by Potts, Allie
She looked back at Louis. His body continued to call to her for attention. He leaned back in the chair, rocking it slightly, the movement causing his hips to thrust ever so slowly. She felt her pulse quicken again and fought her most basic urges.
She closed her eyes, preventing Louis’s body from discouraging logical thought. “I look forward to meeting her.”
When she opened her eyes, she had halfway expected Alan to gloat over his victory. Instead, he nodded. “Excellent. Now that this matter is settled, allow me to get to the point of my visit this morning. We are going to need an edge to make up for time lost if we are going to remain relevant. I’ve decided to move forward with trials. Would you like to join me?"
Louis spoke up from the back of the room. His voice, the low rumble of a tiger, equal parts purr and threat, tempted her once again to shove Alan out of the office. “Trials? For what exactly?”
Juliane snapped back to full attention, mentally berating herself from allowing her mind to wander once again.
“The human variety. You might recall the little project that Dr. Faris and I were working on ahead of your . . . eh . . . more active involvement. Well, I haven’t been twiddling my thumbs here. The process is no longer theoretical.”
Juliane nearly broke the sound barrier as she twisted back toward Alan, his words registering in her brain. “You’ve achieved live imprinting?”
“I believe that is what I just said. While you were working on your little side project, I received approval to conduct small animal trials. Of course, they were a resounding success."
"Why didn't I hear about this?" asked Louis.
Not bothering to look toward Louis, Alan answered, "The study was so far along and the risk so small, I am not surprised your signature wasn't required. The study results have been sent to legal for review, if you feel the need to second guess the process. Juliane, I am confident the process works and would like you to be a part of proving it once and for all. Think about it. This is our opportunity to evolve!"
Juliane hesitated, not sure how to respond. Alan was suggesting moving to human trials before the ink dried on the patent filings. Without those patents, the ACI would not authorize the publication of the study's results. There would be no chance for peer review. Could Alan have really gotten the necessary approvals to move forward? Even if he had, who would they find willing to participate in the study under those conditions?
"I presume I have your attention now. Will you join me in the labs?”
Juliane's eyes widened as she realized what Alan wasn't saying. He wanted her to be that test subject. Alan's smile deepened, but there was nothing soft about his expression. The paperwork in her hand sent a clear message. If she missed this opportunity, it would not come again. Alan was actively searching for her replacement and would move forward with his experiment with or without her.
If the process worked, she would be forever changed, but all the combined knowledge of the world would be open to her. She would be able to access any server anywhere with just a thought. It was the opportunity of a lifetime. The process wouldn’t just give their team an edge on this particular project; it would blow rival companies out of the water.
Louis came over to her side, placing a hand possessively on her waist. “Well, I’m game. Lead the way.”
Twelve
When they arrived in Alan's lab, a young woman was already seated at the desk. “Ah, good. I do so appreciate it when people arrive on time,” Alan quipped. “Dr. Faris, I would like to introduce you to Dr. Elizabeth Omondt.”
The woman rose and extended her hand in greeting. “It is so nice to meet you, at least formally. You really saved my behind that day with Dr. Than."
If she hadn’t been the only other person in the room, Juliane might never have noticed her. Her features were only striking in their averageness, and it was as if the woman wanted to blend into the crowd. She wore her brown hair in a severe braid that stretched down just beneath her shoulders, a hairdo which did nothing to soften her sharp beak-like nose. Her clothes hung over her frame like a bag, and her brown eyes were hidden behind a pair of oversized glasses. She could not have looked more like the stereotypical researcher had she tried. Who still wears glasses? Juliane thought. She fidgeted as if aware of the nature of Juliane’s scrutiny.
"Umm, maybe you don't remember me. I was trying out contacts that day, and well, let's just say they aren't for me, but the leg is all healed. Oh, and I have my doctorate now." She bit her lip. "Of course I have my doctorate. I wouldn't be here if didn't have it."
Juliane took the offered hand and shook it as the woman's shoulders slumped in relief.
"Anyway, I know that you and Dr. Dronigh must have been buried under applications. I can't tell you how excited I am to be able to join this team. Getting to work with you both at the same time is truly an honor. Please, call me Betty.”
“And you can call me Alan,” he practically purred out the phrase.
Juliane did a double take; it almost sounded like he was attracted to the woman. Betty’s cheeks reddened as she pulled off the glasses. Juliane had to admit, the blush was a charming effect with her complexion. Perhaps she had misjudged Alan's earlier intentions after all.
“I took the liberty of calibrating the equipment. The system is warmed up, and we can proceed whenever you are ready.”
“Well, Jul—Juliane, which is it to be? Age before beauty or ladies first?” Alan bowed while gesturing to a nearby gurney.
“I'll go first,” Louis spoke up before Juliane had a chance to respond. Betty seemed to jump a foot off the ground.
She wasn't prepared for company, thought Juliane as she watched Betty try to figure out how to react to Louis's unexpected presence. She and Chad will get along splendidly. Juliane couldn't blame Betty for being surprised. Louis moved like a panther. Silently. Dangerously. Juliane shook her head to clear her thoughts. Now was not the time to get lost in daydreams. Aloud, Juliane asked Louis, “Do you really think you should? We don’t know for certain that Alan’s process is entirely stable.”
“Are you planning on participating?”
“Well, yes, of course.”
“Then I’ve no reason to worry, do I?”
“I don’t imagine the board will be all that thrilled with your risk taking.”
Louis leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, “Well, then I guess I just won’t tell them. Besides, you just said there isn't any reason to worry.”
A short time later, Betty had him strapped to the table. Alan looked positively gleeful as he adjusted instruments. Juliane couldn’t help thinking how much she would like to tie Louis down in a very different manner. Louis leered at her, and she knew he had been thinking along the same lines.
Alan walked over to a refrigerated case along one wall in the lab. There were several vials of various colors and volume, but he made his selection without hesitation. From her vantage, Juliane couldn't read the labels, but based on the count of vials, it almost appeared as if Alan had planned for the extra doses that would be required to include Louis in the experiment.
Alan injected the contents of the vial into a pneumatic apparatus that looked similar to a tattoo artist’s needle. Before, there hadn’t been much indication that the tool was powered, but once out of its holster, Juliane could hear a faint hum, and the tip of the device flickered with a bright glow. Alan held it in the light and shook it with an exaggerated flourish.
“That’s a little dramatic, don’t you think, Alan?” chuckled Juliane.
“I've always felt that life is so much richer with a little showmanship,” responded Alan with a laugh as he leaned in, ready to pierce Louis's skin with the needle. “Now count back from sixty. This may pinch a little.”
Alan was much more subdued when it was her turn, more professional and less like Dr. Frankenstein. She watched the needle enter her arm and felt the liquid push against her veins. It created a sensation that somehow was both ice an
d burn. Then it was gone. She rubbed her arms where Betty had overly tightened the straps. As her blood began circulating freely again, the momentary discomfort was replaced by a feeling Juliane couldn’t quite describe.
“It will be easier on you if you don’t resist,” Alan whispered in her ear as he began packing up their supplies.
“What do you mean?” she asked. She felt her pulse began to race. Suddenly she felt lightheaded.
“Your immune system is naturally going to attempt to repel the synthetic virus I used to deliver the software to your DNA. Over the next few hours, you will feel feverish and may experience some other unpleasantness. There is a lot to still be studied on the impact of a person’s will on their physical well-being. You need to will your body into accepting the spread of the virus.”
“And what if I can’t?”
Alan's words began to sound muffled to her ears as if the air around them had transformed into sludge. “Then your body will consume itself, trying to halt the inevitable. Only death can stop the spread of the virus in your system now.”
Juliane blinked. “You should have mentioned that upstairs!” What have I let him do? "You said you have had successful trials already!"
“And I have."
"How did the animals survive then?"
"I'm surprised you ask, Juliane. Animals trust their instincts so much better than we do. They don't have to be told how to adapt and survive. They just do."
"You said this was safe," she shouted.
"So there are still a few bugs in the process to work out.” Alan shrugged. “Would it make you feel better if I told you I injected myself yesterday?”
She felt her forehead glisten from beads of sweat as she thought about his question. Alan had definitely given her ample experience to hone her willpower, and certainly, he was a genius. If he could make it, so could she. “You did this to yourself?" Her mouth felt like a desert.
Alan grinned. "Don't worry, you'll feel like a brand-new person before you know it."
Juliane glanced around. Louis was slumped over in a chair, a sheen of moisture covering his face. “You told him too, didn’t you?” she demanded. Not waiting for an answer, she attempted to race over to his side, only to be stricken with such intense vertigo that she dropped to the floor.
Alan sounded far away. “Betty, we are going to need some cots in here. I believe Dr. Faris has her assistant on speed dial. Would you mind giving him a call?” The lab alternated between arctic freeze and volcanic heat. Juliane couldn’t have given Louis any further assistance if she tried. An image of Louis crumpled in his chair swirled around her vision. Juliane took a deep calming breath, closed her eyes, and willed herself to remain alive.
Juliane woke with no concept of how much time might have passed since she collapsed on the cold laboratory floor. At some point, she had been moved to one of the temporary cots that were hidden away in various nooks and crannies throughout the building. It was common for staffers to conduct tests and experiments over several days, and the ACI had decided that it was cheaper to purchase the beds than take on the liability of researchers driving home with only a couple hours of sleep.
Betty sat near the head of the second cot, dabbing the occupant's forehead with a moist cloth. She must have pulled together a full tray of the happy homemakers’ basic flu remedies. Juliane could smell the chicken soup from where she lay. Her stomach turned in protest as she struggled to pull herself up right.
“What happened? How long was I out?”
Betty wrinkled her brow in thought. “I guess it has been close to eight hours. Quite impressive really. I looked over Alan’s notes after you all started to collapse. According to his observations, the transition in animals tended to take much longer.”
"How long was Alan's transition?"
"About thirty minutes less than yours." Alan’s muffled voice came from the direction of the cot.
"But I thought you injected yourself yesterday. Why would it only affect you now?" Juliane asked as she scanned the room. There were no other cots in the room.
"I didn't say that I injected myself yesterday."
"Yes, you did."
"No, I asked if you would feel better if I said that, and you did. You see? I told you that you had nothing to worry about.” Alan’s voice sounded weaker than it had this morning. He might have known what to expect, but the process had taken some toll on him as well.
Louis was nowhere to be seen. She scolded herself. She would not panic. If something had gone wrong, then Betty and Alan wouldn't be acting so nonchalant. Would they? “Where is Louis?”
Betty said, “Oh, Mr. Evan’s people called probably an hour after you fell. They didn't seem at all surprised to find him out cold, but were fairly annoyed that he wasn't where he said he would be.”
“Has anyone checked? Did he make it through the transition?”
Betty shrugged. “I wouldn't worry too much. If he suffered any worse than you did, I am sure we would have heard about it by now. He may not have even woken up yet.” She turned toward Alan. "At least you'd better hope he's okay. I'd really prefer to have not killed the big boss on my first assignment."
Juliane fumbled around until she located her phone and dialed Louis. The call went straight to voicemail. The panic took on the flavor of disappointment. Louis’s impromptu appearance in her office this morning had allowed her to hope they might be able to spend a little more time with each other. As memorable as his last visits had been, they were exceedingly brief. She pushed the feelings deep down. Provided we survive this, we’ll soon have all the time in the world together. “All right, Alan, now what?”
“Animals operating on raw instinct really are beautifully simple. All I had to do to prime the system was hack into their biologic network, but I believe the process for humans will be a bit more complicated. We build up so many walls, you see. You'll have to figure out a way to open the data exchange yourself.”
“And how, pray tell, do you suggest I do that?”
“You just have to focus your intent; the neurons should do the rest. It should be similar to how you control that emulator system you were so proudly showing off at the conference.”
“Except my emulator doesn't have the risk of knocking you out cold. You should have warned us about the side effects. Do I need to prepare for any other unpleasant surprises?”
“Oh no, the only surprises from here should be pleasant, quite pleasant. It’s a brave new world, Jules.”
Juliane attempted to clear her mind, ignoring Alan’s use of the nickname for the time being. Nothing.
“Any other brilliant suggestions?”
“All my suggestions are brilliant. Try relaxing. Think of something pleasant.”
Juliane smiled as she thought of how the sunlight played upon Louis’s face in the early morning, making him appear more youthful than his business dealings let on.
“Something a little less personal perhaps. Maybe a flower blooming, the warm glow of a fireplace.”
Juliane raised an eyebrow. She was really going to need to double her effort to school her features. Alan noticed too much. She visualized a stream.
“Now stop. Visualize making a connection.”
Juliane’s mind went blank. It was as if a dam burst behind her eyes as the stream became torrents of data rushing through her mind. She had access to the full breadth of the Internet. She had always lived for the pursuit of knowledge, and now it surrounded her. She pictured herself dipping an arm into the raging current of bits. The ones and zeros pulsed against her senses. She dipped deeper, wondering just how far she could reach.
Then, she was flying through the air. She could see a forest of trees beneath her and rooftops in the distance. The setting sun behind her created a blurred shadow on the ground below. She could just make out the shape of animal remains beneath her just as her body began a rapid descent back downward. When she landed, she could not tell what the animal used to be, as it
had already begun to be picked over.
Another wave of nausea took over and broke her focus. She shook her head and was back in the lab atop the cot.
“What was that?” she exclaimed.
“What was what?”
“I started accessing data, but then I was flying. And not just accessing satellite feeds. I mean, truly flying. Then I saw some road kill and I was back here.”
“A few days ago, some of my early test subjects, a few rats and birds, went missing. It occasionally happens. Animal rights activists." Alan sighed. "They never worry about what they might be unleashing on the public with these 'liberations.' But until now, I haven’t been overly concerned. The virus isn't transmittable after all. It wasn't worth reporting." Alan's eyes shone. "You must have been able to access one of the subject’s vision as if they were just another node on the network. Did it act as if it was aware of your presence?”
“I can’t be sure, but I don’t believe so.”
“Do you think you can access mine?”
Juliane opened herself once again to the data stream. She focused her intent upon Alan, but all she could see was him staring back at her. She shook her head.
“Excellent. I visualized putting up a firewall. It must have been successful. Fascinating. Absolutely fascinating.”
Juliane focused her intent on locating Louis. She shifted through the data stream until she found the location of his jet’s departure log. Betty was correct. Louis’s people must have been in a panic to reach him. It was a wonder he had taken the time to visit her at all. His jet took off immediately following his transportation from the campus to the airport. She was able to access some security camera footage which showed him being wheeled to the craft, but nothing that would indicate that he was in serious condition. While the log had given her the basic time of departure, it had not provided any further information such as where he was going or what time he might arrive at his destination. It was as if there was no formal flight plan filed. How was he able to get away with that? she wondered. She was unable to access any of his physical senses. She couldn’t be sure if that was due to distance, his lack of consciousness, or his natural self-preservation instinct. Juliane decided she would try again once she knew for sure that he was safe and well.
