The Children of Time (The Children of Time Trilogy Book 1) (16 page)

After a few months passed Zara belly began to grow, and she was now
eight months pregnant. The preparations for the birth of the child were being
made, and everyone was anxious for Helen’s arrival.

During one beautiful night Nicolas spoke with Zara on the balcony
about the arrival of their baby.

“Zara, do you think our daughter will be born in the human form or
will she have the evolved appearance like the people from your planet?”

“I have done prenatal work at our ship, while you and Merko just
talked about the stars and the cosmos. I see that you always get lost on the
subjects when you two are talking, and even more when he is teaching you how to
fly. That’s why I have kept the details out and just said that everything is
okay with our daughter. And it is true, you don’t need to worry, Helen is fine.
But it’s important that we discuss the future of our daughter. Z8 showed me
that the gene predominant is in his earthly form. I prefer to be in our
laboratory inside the ship because I think it’s safer to her and to avoid any
problem. The doctor’s in Earth would never understand if they saw a baby with
alien features. I had some doubts about the genetic dominance of our races. She
is hybrid like you are and she’ll also be born in the same way you did, she
will be the daughter of a hybrid human and an evolved human from the future.
This will facilitate her life here on earth, because she won’t have to wear
transmutation glasses. She’ll need them only if she decides to become an
evolved human, or maybe, someday, if we travel to planet Vida. After knowing
that our daughter will have human features like everybody else here in earth, I
can find a doctor to do the last prenatal tests, and help me with the final
weeks of pregnancy.”

“Let us choose an obstetrician as soon as possible here in Los
Angeles. Your teachers should know a good medical professional to indicate us.
I’m glad you made the preliminary tests in the ship.”

“I’ll take a license from college stop my classes for a few months.
Despite being a doctor on my planet, I need to study medicine according to the
rules of this country in order to work here and get a degree in Genetics one
day.”

“I’m sure we will be very happy!” Nicolas said, rubbing her huge
belly and kissing her on the lips.”

“It looks like someone heard what you said.” Zara commented feeling
Helen kicking. “This name I chose means torch or light and is derived from
Greek mythology. Helen was the daughter of Zeus and Leda – a demigod. I think
it is a name with a beautiful pronunciation and its history is even more
beautiful!”

“Have you been studying ancient history?”

“I always wanted to choose the name of our daughter, so I looked for
one that could express the light this girl will bring into our lives.”

“I like this name and everything else that comes from you.”

Nicolas kissed her belly to show his affection for his daughter. He
smiled with happiness. He felt he was living moments of glory by winning a
beautiful wife and a daughter, a gift that would be born from their love.

***

The date of the birth approached, and Zara already felt that at any
moment her bag would burst. She began to feel the pressure increasing day by
day and in the last prenatal exam she was told by her doctor to take
antihypertensive drugs to prevent the risk of eclampsia. The increased blood
pressure could reduce the amniotic fluid, called oligohydramnios, and it also
could cause fetal distress putting the baby’s life in danger. Zara knew all of
this, and she and Nicolas decided that due to the proximity of the birth it
would be better to be in the hospital until the time the baby was born.

Lorena was in the hospital with Zara while she was preparing herself
for Helen’s arrival. Nicolas also took a leave from college to be able to
follow the delivery. Several 3D ultrasounds were performed to verify the
position of the fetus and the girl’s heart rate was monitored to see if she
responded well to medication.

After a few days at the hospital it was finally time for the
delivery. The future father was nervous because it was his first time. Zara was
also anxious, and the personal experience of being a mother was something new
and challenging for her, despite being a doctor and having seen and tracked
multiple births on her planet.

The obstetrician preferred to make a cesarean section due to the
risks, and the couple readily agreed. The recovery would take a little longer
because of the sutures, but the reduction of the risks would be worth it. Merko
and Sophia were visiting them in the hospital, and Lorena remained next to the
Zara.

The doctor examined the pregnant woman along with the nursing staff
and she was transferred to the operating room. Pre-anesthetic was done, and
only after the anesthesia the father could enter the room to closely monitor
the medical procedures. Nicolas put the clothes to enter the operating room and
took his camera to film all the magical moments and all the details.

The labor began, and Zara was half asleep under the effects of
sedatives, when a cry of newborn echoed in the operating room. Helen was born.
The father looked at his daughter, still bloody and bathed by the fluids from
her mother’s womb, and smiled with joy. He couldn’t contain the feeling that
took hold of his soul.

My God, it’s not possible. Thank you for this moment. My daughter
was born! Nicolas said in a prayer just in his mind.

The pediatrician saw the child providing her the first care and then
the nurse wrapped the baby; put her in the lap of the father who was awkwardly
trying to find a best position to hold her. The mother remained in the
obstetric center, waiting for the end of the C-section.

Outside, the relatives were asking questions to the doctors every
time someone came out of the surgery area, and they telling the good news:

“A beautiful girl was born; the baby and her mother are well.”

“I hope the father is well too because he was so nervous that he
probably needed medical attention.” Merko said smiling.

“Stop with it, honey. My son is fine and certainly is in heaven with
the birth of his first daughter.”

Helen received a pink bracelet, just like Zara, with the same
identification code of the mother, and was taken to a recovery room and inside
an incubator for 30 minutes to return to ideal body temperature. The curtain
opened and the family was able to meet the baby.

Soon after, the nursing staff took the first anthropometric
measurements and gave the first vaccines to protect the child. Meanwhile, Zara
was taken to a recovery room and remained there for an hour, after they took
the baby to stay with her and start encouraging her to the first breastfeeding.

The mother, seeing that her daughter had already taken her bath and
smelled like a baby, was mesmerized by joy and could only smile. She was still
half asleep because of the effect of the anesthesia. Then, they were taken to
the room where they could receive visitors.

Lorena had separate kits with clothes for the baby like diapers and
socks. So, after each bath they just had to pick up and use a kit that was
already prepared. She had chosen, together with Zara, girl clothes and each one
was more beautiful than the other. They also had won many gifts from friends
who visited them, and, mostly, they were baby clothes.

“
People really like to give child’s clothes as gifts. I love it!”
Zara thought whenever she won them.

Nicolas stayed all the time beside his wife, who was feeding the
baby. He took her little one in his lap, feeling how good it was to be a father
and promising to protect and care for his daughter.

“What a beautiful baby!” Lorena said, seeing her granddaughter for
the first time. “I brought a hot pink blanket for this adorable baby who was
just born. Can I hold her a little bit?”

“It is obvious that you can take her, my mother in law.”

Lorena took the girl in her arms and smelled that delicious scent of
baby.

“What a delight to be able to hold a child in my arms again.
Especially after knowing that is my granddaughter!”

After some time with Helen in her arms, she asked Merko:

“Honey, hold her for a moment too. Feel how good it is to have a
baby in your arms.”

Merko looked nervous at the child, and with shake hands got her.
Lorena said:

“Put her on the left arm and support her with you right hand
underneath.”

The girl was sleeping peacefully showing how comfortable she was on
in his arms.

“What a cute little thing!” Merko said.

“Merko, you’re good with kids.” Nicolas said smiling.

Merko smiled back enjoying that single moment which he may never
have lived if he didn’t make the decision to travel back with Nicolas and Zara
to the planet Earth.

Then Sophia took her in her arms and was delighted since it was the
first time she held up a baby. Zara looked at her with tenderness apparently
she did could spend hours and hours just holding Helen.

“Bath time.” Said the nurse upon entering the room. “I’ll take care
of Helen and I want everyone to wait outside for a while, please.”

Everyone left, while the nurse took care of the baby and put a
bandage on her navel. Then she left Helen with Zara, who began to feed the baby
with the precious colostrum that came with the first drops of her breast milk.

After a few minutes, the family who had been having a snack in the
cafeteria outside the hospital returned.

“She has blue eyes like her mother.” Nicolas announced.

Seeing his granddaughter, Merko understood he had made the right
decision to return to planet Earth, and Zara was also happy with her love.

Earth – Year 2028

Nicolas’ family had increased since he met Zara and his father,
Merko, who was transformed with his security company and now lived with Lorena
and Sophia in Bel Air – in an upscale residential neighborhood of Los Angeles,
California.

Nicolas and Zara also moved to this neighborhood, to be closer to
his family. The doctor had a degree and was working on a clinic in downtown Los
Angeles. Nicolas began to work in the Physics Research Center in California,
also in the same city.

Helen was 10 years old and had light brown hair. She liked to wear
her hair braided, and when she let it loose, it got very curly.

Sophia, now 18, was preparing herself to attend the Environmental
Engineering Course at college, and was determined to be a great engineer. Zara
always guided her in her career, which was promising, and taught her the
importance of preserving ecosystems for the future of humanity.

Lorena and Merko lived happily, taking care of the little Helen,
while Nicolas dedicated himself to his work. Over the time Merko started to
work less in his security firm. He believed it was time to enjoy life besides
the people he loved.

Helen excelled in school, studying many subjects and learning them
easily. Zara, besides working in her clinic, also began teaching Medical
Genetics and working on research projects at the same university where Nicolas
worked, however, what she really liked was the genetic research; but even if
she was part of some project, she couldn’t advance with innovations beyond the
time in which she now lived.

Her knowledge exceeded the boundaries of her time, but she should
not change the chronology of scientific discoveries. Therefore, she developed
projects of researches compatible with the level of development of the time she
was living. She couldn’t let all her knowledge erupt in the work, because it
would create a time paradox of immeasurable proportions.

“Nicolas sometimes I want to move a bit with the knowledge that is
far behind in Biogenetic. We are in the XXI century, and I could just show
humanity the cure for many diseases such as cancer and neurological
degeneration. I see people looking for the cure of these illnesses, and I could
help a little, maybe just showing them the correct direction. We could save
thousands of lives.”

“Zara, this would go against the ethics and the laws that control
the temporal space travel. Life is already complicated because of the facts
that we don’t anticipate, how more complicated it will become if we change the
course of history?”

“How many lives we could save accelerating scientific processes? But
you’re right, dear Nick. We have no right to change history. It’s already
enough the effort we make to change events with our own existence.”

“The important thing, Zara, is that we’re together. Our lives and
our family are gifts from heaven. And we do what we like.”

At this time, he touched the skin of her hand and pulled her to him,
kissing her lips with everything. They remained kissing for a few minutes as if
it were the first time. After hugging him Zara thought about her own family:

“I miss my father and brother who are living in Vida. I’ll try to
open a communication channel with them at night, to see if everything is okay.”

“Don’t worry. We can go to the ship with Merko because he wants to
check if everything is in order in the case of an emergency. So you can talk to
your family using the ships communication’s tools.

***

Some years had passed, since her arrival on planet Earth, and the
longing began to tighten Zara’s heart, which kept remembering her relatives and
friends from the other planet. She often spoke with the closest people she knew
by the apparatus of Merko’s ship, which was still hidden. But after so many
years, the conversation began to seem too distant and insufficient to placate
the longing, which increased more and more.

She watched the stars for hours at night and looked toward the
Andromeda galaxy. During one night, someone approached her from behind and put
both hands on her eyes:

“Can you guess who it is?”

“Of course, you fool. I could recognize these hands and this voice
anywhere.” She said, putting her hands over his and smiled as she turned.

“Were you watching your galaxy? The sky is very bright tonight.”

“And the moon is full. I got lost in time and stay here for hours
looking at the sky and missed all the life I left behind on my planet. I wonder
if they are alright.”

“I believe so. Merko will contact Drako and you can ask for
permission to visit them in person. So we’ll know all the news.”

“I like our life here on Earth. You and Helen complete me, but I
would like to visit the ones I left in there.”

“When Merko decided to go we’ll go with him. It will be better,
because he’s an expert in interstellar navigation.”

“I’ll wait anxiously for this opportunity. I hope it won’t too long,
because I miss them so much.”

“We could take Helen with us. She loves to talk about the stars and
I’m sure it would be a huge surprise to her.” Nicolas suggested.

“I don’t know. I think it’s too early for her to understand how we
are different from other humans. One day we’ll have to reveal the truth, but
there will be the right time and place. What about Lorena and Sophia? Do you
think they should know about us?”

“No...! Definitely not, they would freak out! Imagine when they see
you and Merko in your real alien form? They may not accept this could destroy
our family. And how will Merko explain the fact that he’s my father? It’s
better to leave things as they are. If we are traveling, we can find an excuse
and we can go back in time arriving here by the time we left.”

“I agree with you, sweetheart. It would be wiser not to comment with
Lorena and Sophia about our planet and keep our lives normal. As for Helen, one
day we’ll tell her with more details and after preparing her.”

“I trust you dear. Everything happens at the right time. For the
good of us all.”

Nicolas pulled her close to him and hugged her. Then held her hand
and stood up. They went to Helen’s room and she was sleeping deep, and they
went to their own room to rest and sleep.

He knew he had to find a way to take her to visit her planet. He had
promised some time ago that he would take her to see her beloved ones and felt
she needed to see them. Zara had adapted very well to her new home. She enjoyed
her work at the University and caring for her husband and daughter, Helen, but
she still missed her home planet and those she had left behind.

***

While Nicolas spoke with Zara at the University, Merko took Helen to
school. In the back seat of the car, she asked:

“Grandpa, why are you always looking at the sky at night, when you
are on the balcony of your house?”

“My little Helen, the most beautiful things of this world and what I
love more after you and your grandmother of course are the stars!”

“One of these days, will you take me to the planetarium? I’d like to
know a little more of the galaxies beyond what I learn in school. I feel that
something up there attracts me.”

“Of course I can take you, dear.”

On the following weekend, Merko fulfilled his promise and took her
to the planetarium. It was a circular shaped building with a large ball at the
top imitating a planet, which could be seen for almost the entire neighborhood.
During the night, the building had many colored lights, projecting different
shapes and bright designs including over the sphere.

Tourists circulated through the ground floor, where panels showed
the various exhibitions and lectures that took place there. Many schools were
visiting in groups. Merko and Helen entered a video room where a teacher from
the planetary gave a demonstration lesson about the origin of the universe.
There were pictures on screens positioning in the four walls around them,
planets and stars hanging from the ceiling above. He spoke and showed the
planets and images projected on all sides. After seeing the galaxies, pictures
of dinosaurs appeared, and Helen got a little scared.

“Grandpa Merko, what horrible creatures! Did they really exist? How
could humans live here, if these terrible animals dominated the planet?”

“My granddaughter, humans appeared here thousands of years after these
animals were destroyed.”

“How did they disappear?”

“It’s a long story. Maybe someday I’ll tell you. But today, we need
to take our time to learn about the universe.” Merko replied, knowing there was
a good story that would take hours to be told.

“Okay. I won’t forget that you promised to tell me this story. I’m
enjoying this place so much that I don’t even know where to look. The universe
is wonderful!” Helen said with a look of admiration.

Merko sat on a bench with her and the two of them were enjoying an
ice cream when he began to tell a story about his adventures, when he needed to
deflect a meteor from their planet, and Silion, his great friend, had saved him
from certain death. He used the figure of a galaxies traveling hero for her to
imagine how it happened. It wasn’t yet the right moment for the girl to know
who her grandfather really was. So he used fictional characters.

“Grandpa, your stories seem to have actually happened. I love to
hear you talking about these adventures.”

Suddenly she looked at the main gate and said:

“Look, Grandpa, what a cool toy! Could you buy one of these toys
that looked like our galaxy?”

The toy consisted in eight planets, accompanied by a sun made of a
material similar to acrylic, simulating our solar system. They had the colors,
shapes and size characteristics of the stars and were very similar to the real
ones.

“We’ll buy one when we leave here.” Merko replied.

They entered another room that was showing the pictures of how the
planet was formed with its volcanoes. A melon was placed in a screen, split in
half; its shell represented the earth’s crust, and its interior was the outer
and inner garment; its center, the solid core surrounded by the outer liquid
core. The speaker explained that the Earth’s core, full of metal, was
responsible for the Earth’s magnetic field. Then he showed how comets can pass
near the planet Earth and how they are bright and, sometimes, visible to the
naked eye.

The images and explanations left the girl’s eyes widened with so
much attention, and her grandfather felt that sooner or later the evolved human
condition would erupt in Helen and nothing would be able to prevent it.

***

At night, Zara went to Helen’s room and the girl’s toys, which
imitated the planets and the sun from our Orion arm, were spinning around the
room, while the little one slept her deepest sleep. She seemed to smile as she
slept. Zara ran down the stairs and called Nicolas and Merko to show them what
had happened.

“Nick, Merko! Come with me to Helen’s room and see with your own
eyes.”

“It is simply magnificent! Helen is, in a way, using telekinetic
powers without realizing it, while sleeping.” Said Merko impressed with what he
saw.

“Will she be able to develop this skill if she’s awake?” Commented
Nicolas, who was also amazed.

“We need to teach her how to control these powers. Imagine if she does
something like this close to other kids at school?” Zara completed. “This could
put her in a difficult position and put her in danger.”

They were worried about the safety of the girl. Now there was one
more reason for maintaining the secret identities of Nicolas’ extraterrestrial
family members, who lived on planet Earth. The future held many dangers they
would have to face, and the union would be the best way to survive what was
about to come.

– The End –