CHAPTER FIFTEEN

‘We’re always pleased to see you here, Mr Armstrong,’ Sir Philip said as he shook his hand. ‘I’m delighted it’s not to arrange medical treatment for your son this time! He’s been quite a popular patient here over the years! This time you want a guided tour of the Centre? Though let me assure you, when the planned takeover goes ahead, it will not affect any of our present subscribers.’

He turned to Abel and Celia, ‘And we have here …’

‘My… mmm … advisors. They both have an informed knowledge of the Centre’s background, Sir Philip,’ President Armstrong told him. He noticed the puzzled frown as the other man eyed the teenagers. ‘Yes, they are young, but as you will find out shortly, they’re pretty well informed.’

‘Ah! Well, let me introduce our management team: John Baxman, Tony Vittori, Peter McClaren, and Penelope Chiswick,’ Sir Philip continued. ‘I know you wanted the Head of Social and Medical Department here, too, but unfortunately he had an important prior engagement that he could not cancel at the last minute.’

‘Could I just ask you all, are you fully aware of the nature of the work of the Centre?’ the president said.

‘Of course!’ Penelope said. ‘The medical advances we have made in stem cell research mean we are able to treat injuries and illnesses previously deemed fatal.’

Mr Armstrong nodded, ‘That’s part of the Centre’s manifesto, yes. But at what price?’

‘Oh, you haven’t been listening to the gossip about how we should consider the feelings of the cells we use, are you?’ Baxman sighed in exasperation. ‘Our meeting with the American company, Medicfrontier, is taking place in three days! We just don’t have time for this now!’

‘I’m afraid the takeover is not going to go ahead, Mr Baxman,’ the president said softly.

‘But …? What …? You can’t be serious! It’s a multi-billion-dollar deal! We’ve been talking about this for months now! Don’t be taken in by those “hug a cell” crackpot ideas! We’re not going to throw this chance away, I won’t let that happen!’ Baxman spluttered.

‘Calm down, John. I think we had better let the president explain himself, before we decide if the takeover will go ahead or not,’ Tony said tersely. He looked at Mr Armstrong.

‘Dr Miranda Cheung, the founder of this Centre, was a strong supporter of the good work done here initially. But we do know that before her tragic death she had raised issues with the moral ethics of creating near-human products to be used in the experiments carried out here.’

‘How do you know what Dr Cheung was concerned about?’ Sir Philip asked him.

The president turned to Abel, who cleared his throat. ‘Some of us were closely involved with Dr Cheung. She was about to demonstrate that these, as you put it, “near-human products” are capable of living independently away from the Centre.’

‘You mean the research items in the capsules in the Mature Ward?’ Peter asked.

‘Yes, that’s what they are! Items. Spare parts. Not human beings!’ John Baxman spat out.

Penelope shifted uncomfortably. ‘But we were always told that they were nothing more than a complicated bundle of cells. Designed in human form …’

‘Exactly!’ Baxman fixed his eyes on Mr Armstrong. ‘How can you possibly be taken in by these … fictional flights of fancy?’

Abel pulled up his sleeve.

‘Welcome to my world,’ he said softly, peeling off the plastic strip to reveal the code on his inner wrist.

‘You are a … a …? Oh my God!’ Peter struggled to his feet, knocking the chair over backwards as he did so.

The others sat open-mouthed.

‘Pull yourself together, Peter!’ Baxman muttered.

‘Yes, I am one of the “spare parts” you create here in the Centre. There are many of us who have been freed over the years.’

‘There were rumours of some of the mature SPs going missing. Something to do with a Russian company trying to find out more about our work…’ Peter began.

‘All rumours, nothing else!’ Baxman gave a harsh laugh. ‘We hear dozens of those stories! And this is another story! Well done! You certainly got some of us going for a minute. Neat tattoo there!’

‘This is not a story that is going to go away! You cannot silence my kind anymore!’ Abel’s voice was rising.

‘Let’s all remain calm. Shall we take a tour of the Mature Ward? One of the Labs has been readied for awakening,’ Celia looked around the table and then held Abel’s gaze. His shoulders were trembling.

‘How the devil did you get into the Wards?’ Baxman glowered. ‘There are serious breaches of security here, Sir Philip!’

The team made their way to the ward silently apart from occasional mutterings from Baxman.

Penelope and Peter moved closer together as they entered the ward dimly lit with an orange light. There was only the gentle background hum of machinery as they stopped in front of one of the capsules where a man in a white coat stood waiting.

‘Stand back, please. We don’t usually have so many people around when we awaken a Lab,’ he told them. He nodded to Celia who turned a dial on the display at the top of the capsule. He waited a moment until the occupant began to stir, then he gently raised the lid.

‘Time to wake up!’ Celia whispered softly as a young woman uncurled herself and stepped out of the capsule. She wore the simple white uniform that emphasised her strong slender arms and legs. She pushed her long black hair away from her face and looked around her. Celia took her hand and smiled, ‘Ready for a little walk, Gen?’

The woman nodded and looked around bemused. ‘I am Gen?’

‘Yes,’ Celia showed her the code tattooed on her wrist. She pushed up her sleeve to reveal her own wrist, ‘And I am Sel.’

There was a stunned silence as the two walked away slowly around the ward, Gen occasionally stopping to ask Celia a question.

The president was the first to speak. ‘Perhaps we had better adjourn to the committee room?’

‘I was just about to say that myself,’ Sir Philip nodded.

Peter gestured vaguely around the room, ‘But … all these capsules … are they all capable of … coming to life?’

‘They are already alive,’ Abel pointed out. He looked at the faces of the others; Penelope was clinging to Peter’s arm; Tony was looking confused. Only John Baxman was staring stonily ahead.

Back in the committee room, there was a long silence. Celia gave out cups of coffee to each of the other people, as they did not seem capable of doing this simple task themselves.

‘How can this have been happening? How did things go so far?’ Peter shook his head.

‘But, don’t forget – we are saving lives! Enabling injured and disabled people to have a better standard of life! Let’s not forget the Centre’s good work!’ Baxman pointed out. ‘Look at your own son, Mr President – he would not have survived his last three accidents without the Centre’s intervention!’

‘Yes, for those who could afford it, we have done a great deal of good work,’ Sir Philip agreed.

‘And at what price to the Labs?’ Abel added.

‘Labs?’ Tony asked.

‘You called us “SPs”, or Spare Parts, a term we found unpalatable,’ Abel said with a frown. ‘We renamed ourselves Labs – those created in your laboratory – as opposed to your kind, Non-Labs – those created by normal human reproduction.’

‘Where do we go from here?’ Penelope shook her head, still feeling dazed.

‘Well, obviously the American deal cannot go through,’ Tony said.

‘That’s right. The Centre will be closed, immediately!’ the president said.

‘Well if it must, we better do it with least amount of publicity. Make the best of the situation!’ Baxman looked at Sir Philip. ‘We’ll need to get our lawyers on to it immediately.’

‘What about all the … Labs … in the Centre?’ Penelope asked.

‘Turn off all the equipment before anything else wakes up, I say!’ Baxman had just put his coffee cup down on the table when Abel flew across the room and landed a punch squarely on his nose.

Simon was back at the Labs’ house that evening. All were watching the television.

‘I thought the Centre would be on the news tonight,’ Leon commented.

‘Just a brief account of the American deal falling through, but no mention of why,’ Johnny said.

‘I can’t get through to my father!’ Simon looked at his phone, frustrated.

‘It’s a complicated situation. Celia has just phoned,’ Keith told them, coming into the room. ‘They’ve only just left the meeting. The lawyers and the government are already involved. And one of the committee members has somehow ended up in hospital with a broken nose!’

‘Abel’s doing, I suppose!’ Johnny said as Leon shrugged.

‘Celia said there are many difficulties ahead. The first one is finding a place for the Labs still in the Centre to live,’ Keith continued.

‘What other problems are there? Why hasn’t the story been made public yet? Why aren’t the Labs free?’ Simon asked him.

‘Celia didn’ t have time to go into everything on the phone. She’ll fill us in on the details later,’ he paused. ‘She’s going to stay at the Centre for the moment. Both she and Abel feel it would be in our best interests, and those of all previously freed Labs, to continue under our present IDs until the future of the Labs is clear.’

It wasn’t until the following week that Celia and Abel visited the house, late one evening.

Dette hugged them both. ‘We’ve been so worried about you!’ she cried.

Abel smiled and patted her arm. His face looked pale and drawn. ‘We knew things would take time, but there are so many issues that we hadn’t thought of.’

They settled themselves down in the lounge.

‘Well?’ Keith looked at Abel.

‘Where do we start?’ Celia shook her head. ‘The first problem we had was that the Labs are considered minors as we are awakened at the human age of sixteen – that is documented on the Centre medical records – so Valerie has agreed to be our official guardian, along with the lawyer appointed for us, Declan O’Brien. Our demands have to go through them.’

Abel sighed. ‘We have insisted that accommodation for the Labs still in capsules at the Centre is completed as soon as possible; so a compound of prefabricated housing is being erected in the grounds.’ He looked at Celia. ‘We’ve insisted on good standards of accommodation and facilities for the Labs who’ll live there initially. Mark and Valerie have arranged a team of Labs and Non-Labs to care for the Labs in the Nursery Ward until they reach maturity, and then they too will be freed.’

‘What about those in the Caves?’ Keith asked him.

‘They will join the newly freed Labs in the Compound. It’s better that you and all the Labs already living outside do not reveal your true identities at the moment. There are so many legal issues to be dealt with. We now have several lawyers involved – and the government, too, of course!’

‘Why hasn’t the whole story been made public yet?’ Johnny asked him.

‘As one of the committee members said, “we have opened a huge can of worms!” O’Brien has prioritised establishing us as a race. That’ll give us a much stronger standing. The lawyers representing the subscribers have two main issues: whether they have any rights to ownership of the Labs they funded to be created, and also whether they are entitled to compensation and a refund of the fees they have already paid. The government is hoping to resolve some of these issues before making things public.’ Abel sighed, ‘Also as leader of the Labs, I’m to stand charges of breaking and entering, and kidnapping. Oh, and I am also personally accused of causing actual bodily harm to John Baxman. But the big question is, are we going to be accepted by society? Or be the freak show of the decade?’ Abel spread his hands

Leon let out a long whistle.

‘Is there anything we can do to help?’ Ruby asked him.

He gave her a brief smile, ‘All we can ask you, Ruby and Simon, is to continue to support us Labs as you have done up till now! We’re going to need all the Non-Lab friends we can get!’

Keith gave him a grin. ‘Finally, Abel! You are beginning to appreciate the help our Non-Labs friends can give us!’

Abel shrugged.

A week later the story was finally released to the public. International television stations and newspapers were buzzing.

Celia read the article that appeared in a national newspaper:

DARK SECRETS OF THE CENTRE REVEALED!

Over the past week, the residents of Hambleton and other small towns near to the Advancement of Medical Technology Centre have watched as over a hundred prefabricated buildings were delivered to the site. Yesterday, the arrival of one hundred military personnel aroused further curiosity.

Two weeks ago the takeover bid of the Centre by the American company Medicfrontier was unexpectedly called off at the eleventh hour.

We are finally able to reveal the truth behind the scenes. A story that sounds more like science fiction than real life in this sleepy English town.’

The article went on to give details of the secret medical advancements that had been developed at the Centre. It also included comments by government officials.

Celia quickly read through the article in the Times and phoned Keith.

‘So it’s finally out in the open,’ he said. ‘Isaac just phoned to tell us that they’re holding a press conference at ten o’clock at the Centre, to be shown live on BBC One. The Prime Minister, Sir Philip, and Abel will be answering questions.’

Keith, the twins, and Ruby were in front of the television at one o’clock.

The Prime Minister was asked how medical developments had got this far without any questions being asked.

‘Well, the government was given to believe advanced stem cell research was taking place here. We were not informed at any stage that whole organs, never mind complete human-type bodies, had been created.’

‘It beggars belief that this research continued to such a level!’ a woman said. She turned to Sir Philip, ‘Did no one raise any objections to the extent the research had progressed?’

‘Dr Miranda Cheung did, two years ago!’ Abel said.

‘But, unfortunately, Dr Cheung died in a tragic accident before she was able to give us detailed information about her fears,’ Sir Philip quickly countered. ‘Now we have been made fully aware of the extent of the medical developments here, we are working together to deal with this situation as best we can. The government and Abel, as leader of the, erm, Labs, have our full cooperation.’

‘The Labs?’ a young reporter called out. Abel explained the origin of the term.

‘How do you see life for the … Labs … in the future?’ another reporter asked.

‘We would like to integrate fully with the Non-Lab world,’ Abel said. ‘Live alongside you, as equals.’

‘How many Labs are there?’ another reporter asked.

‘There are over five hundred at the Centre who will live in the new compound being built for them on the Centre’s land. Not all have reached maturity yet, though, so they will be moved out gradually,’ Abel told him.

‘How will this all be funded?’ a woman asked.

‘Completely by the Centre,’ Sir Philip answered.

‘What makes Labs different from us humans? Have you got any special powers?’ the same reporter asked.

Abel shook his head. ‘No; though we are programmed to develop to a greater level of fitness and strength. We do need to follow a strict exercise regime to maintain this level once we leave the capsules, as your people do. Our intellectual development has also been programmed during our formative years.’

They spent the next hour answering questions before Sir Philip stood up and signalled the end of the interview.

‘What about the donors of the stem cells? What rights do they have?’ a reporter called out.

‘We are, at present, holding talks with the subscribers and their lawyers,’ Sir Philip answered. ‘Now I’m afraid I must close this conference. A government-appointed team is to make a tour of the new compound for the newly freed Labs. They will make their findings and observations public within a few days. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen!’

Keith switched off the television and looked around at the others.

‘Abel was right. This is just the beginning of the story!’

‘They weren’t too critical of the Labs, were they?’ Johnny said.

‘Yes, they were more critical of the Centre staff,’ his brother added.

‘Isaac told me that several of the subscribers are arriving for talks with the Centre staff and the government officials tomorrow!’ Ruby told them. ‘His uncle said it’s all hush-hush at the moment!’

‘Abel is pushing our lawyers to establish the Labs as a race as soon as possible. Amnesty International has said we have a strong case,’ Keith said. ‘They think that our demands for equal rights with Non-Labs should be met.’

‘Celia has arranged for me to work with the newly freed Labs on the Compound. They will need some help fitting in with Non-Lab life, just like you did,’ Ruby said. ‘I’ll still be going to college part-time but I’ll have accommodation at the Centre; we don’t want anyone connecting me with you yet.’

‘We’ll miss you, Ruby!’ Johnny said.

‘Yes,’ Leon agreed. ‘First we lose Celia and now you!’

‘We’ll be able to meet up some evenings and weekends!’ Ruby told them.

‘You’ll be working alongside Abel!’ Johnny pointed out.

‘Yes, I’ll need a break every now and again!’ Ruby said, only half joking.

Meanwhile, at the Centre, Celia was searching through files on the computer. She clicked her tongue in frustration as she twice came up against ‘Access Denied’ screens. Her brow furrowed as she once again keyed in a password, and her face lit up as the screen changed to show a list of data. She pulled a memory stick out of her pocket and quickly copied some of the information onto it. As she heard voices nearing the room, she pulled the memory stick out and pushed it into her pocket, closing the programme in front of her. She had opened a different file as two people entered the office.

‘Hi, Mark, Valerie,’ she swung her chair round. ‘I was just taking a look at the organisation of the Centre’s data. The man from the MoD seemed to think that splitting the data into three sections, interdependent on each other, would be the best way to safeguard it from future misuse.’

‘Leave that to them to sort out, Celia,’ Valerie replied. ‘You’ve enough to worry about for the moment organising the new compound.’

As the three of them sat and discussed arrangements for the next few days, Celia fingered the memory stick in her pocket.