Artificially Engineered Heartbeat

Chapter 1

Lab technician, Julie White jogged down the polished white corridor of the Orcus research laboratory carrying a tray full of test tubes and the all important health report of experiment "Heartbeat". She pushed open the door to the main lab, chest heaving slightly due to her lack of exercise. Professor Antitheus turned sharply at her entrance holding his hand out impatiently for the results she carried. She passed them over, inwardly sighing as he snatched them from her hand, tearing the envelope open with an eagerness Julie hadn't seen in years.  

"Although not ethically or morally sound, experiment Heartbeat shows a sure sign of development, there has been an increase in brain activity and all of the internal organs appear to be fully healthy and able to support the experiment. It is with my professional opinion rather than my personal feelings that I confirm the experiment is now feasible to complete." Antitheus muttered before his mouth turned upwards into a sneer, the closest he ever came to smiling.

"Miss White it appears we have the good doctor's approval, the experiment is ready to enter its final stage, by the end of this day we will be the most revered and famous scientists in history." With that almost joyful exclamation the professor marched into the next room, a dazed and nervous Julie following.

The second laboratory that they entered was not as large nor as grand as the first but it was far better equipped. In the centre of the room stood a large tank filled with a faintly blue liquid. The tank acted as a mixture between an incubator and an artificial womb, allowing the experiment to grow and feed but not to really live or gain consciousness. It was dependent on them.

They had reached this stage only one other time, the tank had not been transparent then as they hadn't had the funding, meaning that they had been unable to monitor the experiment.  The professor, eager as he was had terminated the womb simulation, leaving an underdeveloped body that wouldn't survive and certainly wouldn't be presentable to the public.

It took four more weeks of planning and a boost in funding from the government until they worked out a safer way to create the artificial human, then it took another 110 days for the growth of the experiment to reach a stage where it could survive independently of the machines surrounding it. The growth of the experiment was much faster than that of an ordinary human as it was controlled by the machines dotted around the lab. Each week in the tank accounted for a year of human growth, the machines not only changing physical aspects but also mental ones, updating the experiment with the appropriate knowledge of its new age. To avoid the same underdevelopment as the previous experiment they had had to recruit a doctor to assess the health of "Heartbeat". The results that had arrived confirmed their hopes. After years of trying they may have reached their goal, the creation of an Artificially Engineered Human, or the A.E.H.
"This is the moment we've been waiting for Miss White, all of our work has led to this moment. Drain the tank."

Julie quickly wiped her sweaty hands on her lab coat before moving forwards to the control panel by the side of the tank, and with the flick of a switch the process of draining the tank started. When the A.E.H gently touched the tank floor the draining process sped up, making it only three seconds before the tank was clear of any excess liquid and leaving the experiment lying limp on the glass floor.

"Release the umbilical cord."

Julie pressed another button causing the metallic cord that had been feeding the experiment for the past 15 weeks to slowly withdraw sealing the cut where it had been inserted into the A.E.H as it did so, leaving only smooth skin behind. As the cord released the experiment twitched involuntarily and the professor let out an undignified whoop, "A reflex! An actual reflex!" He pushed Julie aside and pressed several buttons on the panel to open the airtight seal on the tank allowing the professor to approach the experiment. The professor pulled the thin membrane away from the A.E.H's mouth and eyes before pressing down firmly on his chest. The experiment gave a cough and his eyes fluttered open. He made no noise just looked around him, blinking rapidly. "He looks adolescent, fifteen or sixteen. If we had left him in for longer he would have reached a more adult age but, no matter, he is alive and we have done it!" The professor said, excitement tingeing his voice as he looked at his creation. "We have done it."

...

"Are you ready for this?" Mark asked as he adjusted his camera slightly. Rebecca just shrugged, in truth she didn't really know anything at the moment, she had only had this job for a view weeks so wasn't familiar with breaking news procedure. Then, this morning at 3:30 she was woken up by a call from work with the story of the century, which she was covering for the 6am news that morning. She was so tired she could barely think straight.
Mark sighed; they didn't really see eye to eye, but unfortunately they were often forced to work together. "Just don't muck this up alright; this could be our big break."

Rebecca gave Mark a half hearted glare, before looking into the camera he was holding and plastering a huge fake smile to her face.  Listening through the earpiece she heard her cue, "And now we go to our correspondent Rebecca who is live in the city of Satus, over to you Rebecca!"

"Thanks Robert! Here you join me at the Orcus research laboratory which is the place the whole world is watching. It was in the early hours of this morning that Professor Antitheus did what everyone thought impossible: the creation of an artificial human. Unlike cloning, this procedure does not involve any genetic material; instead the human is created entirely from scratch. In only a few minutes the professor will enter this room to discuss this outstanding achievement, and some are speculating give the public our first glimpse at the A.E.H. Here he is now; let's hear what he has to say."

"Welcome one and all to the Orcus research laboratory; I am overjoyed to be discussing my experiment with you.  After many years of tedious research and experiments, I have created the world's first artificial human, the A.E.H. I am afraid that, for fear that my experiment being recreated, I cannot relay the full details of the procedure however I will be taking a few questions."

"Professor, did the A.E.H or any previous experiments suffer in this process?"
"No, I can safely say that the A.E.H was the first attempt at artificial human life I made, and the only experiment which I did that had any nerve endings, so any previous attempts physically could not have suffered as they couldn't feel pain.  The A.E.H only gained consciousness a few hours ago so couldn't have felt pain until then, and I made sure that throughout his creation every care was taken to reduce suffering on any level."

"Does the A.E.H have a name?"

"Yes he does, his name is Adam"

"Professor there has been much speculation that you are trying to play God and that no human should have the power you seem to. By calling him Adam aren't you just-"

"I did assume this topic would arise, the name Adam has a religious connotation however I am not a religious man, I created him for the purpose of science and scientific development, not because I was hunting for power or some kind of God-like status."
"Will we have the opportunity to meet... Adam?"

"Unfortunately no, as for medical reasons we are scared that meeting so many people so shortly after his creation will send him into shock however in a few days photographs will be released onto our website. Thank you all for your time, good day."

Rebecca turned back towards the camera her smile wavering slightly before she quickly reinforced it, "Well that's all from us, back to the studio."

Mark quickly turned off the camera and they started walking back to the van together, "What do you think of all this?" He asked as he put the heavy camera into the van. "I'm not sure, I guess only time will tell, but I can't help but dislike the professor, he seemed... jumpy."