Prologue
Prologue
“He is truly something magnificent, is he not? An enhancement to our race that is worthy of walking this shattered earth,” the old man standing in the attic marvelled as he stared wide eyed at the glass wall in front of him.
The glass spanned the length of the large attic, behind which shimmered a luminous blue substance, a slim boy hung suspended by long metal tubes in the middle of the preservative liquid, his white blond hair like a halo around his beautiful face.
“I must say Henry; I am surprised that this project has borne us with fruit to prove our efforts, especially when carried out on a boy so…tampered with. It truly is spectacular, for one so low to rise up to the level of super human,” the younger man observed, his kind eyes assessing the project he had worked on for so long in more ways than Henry could ever imagine. The boy was truly something fascinating, a child with a shattered heart who was using all his strength to hold it together.
“Did you not say he had named himself?” Henry asked.
“Sperius,” he confirmed. “He had deep consultation with me regarding the matter of his naming. It is no wonder he so yearned to change it after the stain his father has left on his name.”
“Speaking of fatherhood… Congratulations, Ryan, I was informed you and Jane are finally having a child.”
A small smile danced across Ryan’s lips as he thought of his beautiful wife. For years they had been trying to have a child with little luck and many heart-breaking defeats. They had almost given up until three months ago, when Jane had learned of her pregnancy. Ever since she had been buying baby clothes, instructing the Clones that served their household to make a suitable baby room and cooing to her bump.
“Hopefully we will have pushed back the rebels before my child enters this world. I want them to see the beauty of obedience and the necessity of servitude, not the slaughtering and riots caused by those who are too blind to evolution. I trust Sperius will be entirely capable of this task,” Ryan said proudly, looking up fondly to the unconscious boy. He could hardly wait to wake him from his slumber and cleanse the earth with him.
“Yes well it is not only the rebels that are the issue. I don’t suppose you have met Vance Grimierra’s Clone, have you?”
“The obnoxious one? It seems harmless enough. I have said to Vance that it seems defective but of course he is defensive when it comes to his department. He seems too fond of it to send it to Incineration.”
“You misunderstand me; I am referring to the fact it ages. It was only fourteen when Vance first brought it into his service and now it appears to be in late teens, perhaps sixteen or seventeen. In all my years I have never witnessed a Clone go through puberty as a human does. I am quite intrigued by it. And have you heard the rumours of this Nameless Child, an unnatural brat born with deficiencies, a child that speculators have linked back to this troublesome Clone…? Perhaps if one were to track the development of this Clone and any rumoured connections of his they would soon fall into favour… Titles would be forthcoming.”
Ryan didn’t need to be offered the bribe twice for the wheels in his head to set themselves into motion. At the moment he was only a Lord of the security of the great capital of the world’s new empire, Faculas. However the rank of High Lord could be achieved through outstanding work, a memorable deed or unwavering loyalty to the city. With a child on the way the luxuries accompanying the increase of title were desirable.
“I will keep it in my best interests to observe Grimierra’s Clone,” Ryan replied. Henry let out a wheezing laugh, taking a step closer to the glass wall.
“Also, Ryan, I so hate to overload you in a time of so much activity but I do have quite a special proposition for you…”
