“Beautiful aren’t they?” Donat said as he walked towards the capsules, dragging his stool, magnifying lens in hand and eyes full of wonder.

He likes this I thought, No. He loves this, I corrected.

“Wait…” Donat said, “before I start, tell me a little about the case.”

“A little?”

“Yes. Heard the possibility of this being a serial killer is high. I have a wife... two daughters; I want to make sure they don’t meet the killer’s criteria.”

“That’s just a possible theory, there’s nothing conclusive as yet.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

“You don’t seem like the type to investigate cases, EXiCON…hell, why are you even on this? This type of case falls under Major Crimes.”

“Protocol B5-10.”

“That’s never been used before, but it does make sense to enact it now.”

“Why? What’s going on in the City, Doc? Is this related to the river of blood I just passed through?”

“Of course it is, everything’s connected in Bridge City, whether you like it or not.”

Ugh, I groaned internally. I pondered on whether to share my thoughts with the M.E. He’s an asshole at heart, living a pampered life, plus he hated the Commissioner, but still came here. Hmmm alright…I may learn something. I thought.

“Adrianna Smith and a John Doe. Adrianna was found in Kever’s Alley, with three holes in the chest. John Doe? Alley in Admiral Street, three holes in the chest.”

“Same MO.”

“Right. Anyways, I don’t know what it is, but Adrianna’s murder site felt…off?”

“It’s a murder site, of course, it’s supposed to be ‘off’.”

“No. I don’t mean that way…I didn’t feel any malice around me, as if something was wrong.”

“This is a first. Never heard of a murder empath in my life, especially in this job is that what you are?” Donat said chuckling.

“Forget it,” I said, biting each word in annoyance

“No. Please, don’t. Forget about my poor humour, Cypher is it? I’m legitimately surprised. I’ve never heard that before so forgive me. Please, continue.”

After a few seconds of silence, I begrudgingly began again. “There wasn’t anything missing amongst her items. Nothing of the sort.”

“And the husband?”

“Actually…I haven’t watched the interview that Eclain did on him or her fellow employees.”

“Hold up…you can view the interviews? I thought only Case Officers could do that.”

“Special Privileges the Commissioner said.”

“I thought you could view the body, help speed up the process. I didn’t know you had full clearance to investigate, this is interesting. I’m starting to get invested. What else?”

“Nothing…John Doe was found around noon today, and I haven’t been able to look at the files.”

“Oh really…it’s 9:00 P.M.…that’s no excuse.”

“Like you care.”

“I don’t, in all honesty, but I’m sure the Commissioner’s gonna get up in your ass if she hears that. Hell, her day is trashy with all the violence going down in th—“ Donat said, catching himself midsentence.

“I’ve laid my cards Doc, your turn.”

“I guess I could,” I said nodding.

“Violent Protests in Weitson Industrial District.”

“What?”

“Yup. You heard me.”

“No wonder traffic’s complete shit!”

“Indeed.”

“What’s the protest for? Credits?”

“Who the Imbibe knows? I don’t care, why you think I got here so late. The Skylanes and highways were bogged in traffic, needed a special escort just to arrive here on time.”

“I see,” I said, finally realising why Protocol B5-10 was initialised. The damned protest is why Zade was so hush-hush about it, this was building up for a while, but why? Usually, news of protest would’ve been announced, allowing people to stay clear…unless this wasn’t a normal one.

“Thanks, Doc, I finally understand why the protocol was put in place and why the commissioner doesn’t want news getting out regarding a “serial killer.”

“That’s right, lad, career suicide, especially if she handles this protest LIKE SHIT. She’d never see the light again.”

“You want her to get fired, don’t you?”

“By the Imbibe’s Wrath. I’d love it. Every. Second. of it!”

The doctor turned with a smile on his face, then tapped the interface button on the capsule. It was smogged, making it difficult to see Adrianna’s face, but after squinting for two seconds, I recognised it was her.

The middle of the capsule split open and a hiss of compressed air sprayed out of the capsule-like aerosol from a can, a foul stench of a rotting corpse followed, making me gawk. “What the hell is that scent?” Donat hissed, coughing his chest clear of the capsules.

Purple liquid oozed from the first body, squelching as it seeped from off the capsule and onto the ground, bits of flesh and sinew flowed, splashing against the floor like rain. WHAT THE HELL IS THAT? I peered at the carcass from head to toe, noting the three-circle holes in the chest. Is that Adrianna?

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

The body had purple veins emanating from the hands, chest...and what seemed to be its stomach, which now had a giant hole showing its intestines. No. The intestines were gone...and now on the floor.

The scent was foul making my nose twitch nonsensically. My tongue screamed from the taste, making me believe I’d taken a shot of the purple liquid.

“Artificial Death” Donat Azalias whispered. “Arti-what?” I asked, feeling confusion run through my brain.

“Did the Cryogenic stasis malfunction?” Donat asked, thumbing the back of the capsule. “No…can’t be, glass is still cold...Yes…it is Artificial Death.”

“Doc…what are you talking about, you’re in your world here and I’m lost as shit, what are you talking about...What is Artificial Death?”

“A big problem, Cypher…BIG fucking problem!”

“What is?”

“This,” He said, squeezing the purple liquid. “This is philandric ichor.”

“phi..landric ichor…? You mean…”

“Yep…Clone Blood.” The Doc answered, laughing hysterically as if this was some type of joke.

A bad one, no doubt.

It pissed me off, that laugh of his, but it made me wary.

In all the lives I’ve lived, I’ve never come across clones before, this was a first, and hopefully my last. Wait a minute…

“Check”

“Already on it,” Donat said. The M.E. tapped the interface on the glass capsule. It split down the centre and retreated. The rancid smell of philandric ichor smogged the entire room in its fumes, making my stomach churn and turn as if the first dose wasn’t enough

The John Doe lay in the middle of the gurney with harrowed eyes and purple veins cracking his skin. The veins too were written all over his body, making me shake my head from the revelation.

“What is going on?” was all I could ask myself. But nothing, not one single thought came to mind about what was happening. Cloning’s illegal, cloning humans that are. Animals? Sure…with the short supply of food we had here in the Federation, cloning was the best viable option to keep the population happy.

The only issue was cloned meat, which had its problem. Clone animals had a life span of only two years at most. Eating cloned animal food after a year gives you a high chance of getting cancer. So, usually after six months the meat was returned to either be ground or incinerated...or whatever they did at those cloning facilities.

Frightening.

“What’s going on, doctor? This doesn’t make sense, and what the hell is Artificial Death?”

“You’ve found yourself a really interesting case, Cypher. Two Clones? In the space of twenty-four hours, in a homicide case? I’m speechless. I don’t even know how to put this down.”

“Doc, focus, what is Artificial Death?”

“Artificial Death is the process of creating a clone in the deathly state.”

“Deathly state?”

“Yeah...The clones are kept alive for a period to allow the philandric ichor to run its course to ensure the meat gains enough fat and nutrients for it to grow. Once they’ve attained the size and mass they want, the clone is then processed for distribution.”

“That’s disgusting.” I spat.

“Yet, it’s needed for everyone to eat.”

“Bullshit!”

“Cypher, stop being naive…do you think the Antillean Federation has a say in anything? It's these corporations who run the federation. Listen to me. Where do you think I was heading? To knock elbows with these men. Hell, you don’t think Hexan isn’t in bed with any of them? She probably is deeper than I ever will be.”

“I don’t give a shit about who runs the City, Doc. I want to know more about this Artificial Death.”

“So Artificial Death is a thing for humans and not just animals?”

“I don’t know,” Donat said.

“You’re lying.”

“Am I?”

“Yes...how else would you know such a thing!”

“I can’t say anything Cypher, but yes Artificial Death does happen for Humans.”

“Why haven’t I heard anything about it?” I asked firmly.

“The same way you haven’t heard anything about Weitson Industrial Park…because you weren’t supposed to know.”

“Why tell me anything then? What’s your game?”

“Paranoid little shit aren't? Well fine…I’ll tell ya. The last time I dealt with something like this, my assistant died trying to reveal it. Hell. The only reason I’m still alive is that I kept my mouth shut and played my role.”

“Role?”

“Yes. Don’t look at me like that…I ain’t saying shit.”

“Isn’t it a bit too late? Speak, I need to know what bullshit I’m getting myself into!”

Donat sat there on his stool ruminating for a good fifteen minutes. He didn’t allow his turmoil to show on his face, but I could see saw the inner battle through the ‘gentle’ tapping of his feet. They were solid and quite telling.

“Flash Clones are what the wealthy use for Insurance Scams. If an insurance company suspects foul play, that’s one of the first things they think. And the reason no one knows about it is that it’s swept under the fine rug of murder.”

Holy...Shit. I know corruption at the highest was complete shit...but Cloning...for Insurance Claims? That’s fucked up!

“...shit....”

“...is exactly what you just put yourself in. Now live with the consequences…”

“Asshole.”

The both of us sat in the morgue for a good twenty minutes cursing our predicament. Well, Donat more than me. I simply stared at the sinew bubbling within the philandric ichor with my nose covered.

Eventually, an idea came to me, one that made me recapture my wits and decided to find out what was going on here. “Doc…you said that this shit is used mainly in insurance scams, but Adrianna was just some C-Class analyst. How much would it cost to create a Clone of her? Two Million Credits, right?”

“More like Five Million. Which takes the husband off your list, if he isn’t wealthy. Middle-Class People don’t use their money like that....wait, is she middle-class?”

“She isn’t...but maybe. Hmmm....she might’ve been a lover of some wealthy asshole. He cloned her and used the John Doe to make people think it’s a serial killer.”

“That's...not a bad idea, but that theory doesn’t have much weight Cypher.”

“why not?”

“Digital ID Frags.”

“ Shit...you’re right. Adrianna’s own was fine, but the John Doe’s own was blocked. Which means it's just a temporary one.”

“Ok…then let’s check the DNA then.”

Donat ran back to his holokey pad and began typing away sifting through whatever screen he needed to go to verify who the John Doe was.

The former M.E.’s eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head. He stopped typing midstroke and I didn’t hesitate to make myself scamper behind the desk.

DNA Match Found: Adrianna Smith.

The screen read, “Not Adrianna…the John Doe” I added, feeling flustered. “That’s the John Doe’s DNA, Cypher. It’s Adrianna.”

“…WHAT?” I growled, trying to make sense of what the retired ME just told me. “That’s bullshit and you know it. The John Doe has Adrianna’s DNA?” He then pointed to the Digital ID Fragment associated with the body and it had a blank name and no associated information, just like the first time I scanned the Digital ID. “How long does the system take to flush out these temporary scramblers?”

“Usually two hours.”

“Two hours are gone; see if you can request it for me.”

“Alright.”

Donat typed away at the holokeypad making a series of requests in the form of speed typing. The old man was amazing, that’s for sure, but he was still a major asshole regardless of how fast he typed.

“Pull Up Adrianna’s DNA there,” I added.

”Already on it.”

The screen switched to another name, with the correct case file associated with it. I eyed the Digital ID Fragment, noting all of Adrianna’s information and feeling quite relieved.

Adrianna Smith

Age: 34

Marital Status: Married

Husband: Timothy Smith

Children: Two

Place of Employment: Lyiez Systems Inc.

Job Description: C Class Data Analyst

Address: Praetons Avenue, District 5, Lower Estate Drive, Bridge City 69541

“Good, it matches the Digit ID Fragment from before, now pull…” I said, as my jaw dropped to the ground.

DNA Match Found: Lev Ryan.

“Lev Ryan? As in The Antillean Financial Control President?”

“There could be many “Lev Ryan’s” within the database, Doc, we can’t assume that yet.”

“Then what in blue blazers are we supposed to think then?”

“Match the DNA with the Central DNA Database?

“It’s not that easy to access, we would need a legitimate reason to get that done.”

“…and this isn’t one?”

“Fair point.”

“Who do I speak to in regards to that?

“Dr Arson Fellis or Dr Jeca Sealin.”

“Anyone else?”

“There is…but the names aren’t coming to me now.”

“Give me a name”

“Cypher…my brain’s all over the place. We just discovered Clones, with ALTERED DNA. Let me process this first, then get you the remaining names of the leading doctors in Gene Therapy, specifically…Cloning, alright?”

“Fine,” I snapped, feeling more aggrieved than I should.

“You know…you’re an asshole right?” Donat said flashing a rueful smile on his face.

“You ain’t shit either, Doc.”

The both of us laughed for a moment, then peered at the bodies. The gears in our minds probably turned, thinking the same thing, I assumed. What is the IMBIBE is going on?