A labor of.....

Posted on Mon Apr 22nd, 2019 @ 9:06am by Commander Rita Paris & Lieutenant Asa Dael & Hera

Mission: Detours
Location: USS Hera, Deck 12, Sickbay
Timeline: 2396

Death and babies come in the night.

That is what Chief Medical Officer Asa Dael’s grandmother figure had always taught them growing up. As usual, the ancient woman was proven correct.

Asa had been woken from a sound sleep at 0400 hours with the news that Ensign Ayla Dabri and her husband Petty Officer Seth Dabri had exploded into Sickbay, Ayla moaning with the tell-tale signs that the couple’s first child was to be born shortly.

Grabbing a cup of coffee to gulp while en route to Sickbay, Asa mentally reviewed the careful birth plan that had been rehearsed for the couple with Nurse Vimes and Nurse Almera. Everything that could have been done to prepare for this moment had been done; the medical staff was well trained, rehearsal runs in simulation had been successful, all known variables had been accounted for. Now all that lay left to do was face the element of the unknown that was inherit to bringing any new life into the Universe.

Walking into Sickbay with their best imitation of bright-eyed and bushy tailed, Asa greeted the couple, “Hello Dabri’s. How are we doing so far?”

“Doctor! Thank the Prophets. She’s going into labor, or at least we’re pretty sure that’s what’s happening. The baby’s coming! The baby’s coming and we have to, we have to do something… what do we do?!?” The proud papa, for whom this was to be his first child sired, was clearly panicked, had forgotten all of the training and classes he had attended, and was practically frantic as his very pregnant wife moaned a bit next to him, clutching the side rails of the biobed as another contraction took hold.

“Calm down, honey. See? The doctor’s here now, we’re in Medical, all is well…. Uhhhhhrrr!” Ayla grunted around another contraction as she attempted to calm her husband.

“Nurse Almera, please bring the birth-safe muscle relaxers, and some hot tea for mom and dad.” Asa said calmly, moving over to the panicked petty officer, and reaching out to clasp both mother and fathers hands.

“It’s going to be ok. Yes, she is in labor. I’m going to do my part, and I need each of you to remember your parts, ok? Seth, you need to sit down next to Ayla and take her hand. Talk her through the visualization exercise you agreed upon. It was picturing the five moons of Bajor, right? Ayla, remember, the more relaxed you are, the less pain there will be, and the happier the baby is. You can do this, let’s work together, ok?”

Asa’s voice was calm and melodious, a practice they had learned in Starfleet Medical to soothe upset patients. They could only hope their own internal turmoil over their first solo delivery was not apparent to anyone in the room.

The expectant mother sneezed once, then lay back and started humming to herself, in an attempt to keep herself calm and relaxed, as well as to soothe the child in utero who was just as important to keep calm. For his part, Seth sat down, fidgeting in his seat anxiously, but he took his wife’s hand in both of his and chattered at her.

“The five moons… you remember the five moons, right sweetheart? That’s what we’re visualizing to keep you calm. Keep you calm for an easy delivery because the doctor’s here, and they are going to take care of everything, and soon we’ll have a fine healthy baby boy and all of this will be over, and we’ll be parents.” A shadow passed over the expectant father’s face as it dawned on him in the moment that he was about to be a parent, and more panic set in as he clutched his wife’s hand and rubbed it anxiously.

Patting Seth on the shoulder, Nurse Almera handed him a cup of hot chamomile tea.

“Here you go honey,” she said, her solid gray hair swept up into a neat bun, and her time-wizened face settling into a smile. Almera and Vimes were the two oldest members of the Sickbay team, both humans well into their 60’s. They both kept calm in spite of the chaos around them and seemed to know instinctively when to chide, when to soothe, and when to stay out of the way.

Before making an exit, Almera said, “You know Seth, I’ve been present for the deliveries of over 60 children, and not a single child or parent came to any ill. Doc Dael here has everything under control. Don’t you fret. Now, those five moons. I always favored Derna. Tell me about the moon Derna, Seth. Describe it so Ayla here can picture it. Think about how it looked on the night you first knew you loved her. Tell us about that.”

With a nod of thanks, Asa continued to take readings, drew the privacy filter across the delivery area, and worked with Nurse Vimes to help Ayla maneuver into her delivery gown.

“Well, Derna is the liquid moon, so she is blue, and they call her ‘the sea of tranquility, because the waters are so calm and warm and inviting. They are methane seas, of course, so they are no such thing. But watching them from the surface, she looks so calm and gentle in the sky, she has come to represent peaceful motion in Bajoran writings and literature. Derna is often found referenced in our romantic literature…” As Seth droned on, a veritable encyclopedia of knowledge about the moons of Bajor, his wife remained calm and sneezed again, even as the frantic father-to-be calmed down, handled masterfully by the experienced and canny nurse.

Ayla, now robed in a delivery gown, was laying on the labor and delivery biobed now, and Nurse Almera was handing her a cup of ice chips to chew on now that Seth was contentedly blathering away. After murmuring a word of thanks discretely to Almera, Doc Dael sat down near the foot of the bed.

“Ok, I’m going to take a look and check how things are going, Ayla. Your vitals are great, that baby is doing great, and Seth here hasn’t passed out, so I’d say we are doing fantastic, how about you? How are you feeling?” Asa asked, smiling calmly, doctor face in full force.

“Achoo!” the mother to be responded as she dilated another centimeter. “Fine so far, Doctor. I'm calm, Seth is… stay calm, sweety… calm and we’re going to have a baby. How do things look down there?” Ayla asked solicitously.

Meanwhile, in another part of the ship, an ancient being looks up from her book and out the window as a new star twinkles into existence. "I sense that I am needed. Computer, please inform Commander Paris that the Fates have called me to... Wherever babies are born on this ship." With a chirrup, the computer acknowledged the request and Hera was moving, strapping on her sandals and tossing her finest shawl over her shoulders.

Soon she was at the door and willing it to open with a wave of her hand, the Amazonian security on the other side looked a bit startled. "The fates call to me. Please escort me to the birth."

The comm badge of the hulking Jablonski chirruped, and the voice of Commander Paris spoke up. ”Escort Hera to Sickbay, ladies, on my authority, and find Dr. Dael.”

“Aye aye, Commander,” Jablonsi replied, then stepped out to take the lead in escorting the Goddess to the dawn of a new life.



After sitting down, Asa had begun a visual exam. Ayla was dilated 3 centimeters and seemed to be progressing well. However, as Asa placed their hand on Ayla’s stomach a contraction rippled through her. Something about the contraction felt….off….and Asa rushed to pick up an imaging scanner.

Keeping their face calm, Asa internally began to panic.

Oh hell. That umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby’s neck at least three times. This may require surgery… they thought, considering their options before speaking.

It was at that moment Sickbay doors whooshed open.

Hera walked in, almost lit with an internal light and seemingly with a divine purpose to her. Looking towards the soon to be mother, she smiled radiantly and stepped over to the group, placing one hand upon Ayla's swollen belly and her other on Seth's shoulder. The golden light seemed to flow out of Hera and into Ayla and for one brief moment, Hera looked weary beyond her years.

"Your child is blessed, young one. Everything will be all right. I swear this to you upon my very name."

“Ah, that’s… very kind of you… are you… another doctor? Doctor Dael is my pediatrician…” Ayla asked, confused, even as Seth slumped in his seat, awake but surprisingly weary as he had unwittingly donated energy to their child through the simple touch Hera had placed upon him. For what father would refuse to give every ounce of strength they possessed, to save their child?

"Seth, Ayla," Asa interrupted before Hera could announce her holy presence, "This is Her...Hermione. She's a specialist here to observe Starfleet birthing practices, and she is a practicing priestess on her home planet of.....Agaea. Hermione, can I have a word with you? I'd like to bring you up to speed."

"Of course, Asa." Hera looked at the Doctor curiously, wondering why they wouldn't use her actual name, but for now followed their lead.

Once the pair were in Asa’s office, the doctor activated privacy soundproofing.

“Hera, always lovely to see you. Um, I just wanted to maybe remind you that the entire crew is not aware your personage is on board? And Ayla and Seth are not cleared to know that particular bit of intel….so, hoping it doesn’t offend if I call you Hermoine? Ma’am?” Asa was a nervous wreck, trying to convey information quickly, but also respectfully to the one person on board who might be able to stop the train-wreck Asa was afraid they saw on the horizon.

"Of course, I understand," Hera replied, leaning against one of the office chairs.

“Um, as long as we are in here. Well, the cord is wrapped around the baby’s neck. I can deliver surgically of course, but that always has a higher risk of complications, a slower recovery time, and adds fear endorphins to the baby’s earliest life experiences, which in a Bajoran can result in developmental delays as their deliveries are typically so relaxed. Um, any tips, if I might ask?”

"Look again," the matronly goddess replied with a wink. "I was called here by the fates for that reason and you should find that the child's life is no longer in any danger."

Hugging Hera in an impromptu embrace, Asa called, "Thank you!" and rushed to return to Seth and Ayla. Without sparing too much time to investigate the now-subdued Seth, Asa scanned Ayla again, relieved to find the cord was no longer wrapped around the soon-to-be-newborn.

Sensing Aya's questions, Asa said simply, "Everything looks great, Ayla. You are doing a great job, and the baby is in position. Three more centimeters dilation and it will be time to push. How are you feeling?"

"Everything's going to be all right," Ayla replied, reaching for her husband's hand, who was reaching for hers. "Our baby is strong and healthy. Our son. Herman...?" The expectant mother's face settled into a puzzled expression as she dilated again, another pulse closer to her son's arrival into the universe. Then turning calmly, with a beatific smile, the mother to be looked at her husband. "It's time, Seth."

Standing to come around where she could see him, his back to the delivery, Seth, weary but upright, began to croon an old traditional Bajoran lullabye, in which his wife joined him in a duet, meant to be sun by mothers and fathers together to their children. As they sang to their child, the began to make his entry into the world.

Back at Ayla's feet, Asa said in a soothing tone, "Ok, Ayla, time to push. 5 seconds this time ok?"

After receiving a nod of acquiescence, Asa counted down the five seconds aloud, then led Ayla to repeat the exercise three more times while the contraction lasted. Once it had ended, they said,"That was really great. You are doing fantastic. Rest for a few moments, it will be time to push again soon."

Nurse Vimes fed Ayla ice chips as Almera kept Seth's tea refilled. While there was a moment, Asa turned to Hera and said, "Hermione, I'm glad you are here. Would you like to join me to observe the next contraction?"

"I'm right here with you. Everything will be ok," Hera replied, already knowing everything was fine.

The monitors on the biobed showed the contraction before Ayla seemed to feel it, and Asa told her to push for all she was worth. Bajoran deliveries tended to go quickly, and after Hera's intervention, this one was back on track. Soon enough the infant was being cradled in Asa's arms who stood to say "It's a healthy Bajoran! Physiology is that of a person who will have eggs and be able to carry pregnancies, 10 fingers, 10 toes, and a perfect ridged nose!"

"Our... wait, you said... have eggs? Carry pregnancies? But this is, this is our son... Herman?" Seth looked dazed and confused that his son in utero had just been delivered as a girl. Turning back to his wife, his eyes went wide. "This was an epic prank? Really? You let me think we were having a boy but she's a girl?"

"No... Seth, I swear, we both saw the scans... a girl?!?" Ayla held out her hands to the doctor. "There must be some mistake! May I see my baby, please Doctor?"

Awkwardly rubbing their neck, Asa tried to not let the flustered feeling they had growing in the pit of their stomach show.

It was a biological male on all the scans. Bloodwork and hormone panels showed the same….but here we are….Light, what did Hera do? I have to report this to Paris. the diminutive doctor thought.

“Here you go,” Asa said smoothly, passing over the newly wrapped baby, “All the scans did indicate a biological male, but as most things in life, they are not foolproof. It’s incredibly rare, but these things can happen. Just makes your little one all the more special, yes? Go on, love on the little one, I’m just going to hover over your shoulder and do some routine post-delivery scans, ok?”

While both parents were still surprised and dazed by the recent discovery, the cooing bundle of joy in their arms quickly melted away the apprehension that they carried about the affair, for they were just happy to have a healthy baby, with mother and child both doing remarkably well. The baby was not fussy at all, wide blue eyes taking in everything around them for the first time, even as the mother was calm and energetic for having just delivered a child.

“She has your eyes, Seth,” Arya observed as she cradled her newborn babe.

“And your nose, thank the Prophets,” Seth countered, tickling his newborn daughter’s tummy. If he had misgivings about his son having been born a daughter, it was not evident in the moment. Instead, both parents seemed happy to be a family of three.

“Come on, everyone, let’s give them some time to rest. Ayla, Seth, your baby is in excellent health, and in the 5th percentile for weight, so congrats all around! We will be in my office, if you need anything, just press your call button, ok?” Asa said gently to the couple before standing to leave.

“Nurse Vines, Nurse Almera, can you please help sanitize the area? I need to discuss something with Hermione in my office. Thank you friends.”

With that, Asa swept Hera into their office, directed her to sit and went to obtain a couple of cups to tea for the pair to drink. Before sitting, Asa called over the coms:

=^= Doctor Dael to Commander Paris. Ma’am, we have a new soul aboard. Care to join Hera and me in Sickbay to toast to new life? We would certainly welcome your attendance. =^=

Great prophets and messiahs, I hope she takes the hint and comes in person. I really don’t want to try this particular confrontation solo Asa thought.

=^= I'm on my way, Doc. =^= came the reply.

Despite the hour, it was only 7 minutes later when Commander Rita Paris arrived, anachronistic golf minidress uniform pressed, blue eyes alert and awake, hair neatly brushed but bearing a large ceramic coffee mug that bore the legend ‘That’s not how they did it in my day’. Striding into the Chief medical officer’s office, Paris took a seat opposite the doctor’s desk, beside the goddess who was the starship’s namesake.

“So… I see mother, father and baby are all fine, the baby seems healthy and doesn’t seem to be made of stone or have horns growing out of her head. So, what’s wrong?” Clearly Paris had stopped to meet the new parents on the way in, but apparently had missed the mystery inherent.

“Well, I wouldn’t say wrong, “ Asa shrugged and went to retrieve Rita a cup of tea also, “Just….unexpected. All the bloodwork and biosigns and scans prior to delivery had shown a biological male. Instead, well, Seth and Ayla are now thinking of names for a daughter. Hera….do you think your blessing might have had a hand in that?”

Asa’s tone was carefully neutral, the young doctor was aware that Hera had likely expended a great deal of her now limited energy supply in aiding the delivery, but they were also concerned. Yes, the scans and bloodwork could be wrong…..but it would be the talk of Starfleet if so. Perhaps Hera did change the biology of the child, but Asa did not want to assume she did so out of any malice. Perhaps, the doctor reasoned, she had no other choice.


"I think it was a lovely birth," Hera declared, sipping at her tea with exhausted dignity. "And yes, I did intervene. That's why I was called here by the Fates. The child would have died upon being born even if you had saved it initially. You may confirm that with your other 'guest', if you like."

Taking a deep breath, Paris considered her response to this. Death could likely verify that the child was destined to die despite Dael’s best efforts- modern medicine was miraculous, but it wasn’t infallible. In truth, losing the first baby they’d ever delivered likely would have been as traumatic for Doc Dael as it would have been for the parents. However, Hera’s haughty countenance was not something heartening to her whatsoever, particularly since Doc had approached the topic gently and respectfully.

On Meroset 347, known as Hera’s Planet, she had intervened in many births through the years, using the parent’s love and devotion of their child to power her spells, which caused the babies to be born as Amazons, or living stone statues, or harpies… or minotaurs. When confronted with why and how she had done so, she had matter-of-factly explained it, with no remorse whatsoever… much as she was displaying now. Which indicated to Paris a disturbing backslide to old behavior.

“To save the baby, was it necessary to change their gender?” Paris asked plainly. Questions would serve at this point, and she had to tread carefully- she didn’t want to be unduly harsh, but she definitely didn’t care for the direction in which this was going.

"Ah, I guess that is an issue..." Hera set aside her tea and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, looking like she'd aged several years as she did so. "I'm sorry. Part of what I did was transpose the old reality with a new one. One where the child's lungs refused to inflate and the umbilical cord was wrapped around their neck three times and they were male. Those three things all had to change. I also gave them the best blessing I could muster."

"I should have told one of you first, but when the Fates call, even we must answer. They're one of the constants, like Death." The matronly goddess reached again for her teacup, but thought better of it, cradling her hands in her lap when she saw how much her hands were shaking. "The first birth aboard this vessel had to be a good one. No matter what the cost."

Choosing her words carefully, Paris spoke gently. "We have to be careful... you understand, Hera? You have noble intentions, and you performed a miracle today. For which the mother, father, little amazon yet aborning and all of us are grateful to you. It was selfless and you... had to use a transformation that you know to save them in the moment. For which you chose the most innocuous and humanoid version, again, which all involved appreciate. We just have to monitor you to make sure you don't go back to the old ways. Like the wise man says, the believers set the expectations of the deity, no? A little caution on our part is not imprudent in this case, I think you'll agree?"

After a moment of silence, Asa saw how unsteady Hera looked, and went to sit closer to her, offering their hand for her to hold if desired.

Speaking gently, Asa said,"I...I don't know what would have become of anyone in that room today if you hadn't have come when you did. Seth and Ayla would have been devastated, Nurses Vimes and Almera and I would have been shaken to our cores. I think all of Sickbay would be. The Hera's first baby was an important milestone, and I appreciate the risk you took. Are you ok? It must have taken a lot out of you....how are you holding up?"

Hera took the offered hand weakly and smiled as best she could. "I feel like I might have gone a bit too far this time, but time was of the essence. If I had not acted... I don't suppose you could run a genetic profile and predict what she'll look like when she grows up? The blessing might be a bit powerful so she might be a bit tall." She then turned to Rita and waved a shaky finger. "And I promise, this wasn't an actual transformation into something unnatural. She's still... The nose ridges... Bajoran, right?"

"Excellent point, so she was," the first officer admitted. "Hera, no one is saying that you did anything wrong we're just cautious is all. As for tall... eh." The buxom blonde shrugged. "Blessed by the Prophets, blessed by a Goddess... such things happen in the universe in which we live. And that's part of what makes it wonderful." Rita Paris laid a hand on the goddess' shoulder and smiled fondly at her. "The only question I have in this matter is should we be honest with the parents. How's that simulation coming, Doc?"

Using their spare hand on a PaDD, Asa had pulled up the genetic profile of the child as read during the after-birth scans. They had added 20 years extrapolation and showed a Bajoran woman with Seth's eyes and Ayla's chin (poor thing) and standing an estimated 180 centimeters tall with wavy blonde hair.

"Well, Seth and Ayla are both average height, so the child's height will be remarked upon, but not too remarkable. At least nothing to raise eyebrows, and that is assuming that the child will reach full genetic height possibility, which as you know also depends on the environment and health during early childhood into puberty. Blonde hair....now that might be more of a rarity given the family background. Both Seth and Ayla are from the northern continent, and dark brown hair is almost universal there. As with any recessive gene though, a few natural variations occur. Ladies, any one aspect of the child could go unnoticed. But a change from a son to a daughter, one that will be tall, and is already on the large size, and that will have unusual hair color....well, they are going to have questions. I don't want Seth questioning Ayla's fidelity, or for either to fear something is wrong. I recommend getting clearance to tell them who Hera is so they can understand the nature of these miracles a bit more."

"I'll authorize it. At least this way their daughter will know the truth of her own story, in case she grows up to be a legendary hero or something. So, if we are all in agreement..." The gold-clad commander stood and straightened her miniskirt. "Let's go explain to the nice people that their son was going to die, so the fates called a goddess to the delivery room, and in gaining the blessing of the goddess of women, their son was born hale, healthy, hearty... and female. Would you like to field this one, Doctor?"

"The Prophets do have some sway with the Fates... So who's to say they didn't pull some strings in this?" Hera tried to stand and failed, flopping back down in the chair. "If you don't mind though... It might be best if I stay here for a bit longer?"

"Uh uh. If these parents are thankful, you're going to be there to tell them they're welcome. Weak knees and all," Paris explained, getting up under the goddess to lend her strength in more ways than one. "What do you say Doctor? Think we can manage to support Herself and keep her looking dignified, or should we get the goddess a hoverchair?"

Locking an arm around Hera's waist and allowing her to lean onto them, Asa said encouragingly, "I think we can do that. And here....."

A wisp of the energy laying deep within psyche of the doctor wafted from Asa to Hera, invisible to the naked eye, but a lifeline of mental energy Asa had been learning to share from previous occasions. Asa projected a feeling of energy and happiness through the momentary bond and poured a bit of what energy they had left from the day into the link.

"I know it's not much...but I hope that helped. Light, I'm going to need a stim shot myself soon at this rate. But I've got you. And we have this," Asa concluded.

It was enough for Hera to stand up a bit straighter on her own power at least, though she still needed her two closest friends and allies to help keep her steady. "Thank you. That should be enough. Shall we go meet the new parents then?" With her best smile, she did her best to make herself presentable.

"Let's go make some mythology," Paris wisecracked, and they supported Hera so she could make a dignified entrance into the room where the happy parents were still marveling over their healthy baby girl, who was nursing at Ayla's breast. Looking up, she and Seth greeted the trio with smiles.

"So was there a glitch in the medical software Doctor, or did our charts get switched somehow?" Seth asked inquisitively. he was neither accusatory nor confrontational, just conversational. The sudden change in gender seemed to have been a momentary shock to which both parents seemed to be adapting.

Pulling up a chair for Hera, Rita and then themself, Asa flashed a smile at the new parents before speaking.

"It’s... it’s a bit more complicated than that. No need to fear, your baby is still a perfect miracle. Perhaps more than you know."

Taking a deep breath, Asa continued. "Remember back when the Hera went to Meroset 347? One of the goals to that mission was to stop the goddess Hera from continuing to rule over the planet. Commander Paris and I were part of the away team, and we managed to cripple Hera and brought her aboard to take her to face trial. Along the way we got to know her better, and she started to see there was a better way to be. Hera was imprisoned with the Asgaardians and continued to learn how she could use her unique abilities to help others and to thrive on good deeds instead of forced worship. While on the mission to the worldship she was accidentally summoned back to us. Due to her bonds with Commander Paris and myself among others, she was allowed to stay with us to continue her rehabilitation. Hera has changed from her time on Meroset 347, and she has saved lives with us...including my own.”

“Tonight she sensed the fates drawing her to the birth of your child. She’s a goddess of family and childbirth, you see? And....well, the fates alerted her that your son was fated to die in childbirth from the umbilical cord strangling him. So she came here and used the power of your love, and a great deal of her own energy, to rob fate of the chance. She had to change the biological sex of your child in order to change that fate and allow the baby to be born safely....so when Hermione blessed you... that was really Hera blessing the child to live.”

“I'm sorry for the deception before. Her presence here isn’t cleared to be common knowledge, and I was trying to protect everyone, and perhaps didn't say the best thing. But her blessing saved your child, and will even bring out some recessive genes making her blonde, and taller than average. She’s going to be exceptional, and you have the right to know why. What questions do you have? I will answer whatever I can."

Speech over, Asa went to lean on their elbows, searching the couples faces for signs of their thoughts.

With the explanation in hand, Seth looked to Ayla for her reaction, which she made immediately known. “So the Prophets sent a goddess to save our baby, and she’s going to what, grow up to look like Commander Paris?” Ayla nodded in the direction of the tell, blonde-haired blue-eyed model in the ancient Starfleet uniform who exchanged glances with Hera, then both shrugged and nodded.

“Basically,” Hera admitted.

“That’s pretty much it, yes,” Paris responded.

Looking at one another and the bundle of happy, healthy infant in their hands, Seth smiled. “Our little girl was blessed by the fates. What parent could be upset at that? And she will grow up exceptional? Do you hear that, little one? You are special, and the prophets have a purpose for you… Hermione?”

“I like it,” Ayla agreed. “We’ll name her Hermione, after the woman who rushed to our aid because the prophets decreed it to be so.”

And thus came Hermione Zeyes into the world... in some ways just like any other child of the universe, but this one would be special.... for the fates, a Goddess and the Prohets decreed it so.