“Yes, this one is coming along just fine.”

Dr. Thodokaraius slid a lever up the status display. All vitals looked nominal. Overall health was good. Development proceeding a little slower than average, but nothing to be concerned about.

Thodokaraius made notes on his clipboard, then stepped back to take a visual reference. The nebulous void swirled around the fetus floating in the spheroid globule. At times, the starry void obscured its pupilless eyes, but it still glowered with pure blue innocence.

“Yes, you’re shaping up quite well, aren’t you? Belief is coming along nicely. Won’t be long before you have a sacrifice to call your own. And then your first temple.”

The god made no response.

“We’ll set you in a nice desert area. Somewhere where people are desperate for hope. How does that sound?”

When the intercom clicked on, Thodokaraius thought, for a split-second, it was talking to him. Then the nasal voice of Herr-Mistress Jezika droned through.

“Thaddeus. Stop talking to the thing.”