I might bring Samantha back in a later chapter if I keep writing this story
that long. The next part is going to be about Zack's childhood at
Manticore. Thank you to Zombiegurl98 and tabitha5 for your reviews.
The Story of Zack
Chapter 1 – A Mother's Money – Part 3
When Samantha came too she didn't feel any different. She climbed out of bed and crossed the room to look at herself in the mirror. Her hair looked a mess and she had dark circles under her eyes. Samantha laughed at herself. In nine months time she was going to give birth and here she was worrying about such trivial things as her appearance. She was still wearing a hospital gown so she changed into her ordinary clothes and sat back down on the bed with a puzzle book. Several minutes later there was a knock on the door and a smiling Claire entered. "You're awake, good. How are you feeling?" she asked. "Fine, kind of the same as yesterday," Samantha replied with a shrug of her shoulders. "It will take time to get used to the fact that you're pregnant. I've got three things for you here," Claire told her as she reached inside the bag she was carrying. "I've got your copy of the contract, here it is." In the first week at the facility Samantha had been asked to sign a contract which stated that once she gave birth then she would have to hand her baby over to the workers of Project Manticore and she would receive the money she was owed. Samantha had signed it without a second thought. "Here's some pills that the doctors want you to take, and when I was in town yesterday I saw this and thought of you," she handed her the meds and a poster. Samantha quickly swallowed the pills and then unrolled the poster. It was a picture of a gorgeous guy, wearing just jeans and a sexy smile. He had the best-looking six-pack Samantha had ever seen. His left hand lay invitingly on the top of his jeans. Samantha roared with laughter and took the Blu Tack that Claire handed her. "Well I'm glad you like it. Are you ready for breakfast or do you need a bit longer?" Claire asked. "I'm ready. I'll deal with him later," she laughed and followed Claire out the door. Just as she was leaving she turned and looked back into her room. 'Well, this is it,' she thought, 'my first day as an expectant mother.'
The first months of Samantha's pregnancy went smoothly. Everyday she would get up around 8 o'clock, get washed and dressed, eat breakfast and swallow an assortment of pills. She had no idea what was in them or what they were for but she took them without hesitation. After that she would spend a couple of hours with doctors having gene therapy and tests run none of which she particularly minded. After the tests there was lunch and then she had the rest of the day to do what she wanted. She was encouraged to take lots of exercise and she did. Her favourite activity involved watching the soldiers on the base doing drills. Watching a load of fit, muscular men doing press ups and sprinting around was just about the best kind of entertainment Samantha could have wished for. She occasionally found herself yearning to get to know them better. After her afternoon of fun came dinner, then an early night, usually around nine or ten. Her first three months were simple and Samantha enjoyed them. The people she did have contact with were friendly and helpful and Claire was always there if she needed someone to talk too. Her pregnancy was going smoothly and the baby was growing fine.
Four and a half months into her pregnancy she felt the baby kick. She had just come out of a gene therapy session and was just saying hello to Claire when it happened. She gently pressed her growing stomach where she had felt the tiniest pressure, like a weak pulse beating. The baby kicked regularly after that and Samantha was surprised at how quickly the kicks became strong until they were so bad that she needed something to dull the pain. She was concerned now about taking pills because she was worried that they might damage the child she was carrying, but she assumed that the doctors knew best, so said nothing.
About seven and a half months into her pregnancy, other young women her age arrived. There were twenty altogether and all of them looked nervous and unsure when she first saw them. Claire had asked her if she could look after them a bit, their first few months there and Samantha said yes. She was glad that now she would finally get some more company, not that Claire wasn't fun, but someone her own age. She met them with Claire at the same entrance she had passed through several months before. She took them, with Claire, up to their rooms then into the common room that had been put aside for them. Samantha got on well with several of them but there was one in particular that she liked. She had curly brown hair and a pleasant smile. She had an edge to her though, like she wasn't quite willing to do this but knew she had to. Her name was Angela Mildston.
Samantha spent a lot of time with the new girls, helping them to settle in to their new routine. She and Angela got on really well and were very good friends. About a month after the new girls arrived they were inseminated. Samantha had around two weeks to go before she gave birth. She was looking forward to being in the out-side world again but she was having second thoughts about leaving her child with the workers of Project Manticore. But she knew that it wasn't her child. It was theirs.
One night a couple of days before Samantha was due, she and Angela had a very serious talk. Angela told her that she was having strong feelings for the child she was carrying, very strong feelings. She wasn't sure that she would be able to give it up when it came to it. Samantha advised her never to voice her opinion on it to anybody else. She told Angela that it wasn't her child and that even though she was having feelings for it she couldn't keep it, it would be impractical and how much did Angela really know about looking after a child. Samantha knew that she was trying to convince herself more than Angela. It worked, but only just.
Three days later Samantha went into labour. She was talking with Claire, saying what she was going to do when she got out. Samantha didn't have a clue but she told Claire that she was going to get a flat and a job. Suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her large stomach. "Claire, I, I, never mind," Samantha wasn't sure if the baby was coming or she just had a stomach ache or something. She really didn't want to give birth because she knew that after that the child would definitely not be hers. "What is it Samantha, do you think that you are going into labour?" Claire asked excitedly. "Maybe, I felt a sharp pain in my stomach, it could have been nothing." Just as Samantha said that she felt something warm and wet on her leg. "Ok, definitely going into labour. My legs are wet," she told Claire. Claire whipped out her walky-talky and said into it, "Alpha one has started, repeat, Alpha one has started. Taking her to Labour Room One." Samantha followed Claire as she took her down several corridors then into a room where several doctors were already waiting. They all looked excited, Samantha guessed it was because they had been waiting for her to give birth ever since she had arrived and now it was finally happening. She was sat down in the medical cot in the room and a nurse helped her change into a medical gown. Her contractions were becoming more frequent and were hurting more. One of the doctors examined her and told the others that she was only four centimetres dilated. "What does that mean," she cried as another contraction hit her hard. "You need to be ten before you can start pushing," Claire told her. 'Oh great,' thought Samantha,' another six to go then it will all be over.' But for some reason she didn't want it to be.
Finally, four hours later she was dilated ten centimetres. She screamed when it was time to push. It really hurt her but she kept pushing. Claire was there with her holding her hand and telling her to keep pushing. It felt like hot pokers were being pressed against her skin but still she did not stop pushing. And, it was over. She heard the tiny cry of the baby and she felt Claire next to her, telling her how well she had done. Samantha was focussing on none of this. Through the glass panel on her left she could see Lydecker. He had been to see her several times – always approachable and friendly. But there was something in his eyes and expression now that terrified Samantha. He looked so pleased with himself, almost greedy . . . no, more than that, triumphant! Samantha felt shivers down her spine. In that instant, looking at the man who would be in charge of her child, she knew she no longer wanted to leave her precious son. The feeling was so powerful, so intense, that she couldn't say anything. As the doctors took her back to her room, she still couldn't say anything. And after they had given her something to help her sleep she still couldn't say anything. The overwhelming and unexpected feelings of love and of the need to protect her beautiful son were so strong that they choked her.
After she came too, and the days following that, she said nothing of what she was feeling. She was checked over by doctors several times but there was no need because there was nothing wrong with her except a broken heart, because she knew that she couldn't take her child with her when she left. She loved her son with every fibre of her being wanted to fight for him, but deep down she knew that she couldn't. There was nothing she could give her son.
A week after giving birth, Samantha was leaving. She said goodbye to all the girls still expecting and wished them all luck. She said goodbye to Claire and several of the other personnel who she had got to know. She was just heading out the gate when she saw Lydecker. "Goodbye Samantha," he said briefly "and good luck in your new life." Those words were enough. As soon as Lydecker had spoken them, she knew that she had to go back for her child. There was no way that she could abandon him in the hands of this evil, untrusting man. But common sense prevailed. She knew the lay-out of the base and could guess were he would be. She could find him and take him away. They could start a new life with the money she had been paid. But what sort of life would it be? A life on the run, forever looking over their shoulders. Never being free, never being able to settle down and let her son be a normal child. And what could she do for her son? Her breast milk had dried up, as would the money she had. She couldn't survive on it looking after her son. She wouldn't be able to have a job while he was young. She didn't even know how to take care of a child and being with him would put him in danger. She could give him nothing except her love and was that enough? She smiled at Lydecker and walked through the gate. She never returned to the base.
X5 599 lay in his crib crying quietly, his tiny fists clenched. His journey just beginning.
Several weeks later the body of an eighteen year old woman was found floating in a river 50 miles from Gillette. The woman was identified as Samantha Martin and she consequently dropped off the Manticore radar screen. But the real Samantha Martin was alive and well and fully intended to take advantage of this unexpected circumstance. When the time was right, no matter how long it took, she would be reunited with her son.
The Story of Zack
Chapter 1 – A Mother's Money – Part 3
When Samantha came too she didn't feel any different. She climbed out of bed and crossed the room to look at herself in the mirror. Her hair looked a mess and she had dark circles under her eyes. Samantha laughed at herself. In nine months time she was going to give birth and here she was worrying about such trivial things as her appearance. She was still wearing a hospital gown so she changed into her ordinary clothes and sat back down on the bed with a puzzle book. Several minutes later there was a knock on the door and a smiling Claire entered. "You're awake, good. How are you feeling?" she asked. "Fine, kind of the same as yesterday," Samantha replied with a shrug of her shoulders. "It will take time to get used to the fact that you're pregnant. I've got three things for you here," Claire told her as she reached inside the bag she was carrying. "I've got your copy of the contract, here it is." In the first week at the facility Samantha had been asked to sign a contract which stated that once she gave birth then she would have to hand her baby over to the workers of Project Manticore and she would receive the money she was owed. Samantha had signed it without a second thought. "Here's some pills that the doctors want you to take, and when I was in town yesterday I saw this and thought of you," she handed her the meds and a poster. Samantha quickly swallowed the pills and then unrolled the poster. It was a picture of a gorgeous guy, wearing just jeans and a sexy smile. He had the best-looking six-pack Samantha had ever seen. His left hand lay invitingly on the top of his jeans. Samantha roared with laughter and took the Blu Tack that Claire handed her. "Well I'm glad you like it. Are you ready for breakfast or do you need a bit longer?" Claire asked. "I'm ready. I'll deal with him later," she laughed and followed Claire out the door. Just as she was leaving she turned and looked back into her room. 'Well, this is it,' she thought, 'my first day as an expectant mother.'
The first months of Samantha's pregnancy went smoothly. Everyday she would get up around 8 o'clock, get washed and dressed, eat breakfast and swallow an assortment of pills. She had no idea what was in them or what they were for but she took them without hesitation. After that she would spend a couple of hours with doctors having gene therapy and tests run none of which she particularly minded. After the tests there was lunch and then she had the rest of the day to do what she wanted. She was encouraged to take lots of exercise and she did. Her favourite activity involved watching the soldiers on the base doing drills. Watching a load of fit, muscular men doing press ups and sprinting around was just about the best kind of entertainment Samantha could have wished for. She occasionally found herself yearning to get to know them better. After her afternoon of fun came dinner, then an early night, usually around nine or ten. Her first three months were simple and Samantha enjoyed them. The people she did have contact with were friendly and helpful and Claire was always there if she needed someone to talk too. Her pregnancy was going smoothly and the baby was growing fine.
Four and a half months into her pregnancy she felt the baby kick. She had just come out of a gene therapy session and was just saying hello to Claire when it happened. She gently pressed her growing stomach where she had felt the tiniest pressure, like a weak pulse beating. The baby kicked regularly after that and Samantha was surprised at how quickly the kicks became strong until they were so bad that she needed something to dull the pain. She was concerned now about taking pills because she was worried that they might damage the child she was carrying, but she assumed that the doctors knew best, so said nothing.
About seven and a half months into her pregnancy, other young women her age arrived. There were twenty altogether and all of them looked nervous and unsure when she first saw them. Claire had asked her if she could look after them a bit, their first few months there and Samantha said yes. She was glad that now she would finally get some more company, not that Claire wasn't fun, but someone her own age. She met them with Claire at the same entrance she had passed through several months before. She took them, with Claire, up to their rooms then into the common room that had been put aside for them. Samantha got on well with several of them but there was one in particular that she liked. She had curly brown hair and a pleasant smile. She had an edge to her though, like she wasn't quite willing to do this but knew she had to. Her name was Angela Mildston.
Samantha spent a lot of time with the new girls, helping them to settle in to their new routine. She and Angela got on really well and were very good friends. About a month after the new girls arrived they were inseminated. Samantha had around two weeks to go before she gave birth. She was looking forward to being in the out-side world again but she was having second thoughts about leaving her child with the workers of Project Manticore. But she knew that it wasn't her child. It was theirs.
One night a couple of days before Samantha was due, she and Angela had a very serious talk. Angela told her that she was having strong feelings for the child she was carrying, very strong feelings. She wasn't sure that she would be able to give it up when it came to it. Samantha advised her never to voice her opinion on it to anybody else. She told Angela that it wasn't her child and that even though she was having feelings for it she couldn't keep it, it would be impractical and how much did Angela really know about looking after a child. Samantha knew that she was trying to convince herself more than Angela. It worked, but only just.
Three days later Samantha went into labour. She was talking with Claire, saying what she was going to do when she got out. Samantha didn't have a clue but she told Claire that she was going to get a flat and a job. Suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her large stomach. "Claire, I, I, never mind," Samantha wasn't sure if the baby was coming or she just had a stomach ache or something. She really didn't want to give birth because she knew that after that the child would definitely not be hers. "What is it Samantha, do you think that you are going into labour?" Claire asked excitedly. "Maybe, I felt a sharp pain in my stomach, it could have been nothing." Just as Samantha said that she felt something warm and wet on her leg. "Ok, definitely going into labour. My legs are wet," she told Claire. Claire whipped out her walky-talky and said into it, "Alpha one has started, repeat, Alpha one has started. Taking her to Labour Room One." Samantha followed Claire as she took her down several corridors then into a room where several doctors were already waiting. They all looked excited, Samantha guessed it was because they had been waiting for her to give birth ever since she had arrived and now it was finally happening. She was sat down in the medical cot in the room and a nurse helped her change into a medical gown. Her contractions were becoming more frequent and were hurting more. One of the doctors examined her and told the others that she was only four centimetres dilated. "What does that mean," she cried as another contraction hit her hard. "You need to be ten before you can start pushing," Claire told her. 'Oh great,' thought Samantha,' another six to go then it will all be over.' But for some reason she didn't want it to be.
Finally, four hours later she was dilated ten centimetres. She screamed when it was time to push. It really hurt her but she kept pushing. Claire was there with her holding her hand and telling her to keep pushing. It felt like hot pokers were being pressed against her skin but still she did not stop pushing. And, it was over. She heard the tiny cry of the baby and she felt Claire next to her, telling her how well she had done. Samantha was focussing on none of this. Through the glass panel on her left she could see Lydecker. He had been to see her several times – always approachable and friendly. But there was something in his eyes and expression now that terrified Samantha. He looked so pleased with himself, almost greedy . . . no, more than that, triumphant! Samantha felt shivers down her spine. In that instant, looking at the man who would be in charge of her child, she knew she no longer wanted to leave her precious son. The feeling was so powerful, so intense, that she couldn't say anything. As the doctors took her back to her room, she still couldn't say anything. And after they had given her something to help her sleep she still couldn't say anything. The overwhelming and unexpected feelings of love and of the need to protect her beautiful son were so strong that they choked her.
After she came too, and the days following that, she said nothing of what she was feeling. She was checked over by doctors several times but there was no need because there was nothing wrong with her except a broken heart, because she knew that she couldn't take her child with her when she left. She loved her son with every fibre of her being wanted to fight for him, but deep down she knew that she couldn't. There was nothing she could give her son.
A week after giving birth, Samantha was leaving. She said goodbye to all the girls still expecting and wished them all luck. She said goodbye to Claire and several of the other personnel who she had got to know. She was just heading out the gate when she saw Lydecker. "Goodbye Samantha," he said briefly "and good luck in your new life." Those words were enough. As soon as Lydecker had spoken them, she knew that she had to go back for her child. There was no way that she could abandon him in the hands of this evil, untrusting man. But common sense prevailed. She knew the lay-out of the base and could guess were he would be. She could find him and take him away. They could start a new life with the money she had been paid. But what sort of life would it be? A life on the run, forever looking over their shoulders. Never being free, never being able to settle down and let her son be a normal child. And what could she do for her son? Her breast milk had dried up, as would the money she had. She couldn't survive on it looking after her son. She wouldn't be able to have a job while he was young. She didn't even know how to take care of a child and being with him would put him in danger. She could give him nothing except her love and was that enough? She smiled at Lydecker and walked through the gate. She never returned to the base.
X5 599 lay in his crib crying quietly, his tiny fists clenched. His journey just beginning.
Several weeks later the body of an eighteen year old woman was found floating in a river 50 miles from Gillette. The woman was identified as Samantha Martin and she consequently dropped off the Manticore radar screen. But the real Samantha Martin was alive and well and fully intended to take advantage of this unexpected circumstance. When the time was right, no matter how long it took, she would be reunited with her son.