Nearly a month had passed since Project Soul Cage was approved for development. A semi-truck with a trailer attached transporting a massive haul covered up by black tarps strapped to the sides of the trailer barreled down the street heading towards BioMed. It pulled around towards the back and drove on a separate road leading to a separate, unused building sat mostly empty with no roof. The driver and passenger jumped out of the truck to go unstrap the haul and removed the tarp. A crane parked next to the building began to lower its giant claw, snatching the massive construct in its grip. The arm moved up with construct in grasp, inched its way over the building and lowered the construct in. Once inside, the claw released and ascended. A construction crew pulled into the same lot loaded up with building materials, heavy machinery and several eager workers in orange uniforms with toolboxes in hand.

Hensley looked down through the top floor window at the ongoing work. A glass of wine in his hand. Director Shimada then joined him.

“That was… Faster than I expected them to finish it.” Hensley commented.

Shimada took a sip of his wine then chuckled.

“You’ve been here for a decade Hensley. You should not be surprised at the efficiency of BioLab and their mastery at quick, efficient production.” He stated.

“This is true. So… Now they just have to build the roof and install the construct?”

“Correct. There was no room here for such a large device. Thus, why we decided to use that building. It’s been sitting for ages. Waiting for the next major project from BioLab to be plucked from production and planted right in there. With the construct… Now the building has found its purpose. It’s mostly completed too. Has electricity. Plumbing. Heating and cooling. Wiring ready. Desks. Chairs. Screens and monitors. We… Just left the roof and all that free space inside.”

“I-it’s almost as if you preemptively prepared it for Soul Cage, sir…”

Shimada turned to Hensley, pressing a hand on the man’s shoulder. Hensley looked toward him.

“I’ve been following your work for this past decade. I always had faith in your project. I just never wanted to tell you why we even built that damn building. That is, until you showed me the final product of Soul Cage. Ten long years will finally pay off. Once the roof is finished and the construct installed, we shall go look at it up close for ourselves. The construction crew is being paid double overtime for this. As will be the engineers who will install it once the roof is finished.”

“… Huh. Amazing…”

“Now we simply… Wait.”

Melissa arrived at the Pentagon via a security escort. She made her way through the hallways until arriving inside of the war room where the General and the Commander-in-Chief, an older gruff man wearing a black suit with several military badges and a hat greeted her with firm handshakes. The three sat down to join the shady group of men and women in suits taking up the remaining seats. Melissa scanned the room but didn’t recognize the suits, only the military men. She cleared her throat.

“So, madam. About this… Replicant program of yours. Me and the General spoke on a few occasions along with the war council here. After some careful consideration… We’ve decided we want in.” The Chief spoke.

“Oh, do you now? General did you finally consider my offer?” Melissa replied turning to face the General.

The General coughed. He slid a folder her way. She examined the contents. Various pictures taken from a war-torn location containing gruesome and traumatizing sights such as rows of bloodied corpses, crying children, destroyed villages and tanks rolling through woods setting trees on fire.

“The situation in Lebanon has grown worse. The resistance fighters are beyond overwhelmed even with our support. The liberation army is truly terrifying and our numbers are shrinking. How soon… Would you be able to start providing replicants? We’ll train them with ease and start sending them off.” The General asked.

Melissa shrugged off the initial shock and shut the folder.

“Lucky for you we already have some ready. BioMed released their first batch about a week ago. One half of the Replicant division is focused on Soul Cage while the other half is creating regular people. If you want… We can take those in that half and start sending them your way, General. Chief.”

The two men exchanged glances and looked to Melissa with a simultaneous affirming nod.

“You’re making the right decision here. Looking forward to working together in this sense. Well, I’ll be taking my leave now. General… Expect the replicants to come your way very soon.”

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Melissa gave the two men a wink. She waved to them and the rest of the war room members before departing, snickering to herself. Getting exactly what she wanted out of that meeting. A way to profit off of the replicants while also saving actual human lives at the same time.

The main lobby inside BioMed was packed full of various individuals whom had signed up for the initial testing phase of Project Soul Cage. While the construct was being setup, Hensley had to meet face-to-face with each and every volunteer. Borrowing the unused side office, Jennifer was calling in people to speak with Hensley. Essentially functioning like a doctor’s office with patients.

“Jackie Esperenzo!” Jennifer called out as she stepped out of the office.

A bulky, balding Hispanic man with tattoos all over his arms, neck and hands stood up to head over into the office. He sat down in front of Hensley who sat behind an empty desk with a tablet.

“H… Hello sir.” Jackie stuttered.

Hensley nodded. The two shook hands.

“Greetings. So, tell me a little about yourself and why you signed up for the project.” Hensley said.

Jackie swallowed hard. He cleared his throat.

“Well, I’m a factory manager from Los Angeles. To be frank I don’t really have much going for myself. At least not anymore. My wife, God rest her soul, was taken from me in a car accident a long time ago. Our daughter never talks to me anymore. Off living her own life probably shacked up with some sugar daddy. Ever since losing Penny, I’ve been on a downward spiral. My body is fucked up after so many years of hard drugs and smoking and it’s taking its toll on me. Point is… I want a restart. Rid my system of the drugs and start a new life. To be clean and sober. Figured why not consent to this interesting project you have. Sooo yeah…” Jackie explained.

Jennifer nodded. Hensley took some notes and nodded to him.

“I see. And I understand. I appreciate your volunteering. Rest assured you will get to experience a ‘restart’ so to say. Anything else?”

“No sir.”

“Very well. It was a pleasure, mister Esperenzo.”

“Thank you.”

After shaking hands once more with Hensley, Jackie left the office. Jennifer looked at her tablet to call in the next person;

“Nikita Stovanski!”

A tall, beautiful woman with long black hair and loads of makeup stood up to make her way towards the office. She smiled at Hensley, accepting his handshake then sitting down, stroking her thighs.

“Pleasure to meet the handsome bastard himself.” Nikita said, wincing at Hensley.

“Y-yes of course. So, tell me about yourself and why you volunteered for the project ma’am.” Hensley replied scratching the back of his head.

Jennifer quietly sighed. She gave Nikita the stink eye knowing the summation of why she was here.

“I come from a family of crime lords back in Moscow. Let’s just say my father pissed off the wrong people and he had me deported for my own safety. Well, now… I’m being hunted. Everywhere. My father succumbed to brutal torture and gave up my status in the United States, according to my brother. It’s only a matter of time before they find me. This ‘Project Soul Cage’ of yours… I need it. By being plucked from my own body, can I be rid of this dark cloud hanging over me.” Nikita explained.

Jennifer didn’t know about the backstory. She seemed quite surprised. As did Hensley.

“You haven’t tried to just get a new identity or something?”

“It’s pointless. Once those dogs begin hunting there is no escape. They will murder innocent people and burn buildings down until I’m caught.”

“That bad, huh? I could chalk it up to a severe case of paranoia but… But I will not tell you how to live your life. If a new body and fresh identity is what you desire then that you will receive.”

“I’m looking forward to it. I’ll worry about reuniting with my family later when the time is right.”

Nikita finished up and left. For the next couple hours, everyone that showed up was interviewed by Hensley. Only a few exceptions couldn’t make it and had to speak to them via video calls after everyone else was done. He and Jennifer were exhausted by the end of it. The two headed for the café built into BioMed to blow off some steam and grab a bite to eat.

“Even though I had brief summaries for everyone… Some of their stories really hit me hard.” Jennifer said.

Hensley bit into his sandwich. He nodded, taking a sip of water.

“All the more reason why it’s important that Soul Cage succeeds. Look at all the lives we’ll be changing. And there will only be more to come after that.” Hensley muttered.

“True. This is for the people after all. What we’re doing is good. Right?”

“Still questioning the ethics behind the project Jennifer?”

“M-maybe a little.”

“Relax dear. Everything will be fine. I’m sure of it…”

Director Shimada and Hensley smiled as they stepped outside. A group of people entered the building being led by a couple scientists. The two proceeded forward into the building. Hensley was in awe at what he saw. Nestled in the middle of the single spacious room surrounded by computers was a massive rectangular sleek metal device consisting of pods with cords, digital pads and screens nearby each pod. The scientists led the group of eight people towards their pods to explain the process to them. On the left and right ends of the device were smaller square-shaped devices that had a single screen and a small drawer with a slot insert. Shimada placed a hand on Hensley’s back, giving it a gentle pat.

“It’s finally ready. The construct…” Hensley gasped.