\documentstyle[manuscript]{article}
\def\name{Michael D. Mendyke}
\def\byline{Michael D. Mendyke}
\def\address{34 Cottage St.\\Watertown, MA 02172\\}
\def\security{389-76-0451}
\def\title{MAKING BABIES}
\def\lastname{Mendyke}
\def\keyword{Babies}

\begin{document}
\maketitle


``Damn. It just isn't fair,'' Tina Bradford swore softly as she read
the screen in front of her. ``I thought I had a chance, at least.''
She slapped at the power switch on the computer; the screen winked out
and the steady hum of the machine subsided.

``Tina, I'm sorry, but you know that not every woman on the planet can
have a child.'' Sue Linden looked away from the now blank screen and
over to Tina. Even sitting down, Tina was tall.  Standing, she dwarfed
Sue by several inches.
 
``I'm just as capable of raising a child as any woman in this
colony.'' Tina swiveled in her chair and faced her. ``Who could be
more qualified than a doctor? I come from a good family. I help
maintain the WOMBS, and I deliver babies regularly. I know how to take
care of the babies until the patrons come for them. I wouldn't even
care if I had a choice between a boy and a girl. I could be a good
patron.'' She sighed. ``But they won't let me.''

``I know all of that,'' interrupted Sue, `` I work with you, remember?
You deliver the babies, and I keep the software running.  But there
has to be some straightforward way to choose patrons, and
unfortunately for you, marriage is the primary requisite.''

``I don't see why a single patron can't be just as successful as
two,'' Tina argued. ``How many married people are granted patron
status, and become widows a few years later? Are they less capable of
raising the child?''

``Accidents do happen,'' Sue said, `` but don't you agree, in
principle at least, that two patrons, male and female, can give a
child a broader range of experience and values than one?''

Tina sighed. ``Sue, I understand the rationale, and I realize that
this colony can only support a certain number of people. I guess when
the rules we make for everyone happen to hit me, it seems unfair. I
just wish there were some way to get patron status.''

``There is,'' said Sue. ``Get married. There are over five thousand
men in the colony.''

``Yeah, and all the ones I meet are jerks. There has to be another
way.''  Tina rose and crossed the room. Absently, she brushed the
long, blonde hair from her face. Blonde hair was unusual on the
colony; only about one out of fifty had it. So Tina, with her blue
eyes and willowy figure, attracted more then her share of men. Oh,
they were all right to interact with socially, but as someone to talk
to, or spend more than a few hours with in the bedroom, they just
didn't make it. ``Wouldn't it be great if we could keep a male baby in
its WOMB even after it's nine months of incubation to say, age twenty
years?  And do it in only a few days?''

``What would you do with a full grown male with no brains?'' asked Sue.

``I don't know,'' grinned Tina mischievously. ``What would you do?''

``Well,'' said Sue, moving towards the door, ``until you figure out a
way to do that, we're stuck with the five thousand males without
brains already on the planet. It's time for our lunch break. Are you
coming?''


\gap


Jacob stared out the portal at the planet hanging below him.

It was the wrong planet. 

It still made no sense to him. For nearly ten years he had been
traveling in this ship between the planets, and never once had
something like this happened. It was downright embarrassing, not to
mention dangerous, that he had come here. Exiting from a week of
traveling in jump space to find himself orbiting a planet he knew
nothing about and in fact had never seen before was not high on
Jacob's list of smart things to do.

Of course, it wasn't his fault. He had been in orbit around Sendel's
Planet, after purchasing thirty tons of local perishables, enough to
fill his cargo bay. He remembered being in a pretty good mood. Those
thirty tons of cargo were going to fetch a tidy profit on Rilos IV. He
looked forward to every penny. After making the monthly payment on his
ship, performing routine maintenance and restocking the supply bins,
there usually wasn't much left for recreation. This time it was going
to be different. Women like a man with a lot of loose cash, and for a
change, Jacob was going to be that man.

But somehow the computer had been unable to read in the coordinates
for Rilos IV at the crucial moment of jump, and had instead sent him
here. 

During the week of jump, he hadn't been aware of a problem; there was
no reason to assume that he was jumping to the wrong place. Actually,
the jump process was rather like jumping out of an airship with a
parachute; the only part the jumper has any real control over is where
he exits. Once you jump, the rest is all downhill.

Making a quick scan of the area, Jacob could see no signs of other
ships. Seeing that he was not in any immediate danger, Jacob sighed
and decided that the first order of business was to find out just
where the hell he was.

\gap

Tina walked slowly down the main corridor of the Artificial
Reproduction Laboratory, notepad in hand. She stopped frequently at
each station, and checked the results in the log.  

It seemed so ironic. Here she was, a doctor with ultimate
responsibility for the future population of the colony, and because of
some bureaucratic red tape couldn't even have her own baby.

Tina looked looked up from the WOMB she was monitoring to see a young
man enter the room. He appeared to be in his early twenties, well
dressed, clean shaven. Probably just out of school. He looked around,
nervously.

``Can I help you with something?'' Tina tried her best to smile,
despite her dark mood.

The man looked up, startled. ``Oh! Yes, I mean, please.'' the man
answered. ``My name is Adams. I know I'm not supposed to be in here,
but my wife and I have been granted patron status, and I was kind of
excited. By the news I mean. It's our first baby you know. The
customer service people won't tell me when we can expect the baby, and
I thought that maybe you would know something?'' He smiled hopefully.
 
Tina looked him over, internally shaking her head.  ``Look here, Mr.
Adams,'' Tina motioned him over. ``This is a WOMB in its fifth month
of labor.'' Tina noticed his reaction, and hastened to reassure him.
Of course, everyone knew about WOMBS, but few people saw them until
they became patrons.  ``Most people are somewhat revulsed by their
first look at an operational WOMB. I was, too.''

Tina recalled her first encounter with a WOMB, or Way Of Making
Babies, during her early years in medical school.  It had looked to
her like a cross between a coffin and an aquarium, a neat package of
life support equipment surrounding a transparent tank where the fetus
serenely floated. Spaced at regular intervals throughout the large
room, the WOMBS gave the Artificial Reproduction Laboratory the
appearance of a crypt.

But after the initial reaction, revulsion had given away to curiosity,
and curiosity to fascination. Here was a device that actually created
life. She could stand and watch the fetus grow, watch the heart beat,
watch the blood flow through the developing veins, even watch the
little hands clench into fists and relax again. It was while watching
that baby grow in the midst of that machine that Tina decided she
wanted to learn all she could about that machine. She would work with
it, make babies for the colony with it, and someday perhaps make a
baby she could call her own. 

She had succeeded in all but one of those goals.

Tina realized that Adams was waiting. ``While we can come very close
to predicting the actual delivery date, the machines are still
occasionally fickle, and a baby can be several days early or late, if
the WOMB feels it necessary.'' Tina shrugged. ``That's why the people
upstairs don't want to commit themselves. I don't even know which one
of these WOMBS has your baby in it. All I can tell you is you won't
have to wait longer than nine months. I'm sorry I can't tell you more,
but you aren't the first expectant father to be a little impatient.''
Tina smiled.

\gap

After several orbits of the planet, Jacob had found evidence of only
one small city. This was a bad sign. If he didn't want his ship
repossessed, Jacob had to find something of great value to take back
to Rilos IV. This planet hardly seemed likely to have
\underline{anything} of value.

He wondered if the people here knew of Rilos Group or had an interest
in developing economic bonds with the outside. If so, he might have a
bargaining chip. Only one way to find out.

He took a deep breath and initiated landing procedures.

\gap

``Tina, have you heard the news?'' Sue came running into Tina's
office. She reached over and turned on a nearby screen and tuned in a
live broadcast.

``This is truly an historic occasion,'' a newscaster was saying.
``Jacob Cranbell is the first visitor to Yahshur since the Bust,
almost seven hundred years ago. Just a few minutes ago he landed amid
the remains of the old spaceport on the outskirts of the colony, where
a very surprised patrol greeted him and brought him here, to
government Hall.'' 

The screen showed a rather tall man wearing a flight suit. He was
tall, with broad shoulders and dark hair. He was also wearing a big
grin as he walked through the gathering crowd, up the steps of the
large building, escorted by several members of the Yahshur Patrol.

The newscaster continued, ``And here to greet Cranbell is Mr.~Simeon
Heartwell, representative of the Council.'' Jacob grasped Heartwell's
hand as he stepped up where the Councilman waited. 

``Welcome to Yahshur, Mr.~Cranbell,'' said Heartwell with a deep,
resonant voice.

``Thank you, Councilman,'' answered Jacob. ``I feel welcome already.''

``After waving to the crowd,'' the newscaster continued, ``Councilman
Heartwell and Mr.~Cranbell are entering the Hall. Heartwell seems
eager to meet with Cranbell. I'm sure he is very interested in finding
out what business the traveler has here, as are we all-'' Tina shut off
the computer.

``Isn't that something?'' Sue exclaimed. ``A man from another planet!
We aren't the only ones in the universe anymore. I wonder what he is
doing here?''

``I don't know,'' said Tina, ``but I think we are all going to know
about it sooner or later.''

\gap

``I know this is a rather funny story,'' said Jacob, looking across
the table at Heartwell, ``But this trip was not planned. I came here
by accident.'' Jacob was sitting at a small conference table in the
government Hall. Also present were the other members of the council,
who listened quietly.

``I am an interplanetary merchant,'' said Jacob, ``and have been
traveling between the planets in the Rilos Group. I was going there
but wound up here instead. Apparently my computer misread my commands
and arbitrarily chose a planet in its memory. That is, yours. I have
no other explanation.''

Heartwell asked, ``What is this Rilos Group that you mention?''

``The Rilos Group was formed over several centuries, after the Bust.''
replied Jacob. ``The Union of Planets had gotten too big for itself,
and the entire economic structure collapsed under its own weight.
Production ground to a halt, and planets began to break contact with
one another. Most planets could not make it on their own, and billions
of people faced economic ruin.

``After the Bust, as manufactured goods became scarce, it became
profitable to grab up existing items and sell them on other planets.
sort of a trickle of the old trade, except the law of Supply and
Demand was far in favor of the trader. Unfortunately, it was dangerous
to jump freely between planets, for there were thieves and pirates,
and it was usually wiser to just stay put somewhere.

``Over time several planets began to band into what they called the
Rilos Group, since Rilos IV was one of the founding planets.  I am a
part of this Group, and in ten years of travel had never jumped to a
planet that wasn't part of it. Until now.  Luckily, Yahshur isn't a
refuge for pirates.''

Jacob gestured with his arms to encompass the colony. ``I couldn't
help but notice the small size of the colony. Contact with other
planets could change that.''

``I believe we can help one another,'' he continued. ``Coming here
could cost me my ship if I don't meet my expenses in several weeks.
Your colony may have something to offer the outside galaxy,
specifically the Rilos Group where I operate. If I can establish
trading rights between Rilos and--what did you call this place?
Yahshur?--then I can make my payments and your colony can profit from
economic growth.''

Heartwell pondered that for a minute, then spoke up.

``Mr.~Cranbell, let me tell you a little about this colony.'' He
cleared his throat and said, ``The people who first settled here
called this planet Yahshur, because, when they landed they looked
around and said to one another, ``Yeah, sure. It'll do.'' It wasn't a
great planet, but a small group of people, say ten to twenty thousand,
could scratch out a living. With frequent visits from neighboring
planets bringing in raw materials, the colony would eventually grow
and become a contributing part of the Union.'' He grinned. ``At the
time, Earth was shining proof that you could completely destroy the
natural potential of a planet and still keep billions of people alive
on it, as long as there were other planets from which to import.

``Unfortunately for Yahshur, it never got a chance to develop into a
big economic wonder, on account of the Bust. 

``We were mostly self sufficient to begin with, expecting trade to do
the job of increasing our economy. When that didn't happen, we simply
chose to stay the way we were, no more than ten thousand people, all
geared towards maintaining the colony.  Farming was and still is our
most important business. We have survived, and we have been content.

``But now you offer us an opportunity to once again join economic
forces with other planets. That was our original goal, and even after
seven hundred years, it sounds like a good one. The only problem is,
I'm not sure what we have to offer you.''

 Heartwell leaned back in his chair. ``But never let it be said that
I'm one to pass up on a lucky break when I see one. You are welcome to
stay as long as you need. I welcome your inquiry into any facet of our
economy. If the Council can help you in any way, do not hesitate. I
shall organize tours of our major facilities and industries.'' He
leaned forward and looked into Jacob's eye. ``I want you to find
something this colony can offer to your Rilos Group.''

Jacob smiled. ``All right, let's get started.''

\gap

There was a knock on Tina's office door, followed by the entrance of
Mr.~Kingsly, one of her superiors. As Tina looked up, she noticed that
he was followed by a figure familiar to the colony for several days.

``Dr.~Bradford,'' said Kingsly. ``This is Mr.~Jacob Cranbell.  He is
here to tour the medical facilities, and I can't think of a better
person to show him around than you.''

``Sure thing, Mr.~Kingsly,'' Tina spoke to his already retreating
form.  Damn, that man doesn't wait around for a yes or a no, she
thought.

Tina now looked more closely at Cranbell. He was as tall as he had
appeared on video. Clean shaven, dark hair, well built, he was a
rather handsome man. 

Jacob smiled and said, ``I hope I am not interrupting your work,
Doctor.''

``Oh, no. I have been expecting the council to send you here
eventually. And please, call me Tina.''

``Only if you call me Jacob. Shall we begin the tour?''

Tina couldn't help notice the stare he gave her as she stood up and
lead him out of the office. She wasn't sure what her reaction was to
that. She could well imagine the sort of man this traveler was, with
no permanent home, coming and going, never staying long in one place.

But still, she thought. A man from another world. Think of the places
he has been, the things he must have seen.

As she showed him the facility and answered general questions, she
asked him, ``You've seen a number of our facilities, Jacob. Have you
found anything of interest to trade with other planets in your
Group?''

Jacob shrugged. ``What I have seen is a lot of development in the arts
and pure sciences. Your colony has been self sufficient for so long
that it doesn't produce anything more than it needs, and spends its
resources in pursuit of intellectual pleasures. Great stuff, but not
very marketable.''

``Well,'' she replied. ``It was a nice gesture to give your cargo to
our colony as a gift. Our farmers are having a field day, no pun
intended, with new food types and potential crops.''

``Yeah, I know. It makes for good public relations, and to tell you
the truth, the stuff was going to spoil long before I could get it to
Rilos IV anyway, so why not?''

``You shouldn't have told me that!'' Tina laughed. ``You just tore
down the wall of respect I was building for you.''

``I thought you were smart enough to figure it out anyway. So tell me,
Tina. Is there anything in the world of medicine that Yahshur can
offer to the rest of the galaxy? And before you answer, can you
suggest a place where we can get some dinner afterwards?''

Tina looked at him meaningfully, then said, ``Why don't you hold that
thought until after we tour the Artificial Reproduction Laboratory?''

\gap

Tina sighed as she sat back in her couch, with Jacob sitting next to
her. Now that she had eaten dinner and was home, she wondered at the
evenings events. He was fascinated with the WOMBS, and wanted to know
more, but it was clear that he had more in mind. To her own surprise,
so did she.

Jacob asked her, ``So the WOMB actually \underline{makes} a baby out
of raw materials?''

``What a WOMB really does,'' replied Tina, ``is provide a suitable
environment for the natural growth and development of a human fetus.''

``So where do the mom and dad fit into all of this?'' Jacob wanted to
know. 

``There are no real parents. The WOMB is the ``parent'' from
conception to birth,'' Tina replied. ``These machines were developed
not long after the Bust.  Dr.~Alfred Nadler, a noted physician of the
time and an expert in genetics, moved to the colony to find a secluded
environment in which to work.  After the Bust, he found himself more
secluded than he had planned, but it gave him the time and freedom to
actually realize his goal.  Medical research had reached a point where
it was saving babies born more and more prematurely, and artificial
conception was a standard practice. It was only a matter of time
before Nadler bridged the gap and removed the woman from the entire
procedure.''

``That's amazing,'' said Jacob. ``After the Bust, most planets turned
their attentions toward rebuilding their old way of life. They are
still trying to do that. Meanwhile, Yahshur maintained its relatively
simple way of life, and had time to indulge in research.''

``That's right,'' said Tina. ``And the WOMB is the result.''

``So these WOMBS,'' began Jacob. ``Are they used to aid couples
otherwise unable to produce their own children?''

Tina braced herself. Here it comes. 

``No,'' she said. ``Actually, the WOMBS are used much more
extensively. In fact, they are used by the entire population.''

``Everyone here is the offspring of one of those machines?'' Jacob
asked.

``That's right.'' 

Jacob sat in silent thought for a while, than asked the obvious
question. ``Why?''

``When Dr.~Nadler made public his invention, several decades after the
Bust, it was hailed by women as the ultimate release from the bondage
of childbirth. Others saw it is a means to help populate the colony.
Whatever else was said about it, the people accepted it with open
arms.

``Since Yahshur could not support a large population by itself, and
outside contact was considered dangerous, population control was
essential. The WOMBS offered a simple means to do this. After the
decision to make sterilization a requirement by law, the Council began
to make eligibility guidelines for patron status. In short order, the
population was stable at ten thousand.

``The advantages offered by this system are tremendous.  Women no
longer have to go through the pains of childbirth. The WOMB selects
genes at random; it is the ultimate gene pool.  Genetic disease has
been wiped out.  The fetus is no longer at the mercy of a woman who
doesn't know how to properly take care of her own body to best provide
for the child growing inside her.''


Even as she said all of this, she wondered at her own words. All of
this she knew from teachings as a child, and accepted as true, But all
of this was also keeping her from having her own child. As she looked
at this man who was hearing it for the first time, it sounded strange
to her as well.

Jacob looked at her. ``Tina, doesn't this mean that a few people, in
fact \underline{you} have practical control over the future of this
colony? Press a few buttons and the next generation could have six
fingers on each hand. If the power shuts down, the population could
die out.''

Tina answered, ``Jacob, there \underline{is} a code of ethics that
comes with the job, but yes, there is some element of control. In
fact, we have the genes altered such that we don't have to sterilize
people anymore; the machine takes care of it for us.''

He looked thoughtful. ``And who decides if you get to be a patron?''

Tina thought about that. 

``It's funny you should mention that, because just recently I applied
for patron status. I was denied because I'm not married.''

Jacob looked up. ``I'm sorry to hear that. It seems to me you could
make a good mother.''

``I can apply again some time, but I'm afraid that as long as I remain
unmarried, it's not going to happen.''

``You know,'' said Jacob, ``my visit here could mean a few policy
changes in determining patron status. By joining up with Rilos Group,
more resources become available to Yahshur, people begin moving back
and forth, some of them stay. Your planet can begin to accommodate more
than ten thousand people. In fact, the more people the better. Not
only would they grant you patron status, they would insist upon it.''

Something leaped inside of Tina. He was right. If Yahshur entered into
Rilos Group, much of the policy of the planet would be reconsidered.
Including determination of patron status. Jacob needed
\underline{something} to take back to Rilos IV. And what could be more
desirable than the medical technology of Yahshur? Including the WOMBS?

``So,'' said Jacob. ``You can't have a baby the natural way?''

Tina's eyes sparkled. ``Some people in our society consider that an
advantage.''

``And why is that?''

``Well,'' said Tina, as she reached towards him, ``It does allow for a
bit more, well, spontaneity.''

\gap

Jacob yawned. 

It was morning, and as he lay comfortably on the bed, half asleep, he
considered the latest series of events. Here he was, on a planet he
had only recently discovered. Well, rediscovered. A planet with a
device that could change the meaning of the word human. Imagine what
you could do with it! 

You could make drastic physical alterations on people; to make them
better equipped to live in space, get rid of their legs. Put flippers
on their feet to aid in work in the ocean. Develop the perfect soldier
and make a thousand of them. The possibilities are endless. 

Of course, Jacob realized, for these possibilities to pay off, he
couldn't have any competition. It would not do for anyone who wanted a
WOMB to simply come here and pick one up.

Yahshur would have to remain a secret.

Jacob looked at the woman sleeping next to him. He watched her for a
while, and thought about the last ten years. Ten years of travel on
the way to paying off a space ship.  After he paid it off, what would
he do? Keep traveling in the space ship. What else did he have?

Normally his creditors would expect to either be paid off, or if not,
repossess the ship. They could count on it because no one was dumb
enough to jump to a planet outside the Group.

But Jacob was lucky. He had successfully left the influence of the
Group, with his own space ship. If he never went back, they would
simply consider him lost. He could stay here, settle down. His
knowledge of space machinery and mechanics, plus a fully working space
ship, would be of tremendous value to the planet. Not as valuable as
joining Rilos Group, perhaps, but a great step forward.

But which was better, the life he could have here, or the life he
could make back in the Group with the help of the WOMB?

He looked again at Tina. She was a nice woman, to be sure. But there
had been a lot of nice women so far, and there were probably a lot
more.

\gap

Councilman Heartwell stood next to Jacob Cranbell in front of his
ship. 

``Mr.~Cranbell,'' he said. ``Has the information you requested been
placed in your ship's memory?''

``Yes, Councilman,'' Jacob replied. A few women from your Medical
Department have been working with me to compile a collection of
medical information. They also learned enough about my ship to help me
reprogram the computer.  Hopefully there will be no more misjumps.''

``Good luck to you then,'' said Heartwell. ``Send our greetings to the
government of your worlds.''

``I'll be back,'' Jacob said, ``next time I come here.''

As Jacob ascended the steps to his ship, he turned back to wave into
the cameras. 

From her office in the Medical Department of the colony, Tina and Sue
watched as Jacob Cranbell entered his ship and lifted off towards
orbit. 

Tina thought about the WOMB, how it had been used on Yahshur, and how
it could change the lives of millions of people. She thought about how
this entering into the Rilos Group would really change Yahshur. 

And she thought about Jacob. 

``So where exactly is he going to end up?'' She asked.

Sue replied, ``I have no idea. When I helped Jacob fix his computer, I
did as you asked and altered the ship's programming.  Whenever he
tries to jump to any planet in the Rilos Group, or to Yahshur, the
computer will just pick another planet at random. It will take him a
long time to sort it out, if he ever does. The medical also erased
themselves just before he jumped.'' She looked at Tina.  ``I only did
it because I agree with you. The WOMBS give too much control to too
few people. I wouldn't feel right giving them to the rest of the
universe. But now that there will be no further contact with the
Group, you can probably give up your dreams of having a child.''

Tina smiled. ``Not true. There's something I forgot to tell Jacob,
something I had actually forgotten myself. When I told him the people
on Yahshur could not have children naturally, he assumed that we were
all sterile, and he brought up the point that something could happen
to the WOMBS, effectively wiping out the colony.

``Our ancestors realized that too, and came up with a safeguard.
There's no reason to sterilize the women if all the
\underline{men} are sterile. ``

Sue's eyes widened. ``Are you trying to tell me \ldots''

Tina laughed. ``I don't need to ask for a baby any more. I'm making my
own!''

\end{document}