FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The dream crossed twilight between birth and dying.

by Kantuck Nadie Nata-akon

A Story in my Terra storyworld.

A throaty bleat echoed through the chamber, surprising the scientists as they looked up.

"Postscript: Uplift subject 1004-Cervinoid now displaying encouraging signs of life after a non-responsive period of one minute and..." a quick watch check "22 seconds." He punched a control stopping the automated body-bagging, then tapping another to start full decontamination procedures. After all the problems and the subject displaying signs of life he was optimistic and wanted to maintain it this way. "Now, go on in, Gene," ordering his colleague.

Dr. Gene Robbarts walked in, amidst the continuous noise of pumps and hoses continuing to drain organic liquids from the growth tank. Inside the clear container, a human infant sized deer fawn kicked and squirmed, her head shaking out fluids from her long ears

After opening her home, Gene quickly sucked out the remaining fluids from the fawns nose and mouth with a rubber bulb, then she took her second, and first deep breath.

The infant's, he noted, dark fur was matted and soaked with amniotic fluid, outlining the unusual looking baby. Glowing white spots dotting over her spine, hooves on her back covered with a thick layer of skin but sized correctly. She shook her head a few more times to clean out her ears, and her tail flicked and wagged too as she was stimulated to move for the first time. He continued to massage and dry her making her coat brighten and puff out.

"How is it, Gene?" the older scientist questioned over the intercom.

As he carefully picked up the baby, he answered "She looks good, sir. Computer, begin recording: Undertaking the comprehensive examination." From the towel, he exposed a leg and gently pulled it outwards. Happy at the indicated strength when she attempted pulling it away. "Legs are strong. The bottom cloven hoof's eponychium is beginning to shrink and crack. Hooves appear normal and the right projected size." Then carefully squeezing the eponychium on her front hooves, "I think the paws are as projected; two fingers; two thumbs, and undoubtedly appears the dew claws was successfully re-structured." Finally using an old-school caliper he measured her head. "The skull is standard human size."

Holding her in his arms, he carried her to the glass while the older researcher looked down at them. "Well, if it cried after a minute twenty-two then it may live."

The intern just nodded, cleaning her off a bit more as she squirmed a bit in his arms. "Shhh...it's okay little fawn. Your unaware of it,"he said soothingly in a soft baby talk, "but you may be ensured of an amazing future ahead of you."

The fawn's black eyes blinked up at the human, her ears perking forward then pulling back before attempting to suckle on Gene's finger when he inserted it in her mouth. He chuckled a bit, but then sadly looked at the other scientist when he angerly announced over the intercom.

"It's an it, Gene, don't get emotionally attached. There's a reasonable chance it won't live more than a day or two, none of the other created have."

"Yes Dr. Neube. But the alternative techniques you tried seemed to work." He looked down at her, "She seems as well formed as all of the other species."

"Perhaps, but we still need to carefully scan for any abnormalities. Therefore place it in an incubator, feed it, and lets go to the scanning room. We'll administer a full series of objective tests."

"Very well Sir." Gene rocked the fawn gently, "Is there a foster family already picked out?"

"Yes, Drs. Steven Wolfe and Mary Hughes have unanimously agreed. They're next in line anyway."

Gene put the fawn into an incubator to keep her warm. A nipple was promptly presented, and she naturally started suckling on it with noisy slurps. The door opened while he carefully rolled the fawn into the adjacent room, and when Dr. Neube was beside, he put a gentle hand on Gene's shoulder.

"I'm sorry Gene. I'm just keeping you from attaching anymore than you are.

He turned and smiled "Much obliged Dr. Neube. Maybe someday I'll be allowed to raise one."

"You secured a bright future. Your moving up the middle class. Student debts are under control, and your insight on the gene-engineering problems we encountered, will gain you serious respect. Remember, the company is bullish on progress, but I'll do all I can to keep you with me, and continue your training. He smiled some at him, "You'll make it." he paused asking "Your fiance, she is genetically and mentally superior, yes?

He nodded eagerly, "She is. Her latest genetic tests and mine suggest a child will ultimately grow up with a high IQ rating." he looked down, a wry grin, "Of course the biggest problem will be getting them into the best schools." He then looked at him "We're sincerely hoping you'll accept being the child's godfather. Your name alone will be a big help."

Dr. Neube smiled broadly at the thought. "Well Gene, I'd be delighted too if your children are as brilliant as you. Bring Rachael over for dinner some evening, I'd like to get to know her better."

While they were walking into the other room, the fawn bleated again softly, then Dr. Neube chuckled a bit, "It - she..." he admitted, "is sweet." He considered Gene, "I do regret this but if she represent the mother of the current Cervinoid species, then she'll have a new area of sales ahead of her. Hopefully far better than the countless others."

Gene looked at the doctor, surpised at the concept. "What sort of area, Doctor? I naturally thought they all were destined to the standard military or menial labor?"

He shook his head as they stepped into the scanning room "Nope. The company has been getting calls for domestic work in residential homes. Canids have been diverted that way now that their costs has dropped, so people want another species. Of course they'll charge a much higher price for Cervinoids. Especially to recoup the longer development time for them."

"And of course means a higher profit for our company." Gene smiled to him, "At least for the first twenty years or so."

He chuckled delightedly "That's how society works, Gene."

He nodded at last, "At least it'll be better for the Cervinoids to be domestic."

"By all means it would." he paused, as he flicked on the scanners, "Computer begin recording: Subject 1004-Cervinoid female, Alive. Official birth 1 April 2135; 0833 hours..."

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Epilogue:

A month later, Mary held the fawn in her arms, it's swaddling blankets keeping her warm as she laid their quietly. Her big brown eyes looking up at Mary, while she stroked her tiny muzzle and ear "Steven, can we name her after my mother?"

He smiled at his wife, "Only if one of her names will be after /my mother/.

She giggled softly, "Ok, little girl, you will be known as Ahni Jessica. Welcome to your new family!"

The fawn just gurgled a bit, grunted and bleated. As she looked around flicking her large ears, she caught sight of another; her eyes still not able to make out details but it was a face. The human infant then looked at his new sister. A big smile came on his face, as he babbled and cooed.

The end