Ah Ra was at the microbiology lab growing the samples; at that precise moment, using gloves to manipulate the elements behind the isolation barrier, she was depositing a sample of striated muscle tissue, preserved in the super-nutritious gelatinous agar. She carefully uncovered the newly prepared Petri dish, and gently placed it on the new substrate, immediately re-covering it; she'd been repeating that procedure for a long time, keeping in the transport cubicle several samples of bone, muscle, nervous, spinal cord, immune, blood, and pluripotent cells, all of them a set necessary to continue with the experiment. She slowly arranged the last sample, and leaving the gloves, went for a reel to take all the plates to the new adjacent genelab, which had been built a month ago; once the cubicle applied the surface sterilization procedure, the doctor hurried to decontaminate herself and leave.
A marvel of biotechnology biomedical science, embryology and genetics awaited her; weeks ago, one of the secgens had returned from an overseas mission, and it seemed he'd done so well that he even bought new sets of clothing to celebrate his victory. When she asked Chae Gun, he told her it was Seo Jin, the same one she saw for the first time in many years, from afar, with Raon and Mari, he obtained the schematics for the cloning machines and the gene-editing instruments, as well as the required procedures. She felt like a girl in a candy store when she entered; artificial incubators lined up in the counters, as well as cell-growth tanks and
The tissues she was taking to the protein assembler were divided into 3 different genotypes; the first belonged to Sigurd, with tissues characterized by their apparent immunity to aging and resistance factor, granting the wearer virtual biological immortality. The second genotype samples belonged to S-1 herself, who had volunteered to offer her tissues, capable of regenerating much faster and harbored psychic potential unmatched by others of her kind, putting her among the most powerful superhumans with such gifts. The third was the most important, and already beginning its gene-editing with processes automated by advanced AI, the cell group belonging to the superhuman subject who opened the gaps between worlds, now known as B.
However, based on what Ah Ra's superiors knew, it was clear the creation of a complete and conscious cloned body was out of the question, since the previous personality could reappear, hindering the final goal of the project; open a portal to the Society's universe. Therefore, what would emerge from these experiments was going to be a kind of programmable and cybernetically integrated, chimeric bio-unit, to which only memories would be inserted of how to use its power, and how to access both its target Earth and the places it, Elijah, and those "Einherjar" had visited. The medic was not naive like others, especially the interns, who thought that once ends were met, the Division would hand over the tech to a more competent authority to manage and protect it; it was painfully obvious that it would later be used for more egotistical projects on Raon's part.
Certainly the machine, in theory, would have the default capacity to establish random coordinates to any universe, but complemented by the psychic powers of S-1 in the clone's DNA, it would also be able to "resonate" with the aura of any nearby person, and detect worlds where versions of it also existed. But both the mastery of Soo Young's esoteric theories, as well as the quantum physics of the scientists building the portal itself, went beyond her powers and assignments, so she couldn't imagine how these computer scientists and engineers would achieve such a design. Her own duty was to coordinate his own work with the biotechnologists in charge of creating the implants, such as to achieve the coupling of both organic and technological structures in perfect harmony, remotely controllable not only through psychic stabilization, but also by software.
In that last part, above all, the IT area was involved, and, consequently, also Goo Joon. The doctor knew that, at that moment, she would be doing her best to coordinate the programming of said implants, the main one of which was a replica of the interdimensional transmitters; she had, therefore, to give her all, not only for the Division, which was her life, but also to not hinder him.
- Doctor Yoo…
- Yes?
Ah Ra turned, and before her was the one who had made all this possible. He was actually more intimidating up close, a shaven-headed fellow wearing a long black coat, whose small, slanted eyes were piercing, and whose height, accompanied by a wiry build, made her feel tiny:
- You are Seo Jin, aren't you?
- That's how it is. Director Kim sent me; she wants a detailed report on genetic compatibility levels.
- Assembly process 33 has just begun; I still have to extract cells from the other donors and isolate the correct sequences.
- If there are no results within 10 days, you will be removed from the project...
- No, it won't be necessary - she replied, upset - come on, don't be so serious, tell her that by then everything will be ready for review.
- I'll go notify, then. You all better keep the rythm - he said, putting his finger on his communicator.
- And...by the way, one thing...we're both secgen, you know? You can call me Ah Ra.
The escort said absolutely nothing in response, and simply left there at a hasty pace straight to his boss's office; once the guy disappeared around a corner, the medic decided to approach one of the assistants, who was preparing nervous tissue to pass it through the molecular cutter:
- Ah Rang…
- The sample is ready for cutting, doctor, should I proceed?
- Let Yu Xing do it; I want you to do me a favor… Xing, come and take care of this!
- Right now doctor...
- Of course... tell me - Ah Rang asked - how can I help you?
- Go to IT and ask Goo Joon about the software's progress.
- Good.
- And also tell him... I want to see him to train later...1800 hours.
- Yes, doctor...
The assistant looked at the doctor with amused suspicion before leaving and hurriedly went to the IT area, crossing the hallways without being distracted by anything or anyone, not even her acquaintances. However, upon arriving at the reception, she was stopped by a pair of guards, who were cleaning the interior sentry box in addition to the personnel and equipment scanners:
- Halt. Identify yourself – one of them said.
- I'm Hae Ah Rang, molecular genetics assistant - she responded, showing her ID with blue ribbon.
- This is a restricted area. Return to your post or we will use force – another guard snapped.
- I have permission from my boss, Dr. Yoo Ah Ra, look; here is her pass.
He took out his boss's ID from her pocket, which had a green ribbon, denoting a higher level of access.
- That is not allowed. Get out of here or I'll notify.
At that moment the chief stepped forward and snatched the card from his hands:
- Aishhh, give me that...why they put a new one this week?
He reviewed the small rectangle backwards and forwards, making expressions of mock reflection, finally nodding, with pursed lips:
- Who are you looking for?
- Hae Goo Joon, sir. I have a message from Dr. Yoo; It is confidential.
- Oh I get it already. It's about that.
- Sir?
- I'll tell you later.
- And then? - she asked
- All right; you can pass
- But... - said the other guard.
- My partner over there will escort you to the place - the boss interrupted back.
He motioned to a different guard who was standing at the other end of the small area, almost asleep from boredom. Upon hearing the call, he quickly woke up to stand next to his superior:
- My sergeant...
- Take this woman to Professor Hae.
- Roger.
He opened the doors with his card, and guided the assistant down the hallway until they finally reached the laboratory where Goo Joon was working hurriedly alongside numerous employees standing in front of consoles and holographic screens, typing commands and configuring codes on a huge screen all to himself. They both entered through a sliding door with a key, being the only way to enter that large room, only visible from crystalline polymer stained glass windows, resistant to high-speed impacts; on the other side everyone was as busy as they looked, scurrying around or sitting motionless, working. The one who did pay attention to those outside was the IT chief himself, who soon turned to see Ah Rang approaching; without stopping at any time to review lines of code and carry out programming tasks, he received the visitor by asking:
- Who are you? Hadn't seen you before.
- I'm Dr. Yoo's new genetics assistant. They assigned me to HQ three days ago.
- Ah, I see, well...come here assistant.
- Okey, sir.
- And you wait outside - he told the guard.
The latter left, keeping his back to the door. Ah Rang walked over to say in a low voice:
- The doctor wants you to see her at 6 p.m...to train...
Goo Joon held back a smile:
- That's all?
- Ow, no no no. – she replied, blushing – She first asked about the software.
- Reverse engineering these digital minds is taking longer than anticipated.
- After the breach you say? How did they get it? I'm sorry if I shouldn't have known, rumors say...
- We practically had to rebuild our new copy from scratch based on remote scanning. Reviewing the code to avoid new incidents is a priority, and we've been identifying suspicious sequences, which is going to delay us...
- I see. I'll tell her...
- Tell Ah Ra... doctor Yoo, that we also have a pending assignment on IG this Saturday at 9 p.m.
Then his gaze changed to a dark expression:
- But don't you dare tell anyone, or I will have you punished...
- Alright - she said, making a slight bow - Now I'll go my way back.
- Wait, before you leave... tell her not to worry about me, this time I will configure it so that the mental software can only be manipulated by us, that and... I will see her at the pool. You can go.
Ah Rang left the laboratory, and the guard escorted her out of the area, returning after a few minutes to the lab with Ah Ra to tell her what Goo Joon had said; she agreed to everything, but did not add much more to the information given, she simply thanked her and sent her back to work:
- Take care of the blastocysts I put in the machine; uses synthetic culture B for the RNA strand…
- Ok, doctor. But there is something that worries me...
-But just one more question...
- Yes. It's just that... about that digital consciousness... if they delay, we won't be able to...
- It's not something you should worry about anymore. Leave it to me, I've already thought of a plan B to meet the deadline.
- Okay. I'll go back to work.
A few hours later, Ah Ra left the genetics assistants and embryologists alone with the order to begin the control of the first batch of diploid cultures, zygotes fertilized with genetically modified nuclei; she promptly headed towards the training area, and arriving there walked left of the main field. She took out a small plastic device from a pocket to open a lock, and after entering the enormous pool area, closed the doors to the place from the inside using it over a control panel, while pressing a button caused the cams to pause and give the looped image of an empty room. Someone else entered from a service door at the other end of the watery circuit, and eeing who it was, the medic quickly approached and wrapped the young man in her warm embrace who, in reaction, smiled and caressed the doctor's hair gently, wrapping his other arm firmly on her back, lifting her up a little bit:
- Ah Ra…
- Goo Joon…
The medic was put down and placed her head on his chest, pressing herself against him, digging her fingertips into his shoulder blades:
- I was so worried about you. Why did it take you so long to come see me?
- I had no choice, they didn't allow me to send someone to you. You know how it is; it doesn't matter anymore, having you makes me happy.
She approached and melded her lips with his; as they parted she stood at the edge of his face, looking into his eyes with passionate intensity.
- Me too - said Ah Ra - so, you want to swim for a while? You look stressed, relax a little, egghead...
- By two, you know-it-all... - he responded, insinuating.
Goo Joon and Ah Ra soon take off their clothes, git into the water, and taking her by the chin, he gives her a kiss that made her forget all deadlines, all work loads that pressed her; she was lost in her ecstasy, especially in that year of hers, where finally her companion in hardship felt just as she always did at his side. She was overwhelmed by the greatest feeling of peace she could have in her poor stormy existence, one that she, him, and hundreds of others like them had had to live; the doctor remembered how everything had gotten to this point, and it was so perfect, so much that she could not help but feel the happiest. Hours passed, and late into the night, both were embraced, curled up in each other, lying on the steps that went to bottom of the crystalline azure waters, submerged from the waist down, sublime pleasure; already exhausted, Ah Ra yawned freely, to say:
- I don't want to leave...I love you.
- Me neither - he responded - I would love to be like this, always...
Hearing that, the doctor clung to him tighter; Goo Joon looked at her, expressionless, but suddenly he was startled, and his muscles tensed as he sensed potential danger and immediately saw it with his own eyes; sweat beaded from his forehead, and his heart beat rapidly.
- Ah Ra...there, look! -she alerted the doctor- Is that not...?!
She looked in the same direction:
- What's happening... Oh no, it can't be...! – She replied with panic.
He didn't complete the sentence when he saw clearly that, about fifty meters from where they were, a third person was standing, watching them, causing his nerves to take over and he began to have chills all over his body; Ah Ra had a tremor in her hands and her rosy lips trembled out of anguish. The one now looking at them was the first person against whom Goo Joon had taken measures so that he would not be discovered in acts like this, or others, since this was a clear violation, not of the formal regulations, which did not apply to them, but the harsh and impious personal law that the current Kim Ra-on regime had imposed on them.
- Director Kim - Goo Joon stammered in a shrill voice - This... ma'am, this is not... what it seems, I...
- Please - Ah Ra exclaimed, leaving the pool instantly - We can explain it...just...
She nervously advanced a few meters covering her chest, and halfway there she got on her knees, bowing her head, pleading with her hands together almost as if she were praying to some angry deity:
- Just don't punish Goo Joon, punish me, this was my idea, I swear it won't happen again...!
The young woman to whom Ah Ra was begging continued standing, but in response to that plea she had a strange reaction; she simply shrugged her shoulders, and pursing her lips, she looked from one side to the other and then raised her hands in front of herself. Goo Joon continued looking at that, and quickly realized what was happening; that's when he saw the girl's rosy cheeks blush, at the same time she responded with difficulty:
- Sorry, but - Mari said between giggles - Did you confuse me with Raon...?
- Oh? – The doctor questioned herself, embarrassed – But, but… –she continued, pointing –How did you come in here?
- Ah, yes, well... through that door there... - she said, indicating the place.
- But what an idiot I am - Goo Joon said under his breath - I forgot to close that manual door.
- I'm really sorry, I didn't want to…interrupt anything, I swear I wasn't looking, okay? The best thing would be for me to go and...
- What? Of course, of course, just...go away... - Ah Ra replied, standing up.
- Hey, wait…! - Goo Joon exclaimed – If you are the double, how did you access this area? I thought you were locked up.
Mari turned pale at that; they discovered her very early, so her only option was to get out of there:
- Yes, yes, that is very true - she said with a fake smile - I... I don't know where I am now either, I was... looking for a bathroom, yes, and... I got lost in the hallways, I arrived here out of nowhere...
Goo Joon got out of the pool and walked towards her at a confident pace, without any regard for modesty:
- You lie...and on top of that you're wearing the director's clothes...come here, I'm going to report to you right now...
In response Ah Ra blocked him, and Mari took out her cell phone, showing it to the youths:
- You can't. If they punish me... something worse will happen to you – she responded, acting brave.
- Why's that? Nobody will believe you.
– I know they have their own intranet here, so… - she exclaimed, raising her phone – if you don't let me go in peace, I will upload the photo and everyone will see it…
- Mari, Goo Joon, seriously, let's leave it like this...just go... - the medic intervened.
- What if I go there and delete it? Who do you think they'll listen then?
- I also recorded you - she replied - and I'll put it on speaker, there are people nearby, and they'll come to check... better yet, if I connect the "music" to the Bluetooth speakers on the ceiling, maybe...
- No wait! – Goo Joon shouted, to Ah Ra's surprise – you know, it's not necessary, we can reach an agreement...
- Of course, I don't upload any of this and you...
Suddenly Mari exclaims, with false alarm and dramatically:
- Oh no, S-1 said she was coming at this time. We should all get out of here...
For a moment Goo Joon hesitated at the actress's statement, and when he turned to see if no one was arriving, the actress ran out the door back to the barracks through the corridors; once the actress looked behind her shoulder to make sure she wasn't being followed, she slowed her pace, setting off towards where she had come from, thinking:
"There must be a way out. Young-ho, Mr. Bae, all of them count on me, I won't let them down…"
She walked through the sections, avoiding the containment area, and taking secondary or service corridors. Despite her precautions, it was while crossing the medical wing she was suddenly approached by a nerdy woman wearing glasses like bottle bottoms and a white robe too long for her short stature:
-Director Kim…
- Ah...Yes...this...what do you want? – Mari asks, bursting with nerves deep inside.
- I'm Woo Rina, Dr. Yoo's assistant. Director, or was it, no, no, ma'am, ow...so...sorry. I must give you news about the project.
- How is it going...what I ordered you to do? – Mari followed, clueless.
- Regarding the biological substrate – she responded – it is possible that 10 days are not enough to create a viable recombination of the genemat.
- And what does that mean? - the actress asked, genuinely baffled.
- We want to ask you for more time, please – Woo implored, bowing half her body.
- And...if...I accept...what is the deadline...in how much time... will it be ready?
- Huh? – the assistant hesitated – well, possibly two more weeks, but we'll do everything to shorten.
- Will they... be able to... do it...?
- Overseer Hoo told us she would assign more shifts to everyone and bring in staff from Busan. We hope so.
- Sure…
- Ma'am, are you okay? I see you looking a little pale...
- That doesn't matter to you... tell me... How will they then... not delay any longer?
- Dr. Yoo had in mind to use the live subject, the stowaway. We'd need your direct authorization.
- I…ehmmm…okay, I authorize it, but what…what about the portal? You know...how is it going? How is...the subject?
The assistant, now raising an eyebrow, responded:
- Well, I know that the software is in development, but I couldn't tell you the rest... and as for that, ma'am, I don't know, I only understand that since his discovery in the South Annex he's been confined in cell 034.
- Director…!
It was a man in his forties with a gray diving suit on top. Mari looked at him and got scared, startled by the guy who had just suddenly approached her.
- Hey... uhmm... what's happening?
- We did it, we have the right formula; the preliminary test was successful. We still need to do more testing, but we finally managed to create a viable wormhole...
- Actually so?! – the actress exclaimed with joy.
The other two were quite surprised, and upon realizing it, Mari stood still and cleared her throat:
- But the size is still too small to fit a human being, and we can't keep it open for more than a couple of minutes.
- We need something better. You must…perfect it, or it won't work; I await your next results...
- Yes, we will have them soon...
The man, saying this, left there in a hurry. The assistant also bowed, and she disappeared back the way she had come; Mari continued to hurry down the hallway, trying to reach the elevator that would take her directly to her destination, and one of the few that did not require a key card. But just before she arrived, someone else came up behind her:
- Director…
The actress turned around and saw a guy with curly hair, hunched shoulders, and who, hunched forward, did not look back at her, as if he was trying to avoid looking at her on purpose:
- And now what?
- The portable version of the communicator implant is ready.
- What are you talking about?
- The one Dr. Yoo requested for the clone, she requested it through Chief Hae...
- I never authorized such a thing... - a new voice then said - He should have discussed that with me, and he didn't.
Upon hearing it, the same breath of death ran down the back of the imposter, who, terrified, began to turn around.