{"sf1_id":805323,"sf2_id":"4nAlX6Bm","title":"The Cohen Loop, Ch 10","author":"comidacomida","words":4463,"posted_at":"2015-01-09T03:54:00.000Z","tags":["Alternate Reality","Breeding","Dolphin","Drama","Friendships","Gay Relationships","Human","Orca","School","Sci-Fi","sociology"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/805323-the-cohen-loop-ch-10","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/4nAlX6Bm","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/ff/d6/ffd668b1-acfd-44ab-9b4d-777e5703a663","description":"#12 of The Cohen Loop\n\nThe continuing story of the Cohen Loop, set in an alternate world where Earth is linked to a sister planet essentially identical to our own, save for the advancement of the world's most dominant species. Yes, here terrestrial humans have ascended in intelligence and control... but what if the mirrored world were actually filled with floating aquatic cities inhabited by intelligent, humanoid sea mammals?\nThis is a science fiction story set in the near future, and explores what happens when mankind realizes that it isn't the only race to have ascended the evolutionary ladder. As the metaphorical door swings open between two different versions of our world, humanity must come to grips that it is not only not alone in the cosmos-- it isn't even alone on its own planet. As our worlds begin to merge with travelers and settlers crossing the boundary, how will both races learn to coexist?\nWe return again to focus on the initial characters Max Snyder from Seattle Washington, USA, Land-Earth and Carver, an Amplus Phin from Water-Earth (aka, Orca). This chapter picks right up where we left off, with Angel being taken away by medics, leaving Max and Carver to wonder what this means for them.\nThis chapter and the next few will continue to follow Max and Carver as they deal with learning about what it means to be a Human/Phin couple, and that they are not actually alone. As always, thanks for reading, and I heartily encourage you to fav and comment!","content":"The Cohen Loop  \nCarver and Max II  \ncopyright comidacomida 2015\n\nMax lay on his bed staring up at the darkened room's ceiling; after what had happened that   \nafternoon it was difficult to find sleep.\u0026nbsp; The young man had stayed with the crowd surrounding   \nAngel as long as he was able, staying in place even after the Phin emergency medical team had   \nthe young black man on a floating stretcher and towed him off down the hall.\u0026nbsp; Carver had   \nembraced Max from behind after Seraph had taken off after them, Angel's things in hand and   \nneither the young black man nor the Longos had been seen since.\n\nOnce the crowd disbursed Max and Carver returned to their room.\u0026nbsp; They continued with their   \nevening in a daze; Max hadn't brought up the event and neither had his roommate.\u0026nbsp; Both ate in   \nsilence and, though they completed their study work together they kept the discussion securely   \non the tasks presented by the reading material.\u0026nbsp; Carver had given him a hug good night and it   \nfelt just a little tighter than usual, but that was all.\u0026nbsp; Max realized that they both needed   \ntime to process what they'd witnessed, but it made him feel just a little more isolated... a   \nlittle more lonely.\n\nThe soft vibrations of what the young man had come to recognize as a Phin sonar sweep passed   \nthrough him and he sat up, looking to the archway that led from his room to the main living   \narea.\u0026nbsp; Even in the near blackness he knew Carver was there. \"You're still up too?\"\n\nThe Amplus lowered down into the water and smoothly crossed the distance to Max's raised   \nsleeping area.\u0026nbsp; Pulling himself up onto the ledge, Carver reached down and gently pressed his   \nhand to the side of the young man's face.\u0026nbsp; \"I'm... worried.\"\n\nMax nodded, feeling a little better with the Phin so close to him, \"Me too... I hope Angel is   \nalright...\"\n\nCarver's dark-purple eyes gazed down at him, \"I'm worried more about you, Max.\"\n\nThe Human felt a slight blush to his cheeks and slid further back on the sleeping ledge; the   \nAmplus took the invitation and laid down beside him, his large bulk taking up the majority of   \nthe space.\u0026nbsp; Max let out a sigh, laying on his side so he could face Carver even as the Phin did   \nthe same so he could face Max.\u0026nbsp; \"I feel fine, Carver...\u0026nbsp; I'm alright.\u0026nbsp; Really.\u0026nbsp; You don't have   \nto worry about me.\"\n\nThe Amplus reached out and laid a hand on Max's abdomen, \"Angel didn't seem like he felt poorly   \nuntil the... reaction.\"\n\nMax rested both his hands on Carver's, \"Well?\u0026nbsp; Scan me... you can tell me if something's wrong,   \nright?\"\n\nThe Phin clicked-- a nervous chuckle, \"I don't know a lot about pregnancy among Humans, Max...   \nand there isn't any study on how that works with male Humans... besides: whether Phin or Human,   \nonly females are pregnant.\"\n\nThe young man let out a breath, nodding as he slid himself closer to his lover, \"I know... I   \njust... I want everything to be alright.\u0026nbsp; I mean... maybe what happened to Angel was just bad   \nluck or something?\u0026nbsp; There are health problems that go with pregnancy even for women.\"\n\nHe felt Carver's head nod by the brushing of the Amplus' jaw against his forehead.\u0026nbsp; \"True...   \nmaybe that's all it is... but maybe it isn't...\"\n\nMax gave the Phin's hand a gentle squeeze, \"Then we'll just be really careful.\"\n\nThe Human both felt and heard the Amplus swallow, \"Do you... want a baby, Max?\"\n\nThe young man pulled back a little, but only so he could look up and meet Carver's gaze; he   \nwanted there to be no doubt to his words and he reached up to press a hand against the Phin's   \nface when he spoke.\u0026nbsp; \"Not any baby, Carver... OUR baby.\"\n\nThey made love that night-- touching and stroking carefully.\u0026nbsp; There was no insertion, but what   \nthey did they did with passion.\u0026nbsp; Max's fingers found all the right places and Carver's soft   \nclicking and squeaks were punctuated by the young man's moans and gasps as the Phin did the   \nsame.\u0026nbsp; They fell asleep together and, although there was no resolution to their troubling   \nworries, those thoughts were tossed to the floor with their clothes.\u0026nbsp; Sadly, unlike their   \nclothes, the concerns did not drift away with the room's gentle tide of circulating water; it   \nall came back in the morning once they arrived at class.\n\nSpotted Professor, rather than jumping into where they left off on coral reef formations,   \ninstead took the time to make an announcement.\u0026nbsp; \"I know many of you are concerned about Angel.\u0026nbsp;   \nGray Doctor notified me this morning that he is still under observation but is expected to make   \na full recovery.\"\n\nThe combination of sighs and clicks of relief washed across the room in a chorus.\u0026nbsp; Charlie   \nsmacked the surface of the water with her hand, gaining the instructor's attention; he nodded to   \nher, providing her permission to speak.\u0026nbsp; \"How's the baby?\"\n\nThe Album let out a click-click-grunt, a reasonable equivalent of clearing his throat.\u0026nbsp; \"It was   \nrequired to be removed.\"\n\nThe announcements had been made in Phin, which didn't have a direct translation for abortion...   \nbut the specific sounds he had used for 'removed' left no doubt; Charlie and several other   \nmembers of the class gasped, moaned, winced, and/or whistled to emphatically indicate that they   \nwere pained by the news.\u0026nbsp; A moment later, everything went silent when Seraph passed in through   \nthe archway from the hall.\n\nThe Longos stood just within the threshold, rolling one shoulder than the other.\u0026nbsp; He was   \nobviously shaken by the events, made all the more obvious because he spoke in Phin when   \npreviously he'd always used English.\u0026nbsp; \"I am here to get our things.\u0026nbsp; No baby means no F-3.\u0026nbsp;   \nThank you, Professor.\"\n\nIt was an awkward moment, and Max was sure he saw a few damp eyes among some of the Human girls   \nin the group; he felt like he was going to cry too but he managed to hold off the tears... until   \nCarver took hold of his hand and gave it a light squeeze.\u0026nbsp; The young man let out a held breath,   \n\"I can't imagine...\"\n\nSpotted Professor held the class as Seraph gathered up everything that he and Angel had left in   \nthe room.\u0026nbsp; The large Longos passed Max and Carver on his way out, and came to a stop.\u0026nbsp; He opened   \nhis maw as if to speak, and stayed frozen for almost a full second before closing it; Seraph   \nleft immediately thereafter.\n\nMax watched him go, and turned just in time to see Carver lean closer.\u0026nbsp; \"We should go visit once   \nclass ends.\"\n\nThe Human nodded his agreement.\n\n\\* \\* \\* \\* \\* \\*\n\nAlthough the material covered that day in their class was relatively light Max couldn't help but   \nfeel that the day dragged on.\u0026nbsp; He managed to keep enough attention on the instruction to avoid   \nbeing confused by the lecture on the Phin political climate but by then his mind was more on   \nAngel and Seraph.\u0026nbsp; They had both been happy, not unlike Max and Carver.\u0026nbsp; They had both been   \ndedicated to one another, also not unlike Max and Carver.\u0026nbsp; Angel had seemed perfectly healthy   \ndespite being a man who was pregnant... and the fact that Max shared that in common with him was   \na little frightening; could what happened to Angel happen to him?\n\nFinally, once class had let out Max and Carver walked outside of the room and the Amplus offered   \nhim a hand.\u0026nbsp; \"Come on... I can get us to the med bays faster.\"\n\nMax had just taken hold of Carver's wrist when Charlie came trudging toward them though the   \nhip-high water, \"Hey!\u0026nbsp; Max!\u0026nbsp; Carver!\u0026nbsp; Wait!\"\n\nClicker was keeping pace by swimming beside her, did so with little more than a lazy flick of   \nhis tail.\u0026nbsp; He called out in English using vocals instead of his resonance chamber.\u0026nbsp; \"Wait   \nplease.\"\n\nCarver had just been starting to kneel down, stood back up and turned with Max to face their   \nclassmates.\u0026nbsp; He responded likewise with vocals which, as always, sent a little chill through   \nMax.\u0026nbsp; \"We're going to visit Seraph and Angel.\"\n\nCharlie nodded, and glanced aside to her partner, \"Told you.\"\n\nClicker stood up and held out a hand, \"Angel gave a pair of shorts to Charlie for her to borrow   \nand we want to make sure he gets them back.\"\n\nThe Human woman nodded, lowering her head slightly, \"You know... since... they're not in class   \nanymore.\"\n\nMax accepted the balled up clothing and pressed a hand against Charlie's shoulder, \"You can come   \nwith if you want... I'm sure Angel wouldn't mind seeing friends.\"\n\nThe young woman didn't look up, her hands going to her stomach; she was definitely starting to   \nshow, and Carver caught on.\u0026nbsp; \"You're worried that showing up with a Calf Curve might make him  \nupset after he lost his own baby.\"\n\nCharlie nodded, \"It's called a Baby Bump.\"\n\nThe Amplus smiled at Clicker, who smiled back.\u0026nbsp; The\u0026nbsp;Album brushed his beak across the side of   \nthe young woman's face, \"He knows, Love.\"\n\nShe looked up at that, offering a slight smile, \"I just... I don't feel right about visiting   \nhim... not right now.\u0026nbsp; But... um... you'll say we said hi, right?\u0026nbsp; Please?\"\n\nMax nodded, and accepted the hug she offered him.\u0026nbsp; Clicker and Carver brushed cheeks and then   \neach Phin embraced the other's Human.\u0026nbsp; After that everyone could just have easily have left, but   \nClicker lingered a moment longer.\u0026nbsp; Max and Carver both caught it and turned to face the Album,   \nwho noted calmly, \"We should be a Pod.\u0026nbsp; Tailor too.\"\n\nA much more genuine smile came to Charlie's lips, \"And Angel and Seraph.\"\n\nCarver moved his weight from one foot to the other, a hint of the large Amplus' discomfort at   \nthe second suggestion, \"They aren't in F-3 anymore... it could be uncomfortable for them... but   \nMax and I could let them know we would like them to.\"\n\nShe gave the big Phin another hug, \"Please.\"\n\nMax and Clicker nodded agreement and, with that, the discussion came to a close.\u0026nbsp; Charlie   \nacknowledged that she and Clicker would be at their dorm if they were needed and everyone   \npromised to meet the following morning before class so they could share breakfast.\u0026nbsp; Max had   \nheard about Phin Pods, but he had never really expected to be part of one.\u0026nbsp; It felt amazing, and   \nsaid as much to his partner.\u0026nbsp; Carver click-chuckled in reply, holding his hand out to the Human   \nonce again, \"Good.\u0026nbsp; That is how it SHOULD feel.\"\n\nCarver carried Max down two different hallways and a slight ramp that lowered the level of the   \npassage until water was almost sternum height.\u0026nbsp; As a powerful swimmer, Carver apparently had   \nlittle trouble moving down the hallways with Max in tow, and they arrived at the Medical Center   \nin less time than it would have taken the Human to wade down just one of the halls.\u0026nbsp; Max glanced   \nto the Phin, \"Med Bay Four, right?\"\n\nIt wasn't that Max doubted his memory, he simply understood it as fact that Phins had better   \nmemories than Humans.\u0026nbsp; Plus, he reasoned, he valued his partner, and he wanted to make sure that   \nCarver knew it.\u0026nbsp; The Amplus smiled, letting go of the Human's wrist as they both rose to   \nstanding positions.\u0026nbsp; \"Yes.\u0026nbsp; Angel's name should be on the sign.\"\n\nAlthough Phin was not a difficult language to learn to read, Max had been surprised at first   \nwhen there was so little of it TO read.\u0026nbsp; The Phins had always been very big on spoken knowledge   \nand had only developed a way record it within the past several hundred years.\u0026nbsp; It seemed strange   \nto him to think that all information had been transferred verbally before that but, on multiple   \noccasions he had to remind himself that Phins hadn't had much use for it until their technology   \ngot to such a point as they needed a method to record it all.\u0026nbsp; Shaking the thought from his   \nhead, he located the Med Bay 4 sign with the name plaque beneath it reading \"|,'-i,',\", which   \nwas the Phin translation for Angel's name.\n\nStepping through the archway with Carver directly behind him, Max saw Angel laying atop one of   \nthe Phin sleeping ledges which had been modified with very Human-like mattress and linens.\u0026nbsp;   \nDirectly beside him was Seraph, and both looked up.\u0026nbsp; The Longos's expression hinted at surprise,   \nbut Angel's was only joy.\u0026nbsp; \"Oh!\u0026nbsp; Hey boys!\"\n\nMax lingered just inside the room, feeling suddenly very self conscious, \"Uh... hey.\"\n\nThe young black man's arms stretched out toward him, \"Well don't just stand there, playah...   \nshow me some love!\"\n\nMax complied, stepping forward so he could lean down to embrace his friend, \"I'm glad you're   \nalright.\"\n\nAngel nodded, shooing him away after a moment, \"Course I am!\u0026nbsp; Angel's a survivor, Boo... hey,   \nBig Black... you think you can get outta here without givin' a little?\"\n\nCarver whistle-huff--chuckled and moved over to give Angel a gentle hug, \"Everyone was worried   \nabout you.\u0026nbsp; Charlie and Clicker send a hello.\"\n\nThe black man gave the Amplus' shoulder a quick, half-hearted slap, \"Okay. Okay, tall dark and   \ntwo-tone... enough... before you get my boyfriend jealous.\"\n\nSeraph offered a tired smile, \"Only insecure Phins get jealous.\"\n\nMax stepped closer to the big Longos, \"How are YOU doing, Seraph?\"\n\nThe Phin laid a hand down onto Angel's arm, \"Better now.\u0026nbsp; Gray Doctor said that Angel needs a   \nfew more tests before they'll release him.\"\n\nAngel huffed, \"They're just trippin' cuz I told em off for takin' our baby.\"\n\nThe room fell quiet after that for several seconds.\u0026nbsp; Interestingly enough, it was Seraph that   \nbroke the silence... with something Max had not heard often: a full-bellied vocal Phin laugh.\u0026nbsp;   \n\"It's because you told them you plan on having another.\"\n\nThe black man nodded defiantly, \"Hell yes we're having another!\u0026nbsp; I told em they'd better get to   \nwork on figuring out a way to make it work-- them bitches owe us that!\"\n\nThe rest of the vist was just as fiery; Angel certainly didn't seem to be missing any of his   \nspirit.\u0026nbsp; When the idea of a Pod was brought up both Angel and Seraph were receptive to the idea,   \nalthough Angel added that they should wait until they were pregnant again.\u0026nbsp; Seraph rolled his   \neyes, but, Max noted, had yet to actually object to the idea.\n\nDespite the somber mood with which they'd entered, both Max and Carver managed to part ways from   \nthe recovering couple with smiles (after returning Angel's short-shorts).\u0026nbsp; Max's smile lasted   \nright until he felt the tingling ripple of a Phin's ultrasonic scan.\u0026nbsp; He turned around to see   \nGray Doctor looking at him as if he were expecting something.\u0026nbsp; Max turned back around and   \nsilently followed Carver out of the medical bay.\n\n\\* \\* \\* \\* \\* \\*\n\nThe following day started in a much more positive light than the prior one.\u0026nbsp; Max and Carver met   \nup with Charlie and Clicker for breakfast, relaying what they had seen at the medical bay and   \nthat both Angel and Seraph were well.\u0026nbsp; When asked about what the two had to say regarding being   \na Pod the young man glanced to his partner; the Amplus looked back at him, and both smiled...   \nand Carver mentioned that Angel wanted a new baby and that they'd be a Pod once they were back   \nin F-3.  \n\u0026nbsp; Charlie almost went into a conniption about the 'irresponsible, block-headed, foolish idiocy  \nof it all' but, in the end, she was smiling as well.\u0026nbsp; They mutually agreed that if all it took   \nto succeed in Angel having a baby was dedication, a willingness to succeed, and sheer,   \nunwavering bull-headedness, then he would get what he wanted.\n\nThe morning's classes went well and, for the most part, progressed the same as any other.\u0026nbsp; Just   \nbefore lunch, however, Gray Doctor stepped into class and interrupted Spotted Professor,   \nspeaking formally in Phin. \"I have a work request to come collect Max Snyder.\"\n\nUnwilling to pause the class, the instructor gave a simple affirmative click, barely even   \ndisturbing the tempo at which he lectured.\u0026nbsp; Max stood slowly and Carver immediately did the   \nsame.\u0026nbsp; They approached the waiting Longos and the young man waited until they were in the hall   \nbefore speaking up.\u0026nbsp; \"Why am I being pulled out of class?\"\n\nGray Doctor motioned down the hall, \"Come this way please, Max Snyder.\u0026nbsp; Now that we know there   \nmay be health complications it is imperative that we run some tests and make certain that you are   \nnot in any danger.\"\n\nMax stood where he was, \"Is that why you were scanning me last night?\"\n\nThe Longos was not the least bit shaken by the question.\u0026nbsp; \"Yes.\"\n\nThe young man felt just a little rebellious, \"I'm not going anywhere unless Carver--\"\n\nGray Doctor didn't let him finish, \"Carver is the father.\u0026nbsp; He is welcome to come, of course.\"\n\nWith little more to argue about, Max complied... but not until his partner's hand was in his.\u0026nbsp;   \nGray Doctor didn't bother swimming down the hall so neither did they.\u0026nbsp; Not another word was said   \nuntil they were in the lab and then it was just the Longos, thankfully providing some   \nexplanation about what was going on.\u0026nbsp; \"The tests I am going to run are non-invasive.\u0026nbsp; They will   \nconsist of scans exploring your body's response to the developing demi-fetus within you and will   \nculiminate with a simple blood draw.\u0026nbsp; Sit here please.\"\n\nMax was confused by Gray Doctor's word choice but took a seat in the strange device that looked   \nsimilar to a dentist chair. \"Demi-fetus?\"\n\nThe physician gave a click of affirmation as he aligned six metal arms with what looked like   \nflash bulbs at the end of each.\u0026nbsp; \"Yes.\u0026nbsp; The health and welfare of our students, both Phin and   \nHuman take precedence to all other concerns.\"\n\nCarver followed up to Max's question, \"What do you mean demi-fetus?\"\n\nGray Doctor let out a huffing-squeak from his blow-hole, a very dismissive sound.\u0026nbsp; \"Demi-  \nFetus... pseudo-fetus... quasi-fetus... we do not have a specific term dedicated to the anomaly   \nas of yet.\"\n\nEven though the Amplus was behind him and out of sight Max could tell by the Longos' expression   \nthat Carver was not pleased, and his follow up words in Phin confirmed it.\u0026nbsp; \"The baby.\"\n\nThe physician let out a double-click and made the Phin equivalent to a throat-clearing sound,   \n\"What I mean to say, Carver, is that what is growing within Max Snyder is not a fetus in the   \ntraditional sense.\u0026nbsp; It was required to remove Angel's developing offspring because it was   \nmerging with his body.\"\n\nMax sat up, \"Merging?\u0026nbsp; What do you mean?\"\n\nGray Doctor looked at him calmly, \"During a normal pregnancy a fetus is attached to the lining   \nof the uterus by--\"\n\nThe young man huffed, barely able to remain respectful despite his frustration. \"I KNOW about   \nnormal pregnancy... Sir.\"\n\n\"Ah.\u0026nbsp; Yes.\u0026nbsp; Very good.\u0026nbsp; Well, in this case, as a male that cannot develop a womb, the 'thing'   \ngrowing in--\"\n\nCarver let out a Phinine growl. \"The baby.\"\n\nGray Doctor let out a surprisingly human-sounding sigh of exasperation, \"The more time we spend   \narguing sematics the less time I will have to work on more important tasks.\"\n\nThe Amplus didn't back down, \"Fine.\u0026nbsp; Then call it a baby.\"\n\nThe Longos pointedly ignored Carver and leveled a critical gaze at Max, \"Max Snyder, what I am   \ntelling you is that your pregnancy will likely terminate in the same way as Angel's... and he   \nwas lucky to still be alive.\u0026nbsp; The BABY worked more as an aggressive form of cellular cancer than   \nan individually developing organism.\"\n\nMax stared back at Gray Doctor, \"Cancer?\"\n\n\"If you are unable to infer what I am asking based on that then I am afraid I cannot make things   \nany clearer.\"\n\nMax's hands shook as he folded them in his lap. \"You want to know if I still want to have the   \nbaby.\"\n\nGray Doctor let out a series of clicks indicating that he was frustrated with the young man's   \nresponse.\u0026nbsp; \"You will not be ABLE to have a baby, Max Snyder... if you are unwilling to have us   \nremove the developing GROWTH it WILL die and you may die as well.\"\n\nThe direct brutality with which the Longos leveled the prognosis was apparently enough to keep   \nCarver from comment, but he felt the Amplus rest a hand on his shoulder.\u0026nbsp; \"How long does he have   \nto decide?\"\n\nThe physician picked up a tablet and, without looking at it, set it back down.\u0026nbsp; \"I understand   \nthis can be an emotional moment, but you must realize we have little experience with male human   \nimpregnation.\u0026nbsp; If you are asking me for an answer I have none-- for an opinion?\u0026nbsp; I would say   \nbased on our experience with Angel that it would be best to resolve your reservation in a matter   \nof weeks, if not days.\"\n\n\\* \\* \\* \\* \\* \\*\n\nIt should have been an easy choice... that was how Gray Doctor made it sound, but Max was   \nsurprisingly uncertain.\u0026nbsp; When he first found out he was pregnant it was such a surprise he had   \nhonestly not understood how he could have survived the shock.\u0026nbsp; The original thought that crossed   \nhis mind was alarm, concern, and fear.\u0026nbsp; Those elements still remained but, having had weeks to   \nresolve the conflict in his mind he had just begun to come around to the idea of being a   \nmother... as strange as it had sounded.\u0026nbsp; Suddenly, the rug had been pulled out from beneath him   \nand he was left in a limbo of uncertainty.\n\nMax and Carver spent hours a night talking about it... and involved Watcher on one occasion.\u0026nbsp; In   \nthe end, all of the talking only presented less of a clear-cut picture of how to proceed.\u0026nbsp; A   \nweek of indecision passed before Gray Doctor called for him again but, unlike the first meeting,   \nCarver was asked to wait outside.\u0026nbsp; The Album immediately began to raise a fuss, but Max calmed   \nhim with a simple glance followed with a mellow, \"I'll be fine.\"\n\nOnce Max sat back down into the strange chair Gray Doctor walked around in front of him and   \nlowered himself down into the water so they could be face-to-face.\u0026nbsp; \"Max Snyder, I did not ask   \nthis before due to my concern that your answer may have been affected by having Carver in the   \nroom with you.\"\n\nThe Human was confused with the strange amount of empathy the otherwise stoic Phin had never   \nbefore presented.\u0026nbsp; \"Um... what's that?\"\n\n\"Are you being coerced into having this child?\"\n\nMax had no idea how to respond, so the obvious answer escaped him, \"What?\"\n\nGray Doctor picked up a tablet from the counter and began punching something into it, \"It is not   \nuncommon among Phin for a pregnant mother to be forced by her mate to have a child she may other   \nwise not want.\u0026nbsp; It is much more common among those of high wealth or status... and among the   \nAlbum.\"\n\nMax felt his whole face turn red in indigence, \"No.\u0026nbsp; If anything, Carver has been very   \nsupportive and says he wants me to be safe.\"\n\nThe Longos' demeanor returned immediately to neutral, \"I see.\u0026nbsp; Well, as I have said on many   \noccasions, the safety and health of our students is of the highest priority.\u0026nbsp; I will go collect   \nCarver and give you a few moments before we start on some precursory safety preparations.\"\n\nMax paused, but Gray Doctor had already left by the time he got the words out, \"Safety   \npreparations?\u0026nbsp; Why would...?\"\n\nThe physician was back a moment later with Carver in tow.\u0026nbsp; The Amplus was immediately at the   \nyoung man's side, \"Is everything okay?\"\n\nBefore they had a chance to speak further, Gray Doctor was making his way back across the room   \nwith a tray of various medical tools.\u0026nbsp; \"I consulted with a Human colleague back at the arrival   \nsite-- Doctor Frederick Townsend, the man who first inspected you after you emerged from the   \nGateway.\"\n\nIt took a moment for Max to recall the confusing events of the arrival, but an image of the   \nolder man's face came to mind and the discussion they'd had.\u0026nbsp; \"Yea... I remember him.\u0026nbsp; What'd he   \nhave to say?\"\n\n\"Dr. Townsend believes it is unsafe for you to continue carrying your... baby.\u0026nbsp; He also   \nindicated that he has on your file that you were undecided as to whether or not you wanted to   \nkeep it.\u0026nbsp; If that is the case, Max Snyder, why are we still waiting to remove it?\"\n\nMax didn't really know how to answer the question.\u0026nbsp; Thankfully, Carver spoke up in his stead,   \n\"Are there any alternatives if we-- if HE wants to keep it?\"\n\nThe young man reached out and took his partner's hand, \"It's OUR decision.\"\n\nGray Doctor glanced between the two but returned his gaze to Max, \"We have been exploring a   \nvariety of options for surrogates.\"\n\nMax blinked, \"You mean... like moving the baby from me into a Human woman?\"\n\nThe physician clicked affirmatively, \"It is merely conjecture at this stage, but yes... a Human   \nor a Phin.\"\n\nCarver gave Max's hand a squeeze, \"So... if we decide to keep him, then could you move him from   \nMax and into me?\"\n\nGray Doctor let out a discordant squeak: a unilateral negative.\u0026nbsp; \"This is still purely   \nhypothetical, Carver.\u0026nbsp; This is an unexplored horizon and we are the Centre are unwilling to   \nexecute something of this magnitude without proper testing.\"\n\nMax squeezed Carver's hand back.\u0026nbsp; He still didn't know what he wanted to do, but he liked the   \nidea of actually having options. \"What would it take to make something like that happen... if   \nthat's what we want to do?\"\n\nThe Longos was matter-of-fact with his answer. \"The board is going to meet to discuss it after   \nThe Crossing.\"\n\nMax had heard about The Crossing-- the only truly dangerous portion of the Water Earth's Unity   \nCentre's trip.\u0026nbsp; Most of the discussion about it had been in passing, but from what he'd managed   \nto gather involved a fourth breed of Phins.\u0026nbsp; \"Isn't that... I mean... that involves the Tikk,   \nright?\"\n\nThe 'Tikk' as the Humans called them, actually had a name that wasn't able to be translated in   \nany sense of a Human's vocal chords ability and they didn't want anything to do with Land-Earth,   \nhence never being given a latin-based name to their peoples.\u0026nbsp; They were a section of Phins that   \ndidn't agree with the idea that the two species should coexist and help one another prosper.\u0026nbsp;   \nAlso, from what Max had heard, they were actively hostile.\n\nCarver broke the silence with a single question. \"When IS the Crossing, Gray Doctor?\"\n\n\"Tomorrow.\"\n\n  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"Other Earths Series (Formerly \"The Cohen Loop\")","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/719306-the-cohen-loop-ch-2.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1343054-the-cohen-loop-ch-21.json"}}