Chapter 77: Orcille
Over a day had passed. Pardi was awake. He had several scans of his brain. The medical supervisor was concerned that Pardi’s substance abuse may have caused him permanent brain damage. Pardi wanted all scans of his brain destroyed. He refused to acknowledge that he might have brain damage. Orcilla was not faring as well. She was still in intensive care. The medical supervisor told Pardi that her chances were not good. Pardi went to be by her side. He sat next to her in the chair next to her bed.
Several days passed. Pardi remained with Orcilla day and night, but her condition was not improving. Pardi knew what he had done. He was filled with guilt, and he was desperate to put things right.
Pardi left the medical facility and headed back to the laboratory. He still had samples of Orcilla’s DNA. He decided he would try to bring her back through cloning.
He attempted to make two clones of her. He used slightly different techniques to give himself a higher chance of success. He had several incubators in the basement of the building. He had used them in his experiments to create Linap-Sapien hybrids. All these experiments had failed. The hybrids were just as sickly as regular Linap. He could not replicate the genetic phenomenon that resulted in Orcilla. However, he believed he could replicate Orcilla through at least one of his cloning techniques. All he could do now was wait to see if he would succeed.
In the medical centre, Orcilla remained in critical condition. Pardi returned to visit her every evening. Each time, he was told there was no improvement. Two months after the incident, the medical specialist called Pardi to inform him that Orcilla’s condition was starting to change.
Pardi rushed to the medical centre to get an update. The medical specialist told him her vital signs were improving. He believed she would wake up soon. Pardi sat beside Orcilla. He held her hand. Suddenly, her fingers began to move a little. Pardi pulled his hand away. He had waited so long for Orcilla to wake up. Now that it was actually happening, he was nervous about seeing her. Her fingers moved a little more.
Pardi panicked. He got up and left the room. He bumped into the medical specialist at the door.
‘He’s waking up,’ said Pardi. ‘You need to attend to him now.’
Pardi rushed off down the corridor. The medical specialist entered the room. Orcilla opened her eyes.
After Orcilla woke, Pardi spent most of his time at his laboratory checking on the progress of the clones. They were developing well. In the evening, he would call the medical centre for an update on Orcilla’s progress, but he refused to speak to her.
Pardi had kept away from the dangerous chemicals he had been using. Instead, he frequently invited young male Linap over to his apartment. He made them dress up and shapeshift into female Linap. In return, he helped them with their careers by offering positive recommendations to their employers. This did not last for long. He was reunited with an old school friend, Collingswaggle.
Collingswaggle moved to Cellrebrum many years ago. He had become one of the region’s representatives. Therefore, he spent more time in the Capital Region. Collingswaggle was quite skilled at shapeshifting into females. Every night with Collingswaggle was a new experience for Pardi.
Orcilla was making gradual progress in the medical centre. She was walking a few steps. She could eat solid foods again. The toughest part for her was coming to terms with her disfigured look. She was also sad that she had no visitors. It would not be long before she would be released from the medical centre.
Pardi received a call from the medical centre. They were asking him to arrange for Orcilla to be collected. Pardi told them he would do it. Pardi arrived at the medical centre. He was anxious. He had not seen Orcilla since the night of the ball.
He took a deep breath and walked into Orcilla’s room. She was sitting up in the bed. She gazed blankly at Pardi.
‘I’m here to take you home,’ said Pardi.
‘Is that what you really want to do?’ asked Orcilla.
‘It’ll be different this time,’ said Pardi. ‘I’m going to fix everything.’
‘So you start by just leaving me here,’ said Orcilla emotionlessly.
‘I couldn’t come here. It was too difficult for me,’ said Pardi.
‘Difficult for you,’ said Orcilla. ‘Do you have any idea how difficult it has been for me?’ she shouted.
‘You have every right to hate me,’ said Pardi.
‘I wish I did, but I don’t,’ said Orcilla as she gradually lowered her voice. ‘You are unwell. You messed up your mind. You need to get better.’
‘I’m sorry,’ said Pardi.
‘It’s not what you say. It’s what you do that matters,’ said Orcilla.
‘I want you home,’ said Pardi.
Orcilla nodded.
‘Would you mind leaving the room?’ requested Orcilla. ‘I need a bit of privacy while I change.’
After Orcilla had changed, Pardi re-entered the room. A medical specialist holding a large bag of medication accompanied him.
‘Here is your medication,’ said the medical specialist. ‘I’m afraid you will be on this stuff for life.’
Orcilla gently nodded.
They soon arrived home.
‘Can you still shapeshift?’ asked Pardi.
‘Yes, but nothing too dramatic,’ replied Orcilla. ‘I wouldn’t be able to hold my previous look if that’s what you mean.’
‘I understand,’ said Pardi. ‘It does not matter too much to me. You will always be my daughter.’
‘I need to be very clear about this,’ said Orcilla in a gruff tone. ‘Orcilla is dead. She died that night. I’m now Orcille. I’m the son that you have so desperately wanted for all these years.’
Pardi closed his eyes, and then he nodded. Orcille stared at Pardi for a few moments before walking to his bedroom.
The next few months were difficult, but Pardi and Orcille were slowly repairing their relationship. They were even able to joke together.
Meanwhile, the two clones were progressing well. They would soon be sufficiently mature to leave the incubators. In other words, they were almost ready to be born. Orcille did not know the clones existed, and Pardi wanted to keep it that way.
‘You have spent all your life in the Capital Region,’ said Pardi. ‘Maybe you should spend some time in another region.’
‘A holiday would be nice,’ said Orcille.
‘I was thinking something a bit longer,’ said Pardi.
‘Oh, you want to get rid of me,’ said Orcille, sounding a little frustrated.
‘I want to put you on a special mission,’ said Pardi. ‘I fear some of the regions might be becoming a little rebellious. I want you to go undercover.’
‘I’m not sure whether I should be flattered or concerned,’ responded Orcille.
‘It means I trust you,’ said Pardi.
‘Where is this exotic location?’ asked Orcille.
‘Tarrus Region,’ said Pardi. ‘You will be introduced as a student at Zound.’
‘Student rebellion?’ asked Orcille.
‘More like a good base as well as a potential backstory if you ever need to get deeper,’ replied Pardi. ‘The moment anything of concern crosses my radar, you will be ready to go in and execute my plans.’
‘I suppose you will want me to take on a new identity?’ asked Orcille.
‘I’ll leave that up to you,’ replied Pardi.
Orcille looked carefully into Pardi’s eyes. ‘If I’m not here, who is going to look after you?’ asked Orcille.
‘I’m going to be fine now,’ said Pardi. ‘I haven’t touched any chemicals since that night, and I have Collingswaggle.’
Orcille put his arms around Pardi. He kissed the top of his head.
‘If things get hard, promise me you’ll tell me. I’ll come straight back,’ said Orcille.
‘I promise,’ said Pardi.
‘Okay, I’ll go on your special mission,’ said Orcille.
‘I know you will do me proud,’ said Pardi.
That evening, Pardi booked Orcille’s train ticket to Tarrus. Three days later, Orcille was on the train. Pardi went down to the station to see him off. He was deeply relieved to see him go.
After Orcille had left, Pardi went straight to the laboratory to check in on the clones. They had sufficiently matured. Pardi drained the incubators of the fluid. He pulled them out one by one. He looked at the first one. He remembered Orcille from that night at the ball. ‘I’ll name you “Yassme”,’ he said. He looked at the second one. ‘I’ll name you “Yassmay”.’
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