The Iso-Stasis Experiment (The Experiments)

by Jacqueline Druga

  Dr. Jefferson smiled at him. “Oh yes, she’s here. I can’t divulge which woman she is, that’s for you to determine. This is going to be a goal for you, isn’t it, Major? Proving that you are mentally stronger than she is?”

  Jake knew he was right, but didn’t need to tell him that. “Nope, don’t need to prove that. Excuse me.” He moved from him and looked at the two women. It was easy enough to spot Caleen Reynolds. The sales clerk Jennifer matched her background as well as Caleen matched hers. Jennifer was sitting alone, her small thin frame crouched up in the chair, and she was pretty. Actually, Jake thought, she was very pretty. And then there was Caleen, talking away to the skinny kid who looked stoned. She messed with her auburn hair and fiddled with her glasses. The pink shade of lipstick told him she wasn’t the self-proclaimed fashion addict. And there was a sense of relief for Jake when he noticed her heavy set stature. At least she didn’t beat him in the physical scores. What does this woman have? Jake wondered as he watched her. He had to find out. In his plotting mind he figured he’d seat himself next to her on the flight. Then again, maybe he wouldn’t have to. When Dr. Jefferson announced they would board, Jake watched as Caleen approached him. She had a smug smile on her. She probably knew already she killed him on the psych evaluations.

  “Hello?” She tilted her head and extended her hand.

  “Ma’am,” Jake said and shook her hand.

  “I take it you are Major Graison,” she said.

  Jake looked past her to the others that began to slip to the door to board. “You may call me Jake. Seven months is a long time to call me, Major.”

  “Thank you . . . Jake.” She tucked her auburn hair. “I’m Jennifer Reilly. You can call me Jenny.”

  Jennifer?! Jake’s eyes widened when he realized his mistake and also realized the real Caleen was boarding. Shit! Someone’s going to snatch the seat next to her. “Excuse me.” Pissed at himself for making an error, he fled past her hurriedly like she was the plague.

  Jake spotted her as soon as he boarded the large aircraft. She sat toward the back next to the window and was staring out. Different from what he expected, he knew he had to at least meet her, and possibly, in his own way--just to see--he’d test her.

  Cal’s body bounced when she felt the weight of someone plop down in the empty seat next to her. She turned her head sharply toward him, giving him a weird look. “In case you didn’t notice, there are fifty other seats on the plane,” she said jokingly.

  “So,” Jake reached above his head and fiddled with the light and fan to see if they worked, “I was, you know, just going to say hello, meet, and then leave.”

  “We’ve met before.”

  “We have?” He fiddled some more, blowing the air her way, proceeding with his own ‘Jake way’ of testing her nerves.

  “Yes.” She reached up and gently moved his hand from his new found toy. “At the final interviews, you bumped into me.” She removed his hand again. “For a Ranger I thought you’d be more observant. You know, pay more attention?” She spoke with sarcasm.

  “I do,” he raised his hand again, “when there’s someone that captures my attention.”

  Cal stayed in control despite his rude remark. “You’ve said your hello. You can leave like you said.”

  “Nah,” Jake tapped his hands on the side arms of the seat, “I like it here.”

  “You’re joking, right? There are fifty other seats available.”

  “I like this one.” He reclined, comfortable in the seat.

  “You’re going to sit here this entire flight? I really wanted to sit alone.”

  “No problem.” Jake stood up and stepped in the aisle and waited.

  “What are you doing?” Cal noticed he wasn’t moving.

  “I’m letting you out.”

  “I’m not moving. I was here first.”

  “Well then, you have company.” He plopped hard again into the seat.

  Cal grunted loudly and stared out of the window.

  Speaking in a whisper, Jake leaned to her and said, “What is your problem?”

  “What is my problem?” Cal answered in an angry whisper. “There’s a whole plane. You’re sitting here. I was here first. You’re sucking up all my air space, you and your big body.”

  “My big body?” Jake settled himself even more into the seat. “If you feel claustrophobic, then move. If you’re not going to move, then be quiet so I can get some rest.”

  Cal wanted to scream, but didn’t. Her soft high pitched snarl said it all.

  With his eyes closed, Jake smiled. “You have a problem?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Oh, it’s nothing.” He opened one eye and looked at the woman who obviously was losing her cool. “You know, if you can’t make it an entire flight without losing it, how are you going to make it seven months?”

  Cal opened her mouth to blast him, but stopped. “Did I . . . do something to you?”

  “How could you do anything to me? I don’t even know you.”

  “Then in that case . . .” with a fake smile, she extended her hand, “Cal Reynolds. It’s nice to meet you.”

  “Likewise, I’m sure.” Jake brought his seat forward and shook her hand. “Major Graison.”

  “And I believe your first name is . . .”

  “Major Graison.” Jake nodded closed mouthed and reclined his seat back again.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  I-S.E. Twelve - Seal River Complex, Manitoba, Canada

  August 2 - 3:42 P.M.

  Dr. Jefferson led the group on their initial tour. They all looked exhausted, and he wanted to finish up so he could head back in the helicopter that awaited him. It had to have been tiring for the group and they all showed it, all except Major Graison. Dr. Jefferson looked for signs of physical exhaustion in him, and there were none. They had all endured a flight from their homes, another flight and then a helicopter ride to the complex hidden deep within the Canadian wilderness. He had just finished showing them the other building, a large storage building which was kept locked and then brought them to the main building.

  “This is where you’ll be spending most of your time. The complex was built last year for this experiment, so it is very new.” All of them, holding their belongings, walked around him and into the large open room. “This is the gathering room, a break from the usual scenery of your private quarters. I will almost guarantee that this is where you’ll end up spending most of your time. That and . . .” Dr. Jefferson pointed to one of the two interior doors, “in the dining area through that door and down the hall.” Dr. Jefferson moved the group across the large room. Tables were set up in each corner, filled bookshelves, chairs, two sofas completed the room. “Here in this corner we have a box of board games, should you feel the urge to get competitive.” He looked to Jake.

  Like a schoolgirl, Jennifer raised her hand. “Is the key we were given to our rooms?”

  “Yes,” Dr. Jefferson answered. “The other door leads to the eight private rooms. There is one bathroom between every two rooms. It sets between the rooms with adjoining doors, so for privacy, lock the other side. We’ve already chosen who has which room. The three items, if you requested them, are in your rooms already. I suggest now that you put your personal items away, and possibly meet back here to get acquainted, because this is where I leave you.”

  Turning and starting to walk away, Dr. Jefferson stopped himself with a snap of his fingers. “Almost forgot.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out a set of keys and tossed them to an unsuspecting Cal. “Everything you need to survive for seven months is in the locked storage building. By lottery we picked a person to be in charge of the keys to that building. That’s you, Cal.” Quickly Dr. Jefferson looked. He knew it was coming and he wasn’t disappointed. He hid his smile when he watched Jake grumble and shake his head. After that enjoyable moment, Dr. Jefferson spoke as he moved to the main door. “Cal, you can hold on to that key or pass it along, your choice.” At the door he stopped. “Good l
uck to all of you. See you in seven months.” With that Dr. Jefferson walked out.

  ^^^^

  Cal didn’t expect much more than what she saw when she opened the door to her very plain room. She laid her bag on the double bed which sat next to the door she closed and locked. A desk, a chair, a night stand and a dresser was all the furniture provided, which left ample room for movement. The bathroom door was open; Cal knew that would change. At the foot of her bed were two boxes, her requests she supposed, and she was right. The one box, still sealed was marked cigarettes. The other, flaps opened, contained Jack Daniels, seven large cans of coffee, two mugs, a small coffee maker and supplies to lighten and sweeten it. That made Cal smile. “I’m all set up,” she said to herself.

  Though she wasn’t much of a team player, she knew at least the first day, she would be cordial. They had agreed to meet back in the gathering room and Cal only had fifteen minutes to put her stuff away. She decided to put the ‘vitals’ away first and the rest could wait. She had seven months.

  Vital is what she classified the first thing she pulled out of her bag, photographs of Jessie. She set them up on her desk. Though they said they provided them with enough bathroom and female supplies, Cal brought some along, just in case. Taking her supplies with her she walked into the bathroom and set the little bag on the back of the toilet. The bathroom was clean and large enough. No tub, only a shower. She turned to the sink cabinet to put her things away and as she began to bend down she heard the click of the other bathroom door. She saw the man from the waist down and knew immediately who it was. “Oh, no,” she said as she stood up.

  He held his own things in his hand and his stride slowed when he saw her. “So you’re my latrine buddy.”

  “Yes, I am, Major Graison.” She grabbed her tooth paste and toothbrush and reached for the medicine cabinet.

  “Look,” he stepped closer to her, “about the plane. You can call me . . .” the mirror opened, nearly slamming him in the face, “. . . what you just did.” He shut it on her.

  “I’m not done yet.” She opened the mirror back up and added a few more things. “I’ll stay on the left side.”

  “Why don’t you just take the top shelf and I’ll take the bottom.” He reached from behind her and placed his things in the cabinet.

  “Whatever makes your life easier—Major.” She shut the mirror and grabbed her other things that set on the toilet.

  “That’s the spirit.” He watched her put away her belongings.

  “What are you doing?” She noticed him just towering over her as she squatted on the floor in front of the cabinet under the sink.

  “Could you hurry along? I have to use the bathroom.”

  “Well, you’re going to have to wait. I’m almost done.”

  “I’d appreciate it if you’d finish up, after I’m done.”

  Trying to pay him no mind, Cal continued on with what she was doing. And she did it slowly. “You’ll have to wait. I’ll be finished in a moment.”

  “Look, if you don’t leave now, I’m just going to go. I have no modesty.”

  “If you’re going to try to throw me into some sort of appalling frenzy—don’t bother. Go right ahead and go.” She heard him unzip his pants as he stood before the toilet.

  “Are you sure?” He smiled arrogantly at her.

  “You know what, Major.” Cal brushed her hands together, shut the cabinet, and stood up. “I’ll let you have your privacy. I wouldn’t want to embarrass you.” She winked holding up two fingers an inch apart. “I know what they say about you big guys.” She brushed by him out of the bathroom, closing the door to her side behind her.

  ^^^^

  Eight chairs were set in a circle when Jake walked into the room with the others who all seemed to have finished putting away their things at the same time. To Jake, everyone but his Nemesis, seemed to be settling into their chairs wearing the happy looks of anticipation as if off for vacation. Why was that? Did they not take this seriously? Though he himself was having fun, at Cal’s expense, the seriousness of the experiment was forefront in his mind. Jake took his seat, the only seat available, which was next to Rickie.

  Rickie’s nail biting caused Jake to shift his eyes in annoyance at him as they waited for someone to start. Jake just wanted to grab the skinny kid and make him sit up straight instead of slumping forward.

  “Dude,” Rickie called to him

  Dude? Did he just call me dude? Jake turned his head sharply to look at him.

  “Are you like really going to like dress that way the whole time we’re here?” Rickie asked seriously, not joking around.

  Jake didn’t answer him. He just stared at him wondering what the hell the kid was thinking.

  “Cause like, you’re going to really stick out.”

  Jake’s eyebrow raised as he kept staring to the boy who started to smile.

  “Dude, wait. I know. I know why you’re dressed like this. I got it. Hold.” Rickie paused as if to think.

  A twitching of his upper lip on his stone face, Jake’s eyes shot daggers at young Rickie.

  Rickie snapped his finger in front of Jake’s face. “Wait . . . You’re in the Army or something.”

  Cool gone. “What the fuck is wrong with you?!” Jake’s deep voice plastered and frightened the young man. “Sit your ass straight up in that chair, eyes forward and don’t speak to me unless you have something intelligent to say. Got that?!”

  Rickie didn’t respond verbally, but snapped to an upright position and looked ahead.

  After a short whistle, Jennifer clapped her hands together once and spoke with an annoyingly chipper tone to her voice. “OK!”

  Jake winced, very visibly.

  Jennifer smiled widely and kept talking. “I think we should take this moment” her hands moved about as she spoke, “to really get to know each other personally. You know, tell a little something about ourselves. After all, the world could end while we’re here and we may have to repopulate the planet.” She crossed her legs as she glanced at Jake. “What do you think, Major?”

  Jake snickered. “I think that man would become extinct if you’re waiting for me to help you out.”

  “Dude,” Rickie’s shoulders bounced in laughter. “Are you gay?”

  Jake, looking cross, turned quickly to him. “Now what the hell did I just tell you about saying something intelligent? That wasn’t intelligent. Sit back!”

  Holding up a finger, Jennifer smiled. “No-no, boys, this is talk time. OK. . . .” She exhaled what she thought was a tension releasing breath for all. “I know I’ve spoken to all of you except Caleen.”

  Cal sat sideways in her arm chair. She looked up from her notebook and smiled. She continued to move her pencil about the paper, not writing, drawing.

  “OK, Caleen’s not in the mood for talking.” Jennifer still sounded chipper. “How about we go to . . .” her finger twirled around in a circle, “John.” She pointed. “Talk first.”

  “I’m a writer.” John shifted his average size body in his seat to be more comfortable. He sniffled quite a bit while he talked, crinkling his nose as he did. “I’m here to get the story of a lifetime. I also feel that the four years I just put in at Harvard, and the tedious work I did there, has helped to prepare me for this. Well. . . I’m an honest person and . . . and why are you rolling your eyes at me, Major?”

  After snapping his eyes toward Cal when he swore he heard her mumble, ‘because he’s an asshole,’ Jake with arrogance, looked at John. “Ivy league doesn’t prepare you for mental endurance. Life experience does. You’re twenty-three years old. How much experience has life thrown your way?”

  “Enough to know it will be a pleasure writing in detail about how you mentally fall apart.” John’s hard expression didn’t change despite the fact that Jake laughed loudly.

  Trying to break the tension, Jennifer injected her upbeat self and tapped John on the knee. “Shrug it off, John. We all have to deal with him.”

  Cal had just a
bout all she could take. She had been with the group long enough. She knew that the people she had to spend the next seven months of her life with weren’t exactly the type of people she was going to enjoy being with. Rolling her body forward, she closed her notebook and set her feet on the floor.

  “Caleen?” Jennifer asked as Cal started to leave. “Where are you going? We’re just getting to know each other.”

  Cal gave a half smile. “I have seven months to get to know all of you. And please, take no offense to this but . . . I’m not here to make new friends . . .” she lifted her shoulders almost embarrassingly “. . . so I’m heading back to my room. Good night.”

  John Montgomery, not one to remain silent, didn’t. “I think you of all people shouldn’t walk out that door. You literally hold the key to our survival. We should get to know you, trust you. How do we know we can do that?”

  Cal raised her hands with a shrug. “You have seven months.”

  “That bitchy attitude is bullshit.” John snapped.

  Jennifer, really trying hard to be the peacemaker, was at a loss. Less than an hour and already there were disagreements. Not at all like she envisioned in her picture of how it was going to be. She felt the tension. “John, Caleen, this is way too early for this. We’re all the same in a way, right? I mean, obviously none of us has any spouses or children to think about so we . . .”

  Cal interrupted her, “I have a daughter.”

  “Oh, Caleen,” Jennifer said as the smile fell from her face. “I didn’t mean it like that, I really didn’t.” Jennifer turned to her right to look at John when she heard his huff.

  “She has a daughter and she’s up here for seven months?” John sneered at Cal. “Unreal. We let the person who up and leaves their kid have control over our food? Leaving her kid, that says a lot for her character.” He smirked as he wrote in his notebook. “Remind me not to vote for you for mother of the year.”

  Cal stormed toward him, passing Jake who had sprung to his feet. Just as John looked up at her, Cal pulled back, clenched her fist and nailed him hard in the jaw. Taken by surprise by her action and strength, John lost his balance, and his chair flew back, crashing to the floor. Cal shook her hand and walked angrily from the room.