Eddie wondered if the sergeant harbored any resentment for him and his team. Would Covington and his men make things difficult? If he had any such feelings, he showed none of it. He appeared completely at ease with his place in the mix. Time will tell.
Fifteen minutes later, Eddie, Joe, Geri, and Cal, along with Sergeant Covington, were standing in the captain’s office. It was located in a part of the facility off of the garage area, where the security office and the guard’s personal quarters were located. The security personnel had no reason to enter the clean environment of the complex, which was outfitted with dozens of cameras. But most of them decided the food and the recreation area was worth the time spent in transition in and out of hospital scrubs.
“That'll be all, Sergeant.” Benny rose from his desk to greet the newcomers.
The office was small. There was nothing on the gray walls, and a single fluorescent light fixture was mounted on the ceiling. Benny stood behind a small metal desk that sat in the center of the room, and in front of an unimpressive leather-bound chair, the type usually found in a doctor’s office waiting room. The cramped room reminded Benny of those on some of the ships he had served on. On each side of the door was a pair of folding metal chairs, leaving very little room for anything else. They went through the introductions and the captain invited them all to sit.
Eddie didn’t want to waste any time on formality. “What can we do for you, Captain?”
Benny leaned back in his chair and laced his fingers together on his mid-section. “Just so we all know, I got keel-hauled into this job too. But, orders are orders.”
“Alright,” Eddie agreed.
“I arrived yesterday and saw what I had to work with. I requested you simply to augment the security here. All of the Air Force personnel, except for Covington, are bubblegummers. I wanted some experience here.”
“The director said this assignment was open-ended. How long do you anticipate needing us here?” Eddie asked.
“Hard to say. I've requested some more seasoned military personnel, so hopefully it won’t be long.”
Eddie shook his head. “All due respect, Captain. I don't buy it. We're cops. We don't do babysitting.” He was unwilling to accept that he and his team would be used in such a petty manner. “Unless there's some other reason for us being here.”
Benny smiled. He liked Eddie. The man was as no-nonsense as he was. Maybe even more so. “Could we have some privacy?”
On cue, Jo stood up. “C'mon, Probie,” she said as she walked out of the room. Geri had already taken the hint. Benny noted that as Cal rose he looked around the office uncomfortably before closing the door behind him.
“He’s a little claustrophobic,” Eddie offered.
Benny explained everything he knew about the project to Eddie, in detail. At first the special agent seemed unimpressed. He thought it was a bad joke until Benny collected the other NCIS agents and took them inside the laboratory. He introduced them to Professor Yeoum and Doctor Cook. The team continued their tour, even meeting the chimps. It was then that Eddie's concern kicked in. He didn't like terms like “classified” or “top secret.” In their current context, they had a morbid connotation.
* * * * *
THE OTHER OCCUPANTS of the facility had been in their living quarters asleep, as it was very early in the morning when the team arrived. All, that is, except Jimmy. The computer scientist had hacked into the security system again and was monitoring the group’s every move.
“Who are the newbies, SIS?” he asked the computer as he watched them on the monitor.
“According to security log-in,” the female voice answered pleasantly, “they are agents of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Would you like to know their names, Jimmy?”
“Great, first they moved us from McMaster to this friggin' hole, then the storm troopers came to keep us all locked up in here, then the major, then this captain, and now more feds.” He sat back in his chair, propping his feet angrily up on the desk.
“I'm sorry, Jimmy. I didn't understand your query. Would you like to know their names?”
“No,” he said curtly. “What are they doing here?”
“According to internal telephone records—”there was a brief pause and then Benny's voice could be heard over the speaker—“I need a team from the NSA or NCIS here ASAP to help with security. I can't have just a half-a-dozen wet-nosed SPs guarding a project of this magnitude.” There was a click and SIS stopped playback.
“It must be true, then.”
“What must be true, Jimmy?”
“That they found somebody, SIS. That we’re really going to do this.”
“I'm sorry, Jimmy. I do not know to what you are referring.”
He frowned. “You confirmed it yesterday, SIS. There's a man coming here soon.” He paused, hardly believing it himself, even though this was what he had worked so hard to accomplish. The programs he had written, the years of work. Still, he hardly thought that they would actually accomplish the goal of it all. A smile crept onto his face. A feeling of both excitement and terror was growing in him, like when a roller coaster nears the top before the first drop. “We’re going to clone a human being.”
14 The Arrival
15 July 2010
SINCE THE ARRIVAL OF the NCIS team and the official word that the “test subject” would be arriving soon, the entire complex had become a beehive of activity.
Special Agent Perez had assigned Jo and Geri to remain inside the clean environment of the facility for the first twenty-four hours. He and Cal stayed with the rest of the security team outside in their offices, familiarizing themselves with the environment and the team members.
The scientific team of Yeoum, Don, Greg, and computer specialist Jimmy Bennett, assisted by June and Tiong (and occasionally, Jo and Geri) made preparations for the long-awaited continuation of their work. Professor Yeoum had hoped that they would be able to begin within the month, provided the subject had been following the diet that he had prescribed. The professor's demeanor and state of mind had changed dramatically since they had gotten the news. Benny and the NCIS team wouldn’t have noticed, but the rest of the team saw it immediately. The professor had always greeted newcomers to the group with disdain at first, especially the government or military types. But he took the major into their close circle soon after his initial objection. He was excited, bordering on giddy. Not only was he about to begin the experiment with his new human subject, but he would also be seeing the completion his life's work, possibly within the next few weeks.
When Rob entered the facility, he was thoroughly unimpressed. He was too focused on what he was there to do, even though he had little idea of what that actually was. He had convinced himself that it must have something to do with cellular regeneration, but in what way he couldn’t imagine.
Rob was introduced to Professor Yeoum Chi first, who was waiting for him in the garage, and then the two joined the captain in his office. When they entered the small room, Rob was wearing his whites, hat tucked under his left arm, and he carried a small, leather bound Bible which had been given to him by Carol for just this occasion. To say that he was completely unprepared when he saw Benny behind the desk would be an understatement.
“Hello, Rob. It's good to see you again.” Benny offered his hand.
“Sir.” Rob tentatively took Benny’s hand.
“Please have a seat, gentlemen,” the captain offered, noticing at once the Bible Rob carried.
Rob wanted very much to speak with Benny about his behavior in Washington at their last meeting, but it wasn’t a conversation he wanted to have in the company of strangers.
Yeoum could hardly contain himself. “I'm very excited about the prospect of completing my work, and now that you are here … well, I would like to thank you for your involvement.”
“You’re welcome.” Rob glanced at the professor, and then his expression changed to one of confusion. “I'm sorry. What?”
The professor’s smile dimmed a bit. “I was expressing my appreciation for your participation in my”—he glanced at the captain—“forgive me, our project. It will be the fulfillment of my life's work … as well as that of my father before me.”
“That's great.” Rob was half listening. He had made up his mind that he wanted to know as little as possible about what he was getting involved in. But now it appeared to Rob as if Benny had been holding all of the cards from the beginning.
Rob’s lack of attention was beginning to irritate the Korean. The frown that crept onto his face was more in keeping with his natural disposition. Yeoum had to suppress the urge to reach over and grab the commander. He wanted Rob to know how important his involvement would be, but at the moment he couldn’t even hold his attention. For Yeoum, the implications were mind-boggling. He had never before considered personal gain from his work, but the prospect of his name being as well known as the likes of Pasteur, Einstein, and Armstrong was quite appealing. That reward alone would befit the years of sacrifice he had made to complete it. He was about to speak again, but the commander interrupted him. Rob still focused his gaze on Benny. “I could not be more excited at the prospect of getting started, Professor. But would you mind if the captain and I had a private moment? I'd appreciate it very much.”
Yeoum scowled. He looked from Rob to Benny and back again. He concluded that the man would continue to insist if he protested. “Certainly, Commander,” he said, drumming his fingers on his thighs for a moment. “If you'll excuse me?” He directed the question to Benny.
“Of course.”
With that, the little man stood and strode quickly out of the room, closing the door behind him.
There was a deafening silence in the room as the two men eyed each other. Rob raised his hands, palms up. “What the heck?”
Benny was fighting the lump that had grown in his throat. He felt as if he had betrayed his friend. But it wasn't supposed to happen this way. Rob wasn't supposed to be here. He said nothing.
“Last week, I fly up to D.C. to have lunch with my old friend and everything's cool. We're chillin', eating, having a few laughs. And then, all of a sudden you pull this Jekyll and Hyde routine on me, ask me to get involved in some kind of genetics experiment, and then walk off and leave me standing there.” He paused to allow Benny to respond, but the captain made no indication that he would do so. “I mean, couldn't you have given me a little more information?”
Benny slumped back in his chair. “You were supposed to say no.”
“I was supposed to say no? What the … why … when were you gonna …?” Rob was dumbfounded. He sat back, trying to make some sense of it.
“I'm sorry Rob. You were supposed to say no.”
“You mean to tell me that you asked me to get involved in something that you wanted me to turn down?”
The captain nodded.
“What? You thought that if you dangled a few morally questionable words in front of me that I'd have a crisis of conscience and say no?”
“I was counting on it.”
The two sat there staring at one another. Rob could see that Benny was sincere in his apology. Truthfully, the captain looked troubled enough to break out in tears. Rob took a minute to organize his thoughts and then approached the situation from the opposite end. “What am I here to do, Benny?”
There was no other way to say it. He took a deep breath. “They're going to attempt to clone you.”
Rob sat in his chair, a blank look on his face. He heard the words but he refused to believe them. Of all the possibilities he had run through his mind, none of them had him being cloned. “They're gonna what me?”
“They are going to clone you, Rob.”
Rob began to smile. He had that same feeling he’d had at the Pentagon a week before, that it was a joke. He had to admit that it would be one of the most elaborate hoaxes in the history of hoaxes, but that seemed just as plausible as what the captain had just said. Benny's expression hadn't changed. He still looked as tortured as he had when he first said the words. Rob's smile disappeared. His mind began to race. He knew little about cloning except he had once heard about a sheep that had been cloned years ago. He recalled vaguely a news program where the case for cloning organs for patients in need of transplants was debated. The doctors and scientists had made that idea seem reasonable. He had seen a movie or two that had clones in them. But they were science fiction, weren't they? There was another short silence. “Okay, I think that I heard you say that they're gonna clone me. Is that what you said?”
The captain nodded. He was nearly unable to speak. The lump in his throat had swollen when he witnessed Rob’s reaction.
“Just to clarify … they're going to clone … me?”
“Yes.”
“Like Boba Fett in Star Wars?” Rob asked.
Benny summoned his strength and cleared his throat. “I don't understand the process. And I never saw Star Wars. The professor can tell you all about it if you want to know. But I've seen the results. I have to admit that they're impressive to say the least.” Since his meeting with Kingsley, Benny had spent some time considering her ultimate goal, and he had to admit that some aspects of the idea was attractive.
“The results?” Rob tried to regroup, to filter each word and its individual meaning, and then put them back together in a form that made some sense.
“I'll let the professor show you.”
“Who cares about the results?” Rob regained control of the emotions that stampeded him moments before. He tossed his Bible on the desk. “It's playing God!”
Benny was silent. The captain had had the same thoughts when he was approached with the assignment. Benny was the son of a Methodist preacher. He knew how the church felt about such things. And he knew that Rob was a Christian. There was no middle ground for them when it came to any form of genetic manipulation. This was not the way Benny had seen this play out. He had known Rob would react this way, but he had expected the reaction to come sooner.
But there it was, sitting on the desk between them. The reason Benny worked to find men who would turn up their noses at the idea. The reason Rob had left the SEALs to take the instructor’s position. Benny understood it clearly, and he had done all he felt he could do to discourage Rob's participation without being untrue to his position as a Navy captain. Any more, and it could have jeopardized his career.
“You were supposed to say no,” Benny said again.
Rob scoffed. “You didn't give me anything to go on. Only that you wanted me to do something and that it involved genetics. With that little to go on, I couldn't say no to you.” He placed particular emphasis on the last word.
“How could you say yes to something like that?”
“I was saying yes to you, Benny. Because it was you asking. Not for any other reason.”
Silence again. It was a no-win situation for Benny. He had been charged with finding someone to get involved with something that he had personal revulsion for. He’d worked hard to select men that he was sure would balk at the idea. And Rob had chosen to participate based on his loyalty to his friend who had asked him to do it.
At last, Rob spoke again. “Can I still back out?”
Benny's eyes narrowed. His remorse had been replaced with deep concern. “If you want to withdraw, you still can. Heck, I'll walk out of here with you.” Benny stood and leaned forward. “I just want to make a few things clear. There are some very powerful people involved with this. Very powerful. People who truly believe that the results of this experiment could change this country for the better. Believe that in their bones.” He softened slightly. He wanted to prepare Rob, not intimidate him.
“Yeah,” Rob agreed, “but for who's benefit?”
“Yours, mine. Our kids. One thing I will tell you. The people who are pulling the strings are doing all of this with pretty admirable intentions.” Benny came around the desk and half sat on the corner. He paused a moment. I cannot believe that I'm defending t
his. “And one thing I can guarantee you. There is nothing going on here, with or without your involvement, which is in any way harmful to anyone. I give you my personal assurance on that.”
Rob looked at his Bible again. He had been a believer all his life. There were things done throughout history in the name of science that were abhorrent to most people, some of them in direct contradiction to the church. But he was forced to wonder if those things were in conflict with God's Word. He had read through the Bible once, and even had a few favorite books, chapters, and verses. But he couldn't remember reading anything on this subject. After all, God had allowed men to develop medicines that changed people’s lives for the better. The Lord had allowed doctors to develop the skills necessary to cure individuals of polio, measles, typhoid, and many other diseases. Could this just be the latest in a long line of breakthroughs that men had made, and would continue to make in the field of medicine that would, ultimately, make life livable for countless people? In the past, he had based his decision-making on what was right for his country, his family, and his career. But now, he had to consider another aspect. What do I do here, Lord? He was looking for a real answer.
At the end of it, science, medicine, and the needs of people who Rob didn't know weren't of any consequence to him. The debate raging within him boiled down to just two things. Morality and loyalty. “Well, why me? Why was I chosen?”
Benny sighed. “Simply put, you’re the best.”
“C'mon.”
“Believe me. The process of finding a candidate with your mental and physical qualifications, combined with your education, training, and field experience, wasn't easy, my friend. We started evaluating eighteen months ago when the initial list had a couple of dozen names on it.”
“What about them?” He was looking for a way out. His convictions he now left somewhere behind him. He didn’t want to use his faith as a crutch to shirk his responsibility. He still wasn't thrilled with the prospect of being cloned, but he couldn't just walk away. He needed an out. He needed a reason to leave and still feel that he hadn't let anyone down, especially Benny. It didn’t matter at this point that Benny had gotten him into this mess.