T. gave her one of her amused looks. Her amber eyes darted back to the man sitting next to Helen and they narrowed fractionally. “We’ll have to discuss Armando’s talents later, Hell. I think the session is about to start.”
Everyone had slowly moved to take a seat around the table. The two doctors sat directly across from Helen. A big screen lit up behind them with the dissected image of the human brain.
Armando leaned closer and whispered, “Here’s the scientific part.”
Helen whispered back, “All illusion, just like your area of expertise.”
“Flyboy did mention your wonderful wit,” he said with amusement, then relaxed indolently back into his seat as Dr. Vaughn tapped on the mike clipped on her collar.
After the initial welcome and introductions, both scientists gave a brief presentation, using the brain chart on the screen to explain what the serum did, some of which Helen already understood. Most of the first questions by those present concentrated on the general medical aspects of synthetic biochemistry. Everyone participated with answers and suggestions, bringing up operational procedures for clarification, showing that this was the usual practice for them. Perhaps, she mused, this wasn’t a test of her, after all.
She noted that Armando Chang didn’t ask any questions or offer any suggestions. Unlike the others, he hadn’t taken any notes. In fact, looking down at his lap, she noticed he was rolling two balls in his right hand.
“SYMBIOS research uses controlled substances to create the necessary chemical that will bind with opiate receptors at different sites of the central nervous system—the brain, the brain stem and spinal cord—thus altering both perception of and emotional response to pain through an unknown mechanism.”
“Why unknown?” Helen asked. Out of the corner of her eye, she now counted three balls rolling around in Armando’s hand.
“We don’t really understand exactly how the drugs work, Miss Roston, even though they do work,” Dr. Vaughn replied.
“It’s very normal,” Dr. Kasparov said, in a heavy accent. “We still don’t comprehend much about the human brain, how even something like an over-the-counter drug inhibits or blocks certain brain responses. It’s often explained as ‘through an unknown mechanism.’”
That was very reassuring, Helen thought. But she had to agree on one point—the brain was the power behind all mysteries. How else would one explain away a phenomena such as remote viewing? “What can I look forward to once it’s in me?”
“It increases your pain threshold by producing analgesia that blocks your pain receptors. It’s antianxiety. It acts on the limbic system, thalamus and hypothalamus of the CNS to produce hypnotic effects. It also blocks serotonin and motor neurons,” Dr. Kasparov explained.
Did they talk like that when they were in bed with their lovers? “In other words, I feel less pain, less fear, and need less sleep,” Helen stated. She checked Armando’s hands again. They were empty. She glanced up quickly. His eyes mocked her silently.
“Hypothetically, yes.”
Oh, great, it was back to theorizing again. “Do you have a success rate?” she asked. Remote viewing had success percentages depending on how advanced the viewer was.
“We have had certain success with SYMBIOS 1. I must also add that I have had the opportunity, while under two other agencies, to study their chemical work. They’re working on different recipes and producing different results with synthetic serums.”
“This is SYMBIOS 2, Helen,” T. said. “Everything depends on your chemical and biological reaction to it. Dr. Vaughn and Dr. Kasparov have double-checked your charts.”
When they were discussing whether to take on the contract, Helen had gone through all the precautionary medical tests to make sure she didn’t have any unexpected allergies. GEM had outlined all the possible scenarios that could happen to her should the drug fail.
Another intuitive flash zinged through her mind. She glanced around the table and caught many pairs of eyes covertly watching Armando Chang as Dr. Kasparov gave another dry summary of the medical dangers that could affect her mind. If he was aware of the attention, he didn’t show it. He was staring at the pad on the table for his notes. Helen looked at it and was startled to find some sort of sketch on it. How the hell—she hadn’t seen his hands on the table. Okay, time to end this.
“My question, then, is what happened when the V-Program commandos took SYMBIOS 1? And I understand Agent Chang is going to explain about SYMBIOS 2.” Helen swirled her chair to face Armando Chang. She chewed on her gum and snapped it noisily. “End of science part.”
He rubbed the stubble on his jaw as he studied her. He then nodded. “And now we talk of the magic part. What it did. Specifically, to me.”
He stood up and walked deliberately around the table to stand in front of the video screen. He turned and somehow managed to fit the profile of his face in front of a section of the brain on the screen, giving a very absurd and yet, telling, image. Helen looked at everyone carefully. They seemed to be holding their collective breath as if they were waiting for an explosion. After a moment, Armando turned and pointed to several places on the dissected image of the brain.
“Abracadabra. Just words. They tell you it’s going to affect this and that, here and there.” He tapped his forehead. “Magic. Illusion. You see and feel its effect, yet you keep telling yourself there’s a trick in the whole thing.”
Armando opened his hand and a small fiery ball appeared to glow in his palms. He blew on it and it went out immediately. He stared at his empty palm fiercely for a few seconds. Someone coughed nervously. Helen was beginning to see what T. was talking about.
“I don’t think Miss Roston wants to see any illusions right now, Armando,” Dr. Vaughn said. “We know you’ve had some trouble with SYMBIOS 1 and then we switched to SYMBIOS 2, but as long as you don’t go into Psych to deal with it, we can’t help you.”
She hadn’t imagined it, after all, Helen thought. There was some kind of tension in the room, hidden behind the relaxed discussion, and the man causing the uneasiness was Armando Chang. Even T. was watching him very carefully.
“I’ve been to Psych,” Armando said. His wry grimace was dismissive. “A waste of time. First they play with your brain, then they play with your thoughts. Besides, I passed all their tests, minus a few headaches. I apologize, I forgot to behave. Miss Roston, ask your questions. Although I’m relatively new among my peers, I assure you I know what I’m talking about, or they wouldn’t have wanted me here. The two words to fear—synthesize and assimilate. However, now that I’ve met you…I don’t think you can be frightened away that easily, can you?”
“No. Is that what they fear you would do?” Helen asked.
“They fear I would make you disappear.” His face unexpectedly broke out into a smile of pure amusement, transforming the cynical bad boy expression for one unguarded moment. It was gone before Helen could release the surprised intake of breath in her lungs. He put his hands on the table and leaned forward. “Quickly, quickly, beforeIdisappear.”
