I think I have a problem. I can't stop... Anywho, the usual 'I just own the names, OCs, and idea.' Started this last summer...Finally posting it. Please review and let me know what you think!

She was biologically human, but she had no parents. Not that she was an orphan, but she was not conceived in the natural way. Her parents were a team of scientists, the womb she developed in was a highly advanced chamber, and her body was genetically manipulated to give her specific traits and strengths. The man who came up with her designs was an aging scientist-and her blue prints were his second to last designs. She was accordingly dubbed Project Penultimate.

But she was just the first part. His final blue prints were for a type of body guard to protect her. He went blind shortly after presenting these two designs to his apprentices and co-workers. So Professor Calvin McDowell had to become a background man in the work on his projects.

Though he could not physically work on the projects he provided the details and biological procedures they needed to complete the project.

Project Penultimate was nicknamed Penny for short and the work began.

Penny was to be a 'perfect human'; faultless in every way. Hundreds of men and women were screened. A perfect child required DNA from extremely healthy and good looking parents. But health and beauty were not the only requirements for the sperm and egg providers. They had to have blond hair and green eyes. McDowell would not allow for any other hair and eyes.

When suitable DNA was acquired the real work began. The DNA of both donors received gene therapy to ensure that the dominate genes would provide the proper appearance. After this the cells were forced into mitosis creating a 'perfect sperm and egg'.

They just barely managed to get the two cells to fuse. As the fetus developed the scientists manipulated her genes so that her immune system would be unaffected by bacteria or blood diseases. They had further plans to enhance her mental capabilities, giving her intelligence and logic. But that would have to come after she was developed enough to be considered a 'new born'.

Once the main work was finished they had another job to start. McDowell's final project blue prints were for a protector. It called for cybernetically enhancing a human, preferably a man who would protect Penny. McDowell feared that Penny would become a target for many factions and enemies. Her job, was to prove that humans could be without violence or foolishness. She would be the beginning of the new era of humanity.

With such expectation for her, she would indeed need a guardian capable to protect her from the weaker, passionate, and violent humans who would attempt to destroy her or use her for their own benefit.

So a normal human, a person who was still capable of fighting and extremely loyal to Penny, would need to be placed in a position to guard her.

At about this time in another part of the country a young police man was visited by a stranger. He was in the hospital, on life support, his life was quickly fading. The visitor came in quietly.

"Officer Barnes?" It was a female voice.

A pair of glassed over eyes opened slowly. They fell on a fit woman with red hair. He just looked at her for a moment. She wasn't familiar, though it was hard to remember a lot about anything in his condition. She hoped the machines wouldn't mess up recording their conversation. Barnes couldn't sign a contract so she had to have a recorded vocal agreement. She turned the device on and placed it in her jacket pocket crossing her fingers. It was now or never.

She looked him over, he was lying in the bed the way any hospital patient does, a breathing tube in his nose made a rhythmic hiss, and he was surrounded by a series of machines that all monitored and kept up his life. His grey eyes were dull and she could see just a hint of dark hair under the bandages. His face was exactly what she expected, lean and long with a shave shadow and a few laugh lines already forming around his eyes.

"I have a proposition for you." She began.

"Don't bother," his whisper was hoarse. "I'm a dead man," he added.

"Not if I can help it." The scientist replied.

"Who are you?" Rick asked quietly.

"Dr. Alex Lawrence. I'm here to offer you a second life." She answered with a smile.

"Let's here it." Rick whispered. He wasn't exactly fond of the idea that he was going to be nothing but a memory in a few more days.

"I'm with a team of scientists and we have an experimental cybernetic program we want to use on you. It'll be an overhaul on you, but we'll be able to replace all damaged organs, enhance the ones that are still functional, and reinforce your entire skeleton." Alex began gently.

"Why does this sound like the opening to the Six Million Dollar Man?" Rick interrupted. Alex stifled a laugh.

"Because that's basically what we're offering you." She replied. "Just with a larger arsenal of weapons than you'd expect." She added.

"And what's the catch?" Rick asked. He was having a hard time focusing on the conversation. The machines attached to him were noisy and the humming was also a tad like a lullaby.

"The catch is this. You use this new body for the purpose of doing what any good cop does. Protecting the innocent. In your case it will be a girl we've genetically designed and created in our labs. She's very important to us, and she is going to need someone to take care of her."

"You mean you going to turn me into a science project to play babysitter?"

"No." Alex replied. "You're going to remain an officer, but you'll also take care of the girl. She's going to change the future of humanity, and she has to be protected from anyone who sees her as a threat. You'll be in a parental role with her. The main idea is to keep her from being sheltered from the world, and to give her confidence in her unusual situation."

"Sounds like a movie." Rick mumbled.

"I need an answer from you. Yes or no?" Alex pressed. He was fading fast.

"Sure. Anything's better than dying as a piteous heap in a hospital." Alex pumped her fist.

"Thank you so much. I'll take care of everything right now." She shook his right hand gently before hurrying out the door.

Rick watched her leave and then his eyes closed. He didn't know if his answer was the right one, but it was the best offer he'd had all week.

McDowell's team was rather unsure of how to go about this new project. Several scientists believed that raising her bodyguard from an age close to Penny's would create an impenetrable bond. But others wanted a more mature candidate perhaps a big brother type figure. It was during a meeting when a new comer entered the room and threw out all there ideas.

"I'm Dr. Alex Lawrence, and both ideas on what age our candidate for Project Guardian should be are wrong." The men and women looked to the stranger. She was in her mid-twenties, had short red hair and soft brown eyes.

"May I ask what you are doing here?" The last man to speak asked.

"I'm Professor McDowell's first apprentice. I'm here to end this debate on who our candidate needs to be, Dr. Grant Jackson." She added his name as though she had met him already.

Everyone looked at her. No one had heard from McDowell in two weeks. Now that Penny was two months into development he had left them alone. "And why are these ideas wrong?" Grant asked.

Alex stood up and began to speak. "A bodyguard who grows up with her is hardly more than a playmate. He won't be able to be equipped with the tools necessary until he is responsible."

"I tried telling them that. I told them also that a bond between two similarly aged children could become extremely dangerous to both of them." Another man retorted.

"But how?" Grant asked as though he'd asked this very question a hundred times.

"Romeo and Juliet." Lawrence answered regaining their attention. "If the two are the same age, and grow up in this facility, then there's a chance they could form a romantic bond by sharing such traumatic circumstances. If we try to stop them from becoming romantically involved they could turn rebellious. Besides that, a child has no business guarding another child.

"A teenager is no better. A big brother figure may be more trustworthy as a protector, but many siblings are prone to extreme cases of jealousy. If a fifteen year old sees a toddler gaining high amounts of attention while he's ignored, despite the work we'll put into him, he could take it the wrong way. Betrayal among siblings is not unheard of. Also, he'll be at an age where following orders and being responsible just aren't his cup of tea." She paused letting this all sink in.

"The logical choice is a fully grown adult male." Scoffing and sighing began and people turned to their neighbors wonderingly. It seemed nobody agreed with that idea.

"I don't mean just any man." Alex snapped. "We need a man at the end of his rope. A man without a purpose anymore. A poor man. Someone who is possibly on the brink of death. A person who needs a second chance."

Grant looked up at her curiously. "And why someone like that?"

"Because, a man who is poor will not abuse power. He will be humble and would rather not be the one in the spotlight. A grown man, who perhaps has no family of his own will most likely take an adoptive stance towards Penny. A paternal bond between the Guardian and Penny will ensure she is taken care of properly. He won't fall in love with her, he won't be jealous of her, all he will want is to keep her safe. A man without a purpose anymore is willing to accept a gift offered to him. If we offer a new purpose, a new way of living he will be more likely to take the job and be honest about it. And someone on the brink of death will require medical work anyways. It won't be done without permission, he won't wake up to find himself transfigured and freak out."

Alex sat down at her seat. Everyone was looking at her. "You have someone in mind already don't you." Grant spoke up after the silence.

"Yes. He's already agreed. I'm flying him in as we speak. Don't look at me that way. I was given clearance by McDowell himself. He told me to find a man like that, and I did. You were all taking too long. He has to be ready by the time she's 'born'. Oh and one more thing. McDowell has put me in charge of Project Guardian. So you do what I say." Alex stood and left the room then.