Mutiny
Amanda Russell
*Inspired in part by Ellen Lindow's story, "Conspiracy To Live" and an e-mail discussion with Jenny Lobb. Thanks, Ladies!
"No, I'm sorry; we simply cannot allow new births on Alpha at this time."
"John, every system we possess has never been in better shape, including Life Support."
"But for how long, Helena?"
She sighed heavily and glanced around the table. The men seemed to be in agreement with John, while the light of rebellion could be seen in the eyes of the women. She and John had experienced various forms of this discussion in private over the last few months. Not all of the discussions had been this calm or civil. He seemed adamant about maintaining the status quo of Alpha's population. Either John really did not understand, or deliberately chose not to understand the often talked about ticking of the biological clock was a real and vital issue. The female population of the base was aging. By the time John was ready for kids on Alpha, many of the women - herself included - would be too old to conceive.
Helena understood, to a degree, John's hesitancy and his reasons for it, but felt he had tunnel vision when it came to the subject. John was so focused on the ultimate goal of the day to day survival of the human race that he could not see all the factors that needed to be considered for its long term survival. Receiving a firm but subtle nod from each woman seated around the table, knowing they represented the opinions of ninety percent or more of the female population, Helena took a deep breath and released it slowly. She sat forward and met John's eyes.
"Very well, John. You've made your views on the subject quite clear for some time. Now it is your turn to listen to an opposing point of view. I and more than a few other women think you are wrong - so wrong that you may well endanger the very survival of the human race you are so intent upon preserving. The biological facts are on our side - we are running out of time. If we do not begin to have children very soon, many of us will no longer be able to. Therefore, we quit."
Helena sat back and waited for the explosion. John just stared at her as if she had lost her mind. He seemed incapable of responding and it was Alan who nervously asked what all the men wanted to know.
"Who is 'we', Helena?"
"Over ninety percent of the female population."
"And... what are you quitting?"
A slow smile of satisfaction spread across Helena's face. Maya, Sandra, Tanya and Kate all shared that smile.
"We quit being responsible for contraception, Alan. From now on, if the men want to be certain they and their partners don't conceive, the man has to take responsibility for preventing it."
"This is sexual mutiny!"
"You're damn right it is, John. If you want to keep having sex, you take responsibility for the contraceptive methods we use. If you men don't want to take responsibility, you can either risk your partners becoming pregnant or... you can abstain from sex all together."
Helena stood, firmly met the gaze of each man there, then turned and left the meeting. The other women stood and followed, letting the Commander know of their solidarity.
The door was barely closed behind the last woman to leave the meeting when they heard the voices of the men explode in panicked and angered protests. Helena sighed deeply and leaned against the wall as Kate Goldberg placed a hand on her shoulder.
"It had to be done, Helena."
"I know, and I hope we're right in thinking John can't have nearly half the Alphan work force locked up for mutiny."
The women nodded, then all started down the hall, away from the conference room. None of them was especially looking forward to being alone with their respective significant others after duty, anticipating rather heated disagreements, but none were prepared to back down.
"You may want to re-think our plans for tonight."
"Why?"
"Check the calendar."
"B.W.?"
"Baby Week – I'm fertile this week, and as we're forbidden to have children..."
"Yeah, yeah... Damn, this is a pain."
"Are you adequately protected?"
"Why?"
"Contraception is no longer my responsibility and if you don't take precautions..."
"This is a pain in the ass. It sure kills the mood, having to think about this."
"Hmmmm...."
"What do you mean 'it's that time of the month'?! Wasn't that two weeks ago?"
"Yes, but this week I could get pregnant."
"Shit... Koenig sure is being a jerk about this whole population thing. What the hell is his problem?"
"I don't know. You'll have to ask him."
"I hate these things!"
"I'm not overly thrilled with them either. I'd rather have you 'au natural', but as long as this pregnancy ban is on..."
"Yeah, all right... Can't we vote Koenig off this base or something?"
"Um, John, haven't you forgotten something?"
"What?"
"Your own edict. You wouldn't want me to give birth to an accident in nine months, would you?"
"That isn't funny, Helena."
"It wasn't meant to be."
"How long is this going to go on?"
"As long as needed."
"Damn it, Helena, this isn't fair!"
"Why not? Contraception has traditionally been the woman's responsibility as a means of having some control over what happens to her own body. Does that sound fair to us, since it takes two to make a baby? Now it is simply your turn to take responsibility for what does not happen to our bodies."
"All right, I see your point."
"Good."
"That doesn't change my mind."
"I didn't expect it to."
"I'm also not in the mood any more. Sure kills the spontaneity."
"Doesn't have to."
"Yeah..."
"What's the matter?"
"I feel terrible."
"Why?"
"I... think I might be pregnant."
"Really? How soon will you know for sure?"
"I'll go see Doctor Russell today."
"If you are... Koenig will have a cow! How did it happen?"
"Do you need a refresher course in reproductive biology?"
"No. I mean... we were using precautions..."
"Yes, we were, but no method is one hundred percent safe, and since I went off the pill, my cycle hasn't exactly been reliable. What's so funny?"
"Koenig. He can issue all the orders he likes, but in the end, two little microscopic cells have gotten the better of him."
"A little pre-natal mutiny?"
"I would love to see his face when he finds out."
"No. I'd rather have you alive and well to see our child born."
"Come on, let's go to Medical. I want to hear the verdict with you."
Koenig glanced up as a delegation of ten men entered his office. Stone faced, they crossed to his desk and without a word, dumped the contents of the box Alan carried on top of John's desk. Pre-packaged condoms spilled over the surface and John looked up, his expression tight.
"We quit too, Commander."
"What?"
"We quit being responsible for contraception too, Commander. The women had a good idea."
"So, unless you plan to segregate the sexes, you'd better get used to the idea of kids on the base."
"This is a petition, sighed by all the disgruntled and frustrated men, demanding new births be allowed on Alpha."
"You'll see my name, along with the rest of the men in my department, top of the list so don't expect Security to carry out any arrest or confinement order you may decide to issue."
John glanced from Tony to Alan to David, then at the others who stood behind them, including Joel Siddle, Jerry Walker and Victor Bergman. He shook his head and sat back in the chair, allowing the petition to fall from his grasp and settle on top of the condoms.
"Doesn't matter. Helena told me this morning that nine women are currently expecting and all are determined to give birth. Your mutiny is a little late."
"Chin up, John. Children on Alpha won't be so bad."
"Guess I'll find out first hand – Helena thinks she's pregnant too."
Alan tried to suppress a laugh as he stared at Koenig, arms folded across his chest.
"And just how did that happen, Commander?"
"I must be driven by raging hormones just like the rest of you, that's how!"
Koenig shook his head as he picked up a condom packet, glanced at it, then tossed it back on the pile.
"I think it is a case of pre-natal mutiny, as one of Helena's patients termed it."
Alan's grin broke through as he and the others reached to shake John's hand and offer their congratulations. Mutiny wasn't always a bad thing.
January 24, 2002
Revised July 17, 2006
Amanda Russell
