John entered the cloning lab with two cups of coffee. One he took a sip from and the other he sat on the table next to the young guard, standing at attention. “Caleb, why don’t you take a break?”

  “I can’t do that, sir. Doctor Stanton gave me a direct order that I should not leave my post until he, himself, tells me to.”

  “Smart man.” John took a sip of his steaming drink. “Did the doctor mention anything to you about having a seat with me and enjoying a fresh cup of coffee?”

  Caleb flashed a nervous glance at the door. “I suppose not. But I’m still not sure that’s a good idea. What if Stanton walks in?”

  “I’ll tell him it was my idea. After what the little SOB did to me earlier today…” John tipped his cup towards the pod Jake was laying in. “He pulled a gun on me, that little shit. After all, I’ve done for him. Can you believe that?”

  “No, sir.”

  “His father would be so disappointed.” John took another sip. “Anyway, you’ve been with us for quite some time, haven’t you, Caleb?”

  “Three years.”

  John nodded. “You’ve been doing a great job. It hasn’t gone unnoticed.”

  The young man’s eyebrows raised in interest, and his body relaxed. “Really?”

  “Of course. You’re already being hand picked for jobs by the big man himself. Very impressive.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  John chuckled. “You know, Caleb, when it’s just the two of us you don’t have to call me sir.”

  “Okay, John.”

  “Now that’s more like it. Alright, well I’ll be going. But first,” John raised his cup. “Cheers to you and all the things coming your way.”

  Caleb picked up his own cup and smiled. “You too.”

  The two men clicked cups before downing the entire contents in one smooth swallow. When they were finished, John patted the young man on the shoulder, took the cup from him, and slid it inside his own.

  “Good luck, kid.”

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  John smiled as he exited the lab and shuffled his way to the opposite side of the hallway. When he was there, he leaned his back against the wall and looked at his watch.

  “Three…two…”

  Before he could say one, Caleb came bursting out of the lab covered in sweat.

  “John!” The young man rushed forward. “Thank God!”

  “Are you alright?”

  “No. I have to go to the bathroom.”

  “Can it wait?”

  “No! It’s an emergency.”

  “What about your post and Stanton?”

  “Oh man, this is bad. I’m dead.”

  “Oh, screw it.” John stepped forward. “The traitor’s not going anywhere. I’ll cover for you. No one has to know.”

  “Thank you so much, John.” Caleb said as he turned and speed walked down the hallway. “I owe you big time.”

  “Oh, you don’t owe me a thing.”

  John waited until Caleb was out of view and dashed to the pod Jake was in. He unlatched the pod door and paused. They had lashed Jake in place. A long breathing tube ran from a mask that covered the entire lower half of his swollen face to a cluster of other tubes above his head. One smaller tube of blue liquid was attached to Jake’s right arm. Another of his blood ran from his left arm. His shirtless upper body was covered in sickly green, yellow, and purple bruises. And worst of all, where Jake’s legs should have been, only harshly cauterized stumps midway up the thigh were left.

  John pulled a yellow liquid filled syringe from his pocket, stuck it in Jake’s neck, and pressed the plunger.

  “Jake.” He patted Jake’s cheek gently. “Come on, kid. Wake up.”

  John glanced at the camera above the lab door. The red light was still out.

  “We don’t have a lot of time, Jake. You have to wake up.”

  A soft cough jerked Jake’s body as his head turned to John and his eyes opened.

  “Oh, thank God.” John began pulling at the straps, freeing Jake’s arms. “Let’s get you out of this thing.”

  John was about to move to the strap around Jake’s chest when he felt a hand fall on his shoulder that made him jump. But when he looked around the lab, he was alone. When he turned back, Jake raised a hand and shook his head.

  “Don’t give up on me now, kid.”

  “I’m not giving up.” Jake struggled to whisper. “But we’ll never make it. We make our stand here and now.”

  “I had a feeling you’d say that.” John wiped a tear that was forming on the corner of his eye, slipped a mini electron grenade from his belt, and held it up to Jake. “If we’re going out, we might as well go out with a bang.”

  Jake nodded. He took the grenade in one hand, and in the other, he grabbed the tube with blue liquid.

  “Your father would be damn proud of you.”

  “He would be proud of you, too.”

  “See you on the other side.”

  John closed the lid to the pod and stepped back just as Caleb entered the room.

  “Holy shit. Literally. Thank you so much for covering for me.”

  “No problem.” John chuckled as he exited the cloning lab, entered the elevator, and pressed the button to the top floor.

  When he arrived, John made his way to the stairwell, climbed the man ladder to the roof access hatch, unlocked it, and pulled himself through.