institute.
“Dr Van Garre, if you would please follow me. There are some matters we need to attend to.”
She stood and walked to the door. Maria felt desperate but Harghada still held the ear of Milan Noble. What if she could convince him of the need to continue the research?
“Perhaps I could show you the research personally, sir?”
Harghada paused. “I think that might be a good idea. How long did you say the results take to manifest?”
“With the highest pulse frequencies and some susceptibility to obedience, we can see an effect in as little as one session,” she replied, trying to hide the hope in her voice. “Certain drugs increase susceptibility.”
They entered the elevator and she noticed as he swiped his card that there were levels she had never seen before that looked to be below ground. He caught her attention.
“There are more wonders here at Zoebios than you could ever imagine,” he said, but Maria thought his smile was hollow, and his eyes belonged to a man who had seen haunting things. No matter, Maria knew he could still save her research and so she would turn on the charm and prove her research had potential.
They walked into the lab and the groups of people waiting for news melted back into their work at Maria’s stony gaze. She showed Harghada to her office.
“Perhaps you would close the lab for the rest of the day,” he said, “and we could examine your research together in private. Is that to your satisfaction?”
The question was rhetorical of course. She felt his penetrating gaze on her back as she went to tell her staff to take a well-earned afternoon off. The lab cleared out fast, and Maria returned to her office to find Harghada gazing at the Escher print.
“How true this is,” he said. “I think perhaps the Zoebios emblem should be replaced by something like this. It more accurately reflects our path in the world, for it takes death for new life, and darkness for the light to stand out.” He turned to face her. “Now Doctor, convince me not to shut this lab down.”
“Of course. I’ve prepared some videos so you can witness the response of subjects under the treatment regime. If you would sit here, I’ll talk you through them.”
Harghada spun round, his eyes narrowing. “I’ve seen all your facts and figures and it’s not enough. At this point I need more practical evidence. Show me how it works with you as the subject.”
Maria frowned. Of course she had tried the equipment herself, at a mild dosage in order to experience some of the effects, but never without supervision. “It could be dangerous. I would need one of my team to assist.”
Harghada shook his head.
“I’m afraid not. I shall be your assistant. If you want to convince me to keep the lab open, then this is your only chance.”
Maria considered how to proceed. It could be done as long as he followed her directions. After all, she believed in her research, and what harm could come to her in her own lab?
“OK,” she nodded warily. “The treatment room is at the back of the lab.”
She led him through the now empty floor, past the evidence of a busy lab suspended for the day. She pointed at a row of booths at the back of a side-room. There was a bed in each, with a pair of enlarged earphones lying on the blanket. Syringes and other medical equipment lay in sterilized pouches at the side of the room.
“What has been your most effective case so far?” Harghada asked.
Maria suddenly realized what he would ask her to do. Could she lie to him now? But he had already seen the results in the presentation and he was leading her into a trap of her own making. Her heart pounded as she considered her options.
“Come on Doctor, surely you know your own results,” he said, goading her. “You have had other people under your care. Would you not subject yourself to the same situation? I’m a medical doctor, so I can assist with whatever you need. I have a
“Dr Van Garre, if you would please follow me. There are some matters we need to attend to.”
She stood and walked to the door. Maria felt desperate but Harghada still held the ear of Milan Noble. What if she could convince him of the need to continue the research?
“Perhaps I could show you the research personally, sir?”
Harghada paused. “I think that might be a good idea. How long did you say the results take to manifest?”
“With the highest pulse frequencies and some susceptibility to obedience, we can see an effect in as little as one session,” she replied, trying to hide the hope in her voice. “Certain drugs increase susceptibility.”
They entered the elevator and she noticed as he swiped his card that there were levels she had never seen before that looked to be below ground. He caught her attention.
“There are more wonders here at Zoebios than you could ever imagine,” he said, but Maria thought his smile was hollow, and his eyes belonged to a man who had seen haunting things. No matter, Maria knew he could still save her research and so she would turn on the charm and prove her research had potential.
They walked into the lab and the groups of people waiting for news melted back into their work at Maria’s stony gaze. She showed Harghada to her office.
“Perhaps you would close the lab for the rest of the day,” he said, “and we could examine your research together in private. Is that to your satisfaction?”
The question was rhetorical of course. She felt his penetrating gaze on her back as she went to tell her staff to take a well-earned afternoon off. The lab cleared out fast, and Maria returned to her office to find Harghada gazing at the Escher print.
“How true this is,” he said. “I think perhaps the Zoebios emblem should be replaced by something like this. It more accurately reflects our path in the world, for it takes death for new life, and darkness for the light to stand out.” He turned to face her. “Now Doctor, convince me not to shut this lab down.”
“Of course. I’ve prepared some videos so you can witness the response of subjects under the treatment regime. If you would sit here, I’ll talk you through them.”
Harghada spun round, his eyes narrowing. “I’ve seen all your facts and figures and it’s not enough. At this point I need more practical evidence. Show me how it works with you as the subject.”
Maria frowned. Of course she had tried the equipment herself, at a mild dosage in order to experience some of the effects, but never without supervision. “It could be dangerous. I would need one of my team to assist.”
Harghada shook his head.
“I’m afraid not. I shall be your assistant. If you want to convince me to keep the lab open, then this is your only chance.”
Maria considered how to proceed. It could be done as long as he followed her directions. After all, she believed in her research, and what harm could come to her in her own lab?
“OK,” she nodded warily. “The treatment room is at the back of the lab.”
She led him through the now empty floor, past the evidence of a busy lab suspended for the day. She pointed at a row of booths at the back of a side-room. There was a bed in each, with a pair of enlarged earphones lying on the blanket. Syringes and other medical equipment lay in sterilized pouches at the side of the room.
“What has been your most effective case so far?” Harghada asked.
Maria suddenly realized what he would ask her to do. Could she lie to him now? But he had already seen the results in the presentation and he was leading her into a trap of her own making. Her heart pounded as she considered her options.
“Come on Doctor, surely you know your own results,” he said, goading her. “You have had other people under your care. Would you not subject yourself to the same situation? I’m a medical doctor, so I can assist with whatever you need. I have a
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