Planet Urth Boxed Set

by Jennifer Martucci

  A runner lay in the center of the table. The fabric, an identical shade of blood red to the walls, candles and fabric covering of the chairs, was freshly laundered and pressed. Fine crystal stem wear, utensils and china were arranged deliberately, expertly. Gabriel took his time arranging, polishing, laundering and ironing each article. He wanted the evening to be special, unforgettable.

  “Gabriel, who did all of this?”

  “I did,” he said.

  “Are you kidding me?” she asked, her voice almost a whisper. “You did this yourself, for me?”

  “Yes,” Gabriel answered simply.

  Melissa’s eyes filled with tears as she spoke.

  “This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. This must have taken you all day.”

  He did not speak.

  “Please tell me you have a cleaning service that just came today at least.”

  “Nope. No cleaning service.”

  “Oh my gosh!” Melissa said covering her mouth in astonishment. “This place is, like, sparkling. I mean, it’s beyond clean. It’s immaculate. All of the silverware is freshly polished. The table is downright glossy. Everything is gleaming!” she exclaimed. “So much preparation, so much work went into this. I can’t begin to tell you how much this means to me; how much I appreciate all that you’ve done, Gabriel.”

  “There’s no need to try. I enjoyed all of it because it was for you. Now, can I persuade you, perhaps to sit down and eat?”

  “Yes, of course. What’s on the menu? Surely, you didn’t have time to cook right?”

  “Oh no, I cooked. I made linguine with a creamy shrimp and Portobello mushroom sauce and,” Gabriel began.

  “Hold on a sec,” Melissa interrupted. “I am sorry for cutting you off, but, you made a fancy dinner for me and cleaned and arranged this elaborate table setting?”

  “Guilty as charged,” Gabriel said sheepishly.

  “I may need to lie down or something,” Melissa joked. “I mean, my head is spinning. Is there anything you can’t do? Your grades are fantastic and you don’t seem to ever study so you’re, like, a genius, you’re pretty much Martha Stewart at home and you look like an underwear model.”

  Gabriel watched as Melissa’s face turned the crimson color of the drapery at her last divulgence.

  “I’m sorry about that last part,” she stammered and blushed more deeply. “But really, you’re polite and chivalrous. I could go on and on. You’re unlike anyone I know or have ever known. What the hell are you doing with plain old me?”

  Struggling with the confession that remained to be imparted, Gabriel measured each word before uttering them.

  “First of all, there is nothing plain, or old, about you. You are perfect. I love everything about you,” Gabriel admitted. “And part of what I’m hoping to talk to you about tonight, that is, if we ever manage to eat dinner, is about my origins, why I am the way I am.”

  Wordlessly, Melissa turned to Gabriel and kissed him tenderly on the cheek before seating herself in the chair he stood behind.

  Gabriel disappeared into the kitchen. When he returned, he carried two heavy, salad plates laden with various field greens, ripe cherry tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese. He relished in the moment that Melissa inhaled deeply and smelled the tangy-sweet aroma of aged balsamic vinegar.

  “My gosh. Even the salad smells terrific,” she said. “The dressing, it smells so sweet.”

  Gabriel did not respond. Instead, he smiled and returned to the kitchen a second time. He reappeared with a decanter of sparkling water and a carafe of white wine. In one of the two crystal glasses in each setting he poured water, in the other, wine.

  He then seated himself in a crimson armed chair at the head of the table, placed his burgundy cloth napkin in his lap and waited for Melissa to eat before doing so himself.

  After eating their salads, Gabriel cleared the emptied plates and vanished into the kitchen. He reentered with dinner plates. He served shrimp and Portobello mushrooms atop linguine. He garnished the main course with fresh parsley and carrots peeled carefully and precisely to form a rose. He was pleased with the overall presentation but awaited Melissa’s seal of approval.

  “This looks wonderful,” she complimented.

  “Thanks,” Gabriel smiled as he went to the kitchen and retrieved a chunk of fresh parmesan cheese and a handheld grater.

  He began shredding the granular block over her dish. Flakes of aromatic cheese fell on her food.

  “Thank you,” Melissa said.

  “Sorry. I didn’t even ask you if you like Parmigiano-Reggiano. It just compliments the sauce so nicely. Try it. If you hate it, I’ll get you a fresh serving.”

  “No this is fine. I trust your judgment.”

  Gabriel watched intently as Melissa took her first bite, how she closed her eyes, seemed to savor the rich flavors. He guessed she was enjoying the meal he lovingly prepared for her. He was pleased.

  “This is outstanding!” she complimented enthusiastically. “Did you go to culinary school in Russia?”

  “No not exactly, but I did read a lot of cookbooks.”

  “You have a talent. You really do. I mean, I can read a cookbook, but I would not be able to do this,” Melissa said gesturing to her dinner.

  Gabriel shrugged and raised his hands self-consciously, “Thank you. I think.”

  “You are so humble, too. I’d be bragging like crazy if I could do all that you do.”

  “I’m just not used to the attention, that’s all; all of the compliments.”

  “Well, don’t expect me to stop. You’re going to have to learn to deal with it,” Melissa teased.

  Gabriel leaned across the table and kissed Melissa’s lips. He smiled then continued eating.

  Once dinner was eaten and the tableware cleared, Gabriel brought out his strawberry tiramisu.

  “Would you like to eat this in front of the fireplace?” he asked.

  “Are we allowed to? I mean, I’m kind of clumsy. If I spill something, I’ll just die.”

  “It’s just furniture. I’ll drop something first if it will make you feel better.”

  “It just might,” Melissa kidded.

  “Grab the wine and glasses and I’ll bring the dessert.”

  “I’m so full, I can’t imagine eating another bite, but this tiramisu looks so delicious. My sweet tooth wins I guess.”

  Gabriel placed the plates on the mahogany coffee table and began arranging wood in the fireplace. Once the wood was positioned correctly, Gabriel lit a long match. The fire was started.

  The combination of Melissa’s fragrance and the burning wood mingled with the warm, rich notes of the leather of the couches. The scent was inviting, enchanting. No one had ever sat on the upholstery, much less entertained in the room. Neither he nor Terzini had ever used the formal space or the fireplace. Everything was new, pristine.

  Melissa was a glorious image framed by the striking setting. Each of her features was illuminated by the firelight, the gold of her hair was softened further, irradiated; the clarity of her porcelain skin, brightened; and her green eyes glowed and danced, brilliant, enlivened. She faced Gabriel. Their knees touched. He struggled to repress the urge to take her in his arms and leave, take her away from Harbingers Falls and Dr. Terzini, from the truth. But he knew he could not. She deserved better. She deserved to know. He braced himself, preparing for the words he was about to speak, words that could never be unspoken.

  “Melissa, the love I feel for you,” Gabriel began. “It’s a new feeling for me. I’ve never loved anyone before. My feelings for you were… unexpected.”

  “I love you too, Gabriel. I wasn’t expecting to fall in love either. I mean, this is a first for me too.”

  “There are some things about me, really serious things that you don’t know about,” he added softly.

  Kindles twirled and danced about the tinder before enveloping it entirely in flames.

  “You’re not a serial killer are you,” Melissa atte
mpted comically. “I like Dexter as much as the next person but being in love with a serial killer might be a bit much for me.”

  Gabriel loved her sense of humor; saw how she used it to defuse awkward or tense situations. He couldn’t resist indulging her and seeing her dazzling smile, perhaps for the last time.

  “No. I’m definitely not a serial killer,” he said with a wry smile. “And who is Dexter? Do I know him?”

  “It’s this amazing show about a blood spatter expert who works for Miami Metro Police by day but by night, he methodically picks off serial killers,” she said excitedly. “He’s like a vigilante, but a killer, too. You find yourself loving this guy even though most people would consider him a monster.”

  Her last point intrigued him. Gabriel added, “That’s very interesting. Do you like this Dexter character?”

  “Oh yes. Absolutely!”

  “Huh. It sounds like a show I’d like, too. Be sure to let me know when it’s on.”

  “I will, and sorry for going off on a tangent there. You were about to share something and since I’m nervous that you’re going to tell me that you have a wife and kids in Russia or something, I’m rattling on and on.”

  “I promise I don’t have a wife and kids in Russia.”

  Melissa took a deep breath, looked as though she were steeling herself for bad news.

  “Okay. Let me hear these serious things about you, Gabriel,” she said.

  “First, the most important thing for you to know is that I love you, okay.”

  Gabriel inhaled and exhaled deeply.

  “The man I live with is Dr. Franklin Terzini. He is a geneticist, a genius really, who has made unparalleled strides in his field of research and development of cloning.”

  Gabriel paused and inhaled deeply again. Then in a calm, measured voice he uttered, “He created me. But he is by no means my father.”

  “Well, father is a subjective term. I mean, of course he created you. You don’t have to love him for that.”

  “No, Melissa, you don’t understand.”

  “Sure I do. I can understand how that could happen,” she began.

  “Melissa everything about me is a lie,” he interrupted desperate to voice what needed to be said. “He didn’t create me conventionally…with a woman or anything.”

  “So you were adopted?” she asked then paused. “Wait, what? I ‘m not sure I understand.”

  “Dr. Terzini created me. He harvested eggs and sperm from unsuspecting donors, altered the DNA and made me.”

  Melissa stood. Her expression was stricken. “What?” she managed. “Gabriel, you’re not making any sense.”

  Abashed and terrified that she would walk out immediately, Gabriel pleaded, “Please sit down. Let me explain everything.”

  To his surprise, she complied and reluctantly sat.

  “Melissa, I love you. Just promise me you’ll keep that in your mind while I tell you everything. Okay?”

  “Yes sure. Just tell me!” she insisted.

  “Okay,” he said knowing full well he was setting circumstances into motion, the results of which he was uncertain of, terrified by.

  “Dr. Terzini, he specializes in human cloning. He used to work here in the states with the Human Cloning Organization but felt too restricted by government watch dog groups. He wanted to further his research and development but couldn’t do so with all the administrative restraints in place. So he left the country and went to the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East. Terzini set up a state-of-the-art underground facility and continued his work off the grid. You see, Terzini has this vision. He wants to change the world. He feels the human species suffers from emotionally charged decisions. Terzini believes that if emotion is factored out, wars would end, drug addiction, political corruption, and terrorism in all its forms would all end.”

  “Okay. So this Terzini guy, this genius geneticist you live with, he went rogue and fled the country to Russia?” Melissa asked warily.

  “Yes. I was created there,” Gabriel said as tears burned down his cheeks.

  Shaking her head in disbelief Melissa’s voice quavered, “You keep using that word, created, like this doctor put you together piece by piece like Frankenstein’s monster or something. What does this mean?” she panicked.

  “Dr. Terzini changed the DNA he came across. He improved it. His alterations eliminated every emotional point in my brain so I could use a greater amount of brain matter and have higher cognitive functioning.”

  “What?” Melissa demanded incredulously. “What does this all mean? You’re not telling me!”

  “I’m saying I am a new version of human beings Terzini will create.”

  “So what does that mean? This is all an act? All of this love stuff! For what reason?” Melissa ordered as she got to her feet.

  “Melissa, please sit down,” Gabriel begged.

  “No thanks. I’m fine where I am.”

  Melissa’s face had hardened. She was no longer readable, no longer open.

  “Listen. I was designed not to feel anything. That was Terzini’s plan. But,”

  Melissa cut Gabriel off.

  “Oh! Wait a second! I get it now. How could I be so stupid! Now I realize what’s going on here.”

  Melissa touched her forehead as if visualizing her epiphany.

  “This is your deranged idea of a breakup! It makes perfect sense!” she began. “I’ve heard about guys who make a nice dinner for their girlfriends before they dump them, like a parting gift or something, then make up some ridiculous story about why they can’t be together anymore, you know, the guy is really in the CIA and she would blow his cover or he’s leaving the country. I watch Dr. Phil, I know all about this stuff!” Melissa ranted.

  “Melissa, I am not breaking up with you. I’m telling you because I love you and I think you deserve to know. I don’t want to keep anything from you and I don’t want to lie to you.”

  “Then stop!” Melissa commanded. “Just stop all of this craziness! Is it that you want me to break up with you? Because I’ve heard of that too, a guy makes himself sound like a nut because he’s too chicken to break it off with the girl, claims he loves her and all then she dumps him because of all the crazy business. Is that what’s happening here?” Melissa questioned.

  “No not at all.”

  “Then tell me Gabriel! Tell me! How can what you’re saying be real?” Melissa voice was shrill. She was crying and yelling, gesturing with trembling hands.

  “Melissa this is the last thing I wanted to do. I love you. Please –“

  “You just said that you were programmed not to love. Remember? You have no emotions because the mad scientist made his monster that way!” Melissa fumed.

  Monster. The word stung. He was not a monster; some fiendish beast concocted in a dungeon with parts sewn together, animated by a bolt of lightning. He was human. Furthermore, he was not responsible for how he came into existence. He was responsible for how he chose to exist. Despite Terzini’s objective, the pivotal tenet of his theory had failed. Gabriel possessed feelings. He loved Melissa. He simply could not leave things as they were, with her condemning him as a monster, an aberration. He needed to counter her faltering opinion of him.

  “That’s the point!” Gabriel refuted. “I was not supposed to feel anything. But I do. I feel everything for you. I’ve loved you since the day I met you. Don’t you see? I am not an unfeeling monster. I’m not a monster at all.”

  Tears streamed from his eyes, raw and honest. He looked to Melissa, noticed that emotion overtook her as well. Her tears pained him further. He watched as she wrapped her arms around herself and stepped back, away from him, suddenly cold. He could do nothing to warm her. Her posture warned him as much.

  “This can’t be real. Gabriel, this is just too much, underground labs, a scientist creating a new race. I mean, this is science-fiction; fiction being the operative word.”

  Resigned, Gabriel put his head in his hands, ran his finger through his russet
locks. Then, wiping the tears from his face, he stood, closed the distance between them and reached out to Melissa. But she stiffened at his touch.

  “I’ll show you. I’ll show you Terzini’s lab,” he resigned. “He has one here. It was originally a nuclear fallout shelter. Before we came to America, he had it gutted and renovated. It is now a sophisticated laboratory.”

  Melissa looked to Gabriel disbelievingly. “Take me, then,” she ordered. “Take me to this lab.”

  Chapter 13

  Melissa waited, still uncertain of whether she believed Gabriel’s story. It seemed incredulous, implausible. Such stories were the works of science-fiction novelists, not reality. She stood with her arms folded across her chest in the living room while he grabbed flashlights from the kitchen. When he returned, he handed her one and kept the other for himself. He then directed her out of the living room and down the short hallway to the staircase that led to the garage. After opening one of the garage doors, they crossed the expansive property.

  Devoid of the sun’s warmth, the air had grown much colder. The fall evening had darkened considerably. Melissa regretted leaving her coat behind as they ambled in the chilly autumn night. They walked several hundred feet from the house before Gabriel stopped at an unremarkable location in the grass. She watched as he used his foot and kicked over a large, rectangular patch of sod. Beneath the sod was a steel door flush against the ground.

  Gabriel produced a ring with many keys on it from his pocket. After selecting the corresponding one, he opened the door. Anticipating a loud screech from the steel door, Melissa braced herself for the sound. But there was none; it released with a soft whooshing sound similar to a vacuumed seal being broken.

  A concrete staircase was before them. Gabriel descended the steps first. Melissa followed. She was more than skeptical of what lay beyond.

  Motion-activated overhead fixtures lit in succession as Gabriel and Melissa moved down deeper into the subterranean dwelling.