The Fulcrum: A Zack Wilder Thriller by N.J. Croft

Author:N.J. Croft [Croft, N.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-09-19T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

The following morning, Zack found himself outside the office of Professor Farrokh Ahmadi, who, according to Zack’s research, was one of the world’s leading experts on neural implants. Time to find out what he was dealing with, including how and why the Fulcrum might be involved. And hopefully find a way to help Hawk and ensure his ongoing safety. Even his survival. Was there a way to reverse whatever had been done to him? Preferably before it exploded in his brain.

He tapped on the door and heard a faint “Come in.”

The office was spacious with a window opposite the door and a big desk across one corner. He’d been expecting something...messier. There were no papers lying about. Nothing on the desk but a laptop. The man seated behind it rose to his feet as Zack entered. He was of some sort of far eastern origin, his skin and eyes dark. Slightly overweight, he was younger than Zack had expected, maybe in his late thirties, with a wide smile on his face.

“Special Agent Wilder?”

Zack flashed his credentials. “Thanks for seeing me at such short notice, Professor Ahmadi.”

“Do people often say no to the FBI? And please, call me Farrokh.”

“Zack. And no, not often.”

“So how can I help you? What would you like to know? You said you were interested in learning more about neural implants. A controversial subject, as I’m sure you’re aware. Is there any particular aspect you’re interested in?”

“I want to know everything.”

The smile widened. “Then I hope you have a few years to spare.”

“Okay, not everything. Tell me the interesting parts. Maybe we could start at the beginning. What exactly is a neural implant?”

Farrokh sat back down and waved a hand to the chair opposite him. Zack took the seat and pulled out his phone. “Do you mind if I record this?”

“Not at all. So what is a neural implant? Actually, it varies. The term ‘neural implant’ just refers to any human-made device—usually an electrode of some kind—that’s placed inside the body and interacts with neurons.”

“You’re talking a surgical procedure?

“Usually. But some can be injected. Of course, that isn’t so precise and only works in some parts of the body.”

“The ones for the brain—how big are we talking?”

“The most up to date are approximately the size of a coin. Wait a moment, I’ll show you.” He opened the desk drawer and rummaged around, finally holding up a small circular disk about the size of a quarter. “They have flexible threads attached, which are strategically placed to avoid blood vessels, and which interact with the neurons.”

“Is the surgery straightforward? Could any surgeon carry out the procedure?”

“We’re talking about the brain, so nothing is straightforward. The operation is usually performed by a robotic surgeon as the threads are too fine for the human hand to handle.”

“So what do they do exactly? How do they work?”

“Again, it varies, but mostly they allow us to observe and record neural activity to help us understand how those neurons communicate with the brain.”

“Just how do neurons communicate?”

“They fire electrical impulses.

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