Doctor Who_ Hope - Mark Clapham [84]
A new age of prosperity? said the Doctor, standing up. He didnt seem too convinced. I think Ill go and talk to the prisoner now.
Powlin watched him leave, baffled by the whole conversation.
It all begins with the smallest of things.
Richard carefully took the precious hair from Anji, and placed it on a glass slide. That slide was then placed on a plastic tray sticking out of a squat black machine. The tray slid into the machine, a little door closing behind it with a hollow click. Richard flicked a couple of switches on a bank of controls, and the whole room came to life.
When computers had first been invented, they had filled whole rooms, but by Anjis time they had been miniaturised beyond belief. The set up in the laboratory reminded Anji of those old computers, huge banks of equipment whirring and clicking, processing the genetic data.
Theres a spot of blood on the end of the hair, said Richard, squinting at a magnified image of the follicle.
It was his first grey hair, explained Anji. He asked me to pull it out for him, and I kept it. It was a joke, initially. I used the hair to remind Dave he wasnt perfect.
Thanks to you having drawn blood, we can extract a working DNA sample, said Silver. From that we can create a clone.
Dave II, said Anji quietly.
Precisely, said Richard, beaming. He didnt seem to realise how momentous this was for Anji.
Begin the cloning process, said Silver. Follow the procedure as I instructed, including the appropriate memory download templates.
Memories? said Anji.
Basic knowledge, said Silver. The clone will be grown to full adulthood. Memory implants act as a substitute for childhood development they contain basic survival knowledge of the world the clone is coming into, the skills he will need to live.
Its a technique we have perfected when reviving people from cryogenic suspension, added Richard. We can get them from deep freeze to manning a workstation within two hours, if needed. Its a valuable tool for preventing culture shock and increasing efficiency.
Anji found the whole process too confusing even to alarm her.
How long will the cloning process take? she asked.
Many hours, said Silver, placing a cold metal hand on her shoulder. Well return for the beginning of the cloning process, but for now I think we should leave these people to their work. Once the sequencing has been completed, then cloning will begin. But for the next hour there will be nothing to see, and theres something else I want to show you in the meantime.
Reluctantly looking back at the magnified image of Daves hair, Anji allowed Silver to lead her away.
Come to gloat, have you? spat Stephens, as the Doctor entered his cell. All my work, ruined because of you. I hope youre happy.
Stephens, said the Doctor wearily. If you were vital to your own experiments, then you wouldnt be here.
What? What do you mean? Stephens was momentarily thrown off balance.
You really are a very stupid man, muttered the Doctor. And thats the reason youre here. Silver has kept everyone he needs to complete and continue your work in the bunker. Hes already cracked the Kallisti problem without you, and your scientists are more motivated than theyve ever been. You were dispensable all along, Stephens.
Stephens sank back into the darkness in the corner of his cell. Did you just come here to outline my shortcomings? he mumbled, pushing up his knees to block his view of the Doctor.
The alien, with his deceptively human appearance, dropped down to squat near Stephens. No, I came to ask some questions. Im genuinely curious.
Curious? replied Stephens, his own curiosity piqued.
Yes, said the Doctor, sitting next to Stephens in the dank cell, seemingly untroubled by the damp floor. I want to know about the rest of your plan. You intended to merge Kallisti into the human genetic makeup, to make your people stronger, more resistant to environmental threats. But what then? Youre isolated here, what could you