Chapter 29 – DOCTOR WASP PART 2
When Adrian finally awoke from his sleep, he found himself lying in a plain single bed with all-white sheets. His head was pounding and he felt woozy, like he’d just gotten off a fast rollercoaster. He groaned as he slowly sat himself upright and took a good look at his surroundings.
The room he was in was empty, aside from the bed he sat in. Everywhere he looked, he could only see white walls. There were no doors or windows. He was all alone in this strange blank space. It unsettled him.
Young Adrian: Hello? Is anyone here?! Where am I?! HELLO!
But no one replied. Adrian started to panic. He got out of bed and rushed to the walls, desperately slapping his hands against the one in front of him, hoping it would trigger a secret door or something, still dressed in his regular clothes.
He had no idea that on the other side of the wall to the left of his bed was a one-way mirror. The two agents who kidnapped him were watching him with their arms crossed.
Male Agent: Looks like the mind wipe was a success. I’m not seeing any side effects… How much will he remember?
Female Agent: The boss said he had only erased all memories related to his past life and his mother. He’ll still remember his name, his interests, his desire to pursue science and a few other things. But he will believe that he was born and raised here all his life. We just need to make sure he does what he was brought here to do.
Male Agent: And what if he starts questioning things? What if he wishes to leave the facility?
Female Agent: The boss thought of that too and took care of it. He will believe that he is allergic to sunlight and must remain inside at all times.
Male Agent: Ugh, I still can’t believe he ordered us to pose as his parents.
Female Agent: Trust me, I don’t like it either. But Adrian is unwilling to betray us if he believes we’re his parents… Come, let us greet our “son”.
After a few minutes of useless searching for the exit, Adrian was startled out of his panicked state when part of the wall behind him opened and slid to the side, revealing the two agents standing in front of him with stern faces. Adrian calmed himself down, relieved to see familiar faces.
Young Adrian: Where are we, Mum? Dad?
The agents flinched a little when he addressed them as his parents, confirming that the mind-altering process had worked like a charm. Though part of them felt disgusted to be called such ludicrous names, they toughed it out and put on a fake smile, pretending to be happy to see their “son” unharmed.
They approach Adrian and kneel to his level, placing their hands on his shoulders.
Male Agent: Don’t you remember, son?
Young Adrian: Remember what? What is this place?
Female Agent: It is our new home.
Young Adrian: I… do not understand.
Male Agent: You have been in a coma for a very long time, my boy. A lot has transpired… Perhaps it would be better to show you. Come with us.
The two agents each take hold of Adrian’s small hands and guide him out of the empty room he and begin to give him a tour of the facility. Outside the room was a dark hallway of concrete with dimly lit lights positioned on the top corners of the walls. As they walked on, Adrian saw the word L.O.S.T imprinted in black on the wall to his right. Underneath it was a subtext reading out what it stood for. Lancashire Organisation for Science and Technology. Wherever he is, he can at least guess it's some kind of science centre somewhere in Lancashire.
The agents lead Adrian out of the hallway and into the brightly lit living quarters, combined with an entire laboratory for everything a scientist needs. Adrian’s eyes widen with pure delight and amazement. He had never set foot inside a professional lab before, filled with wondrous devices. A large computer screen hangs on the wall to his left.
The right side of the room was the living quarters, with a beige carpeted floor and another single bed with nicer-looking sheets than the room he was in moments ago with glass windows cutting it off from the lab. It also had a chest of drawers, a nightstand with a lava lamp, a coat hanger, a small kitchen and a bathroom area. And perhaps Adrian’s favourite part: a small area full of classic musical instruments such as a violin, clarinet, and a shiny white piano.
Young Adrian: Oh, my goodness! This place is incredible!
Female Agent: I take it you approve?
Young Adrian: Absolutely! (he gasps) Is that an Argon Matrix Laser?!
Adrian practically sprints over to one of the larger machines stored at the back of the room. It looked like a giant microscope with a folded-in robot arm with a laser attached to the end. The console attached to the base of the machine is currently switched off, but the imprint on the side confirmed that it is what Adrian says it is.
Young Adrian: I’ve read about this! It is said to fire a precise beam of light that can pass through organic matter without causing harm or effect and is only able to cut through inorganic matter. Its purpose is to treat tumours and cancer cells, effectively killing them while the host is left untouched. Only two have ever been built.
Male Agent: Three, actually. You are looking at the original prototype.
Adrian gasps with pure delight. He was like a nerd at a comic book convention, geeking out over the various devices strewn about the room. The agents were pleased to see that their efforts to construct this room to his liking had paid off. “He would be highly unlikely to want to leave this place now.” they thought.
Unfortunately, Adrian’s childlike curiosity eventually overcame his excitement. They said they would explain to him where they are and why they were here. Ever since he’d been let out of that cell, he noticed that there were no windows showing the outside world. Judging from the density of the ground he felt with each step, he estimated they were somewhere deep underground.
All that only piled on more questions that he demanded to be answered. Once he was done looking around, he approached the agents.
Young Adrian: What is all this? You still haven’t explained why we’re here or what this place is.
Female Agent: Right… We just wanted to cheer you up with all this first, before telling you the bad news.
Male Agent: Adrian, I… there’s no way of sugarcoating it, so I’m just going to say it… The world has ended.
Adrian is confused by that last statement. He said it so casually that it sounded like some cruel joke. Adrian would’ve laughed if he found it even the slightest bit funny, which he didn’t.
Young Adrian: Ended? Don’t be ridiculous, Dad.
Female Agent: This is no joke, Adrian!
She raises her voice, startling the young boy. Proving herself to be a good actress, despite that not being in her job description. What she and her partner were about to share with him was ridiculous, but it was the only way to ensure Adrian would never think about leaving this facility.
Female Agent: You said you can’t remember anything before waking up here?
Adrian slowly nods his head.
Female Agent: That’s because you have been held captive by an Elemental terrorist cell and locked in stasis for quite some time, Adrian. Long enough for us to be forced into exodus deep underground.
Young Adrian: Exodus? Why?
Male Agent: Because the warlord’s careless actions led to this…
The male agent switches on the computer screen on the wall with a push of the button on a tiny remote-control device he pulled from his pocket. When Adrian had a good look at what was on the screen, his eyes widened with pure horror.
Various photos and video footage covered the screen, all showing death and destruction. There was footage of soldiers on a battlefield shooting at each other behind sandbags, missile strikes wiping out major cities, and perhaps the worst of them all, nuclear power plants going critical and unleashing massive explosions that have spread outwards for miles without end.
Satellite footage from space gives Adrian a good look at the overall destruction of Planet Earth from orbit. The explosions were so big that he could see them from space. The continents were no longer green with plant life and had been reduced to vast wastelands of dust and ash. The North and South Poles have completely melted, causing many continents to shrink to a tenth of their size due to flooding.
Young Adrian: I-I… I don’t believe it… Earth… Our home is…
Female Agent: No more.
Adrian clenches his fists tightly, expressing genuine anger over the destruction of the only planet he shares with all the beings who inhabit it.
Young Adrian: Who?! Who would even be capable of such horror?!
The male agent clicks the remote once again, switching out all the destruction footage for an image of an old man dressed in white and gold robes, wearing a straw hat, with a long white beard that stretched down to his ankles and a long-braided ponytail.
Male Agent: This is the man responsible for the destruction of our beloved Earth. His name was Yamamura Taikan. He was originally the grand master of an Elemental Academy in Japan. Don’t let his age and attire fool you. On the inside, he’s a monster!
Female Agent: The old man believed that human beings were a cancer that had festered in the world and made it his mission to eradicate them all at once, without any concern for any innocent Elementals who might’ve been caught up in the attack… It started as an endless barrage of bullets and missiles, only to end in a global nuclear disaster.
Male Agent: The mad scientists who worked for that genocidal madman made a chain of nuclear warheads buried right beneath every nuclear power plant. And with a push of a button, the bombs detonated and spread radiation all over the planet until everything living was erased… We were warned not to trust Elementals, but we didn’t listen. And now we have paid the price. Everything is gone. Even the Elementals killed themselves in the end.
Young Adrian: Are we… the only ones left?
Adrian hesitantly asked, scared of the thought of being among the last humans to exist.
Female Agent: Fortunately, no, Adrian. LOST has prepared for such a catastrophic event such as this and has constructed many underground facilities like the one we’re in now. We have confirmed that there are thousands of people still alive in hiding across the UK and the rest of the world. There are less then fifty survivors in this facility alone.
Young Adrian: Well then, where are they? I haven’t seen a single soul since I woke up here.
Female Agent: They’re around. They all have their own quarters on different sub-levels of this base.
Young Adrian: Can I see them?
Male Agent: I’m afraid we can’t allow that right now, Adrian. For you are needed in this lab to help in the reclaiming of the world we lost on the surface. For even though the mad Elemental warlord’s reign has ended, those who survived and are still loyal to him continue his quest for power… Due to the radiation, we are unable to return to the surface without poisoning ourselves. Even the sun itself has become toxic to humans, while the Elementals are completely immune. With humankind gone, they now seek to take Earth for themselves.
Female Agent: But we still have hope. People like you, Adrian. Genius minds are an essential component for the restoration of humanity. Every LOST facility has hundreds of gifted minds like yours, all working together to overcome our losses and develop new ways of fighting back against the Elemental marauders and restoring Earth… We’re pleased you like this lab, Adrian, for it now belongs to you.
Young Adrian: All of this… is mine?
Male Agent: Only as long as you do your part to build, design and create everything we ask of you.
Female Agent: We will give you some time to let it all sink in.
The two agents turn around and prepare to leave. They give each other a knowing smirk, expecting Adrian to eat up all their lies and agree to give them whatever they ask for, thinking it’ll help humanity recover from this fabricated apocalypse.
Young Adrian: I’ll do it!
He says loudly, with pure determination in his voice. Just as they predicted, the gullible child genius has fallen into their trap, just as their boss said he would. They both glance back at Adrian, pretending to be proud.
Female Agent: You have no idea how happy that makes us feel, Adrian.
Male Agent: We’re so proud of you, Kiddo… You better get to work now; we’ve got so much for you to do.
They soon left the room, a sinister smirk tugging at the corners of their mouths. Everything was proceeding swimmingly, and they looked forward to delivering the good news to their superior.
Every day of Adrian’s new life at LOST has been the same routine ever since that day. Get up, make breakfast, do science, take a break doing whatever he likes for about ten minutes, do more work, have lunch, more work, dinner, even more work, then go to bed. Wash, rinse, repeat.
But Adrian wasn’t bothered by it at first. They did give him a special gift at the end of his first day at LOST. He was wearing a professional-grade lab coat on top of his regular clothes. He felt like a real scientist now, just like he’d always wanted. He even had a special lanyard with his ID on it. Had his face, full name and everything.
The agents would always come into his quarters now and then to check on his progress as well as give him new tasks to complete. Though they were posing as Adrian’s parents, they made no effort to act like it. They treat him as nothing more than a tool to build and design weapons for them.
No further proof of this than when Adrian’s 6th birthday arrived. He was sitting at the small table in the kitchen area with a vanilla birthday cake sitting in front of him with only six candles on it. The agents stood beside him, watching him blow out the candles. Again, they don’t even bother to put in any effort to play his parents. Always thinking they have better things to do.
Male Agent: It’s time to celebrate your first year with us here at LOST. Happy birthday, Adrian.
The agents nonchalantly clap as he blows out the candles.
Young Adrian: Has the work I’ve been doing helped restore the world in any way yet? Can I go outside now?
Female Agent: Adrian, we’ve been over this. The atmosphere is still toxic, and you are very allergic to the sun.
Male Agent: Maybe next year.
He says casually in a sort of mocking voice as he moves the table and the cake out of the way so his partner can drag in a whiteboard with various equations on it that only somebody as smart as Adrian can understand. His smile slowly fades away. As much as he loved science, the child part of him yearned to be free and do something fun. They didn’t even let him have a slice of his cake.
Male Agent: But do you know what’ll be fun in the meantime? You could try cracking this series of encrypted rocket codes?
Female Agent: Or you could design us an advanced geothermal reactor. Good luck!
And just like that, the birthday party had ended as quickly as it began. The agents just presented him with new work without explanation and left without another word. Adrian let out a long, sad exhale and leaned back in his chair, staring blankly at the equations in front of him. Still, at least he could have some of his cake now.
He hoped that this would be a one-time thing. Maybe they were just too busy to give him a real birthday party. He could understand how much pressure LOST are under in the restoration of Earth and human society. At that time, he kept telling himself the sacrifice of his childhood would lead to something greater.
But as the years passed and he grew more mature and independent, he began to see that something was wrong. Fourteen whole years have passed, and he’s still doing the same routine. He hadn’t met another soul in the facility, nor was he permitted to leave his quarters to find anyone else. He thought he enjoyed the solitude, as it meant zero distractions when he was working. But his mental health was deteriorating, and he yearned for human contact other than the agents.
The only company he had were the many insects he kept in jars and terrariums littered around his living quarters. He often studied them to see how the radiation on the surface affected them, but he was shocked to discover that none of them were emitting radiation. They were all healthy. Naturally, many species of insects can survive major destructive events; he knew that for a fact. Cockroaches were the few recorded lifeforms to survive the Chernobyl disaster on April 26th, 1986. By now, he should’ve expected results on the living conditions on the surface for humans.
The two agents, whenever they weren’t with him in person, continued to monitor Adrian and the other young geniuses they abducted through surveillance cameras, checking on their progress. They have several personnel listening to the audio in the isolated quarters of their captives, keeping their ears open for any doubt or free thinking. They need to keep their prisoners in line and ensure they don’t try to escape.
Male Agent: It looks like Adrian is becoming too smart for his own good. He may begin to question things.
Female Agent: Then I think it may be time for another mind wipe.
Male Agent: He’s not that same 5-year-old kid anymore. He could build up an immunity to the mind wipe if we use it too often.
Female Agent: Come now. By now you should know nobody is strong enough to break away from the boss’s control.
Once again, it is Adrian’s birthday. He was turning 20 this year. He wasn’t as excited about it as he was during his 6th. Every year it's just been the same thing. Same cake – now with twenty lit candles – same fake clapping from his captors and the same empty promises.
Male Agent: Happy birthday, Adrian.
Adrian lets out a barely audible sigh as he blows out his candles with a deadpan look on his face. He felt so empty inside. Even the taste of his cake has become boring to him since he’s had the same cake for fourteen years.
Adrian: What have you got for me now?
He asked in a bored tone of voice, not even bothering to look at them. The agents didn’t care, though. They were simply pleased to see the second mind wipe had succeeded, cutting out all the theories and questions he had about the outside world.
Female Agent: This time we’ve got a very special project for you, Adrian.
Male Agent: One that’ll reignite your passion for science.
Adrian’s expression remains blank, not even paying attention to them as they moved the table out of the way and present the whiteboard to him again. However, once he looked at what was written on it, his curiosity was piqued.
Instead of equations or blueprints for a new weapon or machine, there was a simple drawing of a test tube with liquid in it. Next to it was a drawing of a man with a sad face, missing an arm. Next to that was another drawing of the same man, but happy and with both arms.
Adrian: Uhh, what is this?
Female Agent: Your new project. We want you to create a special serum for us. One that can grant a human being an enhanced healing factor, capable of regenerating body parts, healing critical wounds in seconds and preventing infections.
Adrian: What for?
Male Agent: Imagine this. A soldier out in the field of battle gets shot down or blown up by a grenade. They’d be dead or crippled for life. But with this serum, he could grow back his legs, heal his wounds, and be strong enough to get back into the fight again moments after being wounded. It would be the closest we’d get to reaching immortality!
Adrian: Battle? I thought our purpose was to restore the world?
The female agent elbows her partner in the side, annoyed at him for almost letting their cover slip and reveal their true intentions to the more mature Adrian Vespa.
Female Agent: We are, Adrian. But you can’t forget that there are still enemy Elementals up on the surface with powers we can’t match in our current condition. That’s why we need this serum: to make us as strong as them and to survive the radioactive atmosphere.
“Makes sense”, Adrian thought to himself. But sense was starting to lose all meaning to him now. He’s heard tell of an Elemental threat on the surface many times, yet not once had they managed to discover or invade LOST. The thing about secrets is that they don’t stay hidden for long. Eventually, it is uncovered for all to see.
Female Agent: Well, Adrian? Are you going to give us what we want? The future of the human race depends on it.
Adrian: If I do this, will you finally let me go outside?
Male Agent: Outside? Sorry, Adrian, but you’re still very allergic to the sun. Going to the surface will still kill you.
Female Agent: Maybe next year.
Adrian: You’ve been saying that every day for the past fourteen years!
He raised his voice at them in frustration.
Adrian: You keep telling me that the world above is completely uninhabitable, yet I’ve not once seen any photos or live footage of it! You wouldn’t even let me go out in a hazmat suit just to collect samples of the soil so I can find a way to fight the radiation. I feel less like a scientist and more like a prisoner!
The agents slowly turn to each other before returning their intense gazes to Adrian behind their dark sunglasses. The woman leans down and gets too uncomfortably close to his face and smiles eerily at him, like she was hiding a sinister side of herself behind it. Adrian was unsettled by how close she was to him.
Female Agent: Adrian, dear. When we say, “maybe next year”, we really mean “never”. Now be a good boy and get back to work.
She said in her usual calm and upbeat tone of voice, now carrying a hint of threat in it. Implying that they will do something terrible to him if he doesn’t do as they say.
Adrian lowers his head in defeat as he hears their footsteps heading in the direction of the exit to his luxurious cell. However, he twitches when he hears them getting loud again, hinting that they’re back so soon. As well as a high-pitched squeaking sound, forcing him to look up to see what was making it.
His eyes grow wide with surprise and curiosity as he sees the agents pushing a young woman around his age into his quarters on an old, slightly rusty and busted-up wheelchair. Finally, after all these years, he’s seeing a new face. Though the person in the chair had suffered various injuries. Her legs have been amputated up to her thighs. Her skin was burned in certain places. She had messy blonde hair that stretched down to her shoulders and her eyes were cloudy, implying she could not see. All she wore was a frilly white dress that was too long for her, stretching down to the floor.
Adrian: Who- who’s this?!
The girl’s head jolted in response to hearing a new voice in her vicinity. She seemed to be just as shocked as Adrian to be in the presence of another being other than the agents. Her lips trembled as she mustered a small smile, happy to meet someone new at last.
Female Agent: This is Jennifer. She will serve as your first test subject for the serum once you’ve completed it. We hope to see you two get along, for you will be living together from now on.
Both Adrian and Jennifer gasp. Living together? Neither one of them has had any experience interacting with other people, let alone living in the same place as them. How do they expect them to learn to live together when they’ve only just met, on top of the new project they’re forcing on Adrian?
Adrian: Hold on a minute! You can’t expect me to work on an experimental serum without a base, so I’ll have some idea of what I’m working with. Also, how am I supposed to work on it while I’m babysitting this… woman?
Male Agent: We will send a sample we’ve recovered to you shortly. As for her- well, you’re a super-smart boy, Adrian. Figure it out.
Adrian: And then will you finally let me go outside and-
Suddenly, the male agent quickly turns around and grabs Adrian’s shirt collar, pulling him in and angrily glaring into his eyes behind his sunglasses.
Male Agent: Enough with that question, Adrian! You are never leaving this facility! EVER!
He pushes Adrian back, causing him to stumble and fall back into his office chair. The two agents exit the room, leaving a very stunned Adrian alone with Jennifer. The girl tries to move her wheelchair in his direction, using the sounds of his heavy breathing to guide her towards him. Though she couldn’t get her chair around one of the countertops.
Adrian quickly gets back up and helps her out, steering her away from the lab area and over into his living quarters where she’ll be much safer.
Adrian: Greetings, Jennifer. I am Adrian.
Jennifer gently waves her left hand at him and gives him a nervous smile, feeling uncomfortable being alone with a boy she’d never met.
Adrian wondered for a bit why she wasn’t talking, but that was before he noticed the scar across her neck. He hadn’t noticed it before because she had her head down throughout the exchange with the agents.
Adrian: You can’t speak… These lacerations you have- were you born with them?
Jennifer gently shakes her head side to side, replying with a no.
Adrian: I thought not. I can guess you were in some kind of accident when you were young… Do you at least know how to use sign language?
Again, she shakes her head.
Adrian: Hmm, this’ll make communication difficult moving forward. I cannot consistently check for a yes-or-no head shake from you while I’m working. (he sighs) Look, just stay here and relax. You can have my bed; I’ll take the sofa.
Jennifer shakes her head again, more urgently this time, refusing to accept such a generous offer.
Adrian: Most of my hours are spent in the lab, so I hardly use it anyway. It’s only logical that you should. You need it more than I do… Would you like to hear some music?
Jennifer pauses for a moment to think it over before slowly nodding her head this time. Adrian nods back, pleased she agreed to his proposal. He walks over to his shiny white piano and takes a seat in front of it. So far, all Jennifer could hear were the faint sounds of his breathing, the clunk of the lid being lifted and the turning of the pages from the music book he kept on the stand.
Adrian cracks his fingers and takes a couple of calming breaths, feeling nervous about playing all of a sudden. He had no issue performing his melodies in the past, but this was the first time in his life he ever had an audience. Part of him was scared he’d mess it up and embarrass himself in front of his new roommate.
As soon as he felt confident enough, Adrian began playing the keys. He had chosen to perform a famous piece of classical music by one of his favourite composers. Für Elise by Ludwig van Beethoven.
Once he got into the flow, Adrian played flawlessly, and the comforting and therapeutic music rang out all through their shared quarters, eradicating the eerie silence. Jennifer smiled brightly and leaned back in her chair as her body moved side-to-side in sync with the music, letting it flow within her.
While the song played, it felt like the world around her wasn’t so cruel anymore. She was in a bright and peaceful place where nobody could hurt her. A place where she could be at peace and be happy. The song may only be less than three minutes long, but to Jennifer it felt like it had no end. Perhaps being around Adrian may be exactly what she needed after all. And Adrian felt the same way, glancing at her now and then as he played on.
The next day, Adrian and Jennifer had an awkward start to their first morning together as roommates. The two of them sat across from each other at the table, eating porridge. Adrian figured it would be easier for her to eat porridge than egg and bacon, fearing she might accidentally cut herself with a knife since she can’t see the food in front of her. Though she does manage to spill some of it onto the table and herself, forcing Adrian to get up and wipe it off when she has difficulty finding her napkin.
Things became even more awkward when he was forced to help her get in and out of the bathtub. For as long as he can remember, ever since he was a child, he’s suffered from Haphephobia, the fear of touching bare skin or feeling his skin being touched by another’s hand, though he didn’t recollect that being an issue before. And Jennifer was visibly uncomfortable being naked and touched by another person. She could sense his eyes on her. But Adrian had no choice. To get her clean, he had to see what he was doing.
Maybe putting his focus on his new task given to him yesterday would help take his mind off having Jennifer around. He still couldn’t understand why the agents would put her in the same room as him. He questioned whether Jennifer had any say in being the first test subject for the serum. Were they purposely trying to make him feel for this poor, broken girl to inspire him to work on the serum faster so he could save her? If so, he can’t help but think how selfish and cruel that sounds. Do they not trust in his ability to figure out the secret himself? There was no need for emotional manipulation.
After receiving the unknown DNA sample from his captors, Adrian got to work immediately. First, he examined a sample of the blood under a microscope to see exactly what he was working with and how he could use this as the base for this new regeneration serum.
Adrian: Amazing!
He exclaimed as he looked at the cells in the blood. He reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out his recorder. It looked newer back then, and the label with his name on it was still fresh and clear. He pressed the record button and began his audio log.
Adrian: Personal Science log, entry 110: I have just finished examining this sample of engineered DNA, and I am at a loss for words. How LOST acquired this blood sample or where it originated from is still unknown. In theory, if a human being were to possess something like this, it would give them tremendous power. High-speed regeneration is but one feature. They would also gain superior strength, speed, enhanced senses and stamina. LOST wishes me to create a special serum out of this sample, but it is going to be a very long and difficult process. A true test of my intellect. But I am up for the challenge. Only time will tell if I succeed.
In the background, Jennifer sat back and listened to Adrian’s voice, expressing worry about this experiment. Adrian caught her in the corner of his eye, and a barely visible smile appeared across his face.
From then on, Adrian bided his time in researching the serum and thinking up the best ways to create it without flaw. He must be careful in his pursuit, for if he were to make even one miscalculation, the serum could end up killing Jennifer or do something far worse.
Unfortunately, as months went by, the two agents began to grow impatient and furious. They were getting tired of waiting. Every time they asked him how close he was to completing the formula, Adrian would tell them, “I need more time.” He had been telling them that same answer too many times to count.
One day, as Adrian was playing his violin in front of Jennifer, who was smiling and enjoying the music, they were rudely interrupted by the two agents who practically kicked the door open, causing a loud slam that echoed off the walls, startling them both. Adrian immediately stopped what he was doing and rushed out of his music room area and confronted his supposed parents.
Adrian: Hey! You can’t just barge in here! You scared Jennifer-
Male Agent: Our patience is wearing thin, Adrian! When is that formula going to be ready?!
Adrian: I keep telling you that it’s going to take some time. This cannot be rushed!
Female Agent: Time?! We don’t have time! Every day we waste down here twiddling our thumbs, the enemy up above grows stronger!
Adrian: Do you want an accident to occur? Because that’s what’ll happen if you keep pressuring me to hurry up! I am a gifted scientist, but I’m not God! You can’t expect me to create a fully functioning regeneration serum in only a week! At my current rate, I’ll need a few more months. Not to mention the tests I’ll have to perform on Jennifer to make sure her blood is compatible with the serum. Not even accounting for all the possible side effects that could occur if something went wrong!
Just like before, the male agent loses his patience with Adrian and punches him hard in the stomach, knocking the wind out of the 20-year-old man and bringing him to his knees. At this point, he had long since dropped the act of playing his father and was now treating him as his prisoner while his partner watched from behind with her arms crossed.
Male Agent: I grow tired of your excuses! Either you get that serum ready for us in the next three days, or else we’ll kill you!
Adrian coughs and spits as he recovers from the blow he’d received from who he still believed to be his father. Why would he hit him like that and then threaten him with death? And why would his “mother” just stand there and let it happen with a knowing smirk on her face?
In the back, he could see Jennifer trembling with fear of the agents but also expressing worry for the young man she’d come to like being around. The only person who had ever provided her any comfort.
As soon as he got his breath back, Adrian gasped and pushed himself back up onto his feet, glaring at his captors.
Adrian: Three days?! You’re insane if you think I can accomplish this in that short amount of time!
Female Agent: Spare the pity, Adrian. We know by now that you get smarter with each passing year. We’ve seen it. We know that you’re stalling. You don’t want to give us that serum out of fear of what we plan to do with it.
Adrian: You never let me see the world outside! Never let me extract samples! See the enemy that forced us down here! All you do is tell but never show! Over the years, you’ve been treating me less like your son and more like a prisoner! So go ahead! Kill me! But I think we both know you can’t afford to because I’m too valuable to lose.
The agents freeze. He got them there, they thought. Saw right through their bluff. He was indeed too valuable to destroy. None of the other gifted minds they’ve abducted over the years holds a candle to Adrian. Still, they had one other option that was sure to get him to do as they say.
The female agent draws her handgun and points it at Jennifer, causing Adrian to gasp and attempt to rush her, only to be restrained by the other agent. Jennifer panics as she hears the sound of the gun clicking as the agent pulls back the hammer. She moves her wheelchair backwards with haste, only to crash into the wall. The impact sends out a vibration that rattles the shelves full of insect jars. One of them ends up falling and shatters on the floor, freeing the trapped yellowjacket wasp. The tiny insect buzzes off, enjoying its freedom, completely ignored by everyone else in the room.
Female Agent: You may be too valuable to lose, but she isn’t. We can always get someone else to serve as our guinea pig.
Adrian: NO! Please don’t! I’ll do it! I’ll do it! Just please… don’t hurt her.
Male Agent: Oh? Finally grown attached to that thing, eh?
Female Agent: Goes to show that even gifted boys like you have a soft spot for a defenceless girl.
Adrian: You monsters! What has happened to you both? Why did you let yourselves devolve into such uncaring pieces of shit?!
Male Agent: War has a way of changing people, Adrian. You gotta do whatever it takes to win, even if it means discarding your humanity… Three days! Have it done by then, or your girlfriend dies! Any more time you waste after that, we’ll keep terminating subjects until we’re given no choice but to test it on you! Do we understand each other?
Adrian worriedly turns to Jennifer, fearing for her life. Now more than ever, the pressure of completing this serum has overwhelmed him, bringing him lower than the underground facility itself.
He trembles as he nods in response. The female agent puts her gun away, and she and her partner leave, giving him a final reminder that three days is all the time he has before closing the door.
Adrian rushes over to Jennifer’s side and attempts to comfort her but hesitates due to his phobia, even though his mind is screaming to put his hand around this scared girl who is now crying into her hands. He toughens it out as best he can and gently places his hand on her shoulder.
Jennifer responds by pulling Adrian into a desperate hug, not caring at all about the fear of falling out of her chair and cries into his neck. Adrian gulps and hesitantly pats her back whilst whispering assuring words into her ear.
Adrian: It’s okay, everything’s fine. They’re gone now. There, there… I promise, I will not let them kill you. I don’t know who they are, but they’re not my parents… Why did I ever believe they were all these years? It doesn’t matter! I… I must complete the serum. I’ll work all night if I have to!
And that is exactly what Adrian did. After putting Jennifer to sleep and locking his bedroom door as an extra precaution, he worked tirelessly into the night, examining the assembled serum under his microscope, drinking heavily caffeinated coffee to help him stay awake and focused all through the night while Jennifer slept soundly in his bed.
The fear of letting the agents down and getting Jennifer killed put so much pressure on his conscience that he often made mistakes in his work, making him even more frustrated than when he started. He groans when he sees the time on the clock has now reached 3:37 a.m., and he’s still not making much progress.
He yet again pulls out his recorder and tiredly speaks into it.
Adrian: Personal Science log, entry 117. Time is now 3:37 a.m. Still getting nowhere with this serum. All my attempts to trace the origin of this DNA have proven negative. Grr, I have got to figure out how to perfect it! I fear for Jennifer’s life if I do not get a working sample ready in time…
Then, suddenly, an idea popped into Adrian’s head. He slowly looked over to his left where the Argon Matrix Laser stood, still covered by a tarp.
Adrian: I have limited time and options. There is only one thing left to try…
He pours a tiny amount of the serum onto a little glass tray and carefully carries it over to the machine. He removes the tarp and switches it on. A loud hum echoes across the lab as the machine roars to life. The noise wakes Jennifer up, forcing her to sit up in bed and try to listen to what is going on in the lab.
Adrian places the tray in the centre of the glass platform underneath the laser, locks it in place under the metal clamps and starts typing at the console, setting the beam to genetic splicing. He puts on a pair of protective goggles to keep the light from the beam out of his eyes.
Adrian: I will expose the last of this mutated plasma sample to the Argon Matrix Laser in hopes that I can disassemble its components. It is a dangerous step, but there is so little time. With Jennifer’s life on the line, I must perfect it tonight.
As Adrian activates the laser, the yellowjacket wasp that was accidentally freed by Jennifer flies around the machine, eyes focused on the serum now being manipulated by the laser. It can sense a sweet, irresistible aroma emanating from the serum and draws it in like a fly to a bug zapper. Appropriate for the situation about to unfold.
Adrian: I am now activating the Argon Matrix Laser and am going to attempt to mathematically analyse the mutations that occur in the genetic structure of the blood.
Adrian’s back was turned to the machine as he was focused on looking at the computer screen, trying to read the analysis. The laser strikes the wasp as it drinks the serum. The tiny insect begins to mutate and grow as the combination of the serum and the laser restructures its own DNA.
The screen started to display random flashing numbers, confusing the scientist, still unaware of the mutating wasp behind him.
Adrian: … These numbers, they make no sense. What is causing- No! NO! GET OUT OF THERE!
He shouted as he finally noticed the wasp infecting his sample, swatting at it. The mutated wasp had grown bigger. Now the size of a rat and irritated more than usual, the wasp buzzed around Adrian, aiming its enlarged stinger at him. The terrified scientist recklessly swung a rolled-up newspaper at it, shouting “Get away from me!” loudly.
Jennifer can hear his panicked screams coming from the lab and desperately feels around for her wheelchair, wanting to help him. But it was too late. The wasp circles behind Adrian and plunges its stinger into the back of his neck.
Adrian: Ow! My neck! Aghhhh!
The pain from the stinger quickly spread throughout his body, causing him to stumble and wave his arms about. He somehow managed to smack the wasp out of the air, slamming it against a wall, but the damage was already done.
The young scientist screams and writhes in pain, accidentally knocking empty beakers off one of the counters before collapsing onto the cold, tiled floor. His body spasms as his cries of agony continue to ring out throughout the lab. Jennifer – having given up on using her chair – decided to crawl out of the bedroom and over to Adrian, following the sounds of his screams. She can’t see what’s happening to him, but she can hear the horrible sounds of bones creaking and flesh tearing in the same spot Adrian lay in.
His body was undergoing a mutation like the wasp that stung him. He could feel his skin burning from the inside, causing him to scream even louder. His old skin practically burned itself off, being replaced by new, tougher yellow skin. His fingernails grew longer, turning into black, jagged claws. And the most painful part of his transformation was his head. He could feel his eyes changing inside his skull and two antennae sprouting from the top of his skull. Words cannot express how much pain he was in. Enough to break a man.
The pain was so immense that Adrian wound up passing out from shock. His head hit the floor hard, foam emanating from his open mouth. At that moment, Jennifer finally reached him and placed her hands on his back. She shook him hard, desperately trying to wake him up. But Adrian didn’t respond. Jennifer began to break down into tears again, thinking that Adrian might be dead and she wasn’t fast enough to save him.
To Be Continued