Chapter 15

The next day.

Alley went to see Dr. Genus.

She wanted answers too, he knew something and yet has kept oddly silent about it all, why? She had to understand his logic to this, why wouldn't he warn the family or even try and stop this himself? She stood just outside the doors of the shop, with a deep breath she walked in just as she saw it. Genus was seated as he spoke with Jason. Yet, someone else was in the room. Slowly, she made her way in, and paused. "Zombieman…" she whispered.

The conversation came to a startling halt. Jason turned and glared at Alley, so did Zombieman, there was no mistaking it now, this kid was his clone! "I'll come back later." he said begrudgingly.

"66…"

"Please, not yet!" little Jason begged. A brief smile came over Zombieman as he ruffled the kid's hair playfully.

"I promise to be back. Besides, you and I got a lot to talk about." He left rather quickly, perhaps he didn't want Alley there to hear the conversation.

"I'm sorry for coming unannounced." She explained.

"No, I was excepting this to occur sooner than later. I must admit though, I thought your mother would be here than you."

Alley nodded. "Mom… hasn't quite been herself as of late. I have never seen her like this… before…" Alley began to tear up. "I'm sorry…"

"No. I should be apologizing." Genus paused. "Jason, can you ask our friend in the kitchen to make some fresh tea?"

He nodded and rushed out of the room. Genus approached Alley and eased her down to the closest table. "I have much to speak with you about, but I am uncertain how to go about doing so." He thought it over and sighed. "Well, perhaps for starters. You should know the clone who did this, isn't 106."

"That… a little relief" she whispered.

Jason soon returned with a tray of tea and cups. He placed one before Alley and then Genus. After he left and went to his room. "Little Jason here is figuring out far too soon the circumstances of his birth." He explained. "I understand he is mad at me now, and he's not happy about how he came to be…"

"You shouldn't take all the blame for that, I mean, I helped you do it," she said. She paused though. "What does he know?"

Genus sighed. "Well, when you walked in, I was speaking with 66 at first. Yet as we continued our conversation, Jason appeared out of nowhere listening to everything that was spoken. His eyes came upon 66, and then it appeared he had a moment of discovery. He must have seen the resemblance between each other, yet as he began to ask question. You walked in."

"Oh… I am so sorry!"

"Actually I think it was perfect timing. Jason isn't ready for the answers yet. 66 was trying to find a way to get out of the conversation until he could plan a way of explaining everything. When you appeared, it was the exit he needed." He took a drink of the tea. "Now, as to why you are here…"

Alley nodded. "My mother's brothers… my uncles…"

"Yes, it appears there was Brawler Blood found at a hospital recently. The one who found it as to my knowledge is not connected to 106 who used your creation cell against you… and against me. This was a mere curious clone to see if perhaps he could salvage the blood."

"He was successful by the sounds of it."

"Indeed, even I must admit to be impressed. Consider this Alley, when blood has left the body it is viable for a mere 42 days… how did that of your uncles' last years?" he asked. "I am aware of the device Metal Knight himself created, although it is rather curious he merely made the one and not implement these in all hospitals…"

"So… Brawler Blood is strong to say the least…" Alley whispered as she took a drink of her tea.

"It appears to be… had it be in my possession, I would have done the same for your mother. Except I would have allowed her to be there for every moment of the process…" Genus paused once more. "I have been kept inform of this from one of my living clones. They told me that the clones of your uncles were strange and quite abnormal. When one is cloned it can take a great deal of time for them to wake, months in fact. Even under proper incubation, there is no guarantee that clones will comes out as intended. The first ones never do…" he said. "However, your uncles were different. I was informed upon the moment of creation, they tried to wake themselves. Their brain waves were all over the charts and yet it knew when to rest if it wasn't successful. They woke themselves up using shock therapy."

"Shock therapy?" she asked.

"I have seen it once before but it made clones go mad. There are those whose minds are eager to develop and grow. Such bombardment of information forces the body to react. They soak in every sound, smell and touch, and crave more of it. If they cannot obtain it they will attempt to wake themselves so more information can be gathered. They would shock their own system and yet many don't open their eyes, they rush themselves and are unable to wake, they go mad in their sleep and usually die within three days."

Alley sat there, stunned silent. "How many times…."

"Too many" he said. "But your uncles appeared to have done it differently. Instead of using their senses, they used their memories to jolt themselves awake. Doing that, they don't relay on their senses."

"That's remarkable to say the least…"

"Indeed. Which makes me wonder if perhaps because of that practice, their minds can process everything better? They have only been awake for a few days, and yet I have seen them out in the world already. It's rare for a clone to process so much in little time."

"I didn't think I came from a family of meatheads,"

Genus smiled. "No you did not." He sighed. "I do admit I wished I handled this a lot better than I did. The whole house of evolution is my doing, I should have dismantled it and taught my clones far better!"

"Us too," sighed Alley. "When do you think mom can see them?" she asked.

"That, I cannot say for certain. It will be up to the brothers and how well they process everything. I don't even know if they are aware they even have a sister. When one is cloned memories can be lost but at the same time jogged if done properly. It all depends on the minds of the clone at hand…"

"I thought you would say that…" Alley sighed. "I better get going then, thank you for the tea,"

"Anytime… oh, Miss Brawler…" he called just as Alley was about to leave. She turned to him as he offered a warm smile. "I have considered your offer, may I have a little more time?"

She gave a smile and nod before taking her leave. She would go home and let her father know what she has learned. But she hopes for the sake of her mother, her uncles will remember and want to see her again.