“Yeah, you are right. I don't know what got into me,” you say, “I'm not going to rape her. But , I'm really worried about what is going to happen. With just the two of us I don't think we can keep things functional. Everything is fine now but once we are on the planet and the life support has to deal with ambient conditions I'm not sure we will be able to handle the workload.”
“Maybe we can train the clone. If she is a copy of me she should have my brains, right?” was grinning. Just like that all the tension seemed to lift from the room.
“Yeah, that's a good idea . Still, if we had more people...”
“I know, but you could never do that to her. I mean, she has my body! And from what you tell me, she's not even able to consent.”
“Yeah, I guess you're right. We should give her her own berth.”
“Yeah.”
You and spend the rest of the day settling the clone and yourselves into your respective berths.
As the days grind on the clone proves to be a quick study. Soon it picks up snatches of English and can do some simple chores. You and agree to name her “Jo” since it seems so weird to talk about her as if she were an object.
At nights the three of you relax. Jo loves to be held in your arms and purrs softly when she snuggles against you. acts jealous at first but after seeing you and Jo looking so happy just ignores it. Soon she is snuggling against you as well in the evenings. It feels really good to have the two bodies pressing against you. It makes all the work you have to do during the day seem bearable.
One night your sister comes into your bedroom as you are beginning to drift off to sleep.
“What's up ?”
“I can't sleep. Do you mind if I sleep with you tonight?”
She is standing in the door frame in her underwear. Oh God, she looks good. You've seen her prance around in it before but having her next to you in bed may be a little too much.
“Sure,” you say, scooting over to make room.
You expect to just lie in bed next to you. As soon as she gets in she goes under the covers and scoots against you. All you can see is the curly brown hair running over her face as she rests her head on your chest.
“I'm worried .”
“About what?”
“Well, remember when we found the clone? And you were worried about not being able to make it on the planet?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Well, at the time I thought you were just being a perv and wanted sex,”
“Guilty as charged,” you think to yourself.
“...but after working on the greenhouse I think you are right. It doesn't scale down at all. It's already the minimal sustainable size and I really don't think three people can possibly manage it.”
“We'll figure out a way.”
“Things just don't work out!” she sputtered. It's odd talking to her when she's not her usual know-it-all self.
“Don't worry .”
You feel uneasy breathing mixing with your steady breaths. You can feel her twitching slightly.
“Are you cold?”
“No, just...” she turns to look at you. Even in the dim light you can tell she is blushing like a tomato. “You were right. We need more people. I don't think it's right to do that to Jo, but I... I think I should be the one...”
“Be what?”
“Be the one to have your babies! There, I said it! Now laugh at me!”
You can hear her pout a little as she puts her head back into your chest. |