Science Fiction
(Fic)
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In the future, it's possible to have a second body - another you - a buddy, a guy to go to work for you when you just don't feel like it, to take risks you might not want to ... but the mysterious company that makes it all possible ... what is it really up to? Not to replace all us Ones with our Twos, but ... something worse. "Sounds interesting!"
[a piece of back story for the novel: The Origin of Anne] Eric Danegold, a bioscientist, and his wife Lisa, want children. However, he is sterile owing to an earlier lab accident, and she had been advised by a physician that it would be dangerous for her to conceive, owing to an inherited health problem. They discuss adoption, but want “their” children, as Anne Danegold later put it. They first decide to take his DNA and grow a “junior,” a clone. Then if ...
[This is a scene from about halfway through The Second Body. Morgan already knows about the Evil Plot involving Twos, and he’s just broken with his GF Sally because she’s refused to help him expose the plot, just wants to go along with it and live a normal, if illusory, life. In this scene, Robert Morgan’s Two has gone into town for a secret meeting with other Twos, leaving our protag temporarily alone in his house.] ================ Morgan answered the door warily,...
[this chapter appears out of sequence here] Paul’s investigation having been stymied so far, he thought to take a chance on AYI’s HR office – ask them something that wouldn’t arouse suspicion – his pension plan, for instance, he decided, on his brief walk to the Admin building. “Just routine,” he said a few minutes later, standing in front of Phyllis, the receptionist, whom, he noticed, had ...
As Paul-Two was ingesting that day, Paul said to it “A van is coming by in about an hour to take you to the community clinic. They need to test your functionality, your well-being, physical and mental. It’s for your good and the good of the other Two’s, so we know we’ve done the best we can, and so you can be the best Two you can be.” Paul Two looked up from its bowl. “What other Twos?” it said. &...
There had been mandatory pre-Two-delivery sessions. The one Paul and Sally attended was led by a Dr. Yaekel. “There!” Dr. Yaekel said by way of introduction. “Now there. Is everybody here? ÂÂ-- who should be here, I mean!” No one laughed. Ice remained unbroken. The doctor started a sign-up tablet on its way around the room. Having initially handed it to a man in the middle...
Chapter 5
Al Williams is Two'd
Project presentations were scheduled for 10 a.m. Paul and the other managers sat around the table, some confident or faking it, some nervous. No one spoke of anything but the weather. Those who apparently hadn’t met their project goals were wiggling slightly in their seats. Others were beginning to sweat. A recognizably corporate odor began to circulate. VP Al Williams walked in, late as was his privilege but without his usual booming smi...
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