The Veil

Chapter 4 The Laboratory

Doctor White and his assistance exit the treatment room; he loves the palpable pulse when they have made progress during an experiment. Walking down the hall, Dr. White is followed by his gaggle of geese, all trying to push to the front of the line and get his attention. Then, just as he is about to open the door to the Laboratory, Dr. White hears one of the young doctors' whispers to the others.

Do you believe she interacted with wildlife? What a significant development!

Dr. White looks disdainfully at the jovial younger doctor with smooth tan skin and ivy green eyes. Dr. Fredrickson, though the evidence of habitability itself is interesting, the phase shift and atom-surface interaction are what I found most intriguing. It seems that Amy can interact with two phase-shifted realities simultaneously. Amy engaged with AR11 fully and communicated with us. Furthermore, I could recall her back to this reality with relative ease. We need to do further testing on the new level of interaction. If only we could get a better reading on her actual phase shift. Unfortunately, the new parameters to measure the phase location interfere with the shift frequency and density data. Dr. White finishes as he pushes open the door examining the lab, which is a chilly 62 degrees. There are lab desks in three rows in the center of the room, a row of clipboards on the wall opposite the servers, each research participant' has one which lists their current experimental regiment listed. Under each clipboard is a file box representing the participant's realities. Most participants have two maybe three boxes, one for E1 and the others for their other phase locations.

Amelia Courant has 13 boxes, the most by far of any participant. I gave each the designator AR (Amy Reality) and a number. Today she took them to AR11. Lately, Amy has fixated on this location. She is returning to the same spot repeatedly like she's searching for something. Today she has taken them to a new site in this reality, and the discovery of wildlife has everyone buzzing. 

Dr. Fredrickson looks down at his notes and grumbles to his desk mate. Is Dr. White always this reluctant to accept results? 

Dr. White turns at the mention of his name; he notices Dr. Fredrickson talking with one of the other doctors. He hates it when the doctors speak behind his back. What was that, Dr. Fredrickson?

Sorry, Dr. White, I was saying you're right. However, we shouldn't jump ahead of ourselves. First, we need to test Amy's new ability to interact with two phases. What do you think we should try next?

Of course, the new location of the river will need additional exploration with the wildlife. However, the main focus for Amy in the coming weeks will be to prepare for a phase conduction test.

******

The room falls silent; everyone looks for someone else to voice an objection. No subject that has partaken in a phase conduction test has returned. Taking an item from one phase to another has never been accomplished in the laboratory.  

Nurse Song walks into the lab, which is silent but for the whirling of computers and the whooshing sound of the air conditioning. Dr. White and Dr. Fredrickson are glaring at each other; clearly, they are in disagreement about something the tension between them is thick as pudding. 

Dr. White, I believe now is the time to talk about Amy's drug protocol and experiment schedule.

Dr. Fredrickson and Dr. White turn to look at Nurse Song. 

Dr. Fredrichson states I couldn't agree with you more. I think that her results today are indicative of her abilities. However, I am worried we are missing something. Let's start with revisiting the river. We can fine-tune phase density readings or go for phase location to phase shift test. Then depending on those results, I believe Amy is a prime candidate for a phase conduction test; but that is ways off.

Nurse Song watches the icy growing between Dr. White and his acolytes Dr. Fredrickson. 

Dr. White looks from Dr. Fredrickson to Nurse Song; clearly, they are working together against him, he wonders why they want Amy to fail. Dr. White declares I have to disagree with both of you and set the subsequent experiment protocols. Have Amy ready by the morning. 

Clearing her throat, Song is pleased that she may have found her ally in Dr. Fredrickson. She states I have to agree with Dr. Fredrickson on this issue. In today's experiment, Amy's vital signs showed undue stress, and she almost went into cardiac arrest.  

Dr. White shifts his focus from his Brutus of a Doctor to Nurse Song; his frustration is apparent on his face; she is like a mouse eating away at him, her brown hair, eyes, and small size, lent to the comparison. He wonders why no one else sees the potential Amy has. We have to get as much data from Amy before she burns out as everyone else did sooner or later, she is a prime candidate, and we start the conduction test protocols tomorrow afternoon.

Nurse Song sighs in frustration at least let her stabilize for two days.

Dr. White asks in exasperation. What do you want us to do, Nurse Song, halt the experiment.

Yes, that is precisely what I want to happen. But, I am a realist and know that is unlikely. So, Dr. White, I have Amy resting in her room. I have had to increase the density of the electromagnetic field and reset phase monitors, just in case she inadvertently phases.

Finally, my report to the Council will include the following recommendations:

The physical parameters are reset,

Her drug cocktail is adjusted to prevent severe long-term damage, and

We take longer intervals between experiments.

I advise that you take my recommendations seriously. Furthermore, the mixture of the sedatives anti-psychotics, combined with the heave dosages of pain medication, only makes the subject deteriorate faster than necessary. 

You want to pull back the one thing that gives us control over the girl's mind. The cocktail has been tailored to keep her complaint as well as lucid. 

Well, she certainly is not lucid today. Flipping her tablet around, it displays the security footage of Amelia's room. She has forgone laying in the bed and lying on the floor in the fetal position, fingers digging into the soft white padding, like a cat trying to find comfort.  

Uhmm...Well, that's not a good development. The doctor looks over Amy's current drug protocol. Cut back on the sedative and the pain medication: reduce the sedative by 50% and the pain medicine by 75%. That should work.

Dr. White, you are going to make her pain almost unbearable. Nurse Song exclaims.

Doctor White watches Nurse Song's concern for Amy and finds it disgusting. Nevertheless, Amy is a vital participant. Dr. White contemplates the following statement. The pain may serve another function; it will keep her more lucid. I am preparing a phase conduction test with Amy tomorrow morning, so I need her lucid. 

Dr. White! I will not allow that, she is my patient, and The Council brought me here because of patient safety concerns. So this course of action is not and will not be approved.

 Doctor White charges out of the room, his words trail behind him... We'll see about that.