Amoeba (The Experiments)

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Cal.” Billy halted her. “Please.” He shook his head at Lou. “And look at you.”

  “What?” Lou looked up. “I’m not saying anything.”

  “Exactly,” Billy said. “You only asked how Jake killed the cat. Doesn’t it bother you at all?”

  “Not in the least.” Lou shook his head. “In fact, I’m loving it. I hate cats.”

  Lou was blunt and to the point, so matter of fact that he bred a snicker from Jake and immediate silence from a complaining Billy and Reed. Then Lou kind of regretted saying what he did, because after the quiet moment, the subject immediately changed which bothered him, because he truly believed, at such an intense moment with the killer creatures lingering all around, a good pick-me-up and some lighthearted conversation was needed.

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT

  Caldwell Research Center - Los Angeles, CA

  July 28th - 10:00 a.m.

  For the first time since the first day, all eight of the investors were together at Caldwell, joined around the meeting table on the upper level, all of them wondering why they were summoned. Especially when half of them were out of the game. And they knew, soon enough, they would get their answer when Greg walked into the meeting section.

  “Good morning.” It was usually at about the point when Greg finished his simple introductions, that the questions from the ‘I’m better than you are’ investors would fly, but not this morning. They sat in silence, each of them knowing something was awry. “I guess . . . I guess all of you are wondering why the full team of investors are here. Never in the history of the Iso-Stasis Experiment has the institute asked for an investor to return. I have.” Greg paused to look at each of their faces. “You have invested not only in a game, but in a project that has a forty-year precedence, a reputation of being outstanding, scientifically worthy, and compelling. The last description is why you are here . . . compelling. In every single solitary instance, from experiment one to experiment twelve, the institute remained in control. There wasn’t a single occurrence that happened that we didn’t start, and didn’t have the means to end. Even in the last experiment when one of the investors pulled an option, we started something incredible, but . . . as Aldo knows, no matter how out of control that part of the experiment seemed, we . . . we stopped it. Our primary goals are to provide maximum entertainment to those who invest in our cause, and give maximum scientific results to extreme testing that no other institute dares to do. We are able to do this because of you, the investors. Private funding keeps us going, from you to other institutes. Now . . .” Greg let out a breath. “The reason I called you is because a situation has arisen. Aldo, Daniela, Douglass, and Caruso, along with Mr. Lancing, are aware of the situation. You other three are not. This situation is not one we started. This situation seems to be out of our control, and it could possibly get worse. For the past twenty four hours straight, we have been compiling our data. We have gathered the results of every physical and mental endurance experiment we endeavored. And after carefully sifting through this, with great thought, we have deducted that at this point in time, far more so than any previously completed Iso-Stasis Experiment, we have enough conclusive results to deem this a viable successful experiment. And knowing this, and knowing the situation out there, we here at Caldwell would like to pull an early end to Iso-Stasis thirteen, end the experiment now, submit our results to all those who need and await them, and stamp this experiment complete. According to participant agreements, if Caldwell for any reason cuts the experiment short, the remaining participants that emerge, early or not, will be compensated per their agreements as if they had stayed the entire time. Which now brings me to you, the investors.” Greg paced slowly. “We live and breathe off of what you give us, not only for the experiments, but the yearly donations. Like I said before, we provide maximum entertainment so you can enjoy the experiment, and, of course, want to come back. Caldwell feels that if our stopping this experiment early will in any way affect your decision to return, then we will not stop this experiment. We will let it ensue. More so to you, the four investors who are still in this race. The game part of this has a lot to do with why you are here. We will let this continue for your game or end it early, and you four can split the purse. It’s up to you. The decision is in your hands.” Greg moved to a stand that held a television on it. “You will make the final decision. But before you do, I would like you to watch a video tape of Lt. Col Graison. He will show a demonstration to you then explain what is going on. Watch it, talk about it, and let me know. Whatever you decide, we here at Caldwell will go along with that decision.” Greg turned on the television, pushed in the tape, and moved away. He paused in his exit by the door when he heard the cringing, unison moans from the investors.

  “Tell me he’s not. No.” Watson slid in his chair.

  “Oh my God, Jake!” Daniela commented.

  “No not the kitten!” Another shrieked.

  “Turn down the sound, I can’t take it,” Lancing requested.

  “Uh! Ew.” Aldo cringed. “Jake, no. No. Fuck . . . Aw gees.”

  Greg closed his mouth with a peaceful smile and walked out.

  ^^^^

  Greg was summoned back, and he had a hard time when he returned to the meeting level determining the feel of the room. He asked no question. He stood before the head of the table and waited for the investors to tell him their decision.

  Not surprisingly, Aldo had been duly appointed the investors’ representative. He said, “After careful discussion among us, and . . .” He took a moment to shudder, “. . .watching that vulgar video, we hve decided, game or not, that it has gone on long enough. We’ll end it with you, and settle up once they step off the plane.”

  Greg’s hand’s gripped the table and his head lowered in relief.

  I-S.E. Thirteen - The Island

  July 28th - 1:00 p.m.

  They huddled around the one window, all but Reed who sat on the floor reading a book to Rickie’s cocoon. Smashed together Cal, Jake, Lou, and Billy all stared out with the same baffled expression on their faces.

  Jake shook his head. “What the hell is he doing?”

  “Trying to make it to us,” Cal told him.

  Lou snickered as he watched the super slow moving figure get bombarded with amoebas. “Bet me he falls on the ground before he makes it to the porch.”

  “He might.” Jake nodded in agreement. “Those things get heavy.”

  Billy shifted his eyes to Jake. “Aren’t you gonna help him?”

  “No. Are you?” Jake asked.

  “No.” Billy shook his head. “But you’re the hero.”

  “No.” Jake held up his finger. “A definition of hero is someone who will risk their life in a dangerous situation to save another life regardless of who or what it is. Now . . . knowing that, am I a hero?”

  Billy blinked with seriousness. “Absolutely not.”

  “Thank you.” Jake folded his arms and watched out the window.

  “But you know . . .” Lou interjected. “That definition could fit me.”

  “It could,” Billy said. “So are you going to save him?”

  “No way.” Lou shook his head.

  “Don’t have to.” Cal pointed. “He made it to the porch.” She walked to the door. “Everyone grab a bucket.”

  Jake grunted with a twitch of his head and reached for one of the buckets of sea water. “You know what pisses me off don’t you? Now we save his ass and I have to suit up and go out and restock.”

  “Jake.” Cal reached for the door bucket in hand. She listened for the footsteps on the porch. “He’s there. On three. One, two, three.” She opened the door, then all four of them at the same time, like delivering a bad birthday surprise, tossed their buckets of water out and onto the suited unidentifiable Caldwell controller.

  After visually checking to make sure he was free and clear, Jake allowed him inside, and they stood around him waiting in suspense for why this worker trudged all the way from the control cen
ter through the masses of amoebas to them.

  Richard undid his head gear, lifting off the hood. “That was frightening.”

  “Yes, very.” Jake hurried him along with the wave of a hand. “Now, what’s up?”

  “The experiment is over,” Richard explained. “Well, it’s officially over after you’re off the island. Caldwell is pulling it. And as soon as possible, they’re lifting you out.”

  Cal quietly backed up, shocked at the news she heard. It was the last thing she had expected. She moved to the window. “They’re pulling it early?” Cal peered at the amoebas.

  Jake huffed and rolled his eyes.

  Richard was confused by Jake. “We’re ending it, Jake. Didn’t you hear me?”

  “Okay.” Jake tossed his hands up. “For dramatic effect, I’ll go along.” He gasped loudly. “My God! They’re pulling it? How bad is it?”

  Everyone, even Reed, blasted his name. “Jake!”

  “What?”

  Cal shook her head. “Hello. They’re ending it. You mean to tell me you still believe it’s just another phase in the experiment?”

  With Jake’s ‘Absolutely’ everyone moaned.

  Caldwell Research Center - Los Angeles, CA

  July 28th - 6:15 p.m.

  “How’s it going to be done?” Aldo asked Greg the second he returned to the meeting level.

  Greg dropped a folder on the table as he stood at the end. “We got together a team and we have a plan. Now, the participants have voted to wait until Rickie has come out of his regeneration before they get rescued, which is good. Airlifting that cocoon not only will take an abundance of time, but it would be tough, and we’re not going to have the room. Now here’s the plan. As soon as Rickie awakens we move on it. First chance. Two . . . air and rescue fire choppers will fly from Honolulu to our island. These only seat six, keep that in mind. And we have some surplus that has to come back. So, barring any amoebas by the center, one chopper will swing by lifting one of our controllers from the roof. Once they have him, then both choppers will dump the contents of their water tanks onto the bungalow region. Those tanks will be filled with sea water, and we feel that should be enough to saturate the area, dissolve what is there, and give us the time to lift them. The first chopper will land, and it will take with it Rickie, Cal, Reed, and Billy. Jake and Lou will stay behind and load what bags are going back into the second chopper. They’ll get in, the second chopper then swings by and gets the two remaining controllers and our data. We have a scientist that feels that the amoebas will eventually die out when they run out of food. When that happens, we go back and get the rest of our materials. We don’t expect complications. We’ll get our people and participants off that island and away from these things before they can do any more damage, and we will put this amoeba episode behind us.” Greg paused and took a long breath. “That is, of course, as long as one of those things doesn’t get off the island with our participants.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE

  I-S.E. Thirteen - The Island

  July 30th - 8:05 a.m.

  Porter smiled gloatingly holding up his long straw. “Yep. Always did have the luck of the draw.”

  Richard moaned and stepped back.

  Stan bobbed his head side to side speaking in a monotone. “Yes, you are the man.”

  “Stan, Rich, come on. You’ll fly out next, I’m sure.” Porter winked and lifted his bag. “Well, wish me luck.” He grabbed for the rungs of the ladder that led to the roof and began to climb.

  Stan turned and walked down the hall with Richard. “One, just one. Just let one of those things be on that roof.”

  “That’s terrible, man.”

  “No it’s not.”

  “Yeah it is.” Richard looked back to see the hatch opening. “He owes me seventy-five bucks, and I didn’t get it yet.”

  ^^^^

  A loud grunt of disgust came from Jake when his foot slammed into one of them. He looked down to Billy’s fireboxes “You and these fuckin boxes.”

  “Sorry Jake.” Billy moved them closer to the door. “This is what I’m taking. I can buy new clothes, but I can’t buy proof to my story.”

  Shaking his head, Jake moved to Cal. He paused to lift his eyes to the helicopter noise. “Choppers, Cal. Get ready.”

  “Jake.” Sadly, Cal zipped a small bag. “Look, let me wait and fly out with you.”

  “No.”

  “Jake, I have a really bad feeling about this. Really bad.”

  “Cal, sweetie. I can’t take a chance of you being on this island one more second than you need to be, okay?”

  “Why?”

  “Why?” Jake smiled. “I don’t want anything to happen to you. Me staying behind, something could happen. I doubt it, but it could.”

  “Then for sure I won’t go. I won’t.” Cal was adamant. “If something is going to happen, then it happens to the both of us.”

  Jake smiled and kissed her. “It’s not just the both of us anymore. Get ready, because as soon as that water hits and that chopper lands, you’re on it.”

  Cal didn’t say anything, because she just didn’t want to go. And her gut told her that it was something more than just her dedication to staying by her husband’s side.

  ^^^^

  “There.” Porter pointed for the pilot.

  He wore a cap and glasses. The pilot, Lloyd, had a thick southern accent. “Holy mother of Jesus. Will you look at that.” He brought the microphone to his mouth. “Benson, this is fly boy do you copy?”

  “Roger that, fly boy.”

  “Are you seeing what I’m seeing down below?”

  “What the hell are they?”

  “My guess is our target. All right, we’re gonna have to double this. Let’s you and I circle around, second pass we drop what we got, you do a scan of the region, and I’ll drop down and pick up the first load.”

  “Roger that, fly Boy.”

  ^^^^

  The sounds of the choppers faded then drew in close again. The release of tons of water upon them sounded like a tidal wave headed their way. It beat upon the roof of the bungalow so fiercely that Cal covered her ears and feared that at any second, the stick of a shack they were in would crumble down.

  Jake watched from the window and he smiled, watching the last of the water fall, seeing a mist rise up as the amoebas, in the tress, on the roof and everywhere, just disappeared. “It worked.” Jake turned to the awaiting group.

  Reed shrieked with joy, grabbing Rickie’s arm. “Es oh. Es oh.” He pulled at Rickie.

  “Like, dude. I have to get my things. I’ll meet you outside.”

  “Oh-ay.” Reed smiled, and despite Jake’s warning he flew outside, splashing in the large puddles, jumping up and down and waving to the chopper above.

  Caldwell Research Center - Los Angeles, CA

  July 30th - 8:10 a.m.

  Surrounded by the eight investors and Lyle and Barb, Greg wore a headset, staring at the monitor screens while he communicated with the pilots. “How’s it looking guys?”

  Lloyd’s voice came over the speaker. “Caldwell, we see an all clear below. Lots of water for safety on the ground. I’m lowering for pick up.”

  Greg clenched his fist amongst the investors’ cheers. “Let me know when you . . .”

  “Damn it,” Lloyd bitched.

  “What’s wrong?” Greg asked.

  “My second tank didn’t unload. It’s stuck. We’re gonna have a weight limitation happening here. What ya want me to do boss? Pull up and let Benson hang down?”

  “Where is he?” Greg asked

  “Circling,” Lloyd answered.

  “No. Let’s not waste time. Pick up the boy and the woman, let Benson get the rest.”

  “Roger that. I’m lowering.”

  Greg bobbed his head in anticipation.

  “Haynes.” Aldo moved closer to him. “Why didn’t you just let the other chopper land? We could get more in there.”

  “Rickie and Cal are of first importanc
e. I can’t chance waiting on the other chopper.”

  Lloyd came over the speaker again. “I’m down, we’re opening the door. Only one . . . hey! Some bald guy missing an ear just jumped in.”

  “Damn it,” Greg bitched. “Can you handle the weight of the boy and the woman, too? They’re small.”

  “Yeah. Shouldn’t be a problem. But where are they?”

  “They’ll be there.” Greg shifted his eyes to Cal’s bungalow. She was moving to the door with Jake. “Hurry up.”

  Lyle’s voice, loud and startling, was not the one they expected to ring out in the control room. “Holy shit!” He sprang up. “Where did they come from? Dr. Haynes. the aerial!”

  Greg’s eyes moved to the aerial shot. His hand covered the mouth piece of his headset. “Oh my God.”

  Lyle’s head swayed. “They’re coming in from all angles. And fast, too.”

  Aldo watched the nervousness on Greg’s face. “There’s tons of water down there, right? They move on the ground. This shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

  Greg’s eyes moved fast and rapid to the unity circle, the aerial view, and to Cal’s bungalow where Rickie was looking at music disks in debate. “Lloyd,” Greg spoke into the microphone. “Abort and pull back.”

  “I don’t have the cargo,” Lloyd said.

  “Abort.” Greg breathed fast, and his heart raced watching the aerial view and seeing the four black clouds moving closer and closer. “Shut the damn doors, abort and pull back now! Now!”

  “Haynes.” Aldo called with warning. “They’re leaving the bungalow.”

  I-S.E. Thirteen - The Island

  July 30th - 8:11 a.m.

  “Cal, they’re waiting.” Jake held her arm, leading her towards the helicopter. “And they shut the door, look.” They stepped off the porch. “Lou, bring that bag and tell Rickie to hurry.”