The Death of a Chimera

Written by Justin Tai from Texas, USA

In 2070, five billionaires joined to create a corporation called Horizon. Their aim? To create and monopolize cutting-edge technology through whatever means necessary. Each of them held the title of Overseer, giving them absolute power within the hierarchy of the firm. Three years after its creation, Horizon would fund an experiment to create a new, stronger version of humans to support the efforts of war globally. Their work, kept top secret, was given the codename: The Chimera Project.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Test subjects 71 and 72 were a failure, sir.” A senior researcher, frustration palpable, had entered the laboratory and was now standing directly in front of the professor. “It’s been a year since we began, yet we’ve barely progressed. Are you even sure this can work? The higher-ups are demanding we show results soon. At this point, we might as well quit,” continued the researcher.

“Quit?! Do you know what it will mean if this experiment works? If we can combine humans with enhanced animals, we could become the apex of evolution. With the immune system of an ostrich or a bat, most diseases will become irrelevant! With the self-healing abilities of starfish and lizards, even lost limbs can be regenerated! We can become the equivalent of God, more powerful than all other species on this planet.” The professor slammed his fist on his desk, startling the nearby researchers. 

“I’m not doing this because the higher-ups told me to. I’m doing this because humans have the potential to become so much more than what we are now.” An irritated expression flashed onto the professor’s face. This all seemed very obvious to him.

“What a maniac,” muttered the researcher who prepared to leave.

Doubt had already begun spreading amongst the researchers, and very few believed the project had any chance of success. Just a week later, that doubt would turn into utter disbelief.

“Starting the testing for test subjects 73 and 74!” The professor called out to his team, unable to control his excitement.

As the experiment commenced, a painful squeal could be heard from inside the testing chambers. You see, each time the experiment failed, the test subjects would die with it. Sadly, even if the experiment succeeded, the test subjects experienced extreme amounts of pain. But the professor didn’t care. He needed to succeed, no matter the cost.

An hour later, the testing concluded. The researchers couldn’t believe their eyes; the professor grinned uncontrollably. Before them lay the first successful chimera, a combination of a pig and a bird. Although the chimera struggled to fly, attached to the pig’s body were undoubtedly the wings of an albatross.

As the laboratory erupted into cheers of joy, a piercing voice remarked from across the hall, cutting straight through the celebration. “What’s gotten everyone so excited?” A chill went down the professor’s back as he turned to face the figure. “Ah… Overseer Zanyberg. What a… delight.” 

Whispers could be heard around the laboratory as the Overseer stepped into the control room. 

“So, what… brings you here today?” the professor asked, his voice shaking.

“I just wanted to see how my favorite researcher was doing on my favorite project.” The Overseer had a sly smile that cut through his face. 

“We’re making great progress.” The professor averted his gaze from that of his interrogator.

As the Overseer was about to speak, a squeal called his attention to the new chimera now being chased by a group of researchers as it ran around the test chambers, its wings wildly flapping, clearly not used to its new limbs.

“You call that… ABOMINATION, progress!?” A frown replaced the Overseer’s smile as he turned back to face the professor. “The use of human test subjects has already been approved. You must show me better results, or you and your project will be shut down. Permanently!”

The Overseer then beckoned for the professor to come closer. “You know, I’ve put a lot of time and money into this project, so it’s a shame that you don’t seem to be making much progress. Maybe you need a bit more… motivation?” He whispered into the professor’s ear as he pulled out a remote and pressed a button.

The professor’s eyes widened, and he recoiled back with the advent of pain flooding his head. 

“What... what are you doing?!” he cried out as a memory crawled its way up into his mind. He was engulfed in darkness, now. He tried to speak, to yell at the Overseer to let him out, but no words left his mouth. In this moment of confusion, his attention was grabbed by a faint voice. He turned to find a screen displaying the Overseer in a dimly lit room. The screen’s view was constantly shifting, almost as if it were displaying someone else’s perspective. Eventually, the professor noticed a computer screen displaying the date 8/17/2069, about a year before the current date.

“Please, sir! I can work for you! Just don’t tell them about me. I’m begging you.”

It didn’t take long for the professor to realize that the voice was his own. Baffled, he wondered: was it some traumatic memory his mind had desperately forgotten, or was it another trick? 

“You might still have some use despite your previous failure in Project Genesis.” The Overseer scoffed, looking down through the screen. “But know that if you fail here, then the only worth you have left is to be used as a bargaining chip with company X.”

The screen suddenly cut to black, and the professor snapped back to the present. 

“What was that?” 

“You don’t need to know. Just remember what’ll happen should you fail this time.” The Overseer had a cheeky grin. “I’ll be back tomorrow with human test subjects. You’d better have the trial prepared by then.” 

When his tormentor had finally gone, the professor gathered his belongings and ran back home in a panic, the resurfaced memory playing again and again in his head. How could I forget something so important? I have to finish the project as soon as possible. When he made it home that night, he jammed his key into the lock, slamming the door open, and causing an avalanche of books and papers across the floor. 

In his home laboratory, he felt at ease again. What was I so afraid of? What did I do to be on the run? Suddenly, a wincing pain surged through the professor’s mind, and he toppled over, crashing onto the floor.

When the professor opened his eyes, he was back in the darkness. The TV screen lay before him, and he heard his voice say: “Starting human cloning trial 1.” 15 chambers were displayed on the screen, each with a different number. The professor assumed that this had been the Project Genesis referenced in the last memory. He sat, lost in thought for almost half an hour, while the screen constantly shifted from checking machine readings to looking back at the test subjects. 

“Stop the trial!” The professor's sudden screams echoed from the screen. “There’s too much of the drug in their systems! All the patients are going to DIE!” 

But it was too late. The trial had finished, and the professor looked on in horror as the test chambers opened. An amalgamation of flesh and bones had been left in the spots of 12 of the 15 test subjects, and the other 3, a hideous display of bodies with skin that had melted off. Their screams had been muffled by the sounds of the machines and the thick plating of the chambers. It was a horrifying sight.

When the professor finally returned to consciousness, all he could do was sit there, disturbed by what he had just witnessed.

The next day, he entered the lab with heavy bags under his eyes. He had never been a conversationalist, but today, he had an even colder demeanor to him.

“Sir, the test subjects have arrived. We should be ready to begin the tests soon.” 

The professor was too lost in thought and too tired to respond to the senior researcher in front of him, so much so that he didn’t feel the cold arm wrap around his shoulder.

“Didn’t you hear him?” The Overseer had returned. 

The professor fidgeted, but his expression remained unchanged as he turned to face the tyrant.

“What’s wrong with you?” But clearly, he didn’t want an answer, because he followed his judgment with demands. “I’ve already brought the subjects; you should be getting ready for the tests.”

“I… I’m sorry. I can’t participate in this project anymore,” muttered the professor, barely audible.

The Overseer’s expression turned sour.

“I’ll find a way to finalize the research without using test subjects. I… I just can’t follow through with the original plan. It’s too risky,” the professor stammered.

“I see.” A scornful look covered the Overseer’s face. “I think you’ve forgotten your position here, Professor Kai. I’m the Overseer, and you’re just a pawn for me to use. You don’t get to have a choice. Do you understand me? I’ll give you 3 more days.”

A mixture of panic and fear reasserted itself as the professor set to work. The Overseer left, convinced that he had made himself clear, finally.

“Prepare two test subjects… animals, for testing. Tell the human participants that the trials are canceled,” he muttered to a nearby researcher. The researcher, shocked at the professor’s blatant disregard for the Overseer’s demand, did not feel it appropriate to question the professor’s assignment.

The experiment ended a few hours later. As the test chambers opened, the laboratory began to fill with excitement. The test had been a success, creating a chimera primed for search and rescue with the nose of a dog, a fusion of the eyes from an eagle and owl, and the brain of a dolphin. Yet the professor, unable to forget the Overseer’s words, could barely keep himself from passing out.

The next day quickly arrived, and the professor trudged into the lab clutching his stomach; he wore oversized attire. 

“Sir, are you feeling alright?” remarked a passing researcher.

“I... I’m fine. Just continue wor... ” The professor’s legs suddenly gave out, and he collapsed to the floor. 

The researcher’s eyes changed from concern to fear when he saw something slithering near the professor’s sleeves.

“What…”

The professor’s expression darkened, and the researcher rushed away in a hurried panic.

The professor quickly put his sleeves in his pocket, using the counter to prop himself back up. His breath heavy, he struggled to his lab. Suddenly, the lights cut out, and he was surrounded by darkness again. Another memory? No, I’m still in the real world. The professor thought, clutching the barely visible counter. What’s going on?

The professor’s thoughts were interrupted by the sudden sound of footsteps behind him. “Hey! Is someone there!? What’s wrong with the…” The professor began to have a wild coughing fit, interrupting his words and hindering his breathing. He heard the footsteps come closer, and then stop just a few inches away from him. Still coughing, the professor tried to catch a glimpse of the person in the darkness. An unmistakable silhouette smiled at him. It was Overseer Zanyberg. He felt as if he stared into the face of a predator about to enjoy a tasty snack. He turned around to scramble away, but a kick sent him tumbling into the wall. As he struggled to get up, a blunt object hit him on the side of his head, and he felt his consciousness fade. 

The professor woke up to a light shining directly on his face. As his vision cleared, he heard the Overseer's voice call out from in front of him. “What to do with you?”

“You bastard! What is the meaning of this!? The deadline’s not over!” The professor’s screams echoed throughout the room.

“You still have so much energy,” scoffed the Overseer.

“Answer me! I can continue working on…” The professor’s voice began to grow hoarse from screaming

“Even when you’re about to die?” The Overseer kept smiling.

“Wha… D- Die? You-You’re joking? You have to be!” 

“You know. I must admit, I didn’t expect that you’d be so similar to the original.” The Overseer ignored the professor’s desperate cries. “So annoying. Even when faced with death, you still refuse to listen to me.” The Overseer pulled out a remote.

The professor realized too late what was about to happen, as his consciousness was pulled back into the black void. Once again, the TV screen lay in front of his eyes. 

How many memories has Overseer Zanyberg stolen from me?! The professor attempted to smash the screen, but to no avail. He was stuck in place, the black void preventing movement of any kind.

The screen flickered on, displaying the inside of a test chamber, and two voices could be heard from the outside.

The professor instantly recognized one of the voices as that of the Overseer. Suddenly, a shout came from the outside, and the chamber doors opened. “Look at it! It’s a perfect replica!” 

Standing outside was none other than the professor himself. This can’t be real… This has to be someone else’s memory! But, deep down, the professor knew that wasn't the case. The professor had finally put all the pieces together. He had been a clone from the very start, made from leftover data from Project Genesis, the original’s failed project. But one more question remained unanswered: What happened to the original?

“Please! I’m so much more useful than a clone! He doesn’t even have my memories! What use can he serve you!?” The original’s ragged voice approached its limit.

“You know, for someone so intelligent, you don’t have an ounce of wisdom in you. Don’t you remember the remote you made? The remote that can manipulate memories?”

“But… You shouldn’t have that! Only Company X and I know about that!”

“Come on. You didn’t really think that I’d follow through with our deal? I’ve already contacted Company X. In exchange for you, I get the remote.” The Overseer waved the item in front of the professor’s face.

A defeated look appeared on the professor’s face as the memory ended. His face was now painted in anger, but he couldn’t find any words.

“Well, I guess that’s the end of our time together. I did say your work with the Chimera Project was worthless, but I’m sure it’ll still serve some use in the future. Besides, I’ve already prepared another, more willing, version of you for future experiments.”

It was at this moment that something snapped inside the professor.

“You. You’ve made another clone?” 

“Any last words?” The Overseer continued, ignoring the question.

He turned to look at the clone, after a brief period of silence, only to discover that the professor had disappeared.

“Guards!” 

Five armed men stormed into the room, but their timing was far too late. A hideous, grotesque creature dropped from the ceiling, instantly crushing one of the guards, causing his guts to spray across the room. The other guards turned to fire, but their bullets bounced off the monster's carapace. The face they saw was horrifying, with two large, compound eyes plastered atop a layer of thick skin and armor. Without warning, the creature let out a roar and began to spew an acidic liquid at the guards, causing their skin to shrivel and peel off. Their screams were quickly cut off by a loud humming sound as the monster revealed two pairs of large wings.

“Incredible! To think that you could produce such results in such little time!” Awe had replaced the fear in the Overseer’s voice.

The monster turned its attention to the Overseer.

“You know, I was honestly surprised when you refused to use human test subjects. The reason was… After I turned over the original…”

The creature charged toward the Overseer in a fit of rage, but all of a sudden, one of its wings began to wither, causing it to lose balance and crash through the wall behind the Overseer. Fortunately, its charge had still managed to make contact, causing him to fall to the floor, blood gushing out from a gash across his chest.

“After I turned over the original, I removed your ability to feel compassion. And yet I never expected the original’s memories would manage to override my efforts.” The Overseer gasped for breath.

“After all, I believe that in the pursuit of knowledge and power, the boundaries of sanity must be transgressed and that one must give up their humanity. And you, despite your futile efforts to disobey me… You proved me right!” The Overseer began to let out a maddened laugh.

“In your efforts to protect others, you destroyed your own body and turned yourself into a freak!” 

The creature let out another roar. At this point, it was clearly showing signs of decay.

“Go on! Kill me!” The Overseer said, gritting his teeth

With its last remaining breath, it jumped at The Overseer, swiftly decapitating him before falling to the ground, dead.

Five days later, a press conference was held regarding the events that had transpired at Horizon.

“We are truly sad to announce the death of Overseer Zanyberg. A very kind and caring soul, his untimely death will forever be commemorated. Now, regarding a happier topic, we are proud to announce our unveiling of the project we’ve worked on for the past year. Will everyone please welcome the leader of our research team for the Chimera Project… Professor Kai Mera!”