Chapter 6- From child to property

"We had nine success rate out of thirty, not bad" the man on black said

"What do you mean nine? We counted twenty-five! " Dr. Annabelle Stone said

"Yes that was before the memory adjustments " The man in black replied.

Dr. Annabelle Stone was surprised. She didn't know about the inclusion of any memory adjustments in the procedure. She turned to her husband who was sitting on one of the chairs in their temporary office. He didn't seem surprised by the turn of events which meant he had something to do with it. He had agreed without informing her.

"You see Dr. Stone it was very crucial that the elite start on a new page" the man in black continued. Annabelle Stone didn't care. She was the first person to reconfigure the human DNA producing mutants, genetically modified human beings. It was a success. This was the future of humanity and she and her family were at the forefront.

"What of my daughter? " she had been told that Rosetta had woken up but they had been engaged in an argument whether to finish the remaining twenty-five procedures immediately.

"What daughter? " the man in black asked as if it was the most stupid question he had ever heard. The two Dr. Stones looked at him. What was he saying? What happened to their Rosetta?

"What did you do? She was fine when I left her. "Dr. Matthew Stone said.

"I didn't do anything, you're the doctor! "The man in black replied.

"Then what is going on here? " Annabelle Stone asked

"You do not have a daughter. Rosetta Stone has ceased to exist. "

"What do you mean? "

"She has no memory what so ever but soon she'll have new ones which will definitely not include you. As of now, there is no Rosetta Stone only GMN something something as in Genetic Modified Nonhuman "

"Nonhuman? She is human!"

"Oh but you changed that fact. I take it you haven't seen the fruits of your labour"

"I don't understand "

"Your husband was right. You had no idea of it's implications and neither did he. Fortunately my superior is pleased with the outcome and that is the most important since they are his property after all."

"What happened to my daughter!? " Dr. Annabelle inquired

"You have no daughter and hence forth the both of you have been decommissioned from this project indefinitely but no need to worry, you'll still get you name in the book of records and your glory too that is what you wanted after all..."

******

"Who are you? "

She looked at the female in front of her blankly. She didn't know where she was, what was going on or who she was. She knew a lot of things, some she didn't know how she knew them. Example was the use of the language English. She didn't know how she came about that language or how she understood what the lady was saying but she did. However, didn't know the answer to that question.

"Who am I? " She tried to rack her brain but came up blank. "Who am I? " she asked the lady but the lady left the room.

This had been going on for weeks now. The lady would come sometimes another lady. They kept asking the same question which she didn't have the answer to and when she asked them back, they just left. She had eventually stopped asking them back, just starring at them but still they left. It was as if she had not responded the way they wanted her to. She didn't know how.

Outside the mirrored wall a group of people stood watching the girl.

"How is it she remembers the use of the English language? " one of them asked

"We don't know but she somehow managed to retain her acquired knowledge "The man always on black replied.

"What else does she remember? " Another asked

"It's hard to tell but we suspect nothing else. We have done the memory adjustments twice more already and the only thing she remembers is the English language " the man replied

"And the others? " The first person asked

"Nothing. We had to start from language tutorial but they showed superior brain power both in comprehension, assimilation and retention " the man on black replied

"And her brain? " another asked

"Very superior and peculiar. She demonstrates higher capabilities and a thirst for knowledge "

"Other characteristics promised?" The same person asked again.

"The others have begun to exhibit some as promised but she is just recovering from her third memory adjustment. "

"Hurry up Deccan! We need to start making use of our properties. "

"They should be ready in four months or less. We need to make sure that the ruckus of their disappearance dies down "

They turned back to watch the girl who was given an English text. Her reading speed could rival that of a photocopying machine. She seemed tired judging from the dark circles around her eyes but it didn't show in her posture or focus. She seemed intent on finishing the book. She was also keenly aware of her environment judging by the slit tilt of he head towards the direction a small wooden stick was dropped.

The man on black, Deccan turned to face the group

"We have a lot to do. Ladies and gentlemen the GMNs will be ready before you know it. Do come this way so you can view our curriculum and make a few adjustments if you please"

He said pointing down the hallway. With a single glance at where they came from, he boarded the elevator and pressed the button.