None of his siblings had been born with the gift. Even though he had it in great strength, it was entirely possible that her human blood had somehow diluted it down, that her own child would be born without it.
She and the other women extended themselves against the wall, their backs to it and their eyes trained on The Federation ships. The citizenry still stood outside, all of them clearly frightened and unwilling to go back to their homes in case they missed whatever clear signal might come.
It was Jenny that spoke first. “I must admit, I never imagined that this would be my life. When they put us on that bride ship, well, the slaver ship that they claimed was a bride ship, I thought that I would be shuttled off to some horrible and forbidding planet and be forced to live out my life with a creature that I could scarcely stand.”
Jessica said, “I don’t remember going onto the ship because they drugged me, and when I did wake up, they were already throwing me into the cryo-chambers. I really had no idea what was going on at first and when I woke up, all I could think of was escape. But you’re right; I never would’ve imagined this would be my life either.”
Clara said, “Nor I.”
Margie’s back met the sun-warmed stones of the wall behind her. Her voice was quiet and reflective. “It may yet not be our lives.”
Jessica, ever practical, replied with a simple, “We shall see.”
Jenny leaned in closer to Margie. One of her hands came up and touched down lightly along Margie’s ribs. “How far along are you, Margie?”
Margie looked down at her belly, which was still flat, and then over at Clara, who was clearly pregnant and swollen by that pregnancy. “What?”
She had no idea why she was trying to avoid that question. Jenny was a natural healer, and she could sense things about people.
Jenny lifted an eyebrow and said, “Is this something you did not know?”
Margie’s head drooped down toward her chest. “I know. He doesn’t. He doesn’t want a child.”
Jessica said, “I have heard that from Talon. And the reason why. Are you afraid?”
Margie’s hand went to her stomach and stayed there. She decided to be honest. “I am afraid that this child will never be born.”
Clara sigh was gusty and heartfelt. “As am I. If it comes to war, then I will fight. Even if it means our deaths and the deaths of our unborn. What else can we do?”
Jessica said, “If there was ever a time that I was grateful for what The Federation did to me, it’s now.”
Clara asked, “What do you mean?”
Jenny said, “Yes, tell us what you mean, Jessica.”
Jessica said, “They sterilized me. Before they put me on the ship. They sterilized a lot of women they put on the ships, you know. Not all, but some. Those that they felt would be the most problematic anyway. Also, the brothels and the pleasure planets that use sex slaves pay more for human women who cannot bear children. It is too inconvenient to have a woman who can reproduce aboard these planets. Makes it difficult to work I guess.”
The expression on Jessica’s face was so bleak that it broke Margie’s heart. She held out a hand and laid it lightly on Jessica’s shoulder. “At least you don’t have the worry that your child will be murdered while still within your womb.”
Jessica looked down at her feet. “I know. I don’t envy you that.”
But did she envy them the ability to bear children?
Jenny said, “There are many here who are with child. Did you know that some races have those who are about to be with child and it’s the males who do that?”
Jessica burst into laughter. “I did. I’ve seen it here on the planet, and every single time I see it, it’s so odd to me that I can’t help but stare. Then I feel badly, like I’m looking at them inappropriately or something.”
They all burst into laughter, and that helped to lighten the mood just slightly. Jessica stuck her ear to the door, obviously trying to hear through the thick thing. Her face took on a look of frustration, and she shook her head. “I wonder what it is they could be talking about.”
Jenny said, “The Federation officer is probably hoping to broker a peaceful surrender of the planet.”
A small streak of hope lit up within Margie. “Do you think they will ever surrender? They do believe in always doing things for the greater good. Would they drag us into war if it wasn’t necessary?”
Jessica said, “War against The Federation is wholly necessary. There’s no way around it. The Federation has become too corrupt. They cannot be allowed to stand, and you know that.”
That little flare of hope died out as fast as it had lit. Jessica was right. The Federation had to be stopped, but would they be the ones who had to make that stand?
