~Chapter 2~
July 28
The nine month waiting period is finally over. The growth of the doll has proceeded as planned without any complications. Today the doll is to be activated and start basic tests immediately. If everything goes smoothly, the doll will be ready for presentation in two years. If the doll shows any signs of malfunction it will be terminated immediately.
My assistant and I will be the only ones in contact with the doll until it is deemed successful. We take full responsibility for the results of this project.
The professor laid down his pen and closed his log book just as Norman burst through his office door, a huge grin spreading across his face.
"Today's the day, Professor! I get to go with you this time, right? I haven't seen the doll since the first day we put it in the incubation wing. Please let me come! Please!"
"Stop acting like a child, Norman," he chided, grabbing a clipboard with an assortment of papers. On his way out the door he motioned Norman with a half-hearted wave to follow, hoping he wouldn't regret letting the hyperactive youth accompany him. Norman's smile grew as he turned to follow the older man to the incubation wing, located far beneath the facility.
They passed through door after door, security becoming much stricter with each passing. Cameras became much more common and lurked around the dark corners. Security bots patrolled the last few hallways of their long downward journey, only stopping to verify the pair's identities. Norman had a tendency to shirk from the bots; their ability to impale invalid personnelwas not a rumor he felt like confirming.
It wasn't until the professor unlocked the final set of double doors that Norman allowed himself to breathe again. They stepped into the dark room with only the eerie glowing red walls providing light, if it could be called that. With a few strokes on the door's keypad, the professor lit up a small path to the blinking monitor in the center of the room.
"Why aren't you lighting up the whole room like last time? I can barely see."
"I don't want the doll to be overstimulated. Better to let it adjust to its senses slowly."
Norman let out a hushed grumble, agitated that he wouldn't be able to see the doll just yet. He reluctantly followed the professor to the center of the room where the older man was able to log on to the computer and begin "activating" the doll.
White lights around the base of the capsule lit up and cast a soft glow on the doll floating inside. Norman and the professor gazed up into the lone capsule at a loss for words.
Inside the transparent, lavender fluid, curled up like a sleeping baby, was a very human-looking doll. The light coming from the floor made its pale skin glow, creating a very ethereal atmosphere. Strands of raven black hair flowed around its head, creating a dark, wispy crown. Long lashes decorated the doll's soft face. Its nose was small and pointed, but the professor found its mouth to be the most intriguing feature. Even in sleep, its lips seemed to curl into a subtle, yet mischievous grin. He dismissed the thought. How could a mere doll have a personality?
A vacuum interrupted the duo's thoughts with an obnoxiously loud gurgle and began disposing of the viscous liquid surrounding the doll. As it was draining, muted hisses could be heard while the tubes connected to the doll began to detach themselves and float uselessly around it. With each passing second the suspended figure began sinking further to the floor until its frail body landed with its feet curled underneath and its back against the glass. The doll's head slumped forward, hair clinging to its delicate face.
"Norman, get some towels from the cabinet. Grab a hospital gown while you're at it," the professor commanded. Norman nodded and proceeded to procure the wanted contents from the cabinet, barely taking his eyes off of the sleeping form inside the capsule. The professor turned his head to the side to read the monitor. A lone box in a field of blue read: PROCEED? His hand drifted to the enter key. It hovered there for a minute, as if afraid to press the key.
This was the moment, the professor realized. It all came down to whether or not the doll even gained consciousness. Almost nine years of relentless, laborious, and tedious work boiled down to this event. The professor whispered a small prayer, images of his wife and son flashing in front of him.
Holding his breath, the professor gently pushed the key down. The locks on the capsule's door unlatched and the door swung open silently. Norman eagerly stepped toward the doll, but was stopped by the professor's hand.
"Wait. Don't touch it. I have to make sure it's safe." Norman was slightly surprised by the professor's actions. Normally the older man wouldn't have cared if he got hurt. It was then that Norman realized the gravity of the situation. They had created a superhuman being. If it went out of control…He shook the thoughts from his head and concentrated on the professor who was slowly inching toward the doll.
The professor's heart was pounding inside his chest and sweat dripped from his brow. Both nervousness and stress were taking their toll on the older scientist. Once at the foot of the capsule he crouched, bringing himself to the doll's eye level. He tentatively stretched out a hand and placed it on the doll's cold shoulder. A moment later, its lids slowly began to open.
Silver-gray eyes stared at the professor lifelessly.
A monotonous voice emitted from the doll. "Power levels at one-hundred percent. System functional. Engage."
The professor quickly gathered his thoughts. "State identification number."
"My identification number is H0053348."
"H0053348 initiate hibernation mode. Acknowledge."
"Initiating hibernation." Without another sound, the doll closed its eyes and went back into its slumber.
"Norman, bring me the towels, help me dry it off." The young assistant approached cautiously, double-checking the doll before handing the professor a stack of towels. The two of them began to rid it of the lavender substance coating its skin.
"It's a boy," Norman sputtered.
"I wonder what gave you that idea." The professor rolled his eyes.
"Well, aside from the obvious. But he looked so…beautiful. I thought there was no way it could be a male."
"Hn," was all Norman got in reply.
The professor slipped the hospital gown over the doll's head as soon as he and Norman had finished drying him off. Then Norman located a bed at the other end of the hallway and brought it back to the wing in order to transport the doll to a new room. Both were silent during the procedure, preferring to think to themselves about what had just occurred. The doll, of course, also remained silent as he was relocated to a dim room designed for observation.
The professor spent his time hooking the doll up to monitors and machines that would keep track of his progress. Norman kept himself busy by filling out important documents. When everything was finished, the professor decided the doll should at least have its fine motor skills tested before calling it a day.
"H0053348, disengage hibernation."
"Hibernation disengaged," the monotonous voice echoed. He was greeted by the same silver- grey eyes. The professor went down the list of fine motor skills, checking off each completed item as the doll performed them. Norman watched from across the room, amazed.
After the test was completed, the doll was left under the surveillance of a camera. Before leaving, the professor pulled a small book from his lab coat.
"H0053348, read this book completely and store the information in your databank, then enter hibernation mode. We will commence further tests tomorrow. "
"Acknowledged." The doll took the book – a small child's dictionary-from the professor's hands and began to read. The professor motioned toward the still astonished Norman to leave the room. He locked the door once outside and the pair made their way back to their offices.
"He's a lot younger looking than I thought he would be," Norman mused.
"Hn," was once again the reply Norman received. They were making their way up the stairs when a sudden crash made both freeze. They looked at each other, neither one worried about hiding his fear. The crash had come from the doll's room.
The duo raced to the room, the professor trying to stay calm enough to unlock the door. As the huge metal door swung open, both gasped at what they saw inside.