Perfect Image

Book 0: The Clone Series

by Trish Moran

Genres: Science Fiction; YA Dystopian

Synopsis

The climactic third volume in Trish Moran's acclaimed young adult series exploring humanity, technology, and the problems of growing up in a dystopian future. The Compound Labs, the original group of clones freed from the notorious medical centre, are continuing to live successfully alongside the normal humans in society. But they are troubled when they hear that the militant group of clones, the Radicals, are gaining more and more followers. The Radicals, sponsored by an anonymous billionaire, have a perfect vision for a future society where every member is given a designated role according to their abilities. They have plans to rule this new way of life with a specially created 'perfect clone', showing little regard for those they consider inferior mentally and physically. Have they created a team of unfeeling, super-intelligent people who will stop at nothing to achieve their aims Are the Compound Labs strong enough to defeat them in their crusade Can a young Hybrid girl use the power of love and compassion to awaken deeply hidden human traits and force at least one man to challenge the course they have set themselves

Release date: March 28, 2019

Publisher: Headline

Print pages: 272

Sample

CHAPTER ONE

‘So as you can see, Abel, the figures for crimes committed by Labs have risen by twenty per cent in the last six months,’ said the Prime Minister, Jason Whitehead. ‘Here’s a particularly bad example – a Lab in a highly trusted position at the Southern Bank charged with embezzlement.’

‘He did maintain in his defence that he was merely trying to demonstrate how easy it was to bypass the bank’s security system,’ Abel countered. ‘He swore under oath he had no intention of stealing the money.’

‘What does that mean to you people anyway!’ Police Commissioner Browne sneered. He was a large, red-faced man whose neck swelled over the collar of his stiff white shirt. He moved restlessly in his seat, flicking imaginary dust from his sharply pressed trousers.

‘A Lab swearing under oath carries the same weight as a Non-Lab doing the same thing,’ Abel replied.

‘That’s one thing I really resent! Being called a “Non-Lab”! I am a human being!’ Browne spat.

‘And we Labs are, too, just a different category of human being.’ Abel’s mouth tightened.

The Prime Minister sighed. ‘I think we need to forget our differences and work cooperatively to decide what action needs to be taken. I have another serious case here, of a Lab being found guilty of hacking into confidential files at the Ministry of Defence...’

‘Do you also have records of Non-Labs’ criminal activity over the past month, Mr Whitehead?’ Abel asked with a note of exasperation in his voice.

‘At the moment, Abel, we are considering Lab activities. And the fact that this criminal was not a Compound Lab or a Government Authorised Lab, but claimed to be an Independent Lab. How many of these Independent Lab groups are you aware of, Abel? I thought we had already agreed that you would keep us informed of any new developments?’

‘We have met a number of Labs who prefer to live independent lives,’ Abel replied.

‘But you didn’t feel it necessary to pass on this rather important information?’ Browne stabbed a finger in Abel’s direction, ‘You could be charged with withholding evidence...’

‘Evidence of what?’ Abel said.

‘Please!’ The Prime Minister held up his hands. ‘Abel, Commissioner Browne does have a point there, you know. We had already agreed when the Government Lab Centres were established that we were to be kept informed of any suspicious Lab activity you came across.’

‘I did not want to spread unnecessary alarm. It could cause even more prejudice against the Labs who are making great attempts to integrate into normal life on an equal footing with Non-Labs – sorry, the other group of human beings,’ he answered.

‘It would have been better if you’d passed on such important information immediately. Leave it to us to decide how to handle it,’ Whitehead stated. ‘We will expect this in future.’

‘And I must disagree with Abel’s view how well-integrated the Labs are in our society,’ Browne reorganised the sheaf of papers in front of him. ‘We are aware that many of your kind are now employed by UK companies and businesses and even in the Department of Education.’

‘Yes,’ Abel nodded. ‘We are proud that one hundred per cent of Labs from the Compound secured employment within three years of us establishing our equality.’

‘Are you also aware that as these super-intelligent beings quickly rise through the ranks, they leave a rather limited career scope for us lesser beings? Have you considered the feelings of mere mortals like us?’ Browne asked.

Abel sighed. ‘I am aware that the intelligence level of most Labs is higher than their Non-Lab counterparts, but if this makes them better suited to a post, surely you can’t hold them responsible for that?’

‘This is the result of a work study of one of your lot in the UK’s most important car manufacturers,’ Browne said, tossing some papers onto the table in front of Abel.

Abel scanned through them. ‘Why are you using this as a point against us? This Lab was responsible for streamlining the factory production lines and improving the efficiency of the workforce. He saved the company over twenty million pounds in the first two years!’

‘He was also responsible for the loss of nearly eight hundred jobs.’ Browne added. ‘That didn’t go down too well with the work force, I can tell you!’

‘You can’t blame us for progress!’ Abel said. ‘It’s not the first time in history manufacturing has changed and the workers have tried to stand against it.’

‘But this case did leave a bad taste, and quite a few ordinary people do blame Labs for the job cuts. There were a number of attacks on Labs around this time. And the numbers are growing,’ Whitehead pursed his lips. ‘We don’t want to stand in the way of progress, certainly not, but it must be gradual, something the people can deal with. And it mustn’t always be seen as the Labs who are leading these innovations. It’s causing resentment.’

‘There’s another issue!’ Browne bristled. ‘What about these new youngsters? These Hybrids? They are coming of age now, aren’t they. How old is the first one now, thirteen?’

‘Closer to sixteen, I believe,’ Whitehead suggested as Abel nodded.

‘And already at university – and then on to a highly paid job, no doubt. He’ll be followed by a whole host of these superkids. Where does that leave the normal kids? People aren’t going to take it lying down. There’s going to be trouble!’ Browne shook his head and glared at Abel. ‘You and your Lab friends better start watching your backs. Things might get ugly! And how is the Police Department supposed to help you out when you’ve kept us in the dark about so much, hmmm? No doubt you’ll come running to us when they start burning you in your beds!’

‘If we felt we would get a fair hearing from you people on an equal footing we might feel it was easier to communicate with you, but as it stands...’ Abel stood up.

Browne stood up to face him. He gave a short laugh, ‘Ha! Equal footing? You descended on us innocent humans and straight away laid out your demands! What about our demands and our rights? Have you ever -’

Whitehead rapped his knuckles on the table, ‘Can we have some order, please! Shouting at each other is not going to help anyone.’ Both men fell silent.

The Prime Minister looked at Abel. ‘Browne’s right, you know. This situation is a time bomb waiting to explode, especially with the economic climate the way it is at the moment. We need to get a team of your people and ours together to think of a peaceful way forward – and fast.’

CHAPTER THREE

Abel struggled to wake up; something was wrong. Then he heard voices shouting. He leapt out of bed, calling to Ruby as a bright light lit the room.

‘Get the children! They’re burning the place down!’

He pulled the door open and was met with a wall of fire between himself and the children’s bedrooms.

‘Ness! Tilda! Get out of the window! I’ll come around!’ he shouted and headed out of the house.

‘Daddy! Daddy!’ his elder daughter screamed, her younger sister clinging to her neck. Snatching them up, he stumbled towards the next building where he met Celia. She wrapped a blanket around the girls as he placed them on the ground beside her. ‘Where’s Ruby?’ he asked.

‘She went inside to get the boys,’ Celia answered.

Abel pulled a blanket around his body and headed for the second bedroom window as the glass exploded.

‘You can’t go in there, Abel!’ Celia shouted. ‘It’s an inferno! The fire brigade are on their way.’

‘I can’t wait! I’ve got to save my family!’ Abel coughed and struggled forwards against the heat.

‘There’s nothing you can do!’ Celia sobbed as the roof collapsed with a crash.

‘No! No!’ Abel shielded his face as he pushed on forward. ‘I must save them!’

‘Abel, Abel!’ Someone was shaking his shoulder. ‘Abel! Wake up!’

He sat upright in bed, breathing rapidly. Ruby rubbed his shoulder.

‘You were having a bad dream, love.’

Without a word, Abel got up and walked across the corridor to the bedrooms where his children slept soundly. He gave a sigh of relief and leaned against the door frame as Ruby joined him.

‘It seemed so real,’ he pulled her close. ‘I thought that you... the children... were in danger! I... I couldn’t save you!’

‘You are putting yourself under too much pressure,’ she whispered. She ran her fingers along the hard muscles of his arms. The same strong arms that had always wrapped her up so safely. ‘You can’t take responsibility for all the Labs and Hybrids yourself. Things have changed so much over the past few years. There are so many Labs and Hybrids and Authorised Labs now, and we don’t even know how many Independent Labs there are.’

‘You are right, Ruby. Life isn’t as simple as it was when we first gained equality. I can’t manage things alone.’

CHAPTER FOUR

Celia exchanged a glance with Isaac as they arrived for the meeting that evening. Abel was looking pale and drawn as he began.

‘As you know, I met with the Prime Minister and the Police Commissioner earlier this week.’ He briefly explained their conversation. ‘At the moment there is a good deal of tension between Non-Labs and us.’

‘What do they expect us to do? Dumb down our intelligence levels to make them feel better about their own limited abilities?’ one young woman demanded.

‘Why can’t they accept us for what we are? We have a lot to offer,’ a boy added.

‘I’m fed up of being treated as a second-class citizen!’ a third interjected.

There were several more comments and an animated exchange of ideas.

‘I understand how you feel, but we also have to see things from their perspective,’ Abel gestured for silence. ‘With the country in the economic situation it is in now, they see us as a threat. We need to consider ways that will help us all to move on together, without this dividing line cutting any deeper. It won’t help anyone.’

Murmurs of complaint were rising again when Adam, a former rogue Lab but now one of the most respected members of the community, stood up. ‘Might I make a suggestion?’

Slowly the room fell silent.

‘I can understand the frustration we all feel at the moment, but getting angry and shouting won’t help us. We must consider what Abel said. It’s time to sit down, maybe in smaller groups, to give everyone a chance to air their views, and formulate some positive plans of action.’ He turned to Abel. ‘Perhaps some of the Labs who were first awakened could act as leaders of each group and make a note of their suggestions. Then we could come together and share our ideas.’

Ten Labs were selected as leaders and each of them was allocated a group. Soon there was the sound of animated but orderly discussion.

‘Well done, Adam,’ Abel nodded. ‘You helped to avoid total chaos in here today.’

‘They are young and enthusiastic. We need to channel their energy.’ Adam smiled. ‘I think if we give them half an hour then we can return to a general discussion.’

Adam walked across to the nearest group as Celia and Ruby approached Abel.

‘You’re working too hard, Abel. You’re going to have to do more delegating,’ Celia smiled.

‘Think about it, Abel,’ Ruby added. ‘The Prime Minister doesn’t hold himself personally responsible for the wellbeing and behaviour of every Non-Lab in the UK; neither could the US President operate without a team of helpers behind him.’

‘You’re right, Ruby. We need to organise the different departments we already have and have a head of each department who would keep you up to date, Abel,’ Celia said.

‘And each department could be responsible for promoting strong liaisons with the Non-Lab community,’ Abel nodded. ‘This is a good idea, but we’re going to need a good PR team.’

‘I’d be interested in organising that department,’ Isaac said.

‘This could be the way forward,’ Abel said. ‘Ruby, Celia, can you arrange a meeting with the Labs you think would be interested while I stay here with Adam? This week if possible. The sooner the better!’

CHAPTER FIVE

‘First of all, thank you for coming at such short notice, but this meeting is urgent,’ Abel stood up and smiled. ‘We are all aware of the growing tension between the Lab and Non-Lab communities. It isn’t surprising considering the growth in numbers of Labs and Hybrids over the last fifteen years. The numbers are now too big for me, as leader of the Labs, to manage alone. So Celia, Ruby, and I have come up with the idea of departmental leaders who would keep me and a selected team up to date on a daily basis. We already have some departments which are pretty well established: Compound finance, overseen by Celia, which also funds Compound Labs in the wider community, law enforcement through Reuben and his team, a strong medical team under Dr Shultz, and an education department via the school Amanda runs here. Isaac has already done a lot of PR work for us over the years and is happy to organise that department. We would like to develop a law department, and a commercial department to cover our different business interests.

‘As well as being answerable to me, as head of the Labs, each department will be headed by a Lab and a Non-Lab and will be responsible for promoting links in the community with Non-Labs.’

‘So we are going to ask for Non-Labs to apply for these positions here on the Compound?’ One of the medical team looked alarmed. ‘I know we have worked with Non-Lab medical staff, but up to now it has been us helping them in Non-Lab hospitals and research centres.’

‘Yes, that’s what we feel we need to change. The Compound is too isolated from the Non-Lab community. We need to think about not just us fitting into Non-Lab life but actively inviting Non-Labs into our lives. Now, I’ll list the departments and suggested leaders, and see if anyone has further ideas to put forward.

‘Reuben heads the law enforcement department. We spoke on the phone and he is all in favour of these ideas. He said there are a few Non-Lab police officers he would be happy to approach about working with him if we are going to go ahead with this. He already also has some of the Non-Lab Specials, Cam, Jez, and Otis, working with him.

‘Dette would be the Lab choice to head the commercial department as she has been involved in several projects working alongside Non-Lab companies. This department will cover several sub-departments. One of those is horticultural research. We already have Bailey as Lab and Zig as Non-Lab to head that section.

‘Dr Amanda Harrison is founder and head of our education department. We will need to find a suitable Lab to work alongside her. She liaises with several Labs working at Oxford and Cambridge universities, so it should not be too difficult to fill those positions.

‘Celia will need a Non-Lab to work with her to head the finance department. Isaac, as Non-Lab, is looking for at least one Lab to join him in the PR department.’ Abel looked around, ‘Any comments so far?’

‘This sounds like a sensible idea to me,’ Adam said. ‘Could I suggest that we continue with the Lab group leaders, perhaps renamed as Lab Councillors, and regular meetings to give Labs a platform to air their views? I would be willing to chair the meetings, with help from Leonard, and collect their ideas as I did on Monday. We wouldn’t need Non-Lab colleagues at these meetings as their ideas will be forwarded to the relevant departments headed by Labs and Non-Labs.’

‘Yes, Adam, ‘Abel nodded. ‘That would be useful.’

‘I’d like to suggest that Pellier and I work with Isaac in PR, as we have experience working with Zorro and Jamie and their bands. Leon and Johnny could also do this job on the sports side,’ Keith suggested.

Leon raised his eyebrows. ‘What would we have to do exactly?’

‘Pretty much what you’re doing already. Promoting sport for everyone,’ Keith replied.

‘Oh, we could do that!’ Johnny nodded, looking at his brother.

‘We could take this further,’ Celia sat forward. ‘We could arrange sports workshops for Labs and Non-Labs, promoted and introduced by you and run by other Labs offering coaching and the chance for a Non-Lab to gain a scholarship for the kind of sports education you began yourselves. The finance department could cover the funding.’

‘Other departments could offer similar workshops or even apprenticeships for young Labs and Non-Labs,’ Ruby suggested. ‘We already have the Non-Lab Specials, Brit and Shiva, working with the younger children at the Compound school. Shiva has said she would like to take a course in child care at the local college. We could help her out.’

‘One of the ideas offered by the groups was supporting Non-Labs in educational subjects,’ Adam said. ‘A maths specialist suggested offering coaching to sixth form and university Non-Lab students in the Lab’s own particular subject. Another had the idea of setting up weekends of outdoor activities open to Non-Labs to demonstrate the fitness programmes followed by Labs.’

Abel spread his hands. ‘We have so much to offer! Could I ask you all to consider which department you would prefer to become involved in, and also to suggest suitable Non-Lab partners we could invite to work with us. We’ll meet again in a few days.’

CHAPTER SIX

The young Hybrid looked around suspiciously as he entered the room. Leonard was seated at a large table with three other Hybrids.

‘Please sit down, Rafael,’ Leonard smiled. ‘You probably remember Kasper, Laura, and Monika from the Lab Council meeting.’

The three others nodded, but Rafael merely scowled as he slid into a chair, ’I hope I’m not wasting my time on yet another meeting urging us to collaborate with Non-Labs. I’m not going to be forced to work with them!’

‘Oh, I won’t force you to. But I hope you will volunteer to do so...’ Leonard began.

Rafael was already rising from his seat. ‘You promised me this meeting would be different, not the usual Compound Lab crap!’

Two of the other young people murmured in agreement.

Leonard gestured for him to sit down again, ‘Listen, if you’d all give me a few minutes you’ll see I’m certainly not wasting your time.’

He opened a folder. ‘As you’re all aware, Abel and his select committee have drawn up plans for Labs and Hybrids to be actively engaged with Non-Labs, offering assistance and support in many fields.’

‘Yes, we are being asked to help our Non-Lab comrades!’ Rafael muttered belligerently. ‘Why should we waste our time on them? We are the superior race, everyone knows that. We should be concentrating on our own development! We are the future of this country! Of this planet!’

The other youngsters nodded enthusiastically.

‘You are exactly right, Rafael,’ Leonard smiled. ‘That’s why you four were selected. Because I believe you really understand what we should be working towards – the future for the Labs and Hybrids!’

‘Abel and his committee don’t agree with that!’ Kasper pointed out.

‘The Radicals do!’ Laura countered.

‘Hmm, the Radicals don’t want to know Compound Labs, they don’t trust us,’ Monika said. ‘I tried to get in touch with them through an Independent Lab I met. Once they knew I was with the Compound Labs, they weren’t interested!’

‘Perhaps the Radicals would be interested in Compound Labs who share the same ideals as themselves,’ Leonard suggested.

‘How would you know that?’ Monika narrowed her eyes.

He shrugged. ‘Wouldn’t that make sense?’

Laura frowned, ‘But you said you wanted us to volunteer for these projects set up by the Compound Labs leaders. Isn’t that just wasting our time?’

Leonard smiled. ‘Abel has organised the Compound Labs into departments, pretty much like the Non-Lab government and, as you know, he is promoting working relationships between Labs and Non-Labs. So far it is proving very popular, especially with the Non-Labs in the Hambleton area.’ He read out the headline of the local paper. ‘Labs and Non-Labs working together to promote community spirit.’ There was a large photo of a smiling Abel standing next to the local councillor. Ignoring the mutterings, he picked up a national paper. ‘And, of course, our faithful Non-Lab stalwart, Isaac, has written an inspiring article on Abel’s fine work. “In Hambleton they’re not just building physical bridges but they are bridging the gap between Labs and Non-Labs.’”

Rafael groaned and put his head in his hands.

‘Exactly! So what has that got to do with us?’ Monika asked.

‘If we go along with it all and put our own Labs in each department, we can keep abreast of the Compound Lab developments. And also we’ll have people in the right places when the Radicals make their move, which, if rumours are correct, will probably be in the next few months.’

Rafael sat up straight. ‘So you’re working with the Radicals?’

‘I have made contact with them. As you know, the Radicals are recruiting Independent Labs daily. They’ve been especially active since the Government Lab Centre started creating Labs for Non-Labs unable to have children naturally.’

‘Yeah, the “Legal Labs”. I met some of them the other day. They seemed a bit Compound Lab-ish to me,’ Kasper remarked.

‘I met a really nice Legal Lab at uni last week. She’s studying politics. She wasn’t afraid to give her own opinions.’ Monika countered. ‘She wasn’t at all Compound Lab-ish.’

‘I suppose they’ll be quite a mixture, considering their backgrounds,’ Leonard continued. ‘And we can assume the Radicals will have their eyes on some of them, at least. I also know for a fact that they’re also very interested in recruiting Compound Labs and Hybrids who show an independent spirit and who are completely trustworthy,’ the older man said.

Kasper snorted, ‘The Radicals won’t touch Compound Labs or Hybrids while Abel is working so hard to fit in with the Non-Lab ideals. We need to make a stand for ourselves! Protest! Make it known that we’re not in agreement with him!’

‘That’s what this meeting should be about today.’ Monika nodded vigorously.

Leonard shook his head, ‘All that would do is make the Non-Labs create even tighter controls over Lab activities. That won’t help us at all. No, we have to be much more subtle. We must appear to be working with the Compound Labs while following our own agenda. If we have evidence of our own plan of action and develop our own research, we’ll have a much better chance of joining forces with the Radicals.’

‘So you think we should go along with this scheme of Abel’s?’ Rafael scowled.

‘For the moment, yes. It will also give us the chance to recognise other likeminded Compound Labs and Hybrids.’ Leonard smiled. ‘And who knows what information we may pick up on the way that will prove very useful to the Radicals...’

CHAPTER SEVEN

‘Good evening. It’s good to see we have so many volunteers. Most of you will have studied in these very classrooms and I bet some of you will have mixed feelings about coming back to school again!’ There was the sound of laughter as Amanda Harrison looked around the Compound school room. ‘But this time it will be in the evenings, and this time you will be the tutors! You Labs and Hybrids have so much to offer our Non-Lab neighbours! There’s been a great response for tutoring, especially in Mathematics and Science, so I thought we could start with those subjects.’ She turned to the two Labs who stood next to her. ‘Let me introduce Blake from the Faculty of Mathematics at Cambridge University, and Felicity, Head of Advanced Sciences at Cambridge House Sixth Form Unit. They are the Labs running the Compound Education Department with me. We have organised a timetable due to start next Monday, initially for ten weeks. Then we will review the progress made from both the students’ and the tutors’ perspective. We will give you details of the students allotted to you and a schedule of the classrooms and times they are available for use. There is also an overview available to download if you need to make any changes to your allocated times.’

Blake smiled as he flicked through his papers. ‘Agnes, Virginia and Grace – we’ve a different schedule for you youngsters from the Compound School. We’ve decided that you would be most valuable tutoring standard level Maths for twelve of our top students.’

‘I thought we were going to tutor at advanced level,’ Grace said. ‘We all achieved 100% in the exam last summer!’

Blake tapped his lip. ‘The Heads of Maths and Science at both Cambridge and Oxford were worried that their advanced students might feel they were being patronised if their tutors were thirteen-year-olds. So we thought it would be better if you were allotted mainly sixteen-year-old students, initially at least.’

Ginny sighed as Henry moved on. ‘I had hoped we were finally going to be recognised and valued for our true intelligence levels! It’s us being patronised!’

‘Mmm,’ agreed Ness. ‘Well, they did say it was the initial arrangement. Perhaps we’ll get to the higher levels after the first ten weeks.’

‘Huh,’ a boy nearby leaned towards them. ‘I expect they’ll soon have everything organised the way Abel’s daughter wants it!’

Ness felt her face flush. ‘I didn’t mean anything like that!’

‘Shut up, Rafael,’ said Kasper, grabbing his shoulder. ‘You’re supposed to be showing your nice side tonight. If you have one!’

‘Yeah. . .