The Curran Sea

Time in a Bauble

"I can do nothing, while his life hangs in the balance, Saoirse. You know that." There was real regret in the voice that moved her, where none had done before.
   She set the bracer down, held out her arms for the babe, instead. He hesitated. Strangely, that drew her to him, all the more. He took his charge seriously, though the child was not of his loins... directly.
   "Even if he accepted you as a temporary surrogate, it requires time for the soul to infiltrate the bracer."
   She picked up the gauntlet once more, held it out. Still, he resisted.
   "I have not consulted my bloodline."
   It was Hal, blessed or cursed, depending on one's perspective, who informed them that seventy seven percent of the residents of Curran C were in agreement.
   With a glint in his eye, he declared it invalid, as it was not unanimous.
   "The remaining twenty three percent represent the Smith children, sir. As they do not know you live, with approximately eight months left in your lifespan, I cannot acquire their input."
   Ibrahim blanched. Eight months? You didn't tell me that.
   "Your staunch disapproval of the science is well-documented, sir. I must re-state that you are alone, in your stance."
   One large arm, trembling from shoulder to wrist, lifted in mute resignation. His eyes were on little Emmett, but he thought of all of his children, when he made his decision.
   Guarded triumph gilded her eyes. That was only the first step, she knew. It had to absorb his soul, however that worked, before she would have a husband, at long last.
   "How will we know when it has done its job?" she asked.
   He shrugged. "New design. Couldn't say. I never could say. I just... know."
   "Judah concurs, via text, that we cannot know for certain. Only Doctor Curran will be able to determine the saturation of the new design. He projects less time than older models, but we never tested their speed. The earliest tests we have for their effectiveness were after eleven months."
   Saoirse gasped. "He will not wait so long!"
   Ibrahim patted the air between them, gauntlet glinting. "Hal means that I died eleven months after the bracer was put on. So did Pierre." His eyes hardened. "We were not keen to test it, so soon after our first deaths."
   She pulled up a chair, perched on the edge near him. "Do you have any idea? Any number I can throw at him, to appease him?"
   "I am afraid not."
   Her spine curved so far, her breasts nearly touched her knees.
   "We should, however, begin to stock the cloning pad with materials. Perhaps progress will show my intended compliance."
   She nodded at the floor.

   Above, the Currans were tense. Every jot of information they'd been given, had been via bracers, in text form. Hal couldn't even send most of them video of Halcyon possessing Nora's body, which somehow made it more unnerving. They glanced at one another, fingers hovering over the confirm/deny buttons.
   Alfred was immediate in his acceptance, but he'd had time to talk it over with his father. Edison raised his brows at him, silently asking which way he'd voted. Alfie nodded, imperceptibly. Ed tapped "confirm", nodded equally minutely.
   Andrew didn't have to look up. It was debatable who jabbed "confirm" quicker, him or Alfie. Aiden knew how his twin would vote, so he, too, was able to tap the affirmative, without much thought. Both were thinking about the mer girl's effect on Andrew's hand, but they knew it would fix their grandfather. It was guilt, more than any thought for themselves, that bade them agree to those terrible terms.
   Liam and Pierre were in the forge when the data came through, so they were able to discuss it; but neither were affected by the requirements the old man made. At least, according to Ibrahim's estimates.
   "Even so, I am... accustomed to performing, when I do not wish it," Pierre said slowly.
   "Yeah, so am I, but that was before. I don't know if I could, in your old body!"
   "They are welcome to try," Pierre said, violet eyes sparkling with mirth.
   "And at least they've said we can do the deed and have a spouse," Liam mused.
   The taller man kissed his husband ardently. It was several minutes before they tapped "confirm", but in the end, there was no reason they could see why they shouldn't.
   Cora and Cara, knowing what their dreams meant, had to think the longest. They had the most to lose. Hal had relayed the exact words Halcyon had used, but also their father's reservations. In the end, however, it was better to risk a maybe than lose their father before they turned nineteen. They weren't even certain he would make it to their eighteenth birthday party, no matter what anyone said.
   Jonah was the first to tap "confirm", as soon as he saw that his Puppa would get a wife. The concept was nebulous to him, being only seventeen, but he saw the loneliness in his father's eyes. If he could stay with his son, and have a wife, even part-time, that was enough for him.
   Judah, burdened with the sacrifice his closest brother would make, was the last to agree. Yes, he was lonely, but the cost was too great. It took Hal, displaying the other nine votes, for him to slowly, reluctantly, and with tears in his eyes, tap "confirm."
   He spent an hour with the alpacas, afterwards.