Joseph Langford - October 2120
I watch Noah through the security feed as he works in the Laboratory.
The camera sits high in the corner of the room, giving me a clear view of the entire lab. Stainless steel benches, glass containers, and softly glowing monitors fill the space, but my attention remains fixed on Noah alone.
Even through the grain of the screen, his concentration is unmistakable. His shoulders are slightly hunched over the workbench as he writes, his pen moving quickly across the page of yet another notebook filled with equations and calculations.
It is a familiar sight.
He worked like this even as a child. Hours spent buried in textbooks and research papers while other children wasted their time with meaningless distractions.
Noah was always different.
He was careful, methodical and efficient. Everything I designed him to be.
Every precaution has already been taken to ensure he cannot discover the truth about Kai's survival or his time here within the facility. Records have been altered, security files erased, and personnel instructed to avoid any mention of Kai entirely.
There is no reason for Noah to suspect anything.
Noah is intelligent, but he has always been… emotional. If he were to discover that I lied about Kai's death, there is a strong possibility that his loyalty would fracture. His judgement could become clouded, and that could lead to him turning against me.
That is a risk I cannot allow. Losing him now would be a significant loss.
He has followed my footsteps remarkably well. His work at GeneX has been impressive, and his research into genetic manipulation has already advanced several projects beyond expectations. If I brought him in here to the facility, it could prove to be one of the most productive decisions I could make.
Across from me, Dr Williams sits stiffly in the chair opposite my desk. He has been talking for several minutes already, though most of it has barely registered.
"We've only had one successful subject this week for the Burnout cure," he finally says, letting out a long sigh as he rubs his temple. "At this point I'm honestly not sure what we can do next. Nothing we've tried seems to work."
I glance at him briefly before returning my attention to the monitor.
"That is unacceptable," I say calmly, though I make sure the cold edge in my voice is unmistakable.
"People working out of a warehouse with counterfeit versions of our vial are achieving results. Yet with our technology, our laboratories, and our scientists, we are somehow unable to produce the same outcome."
Williams shifts slightly in his seat, clearly uncomfortable.
"I understand your frustration, Langford, but what are we supposed to do next?" he asks. "At this rate we might end up losing too many test subjects during experimentation."
"Then we will simply create more."
The answer is obvious.
The silence that follows confirms he understands my meaning.
Human resources are replaceable. Progress is not.
I look down at the tablet resting on my desk and scroll through the most recent experimental data. Rows of results and blood analysis reports slide across the screen as I examine them one by one.
The pattern remains the same. Some subjects are able to survive the treatment, but most die.
There is still no clear explanation for the difference.
"I know this isn't something you want to hear," Williams says cautiously after a moment, "but now that Noah is here at the facility, it might be worth getting his input on the problem."
My eye twitches slightly.
The suggestion that Noah might succeed where my senior scientists have failed is irritating. Williams is one of the best researchers in this division, and the fact that he is already turning toward Noah for answers reflects poorly on the entire department.
And yet…
If even my best scientists have reached a dead end, perhaps Noah's perspective could provide a useful breakthrough.
Besides, the more involved he becomes in the work being done here, the easier it will be to guide him back under my control.
"I will speak to him," I say finally. "In the meantime, make sure that he remains under supervision while he is here."
Williams nods and rises from his seat before leaving the office.
When I look back at the monitor, Noah is still writing in his notebook.
For a moment his pen pauses and his gaze lifts slightly toward the corner of the room.
Toward the camera.
The moment lasts less than a second before he lowers his head and continues writing.
It is brief enough that I almost dismiss it.
Almost.
I stand from my desk and make my way down the hallway toward the laboratory.
Officer Lang stands guard outside the door. When he sees me approaching, he straightens and nods before unlocking the entrance.
As soon as I step inside the laboratory, Noah looks up.
"Father-"
The word leaves his mouth automatically before he corrects himself.
"Dr Langford."
The adjustment is immediate and deliberate.
"I have come for your report" I say as I approach his workstation.
He rises from his chair and hands me the notebook he has been writing in. The pages are filled with dense calculations and diagrams written in his precise handwriting.
"I tested the nullifier compound earlier," he explains. "The success rate currently sits at seventy-five percent."
From the blood samples I reviewed earlier, that result is unsurprising. The counterfeit vial appears to contain regenerative cellular properties that allow it to repair damage at a rapid rate.
"I will need additional research material from the patient if I'm going to improve it" Noah continues.
I close the notebook.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible."
He studies me quietly for a moment.
His expression remains calm, though there is something thoughtful in his gaze.
"How am I supposed to improve the nullifier requested by the board if I cannot access the test subjects directly?" he asks.
"Whatever material you require can be brought to you."
I cannot allow him to move freely through the facility.
"Dr Langford," he replies carefully, "you and I both know that method would slow down the research considerably. The board has been pushing for results on the nullifier for both Lunex and the counterfeit as soon as possible."
I sigh softly.
He is not wrong.
Beyond the pressure from the board, I also need a solution quickly. The counterfeit vial poses a significant threat to everything I have built.
"Fine," I say at last. "You will be granted access to the test subjects."
Noah's expression barely changes.
"However," I continue, "you will be accompanied by either myself or Officer Lang at all times while you are within the facility. You are not permitted to move through the building alone."
A faint smile appears at the corner of his mouth.
"Of course."
"In return," I say, handing him the tablet from my desk, "I would like you to review something for me."
He accepts it and begins scrolling through the information displayed on the screen.
It takes only a few seconds before he speaks.
"Interesting."
He studies the data for another moment.
"Is this the formulation for the Burnout cure?"
My eyes narrow slightly.
"Yes" I reply. "After stabilising the survival rate of Lunex subjects, we began focusing on reducing fatalities caused by power burnout."
Noah nods slowly and carries the tablet back to his workstation. As he compares the data with his own notes, his pen begins moving rapidly across the page again.
I watch him work in silence.
There is something unsettling about the speed at which he processes the information.
After several minutes, he tears a page from the notebook and hands it to me.
"It might be possible to extract some of the regenerative cells from the counterfeit vial and incorporate them into the cure" he explains.
I read the page carefully.
"If those cells are stabilised correctly," he continues, "they could prevent the cellular collapse that causes burnout."
I had already considered this possibility.
However, as I study the calculations in front of me, I notice that Noah has altered several aspects of the formula.
"What is this modification?" I ask.
"If we add a strand of the nullifier into the compound," Noah says, "it could prevent the counterfeit cells from overtaking the host's body."
I examine the page again.
The theory is sound. More than sound, it could actually work.
"Father" Noah says after a moment.
I look up from the paper.
"From what I have seen here so far… I would like to assist with this research."
The request surprises me slightly.
I expected him to finish his work on the nullifier and return to his position at GeneX. For years I had considered bringing him into the facility, but with Kai nearby and Noah becoming increasingly distant from me, the idea was abandoned.
Yet now he is offering his help willingly. This could be an opportunity.
All I would need to do is ensure that no one mentions Kai's name and remove any trace of his existence here.
"Why should I allow you into my facility?" I ask calmly, placing my hands behind my back. "So far you have done little but question my authority."
Noah shifts slightly.
"There is nothing left for me at GeneX," he says. "I have only been here a few days, and already there are two projects here that interest me."
I watch his expression carefully, searching for any hint of deception.
There is none and after a moment, I nod.
"Very well. You may assist with these two projects."
He straightens slightly.
"Prove your loyalty to me," I continue, "and I may consider allowing you to remain here permanently."
He nods once in response.
I turn and walk toward the door before pausing briefly.
"Next week you will receive access to the areas required for your research."
Without waiting for a reply, I step out of the laboratory and return to the hallway.
As the door closes behind me, I glance once more through the observation window.
Inside the lab, Noah has already returned to his notebook.
For a moment his pen stops moving.
His eyes lift toward the security camera mounted in the corner of the room.
A faint smile touches his lips before he lowers his head and continues writing.