Last Week’s FFF: Hydropunk

Age 1

Dr. Jack Kingsley watched the toddler through the viewing window. The next room was decorated in bright colors, with a slew of stuffed animals and train decals. The child gripped the edge of of his swing, pulled himself standing, and tentatively let go. A moment later, on shaky legs, he took a step. Then two more before falling onto his bottom.

Jack put a digital recorder to his lips and pressed record.

“Subject E is progressing as expected. Despite the accelerated rate of growth, subject is meeting all expected milestones for projected age. Currently, subject E’s age is approximately one year old. This is seven weeks after birth.

At 12:24pm, on March 21st, subject took first steps. This suggest development is on target. The babbling recently turned into words. The first being-” Jack took a breath, regained his professional voice, and finished, “Daddy.

Recommendation – continuation to next stage.”

 

Age 2

“Fourteen weeks in, and subject E is displaying the physical and emotional signs of being two years old. He is exploring, testing boundaries, and has a sense of wanting everything immediately and only for himself. Subject is on pace with control study.

Recommendation – continuation to next stage.”

Age 3

“At twenty-one weeks into the process, subject E seems to be falling behind. His language skills are not where they should be. His interactions are getting awkward. He also seems to be developing separation anxiety from his caretakers. This is not congruent with control.

Recommendation – cautious continuation to next stage, and more social interaction.”

 

Age 4

Jack took his place in front of the window, as he did every day. Subject E waved to him with a smile. Two other boys, with dark hair and big eyes, just like E, did the same. The room still had train stickers, but the baby toys were long gone, replaced by blocks and trucks. The crib was now a bed.

“Socialization seems to have helped get subject E back on track. At physical age four, twenty-eight weeks into the process, subject E is in line with control study.

Conclusion is that introduction of play-dates was a success. Initially, subject was presented with normal kids in similar physical age. However, subject quickly lost interest. Every day the children came to visit, it was as if subject had not seen them in a long time. This made for awkward interaction.

While cross-contamination is a concern, it was felt that it was best to allow subject E to play with others of accelerated aging. Subjects D and F, the closest in physical/mental age in the program, were brought in as playmates. It has boosted all of their success.

Recommendation – continuation to next stage.”

 

Age 5

“Subject has completed toilet training. No bed wetting accidents have been reported in the last week. Subject E is now at the approximate age of five at thirty-five weeks into program. Subject has begun to get a grasp on written language. He practices his writing skills often.

Also, subject prefers creating art in a variety of mediums to watching television. He has it available, but ignores it when on. When asked about it, he said that it is slow and boring. This raises the question: if their growth is accelerated, what else is for them? Experiences? Outwardly, he functions as a normal child of this age. We will begin to monitor his mental state. I am still hopeful that, upon successful completion of the program, subject E can be integrated.

Recommendation – continuation to next stage, with more invasive monitoring.”

 

Age 6

“Subject E experienced a recent bought of depression. He immediately noticed the absence of subject D in his daily life. At forty-two weeks, six years of physical age, subject E has now learned about the concept of death. He then rejected subject F. In the long run, it was for the best. Initial test show that subject F may not be viable. Subject E has recovered, but now likes to be alone. This is a deviation from control, but acceptable in the realm responses, given the introduction of the unknown factors by way of the playmates.

Monitoring has yielded insight into subjects psychological process.

Recommendation – continuation to next stage.”

 

Age 7

“We are now forty-nine weeks into the process, and subject E’s physical body and mind continue to develop at the expected rate, putting him around seven years old. Subject has begun to enjoy video games. He still prefers art, but likes to play high-action games.

Subject is now reaching age of control. Preliminary testing suggest that all is well. I am cautiously hopeful that subject E may prove to be viable.

Recommendation – continuation to next stage.”

 

Age 8

Jack watched through the window as subject E lie in his bed. Machines and monitors beeped around him. An IV dripped into his veins. Jack braced himself against the ledge of the viewing window, gathered his thoughts, and started his report.

“At fifty-six weeks, or eight years, subject has reached the same state as control. The accelerated aging, and gene manipulation combination did not stop the cancer from forming. I fear that subject E will meet the same fate as those that came before him, and control.

Recommendation – do whatever we can to get him through the next stage.”

 

Age 9

 

“Subject E initially responded well to treatment. However, once he passed the age of control, he experienced cellular deterioration. This, along with the cancer, was too much.

At 3:03, sixty-three weeks into progress, approximate physical age nine, subject E passed away. Thus far he has been our greatest success.

Recommendation – minor changes, followed by repeat of experiment.”

He turned off the recorder and looked into the empty room. A tear streamed down his face.

“I will save you, son,” he whispered.

 

Age 1

“Seven weeks, approximate age one, subject G is meeting all milestones.”