Prototype

One of the required pre-screenings to NexGen was a blood sample. He needed to know all of his employees possessed acceptable genetic material for any experiment he might need to subject them to.

Dr. Granat’s theory on how to remove an embryo from a uterus and then properly put it into a test tube was a success. When Samantha revealed her intentions for a day off to check on the status of her pregnancy, he was elated. The time to begin Sample: Omega’s was now. The extraction of Samantha’s embryo was very successful.

His ultimate success was imminent; the fetus growing in the synthetic uterus was almost ready to be “born” into the world he was preparing for it. But now, the real work is going to begin.

The fetus’ status began to change, ready at last, and the fluid started to drip out; this was the moment of truth. This moment was the birth of the first human to be grown in an artificial womb.

The fluid drained from the top and out the bottom; air bubbles escaped to the top as the volume of air increased. The bottom of the tube opened slowly allowing precious space for the fetus to be taken into the arms of its creator. The child took a deep breath of air and considered crying. Instead of crying, the newborn yawned, and glanced around the room at its new surroundings.

The newborn, this success, was a little girl.

She was cradled in a warm blanket to absorb the excess embryonic fluid and her umbilical cord was cut, separating her from her old environment. The research staff took her statistics to determine her birth health, measured her, photographed her, and began charting all her details. This was a monumental moment for science, and for Granat’s research; this child was utterly perfect.

His previous experiments proved useful, but they lacked a “normal” appearance; they were genetically spliced which denied them the most basic human characteristics. However, this one was different; she would blend in perfectly to the world around her.

She was gift-wrapped for him, presented on a silver platter. He was on the brink of a wonderful new discovery; he felt like Charles Darwin with his theory of Evolution; he knew something the world was not yet ready to accept, but the information needed to reach the general public eventually.

The infant opened her eyes and abruptly closed them in response to the harsh laboratory lightly. The little fists began to turn and flail and the infant began to cry.

Granat cuddled her closer, and she started to fall asleep in his arms, humming awkwardly as an aftermath of the heartfelt tears.

“Happy Birthday, young lady,” Granat said to the newborn. Overwhelmed with his own success, he caught himself tearing up, and cuddled the infant in toward his chest.

There, she nestled, and dozed off.

“I’m going to call you Reggie Ramone; after my late wife,” Granat told the newborn.