Good News – A Future New Smile – 2

"So what's the situation, Latheli? Is it for your hand's numbness again? You're getting old my dear!"

Once in her clinic, Nya transformed into another person. Her personality turned into a snarky and haughty woman. The haughty part came from the fact she would address anyone by their given names without any honorifics and that, no matter who stood before her. Of course, such considerations about social status weren't that important around these parts, but it was still considered rude to not address someone by their proper title.

For the snarky part, you could say she just had a lot of humor, at least the dark version. Working as a doctor made her less sensitive about other people's afflictions and deaths. She would even joke about them, which didn't disturbed her guests since dark humor was pretty much the trend in the industrial sector where it was easy to lose a few body parts if not your life straight up.

That's why the woman only laughed at Nya's comments. In fact, it sounded like a compliment to her – 34 years of work inside a glass fabric and all she got was numb thumbs. There were a lot that couldn't say that much. In the profession, she passed as the smart one which is why she occupied the most important post in the glass factory – fairy godmother.

"You don't change, Nya. Cheeky as ever!" she replied, with a smile.

"And that's how you like me. How is your companion? Does her legs hurt so that she couldn't greet me for a week?"

"Well, we're in the rainy season. She can't walk with her joints infiltrated by humidity. She couldn't even come here with me today."

Nya pursed her lips with a worried look on her face. The rainy season started about one week ago and knowing how painful it was for Meroē – Latheli's life partner – to move around during those times, she concluded that mustn't have gone to work. That was not a good thing at all.

"Latheli, why don't you convince her to change her prostheses? Not going to work for a week isn't going to please the higher ups."

Latheli nodded, "You don't have to tell me that. I would know since I handle the glass factory. 240 hours of unjustified absence and you become a doll. It happened to another person last week. The little Anju, you knew her, right?"

Nya frowned. "This is this, and that is that," she said, losing patience. "If you know that much, you should force her to change them! You don't want her to finish on the garbage pile, do you?"

"Well, I don't but…"

"No 'buts'! I don't want to see her corpse anytime soon or yours for the count. Got it?"

Latheli sensed she was saying that seriously. 

Out of the dolls, those who were born that way were the luckiest in a sense. They were raised with the idea they had absolutely no rights and thus, easily adapted to any type of mistreatment. For those who fell out of grace however, it was another story. They could rarely hold a month.

Latheli knew it, but she wasn't worried about her lover or herself, quite the contrary in fact. If she was here, it was to announce the good news to her long friend but she thought worrying her a bit would be funny. 

"(Well, enough teasing)" she thought before smiling. "Oh, don't worry, the factory gave us permission "

"Permission? The factory doesn't do that often, unless…"

Nya's eyes widened. The factory didn't give permission often, let alone to two people at the same time, unless…

"How… How long is that permission?" Nya asked, her breath almost stopped.

The woman smiled brightened as she caressed her belly, "They gave us 9 months."

At the woman's word, Nya froze. Ever since she entered the place, she was standing up, her back straight and her foot properly anchored to the ground. 

"The position in which you stand determines the state or your mind!" that was something she would often say, which is why she always took care to stand as properly as possible. However, hearing her friend, her legs suddenly weakened, she felt she was about to fall at any moment. 

"Master, here."

The teenage girl dragged a chair and put it behind Nya so that she could sit down. Once installed, Nya looked at the ceiling for at least 2 minutes before suddenly taking life again. 

"You two are going to have a kid?!!" she yelled. 

Latheli happily laughed, "Well, yes! I will be the one to bear her since I was deemed more compatible!"

"That… That's awesome! You always wanted to have one! Why didn't you say that earlier! What do you mean, this is a medium level urgency?! You are going to have a kid, for A's sake! Does it hurt somewhere? Is it your thumbs again? Your shoulders? Anything? Tell me, I won't know unless you tell me!"

Nya was all excited, jumping left and right, examining her patient from all angles.

"Calm down," Latheli replied with a delighted smile. "I can't answer that many questions at the same time!"

"Calm down?! Well, yes I suppose I should but… but!"

"I get it, I get it. Don't be impatient."

Nya crossed her arms and took a deep breath. Latheli's tone had always been motherly, but now that she was going to be a mother, its effect seemed to have been amplified.

"Now, now, calmed? So what do you want to know first?"

"Since when are you pregnant?" Nya swiftly asked. 

"So eager!"

"Yes, I am eager, so don't make me wait, will you?!"

"Ahaha. Well, it can't be helped, can it? I was chosen by the I.B. about six months ago if you remember."

"Ah yes. You told me they finally responded to your request. That's surprising though, they came early! Usually, they contact you after 2 years!"

"I was surprised too. But maybe it's because I'm old?"

"Nah, 48 years old is the collective's reasonable limit to request a child. They could have made you wait until your 50th year. That's pretty common in fact."

"Well, guess I'm lucky, eh? They proceeded to the ritual about two weeks ago, and they confirmed its success yesterday!"

"But why didn't they choose Meroē? She's younger than you, isn't she?"

"Oh my, that sure was a harsh comment." Latheli remarked, a hand covering her mouth.

"Only truth hurts, they say."

"Truth, huh…"

Latheli's face suddenly turned darker. Nya understood and didn't insist on that matter. Suddenly someone yelled outside. 

"Hornette!!! Hornette!!!"

Nya promptly got up. If someone was just screaming the password, then the case at hand was of very high urgency. 

"Come in!" she yelled while she went toward her library.

The young woman sighed. Looks like she couldn't even enjoy an instant with a friend here.