The Husbandry Project

Chapter 3

At this point, Matthew had a plan to try and find his sister. He would compare the kidnappings of both Casa and Nova.  He would see what clues they shared, and what was different. The things that Mathew found the same were:

(A) Both were blonde and girls

(B) Both had been kidnapped from his family

(C) Both were students in Westfield Schools

The things that were different were that:

Nova

(A) 15 years old

(B) Blue eyes

(C) Immune to the Plague

(D) Highest G.P.A. in class

Casa

(A) 7 years old

(B) Green eyes

(C) Victim of the plague

(D) Average G.P.A

It made no sense to Matthew. Why would the same man want both of them? The characteristics they shared were few and far between. He didn't know if he would even to be able to come close to finding his sister, but he had to try. As much as the two of them had irritated him, he had loved them dearly. To think that they might be gone...no, he couldn't think like that. He had a plan and it would work, hopefully.

..........................................................................

Back at the labs, Nova had arisen. She was still strapped to a table and her surroundings looked the same, except for one thing; a doctor stood above her. He had mocha eyes and moose hair.  His face was young, as though he was a teenager. But, was calm and collected and he had something to say to her.

"Hello Nova Cabot. I am Doctor Samuel Smoothe, but people call me Sam. I will be the one running tests on you. I hope you aren't too uncomfortable. If so, please tell me. I don't want you to be more uncomfortable than you have to be."

He smiled at her reassuringly. However, Nova saw two things hidden in that smile; regret and hope. He was asking her to speak up if he caused her any pain. He already caused pain though. Nova missed her sister and her brother. She missed the comforts of her bed. She missed her deceased parents. He was the one responsible for it all. He was a scientist in this lab.  Nova couldn't sit in silence anymore.

"Uncomfortable? Did you think any of this was comfortable? I have no pillow, thin clothing on, and no family with me?! I got seized on the side of the road! I am a prisoner here. Please, if you want to make me comfortable, at least bring my family here too."

There was a quiver in her voice. Sam could see the anguish on her face, but he didn't think twice before telling her the truth.

"Nova, you have no real family. That boy you think is your brother, isn't. The girl you thought was your sister, wasn't. Your "Parents" we frauds. They were just a couple of strangers on the road," he paused before continuing," You were born this lab. You were meant to be raised here as well, but you escaped after three years. We're not sure how, but you did. And you became off our radar. We knew you were our last hope. And we hope you will go through with some tests. You're the only person who survived the plague."

Stun was written across Nova's face. Could all of this be true? As far as she could remember, her family was her family. She had no recounts of this place.

"How can that be true? My family has been with me forever. And if they're not my family, who is? How did I survive the plague when I was born and raised here for three years, before escaping into the world? I would have never been in contact with the disease."

Sam's face looked to the ground for a moment, as if remembering something painful.

"I've read your file, that's how I know all of this about your life. Your parents are Jamie and Peter Cabot. I find it strange that you were able to find another family with the same name. As for coming in contact with the disease, at birth you were injected with the plague. All of the specimen's children were. No one lived, except you. You are the last hope for the human race. I know, it's a lot to take in. It's the truth though. I'm not supposed to tell you this, but the plague you survived is spreading across the world. Our sources say that none have survived. You're genes could help us develop an antidote . Will you help us?"

Dr. Smoothe was pledging for help. The plague is spreading, and killing.

"You are the last hope for the human race."

Nova thought about families across the world. Losing siblings and parents to disease they couldn't help. She took a deep breath. She couldn't decide what she wanted to do, but she knew it would probably cost her life to develop a cure. A commanding tone was written in her words as she announced her decision.

"No, I can't be the cure  for the human race. I have a sister to find, and a brother who is probably worrying where I am.  I know the tests that you guys would run on me, could end my life. I'm sorry. I love my life. Say that I'm selfish, say that I'll come to my senses, but I won't. I wouldn't give up my life to save millions of people. It's my life. I'll do with it what I will."

Her storm blue eyes and scowl reflected that she wasn't going to change her decision.  Samuel was intrigued.  Beautiful, stubborn, and smart; she was a triple threat. He pronounced in a distinguished voice,

"I'm sorry to hear that you won't be interested in helping to develop an antidote.  You will realize what were doing to you is for the greater good... and for someone you will be particularly interested in. "

He gestured toward the door. Three men wheeling in a square, curtain covered, box shape stopped before Nova and Sam.  They then left and Dr. Smoothe pulled the curtain back.

Nova couldn't believe what she saw, her sister,

Casa.