by Divya Singh
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Von said: “Hello madam! How are you?”
I replied: “I just feel absolutely fine. So what brings you here again? I sense the final round of tests. It must be very exciting!”
Von: “Yes you are absolutely correct. We will take you for final general, routine testing and pass you for going out of this room once and forever. I guess ZA-vi must have passed on details of rules on the ship. Anyways, I will give you my version of the rules here. Any Case like you generally called a patient here is required to get an approval from a doctor authorized to give such an approval to a patient based on the results of certain tests. Clearance of such tests is very important so that humans do not contaminate each other by different modes of contact. Not going into the tiniest details, but humans have risked their lives because of such contamination. So not taking chances any more, we have fabricated our own rules, like martial laws. We call this set of rules, as PROTOCOLS. We are very cautious in ensuring that they are strictly followed and are placed as our top most priority. This is because we have reached a level near extinction, because of combination factors of climatic catastrophe, mutation and an inexplicable exile. Anyway after a patient gets an approval from doctors authorized like me, who wears a blue badge he/she can have their passkey.
Von continues: “After you have the approval, you can use the elevator to reach to The Navigator who you have to essentially report to. The Navigator will after cross checking all the credentials brought to him, gives you a pass key. One can use the pass key to use the ship, for information, assistance and investigation.”
I said: “That is quite a valuable piece of information Doctor Von. I will try to remember it all. But what you just said about contamination, climate catastrophe, and exile is disturbing. Will you please explain it all?
Von: “I am a doctor madam; I have spent a big portion of my lifetime on this ship. Most of ‘The exile’ part and climatic catastrophe are unfathomable for me as well.”
VON carried on: “It all happened gradually and my lifetime had been too short to understand, also I have not seen any of it myself. So it is all the theory we have been taught. I have been told just about all that KEAH had told you already. And if chosen as one amongst us she possesses the best knowledge, because her memory is implanted from all that had happened in these last 200 years. We lack that understanding which she inherited from the memory implant.”
Von: “About the contamination, it is basically deformity in genetic material passed on to the present generations. It is a set of bad mutations, causing cancers, blood deformities, growth and bone deformations, structural anomalies on face and limbs, retarded mental growth, respiratory and cardiac problems; etc.”
Von: “The exact & precise causes of the contamination are still unknown but there are various theories.”
I asked: “Theories like Big Bang, Oscillating universe etc on the creation of the universe?”
Von with a smile, “I am impressed with the pace your brain is developing! Yes, I exactly! Like there are various theories about the creation of the universe, but one, Big Bang is the most acceptable, likewise, there are various theories about how the contamination started and on the lines of the most acceptable Big Bang theory on universe, in the case of the contamination the Inbreeding is the most acceptable theory.”
I: “I would prefer it explained a little more.”
Von: “About this theory, the proponents say that some psychopath scientists had made clones of people on unauthorized channels. They introduced these clones so cleverly into the social strata that the people who recognized these original people only thought that these clones were their acquaintances or relatives as the case may be. The clones cohabited normally with the people as they were developed with a touch of a hyperactive sexuality. Their makers wanted to change the world with the progeny of the clones. They would have thought that it would lead to some kind of human evolution, the creation of better superhuman race. And once it happened, they would be uncrowned king makers. But they were wrong. It never happened. They only played with the fire. The genetics were deficient in that era. Their knowledge was never profound enough so as to be able to create a healthy clone. Their raw material was defective therefore; the product would have a negligible chance of efficiency. They infected a big portion of the race. The clone progeny had a destructive gene. It kept amplifying with generations. But the sexual mania went on. This partly dragged human race to the precipice of extinction. We are only trying to salvage what is left of it. So our rules and patterns are transparent & strict, secrecy has made us suffer to this extent once. We have pledged to undo the blunder and save ourselves from the darkness ahead.”
I said: “I now begin to understand the gravity of hardships we are facing in this era I am born into. It is unbelievable that such a high degree of devastation has been inflicted in all the years I have been lying dead for.”
I turned to ZA-vi saying: “You have been living for the longest period, could I use you for more information about contamination, that you have witnessed all these years.”
ZA-vi: “No madam! I have not witnessed anything as I was entrusted with only one task of monitoring you. I can do only what I am programmed to do.”
KEAH giggled saying: “Miss! Do you still think that he will talk to you about something he can hide behind his programming? He will not tell even if he knew. Although he is a machine, I still think he gets more rude and straightforward when he talks a lie.”
I said: “I know that KEAH! I know how he gets when he has to conceal the truth.”
I know what I wanted to do with ZA-vi, but did not think about it because he could look into my thoughts.”
Von: “Ok Madam! We must hurry up for the tests.”
I said: “What would you need now, doctor? And what are the tests I have to undergo?”
Von: “You have to undergo, Genetic Testing for any anomaly ( the group of BRCA, 1 and 2), Tests for transplant rejection like biopsy, immune system testing, Blood therapeutic testing, respiratory & digestive system testing etc. and another routine testing as blood pressure, heart rate, urine etc. For which will extract your blood and tissues from local places. So when are you ready?”
I said: “Right now!”
Von: “So let us go! “
We then went up to the floor ‘-6’. Doctor Von took some blood samples and then with the help of KEAH anesthetizing me, cut out tiny pieces of skin and flesh from various organs like lungs, liver etc.
Then they took my blood pressure, sugar level, urine test, pulse, weight, BMI etc. They also made me cycle & run on a machine which would count my stamina heart rate, respiration, and perspiration etc.
Von stayed there and KEAH & ZA-vi accompanied me to my room at ‘-13’. Von must have authorized our return back by the retinal scan.
In 2 hours, I got my results. Except in routine check up, I was given a green signal. I was really happy and contented to be able to be free of this room’s captivity. Now I would have my own authorization Passkey to investigate the ship & the world.
For that, I needed to visit The Navigator, which would require me authorization from Von or Shelly. So I had to wait for one of them then-
Von stepped in the room he said: “Congratulation Madam! You are finally eligible to go out and be free from the confines of this room. Are you ready?”
I said excitedly: “Yes of course! Since forever!”
“I am authorizing you to the use of elevator and emergencies. You will then have to visit The Navigator. ZA-vi will take you there. Rest you know.” said Von.
VON declared: “I am sending your reports and credentials to the Navigator. When you reach there he will observe your credentials thoroughly while ZA-vi will convey him all the information he will need. Then you will be granted your authorization very soon without a problem.” He said.
“Ok!” I said.
Von: “I am uplinking my retinal sca
n, authorizing your travel to The Navigator .You can go to him now. ZA-vi will take you there. Best of luck, Madam!” He said smiling.
I smiled back: “Thank you.” Then ZA-vi & I got up and stepped out after seeing Von taking his eye near the screen in front of him. We took our way all the way to the elevator & reached the room with big screen & glass panes to view outside.
Chapter 12: The Navigator