Ruby Goddard gave up on her pregnancy tests. After pissing on three dozen the calculations were even 50/50. For every negative there was a positive. It was driving her nuts. She could only urinate so much in a day. Her frustration led to a sleepless night. Between the stress of the tests and the loss of Jack her heart just wasn't into it. Heading to her quarters she sits down on her bed and breaks out Jack's wedding band. Her thoughts on he giving it to her made her even more depressed. This was the ring his wife Renee had given him. It wasn't meant to be in Ruby's possession.
Regardless she kissed it before stashing it in her luggage. Enough was enough. She couldn't bear to admire it too long or she would break down. Sighing she stretches out on her mattress and tries for a nap. After thirty minutes she gives up. There was only one thing that might tire her out. A thorough workout. It was still dark outside so a run was out of the question. However a lengthy workout with her punching bag might do the trick. Then it came to her, she had an immortal Roman and a Guard Dinosaur outside. If there were any dreads in the night they would keep her safe. Not to mention with it being so close to dawn no Vampire stragglers would dare be out when the sun rises.
Leaping to her feet and stretching like an athlete she slips on a pair of cutoff blue jean shorts and sporty bra. Nothing racy just plenty of support. Pinning her red hair back she was ready. Heading to the bridge she lets down the ramp and scurries down it. All seemed quiet. The cows were sleeping still. A relaxed T-Rex smells her arrival with recognition and lays it's head back down. That in itself worried her. How long before that carnivore would regain its appetite for meat? Only a matter of time.
A short jog to her localized Gym in a cargo container she opens it up and winces at its unoiled hinges. Inside she had set up lightning bug jars just as James uses on occasion. They would be her light until dawn. The container was resting right where the sun would rise and shine upon her. A magical presence in her mind.
Applying tape to her hands like a true boxer from the salvaged fitness equipment she then put on her gloves. Tapping the mitts together she circles the hanging punching bag. Brand new the bag still had strength. That made her have to punch harder to gain any true effects. Fevered after ten minutes of constant attacks upon the bag she drifts back in thought. Back to visions of he Dad and brothers teaching her how to box. Bruises and busted lips were a daily thing. Not by abuse but by her drive to be the best. Her brothers looked worse.
Fond memories indeed. From family back to Jack. His leaving still upset her more than she could admit. She knew it wasn't his plan to be cursed but he did. Driving him away from his love ones. It seemed that only magical beings could approach Jack. Gaicazar and the T-Rex. She didn't know until after Jack left that James was able to reach Jack by gravitational means. Yet, each day Jack was shoved further out toward the desert.
Everyone realized he was doing the right thing. It would have been miserable for all of them to see. Still, it bothered Ruby to no end that she might be carrying Jack's baby. His leaving was tearing her up inside. The stress must be terrible on the infant within. Feeling what she felt. Then it dawned on her that even her workout might hurt the baby. Yet, right now she couldn't stop. She needed this release way too badly.
Overrun by thoughts she doesn't realize her speed and strength increasing with each impact. The punching bag was sinking in on itself. Stitching was threading under so much force. Even the fireflies were ceasing their glow in favor of another. Beneath Ruby's shirt her belly spells the letters P O.. She fails to notice. Nor care. Her energy levels were all she felt. Without realizing just how ramped up they were. Sweating dramatically she pounds the bag in rapid jabs. So rapid the bag tries to evade her yet collides with the containers wall behind it. Dropping back for more each time.
The noise level attracts the notice of Antonaeus Gaicazar on his rounds. Moving in to investigate he is joined by Malcolm Brand. Both were witness to a light show like no other. The glow from the cargo bin blinding but brilliant. As if an aurora borealis of gold energy. The two men looked at each other with awe. Since when did the Colonel display power?
Gaicazar turns to his sides. They had been circled by rabbits. Literally dozens. He puzzles at the connecting fur balls each touching the other. Creating a glowing circle around them. Malcolm too notes the situation then hears a loud hum. Looking up the cargo container was so full of light that all he could hear was her devastating punches. Then, out of no where a dust cloud. Her punching bag had ruptured and the sand within reached out for escape.
This was followed by the screech of gnarled metal. The cargo container was coming apart. Vibrations enough to create ripples of bending steel. A lull of peace. Then the unexpected shockwave. The container walls falling all around Ruby Goddard. Standing there amid her own blinding glow she looks at her hands. Her gloves were shredded. Her clothing smoldering on her body. Close enough to nude now that her core body temperature had caught them on fire.
The rabbits had kept the two men safe from debris. The firefly jar rolling into the rabbits and bouncing off the invisible field of protection. As soon as Ruby begins to fade she had an expression of fear.
"What just happened?" She shivers toward Malcolm and Antonaeus. Both shrug and again share a glance of disbelief.
Dust settling her tummy expressed the glowing letters of O and W. Malcolm pointing it out for her to notice. He was still awestruck by her power play. That and the fact his Commanding Officer was naked. The rabbits broke formation and hopped away. Gaicazar the gentleman offered her his cape to cover up.
"Since when do you have that kind of power?" Malcolm wheezes.
"HOW SHOULD I KNOW?" She snaps at him then places a palm on his chest, "I'm sorry. On edge here."
"I get that." He eyes her palm on his pectoral. He could feel energy moving about her fingertips. Almost as if tapping Morse code. Could it be? Freaked out he lets the assumption dissipate.
"I'll clean this up later. Time to wake up James. Momma needs advice."
Walking away Malcolm steps closer to Gaicazar, "You see what the rabbits did?"
"Aye. Methinks we would have been thrown aside like yon metal box."
"I know so. They saved us. They knew something was going to happen. I wanna know what these rodents are all about. Keep your eyes open Buddy."
"Indeed I shall. Who is Buddy?"
Even as she walks Ruby feels her footsteps absorbing each impact upon the ground. Upon the ramp. At the top of the ships steps she found Elle Franklin. She had heard the destruction outside and had come to investigate.
"What happened outside? Jurassic Junior playing fetch with Anton?"
Ruby glares at her with a troubled look. Uncovering her body to let Elle see the emblazoned letters R E. before cloaking her nudity again. Elle noted a glow about her. Aura level at best. Her diamond eyes picking up on the spectrum.
"Dang Ruby. You're glowing. And, that's no Momma comment."
"I know. I can feel it. Like I'm super charged. Every step. Every touch I make. I overheat and bad things happen."
"Wonder what those letters R E mean?"
"No idea. I think the baby might be dyslexic."
She steps closer to Elle when Elle feels a wave of invisible energy caress her and nudge her back. Nothing violent. Merely saying I need room. Once Ruby understands it she pauses.
"Follow at a distance. I'm going to the lab. Wake up the Kid."
"Try and remain calm. Move slowly. Tiptoe even."
"Pins and needles Eleanor."
Elle watches her carefully glide across the aisle way and vanish around a corner. Once gone she puffs her cheeks, "I'll say it again. Weirder and weirder." She then heads to rile the Genius.
A frantic few minutes later James enters his lab with the worst case of bedhead ever. Elle behind him with a cautious look in her eye. Xander trotting in behind them. As the dog greets a sitting Ruby he sniffs her with a whimper. Her stomach pulsing made the German Shepard tilt his head before looking back at James. The boy could only yawn.
"What's with Rin Tin Tin there?" Elle peaks an eye brow.
"Who knows." Ruby constricts her cape veil to hide the majority of her nudity from James. Namely her lower regions.
"Give me a minute to wake up. Expresso would be great." James shakes his foggy thoughts aside.
"I'll run to Starbucks." Elle frowns.
"Enough already. Sonogram me. I need to know once and for all what I'm dealing with."
Ruby grows agitated. Her body pulsing again. The capes material hardly able to conceal her shape. James pops his eyes at her glare.
"Whoa! When did we go all radioactive?"
"You could sleep through a train wreck." Elle grunts, "She just destroyed her gym. Blew the walls right off it."
"Sheroshima!" He chuckles. Neither woman found it amusing. He pauses with a fidget, "Not cool. Sorry." James then holds his palms out in front of him stepping toward Ruby.
"Squeeze the girls I'll break your wrists."
"No. I'm feeling the heat and vibrations coming off of you." He grimaces, "Why do you always think I'm being pervy?"
Elle groans, "Because you're 15 going on 30. Come on. Examine her not sexamine her."
"That was terrible. Even if I had said that."
"Please! Just set up the sonogram."
