Ayumi spoke up: "Karen, there just are not enough of us. We need to breed quickly in order to ensure our continued survival. And we need to do it in secret."
Karen nodded, "The thought had occurred to me, and I have identified a potential source of new female volunteers. Ever heard of the planet D435?"
"I know that a group of lesbian separatists with dreams of building a new society settled there. I also know that a new virus sprang up on the colony about a year ago, one that eventually rendered all the women there incapable of being impregnated by human sex cells."
"I seriously doubt the virus is natural. I am almost certain, given the extreme instability of Mars' colonial coalition government, that it is a man-made virus. The D435 colonists were never that popular among various extremist political parties of widely divergent viewpoints. Chances are the virus was engineered to ensure the colony would eventually die out, thus removing a potential thorn in the Martian Government's side."
"You're going to present the colonists with a proposal aren't you?"
"Correct. Although the colonists are incapable of being fertilized by HUMAN sex cells, I doubt the virus was designed to prevent alternative sex cells from doing the same thing. We will offer them our services to ensure their colony continues."
"It must be just an offer Ayumi. We cannot afford to alienate potential allies, especially not when we are still incredibly weak."
"I totally agree. Our species cannot survive in isolation from the human race. We need to find allies among our potential second mothers. What better allies than anti-Mars colonists? The D435 colony would make an excellent area from which to increase our numbers, and our political clout. We need representation to defeat M.A.D, and to do that we need numbers."
"Our enemies are their enemies, and both the Biomechanicals and the colonists have a vested interest in our own survival. But wait a second....why would the colonists help us if the colony winds up becoming a de facto Biomechanical colony?"
"No virus is infallible, especially a man-made one. The colonists will eventually find a cure, probably sooner then later. I have no desire to steal a world away from those who worked hard to build it. We want to co-exist with humanity, not supplant it. What we are offering to the colonists is a way to buy time to find a cure before the colony perishes. Most of the colonists have already left (with many more planning on leaving), and without that manpower the colony will die out within months. The colony has gotten to the point where it needs a great many people to maintain it, a number it almost doesn't have anymore. Without us, the colony truly is doomed."
"So everybody wins in the end? The colonists will eventually regain the ability to inseminate themselves and reproduce more humans, while we gain a safe place to live and allies to assist us."
"Except the Martian Government and M.A.D. They'll definitely not be happy."
"Who gives a damn what they think? They're the reason we suffered for so long in the first place."
"I, for one, can't wait to embarrass those fucks. If the colony recovers, it will be a major setback for the extreme elements in the Martian Government...the ones who support the Madame Arch-Director's campaign against us."
"Don't jump to conclusions. There's no telling how they'll react to the D435 colony's recovery. Also there is no guarantee this will work. Who are you sending?"
"Well, Karen, I'm thinking about going to D435 along with Caroline and our daughters. Hopefully I can talk them into going."
CAROLINE'S APARTMENT
While Ayumi was gone, Caroline had spent time (a few months) with her seven daughters in her apartment. Caroline was currently out shopping, leaving her offspring to hang out. They were now all relaxing on various surfaces in the main room.
"I miss Mom. Both the First and the Second." said Aki, who had a tendency to worry about her parents when they were away for an extended period of time.
"Aki, Aki, Second Mom will be home soon enough. First Mom is out on business." Cynthia said, embarrassed by her sister.
Ryoko shook her head in disapproval, "You too. Just relax."
Topper smirked, "Relaxation. Overrated. I'd take a night on the town any day over that nonsense. Ruby understands me."
Ruby was busy admiring her baseball bat, "Topper, admit it. You like to hang out with your sisters."
Topper nodded, "True, but it would be bloody easier if my sisters would be more enthusiastic about partying. That way I don't have to be stuck inside all the time."
Sadayo was annoyed a bit, "Please keep it down a bit. I'm trying to read."
Topper laughed, "Reading...reading. Don't you do anything else sis? Haven't you found someone to impregnate yet?"
Sadayo frowned, "That's none of your business sis. Who I inseminate is my concern and mine alone. But....if you must know, I did find someone."
Topper was delighted, "That's wonderful Sadayo. I suppose it's only fair that I tell you who I found today. If you are willing to tell me about your sex life, then I should be willing to do the same."
Sadayo rolled her eyes, "I know what you'll say. I'm sure you seduced some horny slut or done something else to embarrass the rest of us."
Topper smiled and shook her head, "Actually it was a woman who was concerned she couldn't get pregnant and wanted to. We were both somewhat intoxicated."
Sadayo signed, "Intoxicated? When are you not?"
Topper held up her hand, "Will you let me finish? Thank you. At any rate, one thing lead to another and the woman wound up jumping on me. Eventually, after a great deal of foreplay, I told her what I really was. She didn't believe me, and assumed she was more drunk then she thought. Even when I dropped my disguise, she thought I was a delusion brought on all the alcohol she consumed."
Kim, who had not said a word so far, asked, "When did she realize? How did she react?"
Topper laughed, "We were both drunk. She didn't believe a word I said, so I revealed one of my tentacles and touched her with it. The woman, obviously in denial, concluded she was dreaming and decided to go with it. I, for one, was getting tired of trying to convince her what was really going on and so I gave up on subtlety. I just finally said that the whole truth. Eventually she sobered up."
Topper continued, "For the longest time she stared at me, sober. Then she asked me to repeat what I said about impregnation. After about an hour and 45, we wound up commencing the cycle. And yes I did scan her blood alcohol levels before I started so don't you dare say I was careless. I went slow with her, not rushing her. Quite honestly, I think she didn't really believe what was happening until she was finally pregnant. Then she was understandably emotional, her dream had come true."
Ryoko smiled, "For all your excessive energy and posturing, Topper, you are secretly a romantic."
Topper stuck her tongue out at Ryoko, "It was touching, admittedly. Afterwards we spent a couple of hours discussing things, and finally we parted company. I left our child in her hands, saying I trusted her to take care of her."
Ryoko signed, "That was actually a good idea on your part, Topper. You aren't exactly a role model."