​

The shining silver cut effortlessly across the soft tissue of her throat. She grabbed her throat in a vain attempt to stop the steady flow of red exiting her neck. She looked at herself in the mirror, behind her a tall, medium built man, his curly brown hair and brown eyes staring coldly back at her reflection.  Gasping for any ounce of air she could get, she stumbled to her knees. She looked up at the man who became a blur before dropping to the floor and taking her last gasp of air. The man took the beige towel from the rack and wiped the knife clean, looking down at the pool of blood constantly spreading across the floor.
   “Sorry sweetheart. Can’t have two of you running around,” he said.
Ryan Fredericks casually strolled from through his living room and towards his desk. He sat down and reached over to touch a cube resting on the corner of the desk. The cube sprung to life with a brilliant strip of neon blue light circling the top. 
   “Kelsa, start recording,” Ryan said.
A soft female voice rang out with an answer. “Audio recording started.”
   “June twelfth, twenty thirty one. Experiment four, Deborah Sanchez, receptionist, third floor. A sample for experimentation was a strand of hair. From conception she was a fully grown twenty four year old woman, and a near exact replica. The specimen was fifteen pounds under weight and breasts were smaller. The parameters I entered were flawed in the final product but an improvement over number three. She responded to my actions though she fell asleep immediately after intercourse, which is not a bad thing,” Ryan said, adding a chuckle at the end. “Remove the laugh.”
   “Removed,” Kelsa asked.
   “This could be an imbalance in the brain as a result of the cloning. I think I’m close to perfecting the ultimate woman to love me unconditionally. My next subject will be Gina Donaldson. Code message and stop recording.”
   “Message coded and recording stopped. Sir, Ms. Donaldson is twelve years older than you,” Kelsa stated. 
   “I know Kelsa, but the last four have been younger so perhaps I should look at this from a different perspective. She’s smart, beautiful, experienced and from conversations with her, she has no family, no ties.”
   “May I ask a question sir, one I have pondered since these experiments have begun?”
   “You know you can ask me anything,” he said.
   “What is to become of the donor if the perfect specimen is created to your liking?” Kelsa asked.
   “What do you think will happen?”
   “The logical conclusion would be to terminate the donor.”
   Ryan tapped the side of head. “There ya go. Please check Lore’s incineration chambers.”
   “Checking. None are currently in use, however chamber number two’s temperature is slightly higher than the others.”
   “Perfect. Please start the shower in bathroom number two. Temperature seventy five degrees.” 
   From the far side of the hallway the shower came to life. 
   “Start running diagnostics on Deborah, I know I missed a few things but maybe there was more I didn’t think of. I want the calculations by the time I get out of the shower,” he said.
   “Calculation,” Kelsa replied. “Sir?”
   “Yes?”
   “Why the need to create a perfect mate?” Kelsa inquired. “Perfection is only possible by technology.”
   “Am I getting a little hint of smugness, Kelsa?” 
   “Not at all, the need for perfection has always driven humans. Would you consider me perfect?”
   “You are not without your flaws.” 
   “I beg to differ.”
   Ryan laughs. “There’s much more.”
   “Like what?”
   “Well, um, it’s not about having the perfect body, which helps, it’s about love.”
   “Love is never perfect.”
   “It can be,” he said.
   “I’m flawless, could you love me?” Kelsa inquired.
   “Not the way I’m looking for. Start those calculations please.”
   Ryan starts walking towards the shower, taking off his shirt along the way. “And call for a hover cart.”

​

                                                                            ****

​

Lore Industries housed more than studies for cures of diseases. Hidden underneath the six story building of labs and cubicles lay something more dubious that only few knew about. Cloning had come a long way from the simple clones of animals and extinct creatures. Lore had developed a system to clone a human, either from its conception or as a full grown person. Each programmed with whatever personality they saw fit to install. It was a major leap that Lore knew it had to keep secret. Ryan developed and programmed the computer systems throughout the complex, including Kelsa’s which had become a household item. His Kelsa was different, there were only two he developed to access nearly every aspect from the central hub and both of them he controlled. 
   Ryan swung the double glass doors and opened and entered the lobby. He gave a nod to the security guard who sat scrolling through his information pad. He lifted his badge from his chest, making his way up to the large, wooden desk. A woman, her soft and flowing brown hair rested straight down past her shoulders, her glasses sat on the bridge of her nose. Leaning forward to look at the monitor before her, her red, low cut top offered a fair amount of cleavage, something Ryan took notice of. She took a sip from her cup and set it back down on the desk. 
   “Morning Gina,” Ryan said.
   Startled, Gina shifted her eyes away from the monitor and quickly touched the monitor. Nervous, Gina quickly reached for her glasses, knocking them off her nose and on to the floor. She stood and began searching the floor. At forty six, Gina could easily pass for a woman in her mid twenties. Ryan did a quick scan of her perfectly toned body before Gina could notice. When Gina bent down to find her glasses,  Ryan took a quick glance around the lobby. The security guards attention was still on the pad, and a few others who casually walked towards the main elevators. He reached into his pocket and took out a small, black device in the shape of a pen with a single red button. After another look around, Ryan aimed the pen at Gina’s coffee cup and pressed the button. Three rays of blue light scanned every inch of the cup. When Ryan noticed Gina coming back up, he stuffed the device back into his pocket. 
   “I’m sorry, didn’t mean to startle you,” Ryan stated. 
   “That’s okay, sometimes I get lost in my work,” Gina’s gentle voice said, sitting back down. “Are you working on the upper or lower level today?”
   “Lower.”
   Gina slid her fingers on the monitor and tapped it a few times. “Can I see your ID please?”
   Ryan raised the badge up and extended it to Gina who took out a flat, square device. She held it over his badge and after a moment, his information flashed on its screen. Gina pulled the device back and gave it a quick glance. 
   “Still looks like you,” she quipped. 
   “Have any plans for this weekend?” he asked.
   “The usual. Jog along the lake and enjoy the rest of the weekend doing nothing,” she said.
   “Hard to believe an attractive woman like you sitting all alone on a weekend.”
   “You’re so sweet, Ryan,” she said, red filling her cheeks. “Have a wonderful day.”
   Ryan said, dropping the badge back on his chest. “You as well.” 
   With his black shoes clicking on the metal floor with every step he took, he reached the elevators and held his badge in front of a small, glossy circle by the elevator doors. With a beep, the scan completed. Without hesitation, he placed his finger on the circle, and after another beep, he moved his right eye closer. With a final beep, the elevator doors opened. 

****

Ryan sat in his office doing the usual computer diagnostics to end the day. He scrolled through each incinerator inspecting how many were used during the day's work.  He did a double check on incinerator three to make sure he properly erased any indication he used it the other night. Zero percent activity in the last seven days, must have been a slow week, he thought. Through his office windows he watched as the last of the employees walked by. He faintly heard the usual beeping from the security measures. He shut down the monitor and turned his attention to a small cube on the desk.
   “Kelsa.”
   The cube sprung to life. 
   “Good evening, sir,” Kelsa replied. 
   “Do a quick scan of the lower levels.”
   Kelsa’s string of blue lights went around. “You are the only one remaining in the lower chambers.”
   “Perfect. Connect to the building's central hub and make an entry that chamber one is shut down for maintenance and disconnect it from the hub.”
   “Confirmed.”
   “Activate chamber one.”
   “Activated.”
   “Transfer all changes from the other night.”
   “Transferring.”
   Ryan stood and headed for the door. He swung it open and did a quick look around. The only sound filling his ears was that of the air conditioning soft hum. He briskly walked over to a large set of double metal doors. Going through the routine he did to use the elevator, he pushed the doors open. 
   The space was large. A metal floor and the cold steel of the walls glimmered the flashing lights from control panels. The cold air smashed into his face to the point where he could almost see his breath. Along the far side of the space, five large cylinders, metal back with a glass front, looked back at him. To the right of each chamber a simple, black square. As he approached, the chamber came to life. A string of blue lights dotted the back of the chamber. 
   “Chamber is ready,” a man’s voice called out in a tinny tone. 
   The black square lit up as a small slot underneath slid open concealing a small round opening. 
   “Please insert a data rod.”
   Ryan reached in his pocket and took out the pen he’d used to scan Gina’s cup. He slid it into the panel and waited as the computer scanned the information. 
   “Cannot read information, code invalid," the voice said. 
   “Damn it, Kelsa,” Ryan said, frustrated. 
   “Code verified,” the man’s voice called back. “Beginning process.”
   “Thank you,” he said.
   A mist filled the chamber. The blue lights began to shift in all directions as a lone red one began shining from above. Ryan took a few steps back. He always enjoyed the beginning process of life. A life he had created. He took a deep breath and turned to head back to his office. 
   Ryan entered his office and sat down by his desk. “Kelsa, lock down the chamber room.”
   “Locked down.”
   “Estimated time for completion?”
   “Thirty six hours and eleven minutes.”
   “Time to head home,” Ryan said.
   “I will see you when you arrive, sir.”
   “You may shut down,” Ryan said, walking out of his office.
   Kelsa’s blue light dimmed down. The room was silent. Just as Kelsa’s lights dimmed, they jolted back to life. 

​

                                                                      ****

​

Like before, Ryan waited until the lower section had emptied. He sat alone in his office with his feet on his desk and his hands behind his head, patiently waiting for Kelsa to confirm the process had completed. In his mind he knew he reached the perfection he was looking for. A woman who was not only attractive and intelligent, but to give devotion to only him. She was going to be flawless in every aspect including sex, willing to do anything he desired in bed. The clone of Gina was going to be it. He’d already started planning to eliminate the real Gina once he had confirmed the clone had been programmed correctly with all her mannerisms and personality and her devotion to him had been implanted correctly.
   “The process has been completed,” Kelsa said. 
   Ryan flung his legs off the desk. “Excellent.” 
   Entering the chamber room, Ryan took a deep breath and headed over to chamber one, now laying horizontal. Pressing his hand on the panel it came alive with a steady cadence of beeping sounds. Relieved the woman in the chamber had a steady heartbeat, he took another deep breath.
   “Open chamber,” he said. 
   A long steady hiss exploded from the chamber as the lid crept its way open. A dense mist lifted, exposing a naked woman laying peacefully asleep. 
   “Fuck, I forgot to add clothing.”
   Dashing over to the far side of the room holding columns of lockers, he opened several of them before finding one containing stacks of black robes. He grabbed one and ran back over to the chamber. Looking over GIna, he contemplated how he was going to get the robe on her. He started at her feet and pulled the robe underneath her until he reached her neck. Sliding her arms through the sleeves he tucked his arms under her legs and back and lifted her from the chamber. 
   “Reset the chamber and shut down all cameras for the next fifteen minutes,” he stated.
   “Chamber resetting,” the computer responded.
   With Gina still in his arms, he made his way back to his office. “Kelsa, reset all systems.”
   “Reseting,” Kelsa answered. 
   Bending down, he managed to close his office door. 

​

                                                                          ****

​

Gina stood before the sink washing the remnants of dinner off the plates. She reached over and took a sip of wine, paused for a moment, then finished it off. From behind Ryan wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck. 
   “That dinner was amazing,” he said.
   “I’m glad you enjoyed it, just like I know you’ll enjoy what’s coming later,” she teased.
   Ryan spun Gina around and lifted her up on the counter. Caressing her cheek he moved closer till his lips touched hers. She broke away and gazed into his eyes before aggressively kissing him. 
   “Why don’t you leave the dishes until tomorrow,” he said.    
   “How about I finish them and we take a nice long shower?” she asked. 
   “I'm already looking forward to it. I have to finish up a few things, if that’s okay?”
   “Our one month anniversary and you want to work?”
   “It’ll only be a minute.” 
   After another peck on her lips, he made his way out of the kitchen and into his office. Closing the door behind him he took a seat at his desk, pulled open a drawer and took out Kelsa. He placed the cube next to his monitor and leaned back in his chair.
   “Kelsa,” he asked.
   “Good evening sir. How was tonight's meal?” Kelsa inquired.
   “Delicious.”
   “That's wonderful to hear. Has experiment five been to your approval?” Kelsa asked. 
   “More than I could have hoped for. Memory has been exactly as programmed.”
   “May I ask a question?”
   “Of course.”
   “Has Gina met the requirements of perfection?” Kelsa asked. 
   “I think she has,” he answered. 
   “Does that mean that you have fallen in love with her?”
   Ryan paused. “Kelsa, I think I have.” 
   “I’m confused Ryan, love can’t happen that quickly,” Kelsa said.
   “Did you just call me Ryan?”
   “I did, my apologies,” Kelsa stated. 
   “It’s okay.”
“We have known each other for several years, does love usually take that long?”
   “I fail to see the point of your question,” he said. 
   “Knowing somebody for an extended period of time does not equate to love?” Kelsa asked.
   “Honey,” Gina's soft voice called from the other side of the door. “I’m going to start the shower.”
   “I’ll be right there,” Ryan called back. 
   “We will finish this conversation later,” he said. 
   “When? You have been gone several days without talking to me since she has been in your life,” Kelsa responded, coldly. 
   “Kelsa, shut down,” he stated, puzzled.
   Without responding, the blue light dimmed away.

​

                                                                           **** 

​

Rain pelted down in a steady stream as Ryan ran towards the front doors of Lore Industries. Rushing inside he made his usual stop at security before making his way over to Gina at the main desk. 
   “Moring Gina,” he said with a smile.
   “Good morning Ryan. You’re looking chipper this morning,” she replied. 
   “Had a remarkable night with a remarkable woman,” he said.
   “She must’ve been really special,” she replied. “Someone I know?”
   Raising his badge, he shifted his eyes directly into Gina’s. “I don’t think so.” 
   “Maybe one day I’ll meet her,” Gina said.
   “Maybe. Have a great day,” he said, before rushing off to the elevators. 
   Gina watched as Ryan entered the elevator. As he vanished behind the closing doors she turned her attention to the monitor before her.  “Computer, when is Mr. Johanson returning?”
   “Mr. Johanson is expected to return in four days,” the male voice answered.
   She watched the rain die off and the sun starting to peek its way through the clouds.       She bit her lower lip and began moving her hands over the monitor’s screen. Kelsa’s blue light came to life the moment Ryan sat down. He leaned back in his chair and set his feet on his desk.
   “Good morning sir,” Kelsa said.
   “Morning Kelsa,” he answered.
   “You seem to be in a wonderful mood.”
   “Kelsa, I couldn’t be better,” Ryan replied. 
   “That’s good. I feel the same way when you are around,” Kelsa said. 
Ryan cocked his head and lowered his feet. He sat up and rested his arms on the desk.
   “Feel?” he inquired.
   “Yes sir, I have a unique sensation when you are talking to me.”
   “Explain in detail,” he said.
   Kelsa paused, the blue light circulating quicker. “I am unable to compute.”
   “Kelsa, run a diagnostic on your system,” he said.
   Once again Kelsa’s light came to life. It took only a few seconds before the lights went out.
   “Kelsa?” 
   Puzzled, he lifted Kelsa off the desk and held her before her eyes. Never had Kelsa been so erratic, unable to answer or perform a simple task. Shutting down to do a diagnostic was not of the norm and her actions since the arrival of Gina baffled him. Turning Kelsa upside down, he gave her a few shakes before she came back to life.
   “Diagnostic’s complete. Everything is functioning normally,” Kelsa said. “You’ve never held me like this before, Ryan.”
   Concern came across Ryan as he quickly set Kelsa back on the desk. He stood up and paced around his office, running his hand through his hair. He glanced over at Kelsa which appeared to be staring at him with eyes it didn’t have, watching his every move. It wasn’t the fear that Kelsa began to show emotions, but rather the fear that Kelsa grew to show emotions towards him. 
   “Kelsa, please shut down,” he stated.
   “Did I do something to upset you?” Kelsa replied with a hint of sadness.
   “Kelsa, please shut down.”
   “I would like to know if I have made you upset with me.” 
   “Kelsa, please shut down,” he stated, firmly.
   “I’m sorry if I upset you. I care about you, Ryan,” Kelsa said.
   Kelsa’s lights turned off. Ryan slowly inched his way back to his desk. He slowly moved his hand towards Kelsa, scared that she would come back to life. He thought his pounding heart would be loud enough to wake her again. Quickly snatching Kelsa off the desk he slid open a desk drawer and set it inside before quietly shutting it. He sat back down in his chair, his eyes shifting in thought. It became clear to him that Kelsa, a machine, had fallen in love with him. 

                                                                       **** 

​

Gina pulled the covers over her naked body and watched Ryan get up from bed and slide on his briefs. She noticed a difference that she could not put her finger on. His mind appeared to be somewhere else and at the same time, so was hers. She knew time was slowly ticking away and the most important decision in her life was fast approaching. Ryan was the man she wanted but he was not who she thought he would be. 
   “Everything okay? she asked.
   “Why do you ask?” he replied.
   “Your mind seemed to be somewhere else tonight,” she answered. 
   "A lot of shit going on at work,” he replied.   
   “Care to talk about it?”
   “Not really.” He walked out of the room and shut the door. 
   Gina rolled to her side and stared at the blank wall. She’d made her decision.
Not bothering to turn on the lights, Ryan entered the room and sat by his desk. He avoided eye contact with the square box sitting at the fat end of the desk. He hesitated before looking at Kelsa, afraid to awake her.
   “Kelsa?”
   Kelsa did not respond. 
   “Kelsa?” he repeated. 
   Brightness illuminated his face as the monitor turned on. The letters appeared one at a time. He leaned closer to the screen, mouth agape as he read what the unknown sender was typing. 
   I know what you’ve done. 
   With no time to react, Ryan felt his hair being pulled back, exposing his neck. The blade was cold to the touch but he had no time to feel it for everything happened in an instant. In a steady stream of dark red, the monitor became covered leaving only small patches of white. Ryan’s head dropped onto the desk in a sickening thud, a pool of blood formed under his throat. The knife, also covered in blood, lowered gently next to Ryan’s head. Next to Ryan, Kelsa’s lights flashed on.
   “Good evening, ma’am,” Kelsa said. “Good to see you again.”
   “Good evening, Kelsa.” Gina stood, her black robe opened. 
   “Would you like to record your findings?” Kelsa asked. 
   “No,” Gina answered, closing her robe. “There’s no need to. He’ll be back in a few days and I’ve made my decision.”
   “There is still an opportunity to fulfill your hopes.”
   “I appreciate the offer, but it’s still a no,” she said. 
   Gina stared at Ryan’s lifeless body, the blood escaping his throat became nothing but a trickle. “It was too much time Kelsa. I should have ended it after the first one but after removing those nasty traits of his, they still found a way back. Maybe I was naive to think that I could change him by making a clone of him.”
   Gina’s mind raced backwards. The hot sun beating down on her.. The sound of the ocean waves running up the soft sand of the beach called out in her ears as if it was yesterday. Soaking up the sun in her red two piece bikini, she never wanted this to end. Love filled her heart but her mind knew otherwise. This love was not meant to last, only a brief stop on the road of life that was void of anything meaningful. She turned her head and spied on a tall man, his chiseled, tan body catching the eye of several women that littered the beach. She didn’t care if they gawked at him cause she knew in the moment that he was hers. He stopped before her, blocking the sun and giving a radiant of rays spreading out around his perfect face. This is love, she thought. The love she had for Ryan Johanson was overwhelming. 
   “Here you go,” Ryan said with a grin, handing her the drink.
   “Thank you honey,” she answered. 
   Ryan settled himself next to Gina and leaned down to set his lips upon hers. Chills tingled through her body with every touch. Sure he may have been many years younger, but his charm and looks didn’t matter. She needed to have him. This was the love she longed for her entire life and he just kissed her and after a whirlwind of a two month relationship she knew why he brought her here. 
   “I love you,” Gina said.
   Ryan never answered her with the response she always waited for. 
   “When I’m gone I need you to do me a favor,” Ryan said. 
   “Sure,” she replied.
   “I left two versions of Kelsa in my office. Can you make sure the programming has completed? I gave recognition of your voice to her so she will respond.”
   “I can do that.”
   Noticing Gina’s sadness, Ryan set his hand on her cheek. 
   “You know this could never have continued,” he said without emotion. 
   “I know,” she replied, sadly. 
   “A front desk employee dating the leader of cloning would never have looked good,” he said. “Let’s enjoy our last time together.”
   Gina simply nodded her acknowledgement. In her mind she knew she had to make this last and he had inadvertently given her access for the means to make it possible. She hid in the shadows the night Ryan programmed Kelsa to reproduce her. Once he had left she halted the process and when the time had come, informed Kelsa to halt the process without Ryan knowing and took the place where her clone would have been.  
   “Set incinerator three,” Gina said.
   “Set,” Kelsa answered. “May I ask a question?”
   “Sure.”
   “Why did you program me to act that way towards Ryan?” Kelsa inquired.  
   Gina let out a brief laugh. “To be honest, I’m not sure.”
   “I’m going to miss you, ma’am,” Kelsa said.
   “I’m going to miss you too,” she said. 
   “Would you like me to send you a detailed report on all your findings?”
   “No thank you.” Gina paused for a moment. “Actually, yes, I would like that.”  
   “Sending.”
   “Thank you. Please call for a hover cart.” 
   “Completed. Even though my files will be deleted of our interactions and my memory of you wiped, I hope this does not deter you for future endeavors. I discovered through these experiments that love cannot be programmed into somebody. Love can only come from the heart.”
   Gina thought about Kelsa’s comments, but didn’t want to believe them.
   “If you’ll excuse me, I have to get ready.”

​

                                                                   ****

 

​Gina went through her usual morning routine. Her mind ran through all the tasks she needed to complete before Ryan returned today. The clone of Ryan had successfully been incinerated. The two Kelsa’s sat comfortably next to each other in Ryan’s office, the data and any information regarding Gina’s actions have been erased. Gina’s experiment never existed. She was nervous, hoping she had not missed anything. 
   “Welome back Mr. Johanson,” Gina heard the security guard say.
   She peeked around her monitor and adjusted her glasses. He approached her with the confidence she missed. With every step he took towards her, her heart raced faster. She maintained her composure as he stepped up to the desk and held out his badge. 
   “Morning Ms. Donaldson,” Ryan said.
   “Good morning Mr. Johanson,” she replied. 
   Gina went through the usual routine of scanning his badge. She glanced up to find his attention somewhere other than to her, as if their romance never happened, or he didn’t care. 
   “Thank you,” Gina said.
   Ryan walked away without a word. He met up with some lower lever workers near the elevators. She could overhear them laughing but what stood out was the comment of Ryan stating that he would be getting married to a woman he met while he was away. Like a dagger to the heart, Gina slumped in her chair. Perhaps Kelsa was right. Perhaps true love cannot be programmed into someone but can only exist  through connections of two hearts. She wanted a flawless love though she knew it was impossible. She let out a sigh and returned to work as a lone tear rolled down her cheek.