It should not matter whether or not this creature was a genetic anomaly created by man; what should matter was that she was alive. Isn't that enough to inspire you idiots to keep her that way?

-Professor Matina Montoya

. . .

My mother liked to tell me that we Montoya women were not quite women, exactly, we were more like forces of nature that broke down whatever walls it took to progress through our stages in life. She used to tell me that I was an earthquake; constantly moving, always shaking someone's views or values in ways they never thought possible. With my mother being just that, my mother, I never really took her seriously. Me, being compared to an earthquake? Why couldn't she call me a tornado or something? Come on Mom, what's your reasoning behind that?

But I digress.

Any way, I work on the development and study of biological DNA reproductions. Clones. I make clones. It's actually not such a bad job. Not everything is perfect though, there are days that I've lost my lunch because of something we were working on. Like any other science, it takes a lot of trial and error. Error is usually what a day normally brings, much to the disgust of everyone else in our division.

Last night I was called to the lower Delmarva area for consultation of a project they were working on near Beach City. They told me that they had perfected a clone of some ancient DNA they had found ages ago; of course the statement interested me, but I thought they were talking about something that was like a dinosaur or some other extinct thing. No. It wasn't like that at all.

She wasn't like that at all.

. . .

Professor Matina got out of her air-conditioned car and was instantly greeted with the harsh, unfriendly, and horribly hot air that infected the beach-ridden areas of Delmarva during the summer. As much as it bothered her, it didn't really.

"Ah, Miss Montoya!" a voice greeted from nearby. "So nice you could meet us here on such short notice!"

Professor Matina turned to see a man with a black business suit coming toward her. At his side was a girl that wasn't much higher than his mid-torso. The girl was odd, to say the least, looking at if someone has just handed her an odd assortment of clothes and she managed to put them all on. Professor Matina raised an eyebrow but said nothing against it; fashion wasn't where her hobbies lie.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too Doctor Digen." Professor Matina then said, extending her arm so the man would accept the handshake. "You didn't inform me that you were going to be with a child."

"This creature?" Doctor Digen asked, pointing to the girl. "If she think that she truly is just a girl then you're in for a huge surprise madam!"

"Pardon?"

The girl gave Professor Matina a rather slow blink before she started to remove the scarf that was wrapped around her mouth and the tip of her nose. Professor Matina jumped back in shock when she saw that the girl did not have a mouth.

"What… on… earth?!" Professor Matina exclaimed in surprise as the young girl replaced the scarf. "This is the clone that you want me to observe?! She's so… so…!"

Doctor Digen only smirked at Professor Matina's astonishment and horror.

"We haven't quite nailed down what makes her genetically similar to the original DNA, but for now you can try her out and observe any anomalies that may arise," he informed to deaf ears. "We have called her Detroit Agate, or Fordite. You may use whichever code name you wish on your observation notes- quite frankly it doesn't matter which one you use to us as long as the paperwork is turned in at a reasonable time."

Professor Matina did not answer, and only stared at the girl. In turn, the girl stared right back with a look that was worn and saddened. Professor Matina swallowed back dry saliva and knew what she had to do.