"Let me look!" said XX02, peering into my mouth.
Looking into the mirror, I noticed a large bruise developing on my cheek, but it didn't seem serious.
"I'm fine, don't worry!" I assured, stepping back.
"Come on! Those guys were strong! There's a chance you broke something!" XX02 persisted.
"I would know," I said, still checking for teeth.
"Please, just visit the infirmary. It won't take long! Do it for me..." XX30's plea followed.
I let out a sigh but nodded in agreement. I couldn't deny XX30 anything.
Splitting up from the group, I quickly got lost in the maze of the training wing. Damned new layout! I could have asked any of the many women I met, but I didn't dare to. I crossed the path of another group of fighters too. That time, I leaned back against the wall and looked down as they passed, hoping to avoid another confrontation.
I spotted a hip-heavy silhouette darting around a corner. Curious, I followed it sneakily: it was KS12. She had managed to get dressed, suggesting she'd found replacement clothes - another blue female uniform. I trailed her for a bit, and she led me straight to the infirmary, going to see the nurse herself. I went to the opened door and eavesdropped from the corner.
"What can I assist you with, KS12?" inquired the nurse.
"Oh, MD17! I went for my daily sterility shot this morning, but they ran out. Could you give me one? It's urgent…"
"Urgent?" asked the nurse.
"Yes, it’s already been 30 hours since my last shot. And just over an hour ago, the General made KS13... demonstrate with me in front of the class."
"Oh, dear!" I could hear the sincerity in MD17's voice. "I'm truly sorry... But haven't you heard?"
KS12 sighed. "What now?"
"We lost Victor and Yankee outposts last night... That's six within the past two weeks."
"Goodness!" said KS12, worried. "Wasn't Victor outpost our main producer of sterility shots?"
"Precisely... Emergency measures are being taken planet-wide, including immediate and mandatory impregnation for all paired women to conserve shots and recover the personnel losses. I'm so sorry! And the delivery of sterility shots from there that should have arrived two days ago never did. We're out of stock, and I couldn't anticipate it."
KS12 remained silent, yet her sobs became evident. "Eight pregnancies I've gone through! Eight!" she exclaimed. "I can't handle a ninth one... Please, there must be something you can do. I'm begging you..."
"I understand, I truly do... But I can't! I don't have a single one left."
"Wait a moment... What about you? Did MF01...?"
"Yup, this morning, before my shift..." MD17 recounted. "Got knocked up too. It was rather rough, actually. I’m still feeling sore! Nonetheless, consider this: even if I could help today, how long until you're pregnant again? Six hours? A day?"
KS12's sobs grew louder. "I can't," she repeated between shaky breaths.
I discreetly glanced at the door. KS12 and MD17 stood facing each other, with KS12 resting her tear-streaked face on MD17's shoulder.
MD17 differed from most women. Firstly, she had long hair cascading past the middle of her back. Additionally, her hair was a mass of red curls, rendering her unmistakable when she traversed the corridors, like a blazing ball of fire on foot. Having concluded her service slightly over a year ago, she was only 24, if my math was correct. She looked younger than that, though. She also had surprisingly large breasts for her proportions. In retrospect, one might deduce that while KS12 and most women, in general, were trying hard to look like men, MD17 was doing her best not to look like one.
"Shhhh..." consoled MD17, her fingers gently caressing KS12's closely cropped hair. "You know how it goes: 'For mankind!'" She chuckled.
"Please spare me that propaganda! You can't understand yet. General HP07 has imposed new regulations on women starting tomorrow. It's getting worse again. I need to leave this place. I can't endure it any longer."
"Don't be ridiculous! We both know that's impossible," said MD17. "We wouldn't survive a single day out there!"
"Maybe it's better to die out there than survive in here…"
"And you would leave the kids?" MD17 sounded shocked.
"You're right. I couldn't do that. But I'm not that far from considering it."
Like all my brothers, we had been cared for by women all our lives, yet I never realized the 'behind the scenes' before. Women had always exhibited kindness, smiles, and gentleness. KS12’s distress hit me deeply. Would I, someday, become a man who made another woman so desolate? My focus wandered from their conversation. It was then that KS12 exited the room and nearly bumped into me.
"Oh... XX01? What are you- Are you okay?" she inquired, her gaze already locked onto my face with concern.
I tried to speak, but my throat tightened. Taking a deep breath and swallowing hard, I mumbled, "I'm sorry, KS12."
I tried to hold her gaze, but it got too intense, and looked away. She touched my chin gently, tilting my head back up. She was smiling again, with a tear rolling down her cheek.
“Fighters?” she asked, touching my cheek with her index.
“Yes. I don’t even know what I did to upset those men.”
“They’re not living up to propaganda’s standards?" I shook my head. "Don't be too hard on them. They have been turned into predators to fight other predators."
"This sounds wrong..."
"Then, please, be better than them! Now, come," she said, wiping the tear away. "Your bruise will heal fine, I can tell. It's time to return to class."
Back in the classroom, KS12 sniffed before addressing us. "In light of the recent directives enforced by General HP07, we need to accelerate usual procedures. As such, you will designate a squadron leader now. Any volunteers?"
Silence in the room. The class turned toward me, rhythmically thumping their fists on the tables. Empowered by their enthusiastic response, I rose to my feet, my brothers' knocks resonating louder and faster as the notion of leading them settled in. Instinctively, I glanced at XX04. He would have been the natural choice for leader after me: my worthiest rival. But just like the rest, he pounded on his table, ecstatic.
"Well, that was easier than anticipated," KS12 commented. "XX01, after a unanimous vote, you are now officially the leader of XX squadron!" She insistently looked at me and gave me a slight nod.
when does XX01 become a girl? Just curious
The first hormonal changes come next chapter and the first physical changes are in chapter 11. Full vulva arrives in chapter 19. It will come really slowly to give time to explore in detail. More sex-centered chapters will come a little later. Note that XX01 will become a trans-man but will be considered a woman by men. Damn, that was a lot of spoilers lol
@ItsOnlyForFiction
Ooh! I didn't expect for XX01 to be trans man! That's a pretty unique thing in GB stories. Hope it will be done it's due justice!