Lost and Found (16 page)

“It? She’s definitely a female.”

“She is now. I didn’t know what she was going to be when she started growing, but I secretly used female tissue in the hopes that the clone would develop to that gender. I figured a female would be easier to handle in an experimental clone state than a male. Especially since it would be unpredictable. I used a molecular program to expose her to words, thoughts, ideas and specific rules while she was in-vitro.”

“What was different between Noelle and the, uh, specimens you lost?”

“The cell tissue was the only variable. I used male tissue from one of the soldiers the government had selected as a donor.”

“And for Noelle? Who’s cells did you use?” Alan asked, seeing the man’s distress.

“My daughter’s. She was only four. I lost her over twenty years ago. The necklace Noelle was wearing was in memory of my own Noelle. She was born on Christmas Day.”

“I’m sorry, Dr. Hoffner. I have two daughters of my own,” Alan said kindly. “Would you like some coffee?”

“Yes, please,” Dr. Hoffner looked straight at Alan, “Mr. Callahan, I’m worried that her talents might cause someone harm.”

“Here. Before we talk about that,” Alan said handing him the coffee, “I want to know who shot her and left her to die, and why.”

“There were flaws with the clone that were noticeable as she started to awaken. Her liver functions and immunity system were compromised, so we had her under special bilirubin lights and hematocrit injections in order to up her red blood count. She was also very weak and anemic.

When she woke up, she maintained the initial characteristics of an older infant of perhaps two years old. I also observed that her reactions were what one would expect from a child of that age group. She was highly intolerant of pain and would scream horrendously during lab draws and injections. One week after her awakening, she grabbed one of the techs by the arm. She killed him with only her touch.”

“Damn.”

“Exactly. I tried to calm her down, but she was completely driven by instinct. I pleaded with her to listen to me, promising to care for her, and told her I was her grandfather, but she could not comprehend what I was saying. She began to panic as she became more aware and more overstimulated. She did not harm me, but killed another tech who tried to restrain her.

Within an hour, I got word from the government to ‘put her down’ because she was too dangerous. I couldn’t murder her. She was… part of me. She was my little girl.” Alan watched the man struggling, trying to hold back the anger that was building inside of him. This was a human being they were talking about, not a science experiment!

“Since she was so new from the tank I had grown her in, she had no muscle strength, and could barely hold up her head or sit up straight. She was completely helpless except for being able to reach her arms and kick her legs. I dressed her and tried to get her to walk, but I didn’t have enough time. The feds broke into the lab and I ran, holding her in my arms as they shot at us. I climbed into one of our corridor shafts, lost my footing and slid down to another level. She fell, banging the back of her head against a steel rail, which rendered her unconscious. For two days we hid as I tried to find a way out. She grew weaker by the minute and I was terrified I was going to lose her. I finally found an exit and planned on leaving at nightfall, because her eyes and skin would never be able to tolerate the sun. I decided to try to sleep, and when I woke up she was gone. I haven’t seen her since.”

“How do you think she got out if she couldn’t walk? Were you also aware that she was shot outside Area 51 before those two truckers found her?”

“Shot? Oh my Lord, no.”

“Grazed her right shoulder. She healed quickly from that, though.”

“She’s able to self-repair. I’m guessing she may have crawled out before she was found.

In her weakened state, plus subjected to direct sunlight with newborn skin, she would not have made it through the day. They probably shot to disable her and make it look like an accident.”

“I gather the government is still searching for her.”

“Yes. I hope to find her before they do. They will dispose of her.”

“She’s under legal custody of my brother and our family. She’s not going anywhere.

Not even with you. If I have to, I will take this to court and expose the whole operation.”

“You can’t do that. The feds will silence all of you.”

“Dr. Hoffner, I did not achieve success in my profession by being stupid. Everything you said here has been recorded and sent to several recipients for protection. Should anything happen to Noelle, or one of us, this information will be leaked to the media. Now, you can either work with me to protect her, or not. Your choice.”

“Mr. Callahan, when the word shark appears in the dictionary, I believe it has your picture next to it,” Dr. Hoffner frowned. “I’ll help you. But first, she has to be neutralized. We can’t risk her killing anyone else because she’s frightened or has a temper tantrum. If she comes into physical contact with them, they’re dead.”

“Why doesn’t everything she touches die, then?” Alan asked doubtfully.

“The clone’s… Noelle’s DNA is preset to use what may be best described as training wheels,” Dr. Hoffner explained. “It’s a protection mechanism to prevent burning herself out.

She will instinctively find a way to keep from touching living things as she becomes cognizant and develops her abilities. Whatever methods she uses will prevent her from either healing or killing.”

“So she won’t be able to do anything as long as she’s using her method?”

“It will make it very difficult for her, Mr. Callahan, but I doubt it will completely cut her off. I don’t know how long it will take her to mature so she can voluntarily control herself. This is why neutralization is essential.”

“Why the hell didn’t you think of adding
Thou Shalt Not Kill
to her program, you idiot?!” Alan bellowed.

Dr. Hoffner winced. He cleared his throat and looked at Alan straight in the eye. “I forgot.”

“Freakin’ moron! You need to speak with Lance about this. I’m warning you. Don’t hurt my brother. He loves that woman and she loves him.”

“Loves him? But she’s…”

“A woman. A human being. They are meant to be together. You talked about imprinting like Noelle was nothing more than a duck. Well, I have news for you. There is no imprinting.

They love each other and I am NOT going to let anyone, including you, tear them apart.” Dr. Hoffner bit his tongue. How could the clone evolve so quickly? It wasn't old enough to be able to love.

*

*

*

“Ok, young lady. Time for our talk about yesterday. Go up to my room and wait for me, please.” Lance said after coming home from work that evening. Noelle’s smile disappeared, and with Bunny in her arms she turned silently to obey.

“Lance, normally I wouldn’t interfere, but she was provoked. She’s never been exposed to that before as far as we know, so she never learned how to ignore it,” Todd intervened.

“I agree, Lance. She was quiet until Keren insulted you.”

“Let me guess. She fixed your sprained ankle,” Lance lifted his eyebrow at Todd, “and sat with you to watch TV so you wouldn’t feel alone. Both of you know my rules and the reasons I insist on them. Now, excuse me while I tend to my charge.” He rolled his eyes at their disapproving expressions. “I’m not a beast. You know as well as I do that she needs strong boundaries, especially with this special ability. I just wish I knew how she does it. I’ve heard of cases of damaged tissue restoration using telepathic manipulation to induce bio-chemical regeneration, but it’s been revealed as a hoax.”

“Damn, Lance, you sound like a freakin’ science geek. Listen, buddy, this is no hoax.

Freaky, yes. Terrifying, to say the least. But it’s real. And it needs to stay under wraps. We don’t know the toile it takes on her to put forth that type of energy,” Todd advised.

“I’d rather her not do it at all. She’s not strong enough yet to take care of herself, let alone others. You really believe this?” Lance sat, hands on his cheeks.

“We saw it. It’s real. She also said she could not disobey your orders regarding whom she can or cannot harm. It sounded like she… was programmed. A Prime Directive.”

“Damn it, Todd, this is not Star Trek. Get your head out of the clouds and give me some advice as to how to protect her and this family.”

“I don’t know what to tell you, sorry.”

“Ok, unless you have something better, I am going with my original idea. And that is placing boundaries and enforcing them. Excuse me while I handle my little girl, please.” Lance trudged upstairs and paused before entering his bedroom. Noelle was sitting on the edge of his high bed, feet dangling and gripping Bunny tightly to her body. He sat down next to her, saying nothing for a few minutes. “I don’t know what to do with you, Noelle. How can I trust you not to harm someone? Can you even control it?”

“I can’t. You told me not to.”

“You need to explain further. I…. excuse me,” he pulled his cell phone from his pocket.

It was his brother. Lance stood up, frowning as he spoke quietly and walked to the other side of the room. He met Noelle’s worried expression and winked at her, bringing a relieved smile to her face. He put his brother on hold. “Noelle, we will talk about this later. Will you please tell Kathy and Todd that Alan and his family are coming over this evening with dinner?”

“Even Keren?”

“Yes. Don’t look at me like that. We aren’t done with this. Move along, now.” After Noelle left, Lance returned to the call. “So what was this nut saying? That Noelle is a clone equipped with alien DNA and built to be a weapon? Did you call the cops on him?”

“Lance… I believed him. Wait, I know it’s bizarre, but let’s look at the facts. He wants to protect his little girl. He said you can neutralize her abilities.”

“We’ll talk about this when you get here. I’ll need Todd to help hold you down so we can get you ready to be hauled to the Looney bin.”

“I want you to meet with him. Tomorrow. Bring Noelle.”

“No.”

“Lance,
if
what he says is true, are you willing to take the chance on her killing someone?

He thinks she has the potential to evolve into an intuitive being. I think that has already started.

When we were in the hospital, that man came in with a stomachache and had an aneurism. She knew it hit him before he even showed the signs.”

“That was a coincidence. Stop it, Alan.”

“I’m not going to
stop it
. You, Noelle, Todd and I will meet with Dr. Hoffner at 9am tomorrow morning in my office.”

“I’m not taking Noelle anywhere.”

“We’ll talk about this when I get there, but you will be going, little brother. As your legal counsel, and as Noelle’s executor, I insist upon it.”

Lance hung up the phone, fuming. He hated when Alan pulled the little brother/lawyer card. He looked outside, scanning the vast desert bathed in the late afternoon light. What if this were true? Then what could he do?

Kathy noticed her brother’s solemnness as he straightened up the living room for company. She wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed him. “Wanna talk?” Her heart jumped as she saw tears in his eyes. Something was dreadfully wrong.

“I can’t right now, but thanks.”

“Daddy? Can I have my bottle before Keren gets here so she won’t make fun of me?” Noelle asked, unaware of Lance’s depression.

“Yes. I’ll make it for you,” he said quietly, going into the kitchen. He returned to the living room and sat down on the couch, patting his lap. “Sit here and let me hold you.” Todd and Kathy looked at each other as the tall man rocked the tiny young woman in his arms, holding her bottle like she was an infant Tears dripped down his cheeks as he embraced her.

“Why are you crying, Daddy?” Noelle asked, sitting up and tossing her bottle and bunny down.

“I’m scared, baby. For you… for us… for our family. There is a man saying he knows you and I’m afraid he’s going to want to take you away.” He looked at Todd and Kathy. “He wants me to neutralize her, whatever that means.”

“Lance, don’t you worry about it. We won’t allow anything to happen to her,” Todd said, touching Noelle’s knee.

“You don’t understand. He might have…
rights
… to her.”

“She’s not a piece of property, Lance. No one is taking our girl away from any of us,” Kathy spouted.

“It’s complicated. I just… I love you, Noelle. I don’t want to lose you. I just found you.”

“I love you too, Lance. I love this entire family and I don’t intend to be lost. I won’t allow that to happen.” Noelle’s voice had an unusual strength to it that none of them had heard before.

“How did this guy find you, Lance?” Todd asked.

“Hart. The jerk hates me and wants to destroy me,” Lance said bitterly.

Noelle’s face reddened angrily. “He was that mean doctor from the hospital who always says rude things about people. I will not allow him to hurt you, Lance! He’s not family. He’s nothing.”

“You aren’t going anywhere near him, honey. Don’t worry,” Kathy said nervously.

“I don’t need to be near him. He hurt my family!”

Lance’s sixth sense started to tingle. “Calm down, Noelle. I don’t want to upset you by telling you these things. What are you doing?”

“Fixing you. Your head and neck hurts.”

“How did you know?” Lance asked, feeling her hand on his face. The pain disappeared immediately. She was becoming intuitive, just like Alan said she would. Damnit. He was right.

Lance pulled the girl against his chest, resting his chin on the top of her head and began to pray.