A Hero for WondLa by Tony DiTerlizzi

Author:Tony DiTerlizzi
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

CHAPTER 18: SUBJECTS

May we help you?” The automedic rushed over to the door. “Your identifier is not responding. Therefore, you must have an authorization code before entering.”

Eva froze, unsure of what to do. Cadmus is going to catch me for sure, she thought. He’s going to catch me and put wires into my body and brain.

“Please identify yourself with an authorization code within ten seconds or we shall summon security,” the automedic said. It then began to count down, “Ten . . . nine . . . eight . . .”

“An authorization code?” Eva’s mind reeled.

“Seven . . . six . . . five . . . four . . .”

Somehow that term rang a bell. She remembered being locked out of her Sanctuary and needing a code to reenter.

“Three . . . two . . .”

“C-P-zero-one. Password: omniscient,” Eva replied.

The automedic withdrew from its position and returned to its patients. Eva followed with trepidation, and the lab door slid shut behind her.

“You are here for a progress report?” the automedic asked.

Eva stood tall and nodded. “Yea—yes. For Cadmus. Father Pryde.”

“Very good. What we have determined is that the physiology of this alien species is quite similar to fellow terrestrial organisms, despite the rearrangement of the internals,” the automedic reported. “We feel that cerebral manipulation will be attainable, though we are not certain that any Tech we devise in the short term will have an all-encompassing effect on the spectrum of beings present at the touchdown site.”

Eva glanced at the Cærulean. Now that she saw his face, it was clear that the unconscious patient was not Rovender but another Cærulean. She let out a small sigh of relief. “And him?” She pointed to Hailey.

“As Father Pryde has consented by consultation with his Prime Adviser, similar tests on this corrupted subject will be performed this evening, as scheduled, in his personal medlab. Please tell Father Pryde we are preparing the patient now,” said the automedic. It removed the cap from Hailey’s head and grabbed a laser hair trimmer.

Mind control? On aliens and humans? A chill shivered down Eva’s spine. Hailey deserved to have wires shoved into his brain after dropping Eva off without telling her the truth. But no one should be made to suffer in Cadmus’s cruel experiments. If only Rovee were here to help me devise a plan. “So this subject is set to be operated on?” she asked aloud.

“Yes. All corrupted specimens in the ward must be studied and analyzed for treatment. However, Father Pryde was specific about this one’s immediate attention,” replied the automedic as it shaved off Hailey’s brown and blue hair.

“He is a corrupted specimen?” Eva asked.

“Yes. As you know, all corrupted specimens of Homo sapiens neo are individuals with a predisposition to free thought due to unmanaged neurochemicals in the brain. Such individuals can be prone to dissension or hostile acts toward authority and need to be treated before they are naturalized into the general populace.”

“Are there any more specimens like this one?” Eva gestured to the Cærulean.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.