<snip>

With the baby’s birth imminent, Dr. Harding’s options were limited. Any acute treatment he provided to the mother could endanger the offspring, but a mother in full arrest could also harm the baby. As long as they were connected, treatment for one was for both. Had the baby not already started to descend into the birth canal, he’d consider a c-section, but even that could be too much for the mother to handle in her weakened state.

He had no reason to trust Lena Khev except that Rhaelara was one of her own, “Then let’s do this. Let’s deliver this baby as fast as we can. I have no intention of losing either mother or child.”

Harding, CMO

Keeping Rhaelara’s heart stable during birth proved difficult, but not impossible. A struggle later, an infant could be heard crying. Lena cut the cord, bathed and swaddled the baby while Rhaelara stabilised.

The sound of the baby’s cry brought a smile to Collin’s face. Known for a broad toothy grin, this smile was more subdued. He hated to see the torture inflicted on Rhaelara and was hopeful a new beginning, that of a happier life, was starting for her now.

It was exactly as predicted. With the strain of childbirth gone, Rhaelara began to stabilise. Lena brought the baby over. Rhaelara smiled faintly. The former nurse handed over the child and said “You never said what his name is.” The new mother nodded at Collin. Aelana leaned in. “He should have a Rihannsu name.” Rhaelara struggled out the words “Without the doctor he might not be here. And I definitely wouldn’t be. Doctor…” she waited for his name.

-Matrix

Collin looked down at Rhaelara, a woman he’d met only an hour or so earlier and there was surprise on his face that she would honor him so.

“I…I agree with your sister. He should have a Rihannsu name. It is my understanding that it’s traditional for given names to have a specific meaning. If this child represents one thing, I think it’s hope. What do you think of Ecurai?”

Harding, CMO

Rhaelara nodded. “Ecurai.” She marvelled at her newborn son. “The Elements have blessed me with Ecurai. And hope for the Rihannsu on this ship.” For the first time, she was not in too much pain to speak. “He was born of a Rihannsa mother, but in the Federation. What is to become of him?”

-Matrix

It was a question that existed in both simplicity and complexity, but Collin’s face betrayed none of his concern. He was the picture of happiness for a new mother as he looked from Rhaelara to Aelana and finally to Ecurai.

“The Federation is welcoming of people from many backgrounds. I know there has been conflict between the Federation and Romulans, but much has changed since the loss of your homeworld. Our Captains are meeting now, I’m sure, and a satisfactory path forward will come. Now, if you’ll let me take the child for a moment, I’d like to gain his measurements and make sure he’s cleaned up properly.”

Harding, CMO

Rhaelara felt the pointed tips of her son’s ears and then cautiously handed him to Collin. Lena was watching from the far wall, smiling. As Collin approached to test Ecurai she said “That was nice, what you did. I already bathed him, but I didn’t test him. New mothers are always so excited to see their newborns.”

“And thank you for your role in his delivery. It wouldn’t have been as successful without you.”

Ecurai would pass every test. He was a little on the small side, probably due to malnutrition on his mother’s part. Something beyond either of their control.

-Matrix

After clearing the child Collin returned to Rhaelara. A nurse had set up a bassinet of sorts next to her biobed. It would wirelessly monitor the child’s vitals and it rocked. It allowed the baby to remain by his mother’s side with overly taxing her.

“Ecurai is doing splendidly,” he smiled at mother and aunt as he placed the boy in his temporary bed. “We can draw a curtain around your bed to give you a bit more privacy and the lights will dim. I think sleep would be a benefit to you both. The button just over your left shoulder will play white noise if you like, to help cocoon you from the bustle of Sickbay. I’ve logged Ecurai’s birth in our system, which will alert our own ship’s staff of our new guest, but is there anyone among your own people you’d like us to inform?”

Harding, CMO

“Doctor Meinok. He was the one who helped me survive the trip here. He has- I hope- a Rihannsu birth certificate for him. I’d like to have that completed as well as his Federation birth certificate. A child of two worlds.” She marvelled at her new son. She started whispering a Romulan lullaby to put him to sleep. Aelana seemed to recognise the tune. One their mother had sung to them when they were children.

-Matrix

“I’ll see that he comes to Sickbay. For now, I’ll leave your newly expanded family alone,” he reached down and laid a light hand upon Ecurai’s bald head. There were few things in this job more rewarding than delivering a healthy baby.

With that Collin stepped behind the curtain and made sure it was pulled close.

He tapped his commbadge, =/\=Sickbay to Cargo Bay. Could please locate a Doctor Meinok and escort him to Sickbay. He should be among our Romulan guests.=/\=

Harding, CMO

Starting to understand how Collin thought, security dropped Dr Meinok off at the sickbay door. As happens with Romulans, it was difficult to guess his age, but looking at him placed him in early middle age. Carrying a PaDD with him, he walked into sickbay comfortably, almost as though he knew it already. He approached Collin. “Doctor. I hope all went well. Or as well as it could.” He held up his PaDD. “I have the young man’s birth certificate ready. If you’ll just give me the time of birth and his name.”

“As well as it could would be an apt way to describe the birth, Doctor. The baby is healthy and the mother is stable. She has named him Ecurai and his time of birth is noted on the chart,” Harding passed a padd to Meinok with additional information.

“I hadn’t worked in a practical medical setting in some time when Rhaelara asked for my help. But what was I to do? Turn her away?”

Collin smile was more wan than his usual toothy grin, “Of course not, just as we wouldn’t turn her away aboard the Olympic, or consent to letting her baby be born in the Cargo Bay.”

“Oh of course not. I wouldn’t expect any different from the Federation.”

He noticed Lena. “Ah! A qualified practitioner of the medical sciences.”

-Matrix

Collin watched the two greet each other, “Lena was instrumental in making sure mother and baby came out of the delivery in good health. I can check with Rhaelara and see if she is ready to see you?”

Harding, CMO

“That would be fantastic. Thank you.” He stepped over to Lena, who seemed vaguely uncomfortable in his presence. The two started talking about how the birth had gone as Dr Meinok filled in the birth certificate.

-Matrix

Collin was no empath and he didn’t know Lena well enough to gauge her more subtle inflections. Even if he were more perceptive, he knew many doctors who made nurses uncomfortable due to their demanding or arrogant style. He didn’t count himself among that lot, but he’d worked alongside more than one.

He pulled back the curtain quietly and peaked in to see if Rhaelara was awake.

“Dr. Meinok is here. He’s filled out the birth certificate as you wanted. Would you like to see him?”

Harding, CMO