Transference

M

urphy’s Law. This shouldn’t have happened. But it did. The only thing that went according to plan was the trigger of the high priority E1 escalation notification to Major Kazani and Dr. Najma. The SR-302 had woken up from cryogenic hibernation. Containment measures had failed.

The SR-302 was at large.

* * *

Dr. Najma and Major Kazani were in the war room set up for handling the crisis. Dr. Najma pulled information about the SR-302 and brought it up on the large wall-mounted displays for review. She clicked on ‘Donor’ and the following information popped up:

                Donor name: Sudesh Kolambkar

                D.O.B: Aug 7, 1980

                D.O.C: Oct 12, 2001

                ….

“This shows a Bandra address in Mumbai. Our notification protocol requires that addresses are verified and confirmed every month. The last verification was done 13 days ago. We are unable to reach Mr. Kolambkar's phone. Captain Sharma, you and your men go to Mr. Kolambkar’s residence. I need you there until we get this thing under control” said Major Kazani.

“This information was accessed by SR-302 just a few hours ago. See the ‘last accessed’ timestamp on this record!” remarked Dr. Najma.

“You are right! It is heading to Mr. Kolambkar’s residence” nodded Major Kazani in approval.  “Captain Sharma, get going… Remember, our contract allows us to terminate SR-302 under the current circumstances. So, you are allowed to engage as you see fit! There is a chopper waiting outside to transport you and your team to Bandra.”

Captain Sharma led his team out to the helipad and the bird was up in the air in less than fifteen seconds.

* * *

The SR-302 was traveling south on the Western Express Highway towards Vile Parle in a Mumbai cab.

“Do you work at the lab, Sir?” enquired the driver.

“Yes. How long to reach Bandra in this traffic?”

* * *

“Why would the SR-302 to go in search of Mr. Kolambkar?” asked Major Kazani.

“The medical records of Mr. Sudesh Kolambkar show that he suffered from acute psychosis and harbored suicidal tendencies. He has since been cured of that illness and is leading a perfectly normal life. The SR-302 was cloned on Oct 12, 2001 as shown by the records, before Mr. Kolambkar was cured.” said Dr. Najma.

“So what?” asked Major Kazani, a little puzzled.

“At that time, we pioneered the technique of transferring feelings from the donor to the clone. We did not account for the psychoanalytic phenomenon called Transference. It is a process by which unconsciously retained feelings and desires are redirected at a new object. The clone is acting on its suicidal urge except that transference comes into play. SR-302 wants to murder Mr. Kolambkar!”

Major Kazani’s phone rang. With the eerie silence in the room, Dr. Najma could hear Captain Sharma on the line.

“Major, we were late…”