# Chapter 1: The Man in the Mirror

Alexander opened his eyes slowly. The ceiling above him looked the same as it always did - pristine white panels with recessed lighting that automatically adjusted to his waking state. He blinked a few times, letting his vision focus properly.

"Good morning, Dr. Alexander," the lab's AI system announced in its familiar neutral tone. "The current time is 0700 hours. Internal lab temperature is 72 degrees Fahrenheit. All systems functioning normally."

He pushed himself up to a sitting position on his bed. It was comfortable enough - not luxurious, but practical. Just the way he liked things. His mom always said his decorating style was "early apocalypse bunker," and well, she wasn't wrong. His bedroom was actually just a small section of the larger lab complex, separated by a sliding door that was currently open halfway.

"Coffee, please," he said, his voice still rough with sleep. He rubbed his eyes and ran a hand through his dark hair. It needed a trim, but that could wait. He had more important things to do today.

The coffee machine in the small kitchenette adjacent to his sleeping area hummed to life immediately. He could hear the beans grinding, then the familiar sound of hot water being pushed through them. The smell reached him a moment later, rich and inviting.

Alexander stood up and stretched. His muscles felt stiff. Had he been working late again? Probably. He often lost track of time when he was in the middle of an experiment. He glanced down at his clothes - he was still wearing yesterday's lab coat over a wrinkled button-up shirt and slacks. So he hadn't even bothered to change before collapsing into bed. That wasn't unusual. His dating profile would read "Workaholic seeks same. Must love coffee and not mind week-old lab coats."

He shuffled over to the kitchenette and grabbed his coffee mug. It was white with the words "Trust me, I'm a doctor" printed on it. A gift from... someone. He couldn't quite remember who gave it to him. Maybe it was a colleague from before he started working here. The details were fuzzy. He had considered getting one that said "Trust me, I'm THE doctor," but that seemed like copyright infringement, and the last thing he needed was a lawsuit from the BBC. Time Lords had excellent lawyers, he assumed.

The coffee poured automatically into his mug. He took a sip and let out a satisfied sigh. Perfect temperature, as always. The automation systems in his lab never disappointed him.

"What's on today's agenda?" he asked, though he already had a pretty good idea. The same projects he'd been working on for... how long had it been now? Years, certainly.

"You have scheduled work on the bovine genetic modification project," the AI replied. "And you marked the polonium weapons research as a priority for today as well."

Alexander nodded to himself. The cow project was coming along nicely. Making cattle that produced coffee-flavored milk directly was an interesting challenge. Not particularly important in the grand scheme of things, but satisfying from a pure science perspective. Plus, if he could make it work, it would save him the trouble of having to stock coffee beans. He'd thought about trying tea-flavored milk too, but worried that would be too British and the cows might start demanding tea time and crumpets.

He walked over to his personal bathroom, coffee still in hand, and looked at himself in the mirror. Dark circles under his eyes. A bit more gray at his temples than he remembered. But that was to be expected, wasn't it? Scientific progress didn't wait for beauty sleep.

"How long have I been here?" he asked suddenly, not sure why the question popped into his head.

There was a slight pause before the AI answered. "You have been in the facility for approximately 8 years, 3 months, and 17 days, Dr. Alexander."

That seemed right. The government had provided him with this lab to conduct his research uninterrupted. No oversight, no red tape, just pure science. It was perfect. He couldn't remember the last time anyone had visited for an inspection. Maybe there hadn't been any. They trusted him to do his work and deliver results.

He brushed his teeth and splashed water on his face. No need for a shower yet - he'd be working with the cows first thing, and they certainly wouldn't mind if he was a bit ripe.

As he walked through the main corridor of his lab, he felt completely at home. The walls were made of reinforced steel, floors of non-porous material easy to sterilize. Every section was clearly marked: Hydroponics, Animal Testing, Chemical Analysis, Weapons Development, Computer Core, and so on. He'd considered adding a section called "Secret Evil Lair" just to see if anyone in security monitoring would notice, but decided against it. Government types were notoriously humor-deficient.

He passed by the hydroponics bay and glanced in at the rows of vegetables and fruits growing under artificial light. Tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, potatoes, and even some strawberries. All genetically modified to grow faster and yield more nutrition. He never had to worry about food. His lab was completely self-sufficient.

"System, open Bovine Research Section," he said as he approached the heavy metal door.

"Access granted," the AI responded, and the door slid open with a soft hiss.

Inside, three cows looked at him with docile expressions. They were smaller than normal cows - about the size of large dogs - another modification he'd made to save space. Their coats were spotted brown and white, typical Holstein pattern, though there was nothing typical about these animals.

"Good morning, ladies," he said, setting down his coffee and moving to check their vital signs on the monitoring equipment. "Hope you're all feeling udderly fantastic today."

The cows made soft mooing sounds, possibly judging his terrible pun. They seemed healthy enough. One of them, the one he called Bessie (not very original, but he wasn't great with names), approached him and nudged his hand with her nose. He liked to think she appreciated his jokes, unlike his former human colleagues.

"Yes, yes, I'll get your breakfast," he told her, patting her head absentmindedly.

He pressed a button on the wall, and pellets of specialized feed dropped into their troughs. As they began to eat, he took a sample container and approached Bessie again.

"Let's see if yesterday's adjustment had any effect, shall we? No pressure, Bessie, but the future of breakfast beverages may depend on you."

He attached a small milking apparatus to her udder and collected a sample of milk. After disconnecting it, he took the sample to a small analysis station in the corner of the room. He briefly considered naming the machine "The Moo-latte Analyzer" but thankfully had enough self-respect not to label it.

The machine hummed as it processed the milk. Alexander tapped his fingers on the counter while he waited. This was attempt number... seventeen? Eighteen? He was getting closer with each iteration. The last sample had definitely tasted coffee-like, but it was weak, more like a coffee-flavored milk than a proper latte.

The machine beeped, and he looked at the results. Higher caffeine content than before. Good. The flavor compounds were more concentrated too. He pressed another button, and a small amount of the processed milk was dispensed into a cup. He tasted it, considering.

"Better," he said aloud. "Still not quite right, though. The bitterness is off."

He made some notes on a tablet. Maybe if he adjusted the gene sequence again, focusing on the translation of chlorogenic acids... He'd work on that later. For now, it was time to check on his other projects.

After ensuring the cows had everything they needed, he left the Bovine Research Section and continued down the corridor. He finished his coffee and placed the mug in a sanitizer unit embedded in the wall. It would be clean and ready for him the next time he wanted a drink.

As he walked, he felt a momentary dizziness. Strange. He stopped and pressed a hand against the cool metal wall to steady himself.

"Are you experiencing a medical issue, Dr. Alexander?" the AI asked.

"No, I'm fine," he said quickly. "Just stood up too fast, I think."

But he hadn't just stood up. He'd been walking. The dizziness passed, and he continued on his way, a small furrow between his brows.

His lab was large - much larger than most people would expect. The government had spared no expense. It extended deep underground, multiple levels, all devoted to his work. Sometimes he didn't visit certain sections for weeks at a time. There was no need when he had so many projects going simultaneously.

He reached the main research lab and began reviewing data from his ongoing experiments. Hours passed as he lost himself in the work. This was why he loved being here. No distractions, no bureaucracy, just pure scientific exploration. He could even work in his pajamas if he wanted to (though he rarely did - professionalism was important, even when working alone).

Around midday, he took a break to eat. The AI had prepared a simple meal of lab-grown meat and vegetables from the hydroponics bay. He often joked to himself that his meals were technically vegan since no animal was harmed, just their DNA profiles borrowed without permission. He ate while reviewing more data, barely tasting the food.

While he chewed, his mind wandered. When was the last time he'd spoken to another human being? Video conferences with his government contacts were rare these days. They seemed satisfied to leave him alone with his work. That was fine by him. People were messy, unpredictable. Science was clean, logical.

After lunch, he decided it was time to visit the weapons development section. The polonium project needed attention, and he'd been putting it off for too long.

The weapons section was located on the lowest level of the facility. It required the highest security clearance - not that it mattered much when he was the only one here. Still, the protocols were in place for a reason, and he followed them diligently. He'd once considered programming the security system to say "pretty please with a cherry on top" when requesting his credentials, but decided against it. Some days he regretted not adding a little personality to the place.

He took the elevator down to the lowest level. As the doors opened, he noticed something odd. There was a faint smell in the air, something metallic and unfamiliar. Had one of the samples leaked? He'd have to check the containment protocols.

The corridor here was different from the upper levels - darker, with red emergency lighting that created long shadows. The walls were thicker, reinforced to contain any potential... accidents.

Alexander approached the main security door to the polonium lab. This was always a bit tedious, but necessary. Polonium-210 was one of the most lethal substances on Earth. A microscopic amount could kill a person. The security measures were extreme, even inside his already secure facility.

"Initiate security scan for Polonium Lab access," he said.

"Beginning security scan," the AI responded. "Please step into the scanning chamber."

The scanning chamber was essentially a small room between two security doors. Once inside, the outer door sealed behind him with a heavy thunk. The chamber was illuminated by blue light as the scanning process began.

First came the memory scan. A series of questions designed to verify his identity beyond physical attributes. The system had to ensure that not only was he physically Alexander, but that he had Alexander's memories and knowledge.

"Date of birth?" the AI asked.

"April 7, 1975," he answered automatically.

"Mother's maiden name?"

"Petrova."

"First pet?"

"A goldfish named Einstein. Poor guy didn't live up to his name - kept swimming into the glass. Relativity was clearly not his strong suit."

The questions continued, and he answered them all correctly. This part was never a problem. Then came the physical scan - retinal, fingerprint, DNA analysis via a quick cheek swab, and even gait analysis as he walked in place on a pressure-sensitive plate.

"Scanning complete," the AI announced. "Analysis in progress."

Alexander waited patiently. This was routine. He'd done it hundreds of times before.

"Scan failed," the AI said suddenly. "Identity verification incomplete."

He blinked in surprise. "What? Run it again."

"Beginning second scan attempt," the AI said.

They went through the whole process again. The memory questions, the physical scans. Alexander felt a growing unease in his stomach. There must be a malfunction in the system. There was no reason he should fail these scans.

"Scan failed," the AI announced again. "Final attempt available. Failure will result in security protocols being activated."

Alexander swallowed hard. Security protocols. He knew what that meant. The chamber was equipped with automated defense systems. If the system determined he was an intruder, it would eliminate the threat. No questions, no mercy. That was how he had designed it.

"There must be a malfunction," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Run a diagnostic on the scanning system. Or maybe I've just been replaced by my evil twin. Always knew that guy would show up eventually."

"Unable to run diagnostics during active scanning procedure," the AI replied. "Beginning final scan attempt."

His heart raced as they went through the process a third time. He answered every question correctly, provided every biometric measure exactly as he had hundreds of times before. What could possibly be wrong?

"Scan failed," the AI said, its neutral tone now sounding ominous. "Security measures will activate in thirty seconds."

"Override!" Alexander shouted. "Security override alpha-nine-three-delta!"

"Override rejected. Voiceprint authentication failed."

Voiceprint failed? That was impossible. It was his voice. He felt panic rising in his chest, a sensation he hadn't experienced in years. Scientists didn't panic. They analyzed, they problem-solved. But right now, with twenty-five seconds until the security system turned him into Swiss cheese, analysis felt like a luxury he didn't have.

"Emergency shutdown!" he tried. "Full system reboot!"

"Commands not recognized from unauthenticated user."

Unauthenticated user? He was Alexander! He built this place! How could the system not recognize him?

Twenty seconds.

And then something strange happened. A flash of memory, just for an instant. Himself, looking at... himself. Standing in front of a large cylindrical tank. A human figure floating inside, attached to tubes and wires.

The image was gone as quickly as it had come, but it left him dizzy and confused.

Fifteen seconds.

Another flash. Himself again, typing commands into a computer console. Words on the screen that he couldn't quite make out. Something about "memory transfer" and "neural mapping."

Ten seconds.

And suddenly, he knew. The project he'd been working on recently. Cloning. Not just any cloning - cloning himself. Creating a perfect copy, complete with his memories, his knowledge. A backup, in case anything ever happened to him.

He'd succeeded. He'd created a clone.

And he was that clone.

Five seconds.

His eyes darted around the chamber frantically. The security cameras that he'd always assumed were dormant now had active lights. Someone was watching. The real Alexander was watching.

"I know what I am!" he shouted at the camera. "I know what you did!"

Three seconds.

The hidden gun ports in the walls began to open. He could see the barrels emerging, aimed directly at him.

Two seconds.

Where was the real Alexander? In another part of the lab? Watching him, studying him? And why had he activated the security system? To terminate a failed experiment?

One second.

The realization hit him with perfect clarity. Of course the real Alexander would terminate him once he figured out the truth. That's exactly what he would do himself. A clone with full awareness of being a clone was unpredictable, potentially dangerous. And Alexander didn't tolerate unpredictable variables in his experiments.

The alert sirens began to wail. The gun barrels locked into position, aiming directly at him.

Without thinking, Alexander threw himself at the entrance door. It was beginning to seal shut - standard procedure when security protocols activated. He managed to slip through the narrowing gap just as the first shots rang out behind him, pinging against the metal where he'd been standing a second before.

He ran down the corridor, hearing more security measures activating. Heavy doors began to close automatically throughout the facility, designed to contain any breach. He dove through another narrowing gap, barely making it through before it sealed shut with a final thud.

His mind raced as he ran. The real Alexander would be tracking him through the facility's systems, closing paths, activating more security measures. He needed to find a way out, or at least a way to communicate, to plead his case.

But did he even have a case? He was a copy, an experiment. Not the real Alexander at all.

Another door began to close ahead of him. He sprinted toward it, knowing that if he didn't make it through, he'd be trapped.