| Kristen, Chapter 1 (with Prologue) Story: tells a story beyond the erotic scenes Bondage: ropes, cuffs, gags, a leash D/S: dominant and submissive interaction This literotica takes place in a science-fiction setting 2100 years from the present. If such a story element doesn't interest you, please turn to a different story! This is a story first and foremost. While erotic in nature and containing sexually related content, the primary focus of this literotica is to tell a story. The literotica is entitled simply, 'Kristen,' after the protagonist. DRAMATIS PERSONAE: Kristen (born Kristen White), age 15 PROLOGUE By the beginning of the 27th century, mankind had performed its ultimate miracle. Genetic engineers had found a way to halt the body's natural aging process. Each person, at birth, was implanted with a microscopic device that gradually and gently altered the body's DNA encoding. When the process was complete, the device would cause the person's skin to secrete a translucent coating known as the life cocoon, that covered his or her body completely like a shell, and the person would sleep deeply for one month while the life cocoon provided organic nourishment on a time-release. This stage was called Lifesleep. The person would awaken from Lifesleep refreshed, revitalized, and would cease aging. Barring very rare fatal accidents, humanity could live forever. An imperfection in the device was that each person's DNA coding was different; as such, it was impossible to determine exactly when Lifesleep would begin and halt aging. All that was known was that it could trigger as early as 21 years of age, or as late as 70. Life expectancy and medical care were advanced enough that natural-causes deaths prior to 70 were virtually unknown and unheard of. Persons who began Lifesleep at old ages, continued to look old as far as gray hair, wrinkles, and age spots went, but they did regain youthful vigor and strength; and medical science and technology made all known diseases, including previously fatal ones, easily reparable and curable. This ageless existence made it impossible for Earth to maintain the human race. Fortunately, space travel had become advanced enough to build far-traveling space craft and space stations. Habitable planets had been colonized and properly terraformed through the wonders of technology. Within a few dozen millennia, the whole of the Milky Way Galaxy would be inhabited and it would be time to venture into deep space toward other galaxies. Humankind lived in peace; racial, ethnic, gender-based, and sexual-orientation-based prejudices and hatreds were long forgotten. Not all people got along; personal enmities still happened and political disputes were common; however, wars and battles had given way to more peaceful, non-fatal methods. After all, they had forever to work issues out. Life and human societies were far from perfect, and always would be. But people learned to get along together; necessitated by their eternal lives. Philosophers, artists, musicians, literary authors were honored and revered. Religion and worship became obsolete, as it was accepted that humankind was now in full control of its own destiny, to continue its strive toward increasing greatness, on its own. People who continued believing that God had ever existed, took humanity's new age as a sign that he'd 'said goodbye' to man, letting them discover the gift of living forever, and moving on, giving mankind the physical universe to continue exploring and mastering. The greatest change in humanity was the supreme reign of hedonism. Lack of aging, robust health and virility, and the ability to cure any known ailment made physical and sexual pleasure the most commonly sought commodity of human life. True love still existed, but even married couples always had open marriages with one-night encounters being very commonplace. Prostitution was no longer taboo, but an honorable profession and its practitioners always treated and paid well. 'Alternate' lifestyles were now mainstream, with all manners of sexual fetishes openly discussed and practiced. Sex on first dates was now a given. Protection was solely for the prevention of pregnancy. The Age of Consent for having sex was twenty years old across all known worlds and colonies of human existence. Training for professions now began immediately on completion of Lifesleep, instead of before, so school was now in two phases. Primary, which began at four years old and lasted until fourteen, was devoted to the standard academic subjects. Secondary, which now began at fourteen years old and lasted until twenty, was devoted to sex education and learning to enjoy sex in all forms. 'Final exams' was a series of sexual encounters with a qualified senior instructor, and on graduation, the person was free to begin dating and pursuing pleasure. ===== The setting is the year 4127 by the OSS Earth Calendar, on a planet named ZA-29, discovered in the early 36th century, in the Andromeda constellation. ZA-29 has been settled only a short while, for approximately 420 Earth years. On the planet's largest land mass, a continent known as Ysbania, the White family lives in a large town called Corolis 15; due seventy kilometers northeast of the continent's Central City, the capital. Kristen White will be celebrating her 15th birthday tomorrow... or so she thinks. In fact, she is about to step into a fantastically rare subculture; a one-in-50-million exception to the rule of Lifesleep that will change the rest of her life, lifestyle and existence in ways beyond her broadest dreams... CHAPTER ONE "Kristen, Royce! Dinner's ready!" Alicia called from the kitchen. "Be right down, Mom!" Kristen called back. She went over her notes from school one more time and closed her voicepad. Stepping into her favorite white bunny slippers, she went down to the dining table. Paul, her father, and Mina, her sister, were already at the table, setting it. "Hey Dad, Mina," she smiled. "How's my darling?" Paul asked, giving Kristen a hug. "Doing great," Kristen smiled again. "Be right back," Paul said. "Take a seat, get comfy." "Right." Kristen sat at her usual seat. Royce came downstairs, and he and Mina sat at their usual seats. Paul went into the kitchen to help Alicia bring dinner out. "Deep-broiled murrnyk steak with steamed Ysbanian carrots," Alicia said, as she and Paul put the platters on the table. "Smells great," Mina said appreciatively. "It ought to," Alicia smiled. "Fresh from the ranch." Alicia completed Lifesleep at the age of 32. She worked as forewoman on a ranch that raised domestic murrnyk, their primary livestock. The Lifesleep organism only worked on humans, so animals were still used as food. The murrnyk was a very large, slow-moving reptilian creature; its dark red flesh, when properly prepared, was soft and chewy with a delectable flavor. Alicia had been working at this profession for several decades now; like all who completed Lifesleep, she'd stopped counting her age and forgotten her birthday. Birthday celebrations for those still aging were pleasant but relatively short affairs; observed more out of custom than anything else. Alicia and Paul sat and the family began eating. "How was school today, Royce?" Paul asked conversationally. Royce knit his brow while chewing meat. "Lesson from ZA-29 planetary science," he began reciting. "Livable world about 800 light-years from the original solar system, or OSS. Rotating period is 34.11 Earth hours, and revolving period is 14.04 Earth months. ZA-29 is an aquatic world with 85% of its surface covered with Ysbanian water, noted for an algae-like microscopic plant life that colors the water faintly yellow-green, but remains ideal for drinking despite a fruity aftertaste. The planet is about the size and diameter of Mars from the OSS. Land is lots of island chains except for the continent of Ysbania. ZA-29 has about 270 million people, about 80% living on Ysbania." "Actually, more like 70% now," Kristen gently corrected him. "Artificial gravity completion on the far side islands has led to settlement on them." Royce giggled a bit. "Darn," he said. "I'll get it right for exams." Paul smiled. "You're becoming quite the smart man-child," he praised his son. Male and female children throughout human societies were called just that: man-child for young males and woman-child for young females. They became men and women after finishing secondary school. "Chosen lifestyle for Ysbanians is early 21st century Earth culture," Royce recited, recalling the rest of the lesson. "Architecture, preferred music, preferred methods of dress and fashion, and social activities center around life in what used to be called the United States in the early 21st century. Modern 42nd century architecture is only used in Ysbania's Central City to accommodate the spaceport." "Primary school days," Paul said with a brief round of polite applause. "You still remember primary school?" Mina gave a mischievous grin. "Har har," Paul said, playfully batting a hand about a foot away from Mina's ear as she chuckled. "I'm gonna be a late bloomer, I guess." Alicia patted Paul's hand. "You'll still be one hot guy even if you have gray hair and wrinkles after finishing Lifesleep," she said as Mina and the kids all cheered with a teasing whooooo sound. The Lifesleep organism stopped aging and provided youthful energy and stamina, but couldn't reverse the physical appearance-related signs of aging. If you stopped aging at 25, you always looked 25. If you stopped at 64, you looked 64. Paul was 47 and hadn't yet undergone Lifesleep. Paul lightly squeezed his wife's hand. "Think we'll stay together after I'm done with it?" he asked. Alicia grinned back. "Probably." Some married couples underwent amicable splits after both partners had chosen not to raise any more children, and they and their kids had all completed Lifesleep. Paul and Alicia loved each other enough that they would probably stay married. Jealousy wasn't an issue in modern life's fully open marriages. They were just finishing dinner when Alicia happened to turn to Kristen. "So, you've been quiet--" Her jaw dropped. "Kristen?" Kristen idly twisted her fork on which was speared the last of her Ysbanian carrots. These carrots were pale white in color, except for the leafy, blue-violet crown at one end. This crown tasted minty, giving a pleasant aftertaste to the tart and tangy vegetable. Unlike carrots from Earth back in the OSS, Ysbanian carrots had a slightly bulbous end instead of the tapered point. Kristen slowly slid her carrot back and forth between her lips; her tongue lightly playing across the surface. She paused a second, and slowly ran her tongue over the bulbous part. Alicia laughed. "Kristen!" Kristen's head snapped up and she blushed, dipping her head to hide her embarrassment as Mina and Royce both giggled wildly. "Sorry," she mumbled. "Secondary school lessons." "I know you're just a freshman in secondary school, but you're not THAT many years from being able to suck a real cock," Mina grinned. "I know," Kristen complained. "School just makes it a little hard to wait." "It'll be worth it," Mina said, nodding encouragingly to her sister. "I just graduated last year. Had a dozen dates so far." She smiled as she remembered them. "Rick Tuttlemack, WOW did he know how to finger my pussy in all the right ways." "Don't make her jealous," Alicia laughed, and Kristen followed suit, hastily finishing up her carrot and sipping her paplak juice; a sweet, fermented fruit drink that was non-intoxicating and always drank after fermentation. "Like Uncle Warrace makes me jealous, Mom?" Mina smiled, though she knew this wasn't a joking matter. She smiled so her father wouldn't take offense. Paul smiled back, though he answered seriously. "Living alone before undergoing Lifesleep isn't done for a reason, though," he reminded her. "My mom and dad were sure proud of my brother when he completed Lifesleep and set out on his own, but I kind of missed him, staying behind with my parents. Someone needs to watch over you during Lifesleep, and tell everyone when you start it. You live alone, and nobody's there to maintain your home or pay its costs." Mina nodded. "Sorry, Dad," she said. "But hey, glad to have you here." They all finished dinner, and Paul gathered the plates. "Let me get this done before I head over to Hot Shot for the evening." Alicia turned, looking surprised. "Hot Shot?" she asked. "Wait, didn't they just hire a new woman..." Paul grinned and nodded. "I'll be her first client as a professional." Mina did a wolf-whistle. "Nice! My dad's gonna break in a new prostitute!" "You going to be staying the night?" Alicia asked. "No, I'll be home about two hours before we turn in," Paul said. "Breaking in a new hooker or not, I'm not missing your birthday, woman-child." Paul hugged Kristen with his free arm, and she smiled happily in his embrace. "It's just a birthday, Daddy," she teased. "Let your dad be sentimental while I'm still counting?" Paul teased back. He touched a thumb to her nose and she grinned again. "Okay, have a good time, Dad," she said. After Paul left, Kristen turned to Alicia. "Mom, Mina, I need to bring a couple of nudes in for school next week. Could you help me get them ready?" "Of course, honey," Alicia said. "Royce, you go finish your homework, okay sweetie?" Although Alicia spoke in a pleasant tone, it wasn't open for debate. She wouldn't let Royce watch, at least until he'd begun secondary school himself. "Right, Mom." Royce turned and headed to his room. Mina went to get the holographic camera and met Alicia and Kristen in Kristen's room. "Any special pose they asked you to make?" Mina asked. "Basic bondage," Kristen answered, smiling. "Your favorite, right?" Alicia asked and smiled back. "Yeah," Kristen said, stepping out of her bunny slippers and unzipping her jeans. "I've read several of the oldest classics from the OSS. Makes me glad Ysbania chose the life style and culture of old 21st century Earth." She stepped out of her jeans and put them to the side. Even without having finished undressing, Kristen's budding sexuality showed through. Her legs were long and luscious-looking, her thighs and calves rounded near the center and teasingly narrowing toward her ankles. Her feet were slim and graceful, the toenails painted with a soft red nail polish. Mina grinned and nodded as she set up the camera. "Okay, I can see why you're a little impatient," she said with a quick chuckle. "I tell you what, when you graduate, if you want to practice for your first date, I'll give you your first woman-on-woman." The three of them all laughed and blushed. Sex between sisters wasn't taboo anymore, but it was still very rare. For Mina to make the offer was one of the highest compliments she could give Kristen on her beauty and her inviting body. Kristen pulled off her pullover blouse, putting it where she'd placed her jeans. Even with her bra still in place, her cleavage winked out appealingly. When she took the bra off, baring her breasts, it was all Alicia could do to keep a straight face. Men-children and women-children still went through puberty at the same pace as before the discovery of the Lifesleep organism. Kristen having such round, soft breasts, their having that slight sexy bounce as she walked while not wearing a bra to hold them, wasn't something you saw in every woman-child Kristen's age. Kristen still wore a B-cup but would probably be a C or even a D by graduation. Kristen pulled off her baby-doll panties, placing them with the rest of her clothing, now standing nude before her mother and sister. Mina flashed two thumbs-up and smiled wide. "You're already looking at Summa CUM Laude at graduation," she said. Even Alicia couldn't help but nod proudly. "Did they want you to use any make-up?" Alicia asked. "Very little, if any," Kristen said, going to her vanity desk and sitting down before the mirror. "I"ll definitely want my hair in place." She picked up her hairbrush and smoothed out her luxurious brunette hair. Kristen wore hers longer than either Alicia or Mina, both of whose hair came down to a little past shoulder length. The locks dangling down Kristen's front just brushed the tops of her breasts, the dark color of her hair making her fair-pink skin stand out, highlighting her breasts further. Kristen kept her hair straight, though the full body of her locks make them curve out slightly around her head, almost like the gentle, shapely outward curve of her hips. She applied some soft red lipstick to her full lips and a bit of dark blue eye shadow to bring out her light blue eyes. Alicia smiled and shook her head a bit. "Back in the real 21st century, your dad would have to keep a shotgun and a pack of guard dogs to keep the young men away." Kristen laughed a bit as she opened her desk drawer, where she kept the supply of rope she'd been given for practice. "Let me see if I remember how to do this..." Alicia and Mina watched patiently as Kristen sat down on her bed, stretching her legs invitingly out before her. Folding one length of rope in half, she slid it underneath her dainty ankles and then passed the loose ends through the middle fold, making a 'choke-leash' around her ankles. Keeping the loops of rope even and taut, she wrapped around her ankles three times, then twisted the loose ends around each other and separated them, looping the ends around the coils she'd made around her ankles, pinching the coils tightly together. She made the proper knot at the front of her ankles so it was easy to see. Mina leaned over and gave an appraising look. "I was more into oral stimulation and slow kissing, but that looks pretty much like the right way to do it, from when I was in secondary school." Kristen took another length of rope and tied her knees together in the same way, placing the coils of rope just above her knees. "I haven't learned how to tie my wrists or chest yet. There's supposed to be a way to do it." "That dates back to the mid-20th century on OSS Earth, when illusionist entertainers didn't have holograms and real optical illusions to use," Alicia said. "They had to rely on verbal suggestion and hand distraction, tricking people into 'seeing' what wasn't there and missing what was right in front of their eyes. One of the illusions was a way to wrap and knot rope around yourself, including your upper body and wrists, as part of a routine to escape from it. That hasn't been done by illusionists for several centuries now, and it's only used today for self-bondage, which you probably won't learn until your final year." Alicia picked up the third length of rope and folded it in half. "So, I guess you'll need some help for this one," she smiled and gestured for Kristen to hold her wrists out. "I'll do the honors." Kristen started to hold her wrists out, but then stopped herself and pushed herself a little more forward on her bed. "Might as well tie my wrists behind my back," she said, putting her wrists there. Alicia nodded and sat on the bed behind Kristen, tying her wrists tightly enough that Kristen would be unable to easily slip them free herself, but not so much as to cut circulation off. She then wrapped the fourth length around Kristen's chest, both above and below her bust, tying her upper arms against her sides. "That doesn't pinch too hard?" Kristen shook her head. "No, it's fine," she said and smiled, flexing her wrists and legs seductively against the bondage. "Feels nice." Mina mock-panted as Kristen stretched her body out on the bed, laying her head and shoulders back against the headboard. "You are so lucky you're underage, sister," she teased. The comment made Kristen blush and smile back. Kristen needed no additional make-up to color her cheeks. They stood out nicely, especially when she blushed, which was easy to get her to do. Her cheeks curved at a gentler angle than her more decidedly feminine curves, giving her face a somewhat oval-like appearance. The fair pink skin of her face gave a graceful contrast with the brunette color of her hair. Mina looked through the holographic viewfinder for the camera. "Beautiful. Hold for a few seconds... great shot!" Kristen slowly rolled over onto one side, Alicia propping two cushions atop each other for Kristen to lay her head on. Kristen pulled her knees in a little bit, turning her head over her shoulder to pout into the camera. "Do that in front of your instructors and they're so gonna cream themselves," Mina laughed, focusing the camera. "Perfect! You need one more?" Kristen nodded. "Mom, help me up to my knees?" Alicia helped Kristen up to a kneeling position on the bed. She wobbled a bit before finding her balance and giving a lustful look for the camera. Alicia touched a hand to the small of Kristen's back to keep her steady as Mina re-focused the camera to eliminate any traces of Alicia's image. "Camera's compensating, focusing. Fantastic, sis. Just fantastic." Alicia reached out to untie Kristen's wrists, but the woman-child flopped back onto her side on the bed. "Could I stay like this a little while? Please? I'm comfortable." Alicia glanced to the wall chronometer. "One hour, no more. I'll stay with you." Hours were still measured by Earth standards, although there were 34.11, not 24, in a ZA-29 day. "Aw, Mom..." "No buts, woman-child. You have homework to finish, and your birthday tomorrow. Like your father said, let him be sentimental while he's still counting?" Kristen chuckled and nodded. "Ohh-kayyy." Mina grinned. "Want me to stay with her, Mom?" Alicia shook her head firmly. "I will not leave brik-brik cheese in front of a Ysbanian mole!" she said, and Mina burst into giggles, despite her mother's stern tone. Mina herself had admitted that Kristen's posing for the camera had really been turning her on. After Mina left the room, Alicia switched on Kristen's computer and slipped the virtual headset over her eyes and ears. "Gala-net should have some interesting documentaries," she said to herself. Kristen rolled her eyes. "I suppose I can't be gagged, either?" "No, you may not," Alicia said in a semi-playful tone that was nonetheless a 'foot-down' statement. "Maybe next year. You're lucky it's not two. Give your instructors time to teach you everything properly, for goodness' sake!" Kristen smiled again, but nodded her head in a gesture of defeat, glad that the virtual headset kept Alicia from seeing. As long as this was all she was getting, she decided to enjoy it as much as she could. Stretching her body along her bed, she squirmed slowly against her bondage, twisting her lower body side to side as she softly tugged against the ropes that tied her wrists. She closed her eyes and moaned to herself, feeling herself starting to get lost in her own little world. "My God before he said goodbye, this feels wonderful," she mumbled softly. Kristen had little doubt in her mind that once she reached womanhood, her favorite sexual encounter would be as a bondage submissive. Although, if Mina was right, she would end up being nowhere near as submissive as she imagined. Kristen giggled as she remembered the compliment Mina paid her. If she could turn her own sister on like that, she'd probably be the one in control even while tied from head to foot. She felt Alicia tap her shoulder. Her eyes snapped open and she shot her glance at the wall chronometer accusingly. "One hour passes in a heartbeat when you're having fun," Alicia smiled as she untied Kristen. "I've been there often enough myself." "Right," Kristen said. "Thank you." "Thank me by getting a good grade on your homework," Alicia said. Kristen put her bra and panties back on, along with her favorite pajamas. The half hour she'd been given for enjoyment made doing her homework easier. Opening her portable voicepad, she started reading out the questions and then speaking the answers. Putting the earpieces to her ears, she reviewed her answers twice, correcting a few after realizing they weren't right. Writing by hand had long been obsolete, and most of the time, only professional artists learned how. Reading was still learned in primary school, but handwriting was unknown to pretty much everyone who hadn't completed Lifesleep. Even Alicia hadn't bothered to learn it, as it wasn't relevant to her line of work. Paul came back home, proudly brandishing a token of gratitude from Hot Shot, stamped by the new prostitute he'd broken in. Alicia grinned and slipped her arms around Paul's neck. "You can break me in any time," she whispered, although Mina and Kristen overheard and teasingly cheered them on with a whooooo sound, as husband and wife shared a kiss. Everyone sat down in front of the family Gala-net viewer for a magic-fiction show. Science fiction was becoming more and more difficult to act out, as more and more of it became science fact. Magic-fiction was the new form of entertainment. People didn't need magic with all the advances of science, but it made for semi-silly fun. Paul and Alicia hugged the kids good night. "Maybe we'll take in an amusement park in the Central City for your birthday, Kristen," Paul suggested. Kristen smiled and nodded. Modern amusement parks in the Central City were modeled after OSS Earth 21st century parks, but faster and higher, often requiring breathing helmets due to their being in the upper atmosphere, with devices to partially nullify ZA-29's artificial gravity. The planet's normal gravity was weaker than OSS Earth, due to its smaller size and density. Artificial gravity kept all worlds and space stations at "standard" gravity equal to OSS Earth, as it was optimal for the human physiology. "Good night, Dad, Mom," Kristen said, before hugging Mina too. "Good night, Mina." Mina smiled and nodded as she headed to her room. Royce was already asleep, due to his younger age. Kristen clapped off the lights and settled herself under the bed sheets, getting cozy. Tomorrow would be 'just another birthday,' but the celebration would be fun. "Tomorrow I'll be 15," she thought. "Just five years til graduation." ===== "Kristen! Royce! Time to get up!" Alicia called. "I'm up, Mom," she heard Royce say from his room. Alicia and Paul started preparing breakfast, and Mina and Royce came downstairs as they were finishing. Mina helped Paul set the table. "Kristen!" Alicia called. "Breakfast! Come on, you don't want to be late for secondary school!" No answer. "What's keeping that woman-child?" Alicia said under her breath as she brought breakfast out. She turned to Mina. "Mina, go get Kristen, please?" Mina nodded and went up the stairs to fetch Kristen. Alicia and Paul set breakfast down and helped Royce fill his bowl and plate. Paul was turning to sit down when he caught a shadow from the corner of his eye. He turned to look. Mina stood at the middle of the stairway. Her skin was ghostly pale, her eyes fixed in a glaze of complete shock. She gestured frantically for her parents to come upstairs without alerting Royce. "Stay and eat your breakfast," Paul said to Royce. "Alicia and I will be right back." "Okay, Dad," Royce managed between bites of food. Paul and Alicia followed Mina up the stairs, exchanging glances of worry. What could be wrong? Mina led her parents through the door to Kristen's room. Her mouth opened but she couldn't bring herself to speak. She pointed to Kristen's bed. Kristen lay on her back on her bed. Her body was covered with a translucent coating looking almost like a semi-transparent cocoon. Her expression was peaceful, her breast moving up and down in a slow rhythm of breathing. Her eyes were closed, and aside from her breathing, her body didn't move. The cocoon like shell around Kristen's body was warm to the touch, and gave slightly under pressure but was resilient. It felt soft and smooth, almost like human skin. Alicia's lower jaw and lip trembled uncontrollably and it was half a minute before she found her voice. "Oh my God before he said goodbye..." "Mom, Dad, that can't be what it looks like? She's far too young," Mina couldn't understand what had happened. "It-it...it shouldn't be poss-possible," Paul stammered. Alicia turned to Paul and Mina. "Outside of one in 50 million... it isn't," she said. Paul paled. "You mean... it's real?" Alicia nodded slowly, reaching for the camera that still rested on Kristen's desk. She ejected the snapshot pod and touched a button. The pod projected a life-size, three dimensional hologram of one of Kristen's nude poses into the center of the room. Although mere tricks of light, the hologram looked exactly like her... or like she DID look like, the previous night. "Were those signs?" Alicia asked herself. "Was I that blind?" Paul gave a low whistle. He realized his wife was talking about how well-endowed and attractive Kristen's body was. "I-I didn't think it really happened," he admitted. "Are those early warning signs?" "I don't know either, and I've been around a lot longer than either of you," Alicia said. "Even as long I've been living, however old I really am, I'd only heard about it at the hospital right after Royce was born." Mina shook her head slowly, disbelieving. "Mom, what's going on?" Alicia reached for Kristen's holophone. Her hand shook enough that she almost knocked it over. She spoke a number softly into it, having to repeat once so the phone's computer could verify the number and connect. Blakely Turspack, Alicia's boss and owner of the ranch she worked on, came into holographic view on the holophone. "Morning, Alic-- hey, what's wrong?" He instantly saw the look on Alicia's face. "Blakely, you've seen my daughter Mina before?" Alicia turned the holophone toward Mina. "Yeah, I've seen him once or twice, when you let me see the ranch," Mina said, looking into the holophone. Blakely nodded. "What about it?" "Blakely, you're not going to believe this, but that's why I had to show Mina's face to you first, so you wouldn't be convinced it was her," Alicia said. Alicia turned the holophone toward Kristen. Blakely looked and his jaw came loose, looking like it would fall from its hinge. He'd also seen Kristen, and knew her age. "Is that...?" his voice was garbled by the total shock that held his jaw wide open. "I'm going to need some leave from work, Blakely," Alicia said in a slow, surreal tone. "Kristen's beaten 50 million to one odds. I'm expecting a... a girl." |