Page 1

C adence looked at the requisitions for the new broad-spectrum product launch and went through them one by one.

They were holding a cocktail party in addition to the publicized launch, and everything had to be perfect.

Z-Corp s public arm was ready to release a new thermal unit that was being advertised for intimate cold winter nights, camping, or any outdoor activity that could be imagined.

It maintained body heat even under heavy winds.

The shielded version had already made its way into military usage.

One more confirmation with the caterer, and everything was finalized. Her com chimed, and she got up, grabbing her clipboard and heading to the mysterious meeting with the head of the company.

Cadence left the advertising department and headed for the lift. She swiped her credentials, confirmed with an ocular scan, and then was on her way to the subfloors.

The moment that Cadence had dreaded was here. Arcady met her at the lift. Arcady smiled brightly. Cadence?

Cadence nodded.

Come with me. Zera is super nervous about this.

Cadence nodded again, and Arcady picked up on her dislike of contact. They walked side by side.

Arcady chattered, So, you work in advertising?

Yes.

How long?

Eighteen months. Cadence kept her voice low.

You don t like being touched?

Not particularly.

Do you know what Zera is going to ask you?

I have an idea. Something came up at my last annual physical.

You could say that.

She nodded. Then it could be any of a number of things.

You are really tall.

Not really. Just slightly above average, by about six inches.

Arcady laughed.

They walked through the BDC hallway to an office where Zera was seated and looked a little nervous.

Cadence. I was afraid you wouldn t come.

I am still on the clock, so my time is yours.

The dark-haired scientist nodded. Right. Well, we have had a singular request, and your genome would fit perfectly.

Cadence blinked. I am not suited to being an escort.

Zera waved that away. No. This is not for an escort position. There is a badly injured agent, and he is going to die without a genetic heir.

He has to get a woman pregnant, or he dies? Cadence blinked. I think I know where this is going.

In order to fulfill his obligation to Aksalla, he needs to provide an heir for his family. His girlfriend had tried twice, but he makes babies with vibrational harmony. She miscarried.

Cadence understood. My lifestyle isn t suitable to be a surrogate. I forget meals, like deli meat, way too much, and drink coffee like it is the last potable liquid on the planet. I don t even exercise.

Arcady chuckled. You sound like me.

Zera looked at her, and Cadence knew what she knew.

Cadence sighed. There is a reason for that. Hi, big sis.

Arcady stared. You are joking. This is a horrible joke. Zera.

Cadence shrugged. I left three years after you. I activated, and they did not hesitate to confirm I was unwelcome. Thomas didn t want me nearby. I wasn t useful. So, I got into the foster system of Aksalla and grew up here.

Arcady stared at her. Oh, wow. That s my face. My old face.

Cadence snorted. Please. It is a version. I am just a different child from the same parents. Don t worry. I am not here to have fun family times. I am not inserting myself into your life.

Zera nodded. Right. Cadence, so if we can arrange an apartment, food, and a gym membership, would you be willing to consider the surrogate position?

On my back with my feet in stirrups?

Arcady grinned and pointed. That s just like me.

Cadence snorted. With a lot less shiny shit. You look like a tree ornament.

Arcady grinned again. Oh, we are so going for dinner. Do you have time for dinner?

Uh. It s just me and Mortimer most nights. Yes, I have embraced the stereotype, and I have a cat. She shrugged. Sort of. He s a robot.

Zera blinked. Oh, so you are the one with the prototype.

Yes. I needed to know how it moved and played.

To write an advertising summary, I had to live with him, and he refused to leave.

They brought him back here, scrubbed his memory, and he continued breaking into my house.

So, I bring him in for checkups and downloads every six months, and the research team gets to see way too much of me running around in my underwear.

Zera brought up the file and snorted. He s attached to you. Very attached to you.

Yeah. If I am five minutes late getting home, he s in the hall and heading for the elevator. Any more than that and he shows up at the functions I have set up.

Arcady blinked. Wait, you work in advertising?

Yes, I write copy and forward it to marketing, as well as setting up public product launches and focus groups.

Zera paused. You will need to go on leave for the duration of this process.

But I like my job.

It will be waiting for you after you have completed recovery. I will put it in the contract.

How long will I be given after delivery to recover?

We will have Khytten assist you at that point, but until then, the contract requires you to do the pregnancy the long way around with a photo shoot every month to track the pregnancy for his family.

That seems invasive.

We will blur out your face.

So, I am literally just an incubator.

An incubator with sonic resonance, Zera said softly. This is important, and it s the only option we have for this situation.

So, if this is a matter of urgency, why not use Khytten s accelerator?

Because they won t believe it is his if it just shows up in a month.

Cadence sighed. What happens if he wakes up and finds out you have poked his balls for nothing? He could make his own child with his own choice.

Zera flexed her neck. Two hundred and fifty thousand candidates have been examined, and none of them are on his frequency. We have checked everywhere.

And then I went for my physical, which included a genetic workup and an activation demonstration.

Zera nodded. Right. So, we are offering you a place to live for one year, beginning at confirmed conception. Everything you need will be brought to you or in the building.

Cadence sighed. Disrupting my life may not be ideal. I fight to keep control.

Arcady looked at her.

We know, and that is why we are asking you to do this. Your power and his are very similar, and a child would most likely be in a similar activation. Controlled sonics are not common.

Cadence smiled. Yeah. I know. There are so many things that go into a home for me; it isn t funny. Sound-absorbing textiles, sound-absorbing walls. So much coffee.

Arcady grinned. My sister.

Cadence smiled. I would hug you, but it would hurt you, especially with your implants.

Oh. Arcady looked disappointed.

If you want to hug me, put on a cloak or a sheet or something so I am touching no skin. Don t touch my skin either.

What happens if I do?

I am always humming slightly. That hum gets into everything and in between your implants and tissue. It would be agony, and the wave would run along your skin and hurt you until we were no longer in contact.

Arcady swallowed. As bad as that?

I can still it but only for a few minutes, so if a hug is necessary, we can stand up and do that now.

Arcady smiled. It actually is.

Cadence got to her feet, inhaled, and stilled her constant vibration. Arcady came in for a hug, and there was sobbing that commenced. You smell like home.

I smell like I dropped a taco on that blouse. Cadence hugged her back and pressed her head to the top of Arcady s.

Arcady laughed and giggled.

Okay, let go now. I am losing my grip.

Arcady whined and clung.

Zera got up and walked around her desk. Ready when you are.

Cadence nodded. Okay, now.

Arcady yelped, and Zera pulled her back. Arcady rubbed her arms and said, You weren t kidding.

I was not kidding.

Zera said, Right, this is what is being offered by his family.

Hold it so I can read it.

Oh right. Your tablet is on your desk.

Cadence nodded. Yeah. I only took the clipboard down here.

Cadence read the price for testing, for insemination, and for a positive pregnancy test. It was equivalent to what she made in two months. The cost of just her services as a surrogate with regular medical testing was half a million credits.

So, lodgings and food are provided?

Zera nodded. Yes.

She frowned. I need a fully soundproofed room for playing music.

Noted. Is Mortimer coming with you?

Cadence smiled. Try and stop him.

So, you agree to the contract?

I will sign it at my desk with my special baby tablet.

Zera grinned. Really?

Really. I can maybe use the time to get my activation under control. So, you just have to find an apartment with extra rooms, a restaurant, and a gym in it, and we can start this project.

Zera grinned. I am so glad you said that. I have just the landlord in mind. Arcady, if you could call Kritz? And Cadence, when you have signed it, head down to the research area, and let Kritz take a baseline for your hormones.

Tell him to pack muscle relaxers. It s the only thing that stops me from shorting out equipment.

Arcady smiled softly. Can I get another hug then?

Yes. But they will have to figure out something for checking on the baby after the initial start. I am not going to be sedated every time.

Zera blinked. Right. Okay. I will let Kritz know, or Arcady can.

Good, because once I am pregnant, I am not toning my activation down.

We stand warned.

So, how will I get around? Is there a parking spot?

A driver will be arranged for you. You just need to call, and they will take you where you want to go.

Arcady smiled. Standard BDC protocol.

Cadence asked, Is the sample on site?

Zera nodded. Yes.

Good. This is going to be a very close race. I guess Arcady found my file today.

Zera smiled. How do you know?

I have an intuition about these things. Just like Arcady. She nodded. Arcady, have Kritz meet me at the elevator. I am getting nervous, and that isn t good.