Chapter 13: Test subject: Homo sapiens sapiens
"Please, Sir, I'll do anything you want if you find my wife. She's two months pregnant. And she's sick." The complainer's eyes glistened with tears. Andrew clearly saw the tremor in the other man's hand as he tightly squeezed the corner of his shirt.
"Well, as police, it's our duty. I'll do my best to do something about these missing cases. But, each of you should inform us if your loved one returned home. You have to help us by cooperating with this investigation. Understood?"
He saw some in the crowd nodding their heads in agreement. Andrew turned back to the complainer he was talking to a minute before.
"Do you have a photo of her? It's better if it's her recent one."
The other man nodded and took a photo from his shirt pocket. He handed it over to Andrew.
"Is it ok if we keep this?"
"Yes, Sir. I'll do anything to help you."
The police officer gave a slight smile to the sad man in front of him before checking the photo carefully.
The female in the picture was the 17th pregnant woman that went missing for the past six months. This problem was getting out of hand. He pressed the sides of his temple with frustration.
"Sergeant, please pass me the report about today's case."
"Here is it, Sir."
"Thanks. Bring me a coffee from the cafeteria before you go home."
After that request, he walked inside the police station, carrying the report under his arm, hoping to find some clue after comparing it with the other 16 files about the missing cases.
Little did he know, the end of his misery could've found a few hours of driving from his current location.
"Westerjen high research center" in North Asterlake was famous as a prestigious research center that opened the door of biological research for many new scientists. The vast amount of awards they won displayed the shower of gratitude and appreciation they received from society.
But would they still appreciate them if they knew the dark secrets hidden beneath the glorious aura they had?
A goat-bearded man in a lab coat and facemask was busily taking notes while observing the vital signs of last night's victims. It was good that she's in an induced coma so he could carry out his job peacefully. His arms worked almost mechanically from the experience he got in the past seven years. There was no moral compass to bother him after doing this dirty job for such a long time.
Dirty job? Well, if you consider killing her brain and using her body as a vessel for a mutated human being isn't a crime, maybe you won't say it's dirty. Oh, and if I say a mutated human being was the fetus in her body, it'll complete the picture.
Someone approached the bearded man from behind.
"Sorry for the interruption, professor. But, Team B has an issue. The K-3 specimen seemed to leak something that dissolved the woman's womb. What should we do?"
The bearded man sighed.
"I'll check. Take care of these bodies until I'm back. Use experiment 6-beta on the fetus. Don't harm its brain this time."
The Assistant bowed to the professor before following the instructions he just received.
After a few hours, the same professor walked out of the lab with a frustrated look on his face. He took his smartphone just to see THE MISS CALL appeared on the lock screen. His irritated aura suddenly changed into fear. He dialed back as walk farther away from where nobody could overhear the call he was about to take.
Beep, beep, beep.
The call receiver hung up the incoming call. But, within seconds, the phone vibrated with an incoming message.
"Come to my office. Bring the report about experiment-K series with you."
Goat bearded man gulped when he saw the message. Why did HE want to meet him personally today? This sure wasn't a good omen. He was so scared about recurrent failures they were having in the experiments. He didn't want to end up like his predecessor.
Who signed up for a job to find themselves on the city pavement with a knife in their back?
With the help of his assistants, he gathered the reports in his arms and walked into the elevator. He looked calm and cold as always but, his mind was in a jumble. What if HE decides he is useless? It was better to be a lab assistant like he used to be than be the cause of HIS disappointment. No. It's better off he wasn't born at all.
Ding.
He slowly went to HIS office and knocked on the door. A deep voice answered.
"Come in."
After he entered and put down the pile he was carrying, he turned towards the office chair. He didn't dare to lift his eyes. He knew the person sitting on that chair wasn't someone he shouldn't offend in any way. So he waited until his summoner starts talking.
"Professor Nielson, No need to be scared like that. I didn't call here because I'm angry with you. How could I talk with someone if he acts like I will eat him at any moment? Am I that unappealing?" A hidden mockery resonated in that superficially kind voice. Professor Nielson could feel the piercing gaze of the one who was talking. So he forced a smile and answered,
"N..No, Sir, I was a bit exhausted."
"So you aren't scared of me?"
Professor Nielson's heart thumped out of his chest. Sweat droplets started to appear on his temple. He put his hand behind his back to hide it was shaking.
"Haha, I've always liked the way you act like a scared mouse. I was just joking. But I didn't call you here to joke with you. I found a few people who might help you to carry out your experiments."
The standing man lifted his head at neck-breaking speed. The fear in his eyes was replaced by a sudden hopeful glint. Someone to help? He would agree to enter into a contract even with the devil just to succeed in his experiments. He knew if not, he'll be surely added to the get-rid-soon list of his boss.
His boss noticed the sudden change in the skinny middle-aged man's temperament. If he wasn't sitting in the shadows, professor Nielson might've seen the smirk that appeared on his boss's face. But, it would surely creep out the poor man out of his wits.
"So eager, aren't we? All right then."
TREEEEEEENN
A tall, bulky man appeared behind the skinny professor as an answer for the bell. He bowed to the boss.
"Yes, Sir."
"Matthew, take professor Nielson to meet our new guests. Let them discuss what they want peacefully. Make sure that the guests agree with what the professor says. If anyone wants a second reminder about cooperation, kindly remind them. Understood?"
A wild smile appeared on Matthew's face. He nodded eagerly before leading the shorter male towards their GUESTS.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Unorthodox_Quill
Unorthodox_Quill Hello my dear readers... My exams will be over tomorrow. But, sadly I have to go into hiatus for this story. Reason- I need beta readers who interested in helping this story by reading prior to post. I'll discuss about this matter in the next chapter as I can't exceed word limit in authors notes... And JOIN MY DISCORD SERVER, LET'S HAVE FUN WITH PIXXIE BOT, DO COVID ANTIBODY TEST, PLAY TRUTH OR DARE AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS.
Link -https://discord.gg/kummFgnXPu
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone