Experiment 1: Creation of Life

Leia was one of the leading scientists at FLARE (Future Lab for Advanced Research and Engineering) A tech forward research facility pushing the limits of human genetics and artificial life. 

Her latest project, however, was different. For the span of one year, she and her team had been perfecting their creation on a human capable of real emotions and self-aware. Not merely an android like they had created before but something more that could be define as human existence. Leia's colleagues, full with hope and relentless working hard because of their believed of this project can create a future where human population is no longer become part of humanity concerns like climate change and pollution which is now solved thanks to the intelligent of human beings and advanced technology that has evolve by time.

Now in the year 2204, robots and AI live together within the human society, if this project of perfecting the birth of a human in a lab then they wouldn't be worry of human extinction in the far future.

But Leia wasn't sure she shared that vision, yet she was there, in the lab with other scientist night after night, meticulously working to ensure each element of the experiment aligned perfectly. As one of the leader that conduct the team, she was the one that stay the longest in the lab, unlike others who went home because they also have their life apart from this project, but not Leia who life is bound by her passion to create or search for something new. Even at her house, she always isolated herself in her underground lab.

Tonight was different. The lab was empty like usual, leaving her alone with the faint glow of monitors and the soft whir of a single large incubation chamber in the center of the room. Inside it was project life. A single, small form begin to take shape, half hidden behind a fogged glass window.

Leia look at her surrounding, left and right before took a step closer with her heart pounding faintly in her chest.

The figure within began to stir. Tiny hands twitched and the small eyes opened, blinking slowly, taking in their new surroundings then the child's eyes fluttered open, glassy and uncertain as she adjusting to light for the first time. Her gaze drifted up, unfocused but slowly fixed on Leia's face on the other side of the glass. Leia took a step closer and pressed her fingertips closer against the glass. The child's eyes softened, still locking onto Leia's then lifted her tiny hand, mirroring Leia's movement.

Leia can't believed that the project her and others trying to perfected finally here, in front of her eyes. Then suddenly, a moment of unexpected happens.

A smile. The slightest, gentlest smile and pure smile form on the child.

The smile was barely there, but it was enough to break through the sterile coldness of the lab. It took Leia by surprise.

Leia's hand dropped from the glass, her fingers trembling as she moved to the control panel, her decision already made. She would give the child a real life, even if it meant rewriting her own.

The next morning, Leia walked in with her usual calm composure. As she approached, her colleagues gathered around the empty chamber, frowns deepening as they inspected the equipment along with some of them opening their holographic floating screen, scanning with the problem of what had caused this.

"This can't be right," One of the researcher muttered. Scrolling through a set of the data on his tablet. "The data shows a complete system error during the final phase. I don't understand how this happened, everything was perfect yesterday!"

Leia kept her expression neutral, stepping forward as if to examine the situation. She let a moment of silence, crafting her response. "It appears that the system was overloaded." She had no idea what she tried to explain. "Whatever caused it, the results just weren't sustainable."

One of the scientist standing beside crosses her arms, her frustration were visible. "One year of work gone... All the coding, the genetic sequencing, the cell synthesis protocols, it was supposed to be our breakthrough." Her gaze shifted to Leia. "Are we sure there's no recovery possible?"

Leia let out a soft sigh, putting on an expression of acceptance. "I checked the logs and backups, the entire process was destabilized. There's no salvaging it from here." She said, her tone decisive. "Sometimes, these things don't go as planned, no matter how precise we think we are."

After a heavy silence, one of the leader for different part of the projected shook his head, defeat in his voice. "You're right, if the process couldn't be stabilized, it is pointless to drag this out. I can't believe it failed."

"We will learn from it and move on to other projects, as one of the leading of this project, I am so sorry." Leia added smoothly.

"It's not your fault Miss Leia, thanks to you we've come this far." Said one of the researcher.

The others nodded murmuring their agreement. Leia let her shoulder relax ever so slightly.

Just as Leia thought she'd guide the conversation safely past any risk, Dr. Wallace paused. Frowning thoughtfully. "You know... Maybe we should check the security  footage? It might help us understand what happened during the failure."

Leia feels like her heart stopped a beat, and she felt a sudden spike of panic.
The footage! she realized, fighting to keep her expression calm.
The security cameras would have caught everything. The light flickering out, the controls resetting, and worst of all, her quietly slipping the child out of the lab.

Leia interrupted. "I mean, there's really no need. The system's readings alone tell us it was just a technical malfunction. No sense in digging through hours of footage for nothing right?" She clear her throat.
Her colleagues exchanged glances, a bit taken aback by her sudden tone. Dr. Wallace tilt his head. "But wouldn't it be worth checking, just to make sure nothing unusual happened?"

Leia's mind was running at full speed now as Dr. Wallace and others headed to the security room to check the security camera from last night.

Leia silently slipped away from the team to be in the quiet corner in the hallway, she pulling up her white coat sleeve, she tapped her smartwatch, whispering urgently, "Zero, I need you."

The AI's voice, calm and efficient. "What can I assist you with?"

"Zero, I need you to adjust the lab's footage from last night, just a little harmless glitch, make the cameras look finicky or malfunctioned."

There was a brief pause, then Zero replied. "Initiating system access." The AI added. "Should I infer that this is to prevent detection of last night unscheduled activities?"
Leia doesn't reply.

"Initiating glitch protocols in Lab 7 footage. Projecting interference patterns.... Now."

It was right on time the second her colleagues open the footage, there is no trace of what had happened last night, it just show a quite lab.

"You are right Miss Leia, this is waste of time." Said Dr. Wallace.
Leia nodded. "Shall we continue with out other project."

Everyone back to their positions.
Leia waited in the back and look at her smartwatch. "Thank you so much Zero.'

"Always at your service," Zero replied.

"How was the child?" Leia asked quietly.
"She still asleep." The AI in the house moving by the screen looking at the little girl on the bed. "Can confirm that, she sleeping peacefully. I hope you can come back before she awake."

A smile tug on Leia's face.

And with a quiet breath, she walked forward, leaving no trace of her secret.