Sons of Earth by Geralyn Wichers

Author:Geralyn Wichers [Wichers, Geralyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2015-03-11T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

The MFPs emerged from the biocribs on the first of February. Justine had found out two days before that she and Lisa were being assigned to the prototypes. She'd cried. It was bad enough to tend a hundred MFPs about to be sold. Five who would live for two months and then be rejected down to the man?

Dominic and a tiny female scientist, whom he called Khalia, watched over Justine and the other four operators as they initiated the shutdown sequence on each biocrib. As the HMIs counted down, the atmospheres inside them equalized with the temperature inside the room. Justine stood watching the readout on MFP202s HMI, with a robe in her arms for when he emerged. She gazed at his face through the plexiglass, his eyes open and round, taking in the first sights he'd ever seen. His rapid breaths fogged up the glass over his face.

Justine glanced at Dominic, looking for a sign of emotion, but he just gazed keenly into the crib. His long fingers, so much like Sebastian's, stroked his jaw.

The numbers on the screen counted down to zero and beeped. Dominic stepped back and pressed the opening button. The glass cover popped open with a hiss, then lifted. Justine leapt forward with the robe as Dominic eased the MFP into a sitting position. Goosebumps popped up on the MFP's bare, pale skin. He stared into Justine's eyes as she slipped the terrycloth garment over him. For once, she would not have to train him to look away.

"It's okay," she murmured to him, "It's all right."

"In a few moments he should be strong enough to stand," Dominic said.

Justine looked up. Around them, the biocribs were opening. Khalia laughed and clapped her hands as MFP201 emerged in front of her.

Dominic adjusted the robe around MFP202. "Let's see if you can stand. Hold onto Justine here, and we'll put your feet on the ground."

Justine wrapped 202's hand around her forearm, and Dominic eased him into a standing position. As soon as the MFP's bare feet touched the floor, he gasped and his hand clamped around her arm. A whimper escaped from his lips.

"It's okay, it's okay." Justine wrapped her arm around his slim waist. They stood for a moment, and she saw his legs grow rigid and felt him take his weight onto his own feet. She released him, with a gentle touch on his back. "There you are. Wonderful. We're going to get you some clothes and you'll be nice and warm again."

She turned and Dominic handed her crisp black garments, sharp edged from the package. Then he walked over to the next MFP and left her to dress the man-child in front of her.

She drew the robe away from MFP202's body, and goose pimples broke out on his translucent skin. "Lift your arms, sweetheart," she said, easing his arm until his lifted it on his own. She dropped the black shirt over his head. As his face emerged from the fabric, their eyes locked and though she saw fear and sensory overload, she saw the light of intelligence.

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