Jenaki was still wipingaway her tears when the door opened, and a team defender was standing in the doorway.He was silent.Jenaki held a finger to his lips, and the man in the suit went into the hall and hushed everyone.
Jenaki mouthed,No baby.The defender nodded.
Dr.Kritz, Arcady, Tycho, and Corianne walked into the room, and they looked at Diena.Recognition hit Arcady, but she was the one most likely to visit the commissary.Jenaki looked at them all with a stern expression.Arcady gave a watery smile and nodded.Dr.Kritz quirked a brow, and Jenaki gave him a thumbs-up.Tycho was grinning foolishly.He made a gesture with his finger twirling, and Jenaki shook his head and held up a single finger.Tycho sighed and nodded.
Diena sighed against him and turned her head toward the crowd inside her door.“You guys can talk and stop wiggling fingers.Tycho, I am guessing you tracked by the scent on the baby?”
He chuckled.“Yes.Why do I know you?”
“I work at the commissary at Z-Corp.I saw Arcady every time there was a failed attempt, and she was getting depressed.I knew you were no longer telling her about them, but she knew, and she went for the same dessert every time.Since my uterus wasn’t doing anything fun at the time, I went for testing, and here he is.”
Arcady smiled.“Thank you.Thank you so much.”
“I will state this now: he is the only child I will carry for someone else.I know that Kritz’s genetics make for a hard match, but I can’t do this again.I tested my body and was successful.There is too much time wasted waiting for someone else’s child.I want my own family.”
Kritz sighed.“Fair enough.”
Arcady said, “Thank you.I have my boy, and I am delighted.He’s gorgeous.”
“With a nanny?”
“Yes.We love him, but our link is built on adult private time.When that kicks in, we need someone with him.We also can’t take the little guy to work.But across our link, that little guy is going to be surrounded by love every moment of every day.I am going to wear him to work every chance I get.”Arcady paused.“I wonder if Zera will notice.”
Zera and Torun came through the door.“This is where you are.Your baby is in the hall; bring him in here.”
Diena sat up and looked at her.“No.All of you, out.”
Torun jolted when he saw her.“You are her daughter.”
“I am.Get out.”The need to have them gone was rising.She was pulling power together.
Jenaki tensed.“There are other pregnant women and babies in this place.”
She said softly, “I am very precise, but I need to be held, I need to be comforted, and I don’t need to be thanked, so go.Our association is over.Have a nice day with your new baby.Tycho, if I sense your nose near me again, I will rip it off.”
They stared, and Zera said, “What is your activation?”
Diena rubbed a hand over her face, but Torun answered.“Need.She answers need.If she is powering up, she needs what she stated: to be held and comforted.We are going.”
To her amusement, he grabbed everyone and ushered them out, Torun looking worried as he nodded respectfully to her.When everyone was out, Torun said, “Is she still alive?”
“She is.Looks just like me.You just missed her.She flew the bus out of the river with her son in it.”
Torun blinked and smiled.“She has a son?”
“Yes.My brother is amazing unless you are a Hyreno male.Then, you might want to duck.”She swayed.
“Shit.Rest.What is your name?”
“Diena.Decanted in the capitol.”
“Oh, that explains the resemblance.Right.I will talk to you later.”
“Uh-huh.Call before you do.I work with Keska.”
He winced.“The bug zapper.Right.I will call first.”
She nodded, and he closed the door behind him.
