Carniform

The lifeless metal body resembled a corpse, laid out on its back on a gurney in the corner of the room. A thin white jacket placed over its head hid the vacant unlidded eyes.

The lead scientist, a sharp-eyed and olive-skinned man in his late thirties, typed frantically. A setback in the project that morning had put them at least another day behind schedule and panic was creeping up the back of his neck. He held his breath and checked the test results.

Failure. He stood up in exasperation.

The world outside of the computer screen came into a hazy focus. He was surprised to see someone unexpected in the room; a slim silver-haired man with severe eyebrows stood just inside the doorway. The lead scientist straightened.

“Delphus! Please excuse me. We’re near a breakthrough—I was…” he swallowed hard.

The newcomer nodded, precluding any sort of stammering excuse. With a motion of his hand, he dismissed the other scientists and they scurried from the room.

Once the door closed and they were alone, Delphus spoke.

“Tell me about your progress.”

“We’re very close. Just working through a few problems…”

“I see you’ve brought in a carniform.” His gray eyes glanced at the robotic body in the corner.

“Yes, it was finished early so we had it brought in. We’re probably at least five days from starting physical tests. But… I thought having it here might be encouraging.”

“I’ve been considering bringing him here,” said Delphus.

“Who?”

“Our lord. His status is much worse than what has been let on. Death is imminent. But if he were to die inside the Bastion, we might delay the news a few days.”

“But bring him to the Bastion? er—sir.”

“I don’t want to bring him here," Delphus' eyes narrowed. Nobody wants the politicians and that wife of his meddling in our business. But your constant delays give me no better options.”

The scientist swallowed with a dry throat. “When do you expect he will die?”

“It could be as early as tomorrow. His body gave up living on its own days ago.”

Delphus paused and the scientist began to respond, but the Bastion director cut him off with a glare and continued.

“You understand the significance of this project don’t you? Mankind will never be the same once immortality is obtained.”

The scientist felt his skin tingle. Delphus had never used that word around him before. In fact, no one on the project had ever used that word. There was an unspoken avoidance of it, as if not saying it could allow them to pretend they were simply scientists working on a project like any other—that the ethical questions surrounding immortality could be left to the philosophers and physicians.

Delphus continued.

“But setting the history books aside, our humble project has shouldered a more specific burden. We must resurrect the pater familias before he dies and puts the institution at risk.”

“I mean, that's a bit of an exaggeration.”

The scientist meant to sound confident but at the last moment his voice faltered and it came out sounding more like a pathetic question.

“Don’t be dense. The enemies of the family will tear us apart the moment we appear leaderless.”

“What about Petrarch?”

“The boy’s a liability, not a leader. There are very few in the family who would ever support him as pater familias, even if he weren’t so young. His fool uncle has a greater chance of seizing control. No, the return of Lord Davius is our only chance at a secure future.”

Shamyl nodded, perhaps too casually. Delphus’ face became a picture of menace.

“I’ve given you personnel, I’ve given you facilities! Now I’m giving you an ultimatum. You have one week to finish this project! Do whatever it takes; push your staff to exhaustion, take whatever resources you need. But know that failure is not an option!”