Luna for Earthen Reform

Luna for Earthen Reform

“Hello?”

“You’ve been requested for a transplant. Please make your way to the nearest hospital for the extraction process. Thank you.”

Stupid data banks. I couldn’t tell if I hated the fact that I had to donate whatever they needed, or loved the fact that I had the ability to save someone. I live on Earth, in the year 2050. Everyone’s bone marrow, stem cells, blood type and kidneys were sampled from the moment they were born and out into the international data banks. So if someone needed a bone marrow transplant, they could get it. Everyone has to donate what they can, in order to keep our society running. I have to admit, it was one of the smartest things our planet has done. Some of the other regions have adapted this practice. But even with all these technological advances, Earth is still far behind Mars or the Moon (now called Luna) per say.

I envy the moon. They don’t have to worry about overpopulated cities, teeming with viruses and angry people. I should have moved there before they closed the borders. What a perfect example of what happens when you put a woman I charge. Another excellent example of why Luna is far superior. Their first rule: No men. So that scratches off the possibilities of overpopulation. It’s been a while years since they first started the use of bone marrow in IVF. So none of the offspring will be male, continuing that cycle. They still use the data banks for disease control, like on earth, but they don’t have to worry about running out of donors like us. 

Earth is on the brink of destruction. They’re running out of eligible donors. I guess that’s why I’m not too upset about being called. I mean, this is a one time thing. I hope. 

But I wonder what they need from me. Please don’t be a kidney. I like mine in my own body. I guess it would be okay, but I would definitely prefer it if I could keep my organs. I mean, they can find someone who matches our exact needs, inhabit planets but they can’t print a kidney? They started this process way back in like 2016! Just use all of the money in military funding to help people! I mean, what is the point of having a massive army against forces that we don’t even know exist if the surviving population is dying if curable diseases—

“Hey!”, I said as someone rammed into me jerking me out of my mental exploration. My brainstorm notebook clattered to the ground, and the stranger crouched down to pick it up.

“Hello pretty girl. No need to get all frazzled. Wouldn’t want you to break out from the stress of being so good looking. Here’s your book.” He said as he handed me the notebook back. I swear if he says one more sexist and disgusting thing—“What is a gorgeous face like you doing with all this science-y stuff? You must be running errands.” Of course, he had to go there. “Actually, I’m doing research on the genetic coding that runs in families with a history of depression. It’s all my work.” I hated how much I had to explain this to people. “Men don’t like liars. If you’re going to lie, make it about something we want to hear. Come on, I’ll show you what to say. Don’t be scared.” There. That was the reason I wanted to move to the moon. Because of the smug look plastered all over his face, so proud of his words, completely unaware of how wrong he was. I just shook my head in response and continued towards the bullet train. 

The square block of a hospital entered my peripheral vision, as the taxi pulled up in front.  Before heading to the extraction unit, I headed over to the psych ward next door. One of my old friends greeted me with a smile as she saw the book in my hands. I rolled my eyes as I handed her a copy of my research to give to the head of psychology. Then handed her another one for her to continue her own research. We chatted for a minute, then said our goodbyes. 

Back in the elevator, my mind started to wander again. Maybe I should just move to the moon. No sexist men following me down the halls, no entitled managers to tell me no. I mean, not all on Luna were good, but they couldn’t be worse. I was so preoccupied with this thought that I barely acknowledged the nurse taking me to the OR. I just remembered to ask her what I was donating when I was drifting into unconsciousness as sweet smelling gas filled my lungs and my eyes became heavy.

The room was too bright. I couldn’t feel my arm, which I suppose was a good thing. Standing at the foot of the bed was a young woman around my age with bright blue eyes talking softly with a nurse. They noticed I was awake, and there was a flurry of motion that my still hazy brain could not follow. I vaguely remember the young woman hugging me tightly. Ah. She must have been the recipient of whatever I had just donated. I could cross blood and kidneys off the list because a) you didn’t need surgery to give blood and b) I didn’t feel any stitches down my abdomen. So that left stem cells and bone marrow. I didn’t really care, I was just happy to have both kidneys. The young woman was still hugging me sobbing quietly. I guess I did something useful for once in my life. She let go and wiped her eyes and sat down with a faint blush in her cheeks. I felt my own warm respectively as I noticed how little clothing I was wearing. The nurse to my left laughed quietly and began explaining what I donated as I started getting dressed. She was talking about how the woman to my right was from Luna and had come here to get a transplant of sorts because she didn’t want or match with anyone from Luna. She must have seen the confusion on my face because the woman on my right jumped into the conversation. She explained that she did indeed have the resources on Luna, but wanted me instead. 

“Why in the world would you want a psych major from Earth over whatever god like women you have on Luna?” 

The idea was almost ridiculous enough for me to believe that this was just hallucinations from the lingering anesthesia. 

“Because of exactly that. You don’t think of yourself as god-like as you said, you don’t pride yourself on being selfless-“ 

“Excuse me?” 

The audacity of this woman. She quickly corrected herself.

 “ I mean you question things. I know about you not wanting to give up a kidney Azure.” 

“How in the world do you know my name?” 

“I have been watching you for a while to make sure you were legitimately who you appeared to be. And I have seen enough. I’m Scarlett.” 

A hand extended on that.

 “Look, Ruby-“

 “It’s Scarlett.” 

“Whatever Crimson. Can you just tell me what you took from me and why you wanted it so badly?” 

A glare was sent my way at the use of a different shade of red. 

“I wanted your bone marrow. So I could take it back up to Luna and have it implanted. Before you say anything, I chose you out of everyone because of your personality, not because of your looks. Although seeing you in person, the latter is much much better in person.” 

“What?” 

“Nothing, nothing. But I read your notes. I saw how much you wished for a cleaner world, a more accepting and understanding world. And I believe that you and I can achieve that together. On Luna, you will have the funding and resources to continue your research and wish of reforming the way mental health is viewed. So will you come?”

 “Oh you want me to come back with you?” 

This day couldn’t get any crazier. 

“I mean first I get cat called by a creep on the streets, and next a woman who I just donated bone marrow to for some life saving thing wants me to come back up to Luna with her.” 

I shook my head in disbelief as Scarlett opened her mouth to speak again.

 “Actually, I will be using your bone marrow to have a daughter. Which you will be the mother of. With your knowledge, personality, beliefs and looks mixed with my existing power and equally good looks, this girl will rule the world. She will be the start of a new move to being born on Luna to heal the world. And she will rule it. The world we wish it to be. Are you in?” 

Okay I was definitely dreaming. Although our genetics mixed would create a pretty decent looking girl. Okay stunning. And what Scarlett was promising did sound fun. A better world, where everyone was understood. Maybe it made me crazy for even thinking about this, but I was beginning to consider moving up. It was my dream to help with how mental health was viewed and treated. And with Lunar technology, mixed with no sexist commentary…. Fine. I was last considering and right on the brink of going. Nope, not on the brink already decided. I had no baggage holding me down, and this gorgeous woman in front seemed like she could help me soar even more. I let a smile creep onto my face, and her answering smile was brighter than the stars above.

“Oh hell yeah.” 

She grabbed my hand and shoved an address into it. We walked out of the hospital trying not to look like we were planning something entirely illegal. She pulled me in, close enough to kiss me. To anyone else it would just look like to girls hugging in front of a hospital, thankfully for the service one had done to another. 

But there was nothing fake about the smile on my face as Scarlett whispered into my ear, “Meet me there at 9:45 pm sharp. Any later and you will be left behind. And don’t let anyone see you, okay?” 

9:45? Was she insane? The world wide curfew was 7:30 just to ensure nothing insane happened. But I remind myself that this was the woman I was running away to spend the rest of my life with on Luna. She had to be insane. And I really didn’t care. “Okay. See you then Crimson.” 

I shrugged out of her embrace and was walking away before she had an opportunity to reply. I couldn’t help but laugh quietly as I could feel what were surely lasers shooting out of her eyes on my back. 

9:45. I could wait until then. I’d been waiting long enough for an opportunity like this to come rolling around. 

9:45. Only 1hour now stood between me and my freedom. On Earth I wasn’t trapped, but I wasn’t free. Thinking about all the new possibilities on Luna had made me realize this. I dumped the remaining belongings I wished to bring with me (which wasn’t many) and pulled on a warm pair of black boots. 

10 minutes. Fear was coursing through my veins. I had never been outside this late, had never even dreamed about it. But I was 10 minutes away from what was my ideal world, even if I’d never heard about it prior to today. 

1 minute. This was the longest minute of my life. I was shaking from fear, and jumping with every little sound. But the second I saw the ship descend, and Scarlett exited on near silent feet, all that was gone. 

The image of a better world, one that had a chance to be fixed flooded my brain. All I saw were little snapshots of what my life could be. Clean air here, clear oceans there. No cancer here, no lingering corona cases there. 

A world where everyone was understood. Where those with dark days were hauled back into the light instead of being ignored. A world where trust was rebuilt between the genders. That trust, and trust and general had been shattered far too long ago for me to remember the last time I fully let someone inside my mind and heart. I never thought that I would trust someone or have someone understand me.

But as we soared up and out of the atmosphere, I could see my trust being rebuilt. After all, I was surrounded by the stars and women who knew what I felt. Even though I had just met them, they were so different from the girls on earth. They were confident, and they spoke their minds. I couldn’t remember the last time I had laughed, or spoke that freely. I kept checking my shoulder to make sure no one was coming up to steal this away from me. 

And each time I saw Scarlett smiling back at. She took my hand and dragged me toward the wall of windows as we came up on Luna. The sun was just rising on it, and the rays of light surrounded the tall gleaming buildings. Everything was clear, and seemed fresh. There were women in all of the streets, walking and talking even though it was so early. 

“There’s the reproduction building.” Scarlett said. “Next to it is the building for mental health research, and next to that the center for disease research.” I stared in awe at the overwhelming amount of resources just dedicated to this sort of thing. I could only imagine what I could finally do with all of the new opportunities. Maybe I could finally fix Earth, and restore it. 

But I knew when I did it, I definitely wouldn’t be alone. No, I would have everyone who risked it on this ship with me. And I knew that the incredible woman to my left who believe in me, the strange girl from Earth would be there every step of the way.