Aaron saw the car in the driveway as he returned home—Dad was back. Unlocking the front door, he stepped inside and immediately heard voices drifting down from upstairs. His parents were talking, and from the sound of it, his dad had had a good day.
*Upstairs*
"The results were amazing! Ninety-eight percent success rate in the DNA modification process—ninety-eight!" David exclaimed, waving his hands excitedly as he tried to explain his latest breakthrough to his wife.
"David, you know I don't understand most of what you're saying," Catherine said, smiling softly, "but I'm happy for you nonetheless. Just... be careful, and you'll be alright. That much I do know." She stepped forward and rested a gentle hand on his shoulder. "With how much effort you've put into this, I'm not surprised at all."
David smiled back, warmth in his chest. What had he done to deserve such a perfect family? Everything felt so right, it was almost too good to be true.
"Hey," he began, "Since tomorrow's Saturday, why don't I take Aaron with me to work? You'll finally get some alone time, and I know he'd enjoy the lab."
Catherine hesitated. Part of her worried, of course, but she also knew how much her son adored his father's work. And, admittedly, there was a movie she'd been dying to watch.
"...Alright," she finally relented. "But just be careful, okay?" She met David's eyes with a firm look.
"Okay, okay—calm down. When have I not been careful?"
*The Next Morning*
Hazy sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft golden glow across the room.
Finally—Saturday. No school, no responsibilities, just a full day to unwind and—
The door creaked open. David stepped into the room, looking far too awake for this hour.
"Good news," he said with a grin. "Mom said you can come with me to work today."
Aaron blinked, still groggy. Part of him had wanted to spend the day alone, maybe recharge in his own little world. But the thought of seeing the lab, of walking beside his dad in the mysterious building where all that magic happened... that won out.
"Yeah," he said at last, pushing off the covers. "I'll come."
The drive was calm. The car hummed beneath them as the city rolled by, the radio playing softly in the background—just enough to fill the silence. After about half an hour, they pulled into the parking lot of a tall, stark-gray building. No fancy design. No logos. It wasn't trying to impress anyone.
This place meant business.
Aaron and his father stepped out of the car. David swiped a card through a small device next to their parking space—every spot had one.
As they approached the entrance, a security guard nodded at David and then glanced at the boy beside him.
"Brought your son today, I see. Welcome to XenoGene Labs," the guard said, before adding with a knowing smirk, "Enjoy your visit—but don't touch anything you're not supposed to."
It was a fair warning. The research done inside was monitored closely and, in many circles, considered dangerously controversial.
David was one of the leading scientists in a new frontier called applied phenotypical genetics—a revolutionary field focusing on the transfer, fusion, or alteration of physical traits between organisms. Their aim was nothing short of redefining biology, but the implications were... complex. Ethical dilemmas and fears of misuse had kept the work in the shadows, away from public knowledge. If the world knew what they were doing here, the backlash could be catastrophic.
But at XenoGene, the goal was noble. To use this strange, powerful science to fight genetic illnesses—Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, even cancer.
David believed in that mission with every fiber of his being. It's why he was so proud of his recent success. The tests from yesterday had gone perfectly. Human trials were just around the corner—but before all the chaos of protocols and personnel began, he wanted to give Aaron a quiet look behind the curtain.
As they stepped into the elevator, David glanced over.
"So... how was school, Aaron?" he asked, clearly trying to make small talk.
Aaron shrugged slightly. "It was... okay. School's okay."
There wasn't much else to say. He'd never been one to involve himself with the other kids.
David nodded. "That's good to hear."
And just like that, the conversation drifted into silence again as the elevator continued its smooth descent.