Artificial Organisms: Hierophant

Prologue: Geburtstag

Beep. Beep. Beep.

“Heart beat stabilizing.”

Beep. Beep. Beep.

“Blood pressure at normal level.”

Beep. Beep. Beep.

“Breathing rate, stable. Intrapleural pressure, stable. Brain activity, stable. “

Beeeeppp.

“Initiating delivery protocol.”

Ilang mga scientist in white laboratory gowns ang hindi magkanda-ugaga sa pagpindot ng kung anu-anong buttons and switches sa mga supercomputers na nakaapwesto sa loob ng lab.

“Doctor Carter, he's is ready to be released from the artificial womb,” isa sa mga scientists ang nag-inform sa head scientist nila- si Doctor Charles Carter, an expert in genetic engineering.

“Release the specimen,” the head scientists ordered na ginawa naman agad ng ibang scientists.

In the middle of the laboratory was the artificial womb- a glass tank na puno ng isang clear na fluid. Floating in the fluid inside it was a naked, fully grown man. Nakaposition s’ya na parang isang sanggol sa loob ng sinapupunan. Ilang tube ang nakapasok sa kanyang bibig dire-diretso sa kanyang baga, allowing him to breathe. Ilan pang mga maninipis na wires ang nakakonekta sa iba’t-ibang bahagi ng katawan n’ya, particularly sa bandang ulo. It was to measure his brain activity.

“Commence specimen release protocol,” utos ulit ni Doctor Carter.

A female scientist lowered a lever which was near the glass tank. Ilang ingay ng natatanggal na bakal ang narinig at hindi nagtagal, unti-unting nade-drain ang fluid sa loob ng tank until there’s none, allowing the man inside the tank to fall softly into the bottom of the tank.

“Breathing rate?” tanong ng head scientist.

“Breathing rate, normal, Doctor,” tugon ng isang lalaking scientist.

In a push of a button, the glass of the tank began to be lifted and parting from the base of the tank, allowing the scientists to retrieve the man from the tank that acted as an artificial womb and placed him in a steel table for analysis after they removed all the wires and tubes from his body.

Pero, habang tsine-check nila ang lalaki ay bigla nalang nag-drop ang heart rate nito. “Doctor, heart rate is dropping,” one of the scientists reported. “Heart beat stopped!” he added after a few seconds.

“Breathing pattern is unstable,” dagdag ng isa pang scientist. Nilagyan nya ng oxygen mask ang lalaki in hope na mag-stabilize ang paghinga nito. “Hindi na rin s’ya humihinga.” he muttered after a minute.

“Geez. This is the 356th time. We’re wasting a lot of our GMOs,” maktol ng isa, nawawalan ng pag-asa.

“That’s why you should do your job properly,” sabat ng kasama nya.

“Defibrillate now!” Doctor Carter rushed to the side of the man. Kinuha nya ang defibrillator sa gilid and started the defibrillation. “Clear!” he pressed the devices into the chest of the man. The devices in turn will send out electricity to be able to make the heart beat again. “Come on. Don’t die on me!” bulyaw ng doctor sa lalaking nakahiga sa steel table. “Clear.” Inulit n’ya. Ang ibang scientists naman ay nawawalan na ng pag-asa.

Ganito nalang palagi ang nangyayari- namamatay ang specimen, which is isang tao, a few minutes after ma-release sa glass tank. In fact, sobrang dami na nilang failed specimens that they don’t have any place to bury them and so they finally resorted to cremating the remains.

“Come on! Live!” Maging si Doctor Carter ay nawawalan na rin ng pag-asa. In the end, tumigil rin s’ya sa pag-de-defibrillate. “Another failed one,” walang buhay n’yang sabi sabay tumalikod sa lalaki sa steel bed.

But, when everyone was already convinced that it was, yet again, another failure, biglang dumilat ang mga mata ng lalaki sabay paghahabol nito ng hininga na parang bagong gising mula sa isang bangungot o hindi kaya muntik malunod. Everyone was shocked and speechless. It took some time for the idea that the experiment was a success to sink in but when the idea finally did, ang gloomy na atmosphere ng lab ay drastically nag-iba as cheers and yells of celebration filled every space.

“Finally! We succeeded! Whoah!” cheer ng isang scientist habang nakikipagsaya sa iba.

Amidst the celebration, Doctor Carter stood there totally in awe and looking at the man who was now sleeping soundly in the steel bed. He looked like a father who had seen his son for the first time. Softly, he caressed the naked man’s face as tears began to fill his aged eyes and, in an almost fatherly manner, he voice, “Welcome to the world. Happy birthday, project Hierophant.”