Lotte continued, "They will be staying with us through New Year's Day.", then said with some reservations, "Maybe longer. They want your babies and they want you to personally knock them up, making them your wives. If you do, they'll be moving here."
I kept quiet. Probably too quiet. Everyone was getting nervous. Looking at Lyn, I asked, "Is it time for the news?"
That broke the tension. The TV, or whatever that thing on the wall was, turned on and, again, another commercial about male goblin erectile dysfunction. Another FIVE MINUTE LONG commercial. While that was showing, fortunately muted, plates of food were put together from the goodies on the table. Lyn and Lee each got a couple of plates and started to feed me again. A quick look a Lotte's sisters and nieces showed a decent amount of envy. The outsiders wanting in, with me as key.
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"SPECIAL REPORT FROM THE NORTH POLE HIGH COUNCIL CHAMBERS! My name is Donna Blacktower, reporting. We are waiting for a representative of the High Council and one from the Elven Council to come to the podium. Rumors are swirling about Santa and what he has done. Legal scholars believe evidence must be overwhelming for such a move by both groups."
"Wait, the High Council representative is approaching the podium. Oh my, it's Smolder, this must be very serious. And Councilor Diane from the Elven Council is with him. They are taking the podium and are about to speak, indicating no questions are to be asked."
Diane appeared to be a nymph of some type, maybe a dryad? Smolder was clearly draconic, maybe a Wyvern? I'd find out after the show.
"Today is a very sad day", Smolder began, then continued. "Evidence is overwhelming. For the last several years, Chief Inspector Rudolph and her Detectives have been investigating anomalies at Santa's Workshop. With the evacuation of the Workshop, Chief Inspector Eliza Rudolph and her team of investigators, under the supervision of High Council Judges Scrooge and Marley, entered the abandoned buildings and found conclusive proof of Santa's malfeasance. Documents and physical evidence show that Santa was contaminating shipments of goods with a substance that impacted the fertility of anyone directly handling the items. This has resulted in the complete loss of fertility in Goblin males and significantly reduced fertility in the other races in NORTH POLE. It may have impacted people in other dimensions getting Santa presents on Christmas Day. The impacts to NORTH POLE are egregious and the High Council will be looking for a maximum penalty. Right now, the position of Santa is now vacant and we are looking for a new candidate. I now give the podium to Councilor Diane from the Elven Council."
Councilor Diane stood regally at the podium, scanning the crowd before starting. "Again, it is with great sadness that the elf, known for so long as Santa, will also be prosecuted for injuring other elves. Specifically, the ones working in his workshop. He will face additional charges for diversion of rare medicines and other restricted substances to formulate the chemicals used to destroy the fertility of NORTH POLE citizens. The chemicals were produced in Santa's Workshop by elves under his authority. Exposure to the raw ingredients, precursor products, and the final chemicals were all hazardous to elven biology without proper protective equipment, which was not provided. Elves tested have shown extreme deviations from expected norms, both mentally and physically. Only the elves working in the furnaces appear close to elven norms. Currently the former Santa is being evaluated at Belltree Hospital in the Psychiatric Ward. Initial indications are his personal exposure may have resulted in severe and permanent criminal psychosis. If so determined, he will be incarcerated in Belltree until such time as he is sane enough for trial. I now give the podium back to Representative Smolder."
"In addition to the charges mentioned, there is also the diversion of several million dollars' worth of furs and other items to an individual Santa wanted to make the new Mrs. Claus. While this is a less serious charge, it is still significant. Mrs. Claus has filed for divorce and has returned to her family. Until their divorce is final, he had no authority to install a new Mrs. Claus. We do have to thank Mrs. Claus in assisting in evacuation of the elves from Santa's Workshop on Christmas Day. That made Chief Inspector Rudolph's search of the Workshop much easier." Smolder added. Continuing, "Currently Hazmat teams, under the supervision of Chief Engineer Timothina Cratchit are assessing the extent of the contamination in Santa' Workshop. Depending on their findings, the Workshop will either be remediated or condemned. Details from the Hazmat team report will guide decisions regarding whether to perform cleanup or demolition of the site. We hope to have their initial report no later than New Year's Eve. I appreciate your attendance and your interest and appreciation for this very serious issue. We hope to have another update in a few days. Thank you for your time."
"This is Donna Blacktower reporting on the statements from Representative Smolder and Councilor Diane. If you are just joining us, the news conference has just ended. Santa is charged with serious offenses related to attacks on NORTH POLE citizens' fertility, hazardous and unsafe working conditions resulting in severe injury to staff at his Workshop, and diversion of resources. Currently he is being evaluated in the Psychiatric Ward at Belltree Hospital. Trials are on hold until his evaluation is complete."
"Now to some better news. The Women's Fertility Clinic in Goldstone has successfully obtained new viable sperm! Reporter Anna Gretton was on scene to discuss this exciting news with Clinic Director, Doctor Charlotte Hightower. This is her report filed an hour ago."
"Hello, I'm Anna Gretton and I'm with Dr. Hightower from the Goldstone Fertility Clinic. Doctor, rumors have been flying about the news that women have been successfully impregnated in the facility and are expecting at LEAST one child. Can you please tell our viewers if there is any truth to the rumors and if so, what can you tell us?
"Well Anna, the rumors ARE true. We have a new, viable source of high quality sperm. Gwendolyn Hightower, my daughter, has been searching, along with others, for some time as it became clear male goblins were becoming sterile for some unknown reasons. Medical professionals attempted reverse the male sterility without success. Others searched for other sources, testing, and evaluating without success. Gwendolyn was one of the searchers."
"Fortunately, her search was successful! She personally verified the donor's potency and is now carrying twins. Her four sisters also received a personal fertilization treatment, resulting in twins, two sets of triplets, and a quad pregnancy. As her mother and Director of this facility, I also received a direct donation and am now pregnant. The six of us were able to retrieve the unused sperm and I brought it to the Clinic this morning. Testing showed it was still viable. Initial tests on volunteers showed 100% pregnancy success, allowing us to drop the sample size to maximize possible pregnancies. By the time we ran out, around two thirty today, we had 283 confirmed pregnancies with 441 confirmed babies."
"Dr. Hightower, three questions. I know many of my viewers are wondering, do you expect to get additional donations? If so, how often and will any of them be shared with other Clinics? Are you and your daughters now wives to the donor and will that impact your willingness to share the gift of children?"
"Well, Anna, that's several very complicated questions. Firstly, we do expect additional donations. We do have to discuss this with the donor before a firm commitment. Secondly, if we do secure the donor's consent for regular donations, we expect to keep a portion for our Clinic, but allocate the rest to other Clinics. Obviously, how much and how often are not yet determined. Lastly, per our laws and traditions, we are technically the donor's wives. As the donor is from a different dimension, has different expectations, and has only been with any of us for day or so, whether we are truly wives is not yet finalized. But, yes, the six of us are very interested in sharing the gift we now have access to. The only restrictions will be all donations will be via the Clinics. Personal donations will not be available."
"Doctor, I'm sure many of our viewers are happy with the news and look forward to future deliveries of the donor's seed, but I'm sure they are also disappointed that the donor won't be providing the inseminations personally. You will keep us informed if more becomes available and which Clinics it will be shared with. And, if circumstances change, the donor's availability to make house calls. "
"Anna, the Goldstone Clinic will most certainly provide updates. We are hoping daily, but depending on the donor's availability, we expect weekly is more probable. Again, we do need the donor to agree before establishing any type of availability or distribution schedule. Of course, IF the donor is willing to meet prospective mothers personally, we make his schedule available."
"Thank you, Dr. Hightower, for your time and the hope that you've brought to millions of Goblin Women. We are so happy for the ones who benefited today."
"Hello Everyone! This Gretchen Sandstone back in the studio. Two amazing reports. Our thanks to Diane and Anna. There is one additional major news story. A few moments ago, the Palace issued a statement from Queen Isadora. It's very long, so I'll provide a summary.
