Challenge #01604-D143: They Grow So Fast

How about one where Aliens are stunned at the absurd growth rate/ regenerative properties that humans seem to have. Either for something as small as fingernails or hair needing constant maintenance, to 'how did that child grow a full METER in the ten years I was absent?!' -- Anon Guest

Human Steff had reproduced. Live birthing was trauma enough for most of the crew, but the idea that humans could be small and fragile was overwhelming. These mammals had to be crazy to engage in such a process voluntarily when there were artificial gestation processes. And then Human Steff explained that she considered her ordeal to be a religious devotion.

Nevertheless, Human Steff encouraged all crewmembers to meet her Baby Human Di. And it was astonishingly small in comparison to Human Steff's prior girth. Baby Human Di was a small creature with a short fluff of hair and, K'iix noted, had to wear protective mittens and socks to prevent them scratching themselves with their tiny and sharp nails.

Baby Human Di spent most of her time asleep, and most of her waking time feeding from the mammary glands of Human Steff. The infant had no ability to control anything about itself. How and when this creature could become one of the most indestructible and indomitable creatures in existence was beyond K'iix.

Human Steff was expected to have lighter duties following the birth. K'iix expected her to be of commission for years, but she assured that she should be able to return to light work inside of six months. Humans were truly resilient.

In less than a Standard Month, Baby Human Di was holding up her own massive head, and she had more than doubled in size. Human Steff wore the child and her carry-harness like an accessory, when she walked about. That she was able to walk about was nothing short of miraculous to K'iix.

Then the infant started thrashing. The violent arm and leg movements alarmed some, but Human Steff insisted that this was all normal. By the time Human Steff was able to return to light duties, Baby Human Di was almost capable of bipedal motion. Though she did seem to prefer moving about on all fours.

Before a Standard Year had passed, Baby Human Di had become a 'toddler', and took to charging about on her pudgy legs at whatever seemed to interest her kitten-like attention at the time. This was also when Human Steff introduced the "Play Pen", a safe enclosure to keep the child away from potentially endangering the crew. Given that Baby Human Di interacted with most things by either chewing on them or bashing them against a solid surface, K'iix could endorse such a preventative measure.

[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / sam74100]

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