She went to the pod center alone. Mark was at a conference. Ellis was on his lunch break. The security cameras could be looped with a device Sasha had given her — a small black button that cost three months’ salary on the black market.
Mark stared. “That’s… that’s not how it works anymore, Rae. You know that.” The Pod Generation
Outside, the pods still hummed in a million homes, growing a million children. Progress was not a straight line. But neither was love. She went to the pod center alone
Ellis smiled gently. “The pod is designed to mimic the ideal uterine environment. Better, actually. No stress hormones, no maternal health fluctuations, no nutritional gaps. The fetus develops in perfect homeostasis.” The security cameras could be looped with a
Mark was quiet for a long time. Then he sat beside her, put his arm around her shoulders, and rested his head against hers.
The pod went dark. The alarms began to blare. But Rachel had already unlatched the lid, reached into the warm, gel-like fluid, and lifted her daughter out.