“Volunteer 4711, may the gods bless us today for this sacrifice you are about to make,” the Imperial Doctor says as he and his assistant bow.

I am shocked by how human they look. I say nothing but stare, except for the grey skin. They are human. “You look like me, but you keep humans as pets,” I say.

The doctor doesn’t even look uncomfortable that I’ve said this. “We did in the past,” he’s interrupted by my husband.

“The past still going on then?”

“It’s technically illegal,” the Imperial doctor says. “But you don’t need to worry. I’m known as the man in the Empire who helps families. People come to me when they need help.”

“And are you always paid with more genetic material?” I ask.

“Yes. So, you don’t need to feel hard done by,” he answers.

“What will you do with the eggs I give you?” I ask.

“As I told your husband yesterday, I will either combine them with an Imperial man’s sperm to make a child for an Imperial family, a child that no one will know isn’t completely Imperial, or I will combine it with a human man’s sperm and make a pet as requested.”

“Can I choose what I want for them?”

“I’m afraid not because I need to do what the market wants.”

“Will you let me know their fate?”

“I can’t do that either. But I can tell you that I only deal with the top of Imperial society; whether they become a member of society or a pet, they will have an easy and comfortable life. Now, do we have a deal?”

I consider this. I want a baby so much, and I have seen the pictures and videos of children born naturally without any doctors’ help, and I wouldn’t condemn any person to that fate. I look up at my Commander, and he nods to me. He swore to me he would retrieve the children if they were pets.

“There is a clause that if you try to find your children, I will bring charges against you for breaking our contract in Imperial Court.”

“That means he will challenge you to a duel,” my husband tells me. “And I forgot to tell you; Imperial doctors read minds, Wife.”

I don’t break eye contact with the Imperial doctor. “I will sign the contract. I don’t think I’m the first of your patients who has thought they would try and find their children later.”

“You’re a clever one,” the Imperial doctor praises me. “Every one of my patients in your position thinks the same thing; of course, they do. It allows me to tick the box next to their profiles, ‘moral.’”

“Has anyone ever found their children?”

“I’ll be honest with you,” he says gently, “No, because after they have their own, they take my word for it that their children are in good hands. I am not a monster. But I can’t do this for you without doing for others if you see what I mean?”