Chapter 1: The Fall
"Log Date: 11-29-27." Lisa said speaking to a voice recorder. "I seem to be inching even closer to perfecting the 'LUCY' serum. It's taken me many months simply to stabilize the concoction alone, but results appear promising. However, testing cannot be performed until the covalent bonds of the HO and the BrNC are solidified. If done incorrectly, it could absolutely shatter a person's mind and leave them as a walking, mindless husk. Some would say that's not a significantly terrible fate, but I see them as ignorant fools. I wouldn't subject anyone, even as evil as Himmler or Pol Pot to such a fate. Death would be the ultimate mercy at that point. Hence why I must spend all of my efforts into completing this serum's formula before it gets into someone's unwitting hands; much less mouth."
As the name would imply (or if you saw the movie Lucy), the serum Lisa is trying to make is supposed to help a person achieve a mental state similar to the widespread idea of unlocking the human brain's full potential. Yes, the idea has been debunked, but that didn't mean Lisa couldn't find a way to expand the mind beyond its normal capabilities. Such a thing could help the world launch itself into a future of unparalleled technology and possible world piece. But that's only possible if the serum is a success.
Day after day, Lisa worked tirelessly on the serum. This was going to be the domino that starts the chain reaction that will propel society into a near mythologically scientific future. Who cares if she misses a few minutes (or days) of class; it's not as if she's missing anything from those lessons. School was just a social exercise for her at this point. All she needed to do was work on the serum.
Lisa was mixing a few compounds to at to the base solution. Solutions of hyper-diluted CuS and AgN powder. She mixed them with the serum in a large beaker over a bunsen burner, maintaining a stable temperature of 184C. Carefully, Lisa stirred the contents together, ensuring that she didn't move to quickly or the whole thing could blow up from excessive oxygen exposure. She would've used a vacuum chamber, but fire can't survive in a vacuum. After stirring for the better part of 40 minutes, she finally did it. She finished the serum. The pride of another successful experiment and the feeling of fatigue washed over her. This would normally be the moment she laughs her triumphant laugh, but the fatigue was too great.
"Kids! Dinner!" Called out Rita from downstairs.
This caused Lisa's stomach to growl very loudly. She constantly neglected her need for a good home cooked meal, choosing to live off of Nutripaste for the sake of efficiency.
"I suppose a hearty home cooked meal is an appropriate celebration of my world changing success." Lisa said as she got up from her chair.
As Lisa stood up, dizziness caused by fatigue made her lose balance, causing her to shake her head in order to reorient herself. After she was stable, she joined her family for dinner where she enjoyed a healthy portion of baked mac n cheese, succotash and a pork chop. Easily the best thing she's had in days.
"Wow Lisa, I haven't seen you eat this heartily since you got that call from NASA. What's the occasion?" Rita asked.
"I finally did it, mother. I finally finished the LUCY serum!" Lisa happily replied.
"You made a serum based on me?" Lucy asked.
"No, not you Lucy. Lucy. Like the movie." Lisa replied.
"You mean the movie where that woman unlocked 100% of her brain?" Lincoln asked.
"Precisely." Lisa replied. "This serum was made to give people those same abilities. Of course it won't be to the extent that you become a biomechanical computer."
"That sounds so wicked cool!" Luna said.
"Imagine if someone like me took that." Leni said.
"For you, you'd need a double dose for that to work" Mr. Coconuts joked.
"Mr. Coconuts! How could you say that!" Luan responded to her puppet sidekick.
"Look toots, even a walnut brain like me can see she's working with only half a peanut in that shell."
"That's it you! You're going back in the case!"
"No, please! It's so cramped in there I get sti-" Mr. Coconuts pleaded as he was stuffed into his traveling case.
"Why is Mr. Coconuts such a big meany lately?" Leni asked, saddened by what the puppet said.
"Hey, don't listen to that termite infested piece of scrap wood. You may not be Lisa but you're smart in your own way. Nobody knows fashion like you do. In that field, you're a genius." Lincoln said, holding her hand in an attempt to comfort her.
"Oh thanks Linky. You're the best brother ever." Leni responded, pulling Lincoln into a suffocating bear hug.
"Sweetie, you're suffocating him again." Lynn Sr said, causing Leni to thankfully release her grip.
Little did everyone know, this often irritated Lisa. Not in a "get a room" type of annoyance, but jealousy. Lisa has learned the art of the poker face due to her genuine lack of interest in most mundane topics, to the point where she has a resting uninterested face. But this was just a mask; a way to hide her more...sensitive side. After all, emotional turmoil has no place in science. But it doesn't mean it's not there. It's simply lurking under the surface; waiting for the veil of darkness to fall so it can emerge undetected. But the biggest issue about those feelings were the fact that she herself didn't fully understand them. Whether they came from a place of familial affection or romantic interest was the mystery to be solved. But she never could figure it out. Even so, she found it unimportant in comparison to her work. Why focus on feelings when you could be reshaping the world? So like any other day, she just shoved it down.
Dinner went as normally as it would after that. Everyone washed up, went to their rooms and headed off for the night. Lisa however didn't sleep. She sat by her work station, admiring the glow of the LUCY serum. Simply basking in the beauty of her success and the light of the liquid. But soon, she was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Lisa, can I come in?" Lincoln asked on the other side.
"Lincoln!?" Lisa responded, leaping in surprise while brushing her pajamas and straightening her glasses, trying to make herself look presentable and stoic. "Come in."
"Hey Lis." Lincoln said somberly as he entered.
"Is there something wrong, Lincoln?" Lisa asked, dropping her mask and showing concern.
"...Lisa, do you think I'm dumb?"
"What? Of course not. I mean you're no Albert Einstein, but you're certainly no idiot. Why are you asking such a question?"
"It's just...*sigh* I've been failing a lot of assignments lately. And I've even begun to lose my sense of direction. Yesterday I could barely even read my own textbook! The words started looking like chicken scratch! Is there something wrong with me?" Lincoln asked distressed.
This gave Lisa pause. She never noticed Lincoln was dealing with something so serious. Anyone would think that their mind was literally turning into mush if they went through that; especially at Lincoln's age. But the worst part was the fact that it was happening to Lincoln. HER Lincoln. And she was so caught up in her work that she couldn't see his suffering. This hurt Lisa more than any explosion to the face; she couldn't forgive herself for not being there to help him out. But then it crossed her mind: the LUCY serum.
"Lincoln, I think I can help you." Lisa said.
"Really?" Lincoln asked in hopeful suspense. "How?"
"It may be a bit risky, but I think I should give you some of the LUCY serum."
"Are you sure? Isn't that serum for some secret government program or something?"
"Yes, but I don't think they'll miss a simple little sample. Think of it as you testing it for me."
"Well, if it'll help fix my...wait. When did I get in here?" Lincoln suddenly asked confused.
"Lincoln? Are you not feeling well? You just came in here 2 minutes ago." Lisa said with fearful suspicion.
"Really? Oh no, don't tell me my brain's getting worse." Lincoln said worriedly.
This all but cemented it. Lisa NEEDED to give Lincoln the serum. If not, who knows what else will happen to his brain? Lisa filled a dropper with the serum and approached Lincoln.
"Ok Lincoln, just drink this and you should be better." Lisa said handing the serum to Lincoln.
"Thanks Lisa. I don't know how I could ever repay you." Lincoln said as he drank the serum.
The taste was surprisingly pleasant. Like a mild blueberry flavor. But soon Lincoln began to feel something weird, then hot. Like really hot. Then suddenly calm. Lisa looked on, not only in curiosity but also in fearful anticipation. Would this actually work?
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Hey guys, I'm back with another fic. I don't know when the next chapter will be, but I will keep this story going. Please leave your reviews, they are greatly appreciated. Until next time.