer to himself, closing his eyes and pressing his forehead to hers. "I'm never going to see my little girl again." He choked.

 

[Othermoose]

Austin stared at the the spot the robot had occupied in shocked confusion. He pulled his notepad and began to write.

"WTF!
y didnt all of u get 1
who do u think doesnt have 1"

Austin quickly wrote before handing April the note. He looked around the room and decided he didn't want to be in the med bay. He grabbed April's hand and whispered: "leave." Before walking towards the door.

 

[slippedhalo]

"Fresh milk and cheese sounds almost as good." Erik joked as he looked at the farm animals. He turned to Natalia with a thoughtful look on his face. "Can you even get milk from a sheep?" He asked kneeling down and petting a sheep.

=============================================================

David pulled Kate to his chest and gently kissed her forehead. "You have nothing to be sorry for. You were just trying to be helpful. It's just, thinking about Molly is bitter sweet. I'll always remember and cherish the time a had with her, but it hurts that I'll never see her again. Not see her grow up, or teach her to drive." David's voice began to grow choked as he continued. "I won't dance with her at her wedding, or get to hold my grandchildren." David felt tears streaming down his face. He pulled Kate closer to himself, closing his eyes and pressing his forehead to hers. "I'm never going to see my little girl again." He choked.

Natalia balked at Erik, "Are you serious? You've never heard of goat or sheep cheeses? Of course they can be milked, they have teats. Their milk tastes different from cow or human milk but they provide a nice product and the variety of taste and nutrition is pretty important in case we find occasional people not able to handle cow's milk, for example. Plus, sheep's milk makes for wonderful soft cheeses...I thought that was common knowledge." She said, patting one of the sheep ardently. "I guess I'm really more into farming than I ever thought. I've missed working with animals. I can't wait to get a dairy farm started." Declared Natalia.

Kate took David by the hand, leading him back to the path leading toward the edge of the dome. "Let's go...somewhere else for a bit, alright?" She asked, wanting to find some way to lessen David's pain.

 

[slippedhalo]

Austin stared at the the spot the robot had occupied in shocked confusion. He pulled his notepad and began to write.

"WTF!
y didnt all of u get 1
who do u think doesnt have 1"

Austin quickly wrote before handing April the note. He looked around the room and decided he didn't want to be in the med bay. He grabbed April's hand and whispered: "leave." Before walking towards the door.

"We should tell the others just so they know. I'd want to be told there's a 2/3 chance I'm not protected." Said April as she and Austin retreated. "How do they decide who's not yet ready and who they think would be? Experience? Personality? Age?"

 

[Othermoose]

Erik latched onto what Natalia said about human milk with a huge smile. "Sheep milk is fun and all, but you have to tell me. How do you know what human milk tastes like?" Erik said still smiling.

=============================================================

David nodded, clearing his throat and wiping his face. "Sure, where are we going?" David asked following Kate. After a moment David said: "and I'm sorry I lost my shit back there. I try not to get emotional like that."

 

[Othermoose]

Austin just shrugged as he followed April towards the park. They entered the library and saw Aziz and Yuet hard at work studying bees. Austin stepped away from the group figuring Yuet wouldn't want an audience for the talk she and April were about to have. Austin walked into the park looking around for something to do. He saw Sally running towards him carrying a stick in her mouth. She ran over to Austin and dropped the stick at his feet, panting happily. Austin smiled at the dog and picked the stick up. He flung it into the air and watched as Sally happily bolted after it. She returned and Austin threw the stick again. Austin continued playing fetch with Sally, waiting for April to finish talking to Yuet.

 

[slippedhalo]

Erik latched onto what Natalia said about human milk with a huge smile. "Sheep milk is fun and all, but you have to tell me. How do you know what human milk tastes like?" Erik said still smiling.

=============================================================

David nodded, clearing his throat and wiping his face. "Sure, where are we going?" David asked following Kate. After a moment David said: "and I'm sorry I lost my shit back there. I try not to get emotional like that."

Natalia made a face. Deflection had become an art form to her. "Just, do." She said cheekily, not keen to explain how her former pimp boss had also tested his hand as a fetish porn producer at one point in time. "Erik, any idea what position you think you'd like out of what's left on the android' s list?"

Kate led on, further, to a corner of the library where nobody was busy and they could be alone. She took a seat on a window seat with an amazingly beautiful and slightly intimidating view of passing stars and unfamiliar heavenly bodies in space. She made room for David to stretch out there beside her since this window seat was nearly as long as a bed.

Yuet listened to April and nodded her head. "For rest of yous sakes I hope it is not me with this second intrauterine device. It would be wasted. Clearly, rest of yous sexing. Me, not. I have no worry over pregnancy. Virgin. I wait for marriage, or something like that, I think."

April sighed. "In that case, you're right, Yuet. I hope, then, that the MeRPs weren't so wasteful while the rest of us need it."

"You tell Kate and Talia yet?"

"Not yet. I saw you first."

"They think Kate good leader. Do they think also good mother? I do not understand why only half the women sterilized. Dumb idea. If it be Talia or Kate, I'd guess based on age and personality, they'd choose Kate to take chances with and, like you, Talia sterilized because she young and more...impulse...impulsive. That would leave me a question mark. I youngest. But, I less impulsive, I think....I cannot figure it out. But, the others should know."

"I agree." Said April, hugging Yuet in solidarity before heading to see where the other ladies were.

Natalia was pissed off when told this news. She kicked the fence and swore in Russian. Turning to Erik, she pointed her finger and announced, "You and me, we're going to get some answers from these tin can wannabe doctors right now!"

 

[Othermoose]

David pulled Kate onto his chest and wrapped his arms around her. He smiled and gently kissed her before leaning back and closing his eyes. After a moment he smiled and whispered: "you make a wonderful blanket."

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Erik couldn't help but grin at Natalia's display of rage. He watched her storm off towards the med bay in anger. He turned to April grinning. "I love an angry woman. Well at least when she isn't angry at me. Guess we're going to go yell at some tin cans. Thanks for the warning." Erik said to April before jogging to catch up with Natalia.

Once Erik caught up with Natalia and they were out of earshot he spoke: "so what's your plan? I don't know about you but I don't want anymore kids..." Erik stopped himself for a second before quickly continuing. "I mean I don't want any kids. I'm a bit tongue tied today." He smiled sheepishly at Natalia hoping her anger caused her to miss his blunder.

 

[slippedhalo]

Kate sighed and hugged David. "Will you be alright? I'm always here for you if you want to talk. We could go be alone if you think you want privacy. This experience is emotional. There's no shame in expressing that, my dear."

Nat turned to Erik and shrugged, "Hurry up. I want to kick those MeRPs asses." She insisted.

Entering Med Bay, Natalia grabbed a bottle of purple goop near the door and slammed it into the face of the nearest MeRP who reacted quickly, catching the bottle and grabbing Natalia' s wrist to temporarily immobilize her at the same time. "Is there an emergency?" It asked in monotone.

"Am I taken care of or not?" Asked Natalia, seething.

"I do not understand your query."

"Birth control!"

"Oh...Yes, you have an intrauterine device. You are not do to reevaluate for four years."

"Good!" She said, pulling free from the robot's grip.

"Will that be all?"

"No. What about Yuet and Kate?"

"April Foster has told you of our discussion, I see."

"Yes. Why are she and I protected but not the others?"

"Not the others, no. It would not be logical to sterilize your leader. And, it is doubtful Yuet would need it. She's a healthy gamble, very low risk."

"You want Kate preggers? Why?"

"Not wanted during the journey but it would be helpful to the population if one in four women had a baby in the coming four years. She is the eldest and is of a personality type which often adapts well to new challenges. She also has a history of closeness with family and liking children. It is most sensible."

"You should have told all of us before. This feels like trickery. What if she doesn't want to have a kid?"

"That would be a shame. This morning while you all visited she was scanned. Her hormone levels are abnormally high. If she is tested in forty eight hours it is highly possible we'd find she's already pregnant."

Natalia' s jaw dropped. "Were you not even planning on telling her?"

"Often, it is easier to only offer information when it is requested."

 

[Othermoose]

David gave Kate a soft smile. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. And it would take a crane to pull you away from me right now." He chuckled before giving Kate a gentle kiss and laying his head back on the bench.

=============================================================

Erik gave a low whistle. Wow... that's a lot to take in. Kate pregnant." He paused to let the information sink in before smiling at Natalia. "At least we dodged the bullet." He joked. "Think we should go tell Kate and David?" He asked figuring it would be better for another woman to make the call.

 

[slippedhalo]

The MeRP chirped then announced,
"You may not tell Kate any news which may affect her performance in tomorrow's events. Afterward, perhaps, not before then." Announced the MeRP as the door lock clicked closed behind them. "You both should spend the night here or in the lower sections of the ship where the gymnasium and pool are located. You may eat anything you'd like here in Med Lab but you may not see Kate until test time. My apologies for any inconvenience."

 

[Othermoose]

"Hey! What the fuck!?" Erik growled angrily kicking the door. "Let us out, we won't tell her anything!" Erik yelled at the MeRP. The machine ignored him and went back to its duties. "Well, fuck." Erik groaned as he looked at Natalia. "I hate being told where to go, but I guess there isn't much we can do. So what do you feel like doing to pass the time?" Erik said looking around for an interesting distraction.

 

[slippedhalo]

Natalia hated that familiar helpless feeling that came with being told what to do. Being locked up anywhere was also a bad trigger reminding her of her colorful past. At first she kicked and yelled too. But, once Erik had calmed down she realized fighting robots was kind of useless...
"Let's go skinny dipping before bedtime." Nat said, leading past Erik to show him where she knew another door to the lockers, gym, and pool area to be.

 

[Othermoose]

"I think I'm in love!" Erik joked as he followed Natalia to the pool. They walked through the halls to the pool and began to strip. Erik paused and watched as Natalia pulled of her bra. Erik gave a loud wolf whistle as he pulled of the rest of his clothes. He winked at Natalia before diving into the pool with barley a splash. He swam underwater, moving like he was part fish before surfacing with a broad smile. "Damn I missed swimming!" He laughed swimming back towards the edge where Natalia was standing. "How about a race? First one to the other side and back wins. Loser doesn't get to wear clothes for the rest of the night. Sound fun?"

 

[slippedhalo]

Natalia shrieked with laughter, diving in right over Erik to get a head start.
She won, twice. But, ended up agreeing that she'd happily spend the night naked as well. Their imprisonment being locked out of the living quarters wasn't so bad since they had each other's company.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Aziz brought the message that flashed on his tablet for Yuet, April, Kate, David, and Austin to see. "MeRPs are keeping Erik and Natalia overnight. It says they'll be joining us in the morning for test time. Apparently, Natalia will go for training tomorrow and Erik will go for tests, actually. Um, it says here that April and Austin will join Erik and Kate in locker room 2 at 9am tomorrow. Kate, you're instructed to go down earlier, at 8:30. The rest of us are to report to Med Bay at 9 for our rapid training."

"What happened to Erik and Natalia that they have to stay in Med Bay, I wonder." Said Kate, sitting up, reading the screen in Aziz's hand. "Weird."

 

[Othermoose]

"This is nice." Erik sighed, leaning back in the hot tub. "Wish we had some food though." He smiled at Natalia sitting across from him in the hot tub. "You look pretty lonely all he way over there. How about you come and join me." Erik said giving Natalia a wink.

================================================================

David shrugged his shoulders. "Who knows? It could be anything. Did anyone talk to them before this happened?" David asked looking around at the group. He noticed that Austin had slipped away from the group, but he said nothing about it.

 

[slippedhalo]

Natalia giggled and swam to Erik. She kissed him, then sat beside him in the water. "You said, "again" in reference to possible kid. What did you mean? Carefree Viking Prince has a kid?" She asked.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

April and Yuet shared a worried look. "Maybe they're testing her for pregnancy." Said Yuet to April's dismay.

Nobody had said anything about what the MeRP had told April and Austin yet. Kate didn't know that April had been declared temporarily sterile and the MeRP had leaked to them that only one other woman of the four had an I.U.D. David and Kate's confused expressions necessitated April quickly explaining this. "I was going to tell you, Kate. But, I hadn't wanted to interrupt whatever you and David were talking about over there, sorry."

Kate nodded, "I understand, April..." Her mind was racing, though.

"I hope you or Natalia have it." Offered Yuet in her sweetly honest way. "I'd have no need but you both could use it."

Kate nodded numbly. "Does anyone know yet how long we've been dead as opposed to alive but in stasis?" Asked Kate.

Aziz chimed in, "I did look into that based on computer records recording our health statuses from day to day. Reports began for most of us within twenty-four hours of our deaths. I think this means we were revived within that time but then took several weeks to heal. Those who ended up flushed had shown problems being revived. They'd been restarted more than twice and kept fading on them no matter what the MeRPs tried."

Yuet squinted, trying to imagine why this information would matter to Kate. How was it linked to a possibility of no birth control? "Why do you ask, Kate?"

Kate put up a wall at that point and simply shook her head, "I'm just thinking, that's all..." Suddenly nauseated, likely a mental reaction than anything caused by physical need, Kate rose to leave. "I'm going to turn in early, everyone. It looks like tomorrow will be a busy day and since I've got an earlier start than the rest, I'm going to go to bed early tonight. Goodnight!"

As she hurried out of the suddenly stuffy feeling library, Kate heard others replying with goodnights as she went to the bathroom to throw up before brushing her teeth and curling up in a terrified fetal position on her bed.

 

[Othermoose]

Erik gave Natalia an uncomfortable look, and rubbed the back of his neck. He coughed out a single word, but Natalia couldn't understand what he said. "What was that?" She asked him. "I uh. It's not so much 'a kid' as three of them." Erik said uncomfortably. "I got around a bit. More than a bit. I mean, you've met me. I'm irresistible." He laughed nervously before continuing. "But um yea. I've got three kids. I'd drop in to see the oldest every few months, couldn't with the other two, but I mostly didn't pay them any mind. Kind of regret it now..."

Erik stopped speaking, a far away look in his eyes. "My highshcool girlfriend Amy, she had my first one. Amy was kind of the girl I always went back to. I treated her like crap, only talked to her when there weren't any other girls around. She loved me, I think that's why she put up with me. But one night when I was nineteen, I went over to her house. I was drunk, don't even remember it. But a few weeks later she called me. Said she was pregnant. Then about a year later she knocked on my door carrying him." Erik smiled sadly at the memory. "She thrust him in my arms and said: 'Erik. I know you're not going to be the best dad in the world, but don't forget about us. Always come back.' And I did. Every few months I'd visit them, bring him little gifts. Leif is his name. She let me name him. I guess he'd be six now."

Erik paused and cleared his throat. "The next one was from an American girl. She was on vacation, we met in a bar, had a one night stand, and I thought that was the end of it. A year later I get a letter in the mail with some pictures of my second son. She named him Stan. Not the name I would've picked, but it was alright. I never actually met Stan, but I got pictures occasionally. The youngest was a girl. She's not even a year old. Patrica. I saw her once, nearly pulled my finger off."

Erik stopped talking thinking about the kids, his kids. He wondered if they knew he was dead, wondered if they cared. "They'll be fine. Got the blood of the north in their veins." He said quietly to himself, almost forgetting that Natalia was with him.

 

[Othermoose]

When the group gathered and began discussing Erik and Natalia's situation Austin snuck away. He didn't like being with other people. He wandered around the ship, Sally at his heels, until he found himself in April's room. He sat on the bed, and grabbed the music remote. He turned on the Metallica album "Master of Puppets" and waited for April to find him.

=============================================================

David sensed that something was bothering Kate as she hurriedly excuses herself. He said his goodnights to everyone before heading to the bathroom. He took a quick shower and brushed his teeth before going to Kate's (his and Kate's he remembered) room. He entered the room and saw Kate curled up in the middle of the bed, a terrified look on his face. David quickly rushed over to her, kneeling on the floor next to the bed so he was face to face with Kate. "Kate! What's wrong? Are you ok?" David asked looking over her worriedly.

 

[slippedhalo]

When the group gathered and began discussing Erik and Natalia's situation Austin snuck away. He didn't like being with other people. He wandered around the ship, Sally at his heels, until he found himself in April's room. He sat on the bed, and grabbed the music remote. He turned on the Metallica album "Master of Puppets" and waited for April to find him.

=============================================================

David sensed that something was bothering Kate as she hurriedly excuses herself. He said his goodnights to everyone before heading to the bathroom. He took a quick shower and brushed his teeth before going to Kate's (his and Kate's he remembered) room. He entered the room and saw Kate curled up in the middle of the bed, a terrified look on his face. David quickly rushed over to her, kneeling on the floor next to the bed so he was face to face with Kate. "Kate! What's wrong? Are you ok?" David asked looking over her worriedly.

Kate tried to calm herself down at the sight of David. But, when he was within reach, she grabbed him, pulling him down to the bed with her. "Just hold me, please!" She whispered, fighting mentally to push the bad memory away. She couldn't talk just yet. She didn't want to break down and show fear when, honestly, she had no idea if anything was even wrong...She shivered for a long time but David's embrace and his soft kisses helped to calm Kate down.

 

[slippedhalo]

April noticed Austin's absence but also wanted to finish talking with Yuet. Once she'd seen what time it was, she decided it was a good time to head for bed. It seemed tomorrow was a big day for all of them. Not knowing what to expect, she decided rest would be helpful. She brushed her teeth and headed to her room. Austin was in her room as she'd expected he'd be. The music was loud. She turned it down and sat beside him, removing her clothes. "Austin, let's get enough sleep tonight. Who knows what we'll have to endure tomorrow." She said, moving to undress him too once the lights were out.

 

[slippedhalo]

Natalia was shocked.
She sat in silence for quite a while, the motor and bubbling water of the Jacuzzi were the only sound. Finally, she replied, "I've had two abortions. I don't like to think or talk about them much...Of course, it was during the time I'd been held captive and was, um, trafficked...I promised myself, though, that if I happen to fall pregnant again in life...I promised myself that as long as it's safe, like, I'm not living in a brothel with a bunch of abusive assholes and scared girls, that I'd keep it next time." She sighed. "I won't judge you. Because, I don't want to be judged, I won't judge." She moved to look him awkwardly in the eye, "I'm glad I'm covered with birth control right now but...someday I hope I'll have a kid...someday...just not now."