Margaret Louisa Dale
This is the first draft, late night, caffeine-high prologue for my story. A little gentle feedback please. The intention is intrigue. You will be confused. All is explained throughout the book, of course. Thank you.
Experiment E
Prologue
"The world has always desired perfection. For that reason, plastic surgery exists. Artificial dams, plants, and limbs were created to satisfy our deep need for excellence. Today, I ask you, I urge you, consider this no different. My team, we have been working for seventeen years on this. Our lab began working towards perfection in society, but we can only do so much without the funding. It is up to you to allow for this movement. The future rests in your hands." Dr. Moore stood before the room, hands sweating and and eyes pleading. After what seemed like hours, the man at the head of the table spoke.
"Dr., we have watched all previous experiments fail. Each cost the company a significant amount of money. How will this be any different?" He looked into the Dr.'s eyes, stern and unforgiving. Dr. Moore swallowed heavily, took a deep breath, and gave the speech that would change his life.
"Experiments A-D were completely lab raised. Once conscious, they were kept isolated from humanity, only visited by lab attendants. E will not be like this. E will learn from society. As before, the fundamentals of pain and obedience will be taught in a safe environment, in the lab. I will lead the process myself. Then, when he is ready, we will send him to live with a volunteer, out in the real world. He will learn joy, sadness, generosity, self-control, anger, everything, the way children do at home everyday. He will grow to understand conversation, social cues, and complex emotions, such as love, hatred, greed, and jealousy. He will be accustomed to human interaction. He will be comfortable in strange situations. He will learn to value life and grieve death." Dr. Moore set his face and finished with as much conviction as he could muster. "He will be human."
He shifted slightly from foot to foot and picked at his nails. His entire life had been building up to this moment. Years and years of uncertainty, stress, disbelief, ridicule. Failure would mean the end of his career. But if E was successful, oh, the fame and fortune that would follow.
After a long deliberation, the one seated at the head spoke again.
"Very well," the man said. "Awaken him."
