“Not with the Machinehood situation. But hey, my contract is done soon. I can go zip-free after that.” Except for my slow-fast-food genius idea. She couldn’t make slow food efficient enough for the modern world without speeding up the labor for prep and delivery, but she could deal with that when the time came. “What about you? Are you off flow because of the pregnancy?”

Nithya sighed. “I’ll have to stop taking it soon. So Luis told you? It’s terrible, Welga. I’m not half as fast as I usually am on the job. My teammates have noticed.”

“It’s your body. It should be your decision.”

“We’re married. We agreed to make these big decisions together, and anyway the law requires Luis to approve it.”

“Oh, right. That lunacy. Look, if you don’t get it from him, do you think you’ll actually be prosecuted? That Luis would turn you in? I will personally beat his ass if he does something that stupid. You are the best thing that’s happened to my brother’s life. I know he thinks finding God is better, but if he leaves you over this, he’ll realize what a big mistake he’s making.”

Nithya smiled, but it looked forced. “Thanks, Welga. I appreciate the moral support, but my doctor won’t authorize the drugs unless I get his approval.” She wagged her index finger. “And don’t think you diverted me from your problems. You need to send me your genetic information. I hope you don’t do permanent damage these next months.”

“Por Qué, authorize Nithya to access my genomes,” Welga subvocalized, then, aloud and with confidence, “Whatever happens, it can’t be as bad as what I’ve already been through. A little damage is worth it to stop these Machinehood assholes.” She didn’t need to add to Nithya’s worries.

As they said their good-byes, Welga walked to Mama’s bench. The lab bulged under the dusty blanket. Welga pulled off the cover. Her mother had taught her how to input the sequence of files to produce a pill from the machine—something any kitchen could do today—and she’d shown Welga once how she could modify the designs to produce her own creations.

Welga hadn’t touched it in years, not since college. On the wall above the lab, a screen cycled through pictures of Laila. What would Mama have thought of Welga’s decision to abandon her degree and become a Marine Corps Special Forces Operator instead? Whatever you do, put all your heart and soul into it, her mother always said. Nothing is achieved by half measures.