The Number of Man: The Beginning

By Linda Kennedy

Natalie Combs discovers she was not who she thought she was after the sudden death of her parents which produces information that she was adopted. In searching for her true birth parents, she discovers the unbelievable knowledge that she had been cloned and had been being tracked and watched through a RFID chip technologies.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gatekeeper Press
• Release date: Jun 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781642378016

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The womb, designed like a woman’s on the inside, with synthetic embryonic fluid, was encased in a silver cylinder in the shape of a perfect oval. A thin layer of computer circuits was embedded between the glass and the silver cylinder that kept everything timed and operating perfectly. There was an eye on the front of the cylinder to allow doctors a full view of the child’s development. Now the time had come.

Many guests present for this special occasion had worked alongside the doctors for years. Other guests were a select few important investors in this research. They had gathered to witness the historic birth; the awakening of a new child into the world from an artificial womb. Not just any child, but one that had successfully been cloned and developed without complications.

With specialized glasses fitted with a mini camera, the guests would experience the birth exactly as Dr. Matthew Venson did. All eyes were centered on the screen as a swishing sound was heard. No one dared breathe. They watched in anticipation as the cylinder’s eye opened slowly, releasing the fluid into a canister below. Once the fluid ceased flowing, Dr. Matthew stepped closer to the open door, dressed in the typical surgical gowns and gloves worn for any natural birth.

Gently now, gently, said Dr. Matthew as he slid the tiny body from the artificial womb.

The guests watched as the child lay motionless in his arms and the nurse quickly cut the umbilical cord still attached to the artificial womb. She then gently wiped mucus from around the child’s nose and mouth and it squirmed slightly in disapproval. Suddenly, the air was pierced with the infant’s cry after gasping its first breath. A collective sigh of relief filled the viewing room and sterile masks hid the smiles on the doctor’s and nurse’s faces.

Dr. Matthew’s eyes found those of his twin brother, Gary. Their eyes locked in a moment of victory. However, there was no time to waste. He had to proceed with the protocol they had all agreed on. After all, there would be time enough for celebration later. He disconnected the mini camera, forcing the guests to view him instead from their seats in the observation room above.

We have a baby girl, Dr. Matthew announced, as he lifted the infant up in the air. He felt a rush of excitement course through his veins. Look at what we have created, he thought to himself.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have success at last. For the record, her number is 284-619-698-624-024-030.

Dr. Matthew turned to the nurse standing beside him and, speaking softly, said, Alert the adoptive parents, Natasha and Mitch Combs, and have them meet us in the main office upstairs in three hours, please.

Then Dr. Matthew injected a mini micro RFID chip into the baby’s right hand, in the padded portion of the palm below the thumb. There was not even a tear from the child from the prick of the needle as the chip was inserted easily. There would be no trace on the baby’s hand to indicate the implantation of their newest device. He looked down at this infant in wonder as his twin came up and patted his shoulder, barely glancing at the child, and said, Good work, Matthew.

Then Gary turned and walked away. Matthew wasn’t put off by Gary’s cold demeanor and knew deep down he had to feel something. Didn’t he?

Within three hours, Matthew and Gary Venson, along with their guests, were ushered into a large office prepared for further celebration. The staff had decorated the office with pink balloons and a beautiful silk banner announcing, It’s A Girl! A special table had been set with all sorts of delicious foods, a variety of drinks, and of course, champagne.

They would soon give their new creation a mother and father; Mitch and Natasha Combs, a very rich couple. After Matthew had worked with Natasha and she had experienced multiple failed in vitro fertilization attempts, the couple had been offered the chance at adoption. The investors, after many careful considerations, had also approved of the Combs.

The office was buzzing with chatter as the guests shared their own fears and relief during and after the successful delivery of this long-awaited child. The atmosphere was electric. The brothers were talking quietly when a green light lit up on the door’s security monitor. That was their signal.

In a loud voice, Matthew declared, Ladies and gentlemen, your attention, please. Please, can I have your attention.

As the guests quieted and turned to him, he announced, The adoptive parents have arrived. I want you all to give them a very warm welcome. May I present Mitch and Natasha Combs?

He nodded his head in approval towards the door that opened automatically, allowing Mitch and Natasha Combs to enter.

They were a handsome couple and looked like the million bucks that they had. They walked directly over to Matthew and Mitch handed him a plain black briefcase.

The remaining amount of money is all there, in cash, as requested, Mitch said a bit nervously as he handed the briefcase over to Matthew, who took it and handed it to Gary, standing next to him.

Mitch noticed that Gary opened the briefcase, looking inside momentarily, before nodding with a smile and placing it beside the desk. Then Mitch shook their hands to seal the transaction.

Very good, very good, Matthew said with a smile. Then he turned his gaze to the door and said, May I present you with your baby girl?

Mitch and Natasha smiled briefly at each other before turning their attention with anticipation towards the nurse entering the room. The nurse gently handed the infant, swaddled in a beautiful vibrant pink blanket, to Mitch Combs.

All eyes were on the young couple with their new child and watched as Mitch gazed down at the beautiful bundle in his arms. Natasha leaned forward and, pulling the blanket away from the child’s face, gently stroked her cheek.

We want to thank you so much for our baby girl, said Mitch with a lump in his throat.

Yes, thank you so much. We are so excited to watch her grow into a beautiful young woman. You have made our dream come true, Natasha added as she looked around at the guests. Tears of joy had sprung up in her eyes which she gracefully wiped away before turning her attention again to her baby girl.

Mitch handed the child to his wife and walked over to the table to open the champagne. The cork popped and he poured a glass. He took the glass of champagne and lifted it high. He was a father. He couldn’t believe it. He smiled at the thought.

Please everyone, come. Celebrate with us the new addition to our family. To our daughter, Natalie, he said with a large smile as he also opened a box containing the traditional cigars for any that chose to partake.

Mitch and Natasha didn’t know how much modern technology had been used to produce their little girl. They just knew it was a new scientific breakthrough and it had cost them a lot of money. She was worth every cent.

Guests approached Mitch and Natasha to offer personal congratulations and to get a closer look at the child who had been successfully developed by their leaders.

Eleanor, president of Colonial Works, Inc., stood near the door of the room and looked on with pride. In her mid-thirties, she had achieved what many women hadn’t: a successful career, wealth, and now, a huge step in the area of a technology that would shape the future of a new world. She was dressed very elegantly for this celebration and was enjoying the moment. Colonial Works, Inc. had partnered with the Venson brothers both financially and technologically by agreeing to test their newest tracking chip implant. And this would be an excellent test. The perfect opportunity: biology, genetics, electronic chips all combined.

Everything is going just as planned, she told herself. Her lips slowly turned upward with a smile of satisfaction as she observed the guests’ excitement and the parents doting on their new family member.

A toast to the baby and her proud parents, Eleanor said loudly as she raised her glass of champagne. Remember, we are all witnessing a new age of humanity, she continued. Colonial Works, Inc. is proud to have taken part in the funding of this new venture developed by Drs. Matthew and Gary Venson. After all, we all know that ‘Science Matters.’ Here’s to their tireless efforts.

Again, everyone raised a glass in congratulations.

It had begun.

21 Years Later

Natalie stirred slightly from a wonderful dream due to a squeaking noise in the floorboard. Not wanting her dream to end, she shifted her position, half listening for any further sound. She didn’t want to wake up. She was with her mother and father at a carnival and she didn’t want it to end. She knew as soon as she was fully awake, they would be gone, and the nightmare of their deaths would come back in full force.

As she allowed herself to drift back to the dream, she soon saw her mother’s sweet face again. Then she heard the squeak again, a bit louder, coming from the hallway. This time she was fully awake. She lay quietly for a few minutes, listening. Nothing.

She realized that she’d been jumpier since her parents’ sudden death, but she knew what she’d heard. Her mind raced through a short list of explanations.

Knowing she wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep without checking, she slowly and quietly got out of bed. It took only a couple of seconds for her eyes to adjust to the dark room with the small light seeping in from the hallway’s nightlight. Just in case, she reached for her pepper spray kept on the nightstand as she headed toward the hallway.

Now fully alert, she proceeded toward the hallway of her spacious apartment. It was a three-bedroom/two-bathroom located near campus that her parents had insisted she get. They felt having the extra space for her studies would be of benefit to her, as well as provide a spare guest room for friends. It was nice, she had to admit. She’d even had her aunt Vera for a lengthy visit after the death of her parents. She wished her aunt was still with her now.

Natalie walked slowly and quietly, barefooted and wearing a long black T-shirt, towards the hallway. As she opened the bedroom door wider, more light filtered into the bedroom. She cautiously peeked out of the room into the hallway but didn’t see any movement.

The apartment’s walls were painted a light beige color with a somewhat darker beige carpet in the living room and bedroom areas. The hallway, bathrooms, and kitchen were laid with hardwood flooring and each bedroom came with a walk-in closet. The master bedroom came with a large, oversized bathroom with both a tub and shower. A second good-sized bathroom was between the kitchen and living room and contained another full bath. The layout of the living room, dining area, and kitchen was open, making it appear even more spacious.

She checked each room one by one, flicking on the lights as she went. First, the room to the left, which she had made into an official office/study. She surveyed the room, letting her eyes rest momentarily on the picture of her smiling parents which she’d hung above her tidy desk. Her mother had taught her to keep organized. But she always had one drawer she called her catch-all that was always cluttered with notes and cards. Occasionally, Natalie would go through the drawer and find hidden treasures and notes that would lift her mood.

Next came the bathroom across the hall. So far, so good, she thought, and felt less anxious as she checked the third room on the left, reserved for guests.

This room had been decorated in a teal/beige color scheme. On the walls she had hung a couple of favorite seashore paintings she’d had since her childhood. She loved the simple yet sophisticated look. Everything so far seemed in order and she had not heard anything further.

A faint beeping noise invaded the silence then. Beep, beep, beep … There it was again, the fast, steady beep like one gets from a busy signal on a cell phone. She thought she’d put her phone in her purse, but the sound was coming from the coat closet in the front entrance.

Holding her breath, Natalie turned on the living room light and headed toward the closet. The beeping was a little louder, but still muffled. With pepper spray in hand, she slowly turned the knob of the closet door when the shrill ringing of the landline phone next to the couch caused her to breathe in sharply. She froze, then exhaled unsteadily. It rang one more time before stopping. With one hand still on the closet door’s handle, she braced herself, and opened the door with the mace ready to spray.

Nothing. But the beeping noise was louder. She turned on the closet light and rummaged through her coat pocket until she found the culprit. She sighed with relief when she saw it was indeed her cell phone. It was beeping, indicating a low battery. Then she noticed there had been a call. She looked at the number and didn’t recognize it. She walked over to check the number of the caller that had just called on her landline. It was the same unknown number displayed on her cell phone. That’s odd, she thought. Must have been a wrong number.

I must be losing it, Natalie whispered. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she wasn’t alone. But she knew she was alone, except for Oliver, her black and white cat still sleeping at the foot of her bed. She stood listening in silence for a few more moments, feeling a bit sheepish at her sudden fear, before heading back to bed, turning off the lights as she went.

Oliver stretched to his full body length as she got into bed, then crept closer to her, purring. She petted him gently and snuggled him in her arms as her thoughts once again turned toward her parents. The ache in her heart made its way to her throat and she swallowed hard, squeezing her eyes tightly shut, trying to stop any tears from falling. But the sorrow still seemed to overwhelm her. Had it only been six months since that horrible night when she learned her parents had been killed in a car accident?

Natalie and her parents had just moved from Virginia to Los Angeles a year ago, so Natalie could, at her parents’ urging, attend the university to study medicine. They had also insisted on moving with her, with the understanding she’d have her own place. Natalie had always found something mysterious about Los Angeles. She couldn’t ever put her finger on why, but it was like she belonged there, though it was so different from her hometown in Virginia.

Gordonsville, Virginia, was a small but historic town. As she lay in the dark, she envisioned her mom with her as they strolled down the main strip. They had liked spending afternoons in the Pebble Shop, which had wonderful, reasonably priced women’s clothing along with home décor, art, antiques, and so much more. Afterwards, they’d hit one of the town’s restaurants.

Natalie could even smell the food from the various restaurants as she lay there reminiscing. She especially enjoyed the Pomme Restaurant with its charming sign dangling from a decorative black metal banister. Their classic French dining was always to die for.

She suddenly felt homesick and wished she could just go back to Virginia. But that would be running away, and she had studies to complete. She wanted her parents to be proud and felt that they surely must be watching over her even now.

When her parents died, Natalie became sole heir to their entire estate, which left her pretty much set for the rest of her life. It made her life easier, but she didn’t feel rich, nor did she act rich, and she would much rather have had her parents back than all the money in the world.

She let her memories carry her back to sleep.

It was Saturday night and of the new friends Natalie had made in Los Angeles, she was particularly fond of Jake Jacobs. Though she wasn’t sure she’d tell him about her fright the night before, she was anxious to see him. They would be spending the night discussing their literature class report topic and doing some research.

She had a variety of snacks on the counter, from chips to cheese and sausage sandwiches. She also had plenty of beer, soda, and water stocked in the fridge. Everything was set as she put on one of her favorite CDs containing soft classic rock hits as she got ready.

Natalie opted for wearing comfy stretch faded blue jean shorts with a deep royal blue top. She applied her makeup lightly and looked in the mirror. Her bright sky-blue eyes stared back at her. She analyzed them for a moment, touching up her thick eyebrows and eyelashes that gave her an exotic look.

At the last minute she decided to add some blush to accentuate her high cheekbones. Her oval face was surrounded by thick, curly blonde hair that she had grown down to her waist. She pulled it into a high ponytail, but quickly changed her mind, letting it again flow freely. She was taking one more look in the mirror, smiling at the image smiling back at her, when the doorbell rang.

Natalie didn’t hesitate to go and let Jake in. She really needed some company and was glad that they had already made these plans earlier in the week. After all, it was Saturday night.

She let Jake in, and they chatted in the kitchen for a bit about their day as they grabbed something to eat and drink before heading into the living room to start their studies.

Have you decided on your report topic? asked Jake as he reclined on the deep burgundy-colored couch in the living room, careful not to sit on Oliver sleeping in the corner.

Think so. You? Natalie inquired.

You first, love, Jake said, flashing one of those grins with a wink that made Natalie’s heart skip a beat.

Natalie sat