Remaking Martin

A genius scientist is required to be cloned and then befriend his replica to ensure they are identical. If he approves, the clone takes his place, and he dies! (See excerpts below)

Professor Martin Finch supervises a $2 billion energy project. When his life is put at risk because of a health problem, his company proposes a radical solution to ensure the project's future. In a top-secret genetics institute, Martin will be cloned and his memory transferred to his clone Martin2 who will replace him. Martin2 will then finish the project and also take care of Martin’s family.

During the final stage of the cloning process, Martin must spend time with his clone, testing Martin2 to determine if he is a perfect copy. Martin’s verdict will determine which one will leave the institute alive—and which one will have to die.

While at the institute, Martin befriends another patient, Sarah Joyce, a celebrity Hollywood actress who is also undergoing a cloning procedure. As they walk their strange path together, they become intimate friends and share a secret that will alter the course of their lives.

Remaking Martin is an existential thriller as well as a story of enlightenment and awakening.

EXCERPT 1

“When we produce your healthy clone, or ‘Martin2,’ we’ll proceed to the confirmation phase," said Dr. Spence. "The only person who can do this is you, as no one else can know you better than you.”

Martin didn’t respond.

“In short, after the mind transfer, you and Martin2 will spend some time together. You’ll inspect him in detail and decide if he’s a perfect clone of you.”

“Then, there will be two of me.”

“Only for a short time... as a principle, the Institute cannot accept two versions of the same person going around, for reasons of confidentiality. This means that only one of you can stay ‘active.’ So, after evaluating your clone in the final stage, you’ll have to decide who continues to live.”

Martin spoke with difficulty. “...And who dies!”

EXCERPT 2

“Silence is the hardest thing to listen to,” his father had said once. “Most people can’t stand listening to silence, and that’s why they want to be in noisy places. They talk, laugh, go to the cinema, and cheer in stadiums. They don’t even care if what they say is meaningful or not! Even music was invented for this, to get away from silence in a pleasing way.”

“Why?” Little Martin had asked.

“Because silence is staying alone with yourself, and this can be unbearable. Someone staying alone with themselves wakes up from a dream and meets the cold face of reality.”

“But if people like dreaming, why do we come to this quiet place, Daddy?”

His father threw him that strange look once more. “Because there are some dreams you wouldn’t want to have.”

EXCERPT 3

Pedro leaned toward the inside of the carrier and pulled on something heavy and awkwardly shaped, heaving it onto the desk. In her curiosity, Sarah tried to make it out. Was there someone in that stupid box? Were those feet? Legs? As Pedro moved from her line of sight, it came into the light, and Sarah, with eyes wide open, clapped her hand to her mouth.

That was a corpse!

Pedro pushed a few buttons on the control panel, and the giant metal rig was activated. As a door opened in the front, flames came into sight, erupting like hellfire. Once the dead body was laid on the desk, its face turned toward Sarah. To avoid a scream, she pressed her hands so hard to her mouth that, in her terror, she almost bit her fingers.