[ENG] Waiting for Kyle

Hazeema was nervously stamping on the ground while staring at the cameras of facility 658.

- Any news on Kyle ?

Seated deep inside a chair with worn out stitching, a thumb she had been trimming for a few days in her mouth, her pompisity had dissapeared for a long time now. On the dashboard facing her, cups and traces of coffee had drawn numerous patterns reminicent of the lost great felines.

- Not since these last three hours.

Answered Daan in a sigh. His beard, already usually furnished, had been abandonned to time. Bushy, growing unequaly, it was now about 30cm longer than when they arrived in the station. He scratched it by pure reflex.

- Trust him. It’s not the first time that clones rebel.

Even though he tried to keep a neutral tone, his dark look showed how worried he was.

- Still, when it’s not Kyle’s, it’s always my clones that wreak havoc. Are you sure you don’t want to make a version without him or me ?

The biologist’s wrinkles burrowed themselves on her face.

- That would be deriving from the protocol. If we change such a big variable, I doubt she’d be able to handle it.

In a same movement, they raised their eyes to look through the window of the control room.
In the center of the laboratory, a gigantic ensemble of cables coming from both the ground and the roof were agglomerating around a medical seat that was welcoming Eden’s calm body.
Elevated, dressed with a helmet that was emitting countless sounds and lights, it was impossible to say wether she was sleeping or deep into a virtual dive.
On her left arm, covered by the tatoo of a cherry tree’s branches, a cable connected her to an electrocardiogram that allowed her colleagues to see how she was faring.

Around, the workstations they used to use for their experiences had been tossed along the walls. The tall glass panels that used to separate their work spaces had been placed in circle around the computer scientist. On some further out surfaces, a few stripes of light coming for the outside Northern Lights were contrasting with the ambient austerity.

- Do you think we made the right choice ?

The question surprised Hazeema. She turned around, outraged.

- What else would you have done ? Everyday, the statistics Maddora send us are more and more alarming. We need a solution. Now.

Daan lowered his eyes, unable to answer.

- We all have people to protect, Daan. For you, it’s you wife and son. For me, it’s my parents. But her…

The mate chin of the scientist pointed towards the pale skinned woman in the center of the lab.

- The only things she has left are memories. So stop reconsidering everything and let’s focus on…

The security alarm stopped her.
Like a single body, they both lunged at the surveillance screens.
In the access corridor, an old man with an unattended short white beard was closing the door to the entrance sas. He then turned around, waving at the camera.

- Finally !

Hazeema activated the microphone to talk to him.

- 1.3.3.6. Confirm identity.

The sizzling sound of the ambiance microphone answered with a small latency.

- Alpha 1.3.3.5 ! Kyle Davis ! Don’t be so stuck up, Hazeema ! I need a shower, I'm covered in clone blood.
- Advanced recognition, who is missioning us and what is our mission's code ?
- Maddora. And we're working on the quantum mind. Mission Komodo. Can I get in now ?

The biologist activated the entrance controls.

[...]