Paradise Of The Mad (a Manxman Mpreg Story)

Chapter 12

"How?" This was impossible. Just. How? Whose? When? Instantly he can guess the answers to the last two questions. Grey. The only guy he had been with since months ago and more. But really, it was totally impossible. So unlikely that his brain could not process it.

"Mr. Houzton. Calm down." A gentle hand patted his arm. He felt so helpless he just can't think for himself right then. "And breathe slowly. You need some water?"

"I can't be. How?"

"You said you have not gone through fertility therapy. But you would not get pregnant if the womb isn't active. I could only conclude that it must have happened without your knowledge. This kind of slip up is rare and usually isolated. We have to investigate further and find out exactly what happened."

He shrugged listlessly in answer.

"I must ask you if you have taken any unknown drugs."

Ralsch shook his head. Unless someone had slipped him some without his consent, he had not taken any. Did Grey do something to him? Was he given something that caused his artificial womb to activate? Maybe Grey knew about his artificial womb and intentionally gave him some drug? Or was it from something he took himself? What was it? Which was it? His heart formed a hard lump in his throat and he struggled to breathe.

"How about consumption of health products? Some of them contained chemicals the likes of which known to enhance fertility level."

Ralsch shook his head firmly. He was not a health nut.

Then the doctor proceeded to question him on a list of questions she pulled up from her digital medical assistant. Ralsch could hardly remember answering them, one after another. Finally she put the digital medical pad and addressed him directly about his sexual habit. It got his hackles up as Ralsch disliked discussing about his private life especially with a stranger.

"So am I right to assume you did not use protection?"

"I am a law enforcement officer, and updated on all required shots as per the law. There is no need for protection. You can look through my medical record to confirm."

"Still, Mr. Houzton, it was not advisable to go without."

"I thought condoms are a thing of the past." He hated the hassle. "And the lube I used functions the same to contain bodily fluid from entering my system."

"But?"

"But what?"

"Since you're here in my office with an unintended pregnancy, there is no need for me convince you that they're not as good, is there?"

Ralsch rolled his eyes. He did not need a lecture right now.

"Did you reapply?"

"Yes," It was possible that the lube would dissolve with prolonged use, what's with the friction and heat produced during intercourse. It was important to reapply. Especially for someone like Ralsch and Grey who could go at it all night long.

"Was there a tear on your part?"

"No, there's no tearing. I would notice that." His answers was getting more clipped by the minute. He felt like he could explode if this went on.

"Alright. I would look into this matter and contact you later. In the meantime, I would send a notice to your superior so you would be assigned suitable tasks. Make sure you take precaution and avoid physical exertion in the immediate future."

"No, don't! You can't do that."

"Could I know why?"

"Because then he would know! And then everyone in the station would be curious. That's outrageous! I wouldn't be able to show my face if that happens. Damn it!"

"Mr. Houzton, please control yourself. Calm down." Dr. Kelley waited for Ralsch to calm down. "Good. Listen to me. First of all, there are equality clauses that protect everyone in the workforce from any kind of discrimination involving artificial pregnancy. You know that right? Second, a part of your work is very physical. It would not do for your superior to assign you hazardous work without being informed of your condition. And third, it's not for you to decide not to tell related parties about it."

"I haven't even decided if I want to keep it yet."

"You're not going to go on with this pregnancy?"

"If it was not my fault, I have the right to terminate." That last word left him feeling sick right to the core.

In this age of very low birthrate, terminating a pregnancy without an acceptable reason was a punishable offence. Even with the introduction of artificial womb that enables men to produce children, overall national birthrate kept on plunging. And so abortion was not encouraged. They were required to carry their children to term and let others adopt them, since there were lot of people out there who would like to have children but did not want to go through the arduous process of pregnancy and birthing.

"Still, it would have to be proven that it was not a carelessness on your part. I would have to get to the root of this and write the required report. It will take a while."