Fried, Scrambled, Poached With Toast - Chapter #76

Free Enterprise - Fried, Scrambled, Poached, W/Toast - #76

“That's it! My brain is officially fried, scrambled and poached with toast!” Harper exclaimed in frustration. They had been at it straight for countless hours, and he was ready to pass out from lack of sleep.

“Come on, Hun. Off to bed with you.” Monique said. She had been hovering in the background for the past five hours waiting for her chance to say just that.

Seemingly before the words left her mouth, Harper's head drooped forward as he shut down and started sleeping right there in his seat. An old habit from his childhood. He'd developed the ability to sleep anywhere, even standing sometimes.

Tyr gently gathered his little Human brother in his arms and followed Monique as she led him to his tiny office. It had a tiny crash bunk in the corner. Tyr laid him down then moved aside as Monique stripped him down and covered him. Making sure he was comfortable.

“Tyr, You look like you can use a couple of hours of sleep too.” she whispered.

Of course she was right. To Tyr who was a man of action, staring at a computer screen, and at row after row of figures for hours on end, was much more taxing than an old fashioned Nietzschean workout.

“I will return in a few hours.” he said.

“Take as much time as you wish. You deserve it.” Monique replied. “I'll be here.” she continued.

Thus assured, Tyr went back to his quad and quarters and crept into bed. There he blissfully surrendered to the arms of Morpheus.


* * * * * * * * *


Right in the middle of a good dream, Tyr got the sudden and overwhelming feeling he was being watched. His eyes flew open and he at once beheld Tamara and Amanda looking down into his formally sleeping face.

“Sorry to disturb you, Babe, but. . . . . . .” Tamara started.

“It's Xena, Bo. . . . . .” Amanda said.

“What's wrong with Xena?” Tyr asked, as his heart skipped a beat.

“You've been holed up with Seamus so long that. . . . .” Tamara started.

“She's ready to drop any minute. She walked the floor all night because she couldn't sleep. She was uncomfortable and restless. That's a sure sign.” Amanda said.

“Where is she now?” Tyr asked as he tossed back his covers.

“In Sickbay.” Both women answered in unison. Tyr dashed to the fresher in record time.


* * * * * * * * * * * *


Ten minutes later, after watching Tyr trip over, fumble and bumble in his attempts to get ready, they arrived in Sickbay. Tyr, dressed in his Nietzschean best ( black leather vest, pants and boots ), was followed by Tamara and Amanda trooped in. They found Kori totally in charge with Xena who had been prepped and sitting in a birthing chair.

Xena winced and tears rolled out of her eyes when a contraction hit.

“Bear down when you have those, Xena.” Kori said. “Remember your exercises.”

“Hard. Pain.” Xena whispered.

“I know, girl. I know. But you have to push down and help them. And don't be ashamed to scream if you need to.” Amanda said. Xena instinctively reached out and grasped Tyr's left hand as an other contraction hit.

“Com on, girl. Push! Push! Push!.” Kori encouraged. Xena felt a release.

“And, we have lift off! Don't relax, Honey! You've got another rocket on the launch pad!” Kori said, as she retrieved the brand new member of the Anasazi clan. She gave him to Dr. Freya to clean up, check then hand to his proud Papa.

Six minutes later, the new baby boy was in his father's arms. Kori watched as one tear leaked and ran down out of Tyr's left eye.

“What's going to be his name, Tyr?” Kori asked, as the little began to cry.

“This is Alexander.” Tyr beamed as he examined the tiny scrunched up and crying face. In an effort to comfort the child Tyr shifted Alexander. Kori turned her head for two seconds, then immediately back when she heard Tyr scream.

It took her less than a second to assess and rectify the situation. Pinching closed Alexander's tiny nose, so he was forced to open his mouth, thus letting go. Of course, he was crying again. Ada breezed in and gently took Alexander. It was only then that Kori was able to roar with mirth.

“How many times have I told you to wear a bra on those tats? Poor Alexander was so hungry he thought you were the Mama.” Kori said, as she handed him a cooling and antiseptic balm to put on his “ouchie”. “Remember, that's how all nursing moms feel.”

“They bite?” Tyr asked.

“Of course they do. But, they are babies and don't know any better.” Kori replied. “The best way to stop it is to pinch the nose like I did and most get the message. Bite, no food. No bite, food.”

“What if they do not?” Tyr asked.

“Time to use the bottle. . . .” Kori replied.

In all of the excitement, practically no one know the other babe was born. When he was cleaned up and brought to Tyr, he beamed again.

“I shall name you Lysander.” he intoned, careful to keep one away from a particular area of his bare chest.

“Note to self. Next time, either wear your uniform or an outfit with a shirt. And no chain mail.” Tyr chided himself, as he followed Kori to a private room with subdued lighting. Xena was resting while Alexander nursed. Tyr noted for the first time since Alexander was born, he was quiet and said so.

“That's because the little guy was hungry.” Amanda replied.

“Why isn't Lysander so noisy?” Tyr asked.

“Obviously, he is the more laid back of the two. That's how you can always tell who's who of identical twins. One is always an extrovert and one is always an introvert. Alexander is the extravert, and will always demand attention. Lysander is the introvert and will always have to be coaxed. I grew up with two sets of twins in the McPhearson family so I know. They also try to 'play you' at times, but it never lasts for long.” she continued.

“Play you?” Tyr asked.

“Try to fool you by switching roles. But when you've raised them from diapers, you know instinctively who's who. Believe you me, I raised a set of twin sons myself.” Amanda replied.

“I hear that switching roles like that only really works with people who don't know them well.” Xena said. She had burped and switched Alexander for Lysander. Alexander was back with a full tummy and safely tucked into Tyr's arms. He gazed in wonder at the tiny, sleeping miniature of himself.

“No bone blades?” Tamara asked as she gently examined one of Lysander's tiny arms.

“The Breaking Through does not occur until about six months, then they will slowly start to grow in like teeth. Just like teething, it is very painful.” Tyr replied as he clearly remembered his own “Breaking Through”

Thankfully, Victoria had homeopathic remedies prepared for the occasion, or he would've gone mad from the pain. According to Nietzschean historical annals in The Old Time, it was a sign of weakness to take the remedy for “Breaking Through” pain. The child proved they were worthy of being a Nietzschean by bearing the agony. To this day it is still practiced by some Nietzscheans, but Tyr doubted he wanted his sons to go through that unnecessarily painful ritual at such a young age.

“I remember my Breaking Through. My mother tired to get me to take the remedy but it was so horribly bitter that I refused it. She would mix it into my food, and drink, to no avail. So I went through the whole period in utter agony and misery. My Mom says to this day, that it served me right for being so stubborn.” Xena said.

The prospect of Alexander screaming his little head off made up Tyr's mind. He would make sure he had enough remedy prepared for his children.

He leaned forward and kissed Xena's forehead. A beautiful second frozen in time. Tyr proudly holding Alexander. Xena proudly holding Lysander while he now slept. Tamara on the left. Amanda on the left.

“Can everyone look up and smile, please?” Kori asked, as she positioned a holo-imager in her hand. She took several shots then handed the devise off to Ada so she could squeeze into the group shot.

“We are family. . . . . . .” Tamara sang in her mind as she smiled for the camera.




NOTE TO READERS The words “Breaking Through” are NOT Andromeda CANON. To my knowledge there was never any mention of how Nietzschean Bone Blades came in, or grew in. So, I went to my handy dandy imagination, speculation, supposition, and came up with the idea that they grew in like teeth.

Also: The song Tamara starts at the end is “We Are Family” by “Sly and The Family Stone”. Totally old school. . . . . . . . .