Flash Fiction: "Stem Cell Stock Exchange"

I pulled out a book from the box and blew off the dust. I found a comfortable spot where the sunlight leaked in, opened to the middle of the cracked leather diary and began to read.

"As I await their calling, a decade flashed passed my mind. The truth is far less imaginative than what comes next."

Wiping off the sweat from my brow and drying my hand on my sleeve, I read further.

"The first seal didn't break when America exhausted all forms of financial stability. Or when the government paid China in fake gold, paid NATO and the U.N. by deploying illegal immigrants clueless to battles, or when slicing the value of the American dollar by nearly 75% in illegal prints. It was earlier in the fall of 2010 when the seal began to split.

On the 10th day in October a green light was given to change the world, literally. The day secret negotiations would decide the ultimate fate of stem cells. Irony in numbers due to the unique date of 10/10/10, record breaking weddings overshadowed politics, science, and all other news. Then came the next day of less viewed reports, more honeymoon headlines, and one of the largest forums on baby boom potential.

On the 11th day in October of 2010 Geron, a biotech company, was granted usage of the first stem cell on a human spinal injury as reported by a viral global BBC release. The pitch was a miracle "cure" for diseases and injuries. Everyone supported cures and recovery, even if they were a long shot to none.

The ears of China, Japan, and Russia leaned in closely as they drew up an elaborate blueprint, a master plan. Many chalked it up as a conspiracy theorist tale when it came to the possibilities of stem cell wars. The idea of China, Japan, and Russia conspiring never crossed wind.

It didn't take long for China, Japan, and Russia to lock in the United States to a large degree, thanks to the fake gold and the threat of war. The three dominant countries joined in efforts of creating their perfect human version, whether it be killing machine, slave, or worse - clones. Like a breeze, the stem cell tides shifted - evolved, right under the heart of America.

All three tossed the American government a hard to resist bone, as some called it. A collection of a low amount of stem cells at their disposal or face war. America, like other nations, was barely surviving exports. The American government then turned to Pluripotent stem cell lines, the cheaper way to deliver a stem cell contract - by fetus, from a willing womb.

The stem cell stock exchange was born. Many, including my own grandmother, were vulnerable in believing stem cell remedies were for the good of mankind."

I coughed in the stagnant basement hoping no soul could hear me and continued to explore the diary.

"Mexico's progress was far behind in science, but fruitful in fetus. Deals between Mexico, China and Japan ignited a feud between the U.S., China and Japan. That was before the declaration, Treaty of the Stem Cell Enhancement Pact. After the signing, America handed over all reproduction rights of their citizens to China and Japan to secure future trades. Russia gathered stem cells from Mexico cutting the original demand by half.

United Kingdom held secret negotiations in Australia over the new tug of war between cells. Iran and Iraq deemed torn with Afghanistan in the rocks of the military machine, according to the propaganda. Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan outweighed Germany's iron fist. The world remained divided.

Now? To them, if your womb is of no longer use, fight or eventually become an organ donor, it's that simple, that simple."

As the words ended, my nerves balled up, my body temperature rose as a massive painful jolt stabbed the sides of my belly working towards the center. I grabbed the book and placed it between my teeth to hold myself back from screaming. The dust between wood slaps trickled down upon my face as the first contraction peeked. Once it passed, my eyes focused through the boards directly above me.

The soldiers are in the house - in the house. I could see the uniform logo of a large red sphere with four small yellow stars covered by a red square border and white background. The stars measured as the four corners of the Earth - North, South, East, West.

Soldiers passed by the window in shadows. I tossed the diary through the door of the safe-room, crawled in and locked the hidden door after entering. A fierce contraction pierced the moment, I jammed the book into my mouth and bit down.

Banging came from the opposite side of the door. My heart raced as the contraction leveled down. All of the sudden I heard a jiggle in the keyhole. The knob began to turn and the book fell from my mouth.

"No! No! Stay away from my baby!"

Two white uniformed men came rushing inside while one of them held a syringe. Like a multiple sting by a hundred bees the needle ruggedly broke into my skin as the worse contraction began to surface. I grabbed the book and tried to bite down again. One of the men removed the book from my mouth as my teeth slowly released it.

I was drifting in a fast spin, but could hear their fading voices in echo.

"We better call the doctor to let him know that she bit through the hand bandages from yesterday."

"Yeah, strange, an imaginary baby."

"Can't say the same in nine months. Remember, yesterday was October 10th ..."

I felt my body lift to a table during the last conscious voice vibrated in sound.

"...2010."

________
Happy Halloween
Source(s): Absolute Fiction / Lori Lane
BBC News (link)
(accessed October 28, 2010)