PROTOTYPE 06 By Heck Comments to heck@petermeyer.go-plus.net CHAPTER SIX "Wow!" was all she said. All there was to say, really. An air of anticipation settled over the room, as we wondered what she would do next. I glared at Rob with irritation; it had been our intention to introduce her to her new abilities gently, a little at a time. He had pre-empted that by forcing her to use her speed and strength, and there was no telling how she would react. Her psych files gave no indication of a tendency to become violent, but if she did, well, I didn't want to be in the same room. We watched her carefully as she turned her hand this way and that, inspecting it as if it didn't belong to her, prodding her arm with curious fingers. She made a fist and cocked her arm, flexing her bicep, which swelled into a smooth, hard mound. Impressive, but no more than you'd expect from any other athletic woman. "I don't look any different", she observed, talking mainly to herself. "My muscles look the same as they always did, but I was never that strong before. What did they do to me?" I left Mike to field that one, pleased to note that her voice was calm, detached, even, and she seemed to ask her questions out of curiosity rather than alarm. "Understand, anything we tell you is pure conjecture, know'm'sayin'? There's no way we could know exactly what happened but, in theory, this is what we think. "The aliens destroy Europa by accident. They think they've killed everyone, but then they see you drifting free. We like to think they rescue you out of altruism, but they might just as easily have collected you as a biological specimen". "Hmm. I want to think they rescued me, too". "Right. So they take you on board and return to their home planet, wherever that is, but their gravity is much heavier than ours and, so that it won't kill you before they have a chance to heal you, they have to protect you from it, know'm'sayin'?" This time he required a response, and Lucy nodded. "So they make some changes, some improvements to you. They enhance you, so they can work on you in their gravity. And, boy, did it work. Almost everything about you has been augmented by a factor of about two-point- five. Strength, reflexes, senses, everything. Your bone and muscle density is greater than that of a woman your age. Apparent age. You have improved sensory capacity, and your immune system is much more efficient. More aggressive, know'm'sayin'?" "So I'm more than twice the woman I was? And the tissue density accounts for me being, yuck, two hundred seventy five pounds?" Mike nodded in reply. "But why would they? I could have survived in a two and a half gee environment. For a while, anyway". "I worked that one out", Rob put in, hitching forward in his seat. "See, you missed the exponential factor, same as these dudes. Two-point-five by two-point-five-by two-point-five. Their gravity must be, like, at least fifteen times greater than ours, so your, like, you know, overall enhancement is equal to that. Fifteen times. At least". She gave Rob a disbelieving look, but her forehead crinkled as she did the math. Her mouth opened as she concluded Rob was right. "Wow!" she said again. "I don't want to sound silly, but wow! That is so cool!" It was her turn to sit forward. "So, how different am I? How much stronger, faster. For example?" "We haven't had a chance to work that out". My turn to make a contribution. "But we think you'd be fifteen times stronger than a normal, unenhanced woman. You'd be able to run that much faster, too". "Uh-huh", Rob grinned. "Your, like, a prototype for a new, improved type of woman. Human, in fact". Lucy rolled her eyes. "Oh, great. Here, folks. Try the new, improved Lucy. Only one per customer". She sat back, seeming relaxed, but the light of apprehension was back. "I suppose you guys want to see what I can do, and if you can do the same for others? I may not like that. I haven't decided". "We have to run tests to find all that out", Mike said. "We hope you'll cooperate, and I hope you'll fell more reassured if I tell you that, as far as we three are concerned, we have no wish to exploit you, know'm'sayin'?" I don't know if it was Mike's reassurance, the prospect of discovering the limits of her new self, or the relief of discovering she was not in immediate danger. It might even have been, ahem, our manly charm. But for the first time since waking, Lucy Radovic smiled. I mean, really smiled. Her lips curved and she showed strong, even white teeth in a dazzling smile that lit up her whole face, and she literally shone with radiant beauty. Before, she had merely been beautiful, but when she smiled like that she was heart-stoppingly, breath-takingly, groin-achingly lovely. "OK", she said. "When do we start?" * We started that same afternoon, with a few tests to measure her higher functions. We needed to be sure that her long hibernation, as we had come to call it, had not left her impaired in any way. Before beginning, though, Lucy had asked to be allowed to eat her sandwich and take a shower. I smiled inwardly at the thought of a woman so much stronger than any of us asking permission for anything, but we magnanimously agreed. She ate the sandwich daintily, leaving almost a quarter untouched, and declared she was full. That surprised us, but we said nothing and showed her to the shower in the room we put aside for her, and left her alone while we prepared the first of the tests. She joined us in the lab after a few minutes, throwing a brief scowl at the ominous dome she in which she had been incarcerated, looking fresh and glowing in a clean shirt and a towel wrapped round her wet hair. "So. What's first?" Mike handed her a sheet of paper on which was printed a column of numbers. "Simple stuff, to start with. We'd like you to add up these numbers. I have a pencil if you'd." "Seven thousand eight hundred thirty two". ".like. What?" "Seven thousand eight hundred thirty two", Lucy repeated. "I added them up. Like you said". Rob and I just goggled at her. Mike frowned, and stared at his crib sheet. "Well, for f." He scratched his head in amazement. You couldn't have had more than a glance! But you're dead right. How did you.how did you?" "I don't know". She looked perplexed, and just a bit frightened. "It just seemed obvious. I looked, and it came to me. Shouldn't it have?" "No. I mean, yes", Mike floundered. "I mean, I don't know. But I'm sure it's fine". He screwed up the next five sheets and tossed them in the wastebasket. "You just took us by surprise, is all. I guess we won't need these". He glanced at Rob. "Are you making notes? Good. We can move on, I think". We nodded agreement. "I'll just run quickly through these next exercises. What's three to the seventh power?" "Two thousand one hundred eighty three". "The area of a circle one-point-eight metres in diameter?" "Eight point zero-three-nine-one-seven-zero-nine metres. Approximately". "Reflective angle of seventy-two degrees?" "Two eighty-eight". "Distance to the moon. In metres?" "Thirty million. Give or take" "Distance travelled by a car at thirty kph in three seconds?" "Twenty-five metres". "Listen to this list of sixteen numbers. I want you to repeat them back to me". She did so. "Now backwards". Word perfect. Mike gave up at that point. His questions weren't the most taxing of problems, by any means. They were simply aimed at testing her speed and accuracy of thought which, by the way, was phenomenal. You couldn't detect a pause between question and answer. Bang, bang, bang, just like that. We went on for about two hours, posing her logic and intellectual problems designed to test her vocabulary, spatial awareness, cognitive responses, visual comprehension, language skills, and so on, up to and beyond MENSA level. She aced them all, answering each question correctly and without hesitation. There was no doubt about it; her higher functions were way beyond normal, on a level much higher than our tests were designed to measure. "I think that's about enough, Mike", I said at last. "Yeah. Time to call it a day on this one". "I'm OK", Lucy said. "I'm not tired at all. We can go on, if you like". "Honey, it wasn't you we were worried about", Mike grinned. "It's us. We need to take a break". He got up and squared his papers into a sheaf. "Tomorrow, we can start on the physical stuff". "OK". She glanced at the ceiling, then down at her nails. "So did I pass?" We all laughed. "I think we can safely say that". * The four of us chatted amiably in the common room that evening. By tacit agreement, we avoided conversation about 'the project' or Lucy's past, and watched TV. Lucy was fascinated by the voice-activated appliances, and spent much of her time addressing them. Dinner was one of Rob's creations. I think it started out to be a lasagne but got mugged along the way, and ended up as a sort of congealed brown mass. Lucy pronounced it delicious, but pushed it away after only half a dozen mouthfuls, once again declaring herself full. Mike turned in around eleven and Lucy went off to bed shortly after, leaving Rob and I alone watching a late-night movie. Star Wars: Episode Seventeen, Return of the Menacing Jedi Strikes Back at the Clones, I think it was. "She doesn't seem afraid any more", I commented, shifting position on the couch. "No, she's, like, handling it fine. She's cool". "I wouldn't have expected her to adjust so quickly". "What's to adjust, man? She's been awake less than twenty-four hours, and we've been on her case nearly all that time. We hardly gave her a chance to adjust". "Aye, but even so. She's taking everything in her stride. The only thing that seemed to really worry her was being shut in the dome". "Yeah". Rob gave a little snorting laugh. "And she soon made herself clear about that! Did you see the way she popped out that panel? Like it wasn't there, man! Bam! Cool! And the chair, getting flung across the room just by her standing up, and she didn't even notice! And that apple! Did you see what she did to that apple, man? Way cool". "I must admit, I got a bit nervous, there, for a second". "Yeah, me too. I thought she was, like, you know, gonna trash the place and then, like, tear us a new asshole, Dude!" "Aye. She didn't even notice the panel. Or the chair. She was surprised and, I think, pleased by the apple, but not amazed. She should have been amazed. I would have been amazed. I thought she would have had more of a reaction". "'S right. She shoulda. Maybe her brain kinda, you know, damps down on all that stuff. Like, maybe her changed chemistry helps stop her getting fazed, you know?" "Maybe". We sat in silence for a moment. On the screen, a star battle played out. "She don't eat much". "How do you mean?" "Like, she says she's starved, then she's stuffed after a few mouthfuls, man. What's that all about?" "Could it have been your cooking?" "No way. Man, it wasn't that bad". It was, but I didn't like to say. "I don't know, then". I felt my eyes narrow as concern hit me. "Could she be ill?" "No way, Dude. Prof Mike would've said. He'd know. We'd have to ask him, but I figure it's, like, her digestive system is enhanced too, you know? Like, it's working way more efficiently and, I dunno, gets more juice out of her food than ours does. Sort of like, she uses up every little bit so doesn't need as much". Once again, I was impressed by Rob's insight. I shouldn't be. I've known him long enough to know that the spaced-out persona he presents is just a façade. "You could be right. As you say, we'd have to ask Mike, but it fits right in". Our attention turned to the TV, where the final scenes of jubilation were bringing the movie to a close. "OK", I said, getting to my feet. "It's gone midnight, and we've got a big day tomorrow. I'm for bed". "Yeah, me too. TV off. G'night, Sean". "G'night". The door swung closed behind him, and I took a few minutes to tidy up before following. The corridor was dimly lit, in nighttime mode, as I made my way to my room. "Dr Cameron?" I turned at the sound of Lucy's voice. "Have you got a minute?" "Of course", I smiled. "And call me Sean. I thought you'd gone to bed?" "I did, but now I'm awake. I fell asleep as soon as I closed my eyes, but now I'm wide awake. I need to talk". I shook the tiredness away and went back to the common room, holding the door open for her. "Lights. Sit down, Lucy. Can I get you anything?" "No, thanks". She sat on a couch, perched right on the edge. I sat opposite, and waited. She said nothing. "You wanted to talk?" I prompted after a little while. "Mm. It's just that, well I wanted to say I'm worried, but I'm not. I guess I'm concerned about a few things". "Go on". "Well, this facility, for a start. I never see anyone but you and Professor DeLuca. And Rob, of course. I can't see out the windows because they're all so high. Frankly, I still feel like a prisoner". "You shouldn't", I reassured. "There are people, working on the lower floors, and you will meet others, in time. But you aren't a prisoner. I don't see that there'd be a problem getting you a chair to stand on, so you can look out, and you'll see that the outside world is not as scary as you might think". "Yes, but, you see, that isn't the point". She looked relaxed enough, but I could sense an undercurrent of tension. "It's that I don't feel like I should. I should be scared shitless. I should be frantic with worry. I just found out that I'm stronger and better than I ever was, and I should be amazed. But I'm not. I don't feel like that at all. Just a bit.concerned". "We were just talking about that". I sat back and crossed my legs. "Rob and I. We think it could be a side effect of your improvement. We think your brain chemistry is damping your extreme emotions, as a sort of protection system. It's quite normal". "Normal?" "Normal. For you". "But what if I'm in a situation where I should be scared?" "You mean the fight or flight reaction? Your reflexes?" She nodded. "Just think back. Remember the apple? Your reflexes seemed to cope quite well then. I don't think it'll be a problem". "You're sure?" "No", I said honestly, after a pause. "But Mike will be. We'll ask him in the morning". "OK". She fiddled with the belt tie on her robe for a minute. So, what about this word, enhancement? What does it mean, exactly?" "I think we told you. You're faster, stronger." "Yes, yes", she interrupted. "I know all that, and I know what the dictionary definition is. But what does it mean to you and, more specifically, the people you work for?" I leaned back on the couch and closed my eyes. That was a thorny one. "To be honest", I said at last, "I'm not sure. But I'll tell you this. You were brought here under great secrecy. We're all sworn not to mention you outside this building. Some of the people directing the project are very high in the military and in government agencies". I did not mention the FBI by name, at that point. I didn't think it would be prudent. "There's a lot of powerful interest in you, Lucy". "What kind of interest?" "We're not sure. Superficially, it all seems to be genuinely geared toward your well-being, but I have to admit there are undertones that make me nervous". "Now I am scared", she lied with a grin. "If it makes you nervous, how do you think I feel?" She didn't look scared, but there was a touch of nerves in her eyes. I leaned forward and offered a comforting hand. She took it in hers. "Try not to be scared, Lucy. We.ow! Oww! Fingers!" "Oh, I'm sorry!" She dropped my hand like it scalded her. "I'm so sorry! It's this new strength; it takes a bit of getting used to. Are you OK? I didn't break anything?" "I'll be fine, I said, putting a brave face on it. She hadn't broken anything, but my bones had bees seriously ground together and it hurt like hell. I tucked my hand into my armpit. "I was about to say we won't let anyone hurt you, but I get the feeling you won't need much protection". "I hear that the government has ways of making people do what they want them to, though". Her face fell a little. "At least, they did in my time". My heart went out to her, just then. Never mind the improvements. Never mind that, in real time, she was ninety-six years old. Never mind the enormous strength, whose limits we could only imagine. At that moment, she looked just like a little lost girl. "Things haven't changed all that much", I confessed. "Governments are governments, and they like to manipulate people. But we still have a president, still have a constitution, and we still have the Bill of Rights". "You say 'we', but you don't sound like an American". "Scottish", I smiled. "But I got my Green Card". "Nice to know some things haven't changed", she smiled back. "Or is it?" She dropped the subject and moved on. "Tell me why you're involved, Sean. What is it you do?" "I'm the world's leading exobiologist". That caused her to make a wry face. "Not that that means much. There's only three of us in the entire world, so the competition isn't all that. I'm the top of a very tiny tree. I supplement my income by extrapolating what ET might look like, mostly for the movie industry, but my day job, if you can call it that, is team leader for SETI. We listen for signs of extraterrestrial life in other parts of the galaxy". "I know what SETI does. It was around in my time". "Well, then, you know it all. It's still the same, except a lot smaller, considered to be a lot less important, and a lot less well funded". "What has SETI to do with me?" "I'm supposed to find out what the aliens who took you, or rescued you, or whatever, might look like". "I can't help you, there. I never saw them. The first I heard of them was from you guys". "Then perhaps we can work together and figure it out?" "Yes, I'd like that. I'll help where I can, of course". She noticed me stifle a yawn. "I'm keeping you up. Go to bed, if you want. I'll be OK. I promise I won't try to escape". I looked at her hard, trying to spot any signs of irony. There weren't any. She was just trying to tell me I could trust her. I stood up. "All right. I am tired. We can pick this up tomorrow, if you'd like".