Second Generation - Lux

  8 months later

  *Ping*

  Lux receives a notification. “Transfer Available in Account”. This is the eighth payment she has received from her work contractor. Lux turned 18 and legally became considered an adult who can enter into her own contacts.

  She logs in to her account. Checks her balance – its growing.

  Her contractor has provided her with housing and healthcare plus a monthly stipend. Her father was furious with her for entering this contact – saying it was impulsive and immature, short-sighted. Her mother, she hardly talks to anymore. But Lux’s account is growing.

  “That’s not all that’s growing...” she thinks to herself.

  Lux looks down at her belly. She can’t see her toes anymore. She is in her 3rd trimester. Fully showing.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Eight months ago, she agreed to a birthing contact with major healthcare provider. She was recruited directly. Her genealogical and intelligence scores allowed her to secure one of the highest pay rates available in the program. The contact was for a 5-year period. One year of active pay + 4 years pension. In the first year she we be inseminated and deliver. For the following 4-year period she will be provided a flat rate stipend and guaranteed housing.

  The pamphlet emailed to Lux’s ahead of the procedure said that over 90% of pregnancies last year were administered with insemination. Lux read though the whole pamphlet, watched the preparation videos, and passed the quiz at the end.

  Partner-sex – male/female physical sex – is an uncommon practice. Most sex is individual. AI partner modules have grown into a top 10 global industry. Sexually Transmitted Disease was eradicated in the 60’s. Pregnancy and sex are no longer connected in most people’s minds.

  The insemination procedure was painless and efficient. The nurse came to her room, Lux completed the waiver process, and the nurse administered the procedure in less than 10 minutes with a practiced hand.

  Lux rubs both hands on her belly. She struggles to picture the child in her head. Producing a living person is hard to wrap your brain around. The baby would become a ward of the company, of course. That part made Lux smile. He would be cared for his entire life in perpetuity. This was clearly stated in the contact.

  One month later, the delivery technician arrived at the prescheduled time window. Lux was medicated and induced. At 04:51am July 26, 2084, her baby boy was born.

  His name was Eno.