"Genesis"
Chapter 10
I had been working with Gero for several days now and the project was moving ahead nicely. There were still a couple of areas that I wasn't too clear on, but Gero wouldn't go into detail at this stage, all he would say was that I would know soon enough.
On this particular day the weather wasn't very good and a storm was threatening on the horizon. I had promised Krystal that I would try to get through the day's work before the storm hit as I knew how much thunder and lightning seemed to terrify her. With that thought in mind I hurried through the day's tasks. I had managed to complete most of the tasks when one of the computers decided to go a bit haywire and refuse to co-operate with the program I was trying to run on it. After much beeping and flashing of the screen and hard drive and a few choice words from myself the program decided to delete itself.
"Damm you, you wretched machine!" I cursed the computer in front of me, curbing my instinct to thump the thing. I typed in several commands, but all to no avail. It wouldn't do a thing. The cursor continued to blink at the top as if in silent mockery of my futile attempts.
" You rotten heap of mismatched wiring and circuits..." I swore again, but of course the computer ignored me. It was no good, I would have to find Gero and get the program from him and then re load it all again.
Muttering to myself about useless pieces of machinery and how this sort of thing would have to happen to me, especially on a day like today, I made my way to Gero's office. As I neared so I could distinctly hear the sound of raised voices. I turned to walk away and return later when curiosity got the better of me. I knew I shouldn't be eavesdropping, but I couldn't help myself. One of those voices caused a little bell that was buried in the recesses of my mind to begin to ring. I knew that voice from somewhere. I began to dig methodically through the many closed doors of my mind in an attempt to locate the name or the face that belonged to that voice. The bell began to ring louder, but still I couldn't find what I wanted.
I began to get frustrated with my own inadequacy. That voice... I was connected to it in some way... It had a strong meaning to me; now if I could only figure out what.
I inched closer to Gero's office, the door was ajar and I managed to peer inside.
A strangled cry left my throat as I recognized the face of the man in Gero's office. It was the face of our parents' killer... The one I had seen in the car as it fled the bank all those years ago.
I felt faint as the recognition hit home. I raised a hand to my mouth to try to stifle the scream that was on its way from my vocal chords, but I only succeeded in mutating it. Then I watched in horror as Gero and the man turned and stared in my direction.
Gero opened his mouth. "Jay!" he called, his voice trembling with anger.
"Y...y...you killed my parents," I stammered - then I turned and fled.
I had no idea where I was running to, all I knew was I had to get away... away and try to sort out my thoughts. So many questions filled my mind and my fists clenched in rage as I ran that face through my memory once more. I had never forgotten that face and had vowed that some day I would find him and then he would pay. But what the hell was he doing here with Gero?
Blindly I stumbled back into the lab. I could hear Gero not far behind me. I continued to run.
"Jay!... Stop!" yelled Gero.
I continued to run, dodging around apparatus, between tables bypassing the miniature robots that continued to work on, oblivious to my headlong rush. I would stop, but only when I found somewhere to hide and sort out the tsunami of emotions that threatened to drown me.
Vaguely I registered the footsteps of a second person and realised that the other man had joined in the hunt. I slowed my running as rational thought entered my head once more. As long as I was running they could hear me and follow me, so If I slowed then I could use stealth to make my departure. I had to get out of the lab and get to Krystal. My inner self telling me that this was all could Gero possibly want with this killer? How did they know each other?
"Well, Jay, you wanted to find out what Gero was up to and it looks like you found out a bit more than you should have," I scolded myself. Why oh why hadn't I listened to Krystal and stayed out of the lab?
Quietly I slunk around the low tables in the lab, being careful not to interfere with the robots that were working away, but moving towards the lab doors. I had no worries about the coded lock... I had figured that out a while ago. I just needed a diversion of some kind to throw Gero off while I made my escape and got Krystal.
"Where are you, boy?"
Gero's voice rang out clear.
I continued to hide and work my way around the floor.
"Come out, Jay. We need to talk."
"No way!" I responded. "Just let me leave and I promise I won't say anything to anybody about what you are doing here."
"I'm afraid it's too late for that, Jay. You see, you already know far too much."
"No ... no I don't. I have only been working on basic things, I have no idea of the more advanced stuff," I lied. I could see the door across the expanse beckoning me.
"I can't let you leave here, Jay. You see, you are a vital part of my program, I need you to achieve the ultimate android." Gero's tone was quiet and cajoling.
I felt my blood run cold at those words. Seeing that the only thing that stood between me and the door were the large, covered, fluid filled cylinders, I crept along, keeping myself backed against them and in the shadows.
"I won't help you any more. I don't want to be a part of this," I stated.
"Ahhh, but you already are, Jay - and a large part of it at that," Gero laughed coldly.
Panic set in and I scrambled to make a run for the door. As I did so I knocked the switch that kept the covers in place on the cylinders. With a hum the covers began to lift, revealing the contents of the cylinders to curious eyes.
My sudden lunge for freedom halted in mid air. The *thing* that was contained within the cylinder driving all coherent thought from my brain and stealing the ability to move from my body. The scream stilled in my throat as blackness claimed me.
I was face to face with myself.
I have no idea of how long I remained in the darkness of unconsciousness. I was quite happy to float about there and then the visions started, drawing me back towards reality. A reality I didn't want to face.
"He's coming round..."
I groaned and blinked as the bright light pierced its way behind my eyelids and into my brain. Where was I? What happened? How long had I been out for? All these questions and more were running rampant through my head as I recalled the last events to happen to me before I slipped into oblivion.
Myself... I had seen myself. All the horror of the past suddenly caught up with me in one fell swoop. My breath caught in my throat as the realization set in and I struggled to raise my body, only to find that I couldn't. Cracking open an eyelid I scanned around the immediate vicinity. I was restrained in a prone position, 'probably a table', I thought.
"I know you are awake, boy."
I shivered as Gero's voice found its way to my ears.
"Open your eyes."
Slowly I did as I was told. I turned my head to look around me, confirming that I was indeed restrained to a table. From the looks of things I was in the rear of the lab, somewhere by Gero's office I guessed, having never been allowed beyond the doors of Gero's room. I turned my head to scan the other way and my breath caught in my throat as I came face to face once more with *myself*.
"Marvellous likeness... don't you think?" said Gero.
A small cry escaped my mouth.
"He should be a mirror image of you seeing as how he is cloned from your DNA, Jay."
I stared in disbelief. Finally, I managed to whisper. "But why?"
Gero just chuckled. "My dear boy, you have been so interested in finding out about me and learning all my secrets that you didn't stop to think that I may have wanted you to learn all this on purpose. That I wanted you to find out." He quirked an eyebrow as he spoke.
I trembled as the thought that Gero had set me up penetrated my mind. Oh why hadn't I listened to my sister? She had known that something was wrong and had tried to warn me, but I had brushed her aside and ignored her warnings. Now I was forced to pay the price for my arrogance.
Another voice broke into the silence. "When are you going to do it?"
My head jerked around at the sound and fear balled in my stomach as I saw our parents' killer standing beside my double.
"Patience my friend, patience," soothed Gero. "These things cannot be rushed. The boy has to be prepared first." Gero moved out of my line of vision.
Prepared? Just what the hell was going on here? I began to struggle at my bonds.
"Now, now, Jay. It won't get you anywhere. You cannot escape me this time." An evil smile appeared on Gero's face.
"What are you going to do?" I asked huskily.
"I intend to make you my ultimate being..."
My heart froze, my breath caught in my throat as the words sank in. Then the reality of the situation hit home.
"NO !" I screamed and began to fight in earnest.
Gero just laughed. "Before I complete the process, which by the way I am very grateful to you for helping me refine, I will fill in the gaps to what you have managed to find out. I'm sure you would like to know all that before I remove all trace of current memory from you and make you perfect."
Knowing that there was no escape from my current situation I gave up my struggle, opting instead to wait for an opportunity to present itself. I looked at Gero, part of me wanting to hear what he had to say and part of wishing I had never heard of the name Gero.
He began his tale...
"You already know that your father and I were very good friends at one stage... shame he had to be so stubborn about that loan. The company I worked for was making such progress in the field of bio genetics. All we needed was enough funding to finish the project. So close... so close... The cloning technique was just about perfected and I knew we were only a step or two away from cracking the problem we were having with the melding of the biological and non biological systems. Although your father wouldn't approve the loan we continued with the research anyway until forced to stop as the company folded. The directors weren't happy that they had to put the company in receivership. I must admit, I was furious when I learned that most of the equipment and all the research we had done would be sold off to the highest bidder to try to pay off the company's debts." Gero took on a far away look.
I watched, absorbing what he was telling me, most of it I knew so far.
"Have you any idea what it is like to watch your life's work broken up and sold off in chunks to various scavengers?" Gero's voice took on a threatening tone.
"No, I don't," I whispered.
"It's like having your heart ripped out. All those years.. all that time and effort... for what? Just so some smart assed wannabe can come along and take what I have slaved so hard to do, make a couple of adjustments, and then claim all the work as their own. No, I don't think so. I managed to save most of my data to files and destroy what that was left. No one was going to take the credit for my work!" Gero's eyes went glassy for a moment as he remembered that time. Then he shook himself from his memories and continued.
"Once the company had been sold off I found myself looking for work... anything so long as I could get money together to continue my research. I found employment with an underground company. I wont go into detail, but suffice to say that I made some genetic changes to their *army* and assisted them in a lot of other ways. Unfortunately the whole project was brought to an abrupt halt by some lone warrior who went by the name of Goku. I was the last survivor of the group and by now had enough money to get myself restarted on my ultimate project. I bought this place, equipped it and began to work." Gero paused to draw his breath.
My eyes were wide open as I tried to understand all that Gero had told me. There were, however, still a few pieces of the puzzle missing. "What is my parents' killer doing here? How does he know you? What does he want?" My questions sprang forth.
Gero chuckled evilly to himself. "Dear boy, haven't you managed to work out anything for yourself yet?"
I scowled at his reply.
"George Hunter, or your parents' killer was the owner of the Bio-genetics company that your father refused the loan to. Because of your father's refusal, George here lost everything, and that is a bitter pill to swallow," said Gero.
"It took a few years for me to get myself out of the debt hole that your father put me in, boy," snarled George Hunter.
I turned to look at him, I had forgotten that he was still in the room with us. My stomach tightened as I heard that voice and saw that face once more, that face that had haunted me for years.
"It took some time, lots of careful planning and a little help, but I managed to get my revenge," sneered George.
So my parents' death hadn't been a bungled robbery after all. It had been a calculated, planned, cold blooded murder. A sob escaped my throat as tears broke free from my eyes.
"In fact, it worked out well for all of us." added Gero. "George here got his revenge and by this time my research had reached the point of fruition. I created Omega, what was supposed to be the ultimate android. But alas, there still proved to be that one, minor, elusive piece missing. You saw for yourself with Omega how close to *human* he is. I then realized what the missing piece was."
My tears stopped as my mouth went dry. Now I knew. I had been given all the pieces and at last I had slotted them together to give me the answer. Waves of nausea washed over me as I contemplated the missing link...
"Ahhh.. I see you have figured it out, Jay," said Gero.
"Yes.. I think I have," I whispered.
"So what was the problem then?"
"To get the total and complete human form to bond, grow and meld with the non organic parts you needed much younger DNA. To be precise... adolescent DNA," I said.
"Bingo... Go to the top of the class, Jay," said Gero.
"So that is why you waited until we were 10 before coming forward to claim us," I stated.
"Yes. There was no point in having you around until then. Your DNA was of no use until you hit adolescence, so by taking you in at 10 I was able to monitor you and collect my samples as necessary; and as you can see, grow the perfect android." He gestured to my double that still lay on the table next to mine.
"But why us?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer I still had to hear it from his lips.
"Perfect revenge, don't you think?"
"Can we get on with this now," growled a low voice from behind my double.
Realising that an opportunity for my escape wasn't about to present itself I tried to change tack and talk my way out of this mess.
"Please don't do this to me, I can be of greater help to you as I am, I won't tell anyone about anything that is happening here. Just let me be." I was aware that my voice was taking on a begging, pleading tone, but I didn't care. Now I understood what a condemned man went through.
"I'm afraid that is just not possible, Jay. I have gone to a lot of trouble here, not to mention expense in having your mind trained as well and now it is time for you to repay all that."
I watched as Gero moved about collecting items from somewhere just out of my line of vision. Then my blood ran cold as another thought hit me.
Krystal...
As if sensing the thoughts in my head Gero turned and stared at me, an evil smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"No... Leave her alone..."
"My dear boy, did I say anything about your sister?"
"I know you... I know how you work. Please, leave Krystal out of this." Again I tried to struggle against my bonds, but to no avail.
Gero walked towards me and began to attach various wires and electrodes to my head and other parts of my upper body. He continued to talk as he checked the circuitry.
"There is no point in struggling, Jay; you cannot escape. Believe me, one way or another you will become the ultimate android. It will be much easier on you if you accept this and stop trying to fight it."
I knew then what I had to do. I swallowed hard trying to keep my voice level. "If I submit to this will you spare Krystal?"
He stopped for a moment and thought about my proposal, then he sighed. "Alright. You win. You give of yourself willingly and I will spare your sister."
A tear rolled down my cheek. "Thank you," I managed to force out.
"Humph," said Gero and he quickly set to work attaching wiring and electrodes to my double.
Resigned to my fate, I mentally sent a message to Krystal, one I didn't know but prayed she would get. I simply said "I'm sorry." And then letting my mind go blank and my body go limp, I succumbed to whatever it was that Gero wanted and needed of me to make his experiment complete.
Gero busied himself attaching the many wires to myself and my double, pausing to check every now and then that the computer that was also wired up to us confirmed that everything was still go ahead. Hunter assisted him from time to time passing over different pieces of equipment as required. After what seemed like an age he was finally done.
Thunder began to rumble overhead and I shivered involuntarily at the sound.
Gero's voice cut into my thoughts. "We are ready."
I stared at him, trying hard to swallow the lump in my throat. I had no idea what was to become of me... if this was going to hurt... if I would have any knowledge of who I was and what had happened. I wasn't too sure if I wanted to know.
Gero moved to the computer console and began to type.
I felt the wires begin to hum and a warmth spread through my body from the electrodes scattered all over my skin's surface. Then a dull ache began in my head. I turned to my double and noticed that he was beginning to glow as small tremors passed over his prone form.
Gero sat back and folded his arms, watching intently. "The process has begun," he stated.
The ache in my head began to increase and the tingling of my body also rose and I was aware of my other self without using my eyes. I began to sob... so this was how it would all end for me.
While I could still remember I pictured Krystal's sweet face and that of my parents, then I felt a cry of anguish rip from my very core and out of my throat, screaming my pain to the heavens before the ache in my head exploded into millions of shards of light and then the world went black.
The lab shook and the lights blinked... dimmed and then returned to normal. The buzz and hum of the equipment faltered for a second before resuming.
"What the hell was that?" shouted Hunter above the din of thunder.
"I think we took a lightning strike," replied Gero and he quickly moved across to the two figures on the tables. Hastily he checked them over for any untoward signs and finding none, he went back to the computer, checking once more that the program was still functioning. From what he could see all was still okay and the transfer continuing as planned.
#
Krystal sat in her bedroom watching through scared blue eyes as the storm closed in. "Where are you, Jay?" she asked out loud. He had promised to return early and be with her, he knew how much she hated storms. An uneasy feeling settled over her as she tried to read her book, then without warning, a thought flashed into her head.
"I'm sorry."
Krystal shook her head trying to clear her mind. Where the hell had that come from? The thunder rolled and Krystal shivered, hugging herself tight. Jay would be here soon.
There was a loud crack and all the lights dimmed. Krystal jumped, eyes wide with fear as a guttural scream came from nowhere.
She found her own scream joining in as a blinding flash passed before her eyes, pain ripped through her head and chest and then blackness...
tbc...