Chapter Text
Overse
"Wait, did you hear that?"
I stopped in the middle of my story, listening for whatever it is that Ratthi has heard, but coming up blank. "Are you just trying to get me to shut up?"
"No, shut up, I think someone's at the door," he trapped my knee. I stopped bouncing my leg and sat still, finally giving him the benefit of the doubt.
Sure enough, after a moment, there was a light footstep. Just one, and it didn't match with the familiar pattern of someone going to their room. We were sitting near the door already, in attempt to avoid waking Arada while we talked, and as far as I was aware, Pin-Lee and Gurathin were both already in their rooms. Bharadwaj isn't even on the station, I know she's got familial obligations and won't be going with us tomorrow on the survey. There's only one other room connected to our lobby, since Mensah uses a more secure sight on the station until he term is over, one that hasn't been used in nearly four months...
"You don't think that's..." I turned to look to Ratthi with a grin.
He matched it and got up quickly, rushing to the door to pull out open. Sure enough, our missing security consultant stood there looking like we'd just caught it doing something embarrassing. It started down and away from Ratthi, why beamed at it, "SecUnit! Why didn't you tell us you were coming back? How was your 'research trip' with Perihelion?"
It didn't say anything for a moment, and I could tell we had really caught it of guard. Typically, it acts very human like. It shifts from one foot to the other, lands to one side, moves its hands unnecessarily... occasionally, however, it just gets incredibly still and the uncanny valley reminder that it isn't quite human comes back. This time, it lasted long enough that I had time to get out of my chair and stand beside Ratthi, and I began to worry something was really wrong. It's eyes, still trained somewhere near the doorknob, were unfocused, so it's doing something in the feed probably. Probably not hacking the station, at least.
"What's wrong with you?" It, for some reason thought this was an ok getting, shifting to look directly at me.
SecUnit is very bad at masking its expressions. It's gotten better, especially when we're around strangers or crowds, but it didn't seem to make any effort not to look deeply confused now. Wearing its favorite cargo pants and a long sleeve shirt in the color of Perihelion's crew (but without the logo), it looked as familiar as I’m used to. I'm not used to getting its direct attention. The only people who get that are the ones that piss it off or, sometimes, Dr. Mensah.
"Excuse me?" I didn't take offense, because SecUnit doesn't mean to offend.
"What's happened to you? What's wrong?" It reiterated, holding the same expression and tone.
Ratthi looked between us while I tried to figure out why it thought I might be worth such concern. I'm not sick as far as I'm concerned. I haven't gotten any major injuries. Did it find out about my argument with Pin-Lee? That was a month ago and we've gotten over it. Besides, SecUnit doesn't typically care so much about stuff like that.
"Oh! She pregnant. Is that what you mean?" Ratthi put it together faster than I did, and that isn't because I was being difficult and refusing to admit it could think my being pregnant could be something 'wrong', but because I hadn't even considered it in the circumstance.
I smiled widely and put a hand over my abdomen, "Right. That must be it. I'm only two months in, it's exciting."
SecUnit took a step back and adjusted to look down where my hands was with... horror? Shock? "You're... growing another human?" Again, I didn't take offense.
"That's right. Have you... never met someone that's pregnant?"
Its eyes flickered away and it tried to stand more at ease, returning to some of those fake human movements even though it still looked uncomfortable. "No. In any contact that requires the rental of a SecUnit, conditions are too hazardous for humans with that condition." And I guess it just hasn't had the opportunity since Mensah became its guardian. "Does it... hurt?"
It looks incredibly tense, but if it really wanted to it would just walk away and end the conversation. It's curious. "Not yet. From my understanding, it will later some." It still looks horrified, but it's expression has eased quite a bit and it mostly looks confused.
"What's wrong?" Ratthi questioned. "I know you know how humans reproduce, and I'm sure you think it's gross or whatever, but there's something else bothering you."
"It says Dr. Overse on the crew list for the survey leaving tomorrow. You shouldn't be going in this condition."
I relaxed, realizing exactly what the problem is now. "I'm not far enough along that I have to stop working. Exercise is good for the pregnancy, and we're going to a familiar planet with no hostile fauna. It rains a lot there, but I've been four times already. I'll be fine."
It made a skeptical expression, but didn't argue. Instead, it lingered a few more seconds, then turned away toward the door to its room.
"Goodnight." Ratthi called after it. It turned to halfway look over its shoulder at us and nodded, but otherwise didn't acknowledge before disappearing into its room. He turned toward me, "This'll be interesting."
"I'm not surprised, really. It doesn't like the messy parts of humanity very much." I rubbed my stomach, imagining when I'm going to start showing and eager for it.
"Yeah, humans are pretty gross." Ratthi joked. I shoved him. "I bet it's going to act like you're crazy and avoid you for a while, but give it some time and it's going to start actually liking kids because of you."
I wouldn't go that far. I've seen how uncomfortable it is around the little ones. "Maybe."
"It's got the right idea, though. I'm going to bed too, I'll see you in the morning." He stepped out of the still open door and gave me a half wave.
I waved him off and pulled it shut, meandering back toward the bedroom where my wife snored softly. I'm tired too, but the excitement just keeps coming back to me. I don't know how long I'm going to be comfortable continuing our surveys, but for now, I am really looking forward to the fresh air and hiking involved. I don't honestly expect to see a whole lot of SecUnit while I'm pregnant - it's been traveling with Perihelion and it's crew mostly for the past year and I see no reason for that to change - but I do really hope this doesn't make it too uncomfortable while it is on the station visiting us.