Page 28 of Mazorium Buys a Human

“I’m so lucky I was scheduled for today. I’d hate to miss this!”

Slorium rose to her feet and faced the group. “Everyone has a job to do. Start them now or the agreement I made earlier will be rescinded."

It was almost comical to watch everyone jump into action. Two bumped into each other and knocked themselves backward.

Slorium turned back to face us. “To keep everyone from arguing over who was allowed to do what, I’ve assigned each one a job to perform with Mika. I’m afraid that means a lot of different individuals will care for your human, but I’ll be here throughout to create continuity.”

I’d been carrying Nadia for a while now and my arms were getting tired. Mazorium must’ve noticed the way I was shifting her to try to ease the strain on my muscles.

“Mika needs to rest,” he said.

Slorium sounded a rattle of agreement. “Yes, this way.”

Of course the bed was too tall, but Mazorium was quick to lift me up and set me on it. I gave a little laugh as I sank into the padding they’d piled on top of the bed.

“That’s a sound of happiness!” Slorium exclaimed. “Excellent!”

I expected the scanning and testing to start immediately, but they brought milk balls for Nadia, tea and sopa for me, and a tray of snacks. If I weren’t wearing a collar, this would feel like I was a guest at an exclusive hotel or spa.

There was a flurry of activity at the entrance, then one of the other healers rushed over to speak to Slorium.

“Several station staff and visitors are claiming they’re injured."

Slorium let out an amused rumble. “I’m sure they are. Send them to the secondary unit on level thirty-seven. After that, set up a temporarily closed announcement for the station notification system.”

“What if the secondary unit becomes overwhelmed?” he asked.

“I assure you, it won’t,” Slorium said as someone brought over another tray of goodies for me. “All those injuries will vanish once we turn them away.”

Mazorium moved to lean against a nearby wall. “I told you this place would be safe.”

I laid Nadia on the soft bed in front of me. She gurgled and waved her arms. Tickling my fingers over her belly with one hand, I grabbed a handful of mib nuts and popped them in my mouth with the other.

Before I knew it, I had three Talins, including Slorium, all leaning over to watch Nadia with absolute fascination.

It was Slorium who looked up to meet my gaze. “Would you consider letting me hold her?”

The longing in the healer’s voice was so profound, it made my heart hurt for her a little. “Uh, maybe.”

Slorium straightened up with a purr. “Of course, you need to spend more time watching me and assessing. You’ll see. I have steady and gentle hands.”

While she was busy pulling a scanner off the wall, I looked at Mazorium. “You guys really like babies!”

“I don’t think so, no. Most of us never get to interact with infants or children,” he said. “Nadia is a beautiful and captivating rarity.”

“Wait,” I said, my hand paused in the bowl of mib nuts. “What do you mean you don’t get to interact with infants or children? What about when you want to reproduce?”

“After forming a marriage contract, the parents contribute their genetics to a cresh. Children are grown in artificial wombs and then raised by the cresh. Once they reach the adultlette stage, they join their family to decide what career they’ll pursue.”

There was so much there that it took me a moment to process everything. Then the questions poured out of me.

Mazorium

“After giving birth to Nadia, I totally understand using artificial wombs, but none of you raise your own kids?”

The incredulity in her voice made me sound a rumble of amusement, but she wasn’t done asking questions.

“What do you mean adultlette stage? Is this part of your culture? Have you always practiced separate child rearing? Do you ever worry the babies will get mixed up and then you’ll end up with someone else's child? What’s it like in a cresh? Do you get to visit your kid?”