XiC: Reproduction

The basic family structure of Xi is determined by complex government and technological machinery. Children are born in special groups of gene pods called a natalcluster. The main difference is that each and every gene pod within the natalcluster may contain thousands of children, rather than just one or two. Typically these share the same parental lineage and gene base but with minor differences and attributes, allowing their parents who submitted their genetic constituencies to pick and choose, selecting the best possible breed to be born. The rest are reprocessed into nutrient sludge and fed to the next batch. This system, while successful in providing Xi citizens with the necessities of life, makes family building a labor intensive process. Typically families must start at the natalcluster and work their way down, seeking family with genetic attributes they deem to be best, often taking months to years of intensive study to find a compatible partner and then work to convince them to marry.

 

With the development of the Xi system, Xi authorities have been able to develop a family selection apparatus, known as the Family Selection Matrix (FSM), a device that makes family building much easier and time-consuming.

FSM typically selects compatible parents and partners and serves as a partner-matching program for Xi citizens, informing them which partners will bring the best genetic compatibility for both pleasure, efficiency, longevity and most importantly healthy lineage. A special algorithm AI known as 'Mother Nurture' is in charge of analyzing the data for the FSM and giving the feedback to family planning centers. After developing the system, authorities began to use the FSM and make it a requirement to all citizens, although this was repealed after the Star Charity era. While families had the option to avoid the FSM, most Xi citizens choose to use it, the privatized market for natalgrowing has shrunk as more centers submit to government regulations and adopt the FSM. As a result, the system became the primary driver of population growth in Xi, with FSM being used to select compatible parents, and natalclusters growing by over 75% in volume over the last century. Due to this increase in population, Xi government has taken an interest in family, using their new Family Ministry to guide in raising standards for child rearing in Xi and even releasing a new parenting guidebook to families and parents. 

The guidebook lists both the expected moral and educational standards of new clusterlings, and a catalogue for nannydrones, botsitters and basic AI-care packages. Children receive nannys as they get older and more competent, typically receiving a new module installment every year or two to update with their progress. If they fail to comply with the standard, the nanny will inform Xi authorities, who will in turn order the child to be re-examined, a fact that Xi citizens do not seem to mind, with many families accepting this system. The guidebook also includes the list of institutional registries, including schools, work plants and military academies.

 

 

 

Innerview ❂ Bernier Beatrice

As I walk through the eerie tableau, my eyes scan the complex designs of each pod, looking for signs of promise, potential. My wife Higer, softer than I in most ways, follows behind, her fingers anxiously clutching the new parenting guidebook issued by the Family Ministry. 'Welcome Miss and Miss Beatrice.' the AI tells us in an automated greeting as we enter through. It's her lifeline in this sea of possibility, the two of us blessed with the pale-green washed out lights above illuminating the oceanic serenity of every embryo ahead. The walls are steely and a rail bar of bars keeps us from the cluster machinery along with stainless glass, like a prison visitor kept from inmates.

"No," I mutter.

She looks at me, frightened. "But they're okay, right?"

I take a deep breath and try to remain calm. "We've been through all this with the previous set," I tell her, the words a whisper. "At this point, there are no guarantees."

She hesitates, my wife is always plagued with indecision. "Mother Nurture. Show me the traits of these ones." The AI is all too happy to comply, rapidly scanning the datasets of this cluster and pulling them up on a holographic screen. My response is a simple nod. I know the gravity of this moment, I feel it in my marrow. I'm not just choosing a child, I'm molding the trajectory of our lineage, the fabric of the society of Xi. Higer reads through the genomic options.

"Freestyle.. physical-enhancement.. aesthetic perks.. immune-system enhanced.. Wait why is this one, 'prodigal cognition' in gold?" Higer asks.

The AI tells us that those are the Platinum package gene-inscriptions. They design them into a prenatal pod with every cluster they make, but the option to choose is limited to hefty costs. "That's outside our price range honey." I tell her, patting her on the shoulder.

"We need to stick with the basic pods. It'll be cheaper in the long run."

She leans in to me, her warm, peach-scented breath against my neck. "You want children so badly, but our finances aren't in a position to fund the Platinum genes as well?"

I turn away from her, my gaze now fixed to the glowing flesh orbs, no more than protein waiting to be incubated. I know that she's right, and I've known this since we were first told about the new system. There's no telling where the future of the world will take us, there's no room for failure. "I want the best for you Higer." 

"What if the we get the basic ones now, our next will have better traits than the basic pods right?"

I smile. "The first child will be the only child." I insist. “We talked about this already.”

My wife squeezes her fists as she stands before the wall, a child is in the cards, but it may not be the kind of perfect child she wants and it's hard for her to accept. "Let's see this one up close." The AI is scanning the data, showing a baby with traces of my own face on the holograph, just before my wife and I are ushered into the viewing chamber. The orb is brought carefully through a wide metal ceiling grate into a small bowl in the other room. As we left the cluster field, a nannydrone fell into step with us, its metallic heels clicking softly against the cold floor. She's a slender blue bot, with a metallic tail that trails behind her when she walks. Higer offered it a glance, her face a mask of stoic resolve. We watched patiently as the drone undid the lock and stepped into the viewing chamber, then followed her inside.

The two of us watched her inside approach the table and pick up the soft fleshy orb, its protein-gel like coating keeping it secure in her gentle arms. She turned to us to show us carefully. "Is this how they look in the artificial womb?"

"Yes. They're still soft, it's too early yet. They don't gestate until they're selected. But these should be very healthy."

Higer exhales. "That's something, for once." I watched the nannydrone pick up a sleek cloth and wrap the orb around it, then cradle the orb back and forth in an almost majestic motion, imagining her doing that with the actual child once its life begins. She then paces to us so we can look at it upclose- the gender is undecided as of now, revealing the still unhatched embryo. Higer reaches her hand towards the orb, but the drone subtly turns around and paces away - she never stops cradling and soothing it even as she protects the product.

"May I?" I ask politely. The Nannydrone hesitates, but nods and hands me the blanket. I feel the weight sinking into my arms and get a good look at the orb. Inside the layer of lipids and protein coat, the dark mass within is featureless and undifferentiated, not a body. A perfect sphere floating within is like a platonic shape of perfection, its geometric contours offering the possibilities of a lifetime within. There is something about holding an egg for the first time. It's a very simple yet important step in a lifetime of love. That's what makes it so special.

"I really want children Bernier. You think there's anything we can do for these?" Higer asks.

I shrug. "I think we can do everything."

She looks at me, her dark-brown eyes now shining with a mixture of fear and excitement. "You sure?"

Higer smiles, patting my arm.

"I'll help you in any way I can, I promise."

"Alright." She nods. "Let's get started."

The drone raises its hand towards the grate and waves it back and forth in a rhythmic motion. The grate unlocks, and a metallic arm comes down to scoop up the embryo before placing it back onto the cluster, organic nutrient-tubing sliding back into the side as it joins its nesting branch. Plastic-like fluid soon surrounds its exterior, protecting it from outside contaminates and oxygenating it all the while.

She watches as I open the door of the viewing chamber. The nannydrone follows, making its slow metallic strides. I step forward and enter first, closing the door behind us. There's nothing to see, the pod holds no mystery for me, I see them all, every time I come here.

"I think we're ready. We want that selection." I say, affirming the sample we just saw would be our purchase.

I glance at Higer as she gets up to look, her face full of hope. I hold back, my heart pounding so loudly it drowns out my reason, I'm nervous. The AI explains to us that the pods have a 3-day incubation period. "All samples contain your combined genetics dearie. Some interspecies find this process simple. Some families with a multitude of mothers choose as many as 3, 5, 8 gene-mothers, or two-male fathers. We can even gestate a lifeform with one individual by design. The incubation specimen will activate its genes and begin the growth reproduction process.  The embryo will be sent off for incubation 3-days, then returned for a checkup."

"Then what happens then?" Higer asks.

The AI pauses. "Then they'll be examined again."

"What's the next step?" I ask.

"The AI will test the DNA, and the AI will decide the next phase."

"How long will that take?" Higer asks. “For it to be, born?”

"It's entirely dependent on the data. If you'd like to undergo 8-months of pregnancy rather than the quick and efficient artificial-gestation phase, you may. It will require surgery however to place the embryo inside-"

"Give birth?" I say inordinately, scoffing. Higer looks at me pleadingly, almost with want in her eyes. "Don't be ridiculous, I have work. What kind of crank goes around 8 months with their lineage inside them?"

"I don't think I need to explain to you the value of having children dearie," Higer sighs. I grab her wrist and get her attention, "You're aware that most of the Xi's population is a result of sustainable genetic reproduction?" "Yes but, for thousands of years species have.." I roll my eyes at her to show that I already know what she's talking about. "To have children even in the traditional sense, it takes a lot of resources. The AI can replicate any number of babies cheaply and efficiently. The cost is minimal."

Higer looks at me as though trying to determine whether to believe me or not. Her eyes dart around, she's lost in her own thoughts. She's thinking about how to get a child, how we'll survive, how to ensure her species longevity is protected. All these things are part of a bigger picture I'm not privy to, but she's too much of a mother to put these worries aside just yet.

 I can see it in her face as she watches the door of the viewing chamber again, her eyes wide. "I don't want an AI made natalcluster baby. It's not like I was excited about having those babies anyway."

"We'll adopt then." I tell her, smiling as I look at her, trying to reassure her naivety.

Higer looks up at me, a look of resolve in her face. She shakes her head firmly. "I want it to be ours."

I tap my foot and slam my palm into her my face, rubbing in agony. "Higer, honeybun. Love of my life, I know you're privy to basic biology. I don't believe I should have to tell you why that's not, practical." I pinch her cheek. "We're woman. If we want a kid of our own, this is the best option."

Higer sighs. "I know I know. I just, don't want the natalcluster baby either. I want it to be natural."

"If you want to get knocked up, do it on your own time. I'm looking out for your best interest, but I'm not getting pregnant." Higer frowns and looks at me intently. She's worried. I know she's worried because she's thinking I'm serious about this. My fingers twitch inside my hands, so hard that my fingernails are digging into my palms. Her eyes are still on me, as she watches my face for a sign I'm joking. I don't joke.

She shakes her head, but I hold up a hand. I can't let it go, my fingers dig even deeper. I need this. I need to know, so I can move on. So I can give her what she wants, and not worry about whether I can handle it. It's what she wants too.

"Let's come back in a few days." I tell the nannydrone. They keep our embryo-samples for months as samples, our decision could wait. "But-" "Shshs." I pap my wife's lips and throw my arm around her shoulder. "You're clearly not ready. We need to renovate the guestroom and look into our finances first. Kosmo corp isn't paying what it used to.." I say, my smile wide. Higer nods, and I lead her out the door, holding her hand as she follows me down the main hallway, to the exit and back into our shuttle.

"I know you want kids, but this whole natalcluster cluster is a bad idea." I tell her, shaking my head.

Higer just shrugs. "I'm sorry Bernier. I'll try to make you happy. I've done everything possible to find a job. I'll do my best. I'm sorry dearie. I'll try my best, I promise."

I squeeze her hand, smile. "I know you will." I say, letting her lean her head onto my shoulder and rest as we return to the stars.