Glancing at her computer screen to see how far the analysis and comparison had gotten, Kate Goldburg, Moonbase Alpha's chief dietician and head of the Experimental Foodstuffs lab, gave a small sigh and turned her attention back to the duty schedule she was working on. Technically, computer could do the schedule more quickly and efficiently, but this gave her something to do while she waited for the analysis results. Kate was running a check on several plants native to Loki to determine what nutritional value - if any - they had for the Alphans, and how the Loki nutrients could be combined and incorporated with existing Alphan supplies and sources. Once that was established, she would consult with Helena Russell - Koenig - to be certain there would be no problems when the Alphans actually began to consume and absorb the Loki nutrients.
A knock at her office door caused Kate to look up and smile quickly when she saw one of her assistants, Nancy Blackmore, standing in the open doorway.
"Yes, Nancy?"
"Doctor Goldburg, may I see you a moment?"
"Sure. Have a seat."
Nancy entered the office and sat slowly. She was a bit nervous and had a hard time meeting Kate's gaze.
"It's... kind of personal."
Kate reached toward a control button on her desk, touched it, and her office door slid shut. A part of her was quite curious as to what Nancy wanted to see her about, while another part wished Nancy had gone to someone else with her problem. Kate was the first to admit she often had her nose in other people's business, but only those people she deeply cared about and whom she considered a life long friend -- like Helena. It made her a bit uncomfortable when her co-workers came to her with their problems. And from Nancy's posture, Kate was expecting it to be a major problem.
"Thank you... I know you're friends with Doctor Koenig."
"Yes."
"And,... well... Chris and I have been talking and... we'd really like to have a baby. I know it's possible - technology wise - but...would Doctor Koenig help us? Would there be a big stink if Chris and I were to become parents?"
Kate took a deep breath and eased back against her desk chair. Damn! She'd not expected anything like this.
"I can't answer either of those questions, Nancy. Why haven't you and Chris talked directly to Helena about this?"
Nancy shrugged her shoulders, then met Kate's gaze.
"We thought, maybe... it would carry more weight coming from a department head, from one of our supervisors..."
"Nancy, Helena Koenig is one of the best doctors I have ever known or worked with. She won't ignore or make light of any serious request made by a patient."
"I - we - know, but... this won't be your average, typical pregnancy, will it? Chris and I aren't like other couples on the base."
Kate had to nod her agreement.
"True. And I don't really see how this is my business, Nancy, but... I'll see what I can do. I make no promises, but I will talk with Helena, and see if they have any programs set up for extenuating circumstances."
"Thank you. We're prepared to do what we have to, even if... it's something we don't really like. Chris and I want a child."
Again Kate nodded. It would be an interesting conversation with Helena.
"I'll be seeing Helena later today."
Nancy smiled hopefully then slowly stood.
"We appreciate your help - no matter how it turns out."
Kate nodded once more, then touched the button that would signal the office door to open. Nancy left and Kate sighed heavily again. Damn! She should have told Nancy to just go see Helena herself, but... Kate was curious. She too wanted to know the answer to Nancy's question.
Kate and Helena met for a late lunch in Helena's office in order to go over the analysis of the native Loki substances. There were no real surprises or problems, and they settle matters quickly. Kate studied Helena across the desk for a moment, then decided it was time to plunge ahead.
"Helena, I need to ask a medical related question."
"Shoot."
"Have you people in Medical set up any kind of program for couples who... can't conceive naturally, but still want to have children?"
Helena sat forward, a worried frown creasing her face.
"Kate, are you and Joel..."
Goldburg laughed loudly and sat back, shaking her head.
"God, no! Helena, I promise you I have not decided to jump on the baby bandwagon. I am not suddenly having warm, fuzzy feelings for infants and children. I do not want to be a parent - now or ever. Seeing the rest of you get pregnant and pop those things out like watermelon seeds is more than enough for me... I'm asking for one of my assistants."
"I see. We can arrange to help a couple get pregnant if natural means aren't working, but... I'm not aware of any couples who are having problems."
"No, probably not, because they wouldn't have come to you yet. This couple is gay, Helena."
"Oh."
"Yeah, kind of took my breath away too. Nancy Blackmore came to see me this morning. She and Christine Baxter want to have a child. Nancy said they are prepared to do whatever they have to - including things they don't really like. From that I inferred they are willing to engage in heterosexual intercourse for the sole purpose of being impregnated. However, they would much prefer some kind of... alternate method."
Helena had sighed and sat back against her chair. All sorts of philosophical, moral and religious issues popped into her head, and she immediately pushed them back out. Those were not her concerns. The medical welfare of her fellow Alphans was.
"Helena, I expect Nancy and Chris aren't the only people on the base who have chosen an alternate lifestyle. Now, I'm not asking that all the homosexuals on Alpha stand up and be counted. I don't want them to be forced to wear those hideous, demeaning pink triangles the Nazis slapped on them during World War II. I don't even want to know who they are if they don't want to tell me. How they choose to express their individual sexuality is none of my business -- or anyone else's. But... shouldn't they have the opportunity to help repopulate Alpha and Loki if they want to? Just because they have chosen an alternate lifestyle is no reason to eliminate them from an all too small gene pool."
Helena held up her hands to stop Kate's outburst. She sat forward.
"I'm not arguing with you, Kate. And in fact we do have the facilities for sperm donation and artificial insemination."
"So it can be done?"
"Yes. However..."
"What?"
"We... don't have any sperm on deposit. Everyone seems to want to rely on the good, old-fashioned, time tested ways of insemination."
Kate shook her head and chuckled slightly.
"I knew this would be an interesting conversation, and so far I'm not disappointed. Maybe some of those with alternate lifestyles -- provided any are male -- are feeling that procreative urge as well and would be willing to... contribute?"
"I can't answer that just now, Kate. Tell Nancy and Chris they need to come see me - either together or separately. We'll have to take it from there."
"I didn't make her any promises, Helena. I just said I would mention it to you."
"And that you have."
"Helena,... Nancy was concerned there might be some serious opposition or objections to a gay couple becoming parents."
Helena considered a long moment before answering.
"There very well could be, as there are bound to be homophobes in any society, even one as small as Alpha, but... I don't see as that needs to be an issue. Medical procedures are still strictly confidential, so unless the couple involved wants to go public, no one but those they choose to tell need know. I would also hope the male parent would want to be involved in his child's life, perhaps even share custody. We'll just have to wait and see, won't we?"
Kate gave her friend a big grin as she nodded. She was even more curious as to how this would all turn out.
Within a week of her conversation with Kate concerning Nancy Blackmore and Chris Baxter, Helena was approached by a male couple, making much the same request. They wanted to know if there was a sperm donation program on Alpha, for although they themselves could not bear a child, they nevertheless wanted to be parents. Helena smiled wryly to herself. It seemed 'baby fever' had struck everyone on the base -- well, almost everyone. Kate had no interest in being a parent, and Helena knew no number of children born to other people would change her friend's mind.
Realizing they were facing a rather unique situation, Helena assured Lionel Frank and Philip Lameroux that she would see what could be done. She consulted her staff, and with their recommendations, referred all four individuals to Bob Mathias, who had taken on the responsibilities of base psychiatrist at the beginning of their journey through space. It was their hope to determine if all four adults were suited to one another and could handle the stress and responsibility of cooperative child rearing.
Several months later, Helena was able to confirm the artificial insemination procedure had been successful on both Chris and Nancy. Lionel and Philip made it clear during the counseling sessions that they wanted to take an active part in the upbringing of their child or children. Chris and Nancy agreed with the wisdom of that intent, so the two couples set up communal living once conception was confirmed. They wanted their children to have the benefit of more than one male and one female parent in their lives.
Some few people suspected the truth about the couples, but true to her oath, Helena kept the details confidential, so only those directly involved or those who Chris, Nancy, Lionel and Philip chose to tell knew the full story. For the rest of the base, two stable couples who did not wish to marry but wanted to exercise their right to an alternate solution, set up housekeeping together in order to share child rearing responsibilities.
Those responsibilities began seven months later when Chris Baxter gave birth to Lionel Frank's son, Geoffry. Six weeks later, Nancy Blackmore and Philip Lameroux brought their daughter, Brenda home to their communal quarters. Alpha and Loki boasted two more healthy and loved children amongst its population.
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January 21, 1999