"I'm scared," Kepler said suddenly. He was laying on the work table near the main incubator.
"It's ok, trust the system. You know how flawless it is. Remember what it's done for us so far. It will take care of you as always," Lucas said, grabbing Kepler's hand and gripping it assuringly.
"What did Zander say when you asked him about this?" Kepler asked.
"Zander agreed with the science, but he did not agree with the plan. He's never had a stomach for ideas that transcend his narrow vision. He makes this all possible, but he fails to see the big picture. He has always dreamt too small. But he'll see it. We'll show him," said Lucas.
"So you think this will work?" Kepler asked.
"Don't worry, it will work. What we do here today will change everything. We will change everything. We will make it all better." Lucas said with wet eyes.
"I know. Let's do it now. I'm ready." Kepler said.
"Yes." Lucas said and walked around to the front of the incubator. He brought up his module on the screen and initiated it. Pausing, he took a breath, and entered the override code. The machine whirred and clicked. The internal centrifuge began to spin. It shook and sparked and glowed. Lucas winced as the machine made an unsettling clank, then it went silent. As it wound down a black ampoule clinked down into the opening at the bottom.
"Drink up," Lucas said, handing it to Kepler. Kepler sat up, took it, and broke it open, letting the broken top fall to the floor. He held it for a moment.
"Well, here I go again. I hope I pass out before the pain starts. That was the worst part last time. You're buying me a strong drink after I wake up," Kepler said. He held up the ampoule and raised his eyebrows, nodded, then drank it, swallowing it down. He smiled at Lucas, and took a deep breath.
Before Kepler even had a chance to exhale, his body seized and he fell back onto the table, shaking, grunting. Something wasn't right. Kepler looked at Lucas in shock.
"Help..." Kepler rasped.
"What's happening?" Lucas said, and then, "Oh God."
Kepler was screaming with bleeding, bulging eyes and bursting veins. He seized and shook, then shook once more, collapsing in silence. Lucas ran to a cabinet across the room to get a med kit but stopped when Kepler began to stir. Then Lucas watched in numb horror as Kepler was unmade - his skin and muscles and tendons and veins - let go. Whatever force of physics that had held Kepler's body together, gave up - and Kepler fell apart into a heap of wet, raw human ingredients. His bones fell apart leaving his organs naked and steaming in the gloppy mess until they too undid themselves. Lucas stumbled backwards and collapsed into a chair and stared at the dripping remains of his friend. He was filled with an acute pain of grief and regret. What had they done? He wanted to cry, but he was in shock. What had happened? What had gone wrong? This was unexpected. This was wrong, horrible.
After a moment, the room became unnaturally quiet. Lucas could hear his heart beating in his ears. His breath caught in his throat. He sat, unmoving, staring in disbelief at the mess. He grimaced at the pungent copper odor of the blood and flesh. Then the air turned with an ozone smell. Every hair on Lucas stood on end. There was a low, silent buzz - an electric, tactile energy. He felt dizzy and nauseous. Suddenly, there was a pop. Lucas jumped. Then another pop, louder. The gore on the table was stirring. It smoked. Another pop. Then in a sudden visual orchestra of symmetry and motility - the ruins of Kepler Merwin gathered into itself, and out, and in between - weaving and forming, ebbing and flowing, gathering into a new shape, a new form, a new body.
The room vibrated with a piercing, intolerable whine. Lucas covered his ears and stared at the monstrous miracle of synthesis. He started weeping and he fell down to the ground with his head between his knees. It was too much - the horror and awe. He squeezed his hands tighter over his hears and he forced his eyes shut. He prayed. For awhile, he remained like that, unmoving, until he had a feeling that it may be over.
He lowered his arms, slowly, and opened his eyes. It was quiet. He could barely see the table from the floor where he was sitting, but he saw the figure - lying there - noticeably larger than Kepler had been. Lucas stood up, stepped back from the table. The new man looked nothing like Kepler. He was bigger, more muscular and handsome. A stranger. Suddenly, the man sat up and gasped - a long, deep gasp. He was in a panic, grabbing his face and spreading out his hands. Then he screamed, a loud, startling, desperate, guttural scream - shaking with his hands in tight fists. The scream turned into laughter. Quietly at first, then boisterous, hysterical - his whole body shook. Lucas stepped further away. The man stopped laughing and started breathing normally, staring off towards nothing. Then he blinked a few times, rubbed the tears from his eyes and turned his head. He glared at Lucas and whispered something.
"Wha- what?" Lucas asked timidly.
The man whispered something again a little louder.
"What did you say?" Lucas asked again.
The man tried to speak louder but was struggling. Lucas hesitated, but then stepped closer.
"Kepler? Are you ok?" Lucas said.
The man's expression changed stern and he whispered again.
"What?" Lucas asked and stepped closer.
"I..." The man said clearly.
"Yes." Lucas said.
"I..." He paused. Lucas raised his eyebrows and nodded.
"I... Timothy." The man said timidly.
"No. I'm Lucas. Do you remember me? Do you recognize me?" Lucas said. It was strange how the man sounded so unlike Kepler.
"I.." He said louder and looked down at his hands. He looked at his body and felt his face.
"Yes, you seem ok. You look well. How do you feel?" Lucas said. The man looked at him and took a deep breath, then with a loud, steady voice, the man said:
"I am Timothy Blackwell."