After That Night: Chapter Two - Three Moths Later

Story by DraconicXeno on SoFurry

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#12 of Story Commissions

(Sorry this was only uploaded now, I thought I'd done it already, but might have accidently saved it as something else. I'm still new to how this site works!)

The second chapter of a rather large story commission project for the awesome: High-Rise over on FA: Who wants to build the back story behind this very nice artwork! Thank you for commissioning me!

Featuring their character in an original Sci-fi world, getting into a relationship, and becoming pregnant!


Smoldering hot steam filled the tight cubical as soothing water gushed down over Sero's muzzle, rolling through his dorsal spines and along his slender neck as it massaged his weary scales. The dragon rested his front claws on the smooth tile wall, beads of water flitting from his flared nostrils as he exhaled and coiled his tail in the drainage basin.

"Oh, this feels so much better," he thought, the hot bliss of the shower the only relief he had from his new, and very uncomfortable stomach cramps. "I can just forget, and..."

The dragon's face fell flat, and he snorted as he felt another odd tingle in his gut, reaching a claw down to rub his now rather chubby tummy. The feeling was odd, like he'd minor indigestion and some kind of bubbling gas in his lower half. Yet it wasn't the same as the sensation that came after a bad night out, or when he was hungover.

Seriously, it's been weeks, what's with me? The dragon thought as he leaned back and pressed his spine against the far wall. I tried exercise, I tried a diet, but I still look like I'm getting fat!

No matter how much he liked to tell himself he was doing those things, it was a joke. His exercise amounted to no more than two days at the gym before laziness and the cost forced him to give up. His diet on the other paw, was little more than one day of eating naught but vegetables before he found out just how bad for dragons that could be.

Would help if I didn't feel like throwing up every time I eat! He inwardly screamed, at first thinking he may have serious food poisoning, then some kind of space parasite from the next system over. Urg, I'm still pretty sure it's not any of that... But...

He ran a paw over his wet face, the hot water cooling now he was no longer under the flow. I don't want to go to the damn doctor, I hate that place. So prissy and...

A shuddering cramp in his tummy, and his hand shot to the stung lump in his belly in a flash. It was like an odd twisting inside, as if his muscles were being wrapped up in tight knots. It caused most of his lower half to tingle. His ass clenched as if longing for some cock, while his own dick poked free.

"What's going on with me!" The dragon outwardly called, pressing a claw to his peeking cock. "It's like my body has a mind of its own!"

As if his odd mix of sexual hormones was not enough, Sero's body had one more morning surprise for him as he felt his belly give another turbulent shudder, his half-digested breakfast wriggling like an unborn foal as his stomach churned. Within moments, his throat felt full, and he lurched forward as if he'd suddenly seen some kind of monster.

Oh no, not again! He thought, pressing a claw to his mouth, belly growling like he was starved as he jumped out of the shower as fast as he could. Water droplets splashed around him as he floundered, the bathroom small for a dragon of his size as he desperately flipped up the toilet lid and hung his head over the bowl. Urg... I... hate...

It was a wonder he didn't slip on the mangy tiles as he heaved and retched, gagging up his last meal, before flopping over the bowl like a beached whale. Yet after several arduously long and sickly moments, his body's urge to make him suffer seemed to stop, and he coughed on bile as he flushed the filth away.

"What the fuck did I eat to make me feel like this?" he asked himself, voice little more than a wheeze as he rested a claw on his pudgy gut. "I look so fat!"

The odd bulge was like jelly, yet unlike rolling lumps of fat, his skin almost seemed taught, belly button still clearly visible. Sero was just glad he could keep that part of his figure as he heaved himself up from the floor with a grunt. Steam from the shower still filled the room, before he reached in to turn off the flow, grabbing a towel and starting to dry himself off.

It can't have been that Silurian seafood, could it? he thought, trying to cast his mind back to all he'd done in the past few weeks as he ran the towel between his legs. Or maybe those Gyrowings from Avia three?

Whatever was the cause of his seemingly persistent stomach ache, his gut was not about to offer him any relief from it as he felt another sharp cramp, followed by a feeling almost like butterflies fluttering in his tummy. Sero huffed as he pressed a claw to the aching spot, the sensation more than just a little inconvenient. It had been ruining his nightlife, his days at work, and his time with Reed, but he did his best to keep it from them.

I just have to ignore it and it will go away on its own, stuff like this always does. He thought with a huff as he caught sight of himself in the large wall-mirror above his sink. I just hope they don't notice the extra weight. Urg, look at me!

What parts of his weary face that were not white already looked pale as death, and the bags under his eyes betrayed the fact that he'd been finding sleep hard for weeks now. Yet the sickening tummy churning that was keeping him awake made its presence known as he pressed a claw to his hips, edged his tummy forward, and ran a claw over the somewhat smooth swelling.

It's not going to be as easy to hide if it gets any bigger though. He noted, with an anxious tremble, rolling a claw around his tender belly button. I'll have to find more loose-fitting clothes, that's what dragons wear, should not be too hard... Gah!

Before he knew it, his tummy gave another hard cramp, his reflection almost doubling over along with him as he grasped his crotch, and did his best not to feel horney.

"What's going..." His words were once again stolen as his belly grumbled, the gurgling sensation coming to ahead as more hot bile rolled up his throat. "I have had it with this, I can't...."

He was vomiting over the toilet bowl once more, the stream coming to a stop as he fell on his back with a huff.

Okay, maybe I really should get this looked at. He thought, finally giving in to his fears with a huff as he rubbed his tender midsection. I could have picked up any kind of infection from off-world.

'You should get that pecker of yours checked then, lord knows what you could catch.' He recalled his best friend's words from months ago and a long, dry sigh escaped his muzzle.

"Of course, that fuzzball would be right about this. Urg, damn me for being so horny!" he huffed, sitting up with his back against the tile wall, before wiggling his butt so his tail was free to snake upward and grab his phone. "Okay, who do I call? Not the public center, they're too... Well, not my style, what did Reed say about an automated diagnosis?"

Coiling his tail to his front, the dragon took the small holo-device in his claws, entering his passcode as his background image (a rather revealing pin-up of a very handsome unicorn sat with a female of his race) appeared to greet him.

Fuck, what I would not give to plow another one of those sexy beasts right now. That would sure fix me up! He thought longingly, placing a paw on his slit to settle his rebellious cock. Even better if I could find the last guy I fucked.

Regardless, logging onto the holo-net, and deleting several tabs of pornography, the dragon did his best to recall what his feline friend had told him to do several times in the past few weeks.

"Let's see, what did he tell me to search for? System medical, no... Hum, Galactic core healthcare, that's too private?" the dragon muttered to himself, muzzle scrunching in concentration as his tummy squirmed and gurgled uncomfortably.

Almost unknowingly, the dragon reflexively placed a paw on his restless gut, rubbing his tight stomach as the idea finally came to him.

"Oh, Tri-Star, that's the one!" Whether it was the odd hormones, or not, he felt like cheering at the triumph, as he put in his details and was greeted by a clinically-blue screen. "Wow, this is fancy, Reed sure I can afford it?"

That doubt was put to rest as the dragon scrolled down the site's home page and came upon a rather appealing option.

'Endangered species qualify for free check ups once every thirty cycles, talk to an automated advisor today!'

"Well, would you look at that. That cat really is looking out for me." For some reason Sero felt more warmed by the idea then he often would as he swiftly added his racial details and was greeted with the happy smiling face of a purple-feathered griffin. "Huh, she'd be pretty cute, if she weren't obviously an AI."

He felt he had to assure himself that the adorable bundle of feathers; clad in silver and blue nurse's uniform, wasn't real; as the medical mascot beamed at him happily and chirped with a bubbly voice.

"Hi there, my name is Ginny, and thank you for choosing to use Tri-Star medical services! You have selected the species: dragon. Therefore you qualify for a free health checkup every thirty cycles, should we move on to helping you book an appointment?"

By the stars, this is so fucking cheesy. Sero inwardly moaned, put off by the griffin's overly cheerful inflection, the likes of which was ruined by the blunt recognition of the details he'd added. Can she say dragon with any less enthusiasm?

Regardless, he huffed, eyes rolling like stones in his skull as he added. "Yes, I'd like your help making an appointment, please."

"I'm sorry I didn't quite catch that, please try again?" Ginny's face beamed eagerly as Sero growled.

Seriously, who makes these!? He thought, repeating himself. We can travel faster than light and not make a bot that can understand simple anthro?

Droning so slow and direct to the little device made him feel like such an idiot, yet after a few patronizingly long moments, the automated griffin gave a little 'bing' sound as she cheered and moved on.

"Okay, great! Now let's see if we can narrow it down, please describe your symptoms," she asked, a large board of ailments appearing behind her.

"Fuck, where do I begin?" Sero grumbled, picking things out as he muttered all the things wrong with him. "Let's see, vomiting, weight gain, stomach cramps, trouble sleeping, aching joints..."

"Hmm, very interesting," the artificial griffin mused, scratching her fuzzy chin as she added. "Okay, with that, I think I know exactly what appointment to make you, please wait just a moment."

A round buffering icon appeared over a; 'please stand by' announcement as Sero sat back with a huff, a claw on his tender belly.

Good, hopefully I can just get this all fixed today, get back to work on Monday, and not keep throwing up. He thought, as, within moments, there was another ping from his holo-pad.

"And there we are, that should be everything you need, thanks again for using Tri-Star for all your medical needs, hope to see you in another thirty cycles!" Ginny chirped as she disappeared from the screen, leaving Sero to peer at the information and booking the AI had arranged for him.

"Huh?" He thought as he read through the information, cocking his head. "Okay, I have no idea where that is but..."

He thought back, and as the vague memory of where he was supposed to attend his new checkup hit him, he realized it was the last place he'd been expecting.

********

'Tri-Star: Obstetrics and Gynaecology - OBGYN' boasted the clinical-blue sign above the neat glass entrance of the sleek, curved tower building.

Huh, must have been fully booked at the hospital in the capital sector? Sero thought to himself as he stood at the base of the structure's steps. Let's just get this over with.

He took a step forward, yet as he reached the doors, a familiar face exiting the sofa-dotted lobby stole his attention.

"Oh, hey, Sero, didn't expect to see you here," the short, tabby cat greeted as happily as she could with the litter of three tugging on her arms. "I... Hey, Kai, stop pulling momma's hands, okay!"

"Oh, Laura, I..." Sero's words trailed off as he cupped his loose leather jacket around his belly, and thanked the stars dragons couldn't blush. "I... I'd say the same, but with the kids, I kinda should expect to see you here."

Laura's ears fell flat as she shied away and blushed. "Yeah, been coming here all the way through my term, don't stop now they're here." She glanced back at her trio of kittens. "They're just a lot more hassle on the outside."

I sure know that, those kids go crazy next door every night! Sero inwardly hissed, this being the first time he'd seen his feline neighbor since she'd given birth. Still, she's not a bad cat, just unlucky.

"Oh, I wouldn't know," the dragon chuckled, all the while cupping his belly and feeling oddly like Laura had looked months ago. "No kids, don't really want kids."

"Oh, I feel you on that one, I didn't want them either. But after carrying them, feeling them kick I... " She moved her free paw to her tummy, as if the ghost of a baby bump still lingered. "Eh, changed me a little, but it's still hard work."

That fact was on full display as one of her kittens declared at the top of her lungs.

"Mommy, I want food, can we stop on the way home!" The feline mother sighed, face as flat as her ears as she huffed.

"Yes, but this is the last time, okay." There was a series of cheers as the trio escaped her grip, leaving her bearly enough time to call back as she ran after them. "Well, hopefully, we'll catch up soon, Sero, good to see you!"

"You too," the dragon muttered, slightly put off by his neighbor's situation as he finally made his way inside, muttering under his breath. "How can anyone really want kids... They suck."

The inside of the lobby was more warm and cozy then the cold, glass exterior of the building suggested, it even had a welcome mat. Yet Sero didn't care for the sofas and toys that littered the carpet, he made his way right to the front desk.

Thankfully, the place was rather empty, save for a gravid iguana sat in one of the chairs, a zebra mother with her foal, and what looked to be a female hyena clad in tight leather by the desk, mane spiked and golden rings in her ears as she chewed minty gum. Sero did his best not to look at her as he approached, and the head of a green feathered stalk loomed up from a holo-computer.

"Hello there, can I help you?" The long-necked avian asked as Sero leaned casually on the counter, getting a notably long, awkward glance from the hyena.

"Yeah, I have an appointment," he stated. "It's under the name Sero, I booked it online."

The stalk nodded, and thanked him, looking down to tap away on their terminal, as Sero glanced around awkwardly.

Urg, I'm the only dude in here, this is so fucking awkward.

"Ah, here you are!" The stalk announced as he looked up at the dragon, then the hyena. "The doctors will be ready to see you both in a moment, if you'd please just take a seat down the hall, they'll call when ready.

She handed them both a ticket, the canine snorting a rather blunt thanks as she snatched the paper. Meanwhile, Sero nodded once and took his, doing his best not to be too noticeably awkward as he wrapped his jacket around his tummy and followed after the hyena.

"Urg, I can't believe this stupid place!" The brown-furred creature growled as she reached a set of seats in the corridor and flopped down. "I told the company there was nothing wrong with me, and still they sent me here!"

Is she talking to me or? Sero wondered, saying as much as he noted the hyena was a little bustier than he was used to. Damn, she's got tits for days.

Whether she noticed him ogling her ripe breasts or not, she shot him a flat look, then huffed as if she merely desired an ear to bitch to before her listener could inevitably be stolen.

"Well, I don't see anyone else, here, featherwing," she declared, glancing around the clinical-white medical corridor. "So yeah, I'm talking to you."

So she's here because of work? Ha, I know that feeling! Detecting some mutual ground at least, Sero shrugged and huffed as he snored in response.

"Work issues, huh? Company on your ass?" he asked knowingly and she leaned back as she snarled.

"Oh, don't remind me, this is the third time in the past few cycles they've been on my ass about shit," she responded, ears flat to her skull. "If it's not chem tests it's just to cover their tails on insurance."

"Ha, I feel you there, my boss is the biggest ass this side of the galaxy," Sero mused with a chuckle, and the hyena smirked as if she'd finally found a good ear to chew.

"Bet mine could give them a run for their money," she replied, looking Sero up and down like she were inspecting some fine flank. "Say, you're not too bad looking for a guy with job issues, though."

Sero knew that look on her face, and as he saw it, he felt his rebellious hormones begin to play up again. Doing his best to edge his pocket-bound claws over his slit, while still covering his belly, he shuddered. Even so, all he let on was that he may be slightly interested, as he fidgeted and offered the canine a wry smirk.

"Can't say you're too bad looking yourself," he commented, but the hyena merely laughed as she rubbed her enlarged breasts, then huffed.

"Hardly, I got tits the size of a hippo right now. I prefer myself a little slimmer." She squirmed in her seat, pulling her leather jacket taught over her bosom. "Things are so sensitive right now too, you know? Fuck if I know why."

Why ask me that, does it look like I have tits? Sero thought, yet humored the female nonetheless. She's got an interesting attitude at least, I like that.

"Can't say I know the feeling, only swelling I've got is downstairs." The flirtatious dragon grinned, and she shot him a coy look in return as she asked.

"That be your cock or your stomach... I see you all uptight there, sweetie." At her words, Sero's face fell flat and a shrill breath escaped his surprised muzzle.

"W-what I... No, I'm in perfect shape, thank you," he stammered, yet she appeared less than convinced as she snorted a laugh, then took out her holo-pad. "W-what are you doing?"

"What does it look like, featherwing? You're a pretty cool, good looking guy, I'm sending you my number," she elaborated, her mobile device giving a light bing as she jabbed it towards his pocket, and his own holo-pad vibrated at the notification. "The name's Nyx, by the way. Call me if You ever want a good time."

Fuck, it's been so long since I've had some good pussy, she looks ripe for it! Sero's hungry thoughts mused as he really looked the woman up and down. Wide hips, big tits... Bet she's a real beauty under those genes too.

"I might just have to take you up on that offer," the dragon responded, trying to dismiss his previous embarrassment about his condition as he put on his best, flirty face. "The name's Sero too."

"Hmm, more like sexy," Nyx cooed with lidded eyes as she ran a paw over her hips. "I've had some fun with one of your kind recently, you're so good in bed."

"Oh, I can assure you that whoever you fucked has nothing on me, babe." Falling fully upon his flirtatious drive, the dragon's words left his muzzle without so much as a second thought. "I'm a real killer in bed."

"Kinky, I like that style," Nyx shot back with a low purr. "How about you call me later today and we can..."

"Could patient two-nine, Sero please attend room tree!" announced the buzzing voice of a PA system, cutting off the flirtatious heat.

"Well, looks like you're due and appointment sweetie, don't take too long," Nyx was swift to acknowledge as Sero huffed.

"I know they really have the best timing." Regardless, his new friend only stifled a giggle behind a raised forepaw as the dragon marched off.

Why does there have to be an interruption every damn time!?

********

"Ah, you must be Sero. Please take a seat on the examination chair," greeted a tall, slim zebra stallion, adorned in pale robes, his mane done up in dreadlocks. "I must say, it's been a long time since I examined a dragon."

"Well, I hope I impress," Sero muttered, doing his best to move to the seat without showing his tummy, only to pause in confusion. "Urr, How do I sit in this?"

The seat was deep, and tilted backward, as if the one sat in it would have more of their tail up in the air. Not to mention two metal struts stuck out to either side, with obvious foot handles at their ends.

Just what part of me does he want to examine exactly? The dragon wondered as he glanced over at the equine doctor, who was sitting at a desk, chewing the tip of his pen. Not that I'd mind an examination from him, he's pretty cute.

"Oh, sorry this must be new for you. Just sit back and spread your legs to the sockets please," the doctor exclaimed happily, before gesturing with a dip of his pen. "Oh, and please take off your jacket."

At that, the dragon's face fell, and he felt like stones had dropped into the pit of his rumbling stomach. Oh no, he's going to see it. Urg, I should have just let myself be and wait for this to blow over!

Even so, as if to encourage him along, Sero's growling belly gave an uncomfortable shudder, and with a huff the dragon slowly, and very reluctantly, took off his clothes, setting them on a hook on the wall.

"Well, now let's..." The doctor lifted his head from his work, and turned in his chair to look at the naked dragon, only to pause with a somewhat dumbstruck expression. "My, I read your file but... What a shapely figure, indeed."

Is it just me or is him saying that a little hot? Sero mused, only to slam a mental door in the face of those thoughts. No, stupid hormones, not everything is sexy!

Regardless of his inner turmoil, Sero shrugged, reflexively folding a wing over his belly as he offered the doctor a flat look and deadpanned.

"Thanks." He moved over to the chair and reluctantly plopped down with his hind legs spread, tail-hole on full display as he was forced to fold his wings and expose his belly. "Now, can we just get this over with?"

Urg, this position is so uncomfortable! He huffed, feeling cramps swell in his gut. Plus, this leather feels sticky!

Even so, the exposed dragon was not left to suffer for too long as the doctor stood up and took a seat between Sero's spread hind legs.

"Of course, sorry about the delay, now just hold still and tell me how you feel," the stallion asked, as he measured the width of Sero's hips, then the arch of his belly. "Hmm, interesting."

"Well, I feel like shit, if I'm being totally honest," the dragon snorted begrudgingly. "Sickness, cramps, this weight, it sucks."

"I see, and the sickness you describe is just after you've eaten, correct?" The doctor asked, peering up from between Sero's legs.

"Most of the time yeah... Gah!" The dragon's words were cut off as the doctor cupped the base of his belly bump, just above his slit, the contact forcing his excited cock to peek free. "Hey, that feels..."

"Oh, don't worry about your arousal, it's perfectly natural, I've seen it all before. Just let it all out," the stallion informed kindly, as he ran his hand down to Sero's tail hole. "Although it does show increased sex drive, interesting."

"Believe me, my sex drive is always on," Sero muttered, only a little put off by the sight of his cocks swelling free as he winced. "I'm kinda popular with the guys."

"I can see why, you're quite the good looker. You have sex often?" The doctor asked, retrieving a set of metal tools from a trolley to his left to prise Sero's ass open. "Hmm, your bowels seem so tight."

"Do I have sex often?" Sero repeated with a chuckle. "Dude, I've not had it in weeks but before that, I slept around a fair bit, sure."

"Well, I can't see any signs of infection, so you're safe there," the doctor informed, and the dragon breathed half a sigh of relief, only for the stallion to add. "Only your colon biology has shifted, I'll have to take a closer look, just tell me how this feels."

At that, Sero had no more than a moment before the doctor's tools prised his tail-hole wide and he wiggled his fingers inside, probing the dragon's silken tunnel as Sero grunted.

"It's... It's tight... hey... watch it!" The doctor's probing ceased, fuzzy ears folding back as he winced and uttered a small apology, before asking if he could go on. "Yeah sure, I just want to fix this and get back to my life."

"Ah, that's all anyone in this kind of situation ever wants, it's perfectly undeniable, I..." The zebra's words trailed off as his eyes went wide and he muttered. "Oh my, now that is something."

Claws clutching at this seat like he were a cat with yarn, Sero felt the stallion's finger almost as far up his ass as a lover's cock as he asked through clenched teeth.

"W-what is it... Is it bad?" He was hard-pressed to talk as the stallion's invading extremity wiggled deep inside him, before pulling back with a low pop, to be cleaned by some nearby gel. "Oh, fuck sorry about this," the dragon added with a shallow breath as the two of them looked at his fully erect cock.

"It's fine, but... Well, your cloaca has almost tripled in size and your coccyx has shifted to accommodate it." The striped-equine paused as he smiled. "Congratulations, I think you may be pregnant!"

Sero felt like he'd been dunked into a bucket of icy water, his eyes shooting to his round belly fast as lightning as he felt faint.

I... I can't have kids, I'm a guy! His mind screamed as he lifted a claw to the bump like it were some disgusting alien blob sucking on his gut. This... This... I...

"What... How, I'm a fucking dude!" Sero announced, gesturing over his bump to his very prominent cock. "Just look at that, I'm huge!"

"Well, that much is pretty clear, hmm," The doctor didn't seem to be without confusion as he regarded the dragon's taught belly. "This is fascinating, I did hear stories that generations ago your kind adapted to be more reproductively receptive. Efforts to save your species I suppose, but not like this."

"Like this, I'm a fucking guy, where the fuck is a baby even going to be!?" Sero continued to stammer, yet the more he thought the more he realized that all that he was feeling right now was what pregnant mothers went through.

Laura was like this with her litter, remember? She was huge, and think back to that night she came to you asking if you had pickles and ice cream! Sero's mind recalled, as the dragon's breathing started to increase. Oh fuck, I can't end up like that, what would they all think of me if I were that size!

"Now, now, calm down, there could be another reason. A parasite may have invaded your cloaca," the doctor informed as he moved over to retrieve another trolley, this one carrying a holo-screen and an odd, orb-like device. "We'll do a scan to be sure."

All the while, Sero regarded his bump like it were a venomous snake, poking at it, the taught mass firm under his claw before he drew back swiftly, as if scolded.

There can't really be a baby in there. But it wasn't that firm this morning, for sure! He thought, his loins swelling with pressure as he felt a turbulent mix of fear, trepidation, and arousal. Gah, and it feels kind of sexy... Fuck, what is happening to me!

"Now, let's see here," the doctor muttered, seemingly more to himself as he collected a bottle of gel and squirted it onto Sero's round tummy, only for the dragon to shudder hard, uttering a shrill 'eep'. "Sorry, forgot to mention how cold that'd be."

"I... I don't care, just get this done," the dragon snapped, dread demanding he do so as he prayed to the stars this was some kind of mistake. "I mean, I can't really be pregnant, right?"

"Well, I don't know for sure with your kind. But if you are, I'll have to add you to the EMI list," the zebra told him, booting up the ultrasound with a low whirr.

"And what's that?" Sero asked, as the zebra pressed the smooth orb at the end of the device to his belly, the freezing touch causing the dragon to shudder. "Gah, that really is too cold!"

"The Endangered Mothers Initiative, though, father in your case. It just means the baby is protected, so no terminations and such," he stated casually.

Sero blinked, heart pounding like a hammer in his heaving chest as the scan rolled around his gel-covered belly, and his eyes fixed directly on the holo-screen as his spines bristled.

"But what if I don't want it?" he asked bluntly, still begging this was some kind of joke or a bad dream. "I can't be a father."

"Well, in that case, it'd be taken into care when it was born, but you've got to carry it to term, federation law says so," the doctor told him matter-of-factly. "Ah, here we are."

"B-but what about a teleportation transplant?" Sero asked, feeling like he was chained to his seat as the scan reached the peak of his naval, and he dared not look at the screen any more. "They work, right?"

"Nah, it would be far too risky, dragon babies are like diamonds these days. You'd still have to carry it to term," the zebra informed, looking at the screen very closely. "Now, what am I seeing here?"

As if the two of them were lost in two very different conversations, Sero could only keep trying to uphold his side of the argument against federation law, and pray this wasn't real.

"And how long is a term?" he asked, flustered beyond belief as he caught sight of odd flutters on the holo-screen. "Not too long, right?"

"No, it's about three years. Your kind have such long life spans that the babies mature in the first few months then just kind of stay in there for a long time, kicking away," the zebra told him, and Sero's heart sank like a ship into a black hole as the zebra added. "Ah, there we are! Yep, only one little guy, they're pretty small right now, but they're going to become very active in the next month or so, better get used to it."

Sero finally saw the screen, just about making out the small, almost dragon-like blob amidst the dull grey, and he felt sicker than he ever had before as it fluttered within him.

T-three years... of... He rested a claw on his jelly-slavered belly, and shuddered hard. Oh fuck, what's going to happen to me now!?