The life story of Gori was being told entertainingly as was any campfire story. Lataro sat and listened intently trying to find out what was going on. He didn't really understand what was happening nor did he understand why these gods were finding it necessary to have the crew of the Virgo fight this war. At any rate, he was at the captain's side, and he said they were, therefore they were. Suddenly, K'Lara leaned over to Lataro, but he didn't notice.
"Excuse me," she said to the crowd. "It's been a long day and I need sleep. I'm sleeping for two now."
Lataro noticed that there was a slight vacant look coming from her. "Are you all right, dear?" Jon's concerned voice brought her back to reality. She stared at him for a moment, confused.
"I'm fine, Jon," she finally answered. "I'm just a little tired is all. I think I'm going to bed."
With that, K'Lara walked away, Lataro's eyes following her as she walked out of range of the campfire and disappeared into the darkness. "Well ladies and gentlemen, I think that I am going to turn in as well. After all, we have a long day a head of us," Lataro said standing up brushing bits of dirt and sand from his clothing.
"Okay, Jon. Meet me over at Neklus's hut at daybreak," Maruu said.
"No problem cap...Stephen," Lataro said with a smile. It just didn't seem right to call him Stephen in front of the troops.
Lataro left the campfire and caught up with K'lara who was walking slowly. She hadn't gotten too far, and, as a matter of fact, as Lataro got closer he noticed that she was propped up against a hut, holding her stomach. "K'Lara. Are you okay?" K'Lara's face had an expression of intense pain. She was doubled over moaning. Immediately it hit him. She was having labor pains. Interestingly enough, the cool exterior of the Virgo's First Officer melted away. Now expressions of panic came over his face. "K'Lara. You okay? Um... Here sit down, no come on lets try to get you some...no not that," Lataro began to panic. He didn't know what to do. With a bleeding wound, broken bone, even a severed limb, he was cool and was in control, but, now, his wife was in labor with his child. What was he do to do? K'Lara turned to him and flashed her eyes at him, grabbed his shirt, and in the most deepest guttural voice said, "GET DANA!" and let out a moan.
"Of course. Why didn't I think of that?!" Lataro said as he put K'lara on the ground and ran as fast as he could to the campfire. At the campfire, Stephen and Dana were laughing as Gori told his jokes and amusing stories. Lataro ran quickly and as he neared the fire tripped on a log and landed face first. Neklus and Gori saw that and burst in roaring laughter. "Captain! Doctor!" Lataro tried to say as he blew dirt from his mouth and gasped for air.
"Jon, that is Stephen and..."
"K'Lara is having the baby!" Lataro screamed.
"What?!" Dana said, jumping up.
"Come on," Lataro said as he got up and grabbed Dana's arm and pulled her along. He ran quickly with Dana in tow followed closely by Neklus, his wife and Stephen. When they got there K'Lara laid there moaning breathing heavily. "Dana please do something for her!!! She is in pain!!! Come on!!! Do something please!!! Her screaming!!! Make it stop!!!"
Lataro's mouth was running a mile a minute. He was panicking. Immediately Dana kneeled along side K'Lara to help her and see what she could do.
"Dana, is she going to be all right?!".
"Jon. Quiet!" Dana looked over at Stephen who was smiling. He had never seen his First Officer in such a state, and it was quite amusing.
"Stephen," began Neklus, "is this Jon's first child?"
"Yes."
"Oh." Neklus walked over to Lataro who was hopping around from side to side making Dana extremely nervous. Neklus approached Jon and smiled; Jon returned the smile. Suddenly Lataro felt a sharp pain as the small log broke against his head. Lataro was knocked unconscious, and Neklus now held one half of the broken log. He turned to Maruu. "This, my friend, is what we do for all first time fathers." On the ground, Lataro was out cold.