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“Maya is mated to an aquatic Javorian. Siru’s people have the ability to alter DNA through mating and bonding.”
I marveled at how this planet and the extraordinary beings on it could shape and influence everyone who stepped foot here. “I might as well be looking at a pair of mermaids.”
“I don’t know what mermaids are.” Rone cast a humorous glance at Maya and Delphine. “My reach as overlord stops short of giving you aquatic abilities.”
I gave him a wink. “I’m very satisfied with your ‘reach’.”
The day started off well. Admiral Siru was on his shipThe Wavebreaker, waiting for us to come aboard. Once Maya took Delphine to the babysitter, she accompanied us.
I toured the ship with Maya, even going down as far as the engine room. Then we returned to the top deck to see how Siru’s crew went about their tasks to keep the ship running. We sailed past tiny, ephemeral islands no bigger than the foundation of a small house. Then we went out to the open ocean, where the water was choppy and rocked the ship.
No one else seemed to notice. Rone was at ease among the sailors. He and Siru talked strategy at sea while water rose and splashed over the deck.
My stomach rolled. My skin got clammy as the threat of nausea took over. Without saying a word to the sailors, Maya, or the personnel nearest me, I did an about face and got myself below deck. My feet pounded down the corridor of the ship’ssleeping quarters. I pushed open the door to the guest cabin Rone and I were borrowing for the day trip and raced for the bathroom, clutching my hand over my mouth.
After it was over, I dragged myself out and plopped face down on the bed. If I didn’t know the furniture was nailed to the floor, I could’ve sworn I was being pitched from side to side across the room.
“Ugh,” I moaned out loud. How much longer until we were on dry land again?
“You doing okay in there?” I heard Maya’s voice from the other side of the cabin door. Her shadow darkened the space between the door and the floor.
“Yeah.” I rolled onto my back and promptly shut my eyes so as not to see the ceiling bob like a yo-yo. “I’m good.”
“You don’t sound good. Can I come in?”
I glanced down at my clothes to make sure I didn’t look too disheveled after my wild race from the deck to the latrine. “Sure.”
I made the effort to sit up on the bed. My intent was to be seated upright before Maya entered, but she was fast and I was still woozy with seasickness. She came inside, wearing a deep frown. “You don’t sound good, and you don’t look good, either.”
“Way to build up my self-esteem before dinner in front of the soldiers tonight.” I sighed as my tummy sent me a queasy signal that it did not want anything in it. “Not that I can eat dinner at this point.”
The ship wasn’t exactly sailing on smooth seas, but Maya managed to glide across the room just fine. She raised an eyebrow as she stood over the bed. “Are you sure you’re okay? We have a medic on board.”
“I don’t think I need one. This isn’t the first time I felt queasy on a ship. The last time it was on a spaceship. It seems to be a running joke with me.”
“Mm-hm.” Her tone made it clear she didn’t buy my self-effacing humor. “When’s the last time you had a period?”
“Whoa.” I didn’t expect her to ask such a personal question. “I don’t know, sometime last month. Or was it the month before? We’ve been traveling a lot lately.” I tapped my fingers against my knee, trying to do the math. “I can’t keep track. All these planets and moon bases have their own days and time zones.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Maya, why do you keep doing that?”
She clasped her hands in front of her. “Have you taken a pregnancy test?”
My stomach went from being queasy to doing a backwards somersault. “No. You don’t think I’m pregnant, do you?”
“I don’t know. You’re not feeling well, and you can’t remember when you had your last period. It might be worth taking a test to rule it out.”
Before my mind could go down a rabbit trail of possibilities, a horn resounded outside the ship. I guess we finally reached land. I got to my feet. “The queasiness is gone. I’m sure it was just a case of seasickness.”
Maya continued to display her skepticism. “Hang out in here for a minute.” She lit a path towards the door.
“Where are you going?”
“I’ll see if I can find a test laying around.”
She was gone before I could stop her. My initial sickness was gone, but I wasn’t in the mood to go chasing after her. I glanced down at my now settled stomach. Exactly what was going on in there?
