Nightmares (Short Stories)

Clones

"Do you think it's time?"

"I don't think we could be more ready, my love."

"Ok, we'll go tomorrow to apply for a baby."

Jack and Ben had been debating their decision for over three years, it was a lifetime commitment and all. They wanted to make sure they were stable and ready to care for a baby before they even stepped foot into Lakesville Embryological Institution. The best of the three facilities to adopt a baby.

On the ride they were both silent, Ben holding jacks outstretched hand between the two of them. The hovercraft made less noise than their breathing, but the silence was comfortable. They would finally bring home a baby of their own. Everyone else in the neighborhood had at least one and they were beyond ready to expand their family.

Pulling up to the center, Ben spotted the sign indicating the turn into the correct area for parking. Below it was a mission statement and a brief history of the place which seemed to be a mini replica of the one on the front door and inside the buildings front reception area.

Then men were huddled close together, shivering with anticipation. There were a multitude of other couples sitting in the plush red chairs in the lobby, waiting to be called back for their baby.

The application form was a bit detailed which was to be expected, but they were hoping for a baby today and not in a few weeks as suggested was possible on the front page.

"Jack, I don't want to wait a few weeks. We have eve thing we need for the baby already, this shouldn't take more than today." Ben whines quietly to his partner, his life.

"Ben, darling, we have to wait just like all the other couples here. You know the cloning process takes a few weeks each time so it is not like we can immediately get a baby that's in stock. We prepared for this. It will be okay." Jack rubbed Ben's thigh in comfort as he knew Ben was worried about one of them changing their minds again.

"Which one do you think we will get?" Ben changed the subject to something that he had been hooked on since he learned that the process was not a pick and choose, but a get what you get.

"I don't know babe, but no matter what we will love him." Jack reassured his heart that he would help raise this baby no matter what.

"I love you so much."

"I love you too. Now let me fill out these forms so we can get in and out faster. Haha"

Ben grumbled a little,  Jr continued to hold his husband's hand.

While Jack was busy getting a hand cramp, Ben read the signs around the room describing the great migration of Earth year 3052 and the eight survivors of the journey. There was one describing the process of the cloning and what to expect of your new baby. Ben read it repeatedly as he was worried he would make a horrible father.

"Please remember that your baby will need the utmost care. It would be beneficial if one parent was to stay with the child at home at all times of make sure they get the care that they need."

They had decided Ben would give up his job as a neurologist so Jack could continue his work with genetic engineering. So far, no one had come up with a way to make any other combination of the original 8's DNA to create a female or even to splice with animals. Every inhabitant on the small planet had thousands of twins due to everyone looking like the original 8. Their body's ranged from a rather tall, muscular man with an abundance of hair everywhere, a small, lean man with white hair and crystal blue eyes, Ben's personal favorite for a baby), and six other ranging in size between the two. Jack had lucked out as Ben put with getting the burly man's body while he was stuck with the red headed skinny, yet medium height man's build... the one with h fb e genetic heart problem they had finally fixed sixty years ago.