I’m sure there was more to it like confusion and seeing me with a noticeable full stomach.

Pa wasn’t an educated man per se, but he was clever. In another time, the farm would have been a success. He had the rotten luck of being under the Volardi – both figuratively and now literally.

I stepped up to my twin. “Let him go.”

To its credit it did.

Pa mumbled to himself, “None of those things are any good. None.”

My Pa wasn’t prejudiced, but stuck in the old ways. He wouldn’t use their Smart-Boxes or the energy allotments. Still, I understood where the man was coming from. His farm was in danger of being taken. All indirectly due to the Volardi. Now his son too.

My twin already released him. Pa dusted off the bits of gravel and dirt that clung to his blue jeans and flannel shirt.

“Boy,” he said. “Didn’t think I’d see you so soon.” His gaze lingered on the other me. “Especially one so...”

I got it. Pregnant.

I close my eyes for several seconds and let the anger drift off. With slow steps I walked toward my double as my robe blew in the soft breeze. “Stop protecting me.”

“I cannot. It’s my function.”

“Your ‘function’ isn’t to attack my family.

“You must be protected.”

An idea came. “Why?” I asked.

“You are Omega. Our future children depend on you.”

From behind, I heard Nate laugh.

Nate was bigger, but I spoke anyway. “Aren’t you leaving?”

“No. You think I’m missing this?”

“Yes,” said Becky. “You are.”

Nate’s eyes narrowed, and he shot a quick glance at my Pa.

I didn’t like the guy. Hell, ‘hate’ was a more appropriate word but I think I understood him. He was a typical ‘bro’ inside and out. Not the kind that would listen to his girlfriend nor someone he didn’t think was as masculine as he. I didn’t agree with the suspected logic, but my ability to get pregnant put me lower on the guy scale with him.

That said, my Pa was here. For good or bad, male respect carried a lot of weight around here. My Pa looked healthier, but he still couldn’t take on Nate. Still, it was respect from one man to another.

“I got an appointment anyway. Otherwise, I would stay.”

He walked past us all. Male, female, Omega, and well… robot or simulacrum as James would say.

I waited till he left and returned to my twin.

“You’re stressing me out and causing the stress.” Heat flashed over my face as I said the next part. “If I’m to carry a baby, I need to be in good health.”

“You are not equipped to defend yourself.”