Here's a new attempt. I have dropped the colony idea to focus on the childbirth angle but it is still set in the same future. I have moved to a completely new scene for the start and the man is now the doctor. Nothing against women doctors you understand, I just don't feel up to trying to write a woman's POV that's all
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I would also add that I'm not sure I have the skills to continue this where I would have it going. Very sensitive and emotive topic!
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"What's the emergency?" Ian had just arrived and was observing the efficient bustle of preparatory activity.
"There's been a multi-vehicle accident near the city centre," said the A&E sister. A quiet centre to the orderly storm surrounding her. "We're expecting around fifteen casualties in the next ten minutes or so. Rooms are being prepped and we are calling in a couple of extra doctors."
"How the hell could something like that have happened?"
The sister pulled a face. "Apparently some hotshot wanted to impress his friends, hacked his cars safety system and took it out of urban auto-control. His reaction time wasn't up to it and they found themselves in the middle of an eight car pile up."
"Damn! How bad?"
"Mostly minor; cuts, bruises, shock, a few broken bones but there are a few more serious cases with possible internal injuries."
Ten minutes later and the victims started arriving in a noisy convoy of hospital trolleys. Ian's first patient was whisked into his treatment room by two paramedics.
"Closed fracture of the tibia, no apparent displacement. Some shock."
The paramedic's terse summary told Ian there was no immediate cause for alarm but his eyes widened as he took in the patient's young age.
The introduction of the first rejuvenation treatments over a century ago had forced the world's governments into uniting behind the childbirth laws. No one knew just how long a life could be stretched but everyone knew that population control was now essential. One death, one birth. It was one of the most strictly enforced laws of modern times. You could leave your life to another in your will but, with rejuvenation and modern genetic medicine, death was now much less frequent. So children were rare… very rare and this girl can't have been more than fourteen or fifteen.
His momentary pause was hidden by the paramedics gently lifting her from the trolley to the treatment couch.
"Right," he began awkwardly, he couldn't have spoken to more than two or three children in the last sixty years, "let's get you fixed up. We'll have you out of here in no time. My name's Ian," he added, cringing inwardly at how he must sound, "And what shall we call you?"
She just looked at him; distrustful, maybe even fearful.
A shrug from one the paramedics. "Hasn't spoken a word since we picked her up".
Ian raised his eyebrows, but decided to press on with the examination. Time enough to worry about that when things have calmed down. "Jenny, can you take a quick gene sample for me, while I get the scanner ready."
His nurse collected the sampler and came over to the couch taking the girl's arm. She spoke soothingly, "Don't worry it's completely painless, just a little scraping of skin…. There, all done." And to Ian, "I'll just be a minute with this, Doctor."
One of the paramedics held the door for the nurse and following her out they paused at the wave of sound from outside; shouts and doors slamming. Noticing the girl's increased anxiety, Ian called out to the departing medics, "What's with all the noise out there?"
"There's some guy storming about from room to room. Looks like he's headed this way. Want us to stick around?"
"Please." And to the girl's obvious fear, "don't worry you're completely safe. No one will harm you." But she just shook her head and then stared, wide eyed, as a big, heavily built man burst into the room. Scratches and a bruise above his right eye suggested he was one of the accident victims but he seemed otherwise unharmed.
His eyes fixed angrily on the girl. "There you are, come on get off that thing. You're coming with me. Right now!" Her face now betrayed outright terror.
As the paramedics quickly moved between the big man and the couch, Ian stepped forward; "
Excuse me! This young girl is not going anywhere until her leg has been treated and we're happy she is not suffering from shock."
"I'm her father and she comes with me now!" He tried unsuccessfully to barge past the paramedics.
Ian bristled at the man's bully tactics. "Her leg is broken and if you are responsible for her, I would appreciate it if you would wait by the reception desk, where you will be informed of her progress."
He tried to pass the paramedics again but they weren't budging.
How this big thug could be any kind of relation to the slightly built young girl on the couch was beyond Ian, but even so, he was not about to tolerate this kind of behaviour. "I must ask you to leave this room immediately."
The sister, who had just marched through the door, wheeled about calling over her shoulder "I'll call security for you, Doctor".
Before he could respond the nurse returned holding a tablet. An anxious frown creasing her brow. "Doctor, could you take a look at this, please?"
"Just a minute Jenny, we really need to deal with this first." The man was still trying to get past the paramedics.
"I'm sorry, Doctor, but I really think you need to see this now."
One of the paramedics chipped in, "Don't worry; we're watching this guy and security will be along in a minute."
The arrogant scowl had vanished from the father and he was beginning to look worried, glancing back at the door. "You've no right to keep me from her." More of a complaint now than the earlier demands.
Jenny passed her tablet to Ian. "I was processing the genetic sample and… well, look for yourself."
Frowning, Ian scanned the genetic summary; it made no sense. "That's impossible! She's way too young to have had rejuvenation treatment."
"That's what I thought, Doctor, so I…"
The man was already through the door and running for the exit.