[ WP ] The rights of the fetus are now placed entirely before the rights of the mother .

Mihla held her coat tightly around her body as she weaved her way through the raucous crowd. All around her were cheerful voices, laughing and dancing through the streets. The festival of Bahn, now in its third day, was in full swing. People from all around had come to the capitol to celebrate the world's symbol of fertility. She was entombed in Rowley Square, in the center of the city. 
 Mihla had anticipated this day for weeks, hoping that all the commotion would provide her with a means of cover so that she might escape to the countryside. It was her only hope. 
 
 She shuddered as she came upon the birthing center. There were other ways to the train station, but this was the most direct route, and her contact would only wait so long. She tried not to think about the two armor clad guards standing on either side of the entrance, but her peripheral vision was drawn in their direction. Just as she was approaching one of the guards turned his head to watch. 
 
 `` Miss!'' The moment she dreaded had come, and it took everything she had to resist the urge to run. Instead, she pretended not to hear and kept a steady pace. `` You there, stop!'' She froze. It was all over. She slowly turned towards the guard as he approached. He lowered his rifle and lifted the visor on his helmet. `` The celebration is back that way. Where you headed?'' She stared blankly at the officer, hoping he could n't somehow detect her heart pounding through the thickness of her coat. He smiled. `` The quiet type, huh?'' She nearly choked trying to force her words out. 
 
 `` I'm meeting a friend,'' she said. `` She's just now getting ready and I told her we'd walk to the Square together.'' She smiled and batted her eyes playfully. 
 
 `` She half as pretty as you?'' 
 
 `` Prettier, I'm afraid.'' The guard held up his free hand and she reluctantly placed hers in his grasp. 
 
 `` Name's Stodger. Me and my buddy over there have shift change in a half hour. Why do n't you ladies meet us back here? Do us the pleasure of allowing us to accompany you.'' She worried her smile might not seem authentic. 
 
 `` Yes, of course.'' She bowed slightly, removed her hand and turned to walk away. 
 
 `` Miss?'' She stopped, glancing back over her shoulder. `` I did n't get your name. 
 
 `` Oh, my apologies. It's Jeany.'' 
 
 `` See you soon, Jeany.'' The guard waved before returning to his post. She walked on, somewhat awkwardly, as all the tension in her muscles slowly eased. 
 
 Mihla arrived at the train station and walked straight to the benches. They were all empty. Her heart sank as she took a seat. She leaned forward and placed her head in her hands, struggling to hold back tears. Suddenly there was a slight echo of shuffling footsteps just behind her. She sprang to her feet and spun around. A tall man approached and set down his briefcase. 
 
 `` Jeany!'' He threw his arms out and leaned towards her. `` Make this look natural,'' he said, whispering through his smile. She embraced him tightly. `` Shall we find ourselves a drink?'' He picked up his briefcase and put his around around her, lightly pushing to get her feet moving. They climbed the steps and took a left once they got to street level. `` You're late,'' he said. `` I had nearly gone.'' 
 
 `` I'm sorry,'' she said. 
 
 `` No matter, let's get this done,'' the man said. They turned a corner and ducked into an alley way. The briefcase whirred as he opened it and several lights blinked on and off briefly before resting in a solid state. `` Okay, it's ready. Place your hands in the two squares there.'' She did as instructed and immediately there was a shrill beeping sound, followed by more whirring noises. A shiny gelatinous substance filled the squares and a thin layer coated her hands. It was hot, and she fought the urge to pull them away. There was another beep and the thing seemed to be powering itself down. `` Now remove your hands, and shove them in the snow for about ten seconds. That'll help it to solidify faster.'' Again she followed his instructions. `` Now this will start to break down in an hour at best, so whatever you do, do n't get off the train until you get to where you're going.'' She nodded. He snapped the briefcase shut and tipped his hat. `` Good luck, Jeany Ellslund.'' With that he was gone. 
 
 She got back to the station just as her train was arriving. She took a seat on the bench and watched as the doors opened, releasing a flood of people. After several minutes the crowd had cleared and the announcement for boarding passengers was made. She stood up and walked slowly to the attendant. He held his screen out to her. `` Identity please.'' She placed her hand on the screen and watched the outline form around her fingers and palm with a sequence of flashes. It beeped and the attendant flipped it around to read the results. `` Welcome aboard Ms. Ellslund.'' 
 
 It had taken five hours for the train to make its way completely across the country. She was awoken by the announcement of the last stop, her destination. The sun was just starting to creep over the horizon as she stepped off the train. In the hurried crowd she spotted a lanky boy watching the faces as they passed. They made eye contact and he approached. `` Cousin Mihla?'' She smiled. 
 
 `` You must be Garrent.'' She dropped her bag and hugged him. 
 
 The trip to the farm was a quiet one. As they winded their way down a long dirt road, Mihla could n't help but stare in awe at the countryside. She'd never been out of the city. She'd never seen mountains, and rivers, and long rolling acres of grass and trees. Garrent shifted in his seat. `` Granny's told me lots about you.'' Mihla turned to him and offered a weak smile. 
 
 `` I do n't remember much of her. It was such a long time ago.'' 
 
 `` Yeah... that was a while before I was born,'' Garrent said. He focused his attention back on the road. Occasionally he glanced back over. She suspected there was something on his mind. 
 
 `` Something bothering you?'' she said. 
 
 `` No. It's just...'' he shifted uncomfortably. `` So you're an actual fugitive now? They're looking for you in the city and everything?'' Mihla took a deep breath. 
 
 `` Yes. They are,'' she said. `` It's complicated.'' She fiddled with a flap on her coat and looked out the window again. They made the rest of the trip in silence. 
 
 Mihla stared in disbelief at the large sprawling home as they were pulling up. She'd only ever seen city dwellings, small and efficient spaces tightly packed together. Garrent took her bag and led her to the front door. Just beyond, and old woman rose from her chair to greet them as they entered. 
 
 `` Aunt Lundy!'' Mihla said and wrapped her arms around her. Lundy pushed her out to arms length and looked her up and down. 
 
 `` My my child, how you've grown!'' She hugged her again. `` Garrent, take her coat. Have a seat child! I'll get you something to drink.'' Garrent could n't help staring as Mihla removed her coat and handed it to him. Lundy returned with a glass of water and stopped, putting her hand up to her lips. She walked over and put wrinkled hand on Mihla's stomach. `` What a tragedy. What a shame,'' she said, gently rubbing. 
 
 Later that evening, gathered around the fire, Lundy recounted the tale of Bahn. `` Long ago, in my grandparent's generation, a great disease spread across the world. It happened quietly at first, and spread so quickly that no one could figure out how to stop it before every human being on earth was infected. But this disease was unlike any that had ever been known. There was but one symptom. Mothers were no longer able to reproduce healthy babies. They would not last a day outside the womb. People, distraught from the natural order of things being disrupted, descended into chaos and it was a frightening time. Then, one day, a miracle child came into the world. Bahn. It was the first healthy child in several decades and it came just as the youngest women were on the verge of losing their reproductive function. She was taken to a special laboratory where scientists worked day and night. Eventually they took everything from that child. She did not make it through her first year. But whatever it was that they found in her, they were able to use it to put healthy babies into every able woman. Without her, our species would not be here. And that's why we celebrate her sacrifice every year. Let us be blessed in her name.'' 
 
 Everyone was quietly watching the flames, reflecting on Lundy's words. Garrent looked around the group. `` I do n't understand,'' he said finally. `` If a baby is such a blessing, why is Mihla running away.'' 
 
 `` It's complicated, dear child,'' Lundy said. She was staring at the floor, subtly shaking her head. 
 
 `` I'll tell him,'' Mihla said. 
 
 `` Oh, no, there is n't a need for that,'' Lundy said. 
 
 `` It's okay,'' Mihla said. `` I want to.'' She looked into each one of their eyes and took a breath. `` When I was just reaching my teenage years, I was tested at school. All the girls were. My report came back and showed that I was n't valid. That means I could not survive childbirth.'' She wiped a tear away from her cheek, but immediately persisted. `` When that happens, they send you to the doctor, and they take away your ability to have children. But it does n't always work you see.'' Garrent's eyes fell to Mihla's stomach and remained fixated there as she spoke. `` In those rare cases, like mine, they send you to a special part of the birthing center. They lock you up there, like a prison.'' Her voice began to crack as she wiped away more tears. `` It's a death sentence.'' 
 
 After dinner, Lundy led Mihla to one of the guest rooms. She put her bag in the corner and sat on the bed, eyes downcast. Lundy quietly left. Several minutes later she returned holding a glass of pale green liquid. `` You'll be deathly ill, for about a week. It will be rough. Maybe one of the hardest things in your life.'' She frowned as she set the glass on the table next to the bed. `` After that, everything will be back to normal.'' Mihla said nothing. She could n't bring herself to even look up. Lundy walked out, closing the door behind her. Mihla sat, staring at the glass, and she cried.
