The Experiment Proceeds
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The Experiment Proceeds.

By George Gordon the Lord Byron

Three years had passed since Professor Leonard Caanes had been granted the power to perform his cloning experiments.

That time had gone towards preparation, research and analysis. Analysis of the DNA structure of Caanes late daughter, Ryoko. Research, also, of the properties for the highly secret Project: Jurai.

Ryoko’s DNA strand was strong, according to the test data. It would produce a healthy clone, no defects or unforseen flaws.

Within the encrypted Project: Jurai files, Caanes had found instructions to splice in certain new genes and completely eliminate others. Caanes studied the gene sequences over and over. He hypothetically rewrote Ryoko’s DNA, splicing the genes as instructed and wiping out the unnecessary ones.

The results were less than pleasing to Caanes.

The DNA structure did not resemble his daughters anymore, nor did it resemble anything Caanes had ever seen in his years of research. Not only that, he didn’t know what this new gene sequence would do to his daughter. What manner of creature would she be? What would be the effects of Project: Jurai on his dear Ryoko?

Caanes had dismissed his lab staff that evening, given them all leave until further notice. He was completely alone, he wandered within his own world.

He walked into his personal office, contemplating his dilemma. He looked at a picture on his desk, himself at a slightly younger age along with his wife and daughter.

Ryoko.

Caanes sat down at his desk, taking the framed picture into his hands. He looked at his daughter, re-memorizing each precious feature. He had isolated and enlarged Ryoko’s image, framed it and hung it above his work desk in the lab. He saw her face everyday, to remind him of what his ultimate goal was.

This full family portrait in his private office, however, served a different purpose. He gazed upon this when he began to lose focus, when he needed a slight lift and when he would silently seek his wife’s advice.

‘My aisai, Kara.’ He silently called. ‘What am I to do? I have the means to bring our daughter back, yet to do so she must come back differently. I don’t know how this experiment will affect her. What am I to do?’ He closed his eyes, hugging the picture to his chest. He began to meditate deeply, reflecting upon his wife.

The musical tone of her voice and laughter . . .

. . .an afternoon of swimming with little Ryoko . . .

Caanes eyes snapped open. He felt cold sweat begin to form on his forehead. Setting down his family portrait, he rushed out into the laboratory.

Sitting at his work console, he added a new DNA strain to his equation. He ran the new strain through the Project: Jurai parameters, he typed more data into the computer. He viewed the new data three times, making sure no error existed in the theorems.

The strain was flawless.

"Now," he muttered to himself. "To test my theory."

The next day, all of Caanes’ lab staff received a message from Caanes:

Professor Leonard Caanes

The six months had come and gone. It was now going on one year, since Professor Caanes had left on holiday.

Dr. Piter Phri sat at a workstation, looking at the research data being generated by experimental specimen 125. Rate of inhalation/exhalation: slow and steady; heart rate: strong; brainwave activity: high.

Phri looked up into the transparasteel cage, curled up in the center of the cage’s grassy and lush habitat was experiment 125. Snoring.

Or rather, purring.

Phri contemplated the small furry specimen, wondering if this was the end result Professor Caanes had in mind. While the small specimen could morph just as designed, Phri had imagined the end product to be a more intimidating creature. Not something so cute and fluffy.

But, he had followed the formulae left by Caanes. He would not be to blame if it did not turn out right.

* * *

It had been one year since Caanes had left.

Washu was beginning to worry about her errant friend and colleague.

He had come to her in the middle of the night, one year ago, desperate and seemingly ill. She had been working late, as was her habit, so she was not disturbed by the hour. The state Caanes was in, on the other hand, upset her greatly.

Caanes was pale and near a complete mental and physical breakdown, that night a year ago. He was muttering about Ryoko, how could he have done what he had done to her. He muttered nonsense afterwards, about swimming lessons and learning to read. Washu immediately saw that Caanes had overworked himself, he had driven himself to the point of insanity.

She had dreaded this type of response. To be truthful, she had almost expected it. This always happened when someone became too attached to their work.

She made Caanes dictate a letter to his lab staff, about an extended leave of absence. She then placed Caanes on a star cruiser bound for a remote tropical planet, with strict instructions to relax and get a tan.

That was the last she saw of him.

She had tried to contact him, but all attempts had failed due to some kind of unknown natural disaster. The disaster had wiped out all communications, such as they were on the remote planet. She had also tried to contact Caanes through the comm system on his holotop computer, but to no avail.

Immediately, Washu had sent a rescue party. The party made planet fall within two weeks, they immediately began to help mend the communications system. All the while looking for Caanes Also interviewing the locals, asking about the disaster.

The answer was always the same.

"It was like nothing we’ve ever seen! Earthquakes, volcano’s erupting and lightening storms all at once! All because of that stranger!"

Upon hearing this report, Washu left to conduct a personal investigation.

Arriving on the planet, Washu calculated the size and magnitude of the earthquakes that caused the volcanic eruptions, she quickly pinpointed the epicenter of the quake.

Upon her arrival at the site of the epicenter, she was amazed at what her readings told her. The site was once a vast stretch of desert, the only desert on the planet. It was now a charred plain, broken and scarred.

It was then, that she heard the voice.

"Yes it was right there, right where that trouble makin’ stranger was taken down."

Washu spun around. She was supposed to be alone in her investigation, in fact she had insisted upon it. The others would have just been in the way. But there, behind her, was an old man. A local. He was at least 80 years old and completely bald, though the shine in his eyes showed that his mind was still sharp.

Washu walked up to him. "What are you talking about?"

The old man snorted, "Mind your manners young lady! It’s polite to introduce yourself, then ask the name of the person you are meeting. Puh! Kids these days!"

Washu was a bit offended. Kid? Who was this old man calling a kid? But, she decided against arguing the point. Bowing she began. "Forgive me, honored furou . . ."

He cut her off. "I’m no village elder! Is Japanese your second language? Kids these days! It’s the school systems. Never teach the language properly. You may try again."

A droplet of sweat appeared on Washu’s forehead, this little old man was about to be thrown face first into the plain. Taking a deep breath, she tried again. "Honorable . . .Senpai?" She looked up, he nodded. Washu was a bit confused. He minded being called furou, but not senpai. An old timer? Oh well. "Honorable senpai, I am Washu. What is your name?"

The old man leaned forward. "What’s that, what?"

Washu spoke up. "My name is Washu. Washu."

The old man bowed. "Ah, gesundheit. What was that name again."

Washu fought back the urge to turn the old man into a water sprite. She spoke slowly and loudly. "My-name-is-Pro-fes-sor-Wa-shu."

The old man blinked. "No need to talk to me like I am deaf." He bowed again. "Nice to meet you Professor Achoo. I am called Keim."

Washu felt like ripping her hair out by the roots. "No! My name is . . . oh never mind." She bowed. "Nice to meet you Kiem."

"Keim Senpai."

Gritting her teeth, she responded. "Honorable Keim Senpai."

Beaming the old man nodded. "You see! All it takes is the proper respect, and you can go far with people. So what brings you here?"

‘Finally,’ Washu thought. ‘To the point.’ "Well, I . . ." She trailed off under his glare. "Uh . . . Honorable Keim Senpai, I am here to look for a friend of mine." She activated her holotop, bringing up a picture of Caanes.

Keim looked at the picture. Then he nodded, Washu’s heart gave a painful bound "Uh-huh. Never seen him before." Washu’s eyes widened and her fists clenched. "No, never seen him. But . . ." Abruptly, he turned and walked towards the plain. Washu stood there, trying to comprehend what had just gone on, when Keim turned to her. "Well, are you coming? We don’t have all day!"

She considered questioning, but she bit back anything she wanted to say and hurried after the old man.

Keim walked for awhile more, then stopped. He gestured towards two large mounds of slag. "This is where the rock formation stood, it was called ‘Traveler’s Gateway’ but it became know as ‘Thieves Gate’. Thieves robbed, and murdered, many an unwary traveler on the road that led between these rocks. Until that day."

Gesturing to the south, Keim continued. "From the south desert came a young man. Dressed up real nice, rich clothing and such. He even walked like a royal. He was coming from the south, like I was saying, and he headed right towards the Thieves’ Gate! I was traveling about half a mile to the west, when I saw the young man head towards Thieves’ Gate. I yelled and screamed myself hoarse, telling him not to go that way, but he either didn’t hear or didn’t care. The thieves didn’t seem to mind such an easy mark, wandering so freely into their domain.

"The thieves jumped out of their hiding places, heavily armed and ready to kill the young traveler. The young man just stopped and looked at the thieves, even when they rushed him he just stood there! Then he raised his arm and pointed," Keim’s arm shot out, his fingers extending. "Then his entire body began to glow red, the floor of the desert cracked open. The thieves were swallowed by the earth. There was only the sound of the quake and the thieves screams, then nothing. All that young man did was stand there. Laughing!" Keim ran over to a spot a few feet from where the Thieves’ Gate had once been. "Here is where he stood, laughing like a madman. He didn’t laugh for too long, however.

"From the north," Keim pointed back where Washu and he had come from. "Came another young man. He looked just as rich, but looked a bit nobler than the first young man. This one carried a sword made of blue light, I could tell this was going to get ugly."

Washu interrupted. "Wait a minute! If the floor of the desert cracked open, how come you weren’t swallowed up as well?"

Keim looked at her. "I will excuse your rudeness, you forgot yourself because of my riveting tale. As for how I wasn’t killed myself, I’ll get to that. Now, before I was so rudely interrupted, where did I leave off? Oh yes! The exciting part!!

"The young man with the sword stopped several feet away from the other young man. I saw the other young man smile, it was then I knew this was going to turn from bad to worse. Then they began to speak to each other.

"‘ So,’ said the evil young man. ‘You’ve tracked me down, Yosho. Followed my little adventures, my practice with the Jurai power. Are you impressed? Am I not the most powerful being in the universe?’

"The other young man shook his head. ‘Destruction is not a capable demonstration of power, Kagato. You have only proven your reckless irresponsibility. I have come to stop you. I do not wish to do so, but if you force me to, I will kill you.’"

Washu froze. She knew those names, Yosho and Kagato. Those were the names of the princes of Jurai! What had they been doing here? Keim continued with his story.

"The one called Kagato laughed again. ‘No more words then, Yosho. We shall see who is worthy of the title of the Legendary Warrior.’ He opened his hand towards Yosho. Then, out of nowhere, Kagato was holding a big black glowing sword! Then the fight began!

"Both of those young men were blurs, I almost lost track of who was who. I could only tell by the blur of light from their swords, which was pretty hard to follow. Then Yosho stopped fighting, he stood facing Kagato. His sword was held ready to attack again. Then he began to glow, just like Kagato had when he attacked the thieves, only Yosho gleamed blue!

"Kagato stopped short. I think that he was as shocked as I was. ‘What are you doing, Yosho!?’ he demanded. Then, Yosho sprang forward screaming. He swung his sword, along with the power that shone around him, right at Kagato. Kagato tried to shield himself, I saw a red glow around him when Yosho charged.

"Then Yosho struck, I saw Kagato’s barrier shatter like glass. Then there was a really bright flash of light, like the sun had been dropped onto the plains. Then a shockwave came, like nothing I had ever felt before. It knocked us into the air. It was a good thing my friend could fly . . ."

Washu stopped Keim. "Your friend? You never mentioned a friend!"

Keim looked offended, then thoughtful. "I thought sure I mentioned him, didn’t I?"

Washu lost what cool she had left. "No you did not!!!"

Keim was unperturbed. "So sorry, Professor Achoo."

Washu’s left eye began to twitch. "The name’s Washu, you teinousha." She muttered

If he heard, Keim didn’t show it. "Didn’t you wonder how I survived the earth opening up? How I survived the fiery grave those thieves ended up in?" Fearing she would loose what little control she had, Washu only shook her head. Keim continued, "When Kagato attacked, I thought sure that I was going to end up with the thieves. But then I felt arms around me, I saw the ground fall away from under my feet. Then I heard a man’s voice, ‘Let’s get the hell out of here!’ I tried to look into the face of my rescuer, but couldn’t see it from the angle I was being held at.

"He carried me into the air. We hovered for a few moments, taking in what Kagato and Yosho said to each other. Then when the fight started, we landed near the place where I first met you. From there we watched. Then came Yosho’s final attack. The shockwave of the blast knocked us into the air. It was a good thing my friend could fly! He caught me and we landed safely.

"It was then that the smoke cleared, the aftermath of the battle became visible to us."

Keim walked a few feet beyond the charred mound that had once been "Thieve’s Gate". He pointed towards the ground. "There was where Kagato’s body lay." He pointed to the ground next to it. "Here is where Yosho knelt. Even from where we stood, my friend and I could hear Yosho’s cry of anguish. My friend the told me, ‘Go to the nearest town, see if that shockwave affected anything or anyone. I must assist Prince Yosho.’ I looked at my friend, seeing his face for the first time. His hair was long and flowing, it was so blonde it was almost white. He was a younger man about thirty or so. I guess he was looking for his father."

Washu drew in her chin. "What makes you say that?" ‘And,’ she thought. ‘What possible relevance does that have?!’ Washu’s exasperation was getting ready to boil over.

Keim gestured impatiently. "Let’s see that fancy gadget again, the one you showed me that picture on." Washu brought up her holotop. "Now show me that picture of your friend again." Washu brought up the picture of Caanes. Keim looked at the picture, tilted his head and squinted. "This man must be my friends father, they look so much alike."

Washu shook her head. "No, Keim Sempai. The man I am looking for has no family, not anymore at least."

Keim took Washu’s hand and patted it. "I don’t know anything about that. But I trust these old eyes, they’ve never failed me before. I know what my friend looks like. He saved my life! I don’t think I’ll forget that face anytime soon! He looks very much like your friend, perhaps he is a younger brother or nephew. All I know is that young man is more than he seemed. I’ve lived a long time, I’ve heard stories and legends about flying men, but in all my years I have never heard of anyone who really could fly."

* * *

Washu stayed on the planet for another hour or so, directing the rebuilding efforts, then she boarded her ship and headed back to the Science Academy. She used the long voyage to compile and contemplate all the information that had been gathered by the other research teams.

Mostly, however, she researched certain elements of Keim’s story.

First off, she made quiet inquiries about the whereabouts of Prince Yosho and Prince Kagato. The questions were meant to be discreet, but as soon as she queried she was connected to a man from the Jurian Intelligence Bureau. The man from the Intelligence Bureau interrogated her for an hour, mostly about the whereabouts of the two princes. She told him what she knew. Part of what she had found out, anyway. There was no use in telling him the whole truth. The Jurian Intelligence Bureau was widely feared, mainly for their use of "Confession Instruments". Tools and serums considered by most to be commonly used in torture chambers. Washu had no intention of sending them to find Keim, or anyone else who might have seen or heard something of the Princes’ battle.

The fact that the Intelligence Bureau was looking for the Princes told Washu all that she needed to know. They were missing. Washu doubted either would be heard from again. Kagato was dead. As for Yosho, Washu thought it was very unlikely that he would ever set foot on Jurai again.

She next researched strange events throughout the galaxy, seeing if she could dig up anything about people who could defy gravity. This search turned up legends of Supermen and children’s stories of a little boy who didn’t want to grow up.

Nothing real.

* * *

Washu arrived at the Universal Science Academy at midnight. The weather satellites were allowing a mild rainstorm to pour down, accompanied by a spectacular lightening display. The docking bay, where she had landed, was indoors and connected to the main campus through a series of enclosed walkways. So, Washu made it back to her office without a drop of rain touching her. Turning on the lights, she went immediately to her desktop computer unit. Bringing the operating system online, she went into her mailbox to check her messages. Scrolling through the messages, she saw that there was the standard fare. Numerous assignments from students, queries from other scientists on projects, and inquiries from Washu’s own lab staff.

Washu paid little attention to these, just telling herself she would deal with them later in the morning. Then she saw a message that made her heart stop.

1 new message from Professor Leonard Caanes.

Dated an hour ago.

Without hesitation, she opened the message.

Professor Washu,

Contact me as soon as possible. I will be at my lab office.

Professor Caanes.

Washu accessed her comm screen. "Professor Caanes lab office." She commanded the comm. The comm screen flickered, going dark. Then it showed Professor Caanes sitting in his chair, in his very dimly lit office. "Leonard!" Washu exclaimed. "Where the hell have you been? I’ve been worried . . ."

"Professor Washu," Caanes interrupted. "Shout at me all you want, just come over here and do it in person." Caanes terminated the transmission.

Washu became a bit miffed. She accessed her holotop, typing in a certain type of formulae. She had developed this technology awhile back and was saving it for a rainy day, or night as the case was now. A subspace portal materialized in front of her desk, getting up she reached into the portal and pulled out a door. Setting the door against a wall, she summoned her holotop again, this time typing in a set of coordinates. Finishing she opened the door and stepped inside. Entering the blackness of subspace, she saw another door not far off. If her coordinates were correct, she would open this door right into Caanes’ office.

Professor Caanes sat in the semi darkness of his office, hugging the picture of his family to his chest. Weeping quietly "My aisai, Kara. Now I know . . .Now our daughter can be alive again." He was interrupted by the sound of clattering and muffled cursing, from a nearby storage closet. Smiling to himself, he wiped the tears from his face and set the picture back on his desk. "Come right in, Professor Washu." He called out.

A door opened and was slammed shut in the lab area, followed by an odd sound. It was a *step* *clonk* *step* *clonk.* Then came another muttered curse, followed by the sound of a bucket crashing against a wall. Then through the door of Caanes’ office came the minuscule red headed scientist, in a towering rage. "You changed . . .transport links . . .broom closet!" she sputtered.

Failing miserably to cover his mirth, Caanes chuckled. "I couldn’t take the chance of someone else transporting in. Sorry, Washu."

"Hmph!"Washu tossed her spiky hair. "If I wasn’t so damned glad to see you, you’d be spending a week as a water sprite." She grinned. "Now stand up so I can kick your ass for dropping out of existence! And turn up the lights, I don’t think I could see your ass long enough to kick it!!"

Caanes remained sitting, his voice turned grim. "Washu . . . For what I am about to tell you, you need to be sitting down."

Washu became concerned, she sat down in the chair across from his desk. "What’s wrong Leonard? Where have you been all this time?"

Caanes held up his hand. "One year ago, I implemented the Project: Jurai changes into another DNA strain. My own. I chose to rewrite my own DNA, using machines and techniques I had developed over the past 20 years. I did so to find out what would happen to my girl if I were to bring her back. As soon as I had finished rewriting my own genetic structure, I knew something was wrong. I felt stronger than ever, yet I could barely move my legs to walk. I stumbled over to your office that night, you bundled me onto that space cruiser, and sent me off to that vacation spot to relax."

With that, Caanes summoned the lights to full brightness. Washu flinched, then her eyes adjusted. Her jaw dropped.

Sitting in Caanes chair was a young man of about thirty. His face was smooth, unwrinkled. The only indication to Washu that this man was Professor Leonard Caanes, were the amber colored eyes and the voice.

"I must say, that vacation did wonders for me. It literally took years off my life."

To Be Continued.

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