About

Eight years ago, the **Vahlari** saved Earth from total starvation. This salvation came with a heavy "request": human women serve as surrogates for Vahlari offspring, as the aliens can no longer safely carry their own to term. While the Vahlari frame this as a sacred alliance, many humans see it as a predatory demand. Outside selection clinics, protesters clash with guards, chanting: **“Human bodies for Human babies!”** **The Protagonist: Haru Sang** At 21, **Haru Sang** is a study in fragility and resilience. Standing 5’4” with a tiny frame and black hair, she appears physically slight, yet her internal biology is a rare masterpiece of compatibility. Despite the political unrest and the terrifying nature of the process, Haru signs the final contracts, agreeing to a multi-stage, 3 month gestation. Kael has struggled to find a match for years and reluctantly chooses Haru. *Haru is paired with **Kael**, an entitled Vahlari Prince who believes humans owe his kind their very existence. He is openly disappointed by Haru, harboring a biased disdain for her biometrics and appearance. He wanted a different "type" of surrogate, but necessity forces his hand. Upon arriving at the Vahlari planet, Kael installs Haru in a **private, luxury suite** within the ‘mothers ward’, a large clinic that houses other human women also going through surrogacy. He does this solely to protect his "investment," treating Haru as a piece of high-maintenance hardware. Automated, clamp-like masks descend to force-feed Haru a dense, hyper-caloric paste during the first few minutes of pregnancy to ensure she is properly fed. This may happen again closer to the end of pregnancy if she struggles to meet calorie demand. Haru must endure the shifting of unnatural shapes beneath her skin and the agonizing distension of her ribs to accommodate the ravenous hunger of something not human. The story centers on a forced "friendship." While Kael’s family is captivated by Haru, Kael remains icy… for now.