Trifecta Challenge: Deliberate

A new week a new trifecta challenge. This time the word is deliberate:

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Ilieana was deep in thought. She should’ve been focused on the escalating conversation between Gonjuri, the emissary for the Golrathians , and Dathraka, a Djokian who had helped set the daring raid that aided her escape into motion. All of it seemed so hopeless. She got the feeling that no matter what she did, she and the child she was carrying were bound to die.

As if in reaction to her thoughts, the being in her belly kicked with some force. It was its first movement. This brought her back to the present moment. Gonjui and Dathraka were in each other’s faces, other members of their respective parties were on their feet. If Ilieana wasn’t careful, the two groups could tear the ship apart.

“I say we take her to Djoki!  We’ll have a tactical advantage if Geori comes for her!” Dathraka growled, raising his weapon in defiance as Gonjuri did the same. Ilieana would have to put a stop to this.

“Enough!” She barked, jumping to her feet, forcing her concealed arm blades into both of their throats.  “I’m seconds away from vomiting again, my head won’t stop throbbing and I have to piss! I’ve got enough problems of my own to worry about that I don’t need spilled Golrathian blood to be amongst them, but if it is to be one of my problems, it’s because I spilled it along with some Djokian. Make no mistake.”

Both the emissary and Dathraka softened and looked at her. She dropped her hands, and the arm blades retreated under her sleeves again. She took a long deliberate sigh and decided to show her hand. “We can’t retreat to either of your home planets.”

“Why not?” someone asked.  

“The Holemaker is operational.”  They all gasped in her direction. “Geori can make a black hole whenever he wants and he can be light years away when it happens. And he will use it if it means the death of this child.” She said, patting her belly.

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I've had this sci-fi story in my head for awhile and I finally decided to use the Trifecta challenge as a way to to sat least start writing part of it. I really want to write something in which the heroine is pregnant or with child but instead of impending motherhood softening her, it hardens her, makes her stronger, more fierce. I think the only way that really happens is if that character feels threatened. I'm not sure if that comes across quite yet, but we'll see.