Embryo

The creature opened its eyes.

It saw machines, but couldn’t tell what they were.

It looked around, because its instincts told it to look for her mother, but there was no living being in sight.

It managed to get up and walk around for a bit.

It looked for affection, but the machines were cold and senseless.

A long time ago, the embryo had been preserved, thrown into space and it had just recently descended into the planet.

It had grown in a synthetic womb, with machines caring for it.

In the control room, scientists analysed the data:

- It’s alive.

- It worked.

- We need more data.

- We do. We need to euthanise and dissect it.

- Do it.

Two other men stood up, walked into the next room and killed the little lamb.

Soon, the tests would end and embryos would actually be sent to another system.

The Coin Man

Short sci-fi stories

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