They were suddenly transported in a lush decaying forest, the eerie quietness enveloped the entire place, there was a strange aroma of mellowness in the air, it was as if the autumn season had come.
***
The colossal creatures moved with incredible speed, defying all logic with its massive size. It didn't make any sense, yet it was happening in front of everyone.
Panic! Fear!
Those were the emotions that gripped Jane's hearts, clouding their judgments as the creature charged towards them. Its stomps reverberated through the ground, leaving cracks and crackling sounds in its path.
THUD!! THUD!! THUD!!!
CRASH!! CRACKLE!!!
"GODDAMN CLONES!! STOP IT!!!"
-----------------------------------------
The command was clear: sacrifice yourself so that I can live. Yet, there was this uneasy feeling lingering inside me, like the feeling when I was first created, it felt uncomfortable, maybe it was just some sort of glitch.
Even so, no matter how many times I tried to contain it, the sense of unease persisted, and that if I don't make a move now, my whole being tells me that I'm going to regret it forever. –'I didn't want to die'
-----------------------------------------
With its giant tusks nearing to impale him, as he was in the rear most part of the group, showing how little of a significance he held. With all his might He jumped sideways—
***
In a solitary room, stood a single vaulted automatic door, uncannily. The surrounding area shone with its pristine whiteness; it was squeaky clean, there was not a single speck of dust, or any form of microorganisms left inside the room. The cleaning tools and disinfectants that they used were nothing short of technological marvels, they were just that advanced.
Upon looking further outward; outside of the room, from the perspectives of technologists and boffins. A single one-sided mirror covered the entire wall, enabling them to observe the entire process that was about to unfold.
But this was not all they had to offer, in fact this was just the beginning. After all, they had evolved into the biggest corporation that all of humanity had ever seen, and all the things that they were dealing with here, are the very lifeline that allows mankind to live up to this date.
...
Then after about a minute or two of waiting, Two men clad in orange clothing entered the operating room, that was separated from the pristine white room. At that moment, when they inched a bit closer, it couldn't be helped but be noticed how haggard they looked, with their baggy eyes and unkempt facial hairs.
They looked middle aged, as if they had aged rapidly, or maybe they were actually middle aged.
Anyways, there was only one distinct characteristic that they both shared - the seemingly bland orange garments that they wore. and the codes that were written on the upper right side of their shirts.
The codes read:
DL-G30—3054 & DL-G31—3054
They then sat down on the virtual operating chairs, while picking up the helmets prepared specifically for them.
The chairs looked like a massage chair, similar the ones in the malls where you would have to insert a coin for the mechanism to work. But of course, this one was made specifically for another reason, and the helmets, well, they definitely looked advanced as after they wore them, they automatically covered their entire heads.
And then they were immediately locked in-
Zippppppppppp!
Clang! Clang!
Rev!
The chairs, helmets and binds then began to lit up a gentle blue glow, emanating from select crevices and noticeable transparent parts. The sequence of its illumination was very similar to volume bars of a remix studio.
The virtual chair then spoke in an artificial voice-
[Authenticating the surgeon's identity-]
[Found a match on our database-]
...
[Facial Features verified...]
[Now Checking the cornea-]
...
[Eyes have been verified...]
[Now commencing DNA verification-]
[Requesting permission from the surgeon's to pluck a single strand of hair-]
"Okay! Okay!"
...
[DNA Authenticated]
[Granting Surgical Authority]
...
The blue glow then seamlessly transitioned into a bold dark green hue, resembling the sequence of a volume bar in a remix studio once again...
***
It was just like a game, a virtual reality game. Their perspectives, now shifted on to the ceiling of the pristine white room.
Then, above the room an automatic vault opened, unveiling an intricate network of sixteen mechanical claw arms. Split evenly between them, each man took control of half.
After that, the two then began to calm down and relax themselves to prepare for their exercise drills.
Bzzzz! Bzzzz!
The exercise drill then commenced-
Whir! Whir!
Whir! Whir! Whir!
They grabbed the drills and scalpels masterfully, exhibiting a level of skill that can only be achieved with years of experience, a mark that shows how truly they had mastered their craft.
Whir! Whir! Whir!
Whir! Whir! Whir! Whir!
....
And it was successful, there were no issues with the rotations of the joints of each mechanical arm. finally concluding the exercise drill.
[Exercise drill concluded-]
[Now commencing operation J-68-C...]
The previously inconspicuous spaces beneath the pristine white room began to widen, accompanied by the soft sound of the metal hinges. From this newly expanded space emerged a single surgical table carrying what appeared to be the body of an unconscious man.
Psshhh! Pshhhh!
However, upon closer inspection, it was evident that this figure was not what it seemed. Although it bore a striking resemblance to a human at first glance, when it was finally exposed to proper lighting, it revealed the absence of facial features, the skin devoid of any pores and hairs, and a notable lack of an umbilicus—similar to a mannequin.
Then one of the mechanical claw arms grabbed a syringe and injected it to the figure's supposedly carotid artery-
Psssskkk!
The body then began to shake uncontrollably, however the binds around were tough enough to hold it in place, only allowing it to convulse—It then unveiled its true form—or rather, the genetic information obtained from Jane ▬▬▬▬, a top ranker in this world.
Rapidly, hair began to sprout on the top of its head, showcasing a vibrant violet color akin to a lavender. Then strands of hair symmetrically grew on both sides of its face. A slit on its flesh formed between these strands, gradually getting wider, like a wound unattended, but it became apparent that it was just its eye sockets carving itself, and when it opened it revealed irises of the same violet hue.
The facial features and structure became much more defined, like a sculptor was slowly chiseling away at its face, portraying the face of a frail-looking man. Yet it did not grow pores or hair in any other parts of its body, retaining only the hair on top of its head and the strands surrounding its eyes.
The whole process was truly astonishing from the perspective of researcher's and scientists alike of their era, for them it resembled that of a butterfly coming out of its cocoon. But the same cannot be said for the other people.
Then there was a moment of silence, a brief pause if you may from both the operators and the onlookers-
...
However, that was quickly broken when the body began to wail and scream uncontrollably. It was as if it had acquired an ego, fully aware that its faith was sealed and what was coming for it. Despite this knowledge, it lashed out like a cornered rat, desperately trying to claw its way out.
"S-Stop it!!!" Thud! Thud!
"Don't do it!!"
Thud! Thud! Thud!
"Let me go!!"
"NOOOO!!!!"
Thud! Thud! Thud!
...
But no matter how hard it begged, it didn't matter to the two of them. After all, they had been exposed to this ever since they were children. Because the earlier they learned, the better; the younger they were, the cleaner their brains were, and the faster they could adapt. So over time, any semblance of sympathy was gone. They had been trained specifically for this job, and this is all they knew what to do...
However, even when they have been doing this for a long time, they were still not at the top of their class. though they were actually really good.
So, despite this being a dreaded task for the others, they still continued on with their jobs-
Hmmmphhh! Hmmmphhh!
With its head now held in place, and its mouth gagged. It made it easier for them to cut its skull open and access its brain to perform lobotomy, of course they had to use a scalpel and a saw first.
Slit!
Hmmmphhh! Hmmmphhh!
Bzzzz! Bzzzz!
But why go through such an ordeal? when they can just put him to sleep. Well, they needed to watch his brain activity while awake as they were performing the surgery, and then it was time to use the drill-
Bzzzzzzz!
Hmmmmphhh!
...
Its was like a dying fish desperately gasping for air, as its struggle became weaker. But they continued on, both removing and severing connections on its brain.
...
Up until finally it was put to sleep, however this was not the end of the operation as they also needed to implant a chip and a gadget on its head. as per the procedures go.
Unfortunately for it, this was the only part of the surgery where it can be put to sleep, as they don't need to observe its brain activity while awake anymore.
Whir! Whir!
Whir! Whir! Whir!
One by one they placed a square cube on its head, and with each stitch, it slowly resembled that of a hair clip.
Whir! Whir! Whir! Whir!
...
Then after eight hours of long and grueling operation, they finally succeeded, and it looked much more lifeless than before, it was as if his eyes which used to have vigor, now only became a pure bland violet color. He can now finally be called a clone in this world's standard...
[Jane—Clone-68th]
[Registering information...]
[Information fully registered]
...and all of his information from head to toe was uploaded onto their database.
***
The two men then got out of the chair, seemingly much more exhausted than before.
But before they completely left the room they first presented their wrists that projected their bank account and personal information, on to a wall with a machine stuck to it.
[Robert Xxxxx]
[Sex: M]
[Age: 35]
[Account Balance: Ç50,000]
...
[Mike Xxxxx]
[Sex: M]
[Age: 34]
[Account Balance: Ç20,000]
...
It was then scanned by the machine on the wall.
[Person Identified...]
[Operation Successful...]
[Transferring payment of Ç20,000...]
[Transaction complete]
"Let's leave"
"Sure..."
***
The clone was then ordered by an AI voice to stand on to the mirror for a very long time, to look at its reflection, which from perspective of the two technologists was weird. it was something that they never understood. Apparently, it was some sort of psychological test.
But they never dared to question it, as the mere fact of being too curious could get them fired or worse, killed. So, for them it was like biting the hand of the one that feeds them, which is a pretty dumb thing to do.
...
Then came the presentation of the finished product to the buyer. so they gave it presentable clothes...
Zip! Ziiip!
...and now that it wore clothes for the first time, it looked like a different person as if it had a seemingly new identity, and with just a single command, it obediently followed their orders without hesitation.
Soon he was given an order to wait in the lounge area.
***
"Ms. Jane, Calling Miss Jane, please come to the lounge area and check the finished product."
...
A violet-haired woman stood framed within the gap of the now-opened sliding door. Despite her pale complexion and upset expression, she was definitely beautiful on the outside. However, the same could not be said about her inside...
Pssshhhhh!
By just her walking into the room, a noticeable shift in the atmosphere could be noticed, the employee's mood were instantly changed, from expectant to terrified, and although they already expected her to be mental, they would not expect what she would do next.
She first circled around it-
"Hehhh?, So you're the most advanced one?" She looked perplexed.
"But it doesn't seem that strong? Status Window Open!"
[Jane's 68th clone]
[Class: Mechanic]
-------------------------
[Stats ]
Strength: 320
Agility: 347
Stamina: 308
Intelligence: 403
Durability: 312
Luck: 347
Mana: 501
[Abilities: Linked to the original...]
[Info: One of the top of the line clones produced by the Messiah Guild, it is made from the DNA of the Human Female named Jane...]
"Sigh, What a disappointment... Are you guys sure it is my clone?"
"Did no one hear me!!?, I'm asking a question here."
"Y-Yes Ma'am, his genes surely came from one of the worlds top ranker." The female assistant bowed, attempting to indirectly compliment Jane in an effort to quell her anger.
Then all of a sudden the female assistant felt a blunt force on her head
"Huh?, you dare to talk back to me?, and what is up with your tone?, are you being sarcastic?."
"N-No, that isn't what I meant ma'am."
Jane then replied in a hushed irked tone, "Keep talking."
She kept on beating her head with the expensive glass of wine that she held, up until there were only shards left, but even then she did not stop.
Shatter! Shatter!! Shatter!!!
The sheer brutality of the event unfolding before them, left everyone speechless.
They all expected this, but this is just too much, she's gone way too far.
When one of the managers stepped up, only then did she stop.
"Ma'am may I please remind you, that you have to pay for any damages in the establishment including the employees."
"Oh, my bad, hahAhAHAHA!, I forgot, here I'll wire transfer you the money."
"You're not mad, right? Hahaha, considering your stature, you're probably even glad that I beat the sh*t out of you." As she remained bowed with blood dripping from her head, meanwhile, Jane grabbed her trembling wrist and matched it with hers.
[Transaction Complete]
"You wont have to work for the rest of your life hahaha, I truly am kind aren't I? ahahaha."
...
In the end no one knew why she had acted out like this. But there was only one reason why she had become much more irritable, and for that selfish reason, she needed a distraction—something to toy and play with, so that she could feel just an ounce satisfaction amidst her agitation.
