Weeks Later – Haven Station
The station pulsed with quiet life now.
More had come—rescued by Silver Lining, ushered in by those who knew what it was to be shackled. Some stayed, others tearfully returned to long-lost homes, thanks to the quiet work of Argo and the guidance of the ship. Homesickness had softened. Laughter echoed in the halls. Gardens grew in hydro bays. Training sessions hummed in the defense wing. And children's footsteps could be heard during the artificial daylight hours.
You had grown with it—your body, your heart. The bond with De'rax had only deepened, tethered now by the tiny life growing inside you.
But today was different.
It began with a cramp. Then another.
You brushed it off at first, walking through the communal area, checking on a few final reports. De'rax was off helping Ty'ris coordinate the new perimeter shield grid. But the moment you stopped near the garden wing, everything in you paused.
The contraction hit deep and tight.
You gasped, gripping the frame of the doorway.
A voice—Silver Lining's, gentle and clear—filled the air:
"Alert: Captain is in active labor. De'rax, medical team, proceed to Medbay at once."
The world shifted.
Footsteps pounded through the corridors. Ennis arrived first, calm and commanding, her face soft but focused. "Let's get you to Medbay. We've got you."
As they helped you walk, people moved aside, hushed and respectful. Some smiled. Others watched with wide eyes—many had never witnessed something so raw… so real.
De'rax burst through a side door moments later, wild with urgency, eyes locking on yours. One look and he was beside you, cradling your face, pressing his forehead to yours.
"You're okay?" he breathed. "We're doing this now?"
You gave a shaky laugh. "Apparently this little one didn't want to wait any longer."
He let out a low, steady growl of affection—half his kind, half his wolf—and scooped you into his arms without hesitation.
Medbay – Moments Later
Lights were low. Everything was ready. Silver Lining had adjusted the temperature, the lighting, even piped in a soft rhythmic hum to ease the tension.
Ennis gave the orders like a calm tide, and De'rax never left your side. His hand gripped yours, unwavering, his other resting on your belly. You could feel his pulse through both.
"Remember what I said," he whispered in your ear. "You're the strongest thing in this galaxy."
Pain and effort blurred into sweat and growls. You shifted once—reflex taking your form halfway between human and wolf as instinct surged.
Then—
A cry.
Clear. New. Beautiful.
Ennis wrapped the child in a thermal blanket, then placed the tiny, squirming life against your chest.
De'rax stared—wide-eyed, breathless. His hand trembled as he brushed a finger down the baby's soft cheek. The child blinked, their eyes a startling mix of your colors and his alien glow.
"A little fighter," Ennis whispered. "Born between stars."
Tears pricked your eyes as De'rax kissed your temple, overcome. "You… we made this. Our family."
And in the soft glow of Haven, surrounded by those you'd saved, your child cried again—loud and strong.
A beginning in the place built by survivors.