《After Life》Chapter 25.9: The End Of The Beginning
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Cole rushes through the large hydraulic door jumping in the cart, questioning, “What’s with the bubble?”
“We're not exactly sure what it’s for. It’s being generated by your unborn children. It's been growing larger for a while now. We’re all waiting for you inside. You can find Gaze in the science lab. We think she’s going into labor.”
“Already?! What do you mean you think?”
“Well, you’ll see.”
Cole barrels into the center dome to find the room filled with Ultras and surprisingly a small portion of humans who survived. Right off the bat he recognizes a good portion of the crowd are of the forest people, who are simply ecstatic that Cole has arrived. They burst into cheers praising his arrival. Strangely enough everyone quickly turns their gaze away from him. He stands awkwardly trying to figure out what’s going on. Magi materializes in a burst of light from the ceiling.
“What’s going on? Why did everyone turn away?” asks Cole.
Magi exclaims, “Just look at you! You’re disgusting! You’re covered in blood and who knows what else. And just look at your clothes, they have been torn to shreds!”
Cole looks down realizing that if it weren’t for just a thread of fabric he’d be given a ticket for indecent exposure in the old world. He has a flash memory of the demon slashing the whole length of his body in one hit.
“Not to mention that horrid stench you’re giving off.” says Ghiya instantly turning red with the words. “Sorry! I did not mean to say that. No verbal filter once you enter inside the bubble.”
“I need to see Gaze!” exclaims Cole.
Ghyia nudges Cole away from the hallway leading to the science room, “Oh no you don’t. Not like this. You need to clean yourself up, then you can meet your family.” she says with the sweetest grandmotherly voice.
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“But she’s going into labor!”
“Don’t worry don’t worry my boy. You have enough time to get cleaned up.” she says, continuing to nudge.
Everything is moving entirely too quickly for Cole. He finds it absolutely annoying that he can’t emotionally keep up with the events of his life unfolding. He quickly enters his room jumping in the shower, then changes into some clean clothes. Before exiting he takes a moment examining his old clothes.
These clothes are shredded to pieces. What a crazy battle.
Heading back into the domed room everyone continues to praise Cole. Some of the humans in their futuristic suits thank him for saving them from Death’s rule.
Curledor shakes Cole’s hand excitedly, “Congratulations! You’re going to be a father! The first Ultrasapien father! You must be so excited!”
“No! I’m terrified! I don’t know what it means to be a father! Are they going to come out looking exactly like me and Gaze!? Little versions of us running around?! Or are they going to have down syndrome because we are too genetically aligned? This whole situation is ridiculous!”
Cole throws his hand to his mouth in embarrassment. He knows that’s not the right thing to say right before your children are born. Ghiya takes Cole's hand guiding him through the charged flock of Ultras, “Give it some time.” she says lightly. “You’ll get used to the whole unfiltered speech situation. It's more about knowing when not to speak rather than trying to fight it. Now, Gaze is just inside here. She’s expecting you. Oh we’re so glad you’re here Cole. We’re simply elated to be witness to these times. Let's head inside, it’s time for you to embrace your destiny.”
The first thing Cole noticed entering the lab was a polished white humanoid like robot, with a red medical cross on its chest. Its head, chest, and hands are made of a soft white silicone type of rubber. It turns greeting Cole with a handshake, “Hello Cole. Welcome back.”
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“Cake?!”
“Correct, new body, but ask me a harder question.”
Not this again!
“Now is not the time Cake.” says Magi with a scolding finger as she teleports into the room with a burst of light.
Cole didn’t even need to ask, he had already spied Gaze resting on the hospital bed. Her exposed belly is surprisingly larger round than the last time he saw her. Her belly is glowing and pulsating as if a flashlight was being turned on and off from the inside. Cole sits by her side grasping her hand noting instantly the vibrations from the connection. He speaks quickly, “How are you feeling? You look beautiful. I remember it all now. I remember our dreams together, our lives together. I’m sorry I forgot.”
“Aww and I even know you have to tell the truth. It’s ok I understand the strange circumstances we’re in, and yes I’m great actually. I’m in no pain at all. No fatigue or anything really. They told me they didn’t want me to be in pain during the process.”
“They, told you?!”
“Yes with their mind, they are, telepathic. I’m not sure if that will go away when they are born, but now that you’re here they are excited to start the process. They have been waiting for you to get here. They told me they didn’t want to be born until you were here to greet them.”
“They are aware?! Even from inside the womb?!”
“Very much so, and now, it seems it's time.”
Gaze’s belly begins to pulsate faster. The red glow from inside increases in brightness allowing the outline of the twins to be seen. Her belly brightens until it turns bright yellow. She holds her belly from underneath with a smile on her face. After a blinding flash, what’s left is Gaze holding two infants in her arms. One boy, one girl. No blood, no umbilical cord, and already the twins could easily pass for eight months old. Each of them have a tiny amount of black curly hair on their heads. Gaze’s belly has returned exactly to the way it was before the pregnancy.
The infants joyfully smile, looking around the room to find Cole. Despite the baby sounds and giggles they appear to have full cognitive ability to understand their surroundings. Cole peers into their eyes. He finds awareness and intelligence in them, and Ultra power. More importantly though he finds their eyes are already a colorful combination of their parents eyes. His hazel color around the edges, and Gaze’s piercing green in the center.
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