Embedded Files
Durand padded down a corridor lined with culture-grown hardwoods and
Durand padded down a corridor lined with culture-grown hardwoods and
printed metals. The decor had an elegant, Scandinavian simplicity. The
printed metals. The decor had an elegant, Scandinavian simplicity. The
door to his flat recognized him and clicked unlocked as he reached it.
door to his flat recognized him and clicked unlocked as he reached it.
He pushed inside and gave a tight smile. “Morning.”
He pushed inside and gave a tight smile. “Morning.”
His wife, Miyuki Uchida, sat at her desk with a cup of tea, engaged in an AR
His wife, Miyuki Uchida, sat at her desk with a cup of tea, engaged in an AR
video conference with people invisible to Durand. Actual physical, framed
video conference with people invisible to Durand. Actual physical, framed
photos of family, friends, and colleagues, along with mementos from years of
photos of family, friends, and colleagues, along with mementos from years of
development work in Africa, lined the shelves behind her. Her long black hair
development work in Africa, lined the shelves behind her. Her long black hair
shimmered in the morning light as she turned a smile toward him, then blinded
shimmered in the morning light as she turned a smile toward him, then blinded
the line. “Hey, you.”
the line. “Hey, you.”
He kissed her on the cheek. “You’re up early.”
He kissed her on the cheek. “You’re up early.”
“My Accra team ran into permit problems. Now they’re talking in circles.”
“My Accra team ran into permit problems. Now they’re talking in circles.”
“Can I make you something?” Durand went into the kitchen.
“Can I make you something?” Durand went into the kitchen.
“Thanks. I already ate. There’s a mangosteen in there for you.”
“Thanks. I already ate. There’s a mangosteen in there for you.”
Durand filled a bottle of chilled water from the fridge door. In a few
Durand filled a bottle of chilled water from the fridge door. In a few
moments his wife followed him into the kitchen.
moments his wife followed him into the kitchen.
“Birthday girl up yet?” Durand grabbed a white tropical fruit from the fridge.
“Birthday girl up yet?” Durand grabbed a white tropical fruit from the fridge.
“Pretending to sleep—which reminds me: don’t forget to come home with
“Pretending to sleep—which reminds me: don’t forget to come home with
her gift tonight.”
her gift tonight.”
“Why wasn’t it delivered here?”
“Why wasn’t it delivered here?”
“She’s scanning deliveries.”
“She’s scanning deliveries.”
“Ah.”
“Ah.”
“Something’s bothering you. I can tell.”
“Something’s bothering you. I can tell.”
Durand took a bite of the mangosteen. After a moment he shrugged. “Just
Durand took a bite of the mangosteen. After a moment he shrugged. “Just
work stuff.”
work stuff.”
She regarded him.
She regarded him.
He squirmed under her gaze.
He squirmed under her gaze.
“I haven’t seen that look in two years.”
“I haven’t seen that look in two years.”
Durand blinked. “My analysis got a civilian killed. Last night. A young
Durand blinked. “My analysis got a civilian killed. Last night. A young
woman. Human rights activist.”
woman. Human rights activist.”
woman. Human rights activist.”
woman. Human rights activist.”
She put a hand on his shoulder. “Oh, Ken. I’m sorry.” She hesitated.
She put a hand on his shoulder. “Oh, Ken. I’m sorry.” She hesitated.
“Although I’m guessing it’s not as simple as that.”
“Although I’m guessing it’s not as simple as that.”
“I can’t get into the details.”
“I can’t get into the details.”
“I understand.” She hugged him. “I’m so sorry.”
“I understand.” She hugged him. “I’m so sorry.”
“This is why I got out, Mi.”
“This is why I got out, Mi.”
“I know, but this isn’t the same thing, Ken.”
“I know, but this isn’t the same thing, Ken.”
“It’s happening all over again.”
“It’s happening all over again.”
“It isn’t the same.” She let go and looked at him. “No one’s launching air
“It isn’t the same.” She let go and looked at him. “No one’s launching air
strikes based on your analysis.”
strikes based on your analysis.”
He said nothing.
He said nothing.
She took his hand. “You know how guilty living in the Bubble makes me
She took his hand. “You know how guilty living in the Bubble makes me
feel. There’s so much trouble in the world. We promised each other that we
feel. There’s so much trouble in the world. We promised each other that we
would only do this if what we’re doing here makes the world a better place for
would only do this if what we’re doing here makes the world a better place for
her generation.” She pointed at the refrigerator.
her generation.” She pointed at the refrigerator.
Durand turned to see a printed photo pinned to the fridge of their daughter’s
Durand turned to see a printed photo pinned to the fridge of their daughter’s
robotics team competing at a local maker fair. Smiling young hopeful faces.
robotics team competing at a local maker fair. Smiling young hopeful faces.
“I know you well enough to know that’s what you’re trying to do.”
“I know you well enough to know that’s what you’re trying to do.”
He stared at the photo and nodded reluctantly. Then he noticed one of his
He stared at the photo and nodded reluctantly. Then he noticed one of his
daughter’s plesiosaur polygon models pinned up nearby. He tapped the teacher’s
daughter’s plesiosaur polygon models pinned up nearby. He tapped the teacher’s
gold star affixed to it and nodded to his wife appreciatively. “She’s getting
gold star affixed to it and nodded to his wife appreciatively. “She’s getting
good.”
good.”
“Of course. She takes after me.”
“Of course. She takes after me.”
He laughed in spite of himself. “I’m gonna grab a shower.”
He laughed in spite of himself. “I’m gonna grab a shower.”
• • •
• • •
While Durand ran an electric razor over his face, the family cat sat on the
While Durand ran an electric razor over his face, the family cat sat on the
bathroom counter, watching him. Genetically modified, the breed was known as
bathroom counter, watching him. Genetically modified, the breed was known as
a “toyger” because it perfectly resembled a miniature tiger. The cat’s gaze
a “toyger” because it perfectly resembled a miniature tiger. The cat’s gaze
unnerved him—as though a full-grown tiger watched from the far bank of some
unnerved him—as though a full-grown tiger watched from the far bank of some
watering hole instead of the far side of the bathroom sink.
watering hole instead of the far side of the bathroom sink.
“Nelson, do you mind?”
“Nelson, do you mind?”
The toyger answered with a rumbling meow.
The toyger answered with a rumbling meow.
His daughter’s pet. For some reason it focused most of its attention on
His daughter’s pet. For some reason it focused most of its attention on
Durand. He wasn’t thrilled with the idea of bespoke animals. However, neotenic
Durand. He wasn’t thrilled with the idea of bespoke animals. However, neotenic
pets—the cuter and more juvenile, the better—were all the rage these days. And
pets—the cuter and more juvenile, the better—were all the rage these days. And
golden retrievers weren’t an option in HDB flats.
golden retrievers weren’t an option in HDB flats.
golden retrievers weren’t an option in HDB flats.
golden retrievers weren’t an option in HDB flats.
After shaving, Durand got dressed, knotted his tie, pulled on his suit jacket,
After shaving, Durand got dressed, knotted his tie, pulled on his suit jacket,
and gathered his devices before heading down the hall. He knocked before
and gathered his devices before heading down the hall. He knocked before
poking his head into his daughter’s room, Nelson still close on his heels.
poking his head into his daughter’s room, Nelson still close on his heels.
His daughter’s room was decorated with solar system mobiles, deep field
His daughter’s room was decorated with solar system mobiles, deep field
survey posters, and 3D-printed robot dinosaurs she’d created. He gazed down on
survey posters, and 3D-printed robot dinosaurs she’d created. He gazed down on
her sleeping form.
her sleeping form.
She looked peaceful, a plush dinosaur toy pressed against her cheek.
She looked peaceful, a plush dinosaur toy pressed against her cheek.
He whispered, “You’re such a faker.”
He whispered, “You’re such a faker.”
Mia opened her eyes and giggled. “You woke me up.”
Mia opened her eyes and giggled. “You woke me up.”
“Really.” He sat on the edge of her bed. “If you were asleep, then what’s
“Really.” He sat on the edge of her bed. “If you were asleep, then what’s
this . . . ?” He reached under her pillow and produced a glim. Already powered
this . . . ?” He reached under her pillow and produced a glim. Already powered
up, the small dome-shaped device instantly located his eyes and projected a
up, the small dome-shaped device instantly located his eyes and projected a
video game screen onto his retinas. A virtual aquarium suddenly floated in
video game screen onto his retinas. A virtual aquarium suddenly floated in
midair before him—alive with alien swimming creatures and fictional plant life.
midair before him—alive with alien swimming creatures and fictional plant life.
“Remember that talk we had about the importance of sleep?”
“Remember that talk we had about the importance of sleep?”
She whined, “I did sleep.”
She whined, “I did sleep.”
“So if I check the log on this device, I’m not going to see you were up all
“So if I check the log on this device, I’m not going to see you were up all
night?”
night?”
“It’s gamework. And it’s due today.”
“It’s gamework. And it’s due today.”
“Gamework.”
“Gamework.”
“Yes. But I couldn’t solve it.”
“Yes. But I couldn’t solve it.”
Durand examined the screen and the completion percentage in the lowerright corner . . . slowly decrementing: 72 percent . . . then 71. “Well, if I can
Durand examined the screen and the completion percentage in the lowerright corner . . . slowly decrementing: 72 percent . . . then 71. “Well, if I can
make some suggestions. Your ecosystem is out of balance—that’s why it’s
make some suggestions. Your ecosystem is out of balance—that’s why it’s
decaying.”
decaying.”
She propped herself up on her elbows.
She propped herself up on her elbows.
He pointed. “You need more diversity to close your life cycle.”
He pointed. “You need more diversity to close your life cycle.”
“How do I do that?”
“How do I do that?”
“Well, see how energy is draining with each generation? Who’s cleaning the
“Well, see how energy is draining with each generation? Who’s cleaning the
ocean floor and recirculating nutrients up the food chain?”
ocean floor and recirculating nutrients up the food chain?”
She frowned at the image, which the glim was now projecting into both of
She frowned at the image, which the glim was now projecting into both of
their eyes.
their eyes.
“You created big creatures—which is fun. But notice how they’re dying off?
“You created big creatures—which is fun. But notice how they’re dying off?
Instead make tiny, simple creatures, and they’ll evolve from there. Balanced
Instead make tiny, simple creatures, and they’ll evolve from there. Balanced
ecosystems grow from the bottom up over time, not from the top down all at
ecosystems grow from the bottom up over time, not from the top down all at
once. We don’t design complex systems; we evolve them. It’s what Nature does.
once. We don’t design complex systems; we evolve them. It’s what Nature does.
And Nature is the best teacher.”
And Nature is the best teacher.”
She reached out to the virtual aquarium and started creating tiny organisms
She reached out to the virtual aquarium and started creating tiny organisms
from building blocks on the ocean floor with practiced flicks of her hand—
from building blocks on the ocean floor with practiced flicks of her hand—
quickly getting engrossed in the simulation.
quickly getting engrossed in the simulation.
The percentage jumped to 83. Then to 84. Then 85.
The percentage jumped to 83. Then to 84. Then 85.
“There you go.” He swept her hair aside and kissed her on the forehead.
“There you go.” He swept her hair aside and kissed her on the forehead.
“You’re welcome.”
“You’re welcome.”
She spoke without looking up from the screen. “Adele was wrong. I told her
She spoke without looking up from the screen. “Adele was wrong. I told her
she was wrong.”
she was wrong.”
“It’s not Adele’s job to do your thinking.” He got up.
“It’s not Adele’s job to do your thinking.” He got up.
Mia looked up at him. “Daddy?”
Mia looked up at him. “Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“Yes?”
“Is it wrong to edit babies?”
“Is it wrong to edit babies?”
Durand paused for a moment but then sat back down on the edge of her bed.
Durand paused for a moment but then sat back down on the edge of her bed.
“What makes you ask that?”
“What makes you ask that?”
“Because I was edited. Does that make me a bad person?” Mia kept working
“Because I was edited. Does that make me a bad person?” Mia kept working
on the simulation.
on the simulation.
Durand sat in shocked silence for several moments. “Who says you were
Durand sat in shocked silence for several moments. “Who says you were
edited?”
edited?”
“You did.” She turned to him. “I heard you talking to Jiichan when he and
“You did.” She turned to him. “I heard you talking to Jiichan when he and
Obaasan came to visit.”
Obaasan came to visit.”
Durand closed his eyes in frustration at his own stupidity. “Well, first: you
Durand closed his eyes in frustration at his own stupidity. “Well, first: you
weren’t meant to hear that.”
weren’t meant to hear that.”
“So it is wrong?”
“So it is wrong?”
“No. Well, babies don’t get edited; embryos get edited—when they’re just a
“No. Well, babies don’t get edited; embryos get edited—when they’re just a
single fertilized cell. And it’s rare.”
single fertilized cell. And it’s rare.”
She looked up at him. “Adele’s mom says babies—I mean, embryos—
She looked up at him. “Adele’s mom says babies—I mean, embryos—
should never be edited.”
should never be edited.”
“Editing isn’t necessarily wrong, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Editing isn’t necessarily wrong, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“But you and Sergeant Yi arrest people for editing embryos.”
“But you and Sergeant Yi arrest people for editing embryos.”
He leaned down to press his forehead against hers. “No, hon. Daddy doesn’t
He leaned down to press his forehead against hers. “No, hon. Daddy doesn’t
arrest anyone. All I do is help the police find people who break the law.”
arrest anyone. All I do is help the police find people who break the law.”
“But editing is against the law.”
“But editing is against the law.”
“Not all edits—just those that aren’t safe.”
“Not all edits—just those that aren’t safe.”
“Was mine safe?”
“Was mine safe?”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
“What kind of edit was it?”
“What kind of edit was it?”
“What kind of edit was it?”
“What kind of edit was it?”
“It was to cure a disorder—one that’s hard to pronounce, but it’s called
“It was to cure a disorder—one that’s hard to pronounce, but it’s called
Leber congenital amaurosis. It would have caused your eyes not to develop, so
Leber congenital amaurosis. It would have caused your eyes not to develop, so
you’d be blind. The doctors made a tiny edit to your SPATA7 gene and fixed it
you’d be blind. The doctors made a tiny edit to your SPATA7 gene and fixed it
so you could grow up and see the world.”
so you could grow up and see the world.”
“So it cured me.”
“So it cured me.”
He nodded. “That’s right. There’s nothing wrong with curing an illness. I’m
He nodded. “That’s right. There’s nothing wrong with curing an illness. I’m
sure Adele’s mom takes medicine when she’s sick. People correct bad eyesight
sure Adele’s mom takes medicine when she’s sick. People correct bad eyesight
and cure diseases. Right?”
and cure diseases. Right?”
She nodded.
She nodded.
“Well, that’s what your mom and I did because we love you very much.”
“Well, that’s what your mom and I did because we love you very much.”
“Then why are people on the feeds so upset?”
“Then why are people on the feeds so upset?”
“They’re not upset at you, honey.”
“They’re not upset at you, honey.”
“What are they mad at?”
“What are they mad at?”
He paused again. “Like I said: it’s complicated. That’s why we wanted to
He paused again. “Like I said: it’s complicated. That’s why we wanted to
wait until you were older to talk about this.” Realizing she wasn’t satisfied with
wait until you were older to talk about this.” Realizing she wasn’t satisfied with
this, he added, “Some people want to edit embryos even when they’re not sick.”
this, he added, “Some people want to edit embryos even when they’re not sick.”
“Why?”
“Why?”
“Because they want to make their kids taller or stronger or smarter than other
“Because they want to make their kids taller or stronger or smarter than other
kids.”
kids.”
“But some kids are stronger and taller and smarter.”
“But some kids are stronger and taller and smarter.”
“Yes, but Nature does that.”
“Yes, but Nature does that.”
“But Nature also makes kids sick—like I was.”
“But Nature also makes kids sick—like I was.”
Durand paused. “That’s true.” He laughed and thought harder. “But we don’t
Durand paused. “That’s true.” He laughed and thought harder. “But we don’t
fully understand how all our genes work together. They took millions of years to
fully understand how all our genes work together. They took millions of years to
evolve, and any changes we make are passed down to all future generations. So
evolve, and any changes we make are passed down to all future generations. So
the results could change our whole species in ways we didn’t intend . . .” A
the results could change our whole species in ways we didn’t intend . . .” A
thought occurred to him. “Like in your gamework.” He gestured to the glim-cast
thought occurred to him. “Like in your gamework.” He gestured to the glim-cast
image. “Do you see how traits in your creatures are passed down to following
image. “Do you see how traits in your creatures are passed down to following
generations?”
generations?”
She nodded.
She nodded.
“Well, that’s how genetics works in the real world. When you took a
“Well, that’s how genetics works in the real world. When you took a
shortcut and designed your creatures the way you wanted, they didn’t fit the
shortcut and designed your creatures the way you wanted, they didn’t fit the
environment, did they?”
environment, did they?”
She shook her head.
She shook her head.
“And even though they looked cool, they soon got sick, and their offspring
“And even though they looked cool, they soon got sick, and their offspring
even sicker—and soon your whole ecosystem got sick. The same is true in the
even sicker—and soon your whole ecosystem got sick. The same is true in the
real world. If we make edits that don’t fit the environment—even though we
real world. If we make edits that don’t fit the environment—even though we
think they’re cool—then bad things could happen to future generations that we
think they’re cool—then bad things could happen to future generations that we
think they’re cool—then bad things could happen to future generations that we
think they’re cool—then bad things could happen to future generations that we
didn’t expect. And we don’t want that. That’s why we only let sick people
didn’t expect. And we don’t want that. That’s why we only let sick people
correct genetic errors—changes that will make them the way humans evolved to
correct genetic errors—changes that will make them the way humans evolved to
be. Any other edits are against the law. And those are the edits your daddy,
be. Any other edits are against the law. And those are the edits your daddy,
Sergeant Yi, and Inspector Belanger try to stop—because we want to keep
Sergeant Yi, and Inspector Belanger try to stop—because we want to keep
everyone safe.”
everyone safe.”
She looked up at him.
She looked up at him.
He brushed her hair away from her eyes. “Someday I’m sure you’ll know a
He brushed her hair away from her eyes. “Someday I’m sure you’ll know a
lot more than I do about all this.”
lot more than I do about all this.”
She laughed. “I don’t think so. You know a lot.”
She laughed. “I don’t think so. You know a lot.”
“You’d be surprised.” He glanced up at the time. “Now, if I’m gonna get to
“You’d be surprised.” He glanced up at the time. “Now, if I’m gonna get to
work on time, I’ve got to go.” He kissed her on the forehead and confiscated the
work on time, I’ve got to go.” He kissed her on the forehead and confiscated the
glim. “Happy birthday, kiddo. And don’t fall asleep at school.”
glim. “Happy birthday, kiddo. And don’t fall asleep at school.”
He went to the door. “I’ll see you tonight.”
He went to the door. “I’ll see you tonight.”
She waved. “Bye, Daddy.”
She waved. “Bye, Daddy.”
“Bye-bye, sweetheart.” Durand closed the door and turned to see his wife
“Bye-bye, sweetheart.” Durand closed the door and turned to see his wife
standing in the hall.
standing in the hall.
She smiled as she approached him. Then she put her arms around his neck.
She smiled as she approached him. Then she put her arms around his neck.
“The birds and the bees are so twentieth century.”
“The birds and the bees are so twentieth century.”
“The birds and the bees I can explain. Or at least I think I can. What do the
“The birds and the bees I can explain. Or at least I think I can. What do the
birds do again?”
birds do again?”
She kissed him. “You did great. It almost makes me forget how badly you
She kissed him. “You did great. It almost makes me forget how badly you
screwed up.”
screwed up.”
He winced. “I know. She must have been eavesdropping with one of her
He winced. “I know. She must have been eavesdropping with one of her
drones. You know how she gets when there’s company.”
drones. You know how she gets when there’s company.”
“Thankfully, it worked out.” Miyuki held out her hand.
“Thankfully, it worked out.” Miyuki held out her hand.
Durand placed the glim into her outstretched palm.
Durand placed the glim into her outstretched palm.
“See you tonight.” She kissed him. “Don’t forget her gift.”
“See you tonight.” She kissed him. “Don’t forget her gift.”
“I won’t. I won’t.”
“I won’t. I won’t.”
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