CHAPTER 11.
734 Words
Once again, I was on a medical examination table while I looked up toward blades, needles, and other sharp instruments. A robot arm stretched out as if ready to strike.
I now knew the instruments’ functions. Despite the sinister feel, I knew the majority were painless. The Volardi had pain killers although Alphas endured the discomfort as a point of pride.
I was safe, but it didn’t prevent my primitive monkey brain from speculating. I think I was in the same medical lab, but it looked different. With a culture that could re-create matter, they changed environments as needed.
In a large outer circle, several men the size of Melk stared with serious thinned expressions. The all had a similar purple stripe on their hair no matter their base color. Smaller ones – the size of Trevah were there in greater numbers. My gaze jumped from face to face. Different color hair and skin tones but all attractive.
My gaze stopped on a small blond male with a small silver rod attached under his nose. The implant automatically gave me the answer. A filter tokeep out biotoxin and other ‘normal’ viruses his body couldn’t fight anymore.
All the ships were equipped with their own systems. The ventilation system automatically blew antibiotics in the air. Layers upon layers of protection to make sure their Omegas didn’t fall ill. We weren’t the same race and yet... there was a connection. I speculated how I would help the remaining Omegas. I hoped there was something within our DNA that could make their lives better.
At least we could take the pressure off. If all this did was make me pregnant, they could live their lives knowing someone else would take up the duty.
My hand went out and Melk and Trevah both squeezed it tight. Heat radiated out with every quick heartbeat.
My smile faltered when Klar spoke. “Esteemed guests of the Empire, it’s my pleasure to serve the empire with a new option.” He pointed to me. “The creature-”
Melk’s nostril flared, and he glared at Klar. “ Earthling ... is the best chance at repopulating our species in lieu of our cloning program.” In the distance I heard several murmurs I couldn’t interpret.
The cloning program could work but the cost would be horrific. In much the same way medical experimentation could lead to interesting results. Practically nobody would do it, because of the immorality.
And yet that’s what’s happening... I’m an experiment.
It’s nothing I haven’t agreed to. Klar pressed a few buttons on a floating monitor. In unison I saw heads jerk up as they got the data transfer. It was still weird to ‘know’ certain things. Almost like having an old memory of a dream.
Melk squeezed my hand while Trevah leaned down and whispered. “You’ll have a birthing canal, and you’ll self-lubricate.”
There’s a naughty look if I’ve ever seen one. I clenched at the thought.
As a gay man, fumbling around for lube sometimes ruined the moment. It never stopped me of course. I wasn’t sure how I felt about getting wet and slick back there. Convenient, but weird.
“You won’t have to use the restroom either,” said Trevah. “The nanites in your system will scan for impurities and change them at the molecular level. Vitamins, pheromones, and several other things your body needs.” I nodded.
The implant already ‘told’ me but it was reassuring to hear it said. Yet more technology that would help Earth.
This is a good thing. It is.
Yeah…
“You still want to go through with it?” I wondered if I could still say ‘No’ with the delegation here. Maybe I could but this was a historic moment. I could ‘control the narrative’ and approach aliens with our collective head up high.
Instead of cowering like primitives before fire or a ‘boomstick’. The arguments for and against played within my head again. Growing up, I wanted to be like my heroes in that book.
I would never be that six-foot starship captain with a ray gun, but Melk was right. Not all fights are on the battlefield. I nodded.
“Energize,” I said with as much fake confidence as I could muster. Both men smiled while blackness and cold overtook me.
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- Writer
