The year had started so well their experiments had been going well. The human trials had shown excellent results, and Ashley had shown increases in every area. He gave the order to draw blood and spinal fluid to see if they can pass these excellent results onto other people. He also added an order for better security, since she's become so much stronger he doesn't need anybody dying and having this miracle taken off his hands.

Getting up from his desk looking around at the tidy and clean room moving appreciating their janitors working in their blue overalls that looked horrible. Looking at the clean, polished glass door, he pushed against it. Put the report and orders onto the receptionist desk and asked, "Hey Dorothy could file this, send this to the Security department and have this sent to me team I'm off for lunch."

Heading towards the lift through the clean white lined corridors and passed into the empty lift Pressed the 34 floors an only a few floors down. Walking out into a busy cafeteria goes and grabs some food and oh so important cup of coffee, before walking back to a table and waited for his compatriot.

Soon enough, he spotted Dr Hew from the physics department leading his own project on the floor 40. Smiling, they shook hands, and they both sit down, "So Hew how you're experiment going. Big day for you, if what I've heard is correct?"

Dr Hew smiled and nodded the black and grey-haired head. "We got everything in place to pierce our veil of the universe, and we're just running checks of our sensors and triple checking the equipment. I decided to come for some coffee is going to be a long night. What about yourself, I've heard you've been very successful in your trial patient and heading into replications testing. I'm just as excited for your research Dr Gerath, as my own truly amazing technology and science."

"Oh, it's nothing I just found a miracle and expanded on it to give it more substance in our world. It was easy compared to the next stage that required me to give it to everyone. The difficulty will be immense, but even sceptics can't refute what will be made real. With theorise that only a small portion of people could go through what subject one did since she was already exhibiting certain traits."

Dr Gareth trailed off. Realising that he wasn't in a high-security zone and shouldn't be talking about the experiment in such detail, changing the subject to Dr Hew he asked. "Will I'm hopeful that you'll succeed in your own experiments we could even ask for a budget increase."

That got a laugh out of them, they knew that their experiments were all pushing the boundaries of reality. And it cost a tremendous amount of money before there's any possible amount of return on investment. It's more likely to have been pushed toward more immediate profitable investment. Between the two of them, Dr Gareth was the closest to having a product to sell and most likely would get an increase. If he could find a way to bottle it and not having to be lucky to find a lottery draw from evolution.

But Dr Hew's experiments were far more critical as it would give a considerable amount of information into the very universe. It could possibly give up the secrets to cold fusion, more materials that could be used to move through other dimensions to travel far distances. Finally, the science community could use it to make a start on zero-point generators which have only ever been a theorised. A theory that one could tap into a different dimension and in between them and use energy infinitely locked in there.

They enjoy their smug atmosphere as they'd both come from the same street in England and had gone to the same university but practised different subjects. Still, they'd stayed good friends through everything and making it this far wasn't a coincidence as they continually bounce ideas, thoughts and theories. Giving the best atmosphere to grow and innovate that helped them through their careers.

Once there laughter had died down, and they had exhausted the breath the both sat back and drank some coffee until the bell tolled, the clock built into the cafeteria "There's a world to change so good luck.". Gareth looked and was so surprised that an hour and fifteen minutes had gone by, and it had felt like minutes. "Oh well sorry, Hew gotta get back to work we should be getting the samples in and we can start working on the next stage."

Hew nodded "Absolutely, I have to get back as well, I don't need the interns getting all excited and starting the experiment without me."

"Haha, I know the feeling, a bit too much energy from those youngsters and they do their own projects. Remember that time where we had some clever idea, and it blew up my apartment."

"Our apartment and the smell was horrific for days, it wasn't even that good of an idea gene splicing a pufferfish into a lizards tail to see if it would blow up. When it literally did blow up, you were all surprised not that your professor was when you ask why. He said "Just because you're clever doesn't mean you have that much common sense, but just because it could work doesn't mean it will and life usually finds a way to blow up in your face. Just remember when it does then there's always a reason for it and that you just need to find it."

Gareth nodded, smiling “That speech was far more valuable than just in science.”

With a bit of effort, he got up and placed his tray on the cleaning conveyor belt. He thanked those that worked in the back and headed back to the lift. And pressed the 38th floor, nodding to his other occupants who waited for his floor. Stepping out, he was greeted by his assistant who handed him the latest report on the Ashley healths and abilities. Deciding to visit the subject headed towards the containment room that hyper genetically sealed her in as she needed to avoid outside contaminants.

Looking through the thick glass, he saw her hanging their iv tubes entering her body and keeping her alive. In a more collaborate as she had lashed out several times injuring people, it was an unusual encounter as he'd found her and her mother struggling. Even at a young age, she had the abilities to move things with her mind. Read surface thoughts and even manipulate the person if they weren't aware of the fact that she could, before meeting her.

Which made it very difficult at first to capture her, but there was something very fundamentally flawed about her. She was a not quite there her she had no way of controlling a lot of her abilities. She never seemed to think about anything beyond natural instincts like hunger and fear. Which would make her lash out at anybody even her parents who now worked here so that they can see her and protect her. It was like she lacked a concinnous a logical tick within her mind.

The contract they'd made with them was for them to find out how it all ticked and then remove those abilities so that they could take her home. They had achieved the first thing by being able to strengthen her powers by using a virus to manipulate the genes. It seemed to activate these abilities boosting them and even unintentionally grant her with more capabilities. But like a lot of things adding them to someone who's never naturally gained the powers had explosive possibilities. Knowing what was making it tick they could make a virus that would remove them, of course, it would take a lot of work.

Knocking on the window pane her head moved to his. He could feel the influence creep into his mind even though a metre thick pane of glass, they'd found very few materials could block her power. Gareth forced it away, aware that she wasn't doing it on purpose.

And asked in a soft a tone a possible for some stuck behind some glass, "Hello, how are you?"

The tension his mind seemed to intensify, and she whispered, "I ache everything aches, please stop it, I ache."

"It's ok Ashley we'll increase the morphine the change must be still having an effect. Ashley, can you tell it to me the pain is mental or physical?"

"Both, the brain feels like it's bursting through the skull, and my body aches all over."

Gareth thought about it seemed like growing pain always for the body, making an order to keep track of her measurement and weight. The headaches could be some swelling, so he ordered for a scan of her brain and made sure that it would be during Dr Hew's physics test. Looking back toward Ashley and asked, "Hey would want to go out for a walk, it might help with aches if to moved?"

A whispered uninterested, "No, thank you."

Gareth eyebrows rose "Well, no problem, maybe tomorrow, see you later."

Without waiting, Gareth walked off, heading towards the labs. Picking up a lab coat off the line of them and he entered his and looked towards his test subject the great rat one, two and three.

Of twenty groups, he waited for the lab tech to give the summary of the test subject all variations with the highest likelihood of change that the quantum computer spat out.

"We've had some alarming results, Dr Gareth set one in the majority of group one to seven. They've shown dramatic increases in aggression, they also seem to be eating a lot more than the control rats. We've also seen that the protein heavier diet seems to grow a lot faster. We also see a reduced memory function. The second set also had similar results because their bodies couldn't seem to take and die overnight."

That wasn't a thing he wanted to hear. Still, it made a bit of sense they were manipulating the mind of creatures to get a controllable connection into the fold of dimensions. Which someone could then control in reality, all without destroying there's mind.

The problem of taking one out of a trillion possibly and then replicating it for the rest of humanity would almost be impossible. If Gareth managed to, then he would say that they'd have nothing to fear from the machines, aliens and its own humanity. Everyone would be able to defend themselves with their own minds.

As they ran through the information, the Gareth ran through possible genetic waves that could be causing the de-characterisation of the subjects. Working along is the quantum computer he found himself tiring out and was grateful when his assistant informed him of Hew's test starting. Keeping the white coat, he dismissed himself from his colleagues and took the lift to the 40th floor. Make his way to the reinforced room he shook his friend's hand and wished him luck before sitting himself in the back very out of the way and just listened.

"Dr Hew everything coming in green, the floors above and below have been excavated. We are ready to go."

Dr Hew leaned over the technician, and nodded, "Good, Good start her up, got a world to change."

A humming sound started as electricity poured into the device it buzzed and hummed some more. Gareth could feel the tension in the room and remember a few weeks ago when he'd been in the same position, he hoped the Hew's would go as well as his own.

“Stage one charged, and ready stage two, progressing.”

Hew was now passing back and fore wearing out his trainer inside the room the sound of thunder as a ripping sound that could be felt as much as heard. The tearing of space was something very unpleasant to be near. There wasn't something they could solve right now as several people with weak stomachs puked up and then collapsed unconscious. Gareth wasn't unaffected as he was sick, and darkness encroached on him.

Thankfully the technician had managed to push the eject button as soon enough the whole room of people were puking and holding themselves up. The eject button did nothing as the power that was supposedly keeping the tear open stopped, and the feeling didn't retract. The sensors informed those that were still awake that the incision was still open.

Of course, there were contingencies that as red light lit up all over the building indicating that there was an evacuation order and something had gone terribly wrong. And it had the tear pumping out its own energy, they tried smothering it with a plastic foam that hardened rapidly. It just broke right through it the tried throwing matter at it to seal the hole it came with some success. Those that had been on their last leg weren't collapsing, however, to force of energy exciting was more potent than the matters force trying to enter. So they needed a large amount of matter and a force multiplier. Well with the little room they had in the system the could have a large wad of C four stuck in there they put a microgram of antimatter.

Well, they released all of their remaining matter at the same time and then the antimatter just after. Of course, when antimatter connects with matter, they become quite explosive and tear out the side of the building, thankful to the extra protection he sat in. The unusual energies released by antimatter and matter closed the tear in space.

The building rocked, and a huge hole had opened up in the skyscraper letting in the sirens and drone now circling the build checking the structural stability before allowing people back into it. Not that anyone could hear them as everyone in the reinforced bunker had collapsed as the explosion had tipped them all over the edge.

What a week though Dr Gareth staring out of the hole in the skyscraper and watching the drones get the work three-dimensionally re-printed the building.

Dr Hew had caused several deaths and injuries that have put people in coma's, vast amounts of damage. Putting everyone into isolation as whatever had caused them all to go unconscious was investigated. Gareth wasn't nearly enjoying his time as the subject and thought when tester became tested. He'd realised how horrible it was as a subject, never quite knowing what tests might be coming next and how they're going to make you feel uncomfortable.

For Hew, his experiment had been reassessed as potentially harmful to planetary life which meant that he was no longer able to follow the line of experimentation on earth. If he wished to continue, he'd have to move to an outer solar research station where the likelihood of damage was lessened. Least it hadn't been assessed potentially harmful to solar life. Otherwise, he'd have to be moved to a different system which would have made talking to him immensely tricky.

Right now they are stuck in isolation and watching the city go to the pot as strange creatures run down other citizens killing or turning them. They'd all tried to talk to their captors who had changed from the ordinarily dark blue uniforms to armed black-uniformed individuals. Who simply told them that the building had been secured their families had been moved to safety.

Their reassurances had settled down some of the other ordinary people, but for Gareth and Hew they whispered in a worried, "That sounded ominous to me?"

"Yeah me too. My family are all preppers. I doubt they'd have left their bunkers."

“As for mine, Gareth they could now all be part of the arms branch as hostages if they wanted me to do anything they could simply threaten them. And those being outside, what do you think?”

"Yeah, they seem to be thoughtless and hunger not that we can see all that easily, but it would hazard a guess that they are getting slightly bigger than the average person. If that's true, then it's mostly that is my experiments out on the streets being used as a bioweapon. Either someone got infected and got out of the building into the general population or someone purposely released."

They both shared a meaningful stare as they most likely thought the latter as anyone how were close enough to the project all knew how dangerous it was. How it would affect Gareth's staff, and that it was in their best interest to stay and inform the others without infecting them. And all of Gareths staff knew that, but it didn't matter they'd need a cure and he was the foremost expert since he'd created it.

Moving back to the communicator, he called again and asked for one of his staff who they actually allowed to talk to him. It was Ashley's mother who'd grown a decade in a few weeks. "Hello Dr Gareth, how are you?"

“I’m well, what’s happening out there?”

"All, kinds of hell, people eating people I imagine you can see the fires and chaos in from in there. We have had dozens and dozens of unusual events happening all over the city of psychics abilities controllable tearing down the house and leaving a crater in the ground. Some of survived and you've managed to give very few people the powers that Ashley has, even a few we haven't seen. They all fall unconscious afterwards, so the military guys are going out every time they hear of one going off and extracting every single one. They can and are containing them in this building. They just brought in the last one they found the city has fallen and the boundary has been held, to the reactionary force.

About 2.7million people just died in the city, but at least it's been contained.

There is still a large population of the maddened running around the city. Still, they seem to be intelligent enough to be avoiding this building and the armoured vehicle running through town.

Mind you they've been very efficient when it comes to being attacked and are using hit and run tactics to force the army back out onto the highway and open spaces.

The army guy has managed to capture a couple of hundred maddened, and one of the last psychics collapse outside of the city in the forest and destroy half of it.

The Maddened didn't touch him quite the opposite, they protected him. Still, the army managed to capture them with quite a lot of sedative. The young man's being placed in the isolation chamber below you, not much more room in the building. There have been 286 individuals who have awakened; however, there seem to be a few who were seen and captured; we can assume that we missed a couple."

Dr Gareth slumped into his chair, sickened at how his virus had kicked so many. Still, the other half wondered at the people who'd survived and gotten abilities. He wanted to know everything, but again his mind reeled that 2.7 million people had to die for them to find out.

“How?” was all he said.

Gloria gave Gareth a sympathetic smile and shuffled closer and whispered. "Well, we were told that it was one of the technicians on the team since no one has seen him for a few days, but he could've been at home and gotten attacked, so that's a bit hard to believe. I'm very suspicious about seeing that even our cleaner are extremely well trained and wouldn't do something as stupid as leaving the room. If they had spilt anything on themselves or was bitten by one of the subjects. Right now, the stakeholders aren't in control. The military came in and started shouting at them, or so I've heard, but they've all disappeared."

Nodding Gareth squashed his unhelpful thoughts to one side, “I need to talk to whoever's in charge, do you think you can do that?”

Gloria looked down, "I could, but I don't want to, he's taken an interest in Ashley and has been asking questions about her. So I want to avoid giving him anything."

Nodding his head, Gareth understood the commanders interest in a miracle how could he not want to know. Still, he wasn't interested in her on a scientific or wonder but for the militaristic side of things. "I understand, but we could get a cure to save the rest of the people in the city, but I need to get to my lab and start work. It's been a week, and nothing has happened to us, we can even have the lab move up, and I can work in isolation."

Gloria nodding in understanding as the first sparkle of light shined in her eyes, “I’ll see what I can do.”

Gloria left without another word, and he was left with his thoughts, so that's what he did. 'His dange… nope don't think that he could fix this if he got out of here and back into the lab he could perhaps save thousands if not hundreds of thousands of people. He had subjects that he could work on, and that alone can speed up all his research!"