Baby On The Way
Posted on 2025, Fri Aug 15th, @ 3:42pm by Vice Admiral Jack Reacher Jr & Captain Kate Reacher & Commander Ardon Devasia
1,409 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Episode 1A "Shadows of the Empire"
Location: Reachers Quarters, USS Halo ; Deck 11 - Main Sickbay
Timeline: Halo E/r To Terran Empire Earth
The dim lighting in their quarters aboard the USS Halo cast long shadows across the room as Admiral Jack Reacher sat hunched over his PADD, his eyes scanning through the thick reports with a focused intensity. The faint hum of the ship’s engines reverberated beneath his feet, a constant reminder of the Halo’s precarious journey through uncharted space. The ship was traversing the dangerous and largely unexplored pathways between dimensions—heading toward Alt Universe Earth. This was no ordinary mission. It was one fraught with risks and uncertainties, and Townsend knew that the stakes were higher than ever before.
"Everything seems stabilized," he murmured, glancing up from his PADD toward the large monitor above the desk. The starfield beyond the ship’s hull stretched endlessly, a seemingly peaceful sight, but Reacher knew better. "But I still can't shake the feeling we're about to step into something far beyond our comprehension. The Terran Empire version of Earth... What an insane prospect." His words trailed off, an edge of unease in his voice, as his thoughts began to wander toward the dangers that lay ahead—dangers that threatened not just him, but his crew and their families as well.
Across the room, Commander Kate Reacher moved with methodical precision, organizing the various supplies and equipment that would be necessary for the upcoming mission. The faint rustling of materials barely reached Jack's ears as he continued to scroll through data on his PADD, scrutinizing the integrity of the ship’s systems. He was still processing the enormity of what they were about to undertake, but there was little time for that now.
"Are you sure you're not overthinking this?" Kate’s voice broke through his thoughts, light and playful, as she glanced over at him. A mischievous smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "We've got some of the best engineers in the fleet. If anything goes wrong, we’ll handle it together."
Jack looked at her, the familiar warmth of her gaze offering a sense of reassurance. Yet, the weight of the unknown still loomed large. He exhaled slowly, rubbing the back of his neck, before responding. "I know, but we're in an entirely different universe, Kate. This is uncharted territory. The risks... they’re unimaginable. It’s not just about us anymore. It’s about the crew, their families... and our daughter." His eyes softened as he spoke the last part, his thoughts drifting momentarily to the child they were expecting, the little life that would soon join them in the chaos of their missions.
Kate’s gaze shifted to her belly, her hand instinctively resting on the curve of it. A soft, fond smile spread across her face, her eyes sparkling with love and anticipation. “Speaking of our son, I think he’s feeling the tension, too.”
Before Jack could reply, a sudden warmth rushed through Kate’s body, and her smile faltered. Her breath hitched, her eyes widening as a sharp, unmistakable contraction rippled through her. "Jack, I—" she gasped, the words catching in her throat.
The moment froze. Time seemed to stretch, and then it hit Jack like a ton of bricks. His heart leapt into his throat, and the words left his mouth in a rush. "My water just broke!" Kate whispered, disbelief in her voice.
Jack's pulse quickened, and everything else faded away. Adrenaline surged through him, drowning out the earlier concerns. "Okay, Med bay, now!" he barked, his voice a mix of urgency and raw determination. The reports and mission details were forgotten in an instant, replaced by the single, all-consuming task: getting Kate to safety.
“Right behind you!” Kate’s voice was strained, but there was strength in it as she attempted to stand, her hand gripping the edge of the table for support. Her brows furrowed in concentration as she fought the next wave of pain.
Jack was already by her side, wrapping one strong arm around her waist. He felt the tremble in her body, the effort it took for her to stay upright. "Stay with me, Kate. Just breathe, okay? Breathe with me," he coached, his voice surprisingly steady despite the storm raging in his own chest.
Together, they moved quickly through the corridors of the USS Halo, navigating the narrow hallways of the starship. The low hum of the engines seemed to grow louder with each step, a constant reminder of their uncharted journey, but Jack's focus never wavered from Kate. Her breath quickened as another contraction hit, the sharp pain taking her by surprise. Jack's heart raced, matching the rhythm of her hurried breaths, as they pressed forward toward the Med Bay.
"Almost there," Kate gasped, leaning heavily into him as she fought to remain composed. With every step, Jack felt a rush of conflicting emotions—fear, protectiveness, and awe. This moment was their new beginning, a new chapter that carried an uncertain weight.
When they finally reached the Med Bay doors, Jack turned to look at Kate, his eyes searching hers. Her face was a picture of determination, the same resolve that had always defined her. "Ready?" he asked, though the question held little weight compared to the urgency of the situation.
“I’ve got this, Jack,” she replied, her voice unwavering, a quiet strength in the face of the storm that was unfolding around them.
With that, the doors of the Med Bay slid open, and Jack's voice rang out urgently. "Ardon!" he called, the sound of his command echoing down the sterile hallway.
"In here Jack,"
Dr. Devasia was in surgery patching up wounded crewmen. radiation burns mostly, the one he was working on though was too close to an EPS conduit when it exploded. He repaired the damaged flesh and was closing it up.
"Be right with you, Sir,"
Jack led Kate to the nearest bed and helped her up on the bed.
."
"Finally got the last one done. What seems to be the problem, Kate?" Ardon asked.
“She’s going into labor,” Jack said, his voice clipped with adrenaline, but his hand never left Kate’s shoulder.
Ardon gave a short nod, already pulling up the biobed’s diagnostic systems. “How far apart are the contractions?” he asked, his tone calm but precise.
“Two minutes—maybe less,” Kate managed, gripping the edge of the bed tightly as another contraction surged through her. Jack instinctively gripped her hand, grounding her with his presence.
"You are already dialated to 10 centimeters. The baby is correctly positioned. You are beginning to crown." Ardon said.
Kate’s eyes widened, a mix of panic and determination flashing across her face as she gritted her teeth through the contraction. Her knuckles whitened against the bedrail.
“Already?” she gasped, breathing heavily as the contraction ebbed. “I thought… I thought I’d have more time…” Her voice trembled, but her grip on Jack's hand tightened, anchoring herself to him.
Jack leaned in closer, his free hand brushing a strand of damp hair from her forehead. “You’ve got this, Kate. You’re ready,” he said softly but firmly, his steady presence unshakable.
Ardon’s calm voice broke through the moment. “The baby’s ready, too. On your next contraction, I want you to push.”
Kate nodded quickly, her expression hardening with resolve as another contraction began to build. “Okay… okay… Let’s do this.”
Alright, you are in the second stage of labor.. Now push...
Kate clenched her jaw as the contraction peaked, her knuckles whitening around the edge of the biobed. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead, but her eyes burned with determination.
With a sharp breath, she nodded again. “Pushing… now,” she managed, her voice strained but steady as she bore down with everything she had.
"This baby is coming, one more push ought to do it.." Ardon said.
"Push!!!!"
The head and shoulders are through..
Congratulations, you have a Son!! Ardon said, slapping its bottom twice. The newborn erupted in cries...
The Doctor removed the amniotic sac and cut the cord.
One of the attending nurses took the baby, cleaned him, and swaddled him in clean towels. Then brought him back to Kate.
Kate took hold of the baby boy and held him close. Jack looked to the Doctor. "Thank you, Doc"
"Delivering babies is one of the more pleasant aspects of the job," Ardon said, smiling.
"Funny doc" Jack told him. "I owe you a drink"
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