Chapter 3: Chapter 3- The Setup
"Doctor Stone, we are so happy that you have perfected your research on genetic reconfiguration. I especially love the combination of faster cell regeneration with inability to feel pain." Dr. Andrew congratulated him.
He had to admit, they were able to achieve what they set out to achieve. They were able to prove that humans can be modified to feel less pain and enhance cell regeneration. They could also be configured to posses traits that where not once peculiar to the human species. Although a very enlightening and profitable research, it had the potential of being very dangerous. The extent his wife was pushing the research could be very destructive but she was a very ambitious woman and until she is satisfied that it is not scientifically possible she was going to go to any length.
"Thank you" Dr. Matthew replied to Dr. Andrew
"However even with such a huge success your wife didn't seem happy. she kept saying something about the research's full potential." Dr. Andrews inquired.
He had noticed the displeasure in Dr. Annabelle Stone. He knew her as a very ambitious woman, everyone knew that. Her ambition has been one of the driving forces behind most of her successful researches, so whatever she was displeased about had to be beyond what they have been told or what they had done.
"She wants to carry out more research" Dr. Matthew simply said but there was more. Annabelle wanted to extend the research beyond human capacity and by that she was going to exceed human limit. That could be a good thing but the adverse effect could be detrimental. He was still pondering over things when his wife called him to request his assistance in her lab.
"I'm close!" Annabelle said as soon as he entered handing him some files. He glanced through them and couldn't hide his shock.
"You can't do this! We are trying to better humanity not alter them!"
"I know but think about the possibilities. We can transcend what we are now and become something better." Annabelle replied still going about her work. "Sometimes we have to exceed the boundaries in order to reach our full potential. Besides this research can only work for the best of us, those above average."
"I can't believe this! Wait where did you get... No you didn't! "
"Yes I did. And I have permission to continue with or without your help "
"Ann, you are not only experimenting with uncatalogued species but you want to combine with human DNA and you see nothing wrong with that!? "
"I am making humanity better. We can gain something more. Think about it we can make up for the deficit of nature. People with low physical strength can have more. We can have characteristics like speed, acute hearing,sight, many more."
"Didn't it occur to you that the human brain and body isn't capable of handling these new abilities? It could have a serious nervous breakdown"
"That is where you come in. You've always talked about the possibility of extending human capacity, here's your chance." Dr. Annabelle knew it would be difficult to make her husband see things from her own perspective and help her, so she decided to appeal to his better nature. "Think of what humanity could possess. We could be able to survive harsher conditions, diseases, escape danger and more. We are just borrowing a little from species mother nature gave these characteristics in abundance. This is for a better humanity."
* * * * *
Rosetta was sitting at breakfast with her aunt Julia when her aunt suddenly said.
"Your parents sent their permission for you to attend your school's summer camp via email... " Rosetta choked on her milk. Her aunt looked at her with a arched eyebrow but continued "...but I haven't been able to reach them to verify"
Rosetta couldn't believe her luck. "They allowed me to go? " She couldn't keep the surprise out of her voice. Julia couldn't believe it when she read it too. She was surprised her sister and her husband let their only child go to a social event with kids her age not to talk of alone. It had to be alone because she had no plans of following Rosetta there. She wasn't actually a big fan of the way they decided to bring up their daughter but she was in a precarious position to make any input. She was widowed with no child or a blossomed science career, so she didn't have the necessary prerequisite to give any advice on child upbringing.
She watched the child across her who was unable to hide her joy or fully express it either. She shook her head. Rosetta Stone may have the highest IQ for a child her age but she was stunted emotionally and socially. She knew her way around a microscope better than she knew a TV remote and they had one of the best TV set in the entire neighborhood. She knew of the various restrictions placed on the young child which made her more of Dr Stones' daughter than Rosetta Stone.
Rosetta Stone was besides herself with joy and also nervous. She had never been out with kids her age let alone for two weeks. How should she behave? How would they react? Will they talk to her or ignore her? Will she make friends? She nibbled her lips. She couldn't tell why her parents suddenly allowed her to go when they adamantly refused before. Her breakfast lay forgotten on the table.
On one hand it was normal not to be able to contact her parents when they were away on one of their science ventures. What was abnormal was changing their mind on a concluded subject with no scientific evidence necessitating it. Doing it via email when they were more than a thousand miles away was equally unusual. For them to have changed their minds, it means they still think of her even when they are away. She stifled a giggle.
The camp was two days away. She needed to contact her school, she needed to pack and put her other lessons on hold. She had a lot to do!
"Why don't you go pack, I'll call your school and inform them that you'll be coming along. I'll also inform your various tutors that you will be unavailable for the next two weeks following a directive from your parents " Julia said that last part rolling her eyes. She stood up and headed for the study. That was where important phone calls were made. Rosetta raced to her room and began to pack. She didn't know what to take to a summer camp and was grateful when aunt Julia showed up an hour later and offered to help her. Aunt Julia told her that her school had been informed and they recommended taking the next flight since theirs was already full. Rosetta didn't have any problem with that as long as she was going. Aunt Julia also informed her that she was still unable to contact her parents but doubted the possibility of someone hacking their account.
Rosetta felt a nagging suspicion that something was wrong. It was not like her parents to act unusual but there was no way to contact them. On the bright side, they realized how much she wanted to go and decided to let her even though they weren't in full support. She made a mental note to thank them later.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone