Ghost of a Smile by Simon R. Green Page B

and unethical and Mad Doctors on the loose ,” said Happy. “Did the company, did MSI, know they were doing this?”
    â€œLooks like it,” said Melody. “The orders and authority for this last test came straight from the top. But I would have to say, given the results these people were getting, and the scientists’ reactions to what they were seeing . . . I would have to say they were all most definitely scared shitless. The changes went a lot further, and at a much faster pace, than anyone anticipated.”
    â€œDid it kill them all, in the end?” said Happy. “Is that what happened to the test volunteers? The scientists panicked, and had to dispose of the bodies?”
    â€œUnfortunately, no,” said Melody. “The test subjects survived. And changed. There’s nothing here on what they became, but it couldn’t have been anything good.”
    â€œIs there anything there on which patients had the placebos?” said Happy. “I mean, they wouldn’t have gone through any changes. Could they still be here, somewhere?”
    â€œThere were no placebos,” said Melody. “They didn’t care about rigorous scientific procedures, they wanted as many affected test subjects as possible.”
    â€œBut that’s . . .”
    â€œUnethical? Illegal? No-one here gave a damn about any of that, Happy. They thought the company was big enough, and powerful enough, that they didn’t have to care about things like that. Which meant this was never a legal test of a legal drug, for legal purposes. MSI was after bigger fish.”
    â€œSuperhumans,” said Happy. “For the Military, or Intelligence, or maybe for themselves.”
    â€œMight help to explain why there was such a fight over jurisdiction once it all went wrong,” said Melody. “But it doesn’t explain why MSI asked for us, specifically, to come in and clean up their mess. They must have known we’d find out the truth . . .”
    â€œMaybe they thought only people with our unique experience would be able to cope with whatever these test subjects have become,” said Happy. He looked quickly about him. “And I wish I had their confidence.”
    They all met up again, half-way down the corridor, to share what they’d discovered. There followed a certain amount of raised voices as they tried to figure out what to do next.
    â€œWe are not equipped to deal with genetically modified madmen!” said Happy.
    â€œWho is?” said JC. “But we are uniquely suited to dealing with things and situations that fall outside normal parameters.”
    â€œMSI lied,” said Melody. “They must have had some reason for dropping us right into this mess, and I’m pretty sure it’s not a reason any of us would like or approve of. More and more I’m feeling like chum thrown into the water to attract the sharks. We don’t owe MSI anything.”
    â€œWe’re not here for them,” said JC. “Patterson sent us in here on behalf of the Carnacki Institute. That means it’s our ball.”
    â€œPatterson didn’t know what was going on in here,” said Happy. “I think we should go back out and talk to him, and the Boss, and see what they have to say.”
    â€œWhat makes you think we’d be allowed to leave the building?” said JC. A sudden quiet fell over the group as they all thought about that. JC looked around, making sure they’d got the implications. “We’re not alone in here. The shells in the lobby were being directed by someone else. I think it’s in our best interests to find out who—or what—and do something about them, before they figure out a way to do something about us.”
    â€œWe can’t cope with something this big on our own!” said Melody. “We need reinforcements! And my equipment!”
    â€œAnd weapons,” said Happy. “Really big, illegally