Terms (The Experiments Book 3) Read online

  “Not until tomorrow.”

  “Then I’ll have my lunch here,” Cal said. “Right now I think I’ll call my husband and let him know I am fine.”

  “De phone is der.” He pointed. “We’ll see you shortly.”

  “Thank you.” Cal waited until the attendant left, a man whose name she hadn’t caught. She was sure he gave it, being as polite as he was. Peeling the band aid from the bend in her arm, she tossed the bandage away, and grabbed the phone.

  It didn’t take Jake long to answer, more than likely he was waiting on her call.

  “Gees, Jake, what do you mean? It’s only been a few hours.” Cal said.

  “Cal, babe, I asked you to call as soon as you got there.”

  “I couldn’t. I had to check on Billy.”

  Silence.

  “Jake?”

  “Uh, nothing. Adams just walked in. How .. how is Billy?”

  “Sleeping. He had some sort of surgery this morning. Then they took me for testing,” Cal said. “Blood test. An ultra sound. I had to pee in a bottle.”

  “Cal, please.”

  “Then they brought me here.”

  “How is the room?” Jake asked.

  “Oh, Jake,” Cal wisped as she paced about. “It’s absolutely stunning. Amazing. I feel like I am at a five star resort. The room is just awesome. Except there is no food. Fresh fruit.”

  “That’s food.”

  “Not for me. I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”

  “Oh my God, you must be starved.”

  “I am.” Cal replied. “But they’re bringing my lunch soon.”

  “Did you forewarn them?”

  “I’m not even going to answer that.” Cal walked to the window. “Oh, Jake, I can see the ocean. It’s beautiful and … and … the other women are down at the beach.”

  “Really? Have you met them?”

  “Not yet. I will.. Jake, I didn’t bring a bathing suit.”

  Jake snickered.

  “What was that for.”

  “Cal, please, a bathing suit. In your current state.”

  Cal gasped. “I can’t believe you just said that. They make nice pregnancy bathing suits. And .. and .. the other pregnant women are wearing them.”

  “Do me a favor and not take any pictures.”

  “I’m hanging up.”

  “Cal, wait.”

  “My lunch is here.” Cal spoke the truth; the attendant arrived in the room with a tray. “Oh, Jake it smells delicious.”

  “Cal, you haven’t eaten in hours. Spam would smell delicious right now to you.”

  “True.” Cal watched the attendant lifted the silver covering. “Jake it’s not typical hospital food. Looks like crab legs.”

  “Crab legs? Watch your shell fish intake Cal, it doesn’t sit right with you.”

  “I know. And I’m going to go. I’ll web cam you later and we can talk dirty.”

  Jake chuckled. “I’d like that.”

  “Gotta go.”

  “Cal, be careful.”

  “Jake ….”

  “I mean it. Be careful.”

  “I will. Talk to you later.” Cal told him she loved him and said her goodbye, chuckling about his concern. “Be careful,” she said out loud in ridicule to the attendant. She glanced about her surroundings. “Does he have nothing to worry about or what?” she snickered and took a seat at the tale where the attendant arranged her meal before her.

  ***

  The last Greg had heard, Billy’s surgery was a success, and Billy was sleeping like a baby. He had stirred and mumbled something about Power puff football, but then went back to sleep.

  Cal had stopped in to see him, only briefly.

  Reports about her stated she was enjoying the resort and ate all of her lunch.

  Good day.

  Thus far.

  He had an important meeting that afternoon. The yearly research update was not something he enjoyed, but found importance in this year. So he looked forward to it.

  Actually, the report meeting was due the month prior, but with all the excitement of Iso-stasis thirteen, and the wrap up; they delayed it until minds could be in place.

  And for the current report, Greg needed his mind clear.

  He had read the preliminaries, and not dug deep into them. He always read in depth after the verbal report and demonstration, that way he had a complete understanding.

  The project was something he was abreast of, weekly updates were sent. He breezed over them got the gist of them, and set them aside. Weekly updates meant more when they all came together in one big presentation.

  He took the jaunt by car, opting for a limo driver so he could make phone calls en route for the two hour journey. He would chopper his way back. He didn’t have the patience for a long return car ride.

  Eighty-three miles west of Reston VA, in the north west region of Virginia, Caldwell placed its prized research complex.

  Prized for what it held.

  It was also a community, one of four like it.

  Snuggled between the Shenandoah National Forest and the Luray caverns, the facility was masked as a beautiful grounds keeper log cabin. It set atop a multi story underground facility.

  Similar research was done in the basement of Caldwell’s main building, but it was nothing compared to what they accomplished in the Luray Center.

  The birth place and knowledge center for the Stasis.

  The Stasis was Caldwell’s pride and joy and ace in the hole for the most part. A DNA mutated creation. Once a human being, the person is steadily injected with DNA mutating material, until the DNA appears to be bursting. At that point it is outwardly apparent by the discontent and often disturbed temperament of the subject.

  The only way to truly finish the process is to allow the subject to die.

  Once dead, they cocoon and become a beast like no other. Intelligent, large agile, and virtually unstoppable.

  Rickie had been biting and in return received some of the DNA transformation, not enough to completely ‘turn’ him, but enough to give him abilities far and above any normal mortal man.

  The stasis were not born of normal individuals. Those who took the injections weren’t always stable to begin with. Most had no family, and a history of being institutionalized.

  Caldwell even discovered that long term debilitating illness such as Cancer and Multiple Sclerosis, were virtually made dormant when the subject took the injections. Although the individual no longer had to deal with the pain and torture of an impending death, they did have to deal with being a …monster of sorts.

  Long before Greg Haynes even took over as Director, the Stasis research was in full swing. Many steps it had taken. From development, to initiation, to study of and further.

  It had developed into a way of life.

  Haynes arrived alone. Dr. Jefferson refrained from the meeting, saying Haynes could update him. Greg always hated when Jefferson did that, to him there was always a sneaking feeling that Jefferson knew more and was far more into it than he let on.

  Several people would be present. Greg Haynes, Joanna Holmes who worked exclusively with the development of the Stasis. A couple assistant directors from other Caldwell Stasis facilities, and Ron Herman, director of the Stasis environment. He would be the one to run the meeting and report.

  Ron was filled with enthusiasm and peeked his head into the board room where Greg, Joanna and the others waited.

  “Visual aids!” he said like a child, and disappeared again.

  Joanna held a certain level of distain. Greg took notice.

  When asked, Joanna was not congenial. “You’ve read the weekly reports and this entire year hasn’t bothered you?”

  “You mean in regard to the Stasis?” Greg asked. “Joanna, I don’t know if you’ve noticed but I’ve been busy this year with our top project.”

  Joanna nodded. “I’m surprised you didn’t put a stop to this ten months ago, when it was first brought forward.”

  “What
was done was done.” Greg shrugged.

  “You didn’t read the report.” Joanna said airy. “Did you?”

  “Of course, I did. How dare you.” Greg stated. “Do you think it matters what is done to the stasis? Do you think any of that matters to me? No. I find anything and everything we can learn about them useful.”

  “Even if unethical and wrong?”

  Greg laughed. “We have deviate human beings taking genetic mutation injections, where do ethics roll in? I need the stasis. If they perform. They perform. If they don’t, then I worry.”

  “So as long as they stalk, hunt, kill. You’re good with that.”

  “When used in conjunction with the Iso Stasis. Yes. There’s more to the stasis and you know it.”

  “Oh,” She chuckled. “Without a doubt. You’ve created a new species.”

  “Don’t you think that’s a bit over dramatic.”

  “So, anything and everything you can learn, Correct?” Joanna asked.

  “Yes.”

  “So you’re anxious to hear Goodman’s report?”

  Greg leaned forward, gave a closed mouth smile to Gordon who sat across the table, and nodded. “Yes. Of course.”

  Ron walked in. Bright and chipper, having overheard the tail end of the conversation he commented, “I am anxious too. In fact, I’d rather not delayed.” He sat down and scooted his chair inward. “Since my research is the longest report and I feel most exciting. I get to go last.”

  Joanna rolled her eye.

  Ron flipped over folder. “I’ve read the agenda of each of you. Joanna. Why don’t you start?”

  “As you know I head finding subjects for the stasis, and the actual stasis process. We are currently working on a variant of the stasis to match young Rickie’s. But thus far we haven’t been able to match it. Anyone else whose seems to be injected with the same or similar has a singular experience.”

  “Meaning?” Greg asked.

  “The subject shows significant responding to the DNA transformation. After they are terminated, they do regenerate. But further testing shows the mutation gone after the first regenerating. Unlike Rickie who showed steady levels.”

  “Is it possible that the mutation is dormant and rekindles upon another death?” Greg asked.

  “No.” Joanna answered.

  “And we know this how?”

  “We tried,” she said. “The subject when terminated again never regenerated. They stayed dead.”

  Greg made a note. “I see.”

  “We are of course working on the protospheric process, as you are aware, where instead of lesser amount, we are doubling the length of injections, same amount of injections, but a weaker variant. The long term of those we won’t know. That’s down the road. So far so good.”

  “But there are only three so far in the program?” Greg asked.

  “That’s correct. So far, as predicted, it hasn’t latched onto the DNA, and nor have they showed any mental breakdowns.”

  “None of the new subjects though have a mental history.”

  “No. And …That’s all, I have,” Joanna said. “Burton may have more.” She looked to the heavier gentleman next to her. “He does work with the mutation and development. Burt, anything?”

  “If so, it would have been in my reports,” Burt replied. “Unfortunately, once you reach a certain level with this stage of the process it sort of plateaus and levels off. We did find that the more rehabilitated the subject was, the longer they held on to their sanity. We had one sane person receive injections …”

  “Wait. Wait.” Greg interrupted “A sane person. I thought the protospheric program was the only one where we were using sane individuals. So were they just institutionalized somehow?”

  “Um no.” Burt replied. “This gentleman was a homeless man who was desperate. He found us via a friend who had left the prison to partake.”

  “Homeless?” Greg swiped his hand over his face. “This did not get out did it?”

  “No,” Burt replied. “He handled the injections well. Just at the completion phase did he lose lucidity, and that’s it. We also found that once injections are stopped, that the subjects regenerate only once as in Dr. Holmes’ research. Even if they go almost the entire distance. They need the full series.”

  “We have to find out why.” Greg tapped his pencil. “Let’s make that a priority. Why did Rickie absorb only a little with long term effects. I mean the kid has come back, how many times. Nine?” Greg shook his head. “Something in his DNA has it. Something. Let’s find it. Plus, being a special stasis if you may.” Greg paused to laugh. “Sorry, I was just thinking the last time I said that to Rickie, and called him a special stasis, he asked if that meant he had to take the short bus to the institute.” Seeing that no one chuckled. Greg cleared his throat and continued. “Individuals should be reacting differently to the effects before and after. It’s too universal.”

  “That’s not ... entirely true.” Jud Redford raised a finger. “According to my research, they are like children.”

  Joanna took the liberty. “Jud Redford is the director of the habitat and civility division.”

  Annoyed, Greg crinkled his face. “I knew that. Continue.”

  Jud did. “We believe if you treat them like infants from the moment they emerge from the cocoon, they are more trainable. Preset them with force, they draw upon force. Present them with kindness, they aren’t as vicious.”

  “You do realize, we want them vicious,” Greg said.

  “I understand that,” Jud replied. “But you also want to know if they can be trained. Do they think, yes, but how deeply? Can they be civilized, live in a civilized habitat? If so, how?”

  “You’re civilizing the stasis?” Greg asked.

  “Some,” Jud answered.

  “Really.”

  Joann’s hand slammed to the tale. “I knew it. I knew he did not read the reports. Why do we bother sending them to you at all if you are only going to skim? Which I don’t think you even did that. If you did, your shock wouldn’t have been so pronounced when you found out Jud was teaching civility to the beasts.”

  “You done?” Greg asked calmly.

  Joanna breathed out. “Yes.”

  “Good. You’re fired.”

  “Fine.” Joanna immediately began to gather her things. “I liked Caldwell better when Jefferson was in charge. At least we didn’t have a boy in a man’s world.”

  Ron stood, nervously, waving his hand. “Whoa. Whoa. Stop. You guys stop. Dr. Haynes, you can’t fire Joanna. You can, but … you can’t find another to cover her valuable research. Seriously. Joanna, calm down. Dr. Haynes, please take it back.”

  “Take it back?” Greg questioned. “Like we’re in high school?”

  “No, like we’re in an adult situation. Rethink it. And take it back.”

  Joanna paused. Waiting.

  Greg hesitated. “All right,” he mumbled. “You’re not fired. But refrain from the sinister, cynical, sarcastic comments, please.”

  “Fine.” Joann retook her seat.

  “Good,” Ron took a calming breath. “OK, Jud continue please.”

  “I lost my place.”

  Greg refreshed. “Civility. You are civilizing the stasis.”

  “Yes. Yes.” Jud nodded. “Basically, over the last ten months we have been working with them. We have had nine in our possession, and five we had to forward to Ron, because they couldn’t be tamed, not even in the least. We have found a common factor in the ones trained. Pre mutation they showed no violent tendencies. Also, it appears, if a stasis is illiterate before injections, he’ll be illiterate after.”

  Greg stared.

  “What?” Ron asked of the stare.

  “Illiterate stasis. It was my understanding that none of them could read or write.”

  “Not true,” Ron passed a sheet of paper forward. “If you will, can you read that aloud?”

  Greg took the paper, he skimmed it, then read it out loud as requested. “The Days
of Wine and Roses.” He inhaled after the title. “The Days of Wine and roses were few and far between for me. Happiness I cling to. Love lost. Arms to hold, ears to listen. A life to share. I took for granted those days. But miss those days of wine and rose.” Greg rolled his eyes. “Poetry. Not bad. Not great.” He passed the paper back to Jud.

  “That was written by James Gilman.” Jud said. “He was the homeless man who turned stasis.”

  Silence hit the room.

  Greg’s eyes lifted. “A stasis wrote that? He writes poetry?”

  “Actually, he reads as well. His comprehension is quite high. Not as high as we believe it would have been prior to being a stasis but he does understand. He also does have a really decent game of chess. Loses every time. The temper gets …” Jud shook his head. “He can get nasty when mad.”

  Greg held up his hand. “He takes tests? Reads and writes. And that …” he snapped a glare to Joanna. “Was not in the report.”

  Jud chuckled. “No it wasn’t. It was my surprise for today. But he does. It took him several months to get back into his journaling. And yes, he journals every day. He did before the treatments took effect. We’re trying to get him to give up the journals. He sleeps on the books and password protected the documents he types. He has to type. We had a special keyboard made with large keys.”

  “I’m gonna assume you got him a computer?” Greg asked.

  “Laptop.”

  “Ah,” Nodding, Greg was in a state of disbelief. “A stasis with a laptop.”

  “He’s the only one” Jud said. “The others, though show signs of stability. Can’t comprehend that yet. Martha she was showing progress, but disappointed us greatly. We had to ship her to Ron. If you recall Martha was that female serial killer from Florida who killed …”

  “Yes, yes.” Greg nodded. “Civilized stasis. Do you realize how absurd this sounds?”

  Joanna gasped out, “Not as absurd as Ron’s research.”

  “It’s important research.” Ron spoke up. “Dr. Haynes can confirm at the end if what I am about to tell him is of extreme important to him.”

  Greg waved him on. “Please, continue.”

  He should have had orchestrated them playing music , that was how dramatic Ron was as he stood.