Chapter 10: Off The Deep End

“Phase 2?”

Paige struggled to get her breathing under control as she forced herself to lie still, fighting against the urge to strain against the cuffs that secured her arms and legs to the bed beneath her.

Struggling was a good way to hurt herself, and even if she did manage to work a limb free – it would be to what end?

The Director wasn’t here alone; Paige could see the silhouettes of several guards waiting just beyond the frosted glass of the infirmary room she’d been sequestered in.

“Indeed. We’re getting to the real meat behind Project Far Side, now.”

“With…werewolves?” The words almost didn’t make it past Paige’s lips – it was too outlandish, too unbelievable an admission to make, confirming that the memories from last night were somehow real.

For her part, the Director grinned, her excitement palpable and all the more unsettling to Paige given the circumstances. That’s the thrill of scientific discovery for you.

History was built on the backs of scientific minds who lost the moral line and went too far. The thrill of progress was a powerful siren’s call to a special sort of person, and Director Wen wore her mad scientist energy like a badge of honor.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t the sort of discovery that quietly revolutionized a vital industry while leaving little to no casualties behind. No, Paige was witnessing the invention of the atom bomb with all of the foresight and none of the capability to stop it.

“Before we begin, do you know what this is, Dr. Torres?” Wen reached into the pocket of her lab coat and pulled out a tri-folded letter.

She didn’t wait for Paige to guess before continuing. “It’s a letter, addressed to your father, expressing our deepest condolences concerning an unfortunate accident that resulted in your passing.”

Paige nearly choked on her next gasp of air. “What did you do?”

“A copy of this was mailed out yesterday morning. Along with the remainder of your wages, plus a little extra for bereavement, of course. We aren’t barbarians.”

Her mind went blank, just stuttered out like static. None of her history dabbling on either side of the law had prepared her for this – she didn’t know how to negotiate, especially not with government-funded domestic terrorists.

“W-why would you do that? I don’t get some kind of ultimatum first or anything?”

“Dr. Torres…Paige. Believe me when I say that I would have been the last to think that you would end up having such a profound effect on my research. Alas, you’ve found yourself right at the crux of one of the world’s most important scientific discoveries, full stop. This isn’t the sort of position one simply walks away from.”

“So everyone in this building is currently being held hostage. Or am I just so special?”

“You are…necessary. You can think of yourself as special if that helps the medicine go down more easily. The information that you are now privy to is of the highest confidentiality. The only other members of staff who are aware of the true focus behind Project Far Side have proven themselves worthy of that level of clearance. They’re loyal.”

“And I’ve been a hindrance since the day I arrived. So extra measures were taken to ensure that I keep my mouth shut.”

“So, you do understand. Good. That will make this transition much easier on all of us – Subject Alpha and yourself in particular,” she said, folding up the letter and tucking it back into her coat pocket. “I hope that you come to think of this as a promotion. An opportunity to elevate yourself to a higher purpose. And, if not, well…your family and your country all already believe you to be a dead woman.”

“In other words, it would be a matter of nothing to make that come true.”

The Director smiled and made her way to the door. She tapped on the glass twice, signaling for the guards to enter. Paige began to balk as they approached her, but they only began to unbind her wrists and legs.

“Take this for the boon that it is, Dr. Torres. When you arrived here, you were a miserable shell of a woman on the cusp of financial ruin. Now, you’re at the forefront of something great. And, who knows? The government resurrects its most faithful servants all the time. Let that be motivation for you.”

Paige sat up, gingerly rubbing the rising bruises around her wrists. She leveled the Director with a wary look as the woman tapped away at her tablet. “So? What comes next?”

Wen looked up distractedly as if she’d already mentally moved on from informing Paige that she was now, essentially, a prisoner of the Deep State. “Now, Dr. Torres, you get a proper tour of Project Far Side.”

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“Now, with time and access, I am confident that you will come to find that we aren’t nearly so sinister as you fear.”

Once again, Paige found herself following Wen through the facility’s winding halls. Only, this time, instead of bypassing unassuming floors and sealed doors, the Director led her into several new wings of the building that Paige had never even had the chance to see in passing.

She kept note, mentally cross-referencing each wing’s designation number with the ones that were accessible through the ID she’d borrowed from Nurse Sidney. The credentials would get her into several of these new spaces, but not all.

It was a start.

What Paige was really itching to find were the administrative quarters. Access to Wen’s personal office and files would be all the security she needed once she and Sebastian made it back to the outside world.

“Biology, the natural sciences, a little chemistry here and there,” Wen continued as they wound their way past a lab that was highlighted by a wall lined with verdant terrariums and aquariums filled with all sorts of creepy, crawly, and scaly creatures. “Most departments, I don’t suspect you’ll interact with very much, but there are a few that I believe will find you very useful.”

She turned into one such occupied lab and announced our intrusion with a sharp tap on the metal doorframe.

“Take Dr. Eustace, for instance,” she stated. “He and his team are caretakers, as well as scientists. They have a special investment in the nature of our project.”

“Dr. Torres! Doctor Eustace Eustace, Zoology. It’s a pleasure to formally make your acquaintance. That was an admirable show you made last night, staring down the jaws of the not-so-proverbial beast!”

Paige had an awful thought that he looked like the lovechild of Old St. Nicholas and Dr. Frankenstein. Eustace Eustace had ruddy round cheeks and crisp white hair that hadn’t recently known the touch of a good brush. But, his smile was bright and cheerful as he grasped her hand and gave it a hardy shake.

She could see why the Director wanted to introduce her to him in particular. The man exuded the sort of energy that put people at ease.

“Zoology, huh?” Paige forced a smile. “I bet the whole werewolf thing’s blown your entire worldview wide open.”

“Ha! On the contrary, the mark of a true servant of the scientific method is the understanding of just how little we truly understand. What we so eloquently call ‘werewolves’ is simple evolution.” He paused and fixed his glasses, “Well…technically, there’s nothing simple about this particular evolutionary leap, but all the same.”

He laughed, a rich, jovial sound that matched his look but still seemed wrong coming from someone who was willfully participating in the unlawful experimentation of a fellow sentient being.

Director Wen turned to Paige with a smile that projected warmth.

“See, Dr. Torres. We’re a band of freethinkers here. It is unfortunate that the scope of our mission forces some…severe measures, but it’s all for the greater good.”

Just then, the door to Dr. Eustace’s office opened. “Director, Doctors. I’m here to escort Dr. Torres to the Biology ward.”

“Ah, Paige, I believe you’ve met Project Far Side’s Lead Neurosurgeon,” Wen began. They turned toward the interloper, and it took a conscious effort to keep from gasping. “Dr. Scott. I hope you’re faring well today.

Paige’s entire body went tense as Jared looked up from his workstation, blond hair glinting like sheet metal underneath the florescent lights. When he met her stunned glare, his polite smile held none of the familiarity their friendship had built over the last month.

“Good morning, Director,” he replied, the perfect toy soldier. “I’m looking forward to getting started.”