Population: One, Me by D.A.Sanford - HTML preview

Births on this reborn world.

The oceans and land surfaces have changed. Just like the oceans being cleared of the eyesores that were all those sunken boats planes and such, the land is now cleared of the cities. All are now green pastures. This world is now alive again.

Like I figured, the houses that were left are actually a hit. Built for the climate we have, all they really needed were the individual power units for each home. The street wires and poles were done away with.

Since there are roads, my three wheeler is the model but with safety force fields and anti collision devices. The thrill of the speed is still there but now no injury involved. They have introduced me to their hover pods. I may have to tinker with them. A need for speed.

I have to say here and now that the original conditions of the land were recorded. It is almost like a warning to the future of what would happen if you did not live in harmony with nature. Unlike my old world, our new world knows that you can only push nature so far and then nature will kill you to rid itself of a diseased people.

It was decided that we would start with three females of the three sentients. It is just a precaution but it is much needed. We need to see, at the very least, what will be the results of the mating. Will this produce a viable baby. Will the ones born to the land be able to breathe air and the same as the water breathers.

What I personally believe is that both will be able to breathe in both conditions. What worries me is the ones born to the dolphins. My hopes is that, since their ancestors changed to produce a being that could walk on land but could return to water, the offspring will be the same.

The counsel has determined the matings so far have resulted in pregnancies. They now are waiting in anticipation to see what the results are. They do have places setup near the shore and breathing devices readily available for the babies, just in case.

Even the dolphin that asked me is pregnant and has agreed to come here when she is going to give birth. I want to be here when it happens. That is many months away but I can get here on my solar three wheeler.

Time is a mysterious thing. For a child on summer vacation, time seems to stop. What is only a matter of eight weeks can seem like a lifetime but return to school, it was only a day. To an old one, a week is only a few short days.

I receive the word that the mothers are starting to go into labor. They have had a facility made at the shoreline so that all nine women can now be closely monitored. This close proximity has one drawback. There is a cascade effect. Like dominoes set up on edge, once the first is knocked over the rest fall.

That is what is happening now. All it took was the first one to go into labor and the rest followed. By the time I got there, over half of the babies were born. All could breathe in the environment they were in.

The biggest thing is that the dolphin lives in the water, they all need to come to the surface to breathe. The babies did not need to do that but all looked like dolphins. They did, however, show bumps where the arms and legs should be placed.

Maybe they will be the start of their evolving into being able to shift. Well we do have a billion years. The bumps show promise.

Now for the ultimate test. First the reluctant aquatic mothers. The mothers have their breathing device but are ready to dive back with the babies if there is any sign. Then they surface with the babies.

Much to everyone’s amazement, there is a change but not the not breathing. They are smiling and all legs and arms are going like they want to move in the air. They are verbalizing through their mouths. All are cooing.

“Now take them back.” The doctors tell them.

Back under, the only difference is that they are now floating on their own and the cooing goes on but now mentally. Those mothers have the biggest smiles on their face. Now the land mothers have their device on and with the same reluctance go under water.

The land babies did not notice the change other than they now are figuring out how to move through the water. The aquatic mothers are telling the land mothers that they are also cooing telepathically. They resurface and not a thing changes. The babies just keep on breathing.

Now for the least changed, the dolphin babies. This time I get into the water and think to them. “How long can a new born dolphin stay underwater before you have to take them to the surface?”

The three new mothers look at each other. They know that you give birth near the surface and nudge the baby up to the surface to take its first breath. That is within a matter of seconds. These ones are more than a few hours old and have not needed to go.

“They are breathing underwater just like the land dweller babies did.” I tell them. “Why don’t you surface. There are three nurses that are ready to dive with your babies. Please trust me. Do you think I would endanger my children?”

With that they bring them to the surface. To all our astonishment, the nurses take hold of the babies and lift them chest high. The three now morph to that idea the dolphins have. The babies have the land dwellers top and still the lower half, that is in the water, is a dolphin tail.

Now the nurses lift them totally out of the water and the bumps become legs and the tail disappears. Now it seems like the worlds dolphins are here to see this miracle. Now the final test. The nurses lower the babies back into the water and they change back into those full dolphins with those four bumps.

All the dolphins are talking to me. They are all thanking me for bringing a dream they had back in the untold years since my ancestors went on land and forgot.

I tell them that they need to take the credit. “If you did not send my ancestors on land, these nine babies would not exist. I thank you. Mothers, please make sure to let them run on the land because you know that these other six are going to visit both land and sea. They all need the practice.

Finally I address something that needs to be addressed.

“All nine of you mothers are now sisters. These nine babies are brothers and sisters. Keep watch on all of them while they are in your realm. They will be children and all you need to do is remember what you got away with that you now know that each of you should be dead. I want to be a grandfather someday.”

The leaders of both races come over. “You will be the father of the world and grandfather to many. The memory of you will live forever even after we leave this world and voyage to the next galaxy.