{"id":217,"date":"2017-09-21T20:45:17","date_gmt":"2017-09-21T20:45:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.freedomshillprimer.com\/institute\/?p=217"},"modified":"2021-02-24T22:03:28","modified_gmt":"2021-02-24T22:03:28","slug":"initium-novum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.freedomshillprimer.com\/institute\/2017\/09\/21\/initium-novum\/","title":{"rendered":"Initium Novum"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sadie Wyant<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cWelcome to GENEsis Incorporated. My name is Darwin Oswald, and I am the lead geneticist here. How can I help you?\u201d The man was tall and lanky, with unruly brown hair. His half-rimmed glasses threatened to slip off his nose. He was standing in front of Mr. and Mrs. Seabrook, a couple in their early thirties. Marcus Seabrook was a successful lawyer who partnered with his older brother to create their own firm. He was sporting his usual casual suit, today with a bright blue tie. His wife Eileen fed his obsession with ties by giving him a new one for every holiday the two celebrated. She stood at least half a foot shorter than the two men, who were similar in size. Her pale white hands constantly fluttered into her thin blonde hair. She had on a simple dress that exactly matched the color of Marcus\u2019s tie. She stopped running her fingers through her hair to grab Marcus\u2019s hand. He squeezed hers reassuringly and turned to the doctor.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re interested in having a child.\u201d Eileen nodded her agreement, perfect white teeth gleaming when she brought her painted red lips into a smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerfect! That\u2019s what I\u2019m here for,\u201d Dr. Oswald beamed back at the couple and gestured to a pair of swinging doors behind him. \u201cIf you would follow me this way.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Seabrooks followed Oswald through the doors and down a sterile white hallway. They passed a few closed doors with curtains pulled across the windows before coming to a stop in front of a door that said Conferences. It was open, leading to a small lobby. A small, plump woman sat behind a counter on one end of the lobby. Oswald waved at her before leading the couple into a room to the left of the counter. His name was displayed on a plaque sitting on the edge of the large mahogany desk. Two deep blue armchairs sat facing the desk, in which Oswald instructed the Seabrooks to sit. He sat comfortably in a high-back chair of the same blue color.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re usually much busier than this, but you two came on an off-season.\u201d Oswald slid a sleek black tablet onto his desk, waving his hand in front of it to unlock it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat exactly do you mean by \u2018off-season\u2019?\u201d Eileen asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you see, since the creation of the Initium Novum technology, there has been a trend of babies being born every couple years or so. A great majority of people had their first child with this technology and then had another child two or three years later. People also have calculated the timing to be sure that they would have their child in the summer months, thus they would start the process between September and November. It has been proven that it is easier to care for a child in the summer when most professions offer vacation time, so it is different to see someone in this institution in January.\u201d Oswald rubbed his chin where he had forgotten to shave his stubble.<\/p>\n

\u201cI see,\u201d Eileen said quietly.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt isn\u2019t any problem for us to start this process now, right?\u201d Marcus crossed and uncrossed his ankles.<\/p>\n

Oswald shook his head. \u201cNot a problem at all. In fact, you could potentially have more visitation rights than other couples do as your child is developing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eileen looked at Marcus, relief evident on her face. Oswald\u2019s eyes flicked between the two for a moment, and then he opened a link on his tablet.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere are the default choices for a child,\u201d he made a motion toward his tablet that expanded the screen onto the surface of his desk. He set the tablet out of the way and pointed at the images before them. Marcus and Eileen leaned forward to see their options. Twenty squares displayed children with varying appearances, from light to dark skin, hair, and eye color. One specific option showed a girl with brown hair, light skin, and green eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can always pick a default and then edit the characteristics to your heart\u2019s desire.\u201d Oswald watched Eileen\u2019s eyes hover over the different options, stopping to rest on the ones that showed girl babies. Marcus, however, was more focused on the squares displaying boys. The couple looked unsure, so Oswald cleared his throat.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you would like to discuss your options privately, I can give you a Bit that has all the characteristics mapped out. You can take this with you, create the exact design you want, and then return here in a couple of days. Would Thursday morning work?\u201d He opened a calendar that superimposed itself on top of the squares. He selected Thursday, which expanded to show times. Marcus opened his phone to see his schedule, Eileen following suit.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am free right before lunch, how about you?\u201d Marcus looked at his wife, who nodded, quickly typing a memo into her phone.<\/p>\n

\u201cEleven thirty?\u201d Oswald selected the time and spoke a quick sentence, which the holographic screen converted to text and saved as an event. He opened a drawer, pulled out a Bit, and inserted the small piece of plastic into an opening on the tablet. After a minute or so, he handed the Bit to Marcus. The Seabrooks thanked him and stood to leave. Oswald led them back to the main lobby of GENEsis, Inc. and watched them walk out the frosted glass doors before returning to his office.<\/p>\n