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".