Choices

Chapter 122
"Your friends do know what they're getting thenselves into, right?" Seraphina asked her sister as they guided not one, but ten volunteers through the Byfrost to Earth.
Seraphina hadn't expected to see her sister back so soon. In fact, she thought she'd be on Earth long before Cephera made another trip home.
And on top of that, the news Cephera brought was monumental. The people hadn't shut up since their father announced it. Everyone was all a flutter at the thought of figuring out their problems.
Before they'd told everyone, Cephera opened up about her concerns over what would happen to their way of life if such a change should occur. They all agreed that the opportunity was too good to give up and so they would deal with the changes as they happened.
It still remained to be seen if the humans could figure out their reproduction problems anyway.
Needless to say the ten who volunteered were not the only ones. There were so many that their father had to calm down the crowd and select a handful.
He decided to send ten who had different secondary genetics. He figured there was a chance that that could factor in. Seraphina was representing the human side. She didn't mind being tested on.
"You all understand that this does not mean there is a cure to our problems." Their father had warned them all.
"I have tried for the last 8000 years to concieve. I am slowly reaching an age where it will never be possible. I am willing to try anything that will grant me safe succession to my name." Delora spoke up immediately. Her words sparked them all to agree wholeheartedly.
"Lucky thing Tony has more than enough space for all of us." Cephera said. Seraphina smiled and nodded.
"Good to know," she replied. She looked forward to meeting this Tony Stark and Bruce Banner. In a way, they would owe these men their lives if they succeeded.
"What will they be doing to us?" One of the men asked. Five girls and five boys plus Seraphina of course. That's who they sent.
"Blood samples probably." Cephera replied.
"Semen samples is more likely. Eggs from the girls. Probably some scans." Seraphina shrugged. "Doesn't matter to me as long as they leave me a live specimen."
Because of their small numbers, the Mechanovians hadn't developed safe ways to test such things on the living. It would be the first time they'd undergone such treatment. They spent their time perfecting there mental and physical abilities, not their scientific ones.
"I'm excited," one of the women said and away they began to chatter about the endless possibilities. Seraphina chuckled and smiled at her sister.
XxX
"Tony, I have volunteers." Cephera announced. They'd followed Cephera all the way through the tower to this workshop. Seraphina was instantly drawn to the technology there.
Cephera had spoken of Tony Stark and his iron man suits. Though Seraphina had never cared much about the human race, at least not with the same interest as her sister, she still could be impressed by their ingenuity.
They'd come a long way for people who lived such short lives. They certainly knew how to make the most out of the time they had.
"Woah," Tony said looking up. Seraphina could see him mentally taking note of how many of them there were. "I expected more like a couple,"
"Father thought it would be better and more accurate to send one of each who have a different genetic. Mechanovian blood is always dominant but our looks come from our halves who are not Mechanovian. It may make a difference from one of us to another." Seraphina explained.
"Tony this is my sister, Seraphina." Cephera promptly shot in seeing as Seraphina hasn't introduced herself before speaking.
"I can see the resemblance," he said looking Seraphina over.
"Which one of you fine creatures will be experimenting on us females?" One of the girls said. Seraphina looked to see her eyeing both Stark and Banner with deep interest.
"Will it be hands on, or hands off?" Another asked.
"Uh huh. I thought that was just a trait your dad had. I'm beginning to suspect you're the odd ball out for the flirtatious manner." Tony came out from around his table and pointed at Cephera.
Seraphina couldn't complain about either man. Stark had that confident air about him that set off a sense that he's a player. Bruce had that kind puppy look. The kind you want to smother with plenty of attention.
"Sorry girls, Stark is off limits. He's taken." Seraphina informed them smirking at their frowns of disappointment.
"Even for us men?" Mostly, the men had been quiet until now.
"You can't have a child with another guys, sorry." Tony informed him so casually Seraphina actually chuckled.
"Don't mean I can't have fun along the way." He winked at Stark who just nodded as he agreed to the statement.
"Sorry, not sure Pepper would be thrilled, but Banner over here is perfectly single, though he might turn a little green." Tony grinned.
"No one is going hands on here." Bruce cut in at last.
"Alright people, listen up. Down to business. Whatever these two fine men need, we give them and let's try not to make them too uncomfortable whilst doing so." Seraphina announced. This could get out of hand.
"Line up over here single file please. We'll start with basic blood samples." Bruce Banner told them. Seraphina stayed behind, she'd wait till last.
"So I'm right, you're all just a very flirty kind of people." Tony asked Seraphina.
"Pretty much." Seraphina agreed. "We've been bred to be confident enough to flirt openly and without getting upset over rejection. Cephera is very reserved like our mother." She glanced at Cephera who had decided to help Banner by labelling the vials of blood.
"And your son? He doesn't seem flirty like that." Tony noted.
"I have no idea who Rorik takes after. If you met his father, you'd wonder too. Though when Rorik's sexual interests are perked he doesn't waste time." Seraphina smirked.
"It's a little creepy you know that about your son," Tony said.
"Maybe to you, but like I said we've been bred with confidence in such things. We don't shun sex no matter how many partners you have or even whether they are male or female. We didn't shun Cephera when she decided to risk waiting for love even though it could have meant she'd never have a child." Seraphina watched the line get shorter and smiled at the little flirting still happening.
Poor Doctor Banner looked almost shocked at some things said to him. Seraphina almost wished she could have heard them.
"Love? Is Loki even capable of that?" Tony was smart enough to lower his voice so Cephera wouldn't hear.
"I haven't always gotten along with Loki, but if he has ever done anything right it's her. He loves her. He's been good to her. They've been through a lot together and if you knew half of it you might be surprised on how your view of him could change." Seraphina sighed.
"I'm glad to hear that. I like your sister, but she really needs to relax." Tony pointed out.
Seraphina laughed. "Cephera has gone her whole life trying to belong while trying to be herself. It's a conflict that rarely works out when you're as whimsical as her while also being careful of rules."
"So, are you doing this?" Tony asked changing the subject.
"I am. It's funny, I always hated the idea of having a kid. I didn't see myself as mother material, but now that I've experienced it, I want another. It's different once you have your own." Seraphina thought of when Rorik was only boy. She missed those days. "Do you have children, Mr. Stark?"
"Not yet," he replied and walked away.
"Come on Sera, you're all that's left." Cephera prompted waving her across the room. Seraphina did as she set out to do and donated her blood for the cause.
XxX
"Look at those cheeks," Seraphina gentle grabbed Ikol's cheek between her fingers. Seraphina's favorite years had been when Rorik had begun to walk and she'd begun teaching him combat. This stage where he did nothing but lay around were somewhat boring for her.
Still, she enjoyed coddling Cephera's son.
"How many do you think you'll have if this works?" Cephera asked watching them together.
"I dunno, maybe one or two more." Seraphina replied. "Spaced out of course. Rorik is old enough to leave the nest, so to speak. I think then is the perfect time for another." Seraphina replied. It was funny how she'd already thought about it.
"Any plans as to the father?" Cephera probed nudging Seraphina with her elbow.
"Fandral of course. Why mess with that. He makes excellent strong, healthy babies, and he's a great father." Seraphina had already decided that too. She didn't need children from different men.
"Unless by then he's started a family in Asgard and settles down." Cephera always had a way of bringing it up.
Even though Seraphina enjoyed the way things were, the thought of Fandral meeting a woman through a sexual encounter whom he took deeper interest in disturbed her.
But more so the thought of him having a kid with anyone else. The thought enraged her to the point of jealousy. She'd never felt such a thing before until she'd thought of that situation. He could fuck whomever he liked, but for some reason him having a kid with anyone else was a no no. In a way that was unfair of her to feel, but nevertheless, she felt it.
"I doubt that. I'll tell him my plans for children and I'm sure he'll comply." Seraphina answered. She wasn't about to reveal her prior jealously, not even to Cephera.
"If you're not planning to have children with different people, why not settle down?" Cephera pouted and Seraphina glared at her.
"Why do you have to push this topic?" Seraphina handed over Ikol as frustration took over.
"Because every time I do, you become defensive. That's not like you. There are feelings between you and Fandral that neither of you will talk about. Everyone can see it when you're together. You don't tell me things anymore. You bottle it all up and you need to express yourself. You need to be honest with yourself." Cephera rocked Ikol as she spoke.
"I'm fine with things the way they are." Seraphina shot her twin a glare. "Settling down is not for everyone." She added.
"You're right, but you've always dismissed it because you had a better chance to conceive with different people. If that changes, you should just think about what it might be like. Maybe it could be for you." She hated that wide eyed look her sister was giving her.
"Fine, I'll think about it." Seraphina replied. "But only when we know this works." She added. Cephera looked like she wanted to hug her, but as Ikol was occupying her arms, Seraphina was spared the sentiment.

Notes