FIVE


THE TIDE


From floor to ceiling half a dozen screens mounted against the wall, curving like a crescent moon from side-to-side. He stood watching them meticulously and with deep consideration.

"Have the monitors been assigned, Zeke?"

The man in question approached from behind and handed his supervisor a data pad. "All surveillance screens have their assigned personnel. All are up and running as requested."

"Nice." The supervisor smirked. "Subject five is audacious."

"He's forward and determined."

"Who isn't?"

Zeke shook his head, but agreed nonetheless.

"He's playing the field, bluffing is all."

"I don't know, Sir, he intended to propose all along, but the motive remains to be seen. Bluffing yes, and yet he's drawn her in like an anchored sailboat."

"Anchored sailboat? My dear Zeke, where do you come up with these sayings?"

"Uh."

"I know. He's shorting the line, reeling her in slowly and deceptively."

"The motive may be hidden, even so he is not deceiving her. He can't, not with her."

"Point taken, still, you need to remember. He wants this."

"Sir, that's why I believe this experiment is pointless."

"This is courage, Zeke."

"It's one subject being tested six times. We've never done this. It's impulsive."

"He's impulsive, for some reason. And the irony is the chain reaction, the domino effect, as he puts it."

"What started it? Did he say?"

"Sort of. No, not really." He scratched the back of his head. "Selfishness, regrets, anxiety, worthiness, certainty. What makes a man or woman do what they do?"

"He left his home-world, to travel thousands of light years through the stargate. He's running."

"Looking for answers."

"By doing it from memory?"

"And he's doing a marvellous work operating six trials."

"He's spinning, Sir."

"We cannot argue another man's case, nor can we deny a personal wish. Not from an ally, who I might add, is offering us a wide variety of science from his own world. Wouldn't you like to know how they conduct virtual trials? Or how they test theories in regards to how the mind works?"

"And yet he's here, using our technology to torture himself."

"Crude word, Zeke."

"Simple truth."

"Sir."

Zeke and the supervisor looked behind them at the woman.

"Yes, Monitor Westfall?"

"Subject one is hemmed in."

On cue, Zeke stepped closer to screen one, to the left, and noticed the man scratching his head in frustration. Walls on both sides kept him pinned and unable to make a strategic decision.

"He's been shouting for some time." Westfall commented. "Foul language. Words I've never heard before."

"And you only inform us now?"

"Seemed like programming."

"Like programming? My dear, that's not programming." The supervisor scowled at Zeke. "What is it exactly?"

"A glitch in the system."

"The question wasn't directed at you, Monitor Westfall. He's the expert. You're the help, know your place."

"Yes, Sir."

"She may be correct." Zeke agreed.

The woman smiled cheekily, enjoying her supervisor's disappointment.

"Name his efforts before the walls ensnared him, Monitor."

She squinted her beady little eyes at him. Puckered her lips.

"Well, get on with it." Zeke pushed.

"He surrendered. Came to a decision. Made a commitment."

"Thank you, Westfall."

"It should give him free passage." Zeke pondered out loud. "Only doubt stops him. We spoke about this."

"Clearly, he didn't listen." The supervisor said.

"He warned us about his lack of attention. He was solely focussed upon solving the problem. Therefore, he didn't hear the instructions correctly."

"Perhaps six trials caused strain?" Westfall asked.

"No, Serena. This is not doubt caused by strain or excessive thoughts."

"It's fear that he might be ready and she isn't." The supervisor concluded.

"Might be is the emphasis, Sir."

"And all possible scenarios are based upon his memory. So, in reality, she's never really given him indication that she is."

Westfall looked to the screen. "You mean, he came to us too early?"

"I'm afraid so." Zeke replied.

"We can't nudge him?"

"We risk interference Monitor, the analysis is compromised, and he loses every notion, emotion and thought he's processed within the trails. It defeats the purpose, and he never remembers why he made the commitment."

"It's one trial, Sir. Surely the other five will remain intact?"

Her brave plea caused Zeke to smile sincerely. "But this is the only trial where he's realized why he loves her and why he wants to commit, completely."

"He needs to find his way out, alone." The supervisor concurred.

"What if we introduce her into the trial?"

"It's designed this way, yes, but he gave strict instructions."

"It's bad enough he's alone, not telling her where he is and what he's doing leaves them worse off."

Westfall sighed. "Men."