Kick off your shoes, grab a cup of coffee and read about a scene that never made it into her award-winning novel, Perfection Unleashed! Take it away, Jade Kerrion...
Deleted Scene from “Perfection Unleashed”
I love the extra features
that accompany movie DVDs, like the director’s commentary, movie bloopers, and
deleted scenes. My debut novel, Perfection Unleashed, which won multiple awards, is frequently compared to an
action movie, anime, or graphic novel, and today, I thought I’d give you a peek
into one of its deleted scenes.
But first, what was the scene
in question, and why did I delete it?
The deleted scene was the
prologue, and it set the context for the entire Double Helix series. The scene helped transport readers from
“today” into the “not-so-distant future,” and described key players in a world
transformed by the Genetic Revolution, including mutants with psychic powers. It
also introduced Galahad, the perfect human being, and foreshadowed the
existence of the abominations, inhuman by-products of the path to perfection.
Clearly it was an important
scene, but why did I delete it?
The prologue didn’t do much
more than the first chapter did. By the first chapter, readers are introduced
to Galahad, and hear the banshee-like wails of the abominations. By the first
chapter, we know that mutants with psychic powers populate our world, even
though we have to wait until chapter three to meet Danyael, the alpha empath,
Galahad’s physical template, and the protagonist of Perfection Unleashed.
It was a hard decision. The
prologue was the scene that launched the movie in my mind, which eventually
became the Double Helix series. I was,
perhaps not irrationally, deeply attached to the scene. Still, in the final
count, the prologue slowed down my attempt to plunge my readers straight into
the action. I took a deep breath and hit delete.
Figuratively speaking, of
course. The prologue never made it into Perfection
Unleashed, but I did save it as a deleted scene, and I’m grateful for the
opportunity to share it with you today. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as
I enjoyed writing it.
PERFECTION UNLEASHED—PROLOGUE
The large octagon-shaped
building that housed Pioneer Laboratories seemed especially desolate on that
Christmas Eve when the child was born. It brooded as it kept watch over the
manicured lawns all around, unimpressed by the gently falling snow. The lights
that usually spilled from its many windows had been extinguished, save for one
glowing softly from the highest floor.
Shepherds did not keep watch
over the child that night, but scientists did. Two gray haired men whose
seeming age was belied by the youthful vigor in their lithe frames waited in
the dimly lit birthing chamber, speaking in lowered tones about nothing in
particular. It would have been bad luck to speak about the only thing on their
minds—the child—even though they knew, logically, that that no amount of
conversation could change the outcome of that night. Still, they could not
bring themselves to anticipate success or even discuss outcomes, not after
having failed so many times before.
No angels heralded the birth
of this child. It was the soft beep of the incubator as the timer ticked down
to zero. Conversation stilled as the scientists moved quickly to the machine.
They exchanged glances but said nothing as one scientist held his hand over the
incubator’s controls. The moment of truth was at hand; the successful birth of
this child would redefine the boundaries of genetic manipulation.
The scientist inhaled deeply
before pressing down on the switch that would open the incubator and release
the infant from the now-perfected artificial birthing process. Both scientists
held their breaths as the translucent cover of the incubator swung silently to
the side to reveal its precious contents.
The rules of life were
broken. The science of life was rewritten in that single magical moment when
the child was delivered into the world.
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The perfectly formed, healthy
male infant was the most beautiful thing the scientists had ever seen. With
trembling hands and near reverence, they lifted the child from the chamber and
wiped the birthing fluids from its soft skin before wrapping it in warm
clothes. Warm and content, the child transitioned from incubator to world
without the slightest fuss, making a soft gurgling sound—a happy sound—as it
snuggled into the scientist’s arms.
The other scientist gingerly
touched the child’s tiny, perfect hands and then smiled as the delicate, little
fingers closed tightly around his. He looked up at the other man, almost afraid
to hope even though he longed to believe. “Do you think…?”
“We would need to run tests
over the course of the child’s life, but I think it’s safe to say that it’s
done.”
Yes, it was finally done.
Genetic manipulation had always been part art, part science, and completely
magical. What began with the unraveling of the double helix and the cracking of
the code of life in the Human Genome Project had finally led to mastery over
life itself. The human genome had been mapped, scrutinized, and analyzed. Gene
therapy, genetically modified food products, and cloned pets were parts of everyday
life. Cloned human beings, once deemed impossible and outrageous, were steadily
becoming the norm.
The journey was also littered
with failures. Mutants tarnished the purity of the human race, typically
created inadvertently as a result of genetic selection taken to an extreme. And
in the past few years, increasingly dangerous psychic-level mutations
threatened to tip the balance of power entirely.
But there was still that last
step—the creation of a human being from a swirling mixture of nucleotides,
building the double helix of life a base pair at a time, one gene at a time, to
create the perfect human being. For the two scientists, it had been a lonely
and difficult road, littered with failures, but the child born on a cold and
quiet night made it worthwhile. They forgot the nagging despair they had felt
during those long nights of painstakingly careful genetic coding, forgot the
helpless anger they’d felt at the mocking derision of their colleagues. They
held success now—sweet success—in their hands.
“What shall we name the Gene
Child?” one scientist asked as they left the birthing chamber together. Their
footsteps echoed hollowly down the empty corridors as they walked towards the
nursery, carefully carrying the product of thousands of hours of work. “Gene
Child” was an interesting and potentially acceptable scientific classification
for this unique creature that had neither father nor mother, but it would need
another name. “How about Galahad, after the last, the peerless knight of the
mythical Round Table?”
The name seemed appropriate
for the perfect little being. The scientist carrying the child set it down in
the crib that had been prepared, a smile curving his lips as he gazed upon the
sleepy infant. “Welcome, Galahad,” he said. The birth of the Gene Child was
their ultimate gift to the world on this quiet Christmas Eve.
But another voice was heard
that night. Deep within the bowels of the building, a low, inhuman moan, aching
with pain and anger, shuddered its way from behind the thick walls of its
prison to break the calm silence of that perfect starless night as something
far too grotesque to be human welcomed Galahad—its brother—into the world.
Author Bio:
Jade Kerrion
unites cutting-edge science and bioethics with fast-paced action in her
award-winning Double Helix series.
Drawing rave reviews for its originality and vision, and described as “a
breakout piece of science fiction,” Perfection
Unleashed, and its sequels, Perfect
Betrayal and Perfect Weapon, are available in print and e-book through Amazon and other major
retailers.
About The Double Helix series:
His genetic code sourced from the best that humanity
offers, Galahad embodies the pinnacle of perfection. When Zara Itani, a
mercenary whose abrasive arrogance exceeds her beauty, frees him from his
laboratory prison, she offers him the chance to claim everything that had ever
been denied him, beginning with his humanity.
Perfection cannot be unleashed without repercussions, and
Galahad’s freedom shatters Danyael Sabre’s life.
An alpha empath, Danyael is rare and coveted, even among
the alpha mutants who dominate the Genetic Revolution. He wields the power to
heal or kill with a touch, but craves only privacy and solitude—both impossible
dreams for the man who was used as Galahad’s physical template.
Galahad and Danyael, two men, one face. One man seeks to
embrace destiny, and the other to escape it.
The award-winning Double
Helix series, consisting of Perfection Unleashed, Perfect
Betrayal, and Perfect Weapon, will challenge your
notions of perfection and humanity, and lead you in a celebration of courage
and compassion. Science fiction, urban fantasy, and action-adventure readers
will enjoy this thrilling roller-coaster ride as it twists and turns through a
world transformed by the Genetic Revolution.
To connect with Jade and to learn more about her work, visit these links:
Dear Mysti,
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting me! I really appreciate this opportunity to connect with your readers and fans. I want to let you know that Perfection Unleashed is available on sale for $0.99 (down from its usual price of $2.99) for the duration of the blog tour. If you have any questions, post a comment. I'd love to chat.
Love, Jade
My pleasure! Your series sounds fantastic. I'll have to check it out. ~Mysti
ReplyDelete