Visitor

Kim could feel her tears brimming. Emma’s words brought home to her the difficulty of the clones’ current situation. Initially created as spare part donors, once they had become sentient they were essentially stuck between two levels of being: neither one thing nor another. They had learned enough about how humans lived that they wanted that experience, but knew that someone, probably their maker, considered them an aberration and was working to end their existence. It was an intolerable situation for the young people.

‘How can we help?’

‘Until we know what Alain, Hugo and Brontë are going to do, it’s hard to say.’

‘How will we find out? Can you track them - do you know where they are?’

‘Not exactly,’ said Emma, ‘but we think they must be heading back to the main facility where we were grown. Logically, there is a greater chance that’s where the major threat lies. If they can neutralise that, they will be in  a better position to face any other challenge. S0 - on balance - we think they will be heading that way.’

‘They could be hoping to get Jean-Claude to help,’ said Delphine.

‘We’ve been trying and trying to get hold of him, but he doesn’t answer the phone,’ said Kim.

‘He’ll be at the growth hub. We should go there,’ said Emma.

‘We’ll come with you.’ Kim looked to Joe, who nodded agreement. ‘If we take you to the place, maybe you can wait somewhere safe while we go and find Jean-Claude. It could reduce the risk to you.’

‘Why would you do that for us?’ Delphine was clearly hoping they would but trying to be objective. ‘We’re just visitors in your home, not even the clone that you paid for. You’ve already been very kind-’

Kim shushed her. ‘We’re doing this. Come on, let’s think what we might need and then get going. We’ll probably get there before the others because they don’t have transport do they?’