[Daily Log] [Growth on Embryos] [Subject Tests] [Research Notes].
Adam saw the computer light up with three options and felt like he had struck gold. He might be able to get some more answers about himself that weren't answered at Second life. So he opened the first one, hoping to learn something new.
[Error Daily log wiped]
Well… perhaps that's to be expected, on to the next one.
[Growth on Embryos: Sample 1: 0%, Sample 2: 0%, Sample 3: 0%, Sample 4: 0%, Sample 5: 0%, Sample 6: 0%, Sample 7: 0%, Sample 8: 0%]
Ironically that one was even more worthless than the previous one. He turned to look at the 8 opened glass tubes that once contained human bodies and now were left idle. Probably this computer terminal was hooked up so it could measure the growth rate from the chambers directly, not through visual observation of the scientists, which meant that, now that the bodies were gone, it read nothing. Hopefully the next one would give him some more information.
[Subjects 1, 2, and 3 will be our control subjects, the memory implants will not be carried out until the bodies have reached maturity. For subjects 4 and 5, the memory implants will be conducted as soon as the subjects have achieved stable brain function. For subjects 6, 7, and 8 we shall set them aside to turn them into test variants of Omega Mark 1. Subjects from the vault will be chosen for the brain transplant once the bodies are fully formed, until that point they shall be treated the same as Subjects 1, 2, and 3. The next batch of subjects will use different variations to test for anomalies. End Log]
Adam paused and then looked at the test tubes where he was formed. He came from tube 4, he remembered the confusion and panic he felt at awakening in a strange place with no answers. He also remembered the bodies of all the others, lifeless, cold. This gave him some clarity. He was subject 4, one of the clones who received the memory transfer early. Likely the other subjects didn't get memory transfers before the scientists were all killed in the revolt. However there was one question that left him. What about subject 5?
He turned his gaze to the container on the other side of the walkway off center from the one he came from. The tube that he looked at his reflection in when he awoke. There was a woman that came from there, lifeless, just as the others. At the time he thought nothing of it. Why would she be different, after all. But now, knowing what he did, that woman had a memory implant just like he did, so why did she not awake like him? Unfortunately as much as he racked his brain he found no answers. He simply was not observing what he might need to in order to get those answers back then, if there were answers to glean at all. This was one mystery that, unfortunately, the scientists had taken with them to the grave. What a shame. He would have liked to have a sister…
With one mystery partly solved, why he woke up when the others didn't, he had only one option left. Research notes.
[Repeated tests have shown that the bodies will form as intended, any genetic defects can be worked out in the formation process and the scanning process at Second Life HQ before the world ended proved to be a great asset.
Currently we are lagging behind on projections of the Omega Type Ones but the 3 Alpha types and 3 Beta types we are creating are coming along with projections. They can grow autonomously without our involvement and the lazarus liquid can keep them suspended for hundreds of years assuming no external stimuli or bacteria get inside. If it wasn't for the repeated failed attempts at making a brain transfer I would say we are making rapid progress. There is something to be said about survival based incentive. Though, perhaps, this is the wrong term. Still, trapped underground with nary but their work to occupy them these scientists from Second Life are proving to be quite diligent.
We have also decided that, in an attempt to work out the issues presented with the Omega Type Ones, we would begin the creation of some Omega Type Twos for testing purposes. We have a number of brain scans on file from Second Life that we can make use of for the Type Twos. A veritable wealth of memories to dig up from. Besides, we have two additional biochambers that are not yet being used, it seems a waste to not use at least one. But I digress.
The greatest boon we have projected is that all bodies, from Alphas to Omegas, will be blessed with longer lifespans. The ouroborus factor allows the body to keep up a prime shape for much longer and the degradation doesn't start until much later. It is unknown how long a body would live for, baring external factors, but we estimate reaching 100 years of age should be the minimum for the forms. However further study and data is required to say this with absolute certainty. As it is too soon to claim this as fact I shall keep this off the record to not have a selling point misattributed.
However there is one issue we have still not solved even after achieving so much progress here, underground. The entire line of clones have a lower libido than should be evident for humans of their age. Markedly lower, at that. I have not yet figured out the reason but I would assume that the reproductive instinct is not altogether gone, just simply on the lower end. This was a known problem even back at Second Life, I am told. However for reasons that should be obvious they kept this from potential investors. After all, what good is a healthy, capable, and strong new body if it's not virile enough for enjoying a sex life? Still, I doubt it will be much of an issue. Less sexual drive does not mean none at all. Even if we never manage to fully remove this defect we can simply market it as 'work comes first' or something to that effect. Branding would be important.
As of writing this I am confident that within the next few decades we will have nearly perfected a technique that will satisfy the mission statement of the Vault. The only concern I have is if we will run out of residents first or not. Genetic material is hard to come by in a closed environment. Luckily we have a recently pregnant woman here, she will be absolutely vital to the next phase of research.]
Adam felt as if he would have been better off not reading the research notes. He did, in fact, find a lot of information about himself, though some of it was things he already inferred. But knowing he was set to live a long healthy life was quite an unexpected and welcome surprise. The thing about his libido though… He chose to ignore it for the time being. It certainly explained some things but truthfully he did not want to psychoanalyze himself in that matter so he simply put it out of his mind.
He did not feel satisfied with the answers however, especially when the end note about the scientists using the new mother noted in the overseer's log for research came up. These people were truly despicable and immoral. His body may be blessed but the means to get him here was unacceptable.
Still, confirmation was good and it was nice to finally put this all to bed. There were likely no more secrets to be found about his body, no new things to learn. At this point, if there was something else hidden from him he would likely never know. In a way that was comforting, he could finally let the matter rest.
He stopped and looked around the lab that brought him to being, imagining all the horrible experiments that were conducted here in the name of science and immortality. This whole vault was built as a monument to the worst of humanity. It seemed fitting, then, that they were reusing it to build a community, a true home down here like was advertised. The intentions might have been evil but the outcome is ultimately to the benefit of those who survived the nuclear fires.
As Adam stepped out of the lab he paused and looked at it once more. What would he even do with this space? He had no scientists, he had no need for a bioresearch lab, he had no need for any of the knowledge contained in this room. He refused to make new clones, even if he knew how, he was resolved to be the first and last successful experiment. So to him this space was worthless, perhaps even cursed. The space itself might just have to remain locked forevermore. Perhaps one day it could serve a purpose but that day is not today.
Adam re-locked the lab and then headed right outside, passing through the storeroom on his way out. When he got outside he saw Deccanus sitting on a pile of rubble staring at the setting sun and Salvatore smoking. He said nothing to either man as he walked over to a flammable pile of scrap wood, took all the papers he found in the lab on him and other more intimate details of specific individuals, and then threw them on top followed by a lit match a moment later.
He stared as the papers slowly turned to ash under the warm light of the fire that spread from one page to the next. This was a final act of defiance against the scientists in the Vault. He, their creation, would wipe away records of his own experiment. True, there can be good gained from acts of evil. Perhaps the research into genetics would help cure diseases down the road, but that is wishful thinking. Ultimately the research here was created to create a slave caste of clones and allow the rich and powerful to no longer fear death. However he could not bring himself to destroy all of their work. He just had to hope the future would bring cooler heads to the fore. For now though, burning something, anything gave him a huge amount of catharsis.
"Everything cool kid?" Salvatore asked as he sauntered over, cigarette in his mouth.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Adam said as he watched the fire burn. "Just closing a chapter on my life." Salvatore nodded slowly and then patted Adam's shoulder before turning around to go back to smoking elsewhere, once more leaving Adam alone with the now dwindling fire.