I stepped out of my private lab, the titanium doors sliding shut behind me with a soft hiss. The bright lights of the mansion's hallway enveloped me, and I blinked away the remnants of the lab's dim glow. My entourage of servants, bodyguards, maids, and assistants waited patiently, their eyes fixed on me with varying degrees of attention.

  My gaze swept across the group, taking in the familiar faces. There were ten servants, each with their own unique role in the household. Four bodyguards stood at attention, their imposing physiques and stern expressions a testament to their dedication to my safety. Three maids, including Matilda, who had been with me since childhood, smiled warmly as I caught their eye. And three assistants, tasked with managing the intricacies of my daily life, nodded respectfully as I emerged from the lab.

  "Matilda," I said, my voice carrying across the hallway, "I need you to accompany me to school tomorrow."

  Matilda's eyes sparkled with a hint of curiosity, but she nodded obediently. "Of course, Master Jason. I'll make sure to be ready."

  I nodded, my mind already turning back to the clone growing silently in the lab. I felt a thrill of excitement at the prospect of witnessing its development, of exploring the possibilities that this new life form presented.

  With a dismissive wave, I sent my entourage on their way, retiring to my chambers for the night. The servants and maids scurried off to attend to their various duties, while the bodyguards took up positions outside my door, ever vigilant.

  As I settled into bed, I felt the weight of my exhaustion lifting, replaced by the familiar buzz of anticipation. Tomorrow would bring new discoveries, new challenges, and new opportunities to explore the secrets of my clone.

  The soft glow of the bedside lamp cast a warm light across my face, and I closed my eyes, letting the silence of the night wash over me. My thoughts drifted back to the lab, to the clone growing steadily, silently, in the darkness.

  I smiled to myself, feeling the thrill of creation, of bringing something new into the world. And as I drifted off to sleep, I knew that tomorrow would bring me one step closer to unlocking the secrets of my clone, and of the world itself.

  The next morning, I woke to the gentle chime of my alarm, and the soft rustle of Matilda's dress as she entered my chambers.

  "Good morning, Master Jason," she said, her voice warm and familiar. "Shall I help you get ready for school?"

  I nodded, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. Matilda expertly guided me through the morning routine, her hands moving with practiced ease as she helped me dress and prepare for the day ahead.

  As we made our way downstairs, the sound of chatter and clinking silverware carried up from the dining room. My family's 100-room mansion was always bustling with activity, but I had grown accustomed to the noise, the constant comings and goings of the servants and staff.

  We entered the dining room, and I took my seat at the head of the table, Matilda standing discreetly behind me. My parents, Owen and Elizabeth Burn, smiled warmly as I joined them, their faces radiant with the familiar glow of wealth and privilege.

  "Good morning, Jason," my father said, his voice booming across the table. "I trust you're ready for another day at school?"

  I nodded, taking a bite of my toast. The conversation turned to the usual topics – politics, business, and the latest gossip from the scientific community. I listened attentively, my mind absorbing the information like a sponge.

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  But my thoughts kept drifting back to the clone, growing steadily in the lab. I felt a thrill of excitement at the prospect of returning to the lab, of witnessing the clone's development firsthand.

  As the meal drew to a close, I pushed back my chair, Matilda moving swiftly to assist me. My parents exchanged a warm smile, their eyes shining with pride.

  As I walked through the halls of the School of Science, Matilda by my side, I couldn't help but feel a sense of detachment from my fellow students. We were all 18-year-old science enthusiasts, but the atmosphere here was far from social. The scientific community prized individuality and focus above all else.

  Our teacher, Professor Everard, stood at the front of the classroom, lecturing on the basics of molecular biology. I listened intently, my mind absorbing the information like a sponge. But I already knew most of this. In secret, I had spent countless hours studying my father's personal collection of "discoveries," mastering the intricacies of each one.

  I had stumbled upon my father's secret hideout by chance, watching as he sneaked into the mansion's hidden trapdoor at night. The room was a treasure trove of scientific knowledge, containing diary entries, research papers, and experimental data from the world's most elite scientists.

  As a result, I had become a Circle and a Half Scientist, possessing knowledge of all 1516 discoveries exchanged within the secretive organization. My family's patriarch had discovered a revolutionary powder that burned longer than any known fuel, earning us a coveted spot within the Circle.

  But I had taken it a step further, creating my own 10 discoveries in secret. These innovations were my own, and I had kept them hidden, even from my father.

  As the school day drew to a close, Matilda and I made our way back to the mansion. I couldn't wait to return to my secret lab and check on my latest experiment – the clone.

  As I entered the lab, I was met with a sight that took my breath away. The clone, now fully formed, floated in the artificial glass womb, surrounded by pipes and wires. I carefully released it from the chamber, and it fell onto the inflatable bed I had prepared.

  The clone coughed, its limbs twitching as it took its first breaths. I felt an inexplicable connection to it, as if we shared a bond that went beyond mere creator and creation.

  Without thinking, I reached out to touch the clone's hand. A sudden shock caused me to retract my hand, but something strange happened. I felt myself being in two places at once, as if my consciousness had expanded to encompass both my own body and the clone's.

  And then, something incredible happened. The clone began to mimic my actions, as if we were connected by an invisible thread. We laughed out loud in sync, our voices echoing through the lab in perfect harmony.

  I stared at the clone in awe, my mind reeling with the implications of what I had just witnessed. I had created something truly remarkable – a being that was both identical to me and yet, somehow, separate.

  As I gazed into the clone's eyes, I knew that I had only scratched the surface of what was possible. The secrets of life, the mysteries of consciousness – all of these and more lay before me, waiting to be unlocked.

  I leaned in, my eyes locked onto the clone's. "We're going to keep this a secret," I said, my voice low and even. "No one can know about... you."

  The clone's eyes mirrored mine, its expression identical to my own. I could sense our connection, like an extension of my own mind.

  "I'll stay here in the lab," I continued, "while you... go out."

  The clone nodded, its movements perfectly synchronized with mine. I could feel its thoughts, its sensations, as if they were my own.

  We spent the next few hours creating the "Burn Powder," our hands moving in perfect tandem. I could sense the clone's fingers, its thoughts, as if they were an extension of my own.

  As we worked, I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment. I was creating something truly remarkable, something that would cement my family's legacy as one of the greatest scientific minds in history.

  Finally, after hours of work, the Burn Powder was complete. I held up a small vial, filled with the glowing, orange powder.

  "It's perfect," I whispered, my voice filled with awe.

  The clone's eyes locked onto mine, its expression identical to my own. I could sense its thoughts, its sensations, as if they were my own.

  With a final glance, I nodded at the clone. "It's time for you to go."

  The clone turned and walked towards the lab door, its movements perfectly synchronized with mine. I could feel its thoughts, its sensations, as if they were my own.

  As the clone disappeared into the shadows beyond, I smiled to myself. I had created something truly remarkable – an extension of myself, a mirror image that I could control. I could be at two places at one time. This one will be named Jason 1.