Hither & Yon

Unnatural Family Planning

by Nicky DraydenJune 11, 2014

First of all, I want to thank you for allowing me into such an intimate moment of your lives. The sensual act of creating life is a delicate dance, and it is important that you stay in sync as a couple, every moment, every breath until the final moment of ecstasy that will change both of your lives forever. Don't worry, I am here to aid you in this miraculous journey, where I will choreograph your every move and answer any and every question you could possibly have. No need to be shy or bashful, I am the resident Sexpert here, after all, going on fifteen years. I promise you, no matter how embarrassing the question, I've heard it before.

Why don't you two get comfortable while I set up my equipment? Yes, well, unfortunately, it is required that I stay for the duration of the session. How else are you going to know what to plug where? There's quite a bit of baby-making apparati, but once you two get going, you won't even realize it's in the room. Or me for that matter. Okay, almost ready. Heh, hard to believe that life begins with just one tiny little, itty-bitty, tinsy-wincy prick.

Oh, sir! Sorry if I have offended you. Maybe that was a poor choice of words. I'm really not sure why you chose to disrobe in the first place. I certainly didn't instruct you to! What I meant, is that I need each of you to place your thumbs here so I can get a genetic sample. Just a drop of blood from each of you, and then I'll bring up a virtual representation of your state-of-the-art artificial womb, where you will have 24-hour access to see your fetus grow. You can be there virtually for every kick, hiccup, and yawn. It's fully interactive. You can press this button to hum to your little one, this button to sing, and this lever setup allows you to rub the womb. And with this mic--

The cost? How can you put a price on connecting with your unborn child? Well, I do believe there are payment plans available. Not quite sure how that works. Honestly, it's not often that someone of your financial status wins the Procreation Lottery. No, I'm definitely not saying that it's rigged. Classism? Um, maybe we should just skip along to the next step....

One cell, two cells, four, and eight... okay, let's speed things up a bit. Handsome little embryo. Let's see. We're definitely going to want it to have your nose. And of course it will have your eyes. And it looks like we're going to have to dig a little deeper in your genome for a suitable jawline.... Yes, I know looks aren't everything, but we automatically screen out all genetic diseases, and maximize intelligence, athleticism, and artistry... all within the limitations of your own genetic code of course. And trust me, there's a lot of wiggle room in your genes. My last appointment managed to pull a 6 foot 7 female out of their code, and neither of them was a hair over 5'3". Overcompensating, if you ask me! But the options are endless. Vestigial tail? Not so vestigial anymore! Fur, opposable toes. Gills are a popular choice these days... gentrifying the flooded towns along the coast, and all.

What do you mean, you'd be more comfortable leaving it to chance? Well, I suppose I could send your sequences through a random generator. Just a sec... okay, now for the moment of ecstasy! I want you to take a deep breath, and together press this button to implant the cell mass into your artificial womb.

I'm not understanding your question. What do you mean "the old fashioned way," like with test tubes and petri dishes such? You want to put what where? No, that can't be right. Yes, I really AM a Sexpert, and in my fifteen years here, I have never heard of something so... so completely and utterly unnatural!

About Nicky Drayden

Nicky Drayden is a Systems Analyst who has made the recent life decision that she'd rather spend her time working with prose than code. She resides in Austin, Texas where being weird is highly encouraged, if not required. You can see more of her work at www.nickydrayden.com.

http://www.nickydrayden.com/

All stories by Nicky Drayden →

More from Nicky Drayden

Re: Upcoming Restroom Changes

MEMORANDUM DATE: 3.18923 of the Galactic Equinox 7B TO: All GalactiCorp Employees and Contractors stationed within Grid Sectors 12-Alpha through 543-Omega FROM: Garthrook Fivebody, GalactiCorp Employee Relations RE: Upcoming Restroom Changes Dear GalactiCorp Family: It has come…

Housewarming

"You snagged this place for 250k? In the city?" Selma runs her index finger along my sleek granite countertops, then practically fondles the pullout sprayer in my farmhouse sink. "It's got everything!" "You're gonna die when you see my walk-in closet." I swallow the smug smile…

Earth's Destruction: A Crowdfunding Campaign

Project: Earth's Destruction Share via: Facebook | Twitter | Embed Backers: 34,453 Pledged: $652,323,765 Days to Go: 27 $1,000 minimum pledge Goal: 85 Billion U.S. Dollars (Approx. 54.4 million Gragzoikian Dollars) This project will only be funded if at least $85,000,000,000 is…

Planning for Your Re-Retirement

I bet you thought you'd be enjoying your golden years--traipsing through the lush forests of Belize, admiring the Venus de Milo with your own two eyes, enjoying a game of low-grav shuffleboard on Proxima Colony--all those things you were too busy working your tail off to enjoy.…

Investment Strategies in a Post-Apocalyptic World

If you're like most us, you saw your investment portfolio tank with the Greying Crisis of 2039. If you were lucky enough to notice the signs of an impending stock market collapse, maybe you got out early, but the failing of the banks in the subsequent years probably wiped out…

An Unparalleled Real Estate Investment Opportunity

Three-hundred seventy square feet. That's the average size for a micro apartment in Chicago these days. Of course, I don't have to tell you that, seeing as you've opted for the high-end mattress that serves as your bed, sofa, and dining table depending on how you flip it. Oh,…