Chapter 5 - THE DEAD FATHER
William Mitchell founded the regenerative program after Aaron developed neurological symptoms as a child.
He recruited Samuel Vale, then a young researcher, and used Sylvia’s family wealth to build private labs.
When early trials failed, William began testing pregnant women without full consent.
Sylvia helped.
Years later, she claimed William died in a plane crash.
No body was recovered.
The program continued under her authority.
But the capsule beneath Sylvia’s skin suggested someone still monitored her.
Federal agents traced its signal to an abandoned farm outside Omaha.
Inside a converted grain facility, they found a live command center.
No William.
Only recordings.
His voice gave instructions to Aaron, Sylvia, Malcolm, and Vale across fifteen years.
Some recordings were recent.
Voice analysis showed synthetic reconstruction.
Someone had been using William’s voice after his death.
The person controlling the family might not be William.
Then technicians found an original video from the night of his supposed plane crash.
William argued with Sylvia.
He wanted to stop the infant program after a child died.
Sylvia refused.
Aaron, then twenty-one, stood in the doorway.
Dr. Vale injected William with a sedative.
The video ended.
Sylvia had not been preserving William’s mission.
She had removed him and continued it.
Why was she now implanted?
Because Dr. Vale no longer trusted her.
He had taken control.
Aaron had been serving his mother.
Sylvia had been serving the recorded voice of her husband.
Vale had been serving only himself.
The hierarchy changed.
Then Sylvia woke.
She admitted helping conceal William’s death.
She claimed he died during the injection, and Vale disposed of the body.
She kept the voice system because Aaron obeyed his father more than her.
She used the dead man to control the living son.
Aaron heard the confession from custody.
His face collapsed.
He had spent his life believing his father approved every procedure.
Sylvia had authored the commands.
That did not erase Aaron’s choices.
It explained his obedience.
Then Sylvia revealed the silver cup’s purpose.
The cup held dose vials, yes.
But its base contained a biometric scanner.
Each time I drank, the rim collected saliva and updated my hormonal profile.
The black tube inside it delivered real-time samples to the hidden compartment.
The family monitored my pregnancy without consent at every dinner.
The cup itself was evidence.
Dr. Vale had it.
He contacted Rebecca with an offer.
The cup and Subject One in exchange for immunity and access to my unborn son’s genetic profile.
Rebecca refused.
Vale sent a live video.
Noah sat beside him inside a private jet.
The silver cup rested on the table.
Vale looked into the camera.
“Anna, your son’s survival depends on the work you call cruelty.”
Then he placed one hand on Noah’s shoulder.
“This child has already saved Aaron three times.”
Noah looked frightened but healthy.
Vale continued.
“Bring me the fetus after delivery, and Subject One goes home.”
He did not say baby.
May you like
He said fetus.
Because in his mind, my son was still material.
