Chapter 6: Chapter 6
“NEW LIFE”
When the car pulled into Ben’s apartment complex driveway, Lacy paid and generously tipped the driver. She then jumped out and ran up the driveway, noticing the dirty windows on her unwashed car. Lacy shook her head and smiled as she went by and hurried to Ben’s front door.
“Knock! Knock! Knock!”
Lacy immediately peaked through Ben’s window waiting for a response. She then yelled out as she pounded on the door. “Ben? I’m back! I’m done with the mission, and the incubation. Are you home? Wake up!”
“Ding Dong.”
Lacy rang the doorbell and knocked again before a half-dressed older woman finally opened the door making a disgusted face. “What do you want? Are you looking for someone?”
“I’m sorry. I was just coming to see Ben, my fiance’.” Lacy looked surprised and stepped back to double check the address. “Do you know where he might be?”
Ben suddenly stepped out from behind the half-dressed woman. He was wearing just underwear and no shirt and looked like he just woke up. “What do you want?”
“Ben?” Lacy asked with a confused face. “I’ve been missing you for two weeks. I wanted to see you and was just thinking we might have some planning to do.”
“The wedding is off! I know about your little SEA escapade,” answered Ben as he turned his back.
“But I’ve been recovering,” replied Lacy in confusion. “I’ve just been waiting to get out.”
“It’s over. I quit Science Exploration, and I’m starting a new life. Bye.” Ben then slammed the door leaving Lacy in a state of confusion.
Lacy finally turned and walked over to her dirty car. She opened the door using her thumbprint and climbed in. The car started slowly from the unused battery. Lacy looked confused as the car began to back out of the driveway.
“Lacy! Welcome home,” announced the computerized voice through the car speakers. “We’ve missed having you for fourteen days. Do you need directions?” Lacy immediately reached over to turn off the radio computer, and the car continued self-driving.
Lacy started the windshield wipers to clear the dirty windshield and slowly merged onto the busy freeway. She looked at herself in the rearview mirror and finally broke down crying as she headed back to Science Exploration Headquarters.
Chris, Oliver and Pilot Jenkins were sitting quietly in Dr. Palmer’s office. Dr. Palmer was writing notes on a folder as the four waited.
All remained silent before Dr. Kjell finally walked in carrying a clipboard and stood next to the group waiting. Dr. Palmer finally asked, “So what have you determined?
Dr. Kjell read from the papers before looking up, “Tests have shown that no crew member of the Quazmopolis mission is the natural father to the baby of Lacy Meaux.”
In a look of surprise, Dr. Palmer asked, “Can you really be sure this early?”
“There is no correlation between fetus and DNA of anyone from the Quazmopolis crew,” answered Dr. Kjell. “I can be sure of that.”
Chris, Oliver and Pilot Jenkins look around relieved.
“This whole test was a waste of time,” responded Pilot Jenkins. “She’s engaged to be married. It’s obvious he’s the father.”
Dr. Palmer looked around in thought before responding, “But her fiancé proudly claimed they had protected sex just a few times in the past year.”
“If Ben Thomas is not the father,” answered Kjell as he read from the file. “Then Lacy Meaux must have had a one night stand within two days before the mission.”
“She’s getting married in just a few weeks,” replied Chris. “He’s obviously the father. No one needs to even know about this.”
Doctor Kjell then closed the file and walked towards the door. “Lacy definitely got pregnant before she left. And that misconduct could be punishable by termination.”
When Dr. Kjell was out, all was quiet.
“Can we be excused now?” then asked Oliver.
Dr. Palmer looked around the room deep in thought and didn't answer right away.
“Is it okay if we go, Dr. Palmer?” asked Jenkins. I’ve got work to do.”
Palmer then motioned with his hands and spun around to his computer while the three scientists hurried out and closed the door.
The distraught Lacy was driving up to security of the Science Exploration building when Charles stepped out. “So how does it feel to be back on planet earth, Miss Lacy? Anything changed?”
Lacy didn’t look up and continued through to the parking lot where she pulled her dirty car into a small parking space. She climbed out, then walked across the lot to the front door of the SEA building.
She looked around confused as she got out, then wiped tears from her eyes before she got to the door. Blanche, the receptionist, pushed a button which opened the door and appeared surprised. “Welcome back to SEA, Miss Meaux. How was your lunch?”
Blanche noticed Lacy wiping her face as she walked in and asked politely, “Are you feeling okay? Miss Lacy?”
Lacy didn’t answer but continued quietly.
Blanche then pointed at the office down the hallway and said, “Dr. Palmer is expecting you in his office.”
Lacy ignored the scientists and secretaries, all looking on curiously, as she walked up the hall to Dr. Palmer’s office.
She knocked politely on the side of Palmer’s open door and stood motionless. Lacy was dressed in a clean military suit but had unbrushed hair, makeup stains, and looked shaken up.
“Come in,” said Dr. Palmer as he spun around and looked up with a disgusted face.
“Yes sir?” mumbled Lacy and she walked around to a chair. “You wanted to see me?” She then sat down quietly and stared through the window.
Dr. Palmer sighed before replying in a serious voice, “We have strict regulations at the Science Exploration Center, Miss Meaux. These regulations must be abided to under penalty of job termination and expulsion from SEA. Do you understand?”
“Yes sir,” answered Lacy in a confused voice. “I am aware of Science Exploration policy.”
Dr. Palmer then pulled out files and read from the top sheet and said, “A tiny embryo was discovered in your uterus showing conception took place sometime in the last fourteen days.”
“Yes, so what does that mean?” asked Lacy as she tried to understand. “Conception of what?”
“You’re pregnant,” answered Dr. Palmer.
“But I haven’t... That’s just not possible,” mumbled Lacy as she leaned over in shock thinking about what he just said.
“Doctors have performed tests,” replied Palmer. “And as you know, leaving on a mission with fertilized egg is against Science Exploration rules... punishable with job termination.”
“But Dr. Palmer,” mumbled Lacy in a confused voice. “I haven’t had any unprotected sexual relations. I can’t be pregnant.”
“I have decided to give you a simple option. You allow for simple pregnancy termination, and agree to non-disclosure. I have forms to sign, and company rules will not be applied.”
Lacy mumbled while looking around the room, “No. I’m not doing that.”
“Or... You can simply retire from Science Exploration, also agreeing to complete non-disclosure. That’s up to you.”
Lacy sat up before proudly stating, “I’m not giving up my baby. I won’t do it.”
“Then I guess you have made up your mind,” Dr. Palmer replied as he stood up. “Your office needs to be cleared out, and you will speak to no one after your departure from SEA facilities. Is that understood?”
“But Dr. Palmer, this is something that I need,” responded Lacy. “It’s something I’ve built my life around.”
Palmer then interrupted, “Thank you Miss Meaux. You are excused.”
Dr. Palmer then spun back around to his computer and continued examining information about the exploration. Lacy looked around the empty office, before getting up and nervously stumbling out the doorway.
Lacy held back more tears trying to hide her emotions as she began walking to her office. She looked around at the staring faces of SEA employees and appeared confused. She wiped her eyes as she unlocked the door and walked into her clean office, then began picking up personal pictures and files. Showing no emotion, she looked around appearing deep in thought.
Secretary Alice finally walked over and asked politely, “Lacy, I’m really sorry about all this. I just thought maybe I can help.”
Lacy looked up confused and didn’t want to answer while she continued putting items into a box. “I don’t know what...”
“You know? My uncle has a real estate business, and could probably help you get started. I could give him a call if you’d like. His office is real close, and he’s looking for a new secretary. Would you like to just meet him?”
Lacy finally dropped the box filled with files, pictures and office items and turned for the door. Everyone stared at empty-handed Lacy as she made her way up the hallway. She opened the lobby door still holding back tears.
Emotional Lacy drove up to her apartment crying, and trying to understand the situation. She pulled into her reserved parking space, headed for the stairs and opened her front door. Lacy looked around at the well-kept furniture and framed pictures, and the decorations hanging on the walls.
“Welcome home, Lacy!” announced the computer. “Good to have you back!”
Sally, the bird, began whistling, as Lacy collapsed onto the couch.
“How was your journey to Quazmopolis, the moon on the fourth planet of the Kepler Solar System?” asked the computer. “We are now just thirty-seven days from the big wedding.”
“Shut up!” Lacy finally yelled as she walked over to a shelf filled with neatly laid out books and photos. Framed pictures showed her and Ben posing in different areas, with different members of Ben’s family, around their school and at work.
Lacy examined more pictures of her and Ben talking and kissing, as the tears continually rolled down her face. She was picking out stacks of pictures of her and members of the Thomas family when she came to a box of unfolded wedding invitations, along with information on the specially ordered white wedding dress.
Lacy struggled to breathe as she went through the stacks of photos on the shelf. She finally stopped and stared at one small picture on the side of the shelf. She then reached down with her shaking hand and picked up that one photo. She seemed confused as she studied the low-quality picture.
The picture was rare. It was just her dad, Gabriel, living in the Back Bayou, the small town in Louisiana. Lacy was crying deeper before she grabbed the photo and thought about her options.
Lacy finally reached out and picked up the birdcage and the small aquarium and ran out of the apartment, leaving the front door open.
“Lacy!” yelled Isabelle, the landlord, as Lacy ran by. “You’re back from Quazmopolis! How’d it go? We’ve been watching updates on the news!”
“I’m fine. Thank you,” mumbled Lacy.
“What did you discover? Anything new?”
Lacy didn’t answer Isabelle as she loaded the birdcage and aquarium into the empty passenger seat. “I’m moving out!”
“I thought you were getting married...” answered Isabelle in a confused voice. “It’s next month, right?”
Lacy ran around and jumped into the driver’s seat, then slammed the door.
“Where are you moving?”
Lacy rolled down her window as the car began backing out. “I’m just going home. I’m moving back home to the Back Bayou!”
“But you’re paid through the end of next month,” mumbled Isabelle. “What about all your furniture?”
“It’s yours now,” answered Lacy. “You can rent the apartment as furnished. Bye!” Lacy manually began driving her car down the road and out of sight.
Ben’s alarm went off and the same woman’s voice started, “Good morning Ben. It’s Monday morning at six o’clock, and you’ve got a big day planned. Scheduled wedding is now twenty-eight days away and...”
“Shut up!” yelled Ben. The voice from the computer immediately stopped as Ben rolled over.
Another hungover older woman lying next to Ben then sat up and tried to light her cigarette, “Does the alarm say that every morning? Why don’t you just turn that thing off?”
“I don’t know how!” Ben answered in an angry voice. “Just go back to sleep.”
“No,” replied the woman. “I gotta go.”
“Got to go where?” asked Ben. “It’s six o’clock.”
“Unlike you, I have a life. I gotta wake up my kids, feed them breakfast, and get them on the school bus. Then get to work by eight.”
“Fine. Have a nice day.”
“Will I see you again?” the woman asked as she began sliding on her shirt.
“No.” Ben then rolled over and pulled the pillow over his head. “Good-bye.”
The woman was annoyed but not surprised as she walked out of the messy bedroom and into the grubby kitchen. She pulled a beer from the refrigerator and then made her way out.
“Bye,” she mumbled as she walked out the door. “I guess it was nice meeting you.”
Ben remained motionless in bed as the woman pulled the front door closed.
Thunder crashed as Lacy drove by an old dirty sign in the swamps. Rain began dripping down her windshield, before she turned the wipers of her dirty car on.
The car computer map began speaking out, “You have now entered Back Bayou, Louisiana. Continue down highway fourteen for one point seven miles. Next turn will be on your left.” Lacy looked around the big old trees with moss hanging over the street and pushed a button and spoke.
“Is this the property owned by Gabriel Meaux?”
Computer continued, “Much land in this area has not been logged or documented. Owner is unknown.”
Lacy looked like she hadn’t changed clothes or taken a shower for weeks. She continued driving in the rain and looked confused when she turned down a swerving road surrounded by run down swampland.
The car computer started another announcement, “Left turn now in one hundred feet. Property is not filed with the department of tax and license.” Lacy then reached out to turn off the computer radio. She studied all street openings and finally turned onto an old mud road on the side of the highway. Lacy drove very slowly watching out the window as she passed several “No Trespassing” signs.
Meters on the car gauge showed an outdoor temperature of ninety eight degrees and a humidity at 94 percent. After about a half mile drive alongside the old galvanized fencing wires, Lacy pulled up to see an old cabin deep in the marshland. She drove as close as she could before being forced to park in an open area outside surrounded by an old wire fence.
Lacy motioned to the fish and bird and said politely as she climbed out, “You guys just wait here. I’ll be back.”
She then climbed out wearing the same dirty SEA uniform and tried to straighten her hair. She swatted at bugs as she walked towards the front of the run-down cabin.
“Knock. Knock. Knock.” Lacy knocked on the door and noticed the hardened mud along the front porch and the dirty windows along the front of the cabin.
“Dad?” asked Lacy politely as she looked around the open marshland. There were overgrown weeds and a messy pile of logs lying along the side of the front of the house. She made a disgusted face as a small snake crawled from under the cabin and out towards the bayou.
Lacy knocked again waiting politely before the dirty front door began to open. An older man peeked out of the crack holding a shotgun and looked suspicious. Gabriel looked confused before realizing who he was looking at, then opened the door.
“Lacy?” Gabriel seemed suspicious before Lacy smiled and stepped up.
“Hi Dad. It’s me.” Lacy then stepped up to give her dad an unreturned awkward hug. Shen then took a step into the messy unkempt cabin.
Gabriel looked confused and suspicious as Lacy began talking about how much she’d missed her life in the Back Bayou.
“I’m so glad to be home. It’s just so beautiful around here. I’ve been wanting to come home and just visit. How are things going out here in the swampland?”
“What do you want?” asked Gabriel suspiciously.
“Well, I’ve been so busy with school and work, I just haven’t had much time. I just missed you, and I’ve been thinking about Mom.” Lacy continued rambling nervously as she picked up little items scattered around the shelves.
“Your Mom’s been dead a while.”
“After I graduated from Science Exploration, I was given the opportunity of exploring, and experiencing professional missions, not just simple campouts. I went on missions around many parts of the universe; like solar systems, planets and moons that people don’t even know about.”
Gabriel listened from the doorway but just seemed more and more confused, “What’s the point of space missions?”
Lacy walked around the room cleaning and continued, “We’ve experimented with various forms of element combinations that scientists have never seen. We performed research on plant life, and checked survival in areas with oxygen-based atmospheres, like earth.”
“So who’s paying for all this?” asked Gabriel. “You trying to get money?”
“No. It’s all paid for by the government, and donations, and by one of the scientists. Very little tax money goes into our research.”
“So why did you come back here?”
Lacy stepped into the crowded kitchen and began rinsing plates in the sink. “Our latest mission was an exploration of a moon in the Kepler solar system that was discovered just seven years ago. It’s composed mostly by a variety of colored rock. It’s called Quazmopolis.”
“Never heard of it.” Gabriel seemed annoyed as he stood in the doorway listening. “So that’s why you’re here?”
“Well, the amazing thing about Quazmopolis was the extra gravity weight, and the uncharted temperature variations. Just one day can produce temperature highs of over one hundred and fifty degrees. And temperatures of twenty below at night.”
“So why should I care?”
“Well, we tried to plant a variety of cactus and experimental forms of plant, but the mission was unsuccessful in that regard,” answered Lacy.
Gabriel then carried his gun over to the cabinet and began loading bullets. “So your cactus plants don’t grow on a moon. That’s what you come to tell me?”
“Well, that part of the mission was a failure. But we found new combinations of elements that Science Exploration is going to be testing.”
“So what?”
“Well, I fell and was injured early on the mission,” answered Lacy. “But I’m feeling a lot better.”
Gabriel looked over Lacy’s body in suspicion. “I don’t see no injury.”
“Well, I got stitches on my leg, and they did some brain tests. I think I’m okay now.”
Gabriel seemed to be getting angry as he sat down. “Mission sounds like a big waste of time, and a big waste of money.”
“Well, we shot video of checked element formation in the rocks, and scientists are still performing tests.”
“So what are you doing in the Back Bayou?”
“Well,” answered Lacy nervously as she continued cleaning around the kitchen. “I had big plans for my career, along with a wedding, and starting a family...”
Gabriel interrupted, “You know I don’t want no part of that. That’s your business.”
“Well, it’s all over now, Dad. Nothing to worry about.”
“What’s over? Just go back home, and get married. Just keep doing the stuff you left here for.” Gabriel then got up and walked back towards the front door. He opened the door and looked back at Lacy waiting for a response.
Lacy finally yelled out, “I’m pregnant.” She then broke down, falling on her knees and crying.
Gabriel stopped and turned back to Lacy. “Why are you telling me this? That’s your business. You can discuss that with the baby’s Dad.”
“I tried. But he doesn’t...”
“I told you. I don’t care about your private life, or your problems,” stated Gabriel with no sympathy. “Just go home and have your baby.”
Lacy finally looked up and stated proudly, “I’m not getting married. I want to stay here with you and just have my baby.”
“No. That’s not gonna work. I don’t have the food or the time to have a pregnant girl running around the swamplands. No thanks!” Gabriel then walked out the front door.
Lacy jumped up and followed him out. “Dad, I can help! I’ll cook and clean and wash clothes. And after the baby is born, we can move into town, and I’ll start a new life. I promise.”
Gabriel turned and stared at Lacy again. “You can live here till you have the baby. That’s it.”
“You will never have to see us again. I promise.”
“Fine. Have the baby.” Gabriel then walked away leaving Lacy hopeful and nervous.
Nine months later, Gabriel looked to be alone in the swamp, paddling an old pirogue, and wearing a camouflage hat and coat. The sun was rising in the distance when Gabriel professionally blew into fist.
“Quack!” was the accurate sound from the duck call. “Quack! Quack! Quack!” Gabriel watched quietly as the two green-head mallard ducks flew in and landed next to decoys floating in the marsh. They began swimming around and gobbling up small tadpoles and fish eggs.
“Bam! Bam! Bam!”
Gabriel suddenly spun around and began firing his shotgun! The two ducks began trying to fly away before both ducks fell back into the swamp. He began paddling towards the first motionless dead duck. After he pulled the bird into the boat, he moved on to the second duck which appeared to be still moving.
Gabriel reached down to the water and grabbed the struggling duck by the head. He immediately spun the duck round, breaking the duck’s neck. With a smile, Gabriel then paddled back across the marsh.
When the boat arrived back at the dry land, Gabriel climbed out of the pirogue holding both ducks by the head in one hand and carried the still-loaded shotgun in the other. He then headed back towards the cabin.
“Oh!” yelled Lacy as she held onto her big stomach. She then struggled to walk over to sit down on the couch. Lacy was now nine months pregnant and laid down on her back just trying to breathe.
When she caught her breath, Lacy got up again and headed over to the now clean and decorated kitchen. She began rinsing dishes in the sink and laying them each down on the rack.
“Ugh!” Lacy moaned in pain again and reached out to the countertop for balance. She knocked over a decorative vase of flowers, then struggled to get back onto the couch to lie down.
When Gabriel walked in carrying the dead ducks, he leaned his gun in the rack and carried the ducks into the sink.
“Oh boy!” said Lacy politely as she stood up and tried to make her way back to the kitchen. “Looks like you were right on target for tonight’s dinner.”
Gabriel gave no reaction as he walked across the room leaving mud tracks on the clean floor.
Lacy continued, “I heard two shots, and you shot two greenhead mallard ducks! Were you using the twelve gauge shotgun this morning?” Gabriel gave no reaction as he sat down and began removing his muddy boots.
“I’m all set to make a ‘Cajun Duck and Dumplings’ for dinner. I think I remember Mama’s old recipe.” Lacy then leaned over the sink and began plucking feathers. “I can lay out a natural roux with the freshwater duckling meat and serve it over rice, with some homemade french bread.”
“Oww!” Lacy suddenly gripped her stomach again and leaned over the table.
Gabriel spun his head around to see Lacy in pain and cringed. “When will you be having the baby? You’re looking pretty big.”
“I’m fine, Dad. It could be any time now. The baby’s just kicking to get out.”
“Any time?” Gabriel then got up and walked towards Lacy. “Remember you promised you'd be going on your own once that baby is born. I don’t want no babies crying and running ‘round my house now.”
“Not a problem,” answered Lacy as she struggled to move closer to the couch. “I’ve got an apartment I’m looking at, and a few job possibilities. I might return to California and be a secretary in a real estate firm. I could start working off a commission and build up. It’s all planned.”
“Twelve years of school. College degree. Four years at the Science place... And now you're gonna sell houses?”
“Argh!” yelled Lacy as she gripped her stomach again. “It’ll be a good paying job, Dad. I can do it.” Lacy then leaned back and struggled to hold back, “Oh!”
“Now what? You gotta go into town and check into a doctor’s office or something?” Gabriel then paced around watching uncomfortably.
“No! Oh! Oh!” Lacy cried out in pain holding her stomach.
“What am I supposed to do? I ain’t no doctor,” said Gabriel as he looked around the empty cabin.
“I’m fine. You don’t have to do anything,” yelled Lacy. “I’m just going to have my baby now. You can sit back and wait!”
Lacy then got up and limped into the bedroom, and closed the door behind her.
Sounds from inside the room could be heard as Gabriel paced the floor outside the bedroom looking scared and nervous. He reached into cabinets to pull out his hunting gear, then turned and continued pacing around the empty room.
“Oh!” yelled Lacy again. The grunts, moans and heavy breathing continued inside the closed doors.
When the yelling finally stopped, Gabriel got the courage to open the door and peak inside. “Anything I can do? Lacy? You okay in there?”
Lacy, with a confused look, held up the small baby and looked confused as the light shined in from the door. Gabriel walked in and also looked confused.
The baby appeared to be a strange shape with color changing chameleon skin tones, partially invisible, and covered with red blood. The infant was definitely not human.
Gabriel was staring at the newborn with a confused look as Lacy held up the abnormal looking reptilian baby. “I think it’s a boy,” said a confused Lacy.
With Gabriel’s mouth partially open, he remained speechless.