+J.M.J.+
Title: This Shouldn't be Happening...
Author: "Matrix Refugee"
AU Scenario: What if Mpreg was possible among programs...
Rating: PG-13 (Slash, Merovingian/Flood, but nothing graphic)
WARNING: Read at your own risk...
Author's Note: Sorry it took so long to update this thing. I got myself distracted playing the "Matrix Online" RPG (I'm Sieges over on Recursion, if any players are reading this.), and then Christmas/the December holidays came along, and since I work in retail, I was working crazy hours. I've managed to knock more of this together since then: short chapter for now, I hope to have another one ready by the end of this week.
Disclaimer: I don't own the "Matrix" series, its characters, concepts or other indicia, which belong to the Wachowski Brothers, Paul Chadwick, Warner Brothers, Village Roadshow Pictures, Joel Silver Productions, Burlyman Entertainment, Monolith, Sony Online Entertainment, etc.
Chapter Two: Abnormal Occurrence
He awakened lying on his back on the bed in his rooms at the Chateau. Aesculaepius, the Merovingian's personal physician, an Exile who'd formerly helped tend the physical needs of the batteries in the power plants one iteration ago, leaned over him, checking his pulse.
"He's coming out of it, my lord," the younger program said, looking up. "It was probably just the shock of the news." Flood looked past the physician and found his employer standing at the foot of the bed, the look of concern on the Frenchman's face giving way to relief.
"Thank Codestream for small mercies," the Merovingian said. Looking directly at Flood, he added, "Have more care for yourself: your condition leaves you more delicate than usual. A fall like that could have shattered the new life you carry."
"Excuse me for sounding thick-headed, but is it true?" Flood asked, hardly daring to name what 'it' could be.
"Is it true that you have been impregnated?" Aesculaepius asked. "Yes, I'd say you're about seven or eight weeks along, from the look of things." His eye was on Flood's belly as he said this, which gave Flood the uncomfortable feeling that the physician was parsing the code of his shell. "I've treated pregnant humans -- females of course -- but this is a first in my experience."
"And it most certainly is a first in mine," Flood said, trying to sit up.
Aesculaepius pressed him down gently, his hands on Flood's shoulders. "Careful now, you need a rest after that shock, and I don't doubt you'll need to stay off your feet as much as possible for the duration of the pregnancy."
"What? Why?"
"It's a strain on your system since your shell wasn't meant to withstand the demands which carrying a child to term requires," Aesculaepius said. "But with enough rest, you should be all right."
"And how do you intend to get this whelp out of me when it's grown to full size?" Flood demanded. He forced back the mental images that came to his mind: he'd have to start avoiding full length mirrors even more than he already was…
"We'll have to operate, there's no other way, I'm afraid, but it's a very routine procedure these days," Aesculaepius replied, using that tone which was intended to sound reassuring, but which never really did, considering that the speaker was a physician. That would most likely leave a permanent scar and considering the reason why he was obliged to wear gloves all the time, Flood did not want any more unnecessary marks on his shell, if it could be avoided. And he knew his lady friends would wonder where that Caesarian scar came from…
Flood felt the question, Aren't you the least bit curious as to who the father could be? rise to his lips, but the Merovingian must have read his thoughts. His employer regarded him in silent warning, the baleful glare in the Frenchman's eyes forbade him to say what was in his processors.
"I'm curious as to how this came to happen in the first place…" Aesculaepius asked.
The Merovingian thwarted that question. "You say his condition is fragile? Perhaps we should move him to a more peaceful location, someplace in which no one will disturb him."
"Yes, the more secluded the better," Aesculaepius said. "Did you have any particular place in mind, my lord?"
"I was considering having our young male surrogate to the guest house of L'Ecole de la Tour," the Merovingian said.
Flood's "heart" sank. Not there, of all places. A former lady friend of his taught an art course at this private school which the Merovingian maintained for young Exiles, and if she found out that he was there and why, he would never hear the end of it from anyone. "I would rather not, but if that is what you insist upon, sir, who am I to argue?"
"And why would you rather not?"
"A former associate of mine teaches there: if that personage should find out the reason for my being there, if they simply knew that I was there, my reputation and through that, yours, would suffer." It was the best argument he could think up. Anything to keep from becoming the laughingstock of the Matrix…
"And we cannot have that happen," the Merovingian said, his face gathering a little with worry. He clearly hadn't considered all the possibilities.
"Shall I arrange for his transport, my lord?" Aesculaepius asked, changing the subject.
"Allow me to attend to that detail: the child bears my code and I must needs be responsible for it and to ensure our surrogate's confidence."
Not that it does anything for my self-assurance, even if it ensures my privacy… Flood thought.
Aesculaepius raised one eyebrow. "I see… Might I remain in attendance with him, my lord? His case is a highly unusual one."
"You may, so long as you swear not to speak one word of this to anyone," the Merovingian replied. "Should you compromise our confidence, I shall be obliged to terminate your employment."
Aesculaepius raised his hands disarmingly. "You have my word as a physician and as your loyal servant, my lord."
"And as your lord, I will hold you to it," the Merovingian said. With that, he left the room.
Once his employer had gone, Flood breathed a little easier. He thought he saw Aesculaepius relax a little as well.
"You knew what was happening and you didn't tell me?" Flood asked.
"Knew what? Oh, I knew he's been taking his ease with you, but I didn't know that he'd manipulated your code to implant his offspring in you," Aesculaepius replied.
"Do me one favor and tell me this: is this a normal occurrence for any species?"
"No, it isn't, unless the male involved is a seahorse. This doesn't happen among humanoid creatures, except in some science fiction stories," the physician replied, his tone reassuring, offering what comfort he could. "I knew someone had to have altered your shell somehow, but I had to be sure who had done this. And yes, I suspected our master."
Flood let out a harassed sigh. "Well, I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one to come to that conclusion. Now I just have to live with this unwelcome guest for the next seven months…"
To be continued…