Tape #2 - Experiment One

Dr. Walsh practically vibrated with excitement as she called her student.

-" You just have to see it, Ava..."- she exclaimed on the radio, pacing restlessly around her office. -"It's unlike anything I've ever seen."-

A few hours later, the messy-haired medical student was at her door. After donning a lab coat similar to the doctor's, she entered the office, eager to see the object of her mentor's fascination.

Dr. Walsh led her assistant to a cramped lab, where the unassuming crystal sat on a messy workbench. To the seasoned geneticist, it was a beacon of scientific possibility, brimming with mysteries waiting to be unraveled. To Ava, it just looked like a sparkly piece of decoration.

The glint in the doctor's eye gave her excitement away. -"Behold... This is..."- she declared, gesturing towards the crystal. -"...I'm not sure."-

Ava raised her brow. -"Wow, you finally lost it, Doc...."- she teased.

-"No, no, of course not!"- Dr. Walsh chuckled. -"It may not look like much, but we're about to conduct an experiment that will prove otherwise."- She guided her assistant to the other side of the table.

-"As you can see..."- She explains, taking the crystal in her hands and placing it on Ava's palm. -"It's a crystal. It's transparent, glossy and slightly iridescent, with a pale blue center."-

-"I...Don't understand."- Ava muttered, feeling a pang of worry.

-"Don't worry, you will."- Dr. Walsh reassured her. -"I have a fascinating hypothesis. I want you to sit here and hold the crystal tightly."- She opened a tall metallic stool for Ava, who hesitantly sat down.

The student held the cool crystal in her hand. -"Now, close your eyes. I want you to imagine an animal, preferably a childhood pet. One you're very fond of. Think of every detail you remember about them. What species were they? What did they look like? What did they like to eat?"-

The medical student's mind wandered to her only pet ever, the dachshund Kio, when he was a puppy. She pictured his fluffy caramel fur, his adorable dark eyes, and remembered his love for cheese treats and the occasional bacon strip.

Dr. Walsh watched in astonishment as the crystal began to emit a powerful, almost blinding teal glow. Suddenly, the glow vanished, leaving a small dachshund puppy in its place. -"Ava, don't panic..."- she cautioned.

Ava did panic.

-" What... What am I gonna...? I don't... He's so..."- she stammered, tears stinging her eyes. The puppy, so similar to her beloved Kio, had just filled a void she'd felt since his passing. He nipped playfully at the flap of her lab coat, tugging at it with his tiny teeth.

As enthralled as she was by the success of the experiment, Dr. Walsh knew it was time to bring Ava back to reality. -"I'm truly sorry to interrupt such a heartwarming moment..."- she approaches, -"...But previous evidence suggests this isn't the same dog you were thinking of. Biologically, they might be incredibly similar, even identical, but this is a brand new being."-

The puppy barked playfully, and Ava lifted him up to her face, a tear escaping her eye. -"Kio..."- she whispered, her voice trembling. He wagged his tail at the sound of her voice but showed no signs of recognition. Although heartbroken by this realization, Ava couldn't help but be drawn to the adorable creature in her arms.

Dr. Walsh, on the other hand, was practically vibrating with excitement. She wildly tossed her notebook into the air and caught it, startling both Ava and the puppy. -"Yes! This is a groundbreaking discovery!"- she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with scientific fervor.

Ava frowned, feeling a wave of unease wash over her. -"This just feels so... Unnatural..."- she voiced her concern. -"I mean, he's adorable, but he just appeared out of thin air!"- She held the puppy out towards Dr. Walsh, who couldn't resist reaching out and stroking his silky fur.

-"Oh, aren't you the cutest little experiment?"- the geneticist cooed. -"Yes, yes you are!"-

Despite her initial shock and confusion, Ava couldn't help but share a small smile. Perhaps, she thought, this unexpected turn of events could hold a new kind of happiness for her. However, she couldn't shake the feeling that they were only at the beginning of a much bigger and potentially dangerous journey.