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SAMPLE CHAPTER
Prologue
Most people never saw it coming—perhaps they should have. Humanity’s incredibly high rate of scientific advancement in the 20th century, which only accelerated exponentially during the first few decades of the 21st century, included breakthroughs in many fields, including nuclear fusion, cloning, gene-editing, transgenics, quantum computing, warp fields, and gravitational waves, just to name a few. Groundbreaking new technologies with entirely new fields of study were developed for each, oftentimes turning previously understood and accepted science on its head.
Considerations that some observers believe are often overlooked and are equally misunderstood are the moral and ethical considerations that necessarily accompany many such scientific discoveries. They ask whether we should do something just because we can. Should we research and develop an atomic bomb just because we can? Should we pursue “Gain of Function Research,” even though such research could inadvertently lead to the development of a Covid-19 virus and a subsequent worldwide pandemic? Should we take such risks with even scarier viruses like Ebola?
Of course, many scientists and ethicists believe the same could be said and often is said about other fields of science, where major scientific breakthroughs come with their own moral and ethical considerations that must also be factored into the equations. The power inherent in some discoveries is enormous, as is the case with gene-editing, transgenics, and cloning. To recklessly proceed without careful consideration may lead to permanent and irreversible damage to humanity itself.
In the middle of the 21st century, there arose a scientist, who would make breakthroughs in not one, but two such fields of science, defying convention and naysayers who constantly proclaimed it could not be done. Together these two new discoveries have the power to change humanity forever, promising a bright and prosperous future. As with many of the more significant technological breakthroughs, however, the technology that holds the power to save humanity holds the power to destroy it as well….
Chapter 1
David Winters
We’re different now—humanity has changed; there is no going back to the way it was.
My name is Ariel Waters, or AJ. What follows is my attempt to chronicle a series of events that began with an extraordinary discovery, a scientific breakthrough so profound it will forever be remembered as one of the most significant events in human history. It has literally redefined what it means to be human.
The ramifications for humanity are impossible to predict, as are the reactions from the billions of people who count themselves as members of one of the world’s three largest religions. How will they react to this new world we now find ourselves in? As for me, I expect they will respond like the rest of us, each according to his ability. After all, theologians, scientists, governments, and families will struggle for centuries, perhaps even millennia, with the implications of what I have watched unfold over the last six months.
But where do I begin? I suppose I should go back to where it all began.
***
Twelve years ago – High Point, NC
The old doorknob rattled and shook. Following the insertion and turn of an ancient skeleton key, the mechanism inside the lock released, and the door flung open. At the door stood a man in his early thirties, a young man with a scraggly beard, a slight pale complexion, and an unnatural leanness, suggesting he was moderately malnourished.
The first thing David Winters noticed as he surveyed the room was the shambles in which he’d left the lab. It frustrated him knowing he would be forced to waste valuable time cleaning the lab, a chore he’d once left to others. He was on his own now, however, without the luxury of a cleaning service. But, of course, he was also free from the tethers and restrictions that had held back his progress for so long. And oh, what progress he had made since being on his own! Both projects, Alpha and Beta, which he worked on in parallel, offered potential breakthroughs in completely different fields of study, thanks to his extensive education and intellect, with each offering an enormous payoff opportunity. There was, of course, stiff competition on both fronts from large conglomerates with tens of thousands of people on staff and virtually unlimited R&D budgets. Fortunately for him, though, there were two particularly significant advantages he held over his competition—his genius and demonstrable progress toward developing viable products.
Testing for Alpha had gone extremely well, so much so that he was confident that when the time came, he would have no problem obtaining the necessary patents and approvals he needed for taking Alpha to market within two years. Project Beta, on the other hand, was likely still some ways off. While it held tremendous promise, it was still early on in testing.
Having initiated tests for both projects before leaving for a much-needed break a week earlier, Winters had left it to the automated systems in the lab to capture the
results before the test subjects expired. Now that he was back, it was time to review the results.
The scientist walked over to a computer console in the middle of the room and tapped a key on the keyboard, causing the two computer monitors in front of him to spring to life. Charts and graphs for Project Alpha were displayed on the left screen, while results for Project Beta were on the right.
A flashing light on the left monitor turned his attention to a graph on the bottom of the screen labeled “Project Alpha Repair Matrix.” Underneath the graph flashed the words, “Bone & Tissue Success Rate-100%.” The results were very encouraging, though not outside the range of predicted outcomes, which was an exceptionally good thing. He needed steady, consistent, predictable results, or he would never get FDA approval. A big smile appeared on his face. By this time the following year, his face would be on the cover of numerous magazines, as well as most medical and scientific journals. He would also become a very wealthy man. Most importantly, however, his discovery would change the world, bringing hope and a better quality of life to men, women, and children all over the planet.
Still beaming from Project Alpha’s test results, he now turned his attention to Project Beta.
“No, that can’t be right,” he mumbled to himself after reviewing the data on the monitor in front of him. His brow furrowed, and a frown appeared. He moved the mouse and scrolled through several more screens. “Huh, there it is again. Hmm…well then, I guess there’s only one way to find out what’s going on.”
The scientist left the console and walked over to a door on the other side of the lab. He opened the sealed, secured door and walked in. The room was dimly lit and largely empty, except for a rack of cages against one of the walls, each equipped with automatic feeders, an automated water supply, and multiple cameras. Most of the cages were empty, except for three metal cages with a lone white rabbit in each and a couple of large glass cases.
He walked over to the far end of the room until he came to the large glass case labeled Beta-Test Series 00887. He knew exactly what to expect given their life expectancy; he’d seen it many times with every other test. The drone ants were already mature when he’d left, so they would be long dead upon his return, their lifespan having long since expired.
David Winters chuckled. The male ants had drawn nature’s short stick when it came to life expectancy, genetically programmed to die in mere weeks. The female queen, however, lives far longer than the drone, with some living for years or even decades. It is a raw deal for the male drone ants to be sure, but for David, that genetic programming had made the drone ant the perfect candidate to study.
Winters flipped the switch on the rack, and several lights lit up and down the row. As he stooped to peer into the cage, he let out a gasp.
There were a hundred ants in the case when he’d left. He expected most, if not all, would be dead upon his return. Instead, he saw only one male ant remaining, and it was very much alive. After a few seconds, he realized, to his horror, what had
happened. He’d left only enough food to sustain the ants for one day. Once they ran out of food, they’d turned to the only remaining food source, each other. The remaining ant was the lucky survivor. David was horrified, and he was thrilled.