6 months 5 days
"Replaced?" The man exclaims. "You can't do that. Robert and I have been with Paul since day one. Do you forget that we were the ones who negotiated the deal that lead to him coming here in the first place?" The two men who had purchased Paul are sitting in a small office adjacent to a larger room full of equipment and staff. Paul is nowhere to be seen. Then men are being addressed by a much older man whose silver hair matches his thick beard. His blue eyes giving him the look of a stereotypical villain. The older man glares at the younger one before barking out. "You've had six months and nearly two million dollars. Not counting the ludicrous amount of money your keen negotiation skills forced us to pay." The young man interrupts. "Oh so you'd have rather Ajax get him? Or Robards?" Robert quickly gets to his feet when he sees the fury building in their benefactors eyes. "Mr. Knight forgive him he's just very passionate about the project. He means no disrespect." Robert says placing a firm hand on his defenders shoulder. "We've both greatly appreciated the faith you placed in us. You have to understand this is a totally new field. There has never been any research done on someone like this before aside from some notes in pack emissary journals. No actual science!"
"You've been coddling him. You have no control. If he's conscious he has to be restrained. He's attacked several guards and maimed two of them. He is sedated 20 hours a day at least. Without his cooperation your project is doomed. You have learned nothing. How much longer do you expect the families to continue funneling money to a project that shows no results. Do you have any idea how expensive it is to keep him hidden? The ingredients for the serum alone have run over two hundred thousand already. No it's time to see what if anything can be salvaged from this fiasco. Your services are no longer required." At that two guards enter the room. "Given the nature of your feelings towards your subject you'll understand why we're not comfortable allowing you to walk out of here." Robert looks at the other man. "Austin what have you done?" "Oh you don't know?" Mr Knight says with a dark sneer. "Austin seems to have developed a bit of a friendship with him." "That's not true! I...I thought if I could get him to like me, he'd trust me and co-operate more." Austin says taking a step back. "I'll admit I thought that might be what you were up to at first. Day after day of watching you sneak in to his cell to talk to him though it became evident. Your objectivity has been clouded. Where is your badge?" Austin looks down at his belt in alarm. "Oh here it is." Mr Knight says pulling it from his pocket. "Who do you think took this from you? He did! Over 4 hours ago! You either didn't notice, didn't care, or hoped he'd some how use it to escape! Your lack of judgement could have jeopardised this entire facility had he actually made it out." "You both will be our guests for the duration of the project. Once he is disposed of, whenever that may be you'll be free to go." Mr Knight nods at the guards and they drag the shouting men out of the office.
Paul slowly rises from the narrow twin size bed he has been sleeping on for the past 6 months. He has been awake for some time but has made no move to leave the bed. He'd noticed that the sedative they have been giving him had been wearing off faster and faster. His body obviously developing a resistance. Given that the room has a camera though he has always made sure to give the impression of being asleep lest they up the dosage. The room is plain and featureless. Just a small uncomfortable bed, a sink, toilet and exposed shower in the corner. Given the circumstances the modest room nicer than he would have expected. He is about to fill a paper cup from the sink for a drink when the door to the room opens. A dark skinned man about Paul's age enters. He has a cruel face and an impossibly crisp looking white lab coat. The man is flanked by two guards. "Where is Austin?" Paul asks. The man looks at him impassively a moment before gesturing to the guards. They both advance on Paul. He feints right and catches one of the guards in the mouth with his elbow before spinning and delivering a high kick to the other guard catching him in the nose. Whipping around as the first guard recovers Paul lands a vicious punch to his throat. Before he can turn his attention back to the second guard he is hit across the back of his head with a collapsible baton causing him to stagger in pain. "Yeah that rung your bell didn't it cunt." the guard says. The other guard recovers and Paul goes down under a flurry of kicks and punches from the men. After several seconds he's stopped defending himself as his consciousness starts to ebb away. The other man speaks. "Enough." he says softly. "Prepare him." Paul is roughly stripped naked and drug from the cell by his feet.
Paul is drug in to the lab his beaten naked appearance causing several of the workers to gasp. Gone is the comfortable examination chair in its place a narrow cage has recently been installed in one corner of the lab. Paul is hauled to the cage and unceremoniously dumped inside. The man turns to address the staff. "I am Doctor Allen." For the last six months my predecessors have wasted both time and money. Two very valuable commodities. They are no longer in charge of this project. Or any project for that matter. Starting today. This." He says pointing at the cage where Paul is slowly regaining full consciousness. "Is subject 01." He's not your friend, he's not your enemy. He is nothing but your subject. He has no name, no family, no past, no future. You will get the results we have been seeking by any means necessary. You will not befriend him, you will not talk to him unless necessary for your research. You will not clothe him, you will not bathe him. When the stench becomes an issue he will be hosed off. For the past six months this traitor of humanity has enjoyed a level of hospitality far in excess of what is deserved. He will be kept alive and that is it. Going forward your supervisor will report your progress to me weekly. If there is progress you will be rewarded. Handsomely. If there is failure…. The doctor pauses looking each person in the eye a grave expression on his face before continuing. "You will be punished."
A scoffing sound comes from the cage. The doctor looks at Paul. "What he's not telling you is what will happen to him if there is failure." The doctor walks over to a console his expression neutral as Paul carries on. "What you're trying to do can't be done. You've tried for months and don't even know how the bond works. You're wasting your time. Knight is just desperate. So much money if he doesn't have something to show for the investment soon…." The doctor makes eye contact with Paul and flips a switch on the console. Paul's words are interrupted by a blast of electricity from the cage. He twitches helplessly as the current short circuits his ability to control his body. The doctor flips another switch twisting a knob. As the power levels increase so do the violence of Paul's tremors. Unable to contain the pain any longer Paul screams in agony involuntarily jerking and twitching to get away from the inescapable current. After several more moments the doctor stops the current. Paul sags in relief his breathing so harsh soft involuntary whimpers make their way through his slack mouth. The doctor turns back to the stunned staff. "He is to be fitted with monitors for his vitals. If he removes or tampers with them punish him. If he speaks without being spoken to punish him. If he fails to comply with your orders punish him. Shock him, drug him, rape him, beat him. I don't care. It makes no matter so long as you get results. Keep him alive but nothing else. You should work as if your lives depend on getting results. Because they do.." The doctor raises his hand and points at the technicians individually as he walks towards the door. "Do not disappoint me. Your first report is due in two days. I want progress. Remember. This isn't our only cage." One of the women gasps her hand going to her mouth tears already streaking her face. "Problem?" The doctor asks pausing in front of her. "No.. No doctor." She says fearfully.
"Good. Carry on."