You Want to Do What?

Writers: Miriah
Date Posted: 28th October 2020

Characters: Urlene, J'ackt
Description: J'ackt asks Urlene for help
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 5, day 25 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Cyradis, N'vanik

Urlene

J'ackt

J'ackt sat in the exam table, shirt removed and waiting for Urlene's
final checkup on his arm and back. He considered himself completely
Healed, despite having less strength in his arm. Honestly, he really
didn't need the checkup, but he had other reasons for seeing the
Weyrhealer. He looked up as she entered and nodded.

Urlene gave a brisk nod in return. "J'ackt. I was surprised to hear
from you. I cleared you for the Wings. Is your shoulder still
bothering you?"

"Just after /betweening/. It aches." That was true, at least, but the
ache had been tolerable.

"Hmm... well, that should be expected. It may always ache. Serious
injuries, even Healed ones, tend to ache at that cold. Turn around and
let me check your shoulder." As he did so, she continued. "Is your
side bothering you at all? Your rib?"

As she pressed on his shoulder, around the scar, he held still. "No.
It's fine."

"Hmm." Urlene examined the scar, pressing around it to examine the
structure underneath; it was jagged from the multiple times he'd split
the stitches, but it had finally, solidly healed. The muscle also
seems to have reattached successfully. "Everything looks alright.
How's the strength in this arm?"

He turned back around. "Well, I've been exercising..." Urlene arched a
brow and he cleared his throat, "like you told me. Not overdoing it."
He ignored her snort. "It does get sore easier and this arm does get
tired quicker."

"Also expected. J'ackt, I don't think you'll ever get back to your
original strength. We discussed that. Even if you were, it'll take
more than a few months to get even close to it."

"Yeah, I know." He paused, trying to figure out how to bring up what
he really wanted to talk about. "I wanted to talk to you about
something else, though."

She looked up from writing on the hide and paused, both brows raising.
"Really." She put aside the hide; he usually wasn't one to speak up or
want to remain in the infirmary for longer than he had to. "What
about?"

J'ackt shifted. "I heard that there's a surgery...uh... for men."
Urlene just looked at him and he cleared his throat to continue. "To
keep them from getting women pregnant. It doesn't involve... like
chopping anything off...does it?"

That brought Urlene's brows shooting up nearly to her scalp in
surprise and she slowly took a breath, studying him. She took a
moment, sighed, and then sat in the available chair. "No, J'ackt, it
doesn't involve chopping off anything. People aren't like herdbeasts
to be gelded. There _is_ such a surgery but it's rarely done. I've
only seen it done twice and never done it myself."

"I want it done. Even if it hurts." J'ackt's voice was quick, but firm.

Urlene held up a hand. "Wait a moment. J'ackt. It's only ever done
when a man's partner can't risk a pregnancy either due to their health
or all of their children have died due to an illness. It's never done
lightly and I've never heard of it being done on a rider. Always and
only in monogamous couples, which honestly, at a Weyr can be just as
rare."

"I want it done."

Urlene tugged at her ear, brow furrowing. "Why would you want that
done? You're very young and weyrmated. You may want children in the
future and it can't be reversed once it's done."

J'ackt's stubborness set in and his jaw tightened. "I don't want
children. Ever. I can't keep Zith from mating flights. Believe me, I
tried. I was able to manage three before he just ignored me. He didn't
catch but he's getting to be a right arse about the whole bloody
thing. "

Urlene rubbed the side of her nose and exhaled through pursed lips.
"Have you spoken to anyone else about this? I thought the leadership
wanted riders to have children."

"It's none of their business. Besides, there's plenty of riders having
babes. I don't want to."

Urlene sighed. "It'll take you out of the wings for at least a week.
I'd have to get approval to do it, since it's not really a necessity.
Your wingleader is the Weyrleader, right?"

"Yeah. He knows I don't want children." He hoped N'vanik would approve
it and that nothing was mentioned to Cyradis about the matter. He
could take care of the entire problem with this surgery. Shards, she
might be happy just to have it over and done with. Faranth knew he
would be.

"Speak to N'vanik. If he approves it, then we'll sit down and I'll
explain what will happen. But if he doesn't, then I won't."

"I will. Thank you, WeyrHealer."

Last updated on the November 5th 2020

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