Al's face paled as heard the news coming from the population control officer. He had been waiting patiently with his wife Jo to get through the small talk and now they heard they would be denied the chance to conceive and raise a child. This would be their third and final attempt.
Jo's beautiful topaz colored eyes started to tear up as she said. "Why are we being denied again? Al's sperm count is in the 90th percentile, we have no genetic markers for disease, our psych profiles are gold rated."
The doctor next to the officer shrugged. "The problem is not the biological aspect of the application."
"I'll handle this doctor." The gruff wrinkled woman sitting across from the couple raised a hand to the doctor. The medical man froze and silenced himself.
The Pop-con officer continued. "Like doc said, the bio section of the application was green. You simply lack the financial resources needed to raise a child."
Jo stammered. "We can get a loan, I can take two jobs. Please!"
The grim woman shook her head. "I ran the numbers with that already baked in. Only the top ten percent of earners on the planet can be permitted to breed. You're…in the 23rd percentile. It's about resources, climate change. I assume you've watched the news in the past ten years?"
"Yes of course, we only thought we'd have enough income because Al was a cyber-technician and I was…"
"A model? Yes I'm well aware. Look, I'll come clean. If you don't own a business, it just isn't in the cards. You two have salaries. You have jobs that can be taken away. The planet has had too much humanity on it for too long and now we all have to tighten belts. I resigned myself to being childless many years ago, and that was before the Pop-con act. There's too many mouths and not enough food."
Al's face went red. "So that's it. We're just supposed to take it on the chin and give up?"
"Thousands of couples apply each day Mr. Mardresson, the Pop-con has only so many resources to devote to each couple. Most give up on their second try. You only managed to get a ten percent increase in your salary levels on this last attempt when you knew you needed thirty. Now if you'll excuse me, I have another couple coming in. Two very prominent attorneys who can provide for their future children. I would very much like to give them the good news, rather than be harangued by the likes of you two." The old lady put her bony hands on the table, pushed herself up, and walked out the door. "For what it's worth you have my sympathies." She muttered as she closed the door behind her.
Al and Jo held onto each other and wept. The doctor got up and walked to the cupboard in the office and fished out a box of tissues and handed it to Jo. "Mr. and Ms. Mardresson. I'm so very sorry. Pop-con can be very harsh with their judgments. I think agents lose their hearts after telling so many people no."
"That woman's a complete bitch." Al said. "There's plenty of food to go around…"
The doctor shook his head. "You know that's bullshit Al. Pardon my language. Growing food around the equator has become impossible. All three of us are still lucky to be born in the Imperial home lands. I'm grateful that my wife and I can live to our old age before being euthanised."
"This is insanity." Jo started rocking back and forth.
"What if I told you there was another option available to you?" the doctor said. "Because you've scored high on the bio portion of the application, there's a possibility for you to have children. Many children in fact."
"What?" Jo said. "You have the officer pull us through hell to say we can have more than one? Are you some kind of monster?"
"From what I heard, the road is hard. Very hard."
Al got up and pointed at the doctor. "Just tell us!"
"Have either of you heard of the term indentured procreation?"
"Slavery? You're talking slavery." Al walked to the door but Jo grabbed his arm and stopped him.
"I'm sure he can't mean that." Jo looked at the doctor and waited.
The doctor shook his head. "Don't think of it as slavery. Think of it as a contract. Jo, you are as fertile as they come. There are very privileged families out there looking to increase their families. You can help them do that. You get to live on a compound in the northern temperate zone, and live on an island and achieve your dream. Bear them children. The children will stay on the island until they reach adulthood. The catch is that they don't have your last name."
Al tilted his head. "So we give them children? Why don't we just do it here in the city? We can raise kids here."
"No, that won't work. The patrons are looking to have children with no impurities in their food, air, or water. Given that in-vitro fertilization, gene editing, and any fertility treatments have been banned due to the Pop-con act, this is the most these people can do without blatantly breaking the law and having the children be culled by law enforcement."
"How come I haven't heard anything about this in the news?" Jo flicked her black hair behind her ear and leaned forward. "Why is it a secret?"
"The program wants people committed to the program. Only green bio flunkies like yourself." The doctor grimaced. "No offence."
The couple shook their heads.
The doctor continued. "Rich people want the children to be seen as theirs, not illegitimate."
"So we go to this island and try to have children." Al said. "How long does the program last? What do we do the rest of the time?"
"Until Jo reaches menopause or fails to conceive in a year, then you're returned back to your homes and given a sizable pension. As for what you do besides that, the bulk of the mundane work is spent on the upkeep of the facility." He faced Al. "Your experience as a cybernetics technician would mean you would fit right in. The facility uses a lot of android and drone labor. I'm sure Jo can figure out a role."
"Where do I sign up?" Jo said without hesitation.
"What!?" Al yelled. "Are you insane? We don't know the first thing about these people. They could be organ harvesters for all we know."
She stared at him without flinching. "Al, I have wanted a child since I got my first doll. All I've ever wanted to do was be a mother. You of all people should know that."
"But…"
"Doctor, how do we start the process?"
"Jo!"
"I can get you a copy of the contract now. If you sign up right now, I can get you started with your shots."
"Shots?" Jo raised an eyebrow.
"Boosters, they're very picky about infectious diseases reaching the island. No anti-vaxxers allowed."
"Al, we've been married for five years, and I would say I've made you very happy. This is our one chance to be a complete family. Please don't take this away from me."
Al got up and walked to the window. The air conditioning was barely keeping up with the September heat and beads of sweat were starting to show on his forehead. The city skyline showed a world filled with belching smokestacks and choked highways. "Jo, despite my better judgement, I'm deciding to trust you. Doc, please get the contracts."
The pot bellied doctor smacked his hands together. "All right! I'm so happy that you've decided to go." He pulled a receiver from a phone on the wall. "Nurse Rella? Yes, please send down two indentured procreation contracts. Have them filled out for the Mardressons, yes, bring the injections as well."
Jo and Al were handed a thick contract each. Al attempted to read the fine print and failed to make sense of it. Jo signed and handed it back to the nurse immediately.
After a few minutes Al could tell Jo was getting impatient. "Come on Al, let's sign up so we can go home and get our affairs in order. I have to quit my job and so do you. We then have to pack and all that. When can we go to the facility?"
The doctor flicked one of the syringes and squirted a small stream from the needle. "Let's discuss the details after we get your boosters done. I'll proceed with the injections once Al hands me the signed contract.
"Fine." Al said. "If this blows up in our face, don't say I didn't tell you so." He scribbled on the last page of the papers and handed the doctor the signed contract.
The nurse sat him down in the chair and the doctor prepared Jo's injection. The plungers were depressed at the same time and Al immediately felt tingles and euphoria.
"Ah so now that's straightened out. I want to be clear that everything will be taken care of for your departure. The syndicate will be sending you on a private jet in the next hour."
"Next hour?" Al said. "I feel funny. Anyway, we have to go back to our apartment. Right Jo?"
Jo was slumped over in her chair. The nurse was removing her jewelry and placing them into a plastic bag.
"Son, it's time for beddy bye." The doctor drew his fingers over the top of Al's eyelids, and Al couldn't find the strength to open them again.
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