Phase-01

Phase-01  
Genesis

1800 Hours
August 7, C.E. 53
GARM R&D research facility
Mendel Colony, L4


Captain Matthew Onasi entered the lobby of the GARM R&D research facility. He talked briefly with the receptionist who gave him a visitor Id-badge and allowed him into the building. He did not need any directions he knew where to go. He had visited the facility many times over the last few years. Officially know as the Genetic-Advanced-Reproductive-Medical-Research & Development, it was one of the first and most successful genetic engineering companies located here at the Mendel Colony. It was easily that biggest producer of Coordinators in the world.

Coordinators were the very subject he was here to discuss. It was a hot political topic right now. Several in the Atlantic Federation government wanted to restrict the production of Coordinators. And on the political fringes you had Blue Cosmos. Ever since George Glenn revealed his secret to the world back in C.E. 15 the Environmental group turned Terror Organization who advocated for the complete eradication of all Coordinators, had been causing a tremendous amount of trouble. In C.E. 17 they set fire to a hospital in Chicago that was illegally creating Coordinators. And in the past thirty-six years hundreds of Coordinators and the Scientists who made them were brutally murdered. And what did the Government do about it, nothing! Sure they punished the actual murderers, but they did nothing to dismantle the organization as a whole. Many in the military were thinking about using Coordinators as weapons. He had come here in his civilian clothes instead of his Navy uniform to avoid a possible controversy. Despite this a large number of the country’s population were still moderates on the issue or were sympathetic to Coordinators.

Matthew remembered when George Glenn had returned with the alien fossil Evidence 01 that he had discovered in the vicinity of Europa, one of Jupiter's moons. Matthew had been twelve at the time and he had developed a fixation with space. He spent endless hours watching news coverage of the examination of Evidence 01 at the research colony Zodiac. He had also watched the coverage of the Palestine Conference a gathering of the world’s religious authorities to come to a conclusion on Evidence 01; they could not come to any. With this event tolerance for Coordinators began to spread and restrictions on their development were removed. The result was the Coordinator boom, an explosion of Coordinator births. Before only the very wealthy and influential could have their children illegally and secretly become Coordinators. Now with affordable Genetic Engineering techniques and technology most of the general populace could have their children turned into Coordinators. The estimated Coordinator population now exceeded fifteen million. Matthew and his family were sympathetic to the plight of Coordinators and had been actively advocating for tolerance and acceptance of Coordinators. When the restrictions on Coordinators were removed his family had celebrated, it was a dream come true. But now Blue Cosmos was trying to shatter that dream, he would not let them. They had already tried to kill him twice, both times they had failed and he had personally killed the bastards who tried to kill him. Matthew wasn’t a murderer but Blue Cosmos deserved no mercy, given the chance he would kill everyone in the organization.    

In C.E. 30, the same year as the Palestine Conference, the space industry had exploded into a success and several space colonies were created at L4, including the Mendel colony. Almost every nation had space colonies; even the small country of the Orb Union had its own colony Heliopolis at L3, they even had their own Mass Driver. But the space industry was not only for peaceful purposes. Five years later the Atlantic Federation had developed a lunar base in the Ptolemaeus Crater, and unveiled their first series of Mobile Armors. The world was outraged; the Atlantic Federation had violated several international agreements that prohibited the weaponization of space. A space arms race began between, the Atlantic Federation, the Eurasian Federation, and the Republic of East Asia, the three superpowers of the world. The Eurasian Federation had created the space base Artemis out of a captured asteroid and positioned it at L3. George Glenn’s mission to Jupiter had been an inspiration for Matthew to join the Navy in the hopes that he could one day serve in space in the Atlantic Federation’s Federal Space Force (FSF).             

In C.E. 38 George Glenn had developed a new concept of space colony while working at the Zodiac research colony, he presented the concept to the three superpowers. The Big Three saw the potential benefits of these new colonies and decided to fund their development. They were made at L5 and in six years the first ten were completed. They were called PLANT’s, Productive-Location-Ally on-Nexus-Technology (PLANT). They served as large-scale production sites. Making and researching new technologies and radical concepts in the fields of science, mathematics, history, and political science. They also became major centers of production of manufactured goods and energy that were exported to Earth. To help ensure the PLANT’s loyalty they were strictly prohibited from producing one thing, food. The PLANT’s are required to import their food entirely from Earth. This created a feeling of mistrust for the Big Three from the PLANT citizens, who were mostly Coordinators. The PLANT sponsor nations reaped enormous profits from the PLANT’s, so they ordered the construction of more. Even today they were still building more of them.

Unfortunately the good times never last for long. As the first generation of Coordinators reached maturity they began to excel in every scientific, artistic, and athletic field. This caused a rift to form between Naturals and Coordinators. Naturals viewed Coordinators with envy and jealousy at their abilities, while Coordinators viewed Naturals as inferior beings. Marriages among the first-generation Coordinators produced a purebred second generation, who have inherited their parents' abilities without the need for genetic modification. This caused Blue Cosmos to go on a spree of killings leaving hundreds dead in their wake. Blue Cosmos began to carry out acts of terrorism against the PLANT’s. Assassination of elected officials in the PLANT’s who were Coordinators and bombings that killed workers while they were constructing the PLANT’s. Because the PLANT’s are colonies and have no political autonomy and are thoroughly demilitarized, the PLANT’s are unable to defend themselves, and the Coordinators living in the PLANT’s have become increasingly dissatisfied with Earth rule. In C.E. 50 to obtain autonomy and trading independence for the PLANT’s, two Coordinators Siegel Clyne and Patrick Zala formed the political organization known as the Zodiac Alliance. They began working to abolish food production restrictions and secure self-defense rights for the PLANT’s, but their efforts have been suppressed by the Big Three. As a result the Zodiac Alliance went underground. And this very year a PLANT Supreme Council was formed, made up of representatives from each of the PLANT city clusters. But easily the most shocking event was the assassination of George Glenn. Back in June while he was in a crowded street at the Zodiac research colony a man shot him. He had been rushed to a hospital, unfortunately the extent of his injury was too severe and he died at the age of 69. It was a tragedy that the entire world felt. The funeral had received massive media coverage; Matthew had in fact recorded the funeral and was planning on showing his children and grandchildren one day. The investigation of the gunman revealed that he had participated in numerous Anti-Coordinator rallies and had Blue Cosmos connections. While Blue Cosmos had never been proven to be linked to the assassination, it increased the gulf of suspicion and distrust between Naturals and Coordinators.

As he walked from the lobby into the hallway that ran the length of the facility he saw many things of interest. Workers moving carts of electrical equipment into labs, rooms filled with clients who were learned about genetic engineering options for their children, and the rooms where Coordinators were made. He came upon his destination, a plain brown wooden door with the number 131 engraved on the wall next to it. He knocked on the door twice. A mans voice came in reply, “Enter”. Matthew opened the door and stepped into the room. Inside were a man and a woman both were wearing white lab coats. They appeared to be in the middle of an argument, the looks on their faces quickly changed as he entered the room.

“Matthew right on schedule as always, we were just talking about you.”

“Ulen it’s good to see you my friend.” It was his friend Dr. Ulen Hibiki the chief researcher here at GARM R&D. They had met at a pro-Coordinator conference that had been hosted by George Glenn several years ago and they had been friends ever since. “Am I interrupting something?”   

“No we were just having a minor disagreement no problems, right?” he asked turning toward his wife Via.

“Yes, just a minor disagreement,” she said halfheartedly. She turned toward Matthew and asked, “How is Sarah?”  

“She’s fine, I’ll tell her you said hello.”

She got up out of the chair she was sitting in and started to leave. Just before she shut the she said to her husband, “This discussion is not over.” With that she closed the door; Matthew heard her footsteps as she left.

Ulen leaned back in his chair and let out a sigh of frustration. “So my friend what brings you here today, are you here to discuss my proposal or is this just social call.”

“I was able to get it, serial number 009127-PX if I remember correctly.”

“You have a good memory, how were you able to get it?”

“It helps when you’re father is one of the Atlantic Federation’s top scientists. But it wasn’t free; I had to tell him to get it Ulen.”

“Can he be trusted Matt? A lot is riding on the continued secrecy of the project.”

“Don’t worry he wont tell anyone, in fact he was quite intrigued by your experiment and is curious to see if you succeed.”

Dr. Hibiki’s experiment was to produce the perfect Coordinator. An Ultimate Coordinator who’s every attribute could be scientifically controlled before birth. Although normal Coordinators are mentally and physically superior to ordinary humans, their embryonic development is still affected by the environment of the mother's body. This sometimes resulted in affected genes reverting back to their previous unaltered condition. And in more extreme cases it caused the mother’s body to reject the fetus, which led to its quick death. To eliminate this variable, Ulen developed an artificial womb that the fetus could survive in until their development was complete. Thus far none of his test subjects have survived. Ulen had asked Matthew for assistance in retrieving a critical component, compound 009127-PX. 009127-PX was a compound that had properties very similar to the fluid of the womb. The difference was that 009127-PX was much stronger, providing better nourishment to the fetus. Ulen was hoping that this compound would provide his test subjects with a greater chance for survival. The problem was that 009127-PX was highly experimental and was restricted until it was proven to be completely safe. Only a handful of scientists could get their hands on it. Matthew had asked his father Daniel Onasi who was an important scientist in the Atlantic Federation if he could get a sample of it so that Ulen could replicate it. When Matthew had first learned about Ulen’s experiments he was shocked by his friend’s actions. How he had rationalized the deaths of hundreds of unborn children in the name of science and progress. Matthew was originally going to reveal his experiments to the government but Ulen had talked him out of it. He said that if he could create an Ultimate Coordinator that perhaps it give mankind a goal to strife for leading to greater tolerance and rights for Coordinators.         

“Well hopefully with this compound we should be able to work around our past mistakes.”

“Mistakes! Over a hundred of your ‘Test Subjects’ are dead Ulen. How dare you call them mistakes! If there’s anything here that is a mistake it’s your little science project.”

“I apologize, I promise not to use that word again.”

“Fine.”

“When can you get it to me?”

“First things first Ulen, I need to know are you absolutely sure that this will help you succeed. I will not have any innocent blood on my hands.”     

“I am absolutely sure this will work, the problem with the previous subjects was that they were not strong enough to survive in the artificial environment. I am positive that 009127-PX will give them the strength they need to survive.”

“Alright then if you’re sure, but this is going to cost you.”

“Anything, just name it and it’s yours.”

“I just found out that my wife is pregnant.”

“Congratulations Matt,” he let out a soft chuckle, “You will never believe it but my wife is also pregnant, with twins. What are the odds of that!”

“Congratulations Ulen, I am happy for you.”

“So what does that have do with my experiment?”

“I want my child to be a part of your program.”

A nervous look appeared on his face. “Are you sure about this, as you know there are risks involved.”

“I know but I have the utmost faith in both your abilities and the compound. You won’t let me down.”

“Thanks Matt, I appreciate your vote of confidence. Alright I’ll do it and I promise to do everything in my power to see that your child survives. Because your child will not be the only one at risk, I was planning on using one of my children to test the compound.”

“Really are you sure Ulen.”

“Yes I’m sure, we are in this together if you’re willing to risk your child’s life then the least I can do is risk mine. When can you have wife and the compound arrive?”

“They’re already on there way, they should arrive here in a few days if their shuttle does experience any problems.”

“Alright then we have an agreement.” Ulen held out his hand which Matthew grabbed and firmly shaked. “And Matt thank you, I won’t let you down.”

* * * * * * * * * * * *

It was time, after nine long months it was time. Matthew had been able to get some leave so he could be here when it happened. He and his wife Sarah had already agreed to name their son Richard. Both Richard and Ulen’s son had survived. Matthew had barely entered the colony when he received a call from Sarah telling him it was time. He had grabbed a cab and rushed over to the facility. He quickly got through the lobby and walked briskly toward the room. Ulen, Via, and the rest of his staff were all scrubbed up and ready for the procedure. Ulen was the first to greet him, “Matt you made it.”

“Are you kidding I wouldn’t miss for the world.” He walked over to Sarah and said to her, “How are you?”

“I’m fine, a little anxious though. I have never seen an artificial birth before.”

“No one has,” said Ulen. “None of the children were able to survive the artificial womb; this is the very first artificial birth in the history of mankind.”

The artificial womb opened and the amniotic sac broke. Fluid spilled out onto the floor. As Ulen stepped toward the machine the child began to cry. He said, “I am now going to cut the umbilical cord.” With that he grabbed the appropriate instrument and promptly cut it off. One of his assistants handed him a towel, which he used to clean the remaining fluid off the baby. With another towel he wrapped the boy up and handed it to Sarah saying, “Congratulations Sarah, it’s a boy.”

As soon as he was in his mothers arms he stopped crying. It was as if he knew that she was his mother. She held him close to her. Matthew stepped closer to get a good look at his son. His eyes were a perfect shade of hazel and the hair that he had appeared to be brown. He looked a lot like Daniel.

Ulen stepped closer and said, “Sarah if alright with you we need to do some tests on your son. We need to be sure everything is alright.”

“That’s fine, but in just a minute. I want to savor this moment while I can.”

“Okay I’ll come back in a minute.”

After a few minutes Ulen grabbed a camera and said “Can I get a photo of the new family.”

“Yes, but only if you both are in it,” said Matthew as he pointed to Ulen and Via.

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yes, this would not be possible without either of you. Besides I consider you two as family, now get over here and smile.”

Ulen handed the camera to one of his assistants, he and Via then gathered around Richard.

The man said, “Say cheese!!!”

“Cheese!!!”

With that the picture was taken. And the man gave them a thumbs up said, “Perfect.”

“Alright I got to take the child to be examined now.” Ulen motioned for Sarah to hand Richard to him, which she did. He placed him in a cart and one of his staff wheeled him away. “Matt could I talk to you in private.”

“Sure.” He said to his wife, “I’ll be back in a minute.” He kissed her and then followed after Ulen.

They walked back into Ulen’s office and sat down in the wooden chairs. They sat their in silence for a few minutes until his phone rang. He put it on speaker phone and said, “Yes?”

“Dr. Hibiki we are sending you the preliminary data.”

“Thank you, continue with your examination” He hung up the phone and looked over the data on his computer. After he was finished he then reached into his desk and retrieved a silver case. He opened it and produced two cigars and a match box. He offered one to Matthew, which he initially refused.

“No thanks, I’ve been trying to cut back.”

“You sure Matt their Cuban, besides we’re celebrating”

Matthew considered this and accepted the cigar and a match. He lit his cigar and took in a puff and said, “Very nice. So tell me what the initial results were.”

“It was a complete success; all of the altered genes took. As you requested he has brown hair, hazel eyes, and will be athletically and academically inclined.”

“Good job Ulen, by the way how is your son?”

“Good he should be born within a day or two, same goes for his sister.”  

“Have you worked out any names yet?”

“Yes we are going to name the boy Kira and the girl Cagalli.”

“Beautiful names, they were Via’s idea right?”

“Yeah I didn’t get much of a choice on that one.”

“Well it didn’t help that you removed your son from her womb and put him in the program against her wishes.”

“I tried to make her understand that it was all for scientific progress.”

“Scientific progress! Ulen the inventors of the atomic bomb did so for the sake of ‘Scientific progress’ and look what that got them. Some of histories worst atrocities were carried out by people who had only the best of intentions. I don’t want to leave here worrying that you accidentally created a monster. And speaking of ‘Scientific progress’ I did some research and I learned something that I hope is not true. It has to do with a past client of yours a wealthy politician by the name of Al Da Flaga. The records state that seven years ago a Rau La Flaga was born here at GARM R&D. The birth records states that his father is Al Da Flaga, but there is no mother listed on the record would you care to explain that? And would you care to explain why over the last few years he has been making routine donations to GARM R&D.”

“I can explain. I…..I needed the money so I could fund my research into the artificial womb. And he approached me with a business proposition. It seemed harmless; I thought no one would figure it out.”

“Please tell me you didn’t do it Ulen.”

“And it was a scientific challenge that no scientist could resist. So I did it, I cloned Al Da Flaga.”

“Why?”

“Many reasons for the money, for the challenge, but ultimately I did it just to see if I could.”

“Ulen I don’t think you have realize the severity of your crime. There are huge ethical reasons why this is wrong. If it gets out that you successfully clone a human being, terrible things could happen. The wealthy might use them for nothing more than spare parts, harvesting the clone’s organs when the original needs replacements. The Government might use them as slaves. And the Military might use them as expendable soldiers, which could be easily replaced by simply making more. And the list goes on. These are reasons why cloning is illegal. And I can’t believe that you of all people did it simply to see if you could.”

“I did it to expand mankind’s knowledge, to solve the mystery of whether or not a clone can have a soul. Is that so wrong?”

“Ulen some mysteries are better left unsolved.” Matthew leaned back in his chair and sighed and said, “Look Ulen you’re my friend, and sometimes people make bad mistakes. But I am not going to condemn you for that. I’m not going to alert this to the authorities. But only if you promise me one thing. ”

“Anything Matt, you name it and it’s yours.”

“You will never clone another human being again, understood?”

“Understood.”

“Very well then, I shall keep this silent. But know this, nothing good will ever come from this. I sense that this child, ‘Rau La Flaga’ will only prove to be a disastrous problem for humanity. Let’s hope I’m wrong.”