AMP_Phase 1 Read online

  Doctor Rhodes smiled and stood, almost shoving Nadine from the microphone, “I for one would like to hear what my good colleague...whom I’ve yet been allowed to collaborate with...has to say...”

  “...That’s enough, Doctor!” Nadine said, jabbing at his side. “Full cooperation...remember?”

  The General stood and addressed Calvin, “I’m in agreement with the Doctor on this one. Nadine, please give Mr. Jones the floor.”

  “General...”

  Nadine backed down at the General’s glare, “Mr. Jones, please continue,” then returned to her seat with crossed arms.

  Calvin walked up to the podium, briefly giving Nadine a glance, “Um, ladies and gentlemen...”

  “Oh cut the pleasantries, get to it already!” Nadine shot at Calvin.

  “I can honestly say that we are ready to test our prototype. I have duplicated, three times now, the gamma wave frequencies needed to program one of our new chips...all we need is a test subject that’s been implanted,” he paused, looking around the room, “...so...bring one on...”

  Nadine addressed Calvin with folded arms, “Really, Mr. Jones? That’s all you got?”

  “Well, yes...That’s a remarkable achievement...”

  “You came barging in here to tell us that?”

  McKenzie raised his eyebrows, “Calvin, can you give us a few more details on just what this means, exactly?”

  “Certainly, General,” Calvin shot a smirk at Nadine.

  “Proceed, then.”

  “Okay, so just how technical do you want it?”

  “If it’s too hard for me to understand, I’ll let you know, Calvin.”

  “Oh, sorry General,” Calvin again smirked, “That wasn’t meant for you...you see, I’m concerned that Nadine here might get lost in my technical analysis.”

  “Watch it, Mr. Jones,” Nadine spat, “You’re starting to tread on thin ice.”

  “Lighten up, Nadine,” the General chuckled, “Try to have some kind of sense of humor.”

  “Yeah, Nadine...have a sense of humor,” Calvin mimicked.

  “May I remind everyone here who is in charge of this project...”

  “The General?”

  “No Calvin. Not the General...not the military...certainly not any of you...”

  “...then who...” Calvin shot back.

  “...the Company,” she finished.

  “The Company...”

  “Yes...and I have enough power to have the both of you removed from the Gamma Project if I fail to gain your cooperation!”

  “I’m not going to waste time refereeing a pissing contest between you two!” the General shouted, standing to his feet. “I damn well know that the Company is pulling all the strings on this project, but I am in charge of operations...got it? Good!”

  Nadine began to open her mouth again when the General stopped her cold, “Zip it Nadine! Now, Calvin if you will?”

  Nadine steamed silently under his cold stare.

  “Thank you, General. Now, what the gamma waves do to the brain. Well, maybe I should explain a little background first...”

  “Calvin...please get on with this?” Nadine finally relented.

  “There are several types of brainwave activities, ranging from alpha, beta, and delta waves. There are even theta waves. However, it’s the gamma waves that are the most interesting. Doctor Rhodes. Do you mind giving us your explanation on how this part works?”

  “Thank you, Calvin,” Rhodes answered, standing up to the podium, “You see, the brain consists of millions of neurons which communicate to each other through electrical signals, or pulses. The more active a person is the more electrical pulses are created. If you’re sleeping, those signals are diminished and a person begins to generate alpha waves. Once you fall deeper in sleep those waves transform into theta waves and finally, delta waves; which is where we have REM sleep or active dreaming.”

  “This is all very interesting, Doctor...” Nadine complained.

  “Nonsense,” the General nodded, “I’m rather fascinated, please continue.”

  “Then there are the gamma waves. These are waves at a lower amplitude and higher frequency. It’s said that these waves are the fastest waves that reach all parts of the brain, normally 40 Hertz or higher. So to clarify these gamma waves; they stimulate higher thinking. Some of what we already know about gamma waves are they increase memory, people tend to stay focused on task, and they learn better because the information is processed at a much higher rate. The other benefits that people may experience are bliss and enhanced senses. Reality is perceived more vividly because they taste better, smell better, hear and see better...they will be better in every way during an AMP session.”

  “Really, Doctor,” Nadine commented.

  Rhodes turned to her, “Yes, really.”

  “Oh, Doctor, I wasn’t being sarcastic just then.”

  “You had me fooled.”

  “No, I mean I think you’ve discovered something that is very useful indeed. I thank you for bringing the ‘bliss’ factor to my attention.”

  Rhodes turned back to address the General, “Now, normally, we don’t produce gamma waves. They are usually only found in a person with an IQ of a genius, perhaps a professor of physics or quantum mechanics, but not the ordinary Joe.”

  “Until now,” the General said.

  “Right, until now. You see before, gamma waves seemed to be isolated to the very intelligent. Now we have the chip interface that is used to introduce these gamma waves directly into the brain. Our minds will develop new abilities, or enhance existing ones, through this technology. So, in essence, gamma brain waves occur when there is an unusually high brain activity. Calvin, you want to take it from here?”

  Calvin nodded and stepped up to the podium again, “Thank you, Doctor Rhodes. So what this box does...that we’ve been trying to duplicate...is it floods the chip with gamma frequencies. It use’s what’s called binaural beats to obtain ‘Hypergamma Brain Waves’ that exceed 100 Hertz and higher. In other words, the gamma wave modulator sets on fire the millions and millions of neurons inside the host. That causes a natural elevation in intelligence...at least for a short time. Then they return to normal once the chip loses its charge.”

  “Then they have to be ‘charged’ up again, like a battery?” the General asked.

  “General, that’s really it in a nut shell. They have to be jacked into the box and get AMP’d again.”

  “How often can they do this? Are there any side effects of being, what’d you say? AMP’d?” the General chuckled, “Heh, heh, that’s good. I like that...sounds cool.”

  “One of the side effects are the subjects eye pigment changed to a brilliant green color when they have been APM’d.”

  “So that’s why Lieutenant Savage’s eyes turned when she crossed through the mag-ring on the return trip?”

  “Yes, General. The Hypergamma waves in the brain do something to the subject pigment, changing them to the green color. So...I return to my original request...where’s the next volunteer?”

  Nadine stood to the podium, “That’s what we were about to brief the General on, when you rudely interrupted this meeting...Doctor.”

  Rhodes nervously took the podium, “General.”

  “Doctor? Go ahead.”

  The first test subject...didn’t make it. It...he...was killed on the first attempt...”

  “Killed? How! And why am I just now hearing about this?”

  Nadine jumped in to cover for the doctor, “General, allow me to explain...”

  “You do that!”

  “The first test subject didn’t make it because of a miss-fire on the injector.”

  “Miss-fire? Can you elaborate?”

  “The tensioner on the new injector was too tight and it shot through the man’s head,” she said coldly.

  “Most unfortunate,” the General shrugged, “Did you notify family?”

  “That’s the only consolation, General. There were no relatives or ne
xt of kin.”

  “Yes..yes...most unfortunate accident...right Doctor?”

  “Um, yes...accident...right.”

  “Okay, just don’t keep me in the dark on these things again. Okay Nadine?”

  “Sorry, General. I’ll be sure to keep you in the loop, moving forward.”

  “Now, Doctor. What about patient number two?”

  Rhodes stood with his hands in his white lab coat and his head shaking, “I don’t know what’s wrong with the chips...the next one implanted perfectly...the wound grew closed, and the chip began to take hold of the brain stem.”

  “But?” the General added.

  “But the chip fails to fully integrate...I think it’s the enzyme compound. It’s not exactly like the alien substance we took from the Asteroid...”

  “I thought it was already tested and working?” the General turned to Nadine, “You told me this had already been resolved. It worked in Ben and the other test subject.”

  “General, that’s because Ben’s chip already had the alien enzyme,” Rhodes answered.

  “But what about the second chip you surgically implanted, you said it took, and the patient was healed of all trauma?”

  The doctor wrung his hands and his cheeks blushed slightly, “I used some of the alien enzyme with ours. It was like a hybrid enzyme...I’m sorry, General. Nadine had put such emphasis on the success of the chip...the patient was going to die...what else was I supposed to do?”

  “General,” Nadine stepped up to rescue the doctor, “I did put a lot of pressure on Doctor Rhodes, the test subject was going to die, and we couldn’t afford to lose this subject.”

  “Why? You should have let the test subject die...”

  “No, General. We couldn’t let that happen. We needed to see what this chip was capable of doing.”

  “What good is it if you can’t duplicate the technology without using the alien substance?”

  “I’m almost there, General,” Rhodes said in his defense.

  “So tell me what happened to the second subject then?”

  “The chip was injected, painlessly,” Rhodes said, turning to Nadine, “But I’m afraid that the man has become insane. The chip is still inside his head and has made many of the necessary connections, but as far as integrating into the cerebral cortex, the chip will be at war inside his mind forever.”

  “Is there nothing you can do? Surgically remove it or something?”

  “At this stage, General, it would be fatal to the patient.”

  “I see. Then euthanize him and perform an autopsy to find out what went wrong.”

  “Yes, sir, General,” Nadine answered for the Doctor.

  “See to it that you dispose of these defective test subjects appropriately. No links back to us, do I make myself clear?”

  “Yes, sir,” Nadine answered.

  “Where’s Bennie? I would like to interview him on how he’s doing after his implant.”

  “Bennie is doing great, sir,” Rhodes answered.

  “Well, bring him in.”

  “Sorry, General,” Nadine said, “We gave Ben a furlough for a few weeks. Colonel Tucker and the Major are taking him until they leave for CSMO 253 Mathilde to make repairs on the mag-ring.”

  “Furlough? You let him out of here? With Cassandra and Tucker?!”

  “Yes, sir. It was either that, or Bennie would have left the program.”

  “You’re going to let a pipsqueak of a kid call the shots now, Nadine?”

  “No, sir. But in order to get Bennie his full support on the project, we needed to give him something in return.”

  “And that’s all he asked for? A few weeks off?”

  “Yes sir. Just a few weeks,” Rhodes interjected.

  “Okay, how many weeks?”

  “Maybe twelve?” Nadine answered.

  “Okay then. Let’s keep testing the chip and get a working copy before he returns.”

  “We’re on it, General,” Nadine smiled. Then she turned to Griffin, “Start bringing in more candidates, five a week minimum.”

  “You want five more test subjects each week?” Griffin argued.

  “Just do it, Major.”

  “Or should we call him, Colonel yet?” McKenzie smiled.

  “Colonel?”

  “Yes, Colonel Griffin. Nadine thinks you deserve a promotion. So unless you feel you can’t comply with her requests, we’ll take you back down to Captain...”

  “..and off the Gamma Project for good,” Nadine finished for the General.

  Griffin mumbled something under his breath, then smiled and saluted McKenzie.

  The General smiled, returning his salute, “I thought you’d see it our way...Colonel.”

  * * *

  Lake Stevens, WA

  Lake Cassidy

  October 2nd, 2064 06:30

  Tucker pulled up to the doc with his metal boat in tow, “Ben, this was a great idea.”

  “Bass fishing. I love bass fishing, Dad.”

  “You sure you’re up to this, son?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Tucker backed his truck down the boat launch and placed it in park. Ben looked over at his dad, “Come on then, let’s get ‘er in the water.”

  “Oh, yeah...right. What’d the ol’ Doc have to say about getting that wet?”

  “He said it wasn’t advised since it’s an electric component.”

  “You sure we ought to be goin’ on the water, son? I wouldn’t want your brain to become short circuited,” Tucker smiled.

  “I’m not gonna stop living my life, Dad. No way. I’ve lost too much as it is.”

  “Okay, just climb in and I’ll launch and park the truck. You can tie up at the dock.”

  Tucker gave Ben a boost over the side of the boat. Then he cranked the boat down from the trailer and floated the boat over to the dock, “Right here’s a good spot, son. I’ll be back in a jiffy.”

  Tucker pulled out of the boat ramp, and parked his rig across the parking lot and trotted back to the dock.

  “So, Ben...how are you handling losing her anyway...you know, if you want to talk about it that is...’cause I don’t want to force you into that. You’ve been pretty quiet about it.

  “You think Cassie’s going to make it with us?”

  “Now, there you go...see? You just changed the subject.”

  “You said if I wanted to talk about it...is she?”

  “There you go again...and no, I don’t think she’s going to make it today.”

  “So...I’ll be able to handle Jen’s loss, now that we’re going to be a family.”

  “Oh now hold on there, back it up a little, because I think you just took a left when you should have gone right...no one said we’re going to be a family...we’re just trying everything on for size...you know...like trying on a pair of good jeans. You want to make sure they fit before making the purchase.”

  Ben giggled at his father’s humor, “Dad, it’s not the same...if you love someone, you gotta go for it...plain and simple.”

  “Son, I tried that. It didn’t work for me...so I’m just not about to have to go down that road anytime soon again. Hurts too much...I know what it’s like to lose...”

  “You have no idea!” Ben angrily spat, then stood, causing the boat to rock.

  “Easy there fella...we haven’t even left the dock yet and you already want to try and sink us? Sit down. Ben, I’m sorry for your loss. We’ve all lost people we care about.”

  Ben gingerly sat back down in the boat, “Like Gus? He was your best friend.”

  “Why does everyone think Gus and I were best friends...maybe a long time ago, but no...not anymore.”

  “You can’t deny it, Dad. You did care about him, I know you did. Losing him on the mission, well, that was unfortunate. But from everything you told me about it, he gave himself freely...you can’t blame yourself.”

  “No, you see you’re wrong about that. Yeah, I cared about the lug, but he did cause our breakup...problem is, I was goin
g to give my life to save his.”

  “But then what would have happened to me?”

  “Doctor Rhodes would have been able to use his chip to save you.”

  “But then I wouldn’t have you...Dad, for some reason, all this was meant to be this way. I can’t understand it, but ever since I woke up and found out about the alien technology inside of me. It’s been telling me that we are a part of something...something big...I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s big.”

  “All the more reason to not be a family right now...with Cassie and all, you know...too many emotional ties...might affect judgment.”

  “You can’t be serious, Dad. You’re going to use this as a reason not to get together with Cass? I don’t believe you. I think you just used up all the excuses in the book now.”

  Tucker smiled at him, lit one of his prized cigars and pushed off the dock, “I didn’t say I wouldn’t give it a shot. Just not the M word right now.”

  “Dad, you’re too funny. I never said you have to marry her...just be a family, you know for the time being until we understand what’s going on in the world today.”

  Tucker puffed his cigar and started the small motor on the boat, “Get your lines ready son, we’re going to take the lake by storm.”

  “Now you’re talkin’, Dad,” Ben said, opening his tackle box.

  The two powered around the lake for a couple of hours. They listened to their voices echo across the lake on this cool October morning. They laughed, they cried, and they nearly tipped the boat two more times. But they were having fun.

  “Go over there,” Ben said, pointing with his finger.

  “What? You Jesus now? You know where the fish are?”

  “Dad...”

  Tucker motored the boat over to the spot Ben pointed to.

  “Oh!” Tucker exclaimed, “I’ll be damned, I got one!”

  “Dad, you’re supposed to say fish on!”

  “Okay, okay. FISH ON!” he shouted, “Oooo, and she’s a big one too!”

  “Keep reeling her in, Dad!”

  Just as Ben turned the small boat to help bring his father closer to the largemouth bass, the line snapped, sending Tucker to do some reeling of his own. He fell backward and hit his head on the side of the boat. Then he flipped feet over head, splashing into the icy cold lake.