Decrease

Wednesday - September 22

I release my hand from Georgia's as Ted announces to Dr. Querish that we're entering the chamber room. As the door opens, I'm hesitant; but yet, I need to know how this miraculous process works. When we enter the chamber room, I go directly to Victor, and extend my hand to greet him. Victor extends his and we both clasp our hands together, wholeheartedly.

"He's unable to speak at this time, Dr. Bennett. In about one hour his voice will begin to return, but not completely for about six hours. The shock of returning to life and the body readjusting itself takes time," explains Dr. Querish.

"How much time?" I ask.

"Usually twenty-four to forty-eight hours. It all depends on the subject's memory and their emotions."

"Emotions?"

"We've learned through this process, Dr. Bennett, that emotions play a key part in one's rebirth. There were test subjects who died upon coming back to life because their shock and disbelief caused their hearts to give out. Some test subjects experience a guilt complex because they felt that being physically reborn was not a gift from God, but from an unknown entity that they could not identify with. Therefore, many just died, gave up, because it was a sin for them; an unholy sin."

"Is it?" I ask.

"You tell me," replies Dr. Querish.

As I continue to watch Victor re-establish his life again, I can't stop wondering if it's too late for the world to start over. How many have died for this discovery? How many will die before this discovery can be initiated worldwide? How many are even left in the world as we stand here watching one life begin again?

"You said that Claire was a lab birth. Do you know whose sperm created her? Or is that a secret, too?" I ask Ted.

Ted projects a small squeak from his voice and says, "Yes. Yes, we do know who the father is. But is that really important now, John? I mean, does it matter?"

"Damn straight it matters. If Victor isn't Claire's biological father, then I want to know who is."

Ted lets out a deep sigh and says, "I am. I'm Claire's father."

My mouth literally drops, as I stand gaping at Ted, and then through the glass at Georgia. Feeling as if I'm about to collapse. Ted sees I'm shocked by his reply, and quickly takes a hold of my arm and escorts me out of the chamber room. Georgia gets a stool for me to sit and a glass of water to refresh myself. As I sip some water, I blurt out, "So, you're actually my father-in-law and not Victor."

"No, John, that's incorrect. You're a scientist. You know that I'm your father genetically only because of science. Legally, Victor is your father-in-law, Claire's true father. You must look at it that way. It's the only way."

"I don't know how to look at anything anymore!" I yell as I leap from the stool and throw the cup of water to the floor. "I don't know shit! I only know I want Claire! Claire!" Georgia rushes over to me and comforts me as a mother would comfort her child.

As I cry in Georgia's embrace, I can only think of how screwed up everything is. My life will never be the same without Claire and our son. What future do I have? Do I even want a future now, knowing who controls the strings of humanity? It's definitely not God anymore. If this was God's doing, he would have crushed everyone like flies and blew our dead corpses into the wind.

"John," says Ted, "please, please try and understand that this is not the end. This is the beginning, a new beginning for us to do things right and to hopefully learn from our past mistakes. You must understand that John, or we cannot move forward. Are you going to help us restore humanity, or just go by the wayside and give up? I know you, John. You've never been a quitter, or a disbeliever in what science can do. So, I must ask you again, are you with us?"

Oh, God, please help me! I don't know what to do! I don't know what's right or wrong anymore!

I tear away from Georgia's grip and say, "I don't know, Ted! I don't know! I don't know! I don't know!"

"Well, I guess we can kiss everything we've done in the last forty years goodbye. Humankind will disappear just like the dinosaurs."

Georgia comes over to me and lifts my head up and says, "Claire would be disappointed in your decision, Jonathan. She loved you so much. Do you think she would approve your giving up so easily? Do you, Jonathan?"

As I wipe away my tears, I cough and answer her like a child, "No. No, she wouldn't allow me to give up. She would make me fight until the end."

"Then fight, Jonathan. Fight until the end," Georgia replies.

I look into her eyes and see Claire staring back at me. I say, "Yes, Claire. I'll fight until the end."