Chapter 17

Away from home.

Elizabeth Diamond.

Time/Area: Le Marais, Paris. July 8th, 2013.

“Don’t you love Paris?” Jordan J asked, enjoying the view from our testing facility that had been rented out by the government.

I rolled my eyes, It was like this fool had completely forgotten about how he threatened me and Sarah. I honestly did not expect to be heading off to Paris for testing, but the ISAC testing ground would apparently be held here.

We had gotten the best testing facility since we were first to be “Able to test”, despite the fact that the truth was really the opposite.

That surprised me though, since I thought Synth would be first ones ready due to all the progress they were making. That radiation leak must’ve really messed with their operations.

Jordan couldn’t have been happier, while I couldn’t have been more nervous. We had received multiple congratulations and praises from the directors of the ISAC program, all astounded that the underdogs were already ready for human testing.

“Yes, wonderful.” I replied to Jordan's question.

“So,” He started, turning from the massive window overlooking the brightly lit streets of The Marais, “I got you 12 volunteers for your test, which should be plenty.”

I glared at him, “Yes, yes it should. What date do you have it set for?”

He smiled, “July 12th, Saturday. This place has room to sleep in I think.”

I gulped, glancing down at the carpeted floors of the provided office. I knew it was soon, but I didn’t know it was that soon, “I better go check the testing room then.” I decided, walking towards the dark oak door.

I opened it, walking into the barren bronze tiled halls of the building as I heard Jordan’s voice trail behind,

“I’ll come too!” He yelled after me, “I want you to walk me through how the test is going to go.”

“Ugh,” I thought, turning a corner, “Begone already.”

We walked down fancy hall after fancy hall until we turned on an electrically locked iron door that read, “Restricted, Authorized personnel only.”

I sighed, sliding my key card across a metal lined slit located next to the door.

I heard the faint buzz of the magnetic locks opening, the insides of the slit flashing green as the door opened in a small burst of Co2.

I walked in, followed by Jordan. We were in a giant, elevated viewing deck. It was made of white tile and consoles I had set up previously filled the room. The room had its own elevator access in the back, but since we were already on the same floor, there was no need for it at the moment.

The front window was made entirely of heat resistant glass that overlooked the actual testing space. The testing place was much bigger than the observation deck itself. The walls, floor, and roof of the grounds were all fitted with metal blanketed by a rather soft material for electrical insulation.

Bright metal Light panels provided illumination from the roof, which was good because that would go along with the test I had in mind quite nicely.

“Wow.” Jordan said from my left, looking down at the massive room for the first time. This obviously wasn’t my first time here, and as such, I had placed hundreds of C-units in rows going up and down the testing grounds that were connected to one huge I-unit in the middle of the floor. It honestly made the view look more like a graveyard of machinery rather than a human testing room, but the extra C units could try and draw out excess electricity production in case the test went wrong.

“The idea is,” I started, striding across the viewing deck while double checking systems I was running on various computers, “Each volunteer will be strapped into a C-unit and displayed something that elevates a specific emotion that raises stress.”

Jordan nodded, allowing me to go on,

“Their brains would then begin to produce neurons at a rapid rate as the electricity is extracted from them by the C-units.”

Jordan tilted his head, “Where does all that power go?” He asked.

I sighed, “Once they begin generating enough electricity, I’ll cut off this entire facility’s source of power and let the electricity produced from the test serve as a living generator.”

Jordan began clapping like a little boy, “Brilliant.” He said, “They’ll love that!”

I shrugged, “Of course, none of that will happen if the radiation from the I-unit doesn’t kill or mutate their brains first.”

Jordan glared at me, “I told you that won’t happen-”

“It will happen.” I interrupted him, turning away from a computer screen as I menacingly stepped towards Jordan, “One or the other, and you better pray that fate does us a solid and just kills the subjects rather than start a global pandemic.”

Jordan’s mouth dropped.

This was my last card.

If I could totally convince him that everyone was going to die, maybe he would at least postpone the test. Even if the chances of death weren’t quite at the 100 percent mark yet, it was worth a try.

Jordan suddenly smiled, gently backing away from my threatening posture, “I’ve already convinced myself that wouldn’t happen.” He said, “If that happened, I would lose.” He shrugged, “and I never lose.”

Jordan took one last look out the window before going for the door, “You almost had me there, Doctor!” He laughed, the ear shattering noise dissipating behind metal doors soon after.

I tried not to think about how utterly screwed we were going to be on July 12th. I so desperately wanted to believe Jordan...that everything would be fine. I didn’t even care if he became the richest man in the world, at least there would be a world left to live in.

Just then, my phone buzzed.

I took it out, smiling at who was calling me.

I clicked, “Answer".

“Hey Sarah!” I yelled.

“Doc, Where are you!?” She sounded like she was driving, “You’re not at Energis, since I just checked. I think I have the solution!”

I nearly choked, finding an office chair that I hadn’t covered in wires before sitting down, “The solution?!”

“Yea!” She exclaimed, “I figured out how to regulate the power output from the project! Now, where are you!?”

I cleared my throat, “Uh..Paris.”

I heard her sound of wheels screeching, which was followed by the ferocity of angry New Yorkers slamming their horns. Or maybe all that honking was just Sarah.

“¡¿Qué?!” She yelled.

I winced, leaning over as I brought the phone closer to my ear, “I think you should get over here."

“You think?! I can be there by tomorrow...When is he planning on testing it?”

I sighed, “Saturday.”

Another screech, “You’ve got to be freaking kidding me right now.”

I laughed a little, leaning back, “So how did you figure it out?” I asked.

She laughed, “I’ll tell you if this works. Cya over there.”

She hung up.

“Well this should be exciting.” I said to myself, happy that I had found a glimmer of hope.

“Maybe this will work.” I realized, smiling as I tucked my phone back into my pocket and stood up.

I pulled myself out of my thoughts, exiting the observation deck and heading back to the office. Jordan was sitting on what was supposed to be my chair, gazing out the window in deep thought. He turned when he heard me enter.

Jordan developed a confused expression when he saw my smile,

“Doctor..?” He quizzed, “You’re...smiling.”

I looked at him, “Oh,” I quickly stopped my smirk, “I was?”

Thanks to Sarah, things might just turn out okay.