Distant Shores - Marco Palmieri [138]
It looks as though my program is going to be forced to adapt yet again.
I can’t deny that I find the idea absolutely fascinating. They do mean a considerable amount to me. The idea of losing them fills me with the same trepidation that I felt when I realized that I was going to lose Danara. Is that love? I’m not certain.
When I looked at the infant’s adorable little brown eyes, and remembered how he’d helped me fight to keep him alive, I remembered the ancient mythology that I’d borrowed my alias from. Aeson had had a son, and that son had grown up to be both a great fighter and a tremendous leader of men-two admirable goals for a child, no matter what culture he might have belonged to.
“Jason,” I told the nurse. “His name is Jason.”
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- Stardate 53501.3114822797
Day 350
Dr. Ruaal has applauded my newest contribution to Tahal-Isut medicine. As it saved Jason’s life, I’m not entirely certain the applause is necessary, but she feels it is.
Jason suffered lacunar rhontopa-a condition very similar to pancreatic failure, but in this instance the organ only stops responding temporarily-yesterday evening. I’m certain it can be traced back to the gestational diabetes, but it’s an exceedingly rare condition. So rare, in fact, that I could only recall two recorded instances of it in all of the medical journals I’d studied in the Central Protectorate library. Both instances had ended up being fatal.
We took Jason to the hospital for treatment, but there were no specialists in the area who knew what to do. The situation forced me to improvise yet again.
And the improvisation worked. It took approximately fourteen hours, but finally Jason began responding to the treatment. His insulin levels had returned to near-normal (or, at least, near-normal for him) by this afternoon. As a precautionary measure, I made sure to take meticulous notes of the procedure, should the condition reoccur and I am not here to attend to him.
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- Stardate 53501.3192246169
Day 586
Today was Jason’s first birthday.
Mareeza and I threw him a wonderful celebration, if I do say so myself. Darek came by, as well as Akree and the rest of his cherusa kelo team. I believe Jason enjoyed himself.
We cleaned up the leftovers once everyone had left, and Mareeza has gone to her bedroom to turn in for the night. Jason is in his crib, while I finish tidying up the living room.
Jason is a truly special child, I must admit. His birth has forced my programming to adapt in ways I hadn’t anticipated. My holographic family simply never prepared me for this. It’s as though every time he finds something new in the world, I’m finding it new again, myself.
He was fascinated by the candle on his birthday staiol. The flame had him absolutely entranced. He also seemed to enjoy the caramel custard I improvised with what I could find at the grocery.
Jason’s favorite new toy appears to be a doll of the Sky Ship Friend Verasul. It’s a diminutive Tahal-Isut, who happens to be the most kind and congenial member of the Sky Ship’s crew. I wonder, though, if it might be an indication of his personality. Where the others have their peace, solitude, and tranquility, Verasul wears an emerald-green robe, is exuberant, always wanting to help others, and very encouraging of finding your own identity and encouraging others to do the same thing. It’s Mareeza’s and my fondest hope that Jason adopts these very traits in his own personality.
Jason giggled the first time he saw the Verasul doll. Mareeza found it adorable, as did most of those present.
I must put this down for a moment. Jason’s crying, and it’s time for his late-night feeding.
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- Supplemental
While I am not often prone to moments of what might be commonly referred to as sentimentality,