Sandar sounded a soothing rumble. “It’s against Talin law.”
Han gasped with surprise. “That’s the weirdest thing I’ve ever heard! How do you guys expect to maintain a population if pregnancy is illegal?”
“We use artificial wombs,” Sandar explained.
“Oh, that’s right,” Han said. “I remember Zeph telling me about that and the cresh system. Still, it seems extreme to keep anyone from having their own kid.”
Sandar sounded a rumble of agreement. “I suppose to someone outside the empire, it would seem outrageous. Let me be more clear. Technically it isn’t illegal to have a child, but for Talin’s to get pregnant, they have to scent-bond with a partner. That’s what’s illegal. If they find out I’m pregnant, then they’ll know I did something illegal.”
Han looked fascinated and a little appalled. “Right, scent-bonding. I think I read about that on the ship’s UniBase. Something about becoming addicted to each other’s smell.”
“Yes, exactly,” Sandar said. “It wasn’t efficient, so thousands of years ago we moved away from scent-bonding and live birth. First it was simply out of fashion, then it was taboo, and finally they codified it into law.” Sandar took a deep breath before continuing. “Rensom’s parents contacted my parents and suggested the match. We agreed and soon entered into a marriage contract. He was respectful and kind. We became friends. Without realizing it, we developed strong attachments to each other. It was impossible to resist scent-bonding.”
Han made a strangeawwwsound. “That’s so romantic. You guys basically had an arranged marriage but fell in love anyway. It was meant to be.”
Zeph’s mind finally started working. “Is that why you’re here?”
Sandar sounded a negative rattle. “The trip was arranged before we noticed the change in my body. We realized it would be a good place to sequester, so we arranged to double our time here.”
Fear for Sandar consumed Zeph. “This won’t work. What happens after the child is born? How will you explain it to the Talin authorities? Your ruse will be discovered.”
Han’s expression turned sympathetic. “What happens if you’re caught?”
Zeph couldn’t say it.
“My child would be taken from me to be raised in a cresh,” Sandar explained, her voice flat and devoid of any emotion. “After that, Rensom and I would be separated.”
“Wait, wouldn’t that mean…” she shook her head. “You guys die if you’re separated after scent-bonding, right? I read about that on the ship's UniBase. It’s called Finishing or Closing.”
“Ending,” Zeph choked out. “It’s a painful, lingering death.”
“Fuck that!” Han burst out. She jumped off Zeph’s lap and rushed over to Sandar. She knelt next to his pregnant sister. “You and your husband are going to come with me. My community lives deep in the Ilgorian Federation. The Talin Empire will never be able to touch you. We’ll keep you safe!”
Chapter 11
Han
In a universe that didn’t allow for many mistakes, Han had learned to be cool and calculated in even the most dangerous situations. Hearing Zeph and Sandar talk about breaking Talin law for love and her child was sending her blood pressure through the roof. Even with all that emotion roiling around in her gut, she didn’t make the offer to Sandar lightly.
It seemed that on this hunt, not only was she adopting her target but a portion of his family also!
“My community lives on Inneeko. Our planet has a bunch of thriving cities and produces about 20 percent of our sector's floor cleaning bots. It also has plenty of farms, so we are mostly self-sufficient for food. Our winters last almost half the year, but we’ve got lots of warm, indoor space for doing activities or having gatherings. It wouldn’t be a glamorous life. We don’t have any prestigious research facilities, but you’d be safe.”
It wasn’t a good sign that both Zeph and Sandar silently stared at her. She wished Talins had facial expressions because they were freaking her out a little. Had she insulted Sandar or had she talked too quickly for their INTs to keep up?
Feeling uncomfortable, she stood up and shoved her hands in her pockets. “But you don’t have to come with me. You guys probably have all kinds of better plans.”
A rumble of amusement from Sandar broke the silence. “I thought I was going to protect you, but it seems you’re determined to protect me.”
The tension in her shoulders eased with Sandar’s humorous words. “That was sweet of you earlier. Even though you had the baby to think of, you rushed to defend me.”
Sandar looked down at her stomach. “It’s strange. I thought the feelings I had for Rensom were intense, but they’re nothing compared to what I feel for this child, and they aren’t even born yet.”
Han had heard similar statements from her younger sister when she was pregnant. “I’ve been told parenthood is the best and worst thing you’ll ever experience.”
Sandar sounded a questioning rumble. “Did you learn that from your dam? There’s nothing about childrearing outside a cresh on any of the UniBases. I have no one to ask questions to.”
Han held up both hands, as if fending off Sandar’s questions. “I’m not the one to ask. My mom, aunts, sisters, and friends with kids can give you tons of advice. I’m not sure all of it will work with a Talin baby, though.”
