Making Clones with altered DNA? That’s just scary. Those were thoughts I had whilst I made my way to my car. I pulled the door and dropped myself into my chair and stared into the roof for a good while before I finally said anything. “Alright…so let’s look at it what we know,” I said aloud, contemplating my next move.

Adrianna Smith, is a Clone, with DNA from Lev Ryan, President of AFC, Antillean Financial Control. Ok fine. Is there a relation between the two? I must follow up with the husband or some of her co-workers to see if I missed anything.

Oh shit. I had forgotten to check the surveillance footage for the John Doe. Not just that, I remembered the interviews done by Eclain with Adrianna’s Co-workers and Husband. Ok Good, found my next move.

Now, let’s look at the John Doe for one second. He was in Admiral’s street with, same as Adrianna, no witnesses, surveillance footage to come through, though, unlike Adrianna’s, which I deferred to Rex. Who has yet to reach back out to me. The John Doe has Adrianna’s DNA, which left me dumbfounded.

Donat and I tried deciphering why the DNA switch took place in the first place.

Furthermore, it wasn’t even a switch. Adrianna’s DNA was on the John Doe. and the John Doe, didn’t look like Lev Ryan...or did he?

I pulled up a photo of Lev Ryan and had a photo of the John Doe right next to him for comparison. “Nova. Superimpose Lev’s face onto the John Doe and see if they match in some form or fashion.”

“Yes Sir.”

I don’t know why I was doing this, but it had to be done. Nova superimposed the pictures, and before everything could be finished I had doubts the John Doe was a Clone of Lev Ryan. Lev’s pigmentation was darker when I compared the John Doe’s...but truthfully, that didn’t matter. These bastards could ‘superimpose’ DNA in a foreign body. Fuck that’s shit scary!

Hmmm...I wonder. Is the Gene Therapist showing off? I thought, then growled my frustration out with a well-timed “UGH!”, hitting my steering wheel with my natural arm.

Repeated clanks to my right echoed, drawing my attention, surprising me a bit. I waved my hand and the glass slid down, Gonzada was standing there in full riot gear with a smug smile on his face. “I thought you were banished to dispatch duty,” I said cautiously, remembering the Commissioner’s words.

“I was, going to crack some heads.”

“Weltson Industrial District?”

“How the hell do you know about that?” Zade asked surprised.

“You’re not the only friend I have in the department you know, Zade,” I said, lying through my teeth.

“So I’ve heard…how’s the jaw? Eclain came down talking about his exploits…the bastard.”

“Yeah, he got me, right by the elevator.”

“Ahhh…there’s a blind spot on that floor.”

“I see…So he baited me to that spot. He’s actually thinking.”

“Maybe. How come you allowed him to get away scot-free?”

“It cost me a 100K to replace his wrist, I’m good on spending credits on that asswipe.”

Gonzada whistled at the amount, then shook his head as if he were impressed. “Not bad.”

“Not bad? I used some insurance money. I had a plan for that. I should’ve kept it in, but I don’t know…it’s something about Eclain I don’t like…the man’s an asshole.”

“Something you don’t like…like that fact he tried to scrub a few credits off of you?”

“I worked hard for those credits, I ain’t owe him shit, Zade.”

“That’s not what he’s thinking, that’s for sure,” the sergeant chuckled.

“Whatever.”

The mood mellowed out, and the frustration I felt, withered away. Eclain didn’t have the hold on me that he thought he did, but I know I had one on him for sure. The man was just petty as they come, and I sure as well will show him if he messes with me again.

“You ever had any problems with Commissioner Zade?” I asked, trying to change the topic.

“Problems with Hexan? Never…I’ve never even met the woman. Why’d you ask?”

“Nada…just wondering.”

“She brought up my name or something?”

“Nah...You mentioned the blind spot by the elevator, so I figured you’ have a reason to be up there.”

“Really Cypher? Everyone knows about that blindspot…you’re crazy, you know that?”

“Maybe,” I said.

Incoming Call…

“Speak of the devil”

“…and she calls,” Zade finished. “We’ll talk, Cypher. Godspeed.”

The Sergeant walked off, carrying his gear strapped to his back about to run off in a minefield. Not literally, but one close enough to it. Riots? And based on the gunshot wounds I saw earlier, it's a Warzone in the Weitson Industrial District, one that was tightlipped. God, the media is such a powerful tool to own.

“Cypher…” I answered.

“What shit is this that I’m reading from that Quack Azalias.”

“That’s where we’re at.”

“That’s bullshit.”

“I’ve been saying that for the last ten minutes, Commissioner. It doesn’t make any sense to me.”

Our voices went silent, but I could hear the processors in Commissioner Hexan’s mind overclocking as she worked to find a solution.

“I can reach out to Dr Arson Fellis and Dr Jeca Sealin in the morning,” I said, breaking the silence.

“Who are they?” Hexan asked.

“The two foremost experts on Cloning within Antillea.”

“Are they based in Bridge City?”

“I’m not too sure.”

“Wait a minute, how do you know about them?”

“Dr Donat Azalias told me about them, I figured he has them in the report he sent you.”

“Probably, but I dropped everything once I came across the paragraph regarding the DNA not matching the owner of the DIF. Forget them. If the Quack recommended them, I don’t want them. I’ll find someone else, what are your plans now, Cypher?”

“Head home and comb through the surveillance footage, I have to see if Eclain missed anything in his interview.”

“Please do.”

The Commissioner cut the call and probably went back to sorting the craziness that was going on in Welkey’s Industrial Park and I finally started my Xenotis X and made my way into the Skylane.

Destination: Home.

“Has Rex reached out, Nova?” I asked.

“Negative.”

“Understood.”

As I soared through the sky, watching the hangul accentuated neon lights painted across the skyscrapers and floating jumbotrons. I began surmising when the idea of manufacturing clones was first decided…or even developed furthermore.

Weren’t clones only affordable to the billionaires and trillionaires of the world? I mused, passing a Hangul sign spelling out ‘Heirs’ in a foreign language.

“Display public knowledge of “cloning” on the Windscreen to my left, Nova.”

“Yes sir.”

“Engage Dictation Mode.”

“Cloning was but a theory in the 19th Century, also known as the Pre-Imbibe Era. However, during the 20th Century, due to the advancements of technology and gene and biological theories, the path to cloning of Plants, Fish and finally mam--“

“Elison Qayvon,” I interrupted knowing how clones were initiated.”Start there. I don’t need a full history lesson on the theory and the advancement of cloning. Has there ever been a mention of philandric ichor being purple?” I asked the AA, trying my best to not get flustered.

“No sir, the first successful clone was Pravon Treon, from the 21st Century.”

“Was his blood purple?”

“No sir, he was registered as having normal human blood.”

“Human blood?”

“Wouldn’t he be considered first-generation Clone?”

“By the Anno Domini calendar, but as all states officially use the After Imbibe calendar, it wouldn’t.”

“Then, go by the After Imbibe calendar then. I need to understand when cloning officially started, and why. When was the first generation clone made and what colour blood did it have?”

“Red, Sir. However, philandric ichor was introduced over two hundred and fifty years ago.”

“Huh…Why?”

“The Antillean Federation were against genetic clones inheriting any form of wealth. Therefore, to differentiate, using red blood cells, as part of the biological constitution of the clone, was outlawed. ”

“What stops someone with the power to make red blood cells from colluding to revive the old way”

“All knowledge about red-blooded clones were lost during the Apocalyptic Event known as The Imbibe.”

“I see, there are no records on how to make them, then why were the laws initiated?”

“Inconclusive.”

“….that’s not helping, Nova…you’re making my mind think very negative things right now.”

“Would you like a cup of freshly brewed Green Tea, sir?”

I ignored the AA snark and began to ponder on what was really going on. Clones were originally red-blooded. But because of an act of GOD, that technology was lost. Now, we have purple blooded clones. Are there more clones within the federation? No definitive answer could pop in my mind.

“Is there a gag order on any publicised clone essays?”

The AA flashed a section code regarding Gag orders on Cloning on the left of his windscreen.

“Article 8,” Nova began. “Section 7.8: All essays and documentation regarding Cloning are subject to and decided on, by the Science Board. If they see fit as knowledge being presentable to the public. It will be published as such.”

“In retrospect, we don’t know the extent of what clone technology is available.” I thought bitterly. “So yes…there is a gag order on cloning. Duly noted, Nova, duly noted.”

I tried calming myself a bit after going through the entire document and couldn’t help but feel the mounting stress of my predicament.

Finally, I laughed to myself, noting that not one line could be connected to anything between Adrianna, John Doe, the employees of Lyiez Systems or Lev Ryan. Beautiful Stuff!

Getting angry didn’t help. Hell, it made things worst, but what could I do? Quell it or let it simmer and begin theorising fresh on what my next step should be?

“You’re being followed, Sir,” Nova said, taking me out of my overindulgence in self-pity.

“Followed?”

The back camera of my Xenotis squared itself into my peripheral vision on the lower right corner of the windscreen. A sea of cars sieving through the air, behind me and noted nothing in particular whilst I kept my head forward. “I don’t see anything, Nova.”

The scrambling static from the small PIP zigzagged across the screen whilst the video footage rewinding all the way back to when I was in the BLED District.

I watched the footage keenly as I possibly could, and realised I didn’t see shit. “Autopilot, engage,” I said. I zoomed in with my cybernetic eye, and finally caught sight of two vans hovering in the background some 60 yards, following me with each turn.

“Hmmm,” I finally said. “Alright…let’s test this.”

I continued making my way throughout the skies, feeling the weight of my car rumbling through my Control Wheel, swerving into sky lanes left and right, gently, trying my best to ensure that I didn’t have a tail. But after forty-five minutes of flying, it was all but confirmed. I was being tailed, and they were professional too. Great.

“Call Shedrick, Nova,” I told the AA.

The dashboard lit up once more, and before I was ready, the chipper voice of an enthusiastic kid answered. “Mr Cypher, what can I getcha?”

“Where are you, Shed?” I asked the courier.

“Temple Yard,” He answered. The familiar beats of ska drums enunciated his background. “Perfect, you have any transponders with you?”

“Always, Mr Cypher…I’ve made it my policy to have them since working with you.”

“Great, I need to send a message.”

“What type of message?

“Clear and Concise.”

Shedrick laughed into my ear and I heard the chuckle he tried his best to hold back. However, I was familiar with the kid’s habits and moods, so I knew immediately what mood he was in. Especially with the smooth voice singing behind his own. Well, chanting more than singing. It meant one thing, and I hope that wasn’t the case. I needed him on his game. It’d been a while since I went crazy and now wasn’t the time for fuck ups.

“Kid, I hope you’re not hazing,” I said ruefully.

“Hazing? Too early in the day for that…I’m getting a bite, don’t worry. I’ll send the transponder code once I’ve delivered the package.”

“How long?”

“Give me forty to forty-five minutes.”

“Aite…Thanks, Kid.”