Urban Harvest: #4

“I.... I can understand your theory but I am only a molecular biologist,” I blurt out.

He puts his either hands on my shoulders and looks at me reassuringly.

“Oh no...You are more than just that Debbie.”

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I look deep into his eyes to absorb each and every word that he is pouring into me.

Five years have passed since my first day. So much has happened over the years. The research team Beta has successfully established a contact with the so called higher beings.  The stakes are high. Our hopes are up. H.C has discovered a rare plant species with a unique genetic code that could be a breakthrough for William’s mission to procreate life from foreign cells.

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 It was on midnight of seventh September that I got a call. I couldn’t believe my ears. I dressed and reached the hive to find everybody staring at the screen in silence. I looked up and saw a strange form looking back at us. I gasped. Will was by my side at once and he took my hand into his.

“Is it really happening Will?”

“It is. It is now. We weren’t sure until this specimen came today morning.”

“Oh my god. The pods, they are real.”

“Pretty much. We have only 48 hours time to prepare the vessels. There can be no accident.”

“Vessels? As in Human vessels?”

“Yes. The natural, the better.”

It took me more than a minute to realize what he was planning. How can a human vessel conceive an alien life? How will the body adapt to such a change? What if it killed the vessel? What if the offspring happened to be an abominable being?

Urban Harvest: #3

“Are you ready Debbie?”

“Yes.”

“This is what I call the Window. It separates us from them.”

He opens the large glass door in front me and then unlocks a heavy iron door.

“Welcome to the Hive.”

I cannot believe my eyes. There are hundreds of men and women dressed like me scurrying across the room. There are computers everywhere and I get a glimpse of specimens here and there. I see tests being run on several samples and new discoveries being fed into the server. All this makes me giddy with excitement. This was going to be my home.

I look at William Hades.

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“Exciting, isn’t it?”

“Absolutely...,” I exclaim.

He takes me into what I believe is going to be my office, my private workstation. But I am wrong. The sign on the door says Dr. William Hades; there is no Dr. Debbie Meyers anywhere.

"You will be personally assisting me in my research, which means you and I will be sharing the same lab and office space. What’s yours is mine. Happy?”

I nod.  My eyes scroll through the data spread on the white board and he catches me off guard with the question.

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“So tell me Debbie, how much do you know about H.C ?”

“Hades  Corporation does extensive research on human cell at molecular level to create solutions that enhance not just the life but also its quality.”

“That’s what Google knows about me. Tell me what you know.”

His deep gaze is starting to bother me and I fumble for words.

“Say it out. Just like you know it. Come on Debbie. You and I both know what I am talking about.”

“You are trying to create a new breed of organism through genetic mutation between humans and other beings.”

“Ah. That’s it. You got it right.”

I look at him amazed.

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“I don’t want perfect Debbie; I want the Supreme Being, second to none. We humans...are trash. We fall sick, we die. But, not them. They will be Gods among us.”

“But, will it not affect the very laws of evolution Mr Williams?”

“That’s the plan. They will live as long as I want them to. I decide who dies when. We will have our very own weapons to save us from annihilation. And it is in this mission that I want you to be my eyes and ears. Are you with me Ms Meyers?”

Urban Harvest: #2

“Hi, I am William Hades.”

“Hello Mr. Hades.”

“Debbie Meyers... right?”

“Yes...”

“That’s quite an impressive resume you have there.”

“Thank you.”

“I am sure the old fellows have filled you with enough.”

“Yes, they were generous.”

“Good.  Gentlemen, I shall take it from here. Good day.”

He holds the door open for me.

I thank the men and I see him wink at the receptionist.

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“This way please, Ms Meyers. I follow him outside through the hall, the corridor and suddenly I find myself out in the open. I am in the middle of a very large sprawling garden.

William Hades looks excited, “lovely, isn’t it Ms Meyers?”

I nod my head.

I follow him further to the end of the garden that ends with a lake. I see a boat waiting.

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“Ladies first.”

He helps me step inside the boat. The boat starts and we are moving towards what appears to be an island of some sort. The wind is lovely. I am sure I will be enjoying this trip every day.

William’s eyes are fixated on me through the entire course of our journey. Neither speaks.

Once we get down he leads me through one door after the other. And finally we stop in front of one of the doors. We give each other a quick glance. He presses a button outside the door. A young woman in her early twenties appears from nowhere.

“Good morning Mr. Hades,” the woman greets William politely.

“This is Ms Meyers. Help her change and meet me at the Window.”

“Yes, Mr Hades. This way please.”

I follow the woman as told. I enter a room where I am fumed. I change into lab clothes. Thankfully my hair is already in an up do. I quickly look at the mirror for one last time and glance back at the young woman. She nods. I take a deep breath and follow her outside to very larger Room. William Hades is already changed into Dr. William Hades and now has a serious expression across his face.

He thanks the young woman and now it’s just the two of us again.

“Are you ready Debbie?”

Urban Harvest: #1

Hades Corporation, the two words stood staring back at me. I tore open the envelope with shivering hands. Inside was a letter which said I now had a job at one of worlds’ leading scientific research laboratories as Molecular Biologist.  H.C had always been my dream and now the dream had come 

true.  The confidentiality agreement took me forever to complete; why do they need so many clauses?

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I sat inside one of the posh looking offices, waiting for the young woman at the reception to call my name. We gave each other an occasional glance. When the turn came, she returned my smile with a frown.

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The room was warm and welcoming. I was seated opposite to a panel of four old men but the fifth was an empty chair. We talked for a few minutes. They made sure that I understood my duty well and that I was chosen from thousands of candidates. As the meeting was coming to an end I heard the door open and someone came barging inside.

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“William Hades, just in time,” said of the old men aloud.

The William Hades of Hades Corporation, I looked up expecting a very aged gentleman. But I was taken aback. Here stood man who could be in his late thirties. He stood tall and had a boyish charm to his face. He turned and looked at me with those greyish blue eyes and I already felt my cheek burning.