Page 72 of Volunteer 4711

I walk into sickbay with my Commander, the doctor, the Imperial doctor, and his assistant are already waiting for us in a quartered-off a section of sickbay.

“Volunteer 4711, may the gods bless us today for this sacrifice you are about to make,” the Imperial Doctor says as he and his assistant bow.

I am shocked by how human they look. I say nothing but stare, except for the grey skin. They are human. “You look like me, but you keep humans as pets,” I say.

The doctor doesn’t even look uncomfortable that I’ve said this. “We did in the past,” he’s interrupted by my husband.

“The past still going on then?”

“It’s technically illegal,” the Imperial doctor says. “But you don’t need to worry. I’m known as the man in the Empire who helps families. People come to me when they need help.”

“And are you always paid with more genetic material?” I ask.

“Yes. So, you don’t need to feel hard done by,” he answers.

“What will you do with the eggs I give you?” I ask.

“As I told your husband yesterday, I will either combine them with an Imperial man’s sperm to make a child for an Imperial family, a child that no one will know isn’t completely Imperial, or I will combine it with a human man’s sperm and make a pet as requested.”

“Can I choose what I want for them?”

“I’m afraid not because I need to do what the market wants.”

“Will you let me know their fate?”

“I can’t do that either. But I can tell you that I only deal with the top of Imperial society; whether they become a member of society or a pet, they will have an easy and comfortable life. Now, do we have a deal?”

I consider this. I want a baby so much, and I have seen the pictures and videos of children born naturally without any doctors’ help, and I wouldn’t condemn any person to that fate. I look up at my Commander, and he nods to me. He swore to me he would retrieve the children if they were pets.

“There is a clause that if you try to find your children, I will bring charges against you for breaking our contract in Imperial Court.”

“That means he will challenge you to a duel,” my husband tells me. “And I forgot to tell you; Imperial doctors read minds, Wife.”

I don’t break eye contact with the Imperial doctor. “I will sign the contract. I don’t think I’m the first of your patients who has thought they would try and find their children later.”

“You’re a clever one,” the Imperial doctor praises me. “Every one of my patients in your position thinks the same thing; of course, they do. It allows me to tick the box next to their profiles, ‘moral.’”

“Has anyone ever found their children?”

“I’ll be honest with you,” he says gently, “No, because after they have their own, they take my word for it that their children are in good hands. I am not a monster. But I can’t do this for you without doing for others if you see what I mean?”

“Giving my eggs away to someone who also wants a child, well, that is okay, but donating them to give life to a human who will be kept as a pet. I have trouble with that. Until recently, I was a volunteer here myself.”

“I understand,” the Imperial doctor says. “I would feel the same way, but the galaxy is about give and take. None of us are clean. I try my best to work only with families, but sometimes I must work with others too.”

“Is there anything we can do to assure Volunteer 4711’s eggs go to a family? Perhaps some extra UCs?” my Commander asks.

“I’m sorry. I won’t take your UCs because I won’t lie to you. I have a high turnover and cannot just hold on to eggs waiting for the ‘right’ people.”

“Do you have people waiting for human eggs now?” I ask.

“I might,” the Imperial doctor replies. “But there’s nothing you can say or do to make me tell you. If you want this procedure done for you, then you know the cost. And you will have to take my word for it that your eggs were given good homes.”

I study the Imperial doctor and then say, “I agree.”

“Good,” says the Imperial doctor. He brings out a contract for me to put my GC number into and my fingerprints. I read it. It’s fairly straightforward, and I don’t see anything worrying given the terribleness of the entire thing, to begin with. I put my fingerprint and code in. The doctor does the same. “Finished.”

“What about my husband?” I ask. “Doesn’t he need to agree?”

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