Chapter 1：The Perfect Mummy

Madison May Makepeace awakens for the third time, her mind as sharp as before the coma stole her from the world. She has felt no passage of time and is delighted to be awake. She wants to run outside. If it's winter, she'll play in the snow. If it's summer, she wants to go swimming. She wants to call home and talk with her parents and beg them to bring her two small children before the coma takes her again. She has no idea how long she's slept. All she knows is what her university science professor has told her and he looks older to her this time.

"Take it slow, Madison," the professor tells her, "You're going to be a little stiff." He's avoiding answering the first couple of questions Madison asked: "How long?" and "Can I call my family?"

"I hope it hasn't been long," Madison anxious to get back to her life, "My poor parents looking after my children while I'm in the hospital. They must be so worried. Do the doctors know what's wrong? Do they know what caused the coma? It won't happen again will it?"

"We will just have to wait and see," the professor tells her, "They never found the cause." His behavior suggests to Madison that the professor isn't telling her everything, but he's her only source of information at this point. She has no fear of him and has no reason to distrust him.

"Where is everyone?" ask Madison, "You would think there would be a whole crew of doctors and nurses trying to figure out how a healthy person suddenly falls into a coma. Looks more like a lab than a hospital room."

"It is a lab," the professor explains, "It's my private lab in the basement of my home. The hospital was very expensive. The doctors wanted to unplug you, because your parents couldn't afford the bills. To help your parents out, we transferred you here to my home where I've been caring for you myself. Saving your family from all those expensive hospital bills."

Madison detects deceptiveness yet is somehow grateful, "Thank you. That was very kind of you, Professor Stein. I really appreciate it."

"Let's go upstairs," Professor Stein handing Madison a robe, "I've prepared a room for you."

Madison follows the professor up to the main floor of the house. They walk through a living room with a huge stone fireplace. The sofa and love seat are over-stuffed and neutral grey in color. The hard wood floors shine and an oriental rug gives color to the mostly neutral room.

"Your room is behind the dining room," Stein informs Madison, "Full bath right next door. Eat–in-kitchen here. Upstairs are my library-office, my room, a second full bath and another bedroom I use for storage."

The room Professor Stein has prepared for Madison seems vaguely familiar to her. Somehow it reminds her of the hospital room she woke up in the previous two times. The room is lovely with sunlight streaming in through three large windows. She can see a beautifully kept very expansive yard with lots of trees, but no other houses. A huge white four-poster bed sits between two windows. There's a matching vanity, dresser and chest. A flat screen TV is on the wall over the dresser instead of a mirror.

"The clothing in the dressers and in the closets is your size," his voice sounds hopeful, "Pick something out. Feel free to freshen up. You'll find everything you need. I'll make us breakfast." With that said, the professor leaves Madison on her own. She's disappointed to not find a telephone. Nor did she spy one during their walk to her room. So, she does as the professor requested, starting with the closet where she immediately notices some unfamiliar styles. She finds a drawer full of beautiful matching undergarments. And after feeling a little overwhelmed by the wide variety of clothing choices, she finally finds some jeans and a button down blouse she won't completely button down. Then she chooses a few pieces of tasteful jewelry she finds in a jewelry box and a comfortable pair of sandals.

Professor Stein is setting the table in the kitchen when Madison walks in, "I hope you like mushroom omelets."

"Yes," Madison confirms, "especially when done with fresh mushrooms."

"You're in luck then."

"Where's the phone?"

"I'm sorry," his body language becomes tense, "There is no phone. Neither do I have cable or satellite TV. The radio doesn't work either (Because he disabled it.), but I have an extensive collection of CDs and DVDs. All the classics, I know how you enjoy classical music."

"That's very thoughtful Professor Stein, but I'm anxious to get back to my family, my parents and especially my two children. This must have been very hard for all of them."

"It was, but I assure you I have been there for them and I ensured your children received more than adequate educations," Professor Stein suddenly a bit short with Madison.

Madison is confused by his sudden past tense reference to her children, "How long has it been. I haven't aged. There are no bedsores or muscle deterioration. I can't have been ill even a whole week."

"Madison, I'm afraid it's been much longer than you've imagined. Your family has given up hope of recovering you long ago. Now, let's enjoy breakfast. Let's take things slow for now. I will eventually explain all to you."

Madison doesn't believe that her family would give up hope, and is now more confused. What does he mean by "hope of recovering" her? It sounds as if she were lost or missing like a stray cat. She sits in the place he set for her without responding.

"And please, Madison, call me Henry. No need to be so formal."

Madison eats her breakfast quietly. She has noticed the prescription drugs organized on a counter. Obviously, the professor is ill himself. So, for now she attributes his odd behavior to his illness. Besides, panicking and demanding information will do her no good. When he's ready, he'll talk. She can't attempt to walk for help, anyhow. She knows his home is a secluded countryside home, miles from everything.

For lunch, Madison is just as quiet. Hours pass with her hardly saying a word. The professor's watchful eye upon her except when she's in her room or bathroom. She goes outside to get away from him and think. The spring blossoms are giving way to fruit. And he watches her walk under the trees from the back porch. He finally calls to her and she comes and looks up at him from the bottom of the porch steps.

"When you finally know everything," he tells her, "you will probably hate me. But until then, let me enjoy your company. We'll go out to dinner. It's time to reintroduce you to the world. But please try not to be alarmed, the world is different than you remember."

His car isn't the car she remembers. She does not even recognize the make or model for it. He explains that all cars are completely electric and solar powered now, how homes like his are rare with most people living in city high-rises now. That few neighborhoods with single-family homes have survived. He makes it very clear there have been significant advances in medicine, technology and in society itself.

The highway is nearly barren of vehicles; most are vehicles of mass transport. Madison spots the sign for the exit of her hometown, but the skyline is unfamiliar. It's full of new and unfamiliar buildings. Plus, there's a sleek monorail winding its way through the skyline. Professor Stein takes Madison's hometown's exit and drives Madison to one of the buildings Madison saw in the unfamiliar skyline. The first two floors remind Madison of a Mall. It's full of shops. But it has some things Madison's mall didn't. There's a daycare center with infant, child and elderly care, an Olympic size swimming pool, a gym with aerobics classes going full throttle, along with three different types of martial arts classes going. Madison notes that there doesn't seem to be any exchange of any type of currency. Not so much as a credit card being swiped. She knew cash was being phased out, but now there aren't even credit cards. Madison also notices all the children and young people wear a necklace or choker with a heart on it.

"The small hearts on the necklaces," Professor Stein has been watching the gaze of Madison's dark eyes closely, "They're identification and tracking devices. They were in the works before you… Anyhow, now you won't see a child, adolescent or young adult without one. They're told if they're snatched to swallow the heart so they can be found. The swallowing of the heart sets off an emergency homing beacon. In this way young people have come to be monitored very closely. Parents can make sure their teenagers are where they say they are etc. But it doesn't stop young people from doing what they want to do. There are always those who obey and are good just because. And there are those who are disobedient and rebel just because, just as it has always been… Ah, here. I know how you like Chinese."

"I've seen no exchange of currency, not even credit cards," Madison curious.

"There is none now," Stein explains, "What you do, how you contribute to society determines your value. But no one's needs are denied because of the things, which are still fresh in your mind. A single mother like you, no longer has to worry about struggling to pay the bills or finding daycare for her children. A woman as young as you with children is non-existent now. Being a parent is a privilege that has to be earned."

"They've found a way to stop teenagers from having sex," Madison with her eyebrows raised.

"No," Stein chuckles, "At puberty a Conception Prevention Implant, a CPI, is implanted under the skin of a young woman. Conceptions are authorized after one has received parent training and couples counseling on how a child will change the dynamics of their relationship."

"How long does this device, the CPI, offer protection," ask Madison.

"For the woman's entire reproductive life if necessary," Stein answers, "It can be deactivated and reactivated quite easily."

During dinner Professor Stein explains that all high rises such as this one they're having dinner in contain daycare centers that services all ages as well as the disabled and run Full-time, twenty-four hours a day 365 days a year. All the Living Rises have full service gym/day spa facilities that run full-time just like the daycares. The Living Rises all have several restaurants to choose from but only one or two of those run Full-time like the daycare and gym. The kiosks may be day, night or Full-time running depending on what their individual service is. Information and the coffee/cappuccino kiosks are usually the only kiosks that run Full-time. The grocery store runs Full-time, but there are no longer several brands of cereal to choose from. All the items available in the grocery store are made to be the healthiest available. So while you still have your choice between raisin bran, corn flakes, sugar frosted flakes, etc.; they all are high in fiber, low sodium, and loaded with all the vitamins and minerals the average person needs. The scanning of the items that you want or need now is about restocking not cost. There's no bill and no receipt. It's obvious to Madison that she has missed a lot and has a lot of catching up to do.

"So," dinner is winding down and Professor Stein isn't ready to go home, "What would you like to do? Where would you like to go?" he asks hoping she would like to go dancing. He knows she likes dancing.

"I want to go home," Madison answers, "I want to see my family."

Professor Stein looks away and bites the knuckle of his index finger, "I know… Let's go to the lake. We can walk along the beach and watch the sun go down."

Madison nods because she feels she's in no position to argue. She doesn't know where she is exactly and has yet to spot a telephone. And as long as she doesn't feel threatened, she won't make a scene. At this point, she's only annoyed with the professor.

As they walk to the car, Madison notices some teenagers gathered at a telephone booth like stall. They seem to be using it to talk with someone, or perhaps it's some type of new video game. The sign over the stall reads VIDCOM. She expects to see an advertisement roll across an oversized LCD screen hung high on a wall. Instead words scroll across and a woman's voice reads them to everyone: YOU ARE IMPORTANT. YOUR WORK IS IMPORTANT. WASTE NOT, WANT NOT, REMEMBER TO RECYCLE. EXCHANGE THE OLD FOR NEW.

As they drive to the lake, she notes the names of the streets. Are they familiar? Have the names been changed? Madison is grateful to see the street names are for the most part the same. She's confident that despite all the changes, she can find her way home from the lake. She walked to it and home from it countless times as a teenager. So, the lake is just fine with Madison.

During their drive to the lake, they drive through a familiar and soothing site, an actual neighborhood with immaculate one and two story houses, stately trees and caringly kept gardens of flowers, herbs and vegetables. The couples walking in the yards tending are mature in age.

"If you see any children or teenagers," Professor Stein informs Madison, "they're most likely visiting grandparents. Only mature people like myself prefer this type of single dwelling living. Upon reaching adulthood, young people usually apply for either efficiency or one bedroom apartments or to share a two or three bedroom with friends. When they find a significant other, they can apply for a unit suitable for a couple. If all goes well and they're a couple of opposite genders, they can go through the process to be approved to be parents. The process is different for same gender couples. Same sex couples also need to apply for or find a sperm donor and/or a surrogate mother or egg donor."

It's obvious to Madison she has awakened in a world very different from the one she fell to sleep in. Her memories from that night are fuzzy. She had begun her Master's program, as well as, her new position as Professor Stein's assistant. Professor Stein called her, said he needed her assistance with an experiment. She dropped her children off with her parents. She parked her car next to Professor Stein's. Last thing she remembers is locking her car and hearing the familiar little beeping sound the alarm system made when activated. Then she woke up groggy in a hospital room. But the only person there was the professor, no doctors or nurses. She naturally asked for her parents and about her two children. She awoke a second time in the hospital room with the same questions, and again only the professor was present. He was the only person she saw both times.

"Oh my," Professor Stein straightens up in the driver's seat, "I forgot it's graduation week."

Madison looks ahead to see that the lake is full of young people celebrating.

"It has become a tradition for the new high school, college and university graduates to celebrate here at the beach," Stein explains, "We can go someplace else."

"No," Madison didn't get to have a graduation party. Her father was angry because she was pregnant. "This is great. It looks like fun." The pregnancy was an accident. She hadn't even been sexually active two whole months when she got pregnant. She had wanted to wait, but her fiancé, the only boy she had ever dated and had started dating the summer between junior and senior year, wasn't a virgin and was getting impatient with her. When he asked her to marry him and put the engagement ring on her finger, her girlfriends had told her, "See, he's serious about you." She finally caved under the pressure and fear, because she knew there were other girls who would do whatever he asked simply because he was captain of the football and soccer teams. When she asked him about precautions, he told her not to worry and she had trusted him.

"OK," Professor Stein is agreeable, "We'll park and join them."

The music isn't anything Madison has heard before, but it has a good beat. There are lots of young people dancing and their style of dress is unfamiliar and strange to her. Some of the outfits are really risky in Madison's opinion and others down right indecent. Her ex-fiancé, Blake, had told her more than once that she needed to learn how to relax and learn how to have fun. His idea of fun had gotten her pregnant twice. The second pregnancy was also an accident due to birth-control failure, not her fault or his.

"Professor Stein," a group of young people calls to him. Professor Stein waves and they beckon him to visit with them.

"It's okay," Madison encourages the professor, "I'll be just over here." There's a band playing and she decides to take a closer look.

"Guy, I don't believe you. She was totally coming on to you and you blew her off," one young man to another young man in a small group of young men standing on a picnic table in order to scope out the crowd.

"I've explained to you before. I'm waiting," the second young man responds.

"I know," the first young man, "You're waiting for a special one. Guy, they're all special… We just got our bachelor's degrees. We're at a party celebrating. They're all giving it away. Just pick one or two, hell, three!"

"They're all always giving it away. I want a woman who wants a relationship and a family, who respects herself. Not one of these freaks who're willing to do anything with anybody," the second young man responds.

"Yeah, yeah," the first young man, "Good luck trying to find one like that. I'll take a freak!" grabbing his crotch and waving his tongue at a girl in the crowd.

"Thanks, I think that's her right over there," The second young man spotting a woman in the crowd who's not trying to be the center of attention, but who just seems to be walking through.

"Who," the first young man asks.

"I've never seen her before," the second young man, "So, I'm gonna go ask her name."

"Which one," ask the first young man.

The second young man points, "That one: petite, brunette, tan skin, dressed in retro-wear."

"Should of known," says the first young man, "You love retro stuff."

"Later," the second young man hopping off the table he and his friend are standing on.

"Guy," the first young man elbows another young man on the table, "Scott's going after a girl."

"Guy, no way," the third young man, "Who?"

"Never seen her before," the first answers. They watch Scott squeeze through the crowd and push away unwanted groping hands. Scott pauses as he comes up behind the woman to collect his thoughts. Another young man in the crowd reaches out and grabs the young woman's bottom.

She grabs the unwanted hand and yanks it into an uncomfortable position, "This is my body and I don't appreciate people I don't know putting their hands on it." There's a bit of a pause around the young woman as she releases the unwanted hand. None of these young people has seen someone react in this manner before.

"Definitely the one," she hears the voice of a young man say and she turns to see him.

"Hi, I'm Scott," putting out a hand.

Cautiously, she takes the young man's hand, "Madison." His looks are appealing to her. He's tall, a little on the skinny side with a mop of loose blond curls framing a tan high cheek boned face with stunning green eyes. Madison feels what she will later call a spark. She never felt anything like it with Blake.

"Madison," repeats Scott, "That's different, a nice different." Scott is encouraged by Madison's smile, "You must be visiting from out of town."

"Actually, I grew up on Washington Street," Madison smiling brightly at Scott.

"Really," Scott excited, "I live on Washington Street in Washington Rise."

"I've never heard of Washington Rise," Madison shrugging.

"Hey, are you thirsty," asks Scott. Madison nods yes.

Professor Stein spots Madison a while later with Scott. She's smiling and laughing. Stein experiences a mixture of emotions. It's good to see her laughing and smiling, but there's a twinge of jealousy and a lot of guilt. Stein spends most of the evening watching Madison with Scott. Watching them talk, dance and laugh. Watching her blush as Scott takes her hand while the pair sits on the beach watching the sunset. It's late when Madison realizes she's lost track of time and forgotten about Professor Stein.

"My mother's probably worried," Scott told his mother he wouldn't be out late, "I'm not in the habit of being out late. But what's my name?"

"Scott James Littlebird," Madison beaming, "and you live in Washington Rise on Washington Street."

"And first chance you get, you're going to come visit me," Scott smiling.

"Yes," Madison has every intention of seeing Scott again. She returns his wave as he trots off for home.

Madison finds Professor Stein sitting on a tree stump near his car. He doesn't look well to her, "Professor Stein, I'm so sorry. I lost track of time. Are you OK?"

"Madison," Stein looks as if he may cry, "I should apologize to you. I've done you a great injustice." Madison's smile disappears. "I saw you with the young man, Scott. He was one of my students before I retired last year. He's an extraordinary young man as you are an extraordinary woman. I've been selfish and I've cheated you out of so much. I see that now."

"I don't understand," Madison squatting down in front of Stein.

"You were never ill, Madison," Professor Stein blurts out, "There was no coma. I'm in love with you. I fell in love with you when you were a student, but it's inappropriate to date students. I made you my assistant in order to be closer to you and it's inappropriate to date someone who works under you. But, I had to have you… You know I perfected cryogenic stasis for small animals. I was able to apply those same principles to a human subject, to you. I've had you in cryogenic stasis for just over thirty years. The house you grew up in is gone. Your father is deceased and your children are grown. You'll be pleased to know they're fine people."

Madison looks as if she might cry. A tear runs down one of Professor Stein's cheeks. Madison straightens up and walks away. Her path is instinctive. It's a path she took many times to walk home from the lake in her teens. Many things have changed, but most of the street names are the same. When she gets to Washington Street she finds that all the houses are gone. One side of the street has been turned into a park with walking and biking paths. The other side is now Washington Rise.

"Excuse me, please, but where are the phones?" asks Madison.

"Phones?" repeats a young woman.

"Yes, phones, telephones," Madison trying to be patient.

"There are no telephones."

"Then how do you call someone?" Madison is trying not to look as out of place as she feels.

"With a Vidcom, of course."

"I'm sorry. I'm lost and a little confused," Madison trying to explain herself.

"Here, you can use my portable."

"I'm sorry. I don't know how to use that," Madison wipes away a tear with her palm.

The young woman talks to the hand held screen, "Contact." The screen asks, NAME?

"Scott James Littlebird," Madison says to the screen.

The screen says, CONTACTING.

"Scott here," as his face appears on the screen, "Madison," he recognizes her immediately and that she's upset, "Are you OK?"

"I'm… I'm… I'm in Washington Rise. Are you busy?"

"No, I'm not."

"Can I come see you?"

"Yes, of course. It's block three, ninth floor, apartment C. Can you find it?"

"I'll find it."

"OK, see you in a few."

"Thank you very much," Madison to the young woman.

"No problem, but you're wasting your time with that guy. He doesn't put out."

Madison doesn't respond. She just walks away. The same would have been said about her during high school.

"That was weird," the co-worker of the young woman, "Telephone, doesn't know how to use a Vidcom."

The young woman shrugs, "But she sure knows how to work that retro-wear."

About 15 minutes later, Madison is standing in the hall of the ninth floor of Washington Rise's third block. Looking up at the letter C. She thinks she's in front of the door, but she's not sure what to do. There's no visible door for any apartment and there doesn't appear to be a doorbell. Suddenly, a door size section of the wall under the C slides away and a tall woman with her blond hair pulled back into an elegant bun is standing in front of Madison eyeing her suspiciously.

"I'm sorry to disturb you so late," Madison nervously to the woman, "But is Scott available please."

"Yes. It's okay, Mom," Scott coming up and reaching past the woman for Madison, "Come in," taking Madison's hand. The woman steps aside as Madison enters the apartment.

"Mom," Scott to the tall woman, "this is the girl I told you about, Madison. Madison, this is my mother, Irene."

"It's very nice to meet you, Irene," Madison shakes Irene's hand, "Thank you for allowing me to visit at such a late hour."

"When Scott described you, I said you must be a farm girl, but he said you were from around here. Then I thought… Well, now you make me feel like I'm seeing a ghost. You look like a girl I went to school with. She disappeared one night from the local university campus. They never found her. That's when they came out with the ID trackers. Her father really pushed for them," Irene is referring to the heart shaped pendant all young people and children now wear.

"Mom, you need to catch your transport," Scott reminds his mother.

"Yes, I know," Irene slings a brief case and an overnight bag over her shoulder, "Well, it was nice to meet you, Madison. You've made quite an impression on Scott. I hope you're everything he thinks you are. See you in a couple of days Scott."

"Safe trip, Mom," Scott kisses his mother on the cheek and Irene leaves.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Scott asks Madison as soon as the door has slid shut.

"I don't know where to begin in order to explain," Madison's eyes welling up with tears. If this wasn't happening to her, she wouldn't believe it.

"Let me show you something," Scott motions for Madison to follow him, and Madison follows him into his room, which is more organized than you would expect a young man's room to be.

"I came home and started telling my mother about the wonderful girl I met at the graduation party. And like any mom, she had questions a son doesn't think of. A couple of things you told me about yourself were a little odd; like growing up on Washington, but never hearing of Washington Rise. So I decided to research you and try to Vidcom you to arrange to get together… I couldn't Vidcom you, because you're not in the system. And the typical search didn't find anything, said no such person was in the system. So, a little creative thinking based on where you said you grew up and this is what the net gave me on Madison May Makepeace. This is an old article from a local news site. This is you, correct?"

Madison nods at the picture of herself on the flat screen. She plops down on the edge of Scott's bed as she reads the headline: LOCAL WOMAN DISAPPEARS.

"When you couldn't be found, you were presumed dead even though they never found any evidence of foul play. At one point, your ex-fiancé was interrogated as a suspect. Says you have two children with him. He was arrested for domestic violence while you were pregnant with your second child. What happened? You haven't aged a day. You can't be a clone. You have scars and memories. You can't clone scars and memories. Yet, you've been missing for over thirty years."

"Professor Stein," Madison starts.

"Yeah, I noticed he was watching closely for a while at the beach tonight. I had him for a few class before he retired. He likes to teach the old fashioned way in a classroom," Scott putting some things together himself, "For a while he was really pushing to get his research expanded to human subjects."

Madison continues, "He had me in cryogenic stasis."

"Cryogenic stasis," Scott sitting down next to Madison, "They only use it to preserve the bodies of murder victims or bodies donated for scientific research. It's not legal to place living healthy human beings in stasis; even if they volunteer. No wonder he was so confident he could do it."

"I didn't volunteer," Madison becomes emotional, "The house I grew up in was on this street, but now it's gone. My father's gone and my children are adults. How do I just walk back into their lives?"

Scott takes Madison in his arms to console her, "My Dad died in a construction accident five years ago. But if he showed up at the door saying sorry it was all a mistake, I was in a coma or I had amnesia, my mother and I would both just be thrilled to have him back no matter how long it had been… It's going to be alright." He turns her face up to his, "They're going to be thrilled to have you back in their lives. I know how thrilled I am just to be in your presence," and he gives her a soft kiss that escalates into hands over clothes. And next, hands underclothes. Then their bodies are pressed together, skin-to-skin, with Scott's heart shaped ID tracker wedged between their two racing hearts. Finally, embraced in each other's arms they're in a deep exhausted sleep.

Hours later, Scott and Madison are startled awake by an alarm. The lights of the apartment are flashing on and off while a computerized voice is announcing, "Unauthorized Conception." Those two words are even flashing on the flat screens of the apartment.

"Scott, what's going on?" fear welling up inside Madison.

"I've heard of this happening," Scott picking up their clothes and handing Madison hers, "There's been an unauthorized conception in the building. It's rare, but occasionally a CPI malfunctions."

"They need alarms as if there were a fire to put out?" Madison buttoning her shirt.

"There's a squad sent out," Scott hopping into his shorts.

"Scott your necklace," Madison pointing, "Why is it doing that?" referring to the way a light is pulsating from inside the heart on his necklace.

"I don't know," Scott examining the heart pendant, "It's never done this before."

Madison follows Scott out into the living room hugging her jeans to herself. They're both startled when the door suddenly slides open and four people rush in carrying equipment.

"Have arrived at location of unauthorized conception," a woman into a wrist Vidcom, "Male identified as Scott James Littlebird is present with unidentified partially clothed female."

"Scott, is this that squad you were talking about," ask Madison feeling that if it wasn't for bad luck she wouldn't have any luck at all.

"It's OK," Scott putting a protective arm around Madison, "I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation."

"Will scan female in an attempt to identify and ensure we have located correct female for in-utero vacuum of unauthorized fertilization."

The woman starts by scanning Madison's face, "No matches found in local data base, expand data base search."

"You won't identify her that way," Scott informs the squad, "She's not in the regular network data bases."

Scott is ignored by the squad, "Scanning to see if conception is result of CPI failure…" She scans Madison's left arm and looks confused. Next, she scans Madison's right arm, then backside and legs, "Unable to locate female's CPI device."

"I don't have one," Madison clings tighter to Scott, "I've never had one."

"Of course you don't, you wouldn't," Scott hugging Madison closer.

The woman scans Madison's tummy, "Unidentified female is location of the unauthorized conception," The squad continues to behave as if Scott and Madison are lab rats, "Sir, do we need to confirm female's identity before we perform in-utero vacuum, or can we perform the vacuuming and confirm the female's identity later?"

"You are not going to vacuum my uterus," Madison has a very strong sense of ownership of her body. "This is my body and you cannot force me to have an abortion."

That got the squad's attention. They look at each other confused. They've never had a subject be uncooperative before. They're also confused because the female called the procedure an abortion. For them, it's not an abortion until after the embryo actually attaches to the uterine wall. The whole point is removal of the fertilized egg before it develops into an actual pregnancy.

"No one's going to do anything to you," Scott holding Madison tighter.

"Sir," the woman is visibly unsettled, "unidentified female is refusing procedure. Can she do that?"

There is a hushed pause, and then a response, "Yes, she can refuse… Bring them to the peace office. We'll finish identification of the female here."

"Come with us," the woman orders Scott and Madison.

Everyone on the ninth floor is standing outside their doors in the hall. They all watch as the squad leads Scott and Madison away. When they reach the ground level, the people gather to point and stare.

"Oh my God," exclaims a girl, "It's celibacy boy!"

Another girl yells, "The first girl he finally gives it to and he impregnates her!"

"That's what he gets for being a selfish little prick," shouts another. Then the group of young women breaks into hysterical laughter.

At the Office of Peace and Justice, Scott and Madison are shown to a small room and told to wait.

"I'm so sorry, Scott," Madison feels that somehow she's at fault for the current situation.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," Scott stroking her hair, "You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. You're the one I've been waiting for. Of that I'm positive."

Outside the room Scott and Madison wait in, the discussion centers on could Madison really be who she says she is. After all, you can't clone scars, stretch marks or memories. Only the experiences of life produce those things. On the news, the discussion is of how could it be possible for a person to be unidentifiable in this day and age, and how could it be possible that the young unidentified woman doesn't have a CPI. Who's mistake was that? Scott and Madison are unaware of all the ado over them. They fall to sleep curled up together on the sofa of the small waiting room.

A woman wakes Scott and Madison, "Would you come with me, please." They follow her into what appears to be a courtroom full of important looking people in judge-like robes and Professor Stein.

"I'm sorry," Professor Stein apologizes to Scott and Madison, "I came as soon as I saw on the news this morning. They were debating the possibility that you may be a clone. Yet even a clone would have received a CPI. They didn't think you could be whom you said. But I've cleared things up. My vehicle is outside. It's yours now, along with my house and everything in it. I know it doesn't give you back what you've missed, but I know you and Scott will find my research interesting."

"What's going to happen with you," ask Scott.

"The punishment shall fit the crime," a distinguished and mature looking woman, "For every year he kept Ms. Makepeace in stasis, he'll be incarcerated. Plus, five years for kidnapping and for the crime of placing a healthy human being in stasis he'll be required to teach other inmates."

"My Dearest Madison," Professor Stein smiling gently at Madison, "I know it sounds dreadful, but after all, I selfishly kept you to myself for more than twenty-five years. I won't live long enough to serve thirty years. I brought you out of stasis for good, because I'm terminally ill. And when I saw you with Scott last night, I knew you would be alright and I realized what a great wrong I had done to you… Now, you and Scott go have a happy life together. I'll Vidcom you to check on your progress, if that's OK?"

Madison and Scott look at each other and nod. "We'ld like that," answers Scott.

"And there's a surprise for you, Madison, on your way out," Professor Stein smiling brightly. Two peace officers handcuff him as Scott and Madison are shown out of the room.

"Mattie," a female voice calls.

It's a voice Madison would know anywhere, "Mom..." Madison rushes to the voice and pauses less than a meter from the woman who called to her, "Mom???" Time and worry have aged Madison's mother more than Madison expected. They start by touching each other's hair, then faces… And finally, they're in each other other's arms.

"Mattie, my baby, it's really you. I didn't think I'd ever see you again. But you're here. You're really here… Theo…"

A man in a suit stands and approaches Madison. Madison's eyes well up with tears, "On my," she gasp. She touches his face and takes his hands. Madison has to stand on her tiptoes to hug him.

The man, Theo, hugs Madison tightly. His face crumples as if he's being born. He sobs softly, "Mama… Mama, I missed you so much, Mama."

"My baby boy is all grown up," sobs Madison.

Madison's mother calls to a woman, "Janice."

The woman, Janice, hesitates. She was only a year old when Madison disappeared. And unlike her older brother, Janice has no memories of her mother. All Janice knows is an empty longing where something has been missing from her life.

Madison puts out her hands for Janice, "It's OK. I'm real."

Janice gingerly takes Madison's hands and starts crying as she slides into Madison's arms.

"It's OK. I'm sorry I missed so much, but I'm here now and you're going to tell Mama all about it."

Ten years later Mr. and Mrs. Scott and Madison Littlebird have both earned Doctorate Degrees. Madison's mother lives in the guesthouse they had built for her on the property Professor Stein gave to them. She helps out with her grandchildren, Scott Jr., 9, and Cora, 4 ½. Madison's daughter, Janice, stays over nearly every weekend and often most of the week. As Madison's assistant, she does most of the traveling on Madison's behalf. Janice has no plans for marriage or children and lavishes love and affection on her younger siblings. Madison's son, Theo, has married and they're taking parenting classes because they want children.

Madison and Scott have a busy love filled house. Today is no less busy than any other. Scott Jr. and Cora are at the dining room table with their laptops. Grandma is overseeing their lessons. Theo and his wife are at the kitchen table studying to be parents with their laptops. In the basement, Madison and Scott are hosting a small group of science majors from the class Scott teaches at the university. Janice is there of course; ready to do whatever's necessary to assist her mother and stepfather.

"A few ground rules for visiting here," Scott explains to the students, "If you say Dr. or Professor Littlebird, myself and my wife are going to try answering you at the same time. So, while you're here at our home, to prevent confusion, it's Dr. Scott and Dr. Mattie. And please, try not to exhaust my wife."

Madison rest a hand on the swollen belly that contains her third child with Scott, and the other in the crook of her sore back, "Also be mindful that you are not our only guests today," motioning toward a flat screen where one can see several mature distinguished people watching, half from WASE, the World Association of Space Exploration, and the rest are world leaders.

Madison continues, "Cryogenic Stasis is our field of research. I'm living proof a healthy human being can be stored for an extended period of time and be revived… Now, we have the ability to shield ourselves from the harmful radiation in space. This combined with dome technology, allows a person to live on the moon or to at least take an annual vacation there… Yet, our ability to explore space beyond our own solar system is limited by one thing… We're mortal. We grow old and die. But no aging takes place while one is in cryogenic stasis. No passage of time is experienced. One wakes up feeling as if one just took a nap, you're a little stiff and there's a little dry mouth. Cryogenic stasis is what's going to give us the ability to explore our own galaxy.

These first six cryo-chambers have six young healthy volunteers, three males and three females. Don't worry. No years involved here. They're only in for a month. They've each already done a day and a week. When we're done with them, there will be six new young healthy volunteers. What we're looking for are side effects. So far the only side effect is temporary stiffness just like morning stiffness and dry mouth.

These second six chambers are again three males and three females, young volunteers, except they're not healthy. They are all terminally ill: leukemia, inoperable malignant brain tumor, Cystic Fibrosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, heart disease and Sickle Cell Anemia. They are all also gifted with lots of potential. They are facing years in these chambers. First, they were in for a week, then a month, now a year, next five years, unless a cure for their particular ailment is found. Donor organs are very rare. So, lungs for this young man's CF ravaged lungs or a heart for this young woman is very unlikely. Yet, while they are in stasis, not only do they not age, but also their diseases do not progress. They're families come to visit them and will be present when they next revive. They know it's possible they may wake up and everyone they know and love may be gone. That's why they're all young, single and childless.

All twelve of these chambers are made to self-revive. The date and time for revival is entered here. It's important that our future astronauts be able to put themselves in and get out unassisted. Or that the ships computer can initiate revival to observe celestial phenomena or for routine maintenance and repairs."

"Dr. Mattie, what prevents cellular damage at such low temperatures?"

Madison smiles, "Antifreeze… Not like in vehicles. But based on the natural antifreeze of arctic crickets. It's injected into the subject, it doesn't take it long to circulate throughout the body. Plus, it's in the mist that surrounds the body when the chamber closes, coating and soaking into the skin and getting inhaled. Thereby acting as a booster to the injection. And remarkably, it's not difficult to synthesize.

And finally we come to the last chamber in our baker's dozen. This particular chamber is not scheduled to ever be opened. I'm sure you've noticed that this person is not young. Neither is he healthy or alive. He died from complications of a terminal illness. He specified that his body be donated for cryogenic stasis research. Did he know he would end up here? I'm sure some part of him hoped for it.

Professor Henry Stein, here in this chamber, made the big leaps in this area of research; including developing and perfecting the antifreeze that allows the storage of a live subject. We began this research together when I was a freshman and his student at the university. Before he decided to put me in this very same chamber. He kept detailed records of everything and watched over me carefully. Scott and I consulted with him almost daily via Vidcom until he died.

So, what's the purpose of keeping a dead body in cryogenic stasis? Well, as long as the body is in stasis, we do not expect it to experience any decay. If we can keep a dead body in stasis for 100 years without suffering any ill effects, meaning we can take it out and it'll be as fresh as the day we put it in. We expect the same for a living being. Which will be essential, if we're going to seriously explore beyond our own solar system.

Thus, what we have here ladies and gentlemen is the perfect mummy. We are not introducing this as a way to dispose of our dead. It's just not practical. But the ancient Egyptians would be envious."