RU Live: 3023

IV.

"I've learned that she can't leave Reed University as of the moment because they have been placed under quarantine. May kaso na kasi ng CoVid3023 sa kanila." Pinuntahan ni Isaiah kinahapunan sa opisina nito si Dr Geronimo, ang kasalukuyang Head of Cloning Department, at agad idinetalye rito ang natuklasan tungkol kay Sahara.

"The more reason for us to have her here. If these test results are valid, Isaiah, she will be the breakthrough of the century! We can't have her be infected by this virus. We can't have her get sick or hurt."

"I am already working on getting her out of there, Dr. Geronimo. And her test results are all valid. I've triple checked them myself. She's really still capable of conceiving." May yabang na tumingin sa mga mata ng nakatatandang doktor si Isaiah. Ito na ang hinihintay niyang pagkakataon para makaangat ng posisyon sa ospital na iyon.

"I'll give you two days to get her here, Isaiah. You may go now. I have a meeting in ten minutes."

"So class, welcome to RUMC's Cloning Department. The hospital dedicated two floors for this department; we also have one on the 8th floor. At gaya ng naipaliwanag ko kanina sa klase, there are three stages of Cloning. The first stage is the Pre-Cloning Test. We run some tests on the patient-- blood tests, physical exams and psychological tests-- before they can actually go to the second stage of cloning, which is the Cloning Process." Huminto sa pagpapaliwanag ang doktora at itinapat ang kaniyang pulsuhan sa biometric scanner sa pinto upang makapasok sila.

"Good afternoon, Dr Fernandez."

"Good afternoon, Dr Go. This is the new batch of interns for our department. Katatapos lang ng lectures namin at binibigyan ko lang sila ng tour dito. Class, this is Dr Isaiah Go-- top of his class, the brightest and most hardworking. Kaya naman siya ang pinakabatang senior doctor sa department na ito." Binati ng mga intern si Isaiah at tumango lang siya sa mga ito.

"I see. Just be sure to disinfect first before going inside the Cloning Area and don't touch anything." Akmang tatalikod na siya nang pigilan siya ng doktora at bumulong dito.

"Act nice if you want that Assistant Head post."

"Why would I do that, Doc? You know I don't do intern handling. It's just a waste of my time."

"Director Geronimo's daughter is in this batch. And he seemed to be closer to the Clonie than the Original. Play your cards well." At parang batang niregaluhan sa Pasko si Isaiah sa narinig. Tumingin siya sa kaniyang relo at humarap sa mga intern.

"I actually have a few minutes before the next Hatching. Let me show you around. Please follow me." Sumunod sila kay Isaiah papasok sa isang malaking silid.

"Human cloning was CRAFT's idea. We all know Cure, Rehabilitation and Fitness Technology, Inc., right? More than a hundred years ago, this virus affected every female- they started having miscarriages and later, not a single baby was conceived. Years later, CRAFT, the world's leading medical laboratory, rehab and fitness center, proposed human cloning as a resolution to avoid human extinction." Natigilan si Isaiah nang makita ang pagtaas ng kamay ng isang intern. This is why I don't do intern handling!

"Yes, Ramon?" Tawag ni Dr Fernandez sa estudyante.

"The proposal was declined, right? Marami raw po kasing Human Rights groups ang tutol sa Human Cloning. Totoo rin po ba na kahit na-decline ang proposal nila, itinuloy pa rin ng CRAFT ang cloning underground? They offered the option to anyone who can pay a huge amount to be cloned. At ang main purpose daw nito ay organ harvesting para sa clients na nangangailangan, gaya ng patients with kidney failure na kailangan ng transplant."

"There's no basis for that info. CRAFT's only reason for proposing Human Cloning is to preserve humanity. And Reed University Medical Center has the same ideal, which is why, we are the only hospital-based facility that CRAFT has acquired."

"Dr Fernandez is right. You should be lucky to be RUMC students. Not all medical schools have this kind of facility."

"Ah, Dr Go, nabanggit mo kanina na may Hatching today?"

"Oh, yeah. This area where we are is the Incubation Area or the "Eggshell Area" as we call it here, just because the beds where they are lying look like eggshells made of glass. This area has twenty shells and the one on the 8th floor has thirty. They stay here for five days and are moved to the next room for Hatching." Lumakad si Isaiah palapit sa isang pinto at pinadaan ang kaniyang pulsuhan sa biometric scanner para bumukas ito.

"Class, for the remaining two days of the Cloning Process, a nano chip containing the Original's memories, knowledge, skills and all things basic will be implanted in the clone. This chip will disappear once the clone is awake."

"I'm sorry, Dr Fernandez, protocol says no interns beyond the Incubation Area." Gumuhit ang lungkot sa mukha ng limang intern. Napatingin si Isaiah sa isa sa mga ito at nakita kaagad ang "Geronimo" sa suot nitong puting coat. "But since you all seemed enthusiastic being here, I'll sneak one in." Nagkatinginan ang dalawang doktor at agad naintindihan ng babaeng doktor ang gustong mangyari ni Isaiah.

"Right. And the lucky intern would be...Miss Geronimo." Gulat na tumingin sa mga kasamahan si Sai bago tumungo sa harapan. "And for the rest of you, list down questions for Miss Geronimo to answer later. Let's go back to class and wait for her there.

"Iwan mo muna lahat ng gamit mo dito sa table bago dumaan sa disinfection area." Agad sinunod ni Sai si Isaiah at tahimik na sumunod sa kaniya sa loob ng Hatching Area.

"Good afternoon, Dok. Ready na po for Hatching ang pasyente in five minutes." Binasa ni Isaiah ang tablet ng pasyente na iniabot sa kaniya ng nurse. Lumakad siya papunta sa Bed 5 at tiningnan ang kalagayan nito. Tinitigan ni Sai ang babaeng nakahiga sa loob ng babasaging shell—wala itong suot na kahit ano, kaya kitang kita ang balingkinitan nitong katawan. May tubo siya sa kaniyang bibig at kamay kung saan dumadaan ang hangin at gamot. 

"You wouldn't remember this part, no matter how hard you try." Natigil ang pagtitig ni Sai sa pasyente nang balikan siya ni Isaiah sa kaniyang kinatatayuan.

"I-I'm not trying to remember, doc." Mahina niyang tugon.

"I never thought Director Geronimo's daughter wanted to be a doctor. Sirene's studying to be a flight attendant, right?"

"'Yon po kasi ang gusto ni Papa para sa kaniya noon pa. Kaya po siguro n'ung lumabas ako rito, 'yon agad ang gusto kong gawin." Tipid na ngumiti si Sai sa kaniya.

"Ano'ng oras ang tapos ng klase mo? Maybe we can grab something to eat or have coffee. I'll pick you up."

---end of chapter