The Date: 4 years since the invention of ASP
 
 
CHapter 1
 
Lynne looked at the sea of faces seated before her. "Becky"? she announced. A movement in one of the rows began, as a young woman stood up and separated herself from the crowd, moving toward Lynne. Becky was average height, a little overweight, adequately but not well groomed and dressed in dark clothing that made her look kind of frumpy. Fairly typical for a girl in her mid-twenties who had been unemployed for some time - a thought Lynne would never be allowed to express under public secctor rules and guidelines. "Hi, I'm Lynne; your case manager. Follow me." Lynne walked in front, while Becky shuffled behind her around a corner and to a door which Lynne opened. "Come through please, Becky". In the centre of a room there were three chairs forming an inward facing triangle. A woman was already seated on one. She beckoned Becky to take a seat and Lynne took the other one. "This is Stephany, our Social WOrker".
 
"Hi Becky"
 
"As you know" Lynne began, "in about two weeks your entitlement to unemployment compensation ends. We called this meeting to liaise with you so we can discuss your options. Do you have any prospect of finding yourself a job between now and then?"
 
"No", said Becky sullenly. "I've found the odd job here and there - waitressing and stuff, but times are tough and no-one seems to be hiring now." The two ladies nodded sympathetically. Times were indeed tough and unskilled labor was particularly at the short end of the stick.
 
"I see also on your file that you are seeking public housing or at least assistance finding accommodation. Do you have friends or family that could take you in for a while to help out?" Stephany asked.
 
"No. I moved here about 8 years ago. I had friends who'd come here to go to college. They've all moved away and I'm kind of stuck here. My parents died years ago and my one sister lives on the other side of the country and has a family of her own to worry about. I don't really have many choices..."
 
Again the ladies nodded sympathetically. "A new option has presented itself that the state government and our department are keen to trial" Lynne said. "Have you ever heard of Adult Surrogate Pregnancy?"
 
Becky blinked. Of course she'd heard of ASP - who hadn't? Ever since it had become available several years ago, both the sensationalist and mainstream media had gone wild covering it. Because of its high price tag it had been mainly popular at the big and middle ends of town. Bosses carrying their secretaries, and vice versa. Celebrities using it as a way to escape the ever prying eyes and cameras of the paparazzi. Cosmetic and fashion companies either going out of business or heavily restructuring their businesses because large swathes of their market were being hidden from public view. The wife of a well-known senator had famously moved into her maid's womb, prompting all sorts of controversy, both real and imagined. Accident victims were being put in wombs to be exposed to the marvellous recuperative abilities that ASP offered. And of course as a weight-loss and rejuvenation therapy, it became a river of gold. Heck, it was even being sold in party plan situations, the way sex-toys and Plastikware used to be. But all this was way out of Becky's league. She had no money, and ASP was for people with money. Sure, she'd seen a lot more hugely pregnant women walking around town than before, but ASP had not ever affected her personally.
 
"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice trembling a little. "Are one of you two ladies offering to host me??" She unconsciously looked from the belly of one to the other until she caught herself. She then blushed and looked at them at eye-level again.
 
The two ladies smiled. "No", Stephany said. "The department has had many discussions on how this new opportunity could be used to achieve more positive outcomes for our clients, and it was realised very early on that staff hosting clients could be both a conflict of interest and a breach of confidentiality rules. As you may have heard there have been new breakthroughs in ASP such that a hostess can be prepared in six weeks rather than three months, and that minimum inhabitation time can now be a minimum of six months instead of twelve. As is always the case with new medical procedures, these breakthroughs are hideously expensive, but their emergence has put downward pressure on prices of the former procedures. So much so that the number crunchers in our cash strapped and budget minded department have decided that paying for hosting for someone such as yourself could be beneficial all round."
 
"Okay...", Becky said in a less than convinced tone. "But what if I don't want to? Do I have time to think about it?"
 
 
"Of course", said Stephany. She stood up and went to the ubiquitous racks full of literature that government departments always have on display, pulled out several pamphlets and brochures and gave them to Becky. "These should help". Becky folded them up and put them in her handbag. "We also wish to send you to a seminar that's being held at a local convention center next week, if you're willing. The audience will be made up mainly of potential hostesses and guests. The first half of the day will be spent explaining all the details, having talks by both hostesses and guests about their experiences and an actual live demonstration of the process!" Becky's eyes widened at the thought. "Lunch will be provided and the afternoon will be devoted to trying to match guests and hostesses up, so long as everyone is willing. Of course, there will be no forcing anyone into starting the procedure on the day; there'll still be a lot of paperwork before that can happen. There's no obligation, but we remind you that time is short. Should we book you in?"
 
"Okay", Becky said.
 
"Good", said Stephany. She went to a computer terminal at a desk and began tapping away after bringing up Becky's file. After a minute or so she printed off a page. "Okay you're booked for Wednesday next week. The details are all on this page". She gave the page to Becky who filed it away in her bag. "We also need to send you for medical and psychological testing, to make absolutely sure that such a step wouldn't be harmful to you. Are you willing for us to make the appointments for you?"
 
"Er, sure".
 
Again Stephany went to the computer. She came back with two printed out sheets. "This one is your doctor's appointment for tomorrow, and this one is for a psychological consultation for Wednesday, the next day." Again Becky placed them in her bag.
 
"Well, thanks for coming, Becky", Lynne said. "Any questions you have may be better saved for those who know more than we do. Good luck!" Everyone shook hands and Becky made her way back out of the office.
 
 
Chapter 2
 
The next day Becky turned up for her doctor's appointment and sat in the waiting room until she was called. She'd read through the literature but didn't feel any closer to knowing how she felt about the whole idea. Perhaps the appointments of the next two days could help clear it up for her. After she'd been waiting for some time and beginning to feel more nervous, the receptionist said "Becky? Dr Green will see you now". She gestured in the direction of Dr Green's office and Becky got up and made her way to the door. After knocking and hearing a female voice telling her to come in, Becky entered.
 
A very large pregnant woman was seated at right angles to the desk, facing the chair that Becky was obviously to take. "At least the doctor knows what she's talking about", Becky thought as she sat down. "Hello, Dr Green", she said.
 
The woman smiled. "I'm Jill the nurse; Dr Green is in here", she said, patting her tummy. Becky's jaw dropped open and she could only voicelessly stared for some time. Suddenly she noticed a screen behind the nurse showing what seemed to be a live ultra sound image of a figure in a womb in a foetal position. The "foetus" has surprisingly adult proportions. "Is that Dr Green??" she blurted out.