I hope P&P will be as popular in 100 years' time as now. This is my first P&P science fan fiction. Hope you enjoy it. There are 4 parts. Enid
Mars vs. Earth – Part 1
"Why would you want to visit Earth?" Fitzwilliam Darcy was puzzled by the plan of his friend Charles Bingley.
"I am investigating a new reproductive method, combining cloning with traditional fusion of sperm and egg."
"Can't you investigate it here?"
"As you know, female clones in Mars don't have eggs and wombs."
"I'm not suggesting that. We have females from Earth emigrated here."
"The hypothesis of my research is to extract the fusion from the womb of an Earth woman before it develops any problem and then clone it. The clone will go through gene optimization. We will improve it genetically with for example a telepathic ability. Then the traditional embryo and the clone will be replanted into the woman's womb for development or it can also be allowed to grow in a laboratory environment."
"You want to increase our population with such an experiment?"
"Yep! Most of those who are pure clones like yourself delay cloning to reproduce offspring. Because some don't even see the need or benefit of having an offspring. And for most of the Mars and Earth couples, because of their genetic makeup, they are lucky to even be able to produce one offspring. Thus, our population is decreasing rapidly. As a reproductive scientist, I am trying to find a way to increase the population. If every fusion of egg and sperm is cloned, then we have the possibility of doubling the population."
"Would Mars and Earth couples agree to such a procedure?"
"Many of them do want to and have tried unsuccessfully to produce offspring."
"I wonder if it would be easier to just create a law that would enforce pure clones to have offspring."
"You know that would cause political unrest. Pure clones who are similar to you having such superior thinking can't be forced to do any thing they don't want to do."
"I agree. So then what is the problem with the experiment so far?"
"I have experimented with some female Earth migrants. For some unknown reasons, the clones didn't grow in or attach to their wombs. They didn't grow in the laboratory environment either. As we only have married Earth females here, I have been wondering if the experiment may succeed with unmarried Earth females."
"I think that only shows the defects of the embryos of Mars and Earth couples. They normally cannot survive on their own nor can their clones either."
"At the moment, a Martian can only select certain Earth females to marry, like with a certain height, IQ or weight. If we relax the restrictions, we may be able to have more success in the reproduction of offspring among Mars and Earth couples."
"But that will pollute the gene pool in Mars!"
"Better pollute it than annihilate it."
"Mmm, I'm not 100 convinced. Also, can't you import an unmarried female from Earth?"
"That is against the commandments of Mars."
"But you are doing it for the purpose of scientific investigation."
"I've applied for an unmarried Earth woman but was refused. You can ask your Uncle Andrew to change the commandments. He is the High Commander here."
"He can't do that personally. Changes to commandments require complicated procedures. Why would you want me to go with you?"
"I suspect I am a deformed mixed clone. I never feel right to live alone. I never like to travel alone, work alone nor eat alone. I need company." Darcy saw Charles flash a grin.
"And you like pretty females, clone or Earth ones! I wonder why you haven't cloned for a dozen offspring already. But I'm a not a deformed mixed clone," Darcy replied, "I feel normal to do everything alone. So why would I want to go with you?"
"Because I am your friend and I am asking you nicely."
"Those aren't logical reasons. Request denied."
"Ok, well then because you're an environmentalist. You can study the environmental changes in Earth. Maybe the issues there will give you some inspirations to solve future problems in Mars."
"This is a better reason. Request accepted."
A few weeks later, Bingley and Darcy set off to Earth in Bingley's luxurious space ship called Netherfield. He rented a parking dock in an Earth international delegation area, Meryton, for three months. He had 3-years of essential supplies from Mars in the space ship. He also brought along some Earth outerwear for himself and his partner Fitzwilliam Darcy. This ship was also a fully equipped laboratory for his experiments, too.
"Mr. Bingley, welcome to the reception area of the Meryton Delegation. This is my wife Fanny Bennet, my eldest daughter Jane and second eldest Elizabeth. Our three youngest daughters are somewhere around. Here are our neighbours, Miss Caroline Bingley and Miss Charlotte Lucas."
"How do you do, Miss Bingley? What a coincidence! We have the same surname."
"Exactly. Maybe we were related many decades ago."
"That could be true. My family's Earth history can be traced back to 1700. We only emigrated to Mars in 2087, not like my friend Darcy here, his family has been established in Mars since 2058. And he is a pure clone too." Darcy saw Charles pointing to him. Darcy was standing a few steps away from the group. He seldom felt normal in a big group especially among strangers.
"How exciting! I am honoured to make your acquaintance, Mr. Darcy. You are the first long-time Martian dweller I have met," Darcy couldn't help noticing Miss Bingley rushing to his side to give him an Earth greeting. He was touched on the mouth by her wet lips. He didn't like the smell of her breath so he moved a step backward, trying hard not to raise his hand to wipe his mouth. He then gave her a Martian greeting, touching her brow with his index finger, "How do you do, Miss Bingley?"
He heard a muffled sound from the far right hand side of the group. He turned and saw the dark haired second daughter of Mr. Bennet trying to stifle a laugh. I wonder if she is laughing at Miss Bingley or me?
"Miss Jane, would you like to go for a ride with me on my mini-Netherfield?" Darcy heard Bingley ask the tall blond, as he rolled his eyes thinking, Bingley is truly deformed! He has cloning weakness for pretty females, no matter if they are from Mars or Earth.
"What is a mini-Netherfield?" Darcy heard Miss Elizabeth ask.
"It is a mini version of my space ship, suitable for two persons. After I take your sister for a ride, I will be happy to show you too, Miss Elizabeth."
Darcy walked near Bingley and whispered to him, "Come now , Bingley! She is only 158 cm in height, not tall enough according to Martian standard. Go for Miss Bingley. She is 179 cm."
Bingley turned to give him a hush. Apparently Darcy had said the words louder than he intended, because most of the people in the group heard him. He received a menacing glare from Elizabeth. Her family gasped while Caroline smiled smugly.
Bingley quickly diverted everyone's attention by asking Jane again. After he had gone off with Jane, Darcy heard Mrs. Bennet asked in a high-pitched voice, "Mr. Darcy, did you bring along your space ship too?"
"No, I came with Bingley on the Netherfield."
"Oh, so you don't have a mini to take my other daughters for a ride then."
"No." Darcy didn't bother to tell her that one of his assistants would soon bring his Pemberley ship later on to Earth.
"Mr. Darcy, please allow me to show you around Meryton Delegation," Darcy was surprised that he was being pulled away from the group by Miss Bingley.
"Mr. Darcy, I am really delighted to meet you today. As you said, I am quite tall. In fact, I'm the tallest woman in the whole of Meryton. I'm also the richest single woman here. I finished 16 years of scientific education and have been managing my brother's estate for nearly four years."
Why would I want to know all that?Darcy thought as he rolled his eyes but instead replied, "Thank you for the background information." He then followed Caroline around Meryton, giving brief curt responses to her endless chatter.
Most Martian females who wanted to clone with males liked to throw themselves at Darcy. He was known as a pure clone from a family long established on the planet owning a large estate, a high powered career and had excellent genetics. He was tall and his chest was broad. Female clones loved his money and were sure any offspring cloned with him would be superior in height, intelligence and other aspects. Occasionally, even some married Earth females tried their charms on him.
At 30, Darcy didn't like the fawning tactics of most females. He didn't see the need to undergo cloning for offspring, either by mixed cloning with a Martian female or solo cloning by himself. He particularly didn't see any benefit of having a traditional fusion with an Earth female. He had read enough to know that traditional fusion, which people on Earth called lovemaking, was a messy endeavour. The quality of offspring produced was unpredictable usually resulting with inferior offspring. Darcy had grown immune to the arts and allurements of Caroline's type of females. . He simply shut down at least 80 of his receptive communication system every time she opened her mouth.
Finally, she finished the tour then brought Darcy back to the group; but Bingley and Jane were still nowhere to be seen.
"Lizzy, you must be quick to take Mr. Darcy to the observatory deck! I'm sure Caroline hasn't shown him that area of Meryton, because she never wants the wind to mess up her hair," Mrs. Bennet said in a sly tone.
On no! Not another tour! Where is the blasted Bingley? He must be enjoying himself with Jane. Can't Earth females leave me alone? I hate being fawned over especially by Earth females! Darcy remained silence keeping his thoughts to himself. He was still embarrassed about commenting on Elizabeth's height in front of everyone. So he followed her to the observatory deck without saying a word.
This Earth woman was a contrast to Caroline. She didn't say a word to him. When they reached the far end of the deck, she just held onto the railing, gazed into the horizon seemingly lost in her own thoughts. That piqued Darcy's curiosity. Why doesn't she 'sell' her virtues to me like other females do? Is she still angry with me? Or is she abnormal?
She doesn't appear to look abnormal. She must be still angry with me?
"Miss Bennet…sorry… about the remark earlier … about your height," Darcy tried to maintain his normal ultra-cool manner. He rarely needed to apologize to anyone in his life so he was very uncomfortable about doing so now. But he was a fair person. He wanted to make amends after criticizing her in front of others.
"You spoke the truth, so why bother to apologize? I know I am not qualified to emigrate to Mars."
"Not unless as Bingley said the commandments are relaxed," Darcy was surprised that he would even entertain such a thought.
"My father told me Mr. Bingley was a reproduction scientist and you were an environmentalist. What do you think of our water problem here?"
Another first, she's actually interested in the environment, not me!Darcy was thinking about how different she acted, but before he could give her an answer, a series of explosions was heard then the floor of the deck shook.
"We are under attacked!" Elizabeth shouted as she held out her hand to pull pulled Darcy to run away. Before they could reach the gates into the Delegation area, another shot was heard and she cursed loudly.
"Were you shot?"
"Just grazed, not serious. Let's run."
Darcy saw that the underside of her right breast was shot but she didn't seem to be in too much pain. They continued to run towards the gate. But it didn't open automatically.
"Damn! It won't open when the Delegation area is under attack."
"We are too exposed."
"Let's go around to the back. There is an entrance tube to slide down to the survival area."
As they hurriedly ran around. Darcy asked, "How do we open it?"
He saw Elizabeth zip open the top of her tight yellow body suit. She pulled a cross out, breaking it from the necklace and plugged it into the matching hole on the ground. The ground moved. A circular piece of it moved aside to reveal a shaft. The downward drop was not very sharp but it seemed to be bottomless.
Sitting on the edge of the entrance tube they pushed themselves off and then began sliding down into what seemed like a bottomless black hole. Finally their fall was stopped at the bottom, which was padded with soft spongey material. Elizabeth pulled Darcy up to again run around a few dimly lighted corridors that were sectioned with more gates. At every gate, she would use the cross to open it. Finally they reached the survival area.
The survival area was like a small opened area apartment. It was painted bright white and equipped with furniture, supplies and everything needed for emergencies.
"Let's check the computer to see who is attacking us." Elizabeth sat down on a cushioned chair in front of the monitor screen .
"You are bleeding. Shouldn't you stop that first?" Darcy sat opposite her on a chair.
Darcy saw her looked at herself. There was blood staining her yellow body suit. She zipped down the tight top further, all the way down the waist. Then she pulled the top of the body suit from her shoulder and arm and exposed her right upper body.
Darcy's eyes widened. Nudity in both men and women was frown upon in Mars. He couldn't seem to take his eyes off her. Blood was sipping from the underside. It was not serious but it was not a small wound.
"Can you get me the first aid box over there on your left?"
Darcy was startled by her voice. He diverted his eyes from her body, followed her instruction, found the box and gave it to her. She put the box between her thighs, opened it and took out a clear bottle. She screwed it open, poured some liquid onto a piece of cloth and pressed it onto the wound with her left hand. She let out a grasp.
"Can you find a padding roll gauze for me?"
He found the gauze and handed the roll out to her.
"I couldn't wrap my hands around myself. You have to do that for me."
Darcy swallowed again and said, "But you have to push the other side of your body suit down too."
After wrapping two rounds around her body, he tied the gauze tightly. Before he pulled himself away from her, he made the mistake of looking up from the gauze to her. She was beautiful.
He let out a groan, unable to stop himself and wrapped one arm around her waist and lowered his mouth to kiss her.
"What are you doing?" He heard her yelled and pushed his shoulders away. Darcy was caught off guard and stumbled backward and sat on the floor.
"I thought pure male clones from Mars didn't have human urges! Are you a fake?"
Never in his life had Darcy been questioned about his purity. He stood up to his full height and said arrogantly, "You should study harder at school, Miss Bennet. Pure male clones from Mars are direct descendents of men who emigrated from Earth. The only difference is we have been improved throughout the decades in almost all aspects of our body and mind. We are far more intelligent. We have more strength. We are taller and handsomer. We didn't engage in messy love making in Mars because there was no need for it. It didn't mean we couldn't do it. In fact my male power may be too much for an Earth female like you. "
"What do you know about my woman power? Oh, I'm so afraid!"
"Are you saying you are one of those free Earth females, who sleep with any man on Earth and any passing traveler from Space?"
"I am no such female!"
"And yet, you bare your body to tempt me."
"Nudity is not frowned upon on Earth. I just need your help with the dressing, not your dirty hands on my body."
Darcy's temper flared another notch, "I am a pure Martian clone! If you use 'dirty' to describe me again, I will…"
"You will what? Put your dirty hands on my neck and strangle me?"
Darcy felt his chest explode. This Earth woman was infuriating. She was a mere Earth woman, not tall enough, not pretty enough and probably not intelligent enough and yet she piqued his curiosity and challenged him. He needed to do something.
"I will spank you like young children are punished on Earth."
"Your reading is outdated, silly Martian! That practice was outlawed decades ago."
Darcy finally exploded. He charged near her and picked her up by the waist. He heard her screamed. She pounded his chest with her tiny fists. He sat down on the sofa and flipped her to lie on her stomach on his laps. She tried to raise her upper body and struggled to get out of his laps. He used one hand to hold her upper body down and then spanked her butt.
She yelped. That startled him. Darcy had never used force in his life. His anger subsided immediately. He looked at the little woman on his laps. She had turned her face and glared at him. Eyes glittered with anger. Suddenly, a loud sound was heard through a computer.
"Elizabeth, are you ok down in the survival area? Are you with the Martian visitor Darcy?"
Darcy froze. Elizabeth took advantage of the situation and rolled from him onto the floor. She stood up and pulled the body suit from her thighs up to cover herself.
"Yes, dad! I'm fine. Mr. Darcy is with me. Who's attacking us?"
"Some bad guys from Jupiter, it seems."
"Is Jane ok? Is she still with Mr. Bingley?"
"They are fine. The mini docked at London Delegation area."
"When can we come up?"
"They are still bombarding us and several delegation areas. So you can't come up yet. Just enjoy yourself down there. I will let you know once it is safe. I got to go for an emergency meeting now."
"Enjoy ourselves?" Darcy whispered. He gazed intently at Elizabeth and saw a lovely red spread through her face.
To be continued…