CHAPTER THREE

Ruby felt happier than she had in a long time as they sat down to the first meal in their new home that evening. As she looked at the faces around her, she felt a sense of belonging.

A tempting aroma filled the air as Leon appeared holding a large casserole and placed it in the centre of the table. Johnny appeared a few minutes later and put a large bowl of pasta beside it.

‘That smells appetising,’ Keith commented.

‘Mmm, spaghetti Bolognese! It’s absolutely delicious! Where did you learn to cook?” Ruby asked.

‘We sometimes took cookery books as well as food and other stuff when we went to the supermarkets and shops in the night,’ Leon explained.

‘Ones with colourful pictures,’ Johnny added.

‘We weren’t really able to make them in the cave kitchens!’ Leon grinned at his brother. ‘They weren’t as well-equipped as this one! We’ve really enjoyed making this!’

‘I was amazed at how you were able to cook really good food in the caves,’ Ruby commented. ‘Where did you get it from?’

‘We had a team that went into the supermarkets at night when we needed things. Their security was usually pretty flimsy, so it wasn’t too hard to bypass,’ Celia said.

‘Celia can bypass anything!’ Leon said admiringly. ‘She’s a techno-wizard!’

‘We could cook quite a variety of stuff on the fires,’ Celia said. ‘We made sure we ate a healthy selection of food. Abe insisted. He also insisted on regular daily exercise to keep us as healthy as the day we were awakened. We shall continue to do so, starting from tomorrow morning!’

‘Don’t wake me up too early!’ Valerie groaned.

Keith pushed his empty plate away, ‘Tell us a bit about your background, Ruby.’

‘Yes, we must get to know each other better. So, first of all you must tell us about yourself – as Stella,’ Celia turned to her.

Ruby took a deep breath and explained how she had been raised by her grandmother after her dad had left them and her mother had died soon after that. She showed them the photos of her family.

‘There are no pictures of your father,’ Keith said.

‘No. And I don’t remember what he looked like. He left when I was still very young,’

‘Why did he do that?’ asked Leon.

‘I don’t know,’ Ruby shrugged, ‘Mum and Gran never really talked about him much.’

‘And you were still at school until recently?’ Celia sat forward eagerly. ‘So you were at school for how many years?’

Ruby totted up the years, ‘Mmm, about ten years! I wasn’t a very good student, though. I didn’t really pay as much attention as I should have.’

‘You didn’t want to learn?’ Celia looked surprised.

‘Well, I suppose it may seem that way, but it wasn’t really quite like that, either. I wasn’t all that interested in the things they were teaching me.’

Celia shook her head sadly. ‘What a great waste!’

‘When your grandmother died wasn’t there any other family member to take you in?’ asked Keith.

‘Gran’s niece, Margery, but she didn’t want me. So I would have to be cared for by the State until I’m eighteen. And now I’ve joined you, I will be, in theory, anyway!’

‘Well, I hope our new life is better than living hidden in the caves,’ Keith said.

Leon and Johnny nodded in agreement.

Ruby looked around the table. ‘Now tell me about yourselves.’

Valerie shook her head. ‘Another story that started with good intentions that went remarkably wrong! I was there at the beginning with Miranda. You tell Ruby, Keith.’

All eyes turned to him as he peeled the plastic strip off the code on his arm and rubbed it. He showed her a tattooed code: KET 87269.

‘This is what we are. The mark of an SP – a Spare Part! Though we prefer to call ourselves Labs – that is people created in a laboratory, as opposed to your kind, Non-Labs.’

‘Spare Parts?’ Ruby frowned.

‘Yes,’ Leon whispered. ‘We are Spare Parts for Non-Labs. Wealthy ones and their children.’

Ruby felt a shudder go down her spine. Celia nodded at Keith to continue.

‘You are aware of the Medical Centre, in the open land near Hambleton?’ he continued. ‘Well, what is visible, even if you get through the security guard around the compound, reveals only a tiny part of the activities that go on there.

‘The visible building houses the administration offices and ten research laboratories. This is what the visitors and subscribers see. What they are not made aware of is that there are several underground levels where the main work is carried out.

‘The original idea for this centre was admirable. Dr Miranda Cheung was involved in this. The staff researched and carried out cloning procedures to produce cells that could be used when a person was injured. To help them repair and stimulate regrowth of damaged organs and tissue. Her vision was primarily to help innocent people caught up in wars, especially children. She established a committee to raise funds to finance the organisation. However, over the years, many of those on the committee became greedy, and began to attract new subscribers who were willing to pay whatever price requested for a supply of body parts and organs to replace damaged ones. For example, the US president’s son. Have you noticed how often he has been injured in the dangerous sports he’s so fond of? And how he always makes a miraculous recovery?’

Ruby nodded her head. ‘My grandmother and I were talking about him last month. He was seriously injured in a racing car but managed to survive and made a remarkably quick recovery.’

‘Yes. Simon survived because he had a new brain ready to be transplanted. That was the end of his third Lab. There is a new one near maturity for him now.’

‘But … if he has a new brain, how does he remember all the things he knew before?’ Ruby asked.

‘If the injured brain is not too damaged, they are able to download some of the knowledge and memories from it into the new brain before it is transplanted,’ Celia explained. ‘If it is extensively damaged, the Non-Lab must relearn all the previous knowledge, except what is already programmed into the Lab – the basic skills a Non-Lab will have acquired by the age of sixteen. All Labs were originally programmed to have their mother tongue as their first language; but Abe decided it would be best if all Labs had English as their first language and their mother tongue as their second. So all freed Labs can easily communicate with each other.’

‘And does the president know all of this?’ Ruby was astonished.

‘Subscribers are told that stem cell research makes it possible for tissue, organs, even the brain, to repair itself. They choose to accept this with very little proof. It suits them. They pay enormous amounts of money and feel they are getting their money’s worth.’

‘How is this place run? How do they get away with it?’ Ruby asked. ‘And how come you all escaped?’

‘So many questions!’ Celia gave a slight smile. ‘We’ll try to answer them all.’

Her voice took on a disembodied tone, as if she was recounting medical facts that were nothing to do with her:

‘Embryos are cloned from tissue from the subscriber and/or their offspring, whichever is requested. Subscribers can also pay extra for several clones to be produced, as the president did. That’s why there are many sets of twins and triplets. These embryos are kept at a certain temperature, in certain conditions for two years in what is called the Nursery Ward, a room on the first floor underground. By this time they have matured to the level of a five-year-old Non-Lab – a human child. Then they are move to the Childhood and Adolescence Ward. They remain there for five years where they are conditioned and programmed to reach early adulthood within this time, about sixteen in Non-Lab years. All through their formative years their bodies are chemically and electrically stimulated to promote the ultimate organ and muscle development. As well as the basic knowledge, their brains are given the talents requested by the subscriber. Such as music, art, law, politics, science, and sport. Finally they are stored in the Mature Ward. That is, if they are not required before then. The best years for harvesting tissue and organs is when the Lab has reached the Non-Lab equivalent of sixteen to thirty years, so they are suspended in this period for as long as possible in the Mature Ward.’

Her voice suddenly took on a softer tone.

‘Keith – Ket – was the first one to be awakened, by accident. The temperature regulator on his capsule in the Mature Ward was faulty and he became conscious.’ She looked across at Keith, who took up the story.

‘The first thing I remember about this world is a pair of eyes looking down at me. And as I moved my arms and legs, which must have been for the first time, she smiled at me, so I imitated her and I smiled back. It was Miranda! Dr Miranda Cheung.

‘She was so surprised to find I could respond to her. She helped me out of my capsule and let me walk up and down the ward. Past all those rows and rows of capsules! She couldn’t believe I could talk to her. And I could eat like her. Over the next few weeks she told me that she had often felt uneasy about how the research was developing. She felt the whole project was quickly spinning out of her control. They were no longer working towards the dream of helping war-torn countries. It was all about making money. Only the rich were benefiting. She wanted to do something about it, but knew she would meet serious opposition from the other committee members; they would not be willing to give up their huge profits.

‘A newly matured Lab was put in my capsule that afternoon, and I went back to her farmhouse with her that evening. Miranda spoke to her seniors about the possibility of a Lab waking up and being able to survive, but no one was willing to listen. In fact several of them became quite hostile. That’s why we kept our existence a secret. Over the next few weeks we managed to smuggle two more out, including Abe. His twin was due to be smuggled out to join him, but on the same day he was taken away for a brain transplant.’ He looked down at his hands.

‘Once they use the brain, the Lab is discarded,’ Leon said softly.

‘Discarded?’ Ruby asked.

‘Any useable organs are sold to outside medical agencies. The rest is used for medical or cosmetic research, then disposed of,’ Johnny continued.

Ruby put her hand to her mouth. ‘Oh my God! Poor Abe!’

‘We continued to smuggle out Labs slowly. Abe was very frustrated about how slowly we were working. Miranda said we couldn’t go any faster without alerting the others. She told him she had arranged a meeting with the government Head of Social and Medical Welfare who was involved with the setting up of the Centre. It seemed that things would finally happen. He promised her he’d call for a thorough investigation and that she would head the team, but shortly before that happened Miranda was killed in a hit and run accident. The driver of the car was never discovered. Another Non-Lab worker who supported Miranda suddenly backed down after his eldest daughter was seriously injured in a skiing holiday a few days after Miranda’s death.’

There was silence for a moment, then Keith continued, ‘Abe took over the rescue plan. He moved us out of the farmhouse and up into the caves in the hills. As well as Valerie, we have another Non-Lab supporter in the Centre and two Labs working there, unknown to the other workers there, so we have some access to information about what is happening there. Over the past year we have been able to free groups of about ten to twenty mature Labs at a time. Every few months our Lab contact at the centre helps Abe and Sel to sneak into the Centre and set the timer so that a group of mature Labs wake up at a set time when we know there would be less staff on duty, usually at night. Sel is also able to fix the security videos so that they replay earlier events of the evening and we aren’t spotted taking the Labs off the premises. There are about ninety Labs in the caves now. Abe’s plan is to release as many Labs as he can, and build up an army to overcome the staff at the Centre.’

‘Didn’t the people at the Centre notice a large group of mature Labs have gone missing each time?’ Ruby asked.

‘Of course they did, but after each rescue operation we leak information to other similar medical centres hinting that a Russian medical company, Solstov Innovations, has acquired new valuable information on advanced stem cell research from a western company and will sell them to the highest bidder. The Centre gets to hear these rumours and blames Solstov, who always deny any involvement,’ Keith said.

‘No one really took Miranda seriously when she hinted that maybe the Labs were able to live independently. She never let them know that there were actual Labs like Abe already free as she was worried about what might happen to them,’ Celia added.

Ruby shook her head. ‘Why don’t all you free Labs just make public what is happening at the Centre?’

Keith sighed. ‘We had thought of that, but we are afraid of what might happen to the developing Labs. The Centre management might just turn everything off, or worse, to cover their tracks. We’d be risking the lives of hundreds of Labs. It would be too dangerous.’

‘Without someone in a powerful position on our side, we are helpless,’ Celia added.

‘The committee members are too powerful, too rich,’ Keith nodded in agreement. ‘We’ve since discovered that the government Head of Social and Medical Welfare is himself one of the bigger shareholders.’

‘The subscribers themselves are in positions of power all over the world, government leaders, on the boards of huge company conglomerates. We can’t stand against them,’ Celia continued. ‘They can silence us so easily. They have so many of us Labs in the Centre at their mercy, especially those in their developing stages.’

‘Yes, what are Labs worth? We have no identities or possessions, except for what we steal. We don’t even have names, just codes,’ Keith looked down at his arm. ‘The only strength we have is in the growing number of freed Labs.’

‘You said you had an alternative plan to Abe’s. What is it?’ Ruby asked.

‘We don’t think his idea of raising an army against the people who run the Centre is a good idea. We thought about setting Labs up with false papers, as we have now, in different towns and cities around the country,’ Celia said. ‘The main problem was that a newly mature Lab is equivalent to a sixteen-year-old Non-Lab, so they cannot live independently. Not many of them could pass for a young Non-Lab adult, especially as they are not used to living in normal Non-Lab society. We couldn’t risk them standing out and maybe being questioned by the authorities. However, when you told us about the State supervised houses for sixteen-year-olds, we had the answer to our problem! We can all live as students or in some kind of trainee work for two years, or one in some cases if a Lab can get away with looking seventeen, then we will be independent adult members of society!’

‘Many of the Labs are from donors from different countries, so we decided we could create IDs for them as overseas students. As long as they have the paperwork and an official adult to supervise them, we can set them up in similar houses, too,’ Valerie continued. ‘In fact, I’m going to be pretty busy in this new role!’

‘At our last meeting, Abe objected to any of us leaving the safety of the caves. He said we’d be in constant danger of being discovered. It would lead to all the Labs being put at risk. He wouldn’t even consider it!’ Keith added.

‘So, how many Labs are willing to set up home with their new IDs?’ Ruby asked.

Celia and Keith looked at each other.

‘No other Labs supported us, actually,’ Keith said. ‘They’re all afraid of speaking out against Abe. But, once they see how we are surviving in the Non-Lab world, I’m sure we will be able to persuade more to join us!’

‘We’re going to have to make a success of this and get Abe himself on our side!’ Celia added.

‘Well, I’ll do anything I can to help you settle into the … Non-Lab world!’ said Ruby enthusiastically.

‘Spoken like a true Lab!’ Keith smiled, ‘We’re honorary Non-Labs and you’re an honorary Lab!’

They sat up late that night talking about their plans and how life could be in the future.

‘Well, I’d better be getting off now,’ Valerie said finally. ‘I’ll be back on Friday for your college appointment. You’ve a few days to get used to life here. The sooner you start to live as Non-Labs, the better. You mustn’t do anything that will arouse people’s suspicions. This is where they’ll depend on your advice, Ruby. ’

‘I’m happy to help!’ she assured them. Looking at the boys’ worried expressions, she added, ‘Really, being a Non-Lab isn’t that hard!’

As she closed her bedroom door that night, Ruby heard her name called. Leon stood outside the room with his brother, ‘Johnny and I are a bit nervous. We’re glad you’re with us in this strange new world, Ruby.’

‘I’ll try and make it less strange for you, boys!’ Ruby reassured them. She felt a glow of happiness spread though her as she slipped into bed.

‘This is great!’ Johnny said as they walked down towards the town centre the next morning. ‘We can walk openly in daylight!’

‘And we have a real house!’ Leon added.

Ruby smiled. It seemed strange to hear them talk of things she took so easily for granted, though after the last few weeks, she did appreciate the home she had now.

Leon suddenly sighed, his happy expression evaporating.

‘What is it?’ Ruby asked him.

‘All the other Labs. They don’t have any of this,’ Johnny spoke for him as his brother nodded.

‘Well that’s why it’s so important you learn to act as Non-Labs as quickly as possible. Then you can show other Labs how easy it is, and help them start their free lives in their own homes,’ Ruby told them. She stopped outside a bookshop. ‘I’m going to get a map of the area in here. Why don’t you two practise your Non-Lab skills and each buy yourself a book. Watch and listen to me, then choose your own books, ok?’

The twins looked at each other, took a deep breath and nodded.

‘Good morning,’ Ruby said to the young girl behind the counter. ‘I’m looking for a street map of the town. A detailed one, please.’

‘Maps over there,’ the girl pointed to the side of the shop.

As she took a map off the shelf and glanced through it she heard Johnny clear his throat and approach the counter.

‘Good morning,’ he said to the girl. ‘I’m looking for a book of boys’ names. Names with many syllables.’

There was a pause. Ruby glanced up at the girl, who was smiling, ‘Long names for boys? Let’s see what we have over here,’ she said as she led him to another shelf.

Johnny looked across at Ruby and gave her a happy smile.

Leon stood in the centre of the shop looking down at the floor, his brow furrowed in concentration.

‘Can I help you at all?’ the girl asked him.

‘Ummm, yes. I’d like a book about sport,’ he said hesitantly.

‘Any sport in particular? Come and have a look through these.’ The assistant led him to a shelf. ‘There’s plenty to choose from!’

Leon too, glanced over at Ruby with a triumphant smile as he followed her.

‘You did very well today!’ Ruby told them as they made their way home again. ‘Three shops, and you told that old gentleman the time, Leon! And you dealt with those giggling girls in the park by the river very well, Johnny!’

‘Why did they keep laughing?’ Johnny asked.

Ruby shrugged. ‘I suppose they thought you were two good-looking lads!’

Leon and Johnny looked at each other with bemused expressions.

As they reached their front door, Keith opened it.

‘Hi,’ he said. He looked at the bags they were carrying, ‘I see you’ve been shopping.’

Johnny hurried into the lounge and pulled his book out of the bag.

‘Look!’ he said. ‘Next time we change IDs, I’ll have the longest name! Ab-sol-om, that’s only three syllables. Ah! De-me-tri-us, four syllables!’

Celia rolled her eyes and flicked through Leon’s book, ‘This will be very useful on your college course! Well done for thinking of it, Leon.’

‘Yes, I thought it would!’ he nodded, giving his brother a smug look, but Johnny was frowning over the pronunciation of another name.

Ruby pulled out the street map book. ‘I thought this would come in useful.’

‘Good. We’re going to need a Self-Drive car, so I’ve ordered one which will be delivered tomorrow morning. It’s in your name, Ruby,’ Celia said. ‘We’ll take it out of town and practise manual driving. I can easily override the Self-Drive function once we’re somewhere quiet.’

She noticed Ruby’s worried expression.

‘It can’t be that hard! Most Non-Labs can at least operate a Self-Drive! You probably won’t even need the manual skills, but it would raise suspicion if the Self-Drive did break down and you had no idea about the manual operation. If we’re to win Abe over, we must make sure we don’t leave any room for suspicion,’ Celia continued. ‘I’ve downloaded a series of simulated driving lessons, used by many driving schools. You can practise a few and you should be ready to drive by tomorrow.’

‘But …’ Ruby began.

‘It’s not that difficult. Keith and I have already completed the first set. You can practise this evening.’

Celia clicked a button and pushed the laptop towards her. ‘We can’t waste time, Ruby. Concentrate!’

For the next few hours, Ruby tried out different simulated trips and studied the image of a manual dashboard.

Celia sat down beside her making encouraging noises. ‘See. It isn’t that hard, is it? After our test drive tomorrow, we’ll all be ready to drive!’

As soon as they had finished eating that evening, Celia set up the laptop to project the simulated drives onto the lounge wall. Ruby, who had offered to do the washing up, could hear the whoops of delight as Johnny and Leon quickly worked their way up through the different levels of lessons. She took a deep breath as she put the last plate away and went back to join the others.

Celia was testing Keith on road signs when the doorbell sounded. Everyone froze as Ruby went to open it. Celia switched off the laptop when Mr Robinson, their landlord, was led in by Ruby. He put a large plastic container on the table.

‘Mr Robinson has brought us some homemade cakes,’ Ruby told them.

‘Just called round to make sure everything is OK,’ the old man said. ‘My wife made you some cakes to welcome you to your new home. Mmm, that’s a fancy-looking computer!’ He pointed at the laptop.

‘Isn’t it! One of the new American models. The boys were playing one of those racing games,’ Ruby told him.

‘Oh, don’t let me disturb you!’ Mr Robinson said.

‘Not at all!’ she continued, ‘I want to watch Champions and these would be lovely with a cup of tea! Can I get you one, Mr Robinson?’

‘Well, if it’s not too much trouble.’ Mr Robinson settled himself down in a nearby chair. ‘Champions? It’s on in five minutes. I haven’t seen it for a few weeks now. My wife likes the dancing competition!’

Celia flicked the television on. ‘Which programme do I select?’

‘Channel 3,’ Ruby told her, returning with a tray of teacups. She placed it on the table, ‘There you are, Mr Robinson. Leon, give this to Keith, will you?’ she handed him a cup of tea and then opened the container of cakes.

‘Wow! Such cakes!’ Leon’s eyes were wide as he reached inside the box, his sleeve slowly slipping up his arm.

Ruby playfully slapped his hand away. ‘Leon, you’d better wash your hands first and fix your sleeves, hmmm?’

Leon and Johnny exchanged looks of horror as he pulled his shirt over the tattooed code and both quickly went to the kitchen. Ruby turned to chat to their landlord as Keith and Celia joined them.

‘So, do you think Bill Blazer will win again? “Bill Blazer Blazes to Victory!” Some people say the show’s rigged, that’s why he always wins!’ Ruby continued.

Mr Robinson sipped his tea. ‘That’s why my wife doesn’t want to watch it anymore! I don’t think it could be fixed, myself. It’s filmed live!’

‘That’s what I say!’ Ruby exclaimed. ‘How can he work out which game will come up next? It’s chosen randomly. He can’t spend all week practising all of them, can he?’

Soon all eyes were on the television. At first, only Ruby and Mr Robinson made comments and sounds of encouragement for their favourite team, but after ten minutes Leon and Johnny were just as involved in supporting the opposing teams.

The cakes and tea had long been finished when Mr Robinson stood up to go.

‘Well, I’m glad to see you’re all settled in so well.

Anything you need, just call by our house at the end of the road there,’ he said as Ruby showed him out.

Celia sat up as Ruby came back into the lounge.

‘We have to be more vigilant!’ she said. ‘If it wasn’t for Ruby’s quick thinking, he could have seen our codes! We must keep a plastic strip ready at all times.’

The others nodded.

Celia looked across at Ruby with admiration in her eyes, ‘Ruby, you can talk for so long on trivia, which Non-Labs seem to do so much. It kept him distracted! Well done!’

‘We call it small talk, just a way of being friendly.’ Ruby told her.

‘Don’t forget, Celia, Ruby is a Non-Lab! She can do things we’re only learning to do!’ Keith pointed out.

‘I do forget that sometimes, Ruby.’ Celia gave her a smile again.

Later that night, at Celia’s insistence, they all went for a run on the hillside behind the house. Celia, Johnny, and Leon quickly disappeared into the darkness. Keith stayed beside Ruby.

‘OK?’ he asked.

Ruby nodded, not having enough breath to make a reply.

After a while Keith suggested they turn back. They sat in the back garden waiting for the others to return.

‘It is sometimes difficult for you, isn’t it?’ he said. She nodded, ‘You’re all so fit, so clever, so … everything I’m not!’

‘We are created this way in the laboratory. I suppose you have been created the way you are, more by nature,’ he looked at her. ‘I like the way you are created, Ruby.’

She was glad he could not see her blush in the darkness.

‘Do Labs have feelings … relationships … within their community?’ she asked him.

‘We all feel for every Lab. Each one of us is an important member of our community,’ he replied. ‘That’s why it is so important we free all Labs from the Centre as soon as possible.’

He stared into the distance, his mind far away. At the sound of the others returning, he gave her a quick smile, stood up, and walked towards them.

The next morning they stood around a second hand Self-Drive car. Ruby’s hand shook as she signed the papers that made it officially hers.

‘I know, getting your first car is so exciting, isn’t it?’ the man smiled at her. ‘Even if it isn’t brand new!’

‘So it’s all taxed and insured and ready to drive, then?’ she asked him.

‘Yes, for you and your named drivers. It cost quite a bit, but as your friend said, you’ll all be using it to save money on public transport, so it’s worth it.’

He nodded at Celia, who stood exchanging technical details with one of the men from the garage.

Soon after that the men left.

‘We’ll go to the old airstrip north of the town in Self-Drive. Once we’re there we can all do a manual practice,’ Celia said.

They all got into the car. Celia narrowed her eyes and looked at the controls, ‘Slightly different to the simulator, but most are pretty obvious.’ She switched on the engine and the car slipped smoothly forward.

Leon and Johnny were chattering and laughing like excited children. Keith, in the front seat beside Celia, was carefully observing all her actions and occasionally asking questions, nodding his head thoughtfully as Celia replied. Only Ruby seemed nervous.

Once on the deserted strip they all took turns with the Self-Drive application. Then the twins began to argue over who should be first to try out the manual controls. Celia selected Johnny, getting Leon to sit beside him while she sat behind, leaning over to remind or give any advice they needed. After ten minutes the boys swapped seats. Next it was Keith’s turn to take the wheel. Ruby sat on an old bench at the side of the strip, trying hard to remember the facts she had learnt on the simulated drives on the laptop the previous evening, but it was like being back at school. Her mind had gone blank.

Finally, she sat in the driver’s seat.

‘Go when you’re ready, Ruby. Just remember all the things you did on the laptop last night,’ Celia smiled at her.

After several false starts, Ruby managed to get the car started without stalling it. She could feel Celia stiffen as she crunched gears and drove along the beach at erratic speeds.

‘Don’t change gear yet! Wait until you hear the tone change!’ she told Ruby. ‘Steer to the left! You are going to hit that rock! Slow down!’

Finally, the car shuddered to a halt.

‘I can’t do this!’ Ruby cried.

‘Of course you can! Anybody can …!’ Celia began sharply.

Keith appeared at the side of the car and opened the passenger door.

‘Celia, go for a run with the twins,’ he suggested in such a way that she climbed silently out of the car.

He sat beside Ruby, watching as the other three disappeared in the distance. With an exaggerated sigh, he turned to her and smiled.

‘Now, try again without all the pressure. I don’t think you’ll be ready to drive a manual today, but you should be able to manage the basics.’

‘But … Celia thinks I will be able to drive as well as she can,’ Ruby said.

‘Don’t worry. Between us we’ll always have a driver until you feel confident in yourself. Don’t let Celia intimidate you!’ he smiled.

By the time the others returned, Ruby was able to drive the car fairly smoothly. She still struggled with braking and gear changes, but it didn’t feel such an impossible challenge anymore.

‘A good morning’s work! Now most of us can be relied on as drivers when required!’ Celia commented as Keith drove them home.

‘But that doesn’t mean we’ll waste our time driving around pointlessly,’ she continued as Johnny and Leon looked at her innocently. ‘This car is not a toy! It’s a useful tool in Non-Lab life!’

‘Sometimes living like a Non-Lab is so good! I can’t wait to get a manual car in two years’ time!’ Leon whispered to his brother who nodded in agreement.

Ruby looked down at her plate and moved her food around without much appetite at lunch later that day, while the twins chattered excitedly.

‘Don’t worry, Ruby. You will soon master this new skill,’ Keith told her with a smile.

‘Not as quickly as you Labs can. Many Non-Labs take lessons for months before they pass their test and are free to drive on the road,’ she said.

‘Months? To learn such basic skills?’ Celia sounded incredulous.

‘Don’t forget, Celia, Labs are programmed to be good at something! Non-Labs have to learn from scratch!’ Keith reminded her.

‘That’s true. But we are also good at learning. Non-Labs do not seem to be quick at acquiring new skills,’ Celia replied.

‘Who chooses the skills for each Lab?’ Ruby asked them.

‘Our subscribers select them,’ Johnny told her.

‘They generally choose the things they are particularly good at,’ Leon added.

‘Do you all know who your subscribers are?’ Ruby continued.

‘I looked at the Centre records,’ Celia told her. ‘The actual names are not listed, but Johnny and Leon’s subscriber is a famous…’

‘Let her guess!’ Johnny shouted. He looked at Ruby smiling.

‘Mmm …’ She looked at the twins. ‘A golfer? No. Tennis player, swimmer. Ah! A footballer!’

‘How did you guess?’ Johnny asked.

‘You’re very active, so it had to be a sportsperson!’

‘Yes – at least, he used to be active. He was in his sixties when he had us created. He had almost killed himself with alcohol and drugs. And he had fallen out with any remaining friends and family he had left. He planned on renewing most parts of himself until he would be able to make a miraculous comeback to the football scene!’ Johnny told her.

‘And impress everyone!’ Leon added. ‘But, unfortunately for him – though not for us – he died before they were able to carry out an operation to replace his heart and lungs.’

‘What about you, Keith?’ Ruby asked. ‘I can’t think what you subscriber could be.’

‘My subscriber’s an actor. She had me created for her son. She’s hoping he’ll become interested in the theatre, too.’

‘Ah, that’s why you chose the Sound and Vision course at the college,’ Ruby nodded.

‘And what about Celia?’ Johnny asked.

‘Someone really clever! Very organised, knowledgeable … a scientist? No? Someone who works with computers?’ Ruby suggested.

‘Yes. He’s American. Often called on for his skills in combating computer hackers. I was created for his daughter but she died in a car crash when she was a young child, so I was to be discarded. Abe kept me safe until I was mature, and then I was awakened and taken to the Caves.’

Suddenly she pushed her plate away, ‘Anyway, enough guessing games. There’s work to be done. We’d better make sure we know what we’re going to say at the college interview on Friday. I’ve produced educational levels for us all at standard passes. Most students have reached that level by sixteen.’

Ruby felt just as nervous as the others as they were shown into the office of the College Principal later that week. Valerie gave each of them a reassuring smile as they sat down.

Mrs Walker looked through the papers Valerie had handed her. ‘Mmm, Mrs Sutton, so these five State-supervised youngsters have settled into their new accommodation and are all ready to start college now?’

‘That’s right. They’re all very pleased that your college provides suitable courses for all of them as they really wanted to stay together.’

‘I see their educational levels are all standard. Celia and Keith both decide to change courses, did they?’ Mrs Walker asked.

‘Yes, they were on an art course, but both felt it wasn’t for them,’ Valerie explained.

‘I hope they won’t be chopping and changing all the time!’ the principal frowned. ‘Do you think they’ll be able to cope with the courses here?’

‘We both feel we’ve made the right decisions this time,’ Keith smiled at her confidently as Celia nodded in agreement.

‘And I hope you’ve all read and agreed to the code of conduct we expect of all our students,’ Mrs Williams said sternly, looking around their faces.

‘Yes, they have. These youngsters are very hard working and very keen on starting their Independent training,’ Valerie smiled.

Mrs Walker paused for a moment. ‘We have young people from a variety of different backgrounds, and most go on to worthwhile careers. All it takes is a bit of determination and a lot of hard work!’

‘These youngsters will show you that they have what it takes, Mrs Walker!’ Valerie said.

After some more questions for the would-be students, Mrs Walker stood up and shook their hands. ‘I’ll get some of the students to show you around and let you see where you’ll be working, then we’ll see you all here on Monday!’

‘So we start on Monday!’ Leon repeated as they reached the house.

‘Yeah! Did you see the astro pitch?’ Johnny said.

‘And the size of the gym?’ Leon added.

‘There was some interesting equipment in the Media wing,’ Keith said.

‘Are you OK, Celia?’ asked Ruby. ‘Was the IT suite OK?’

‘It looked great. I was just a bit, you know, worried about …’ she began.

‘Working with Non-Labs,’ Keith added quietly as she nodded.

‘Don’t forget, I’m a Non-Lab and I’m harmless!’ Ruby pointed out.

‘Yeah, but you’re our Non-Lab,’ Johnny said.

‘And you know all our secrets already,’ Leon added.