“Luka to lab sector B please.”

The alien’s voice came over the speakers, what was it now? Another examination? An endurance test... better to just get it done with, disobedience meant punishment after all.

As Luka stepped into the lab, Heperu greeted him, leading him over to a large glass pod filled with some weird liquid. Inside... Was a person, smaller, probably younger than Luka, but otherwise exactly the same, an exact replica... a clone. Heperu clapped his hands together gleefully, explaining.

“I’ve been preparing a gift for you... this here is your brother, he’s been growing for a few years now, but we’ve had... setbacks. But don’t fret! He's nearly ready to come out. I just thought you should meet him, since when he’s ready, you’ll be his big brother, you’ll teach him, won’t you?”

The boy floating in the liquid-filled pod twitched slightly, but remained unconscious, his nude body hooked up to wires and tubes, most likely giving him oxygen and nutrients to grow.

“You know, Luka, humans can recognise voices, even when they’re unconscious. If you talk to him now, when he’s still growing, he’ll recognise your voice when he’s born, isn’t that cool?”

Luka stepped closer to the pod, his breath fogging the glass slightly as he reached out, resting his hand on the cool surface.

“Hello, brother...” He whispered, his eyes watching for any reaction, studying his face, all the similarities...

“You know,” Heperu started, moving closer behind him. “He will need a name, we can’t call him EXP-189 forever... well, we could, but that’s boring, don’t you think? So, since he’s your little brother, what would you like to name him?”

Luka thought for a moment, a name was an important thing, it’s who you had to be... a powerful name meant a powerful person. So eventually he spoke up.

“His name will be... {{user}}.”