Chromatophobia

by W D County

  The denial pissed me off. “Lies and distractions won’t save you. When I turn you over to Gordon, I’ll show him the surveillance video. He’ll see for himself you prancing naked in the hallway.”

  “It’ll show you dragging me into your room. After you drugged me. Like you’re planning to do now.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Miles, I think the taint is controlling you. Fight it. I know you can.”

  “You tried to seduce me.” I stepped closer, syringe in one hand, vial in the other.

  She abandoned the I’m your friend approach and bared her teeth. Venom dripped from her words. “You knocked me out... stripped me naked... chained me to the bed...” The snarl vanished. Her gaze remained locked on me, but her eyes widened and her head cocked in a look of dread anticipation. “Oh God, you didn’t. You wouldn’t.” Her free hand slipped under the blanket and moved down to her crotch. Her fingers lingered there. I forced myself to focus on her face, which showed sudden relief. Her voice carried the same feeling. “You didn’t.”

  “Of course I didn’t. You tried to murder me with cough syrup.” I thrust the vial of codeine at her face.

  “Miles, I have no memory of that. Of anything after I went to bed.”

  “Right.” Her acting could win an Oscar. I lowered my hands, unsure how to proceed. I’m a sniper, not a detective. Shooting the enemy didn’t seem to apply here.

  Zita jerked half-heartedly on the cuffs. “What next? What are you going to do?”

  We regarded each other warily. It hadn’t taken her long to calm down. She had an admirable spirit, and my instincts said she wasn’t a killer, though the facts said otherwise. It’s hard to trust someone who tried to kill you. From her perspective, assuming she told the truth, waking up naked and shackled in someone else’s bed with no memory of how you got there didn’t exactly inspire trust either.

  “Suppose we’re both right,” I said. “You tried to kill me and you have no memory of it. How is that possible? Sleepwalking?”

  “Hypnosis,” she said. I felt her anger return, but no longer directed toward me. She filled me in on the attempt to use hypnosis as a shield against the taint’s influence.

  “Didn’t work,” I said.

  “Obviously. But the taint’s never made any overtly hostile moves, and hypnosis can’t make a person do something against their will. So what happened? What did Laura do to me while I was in a trance?”

  The shift from accusations and denials to constructive questions went a long way toward restoring our earlier alliance. I removed the handcuffs. “Let’s find out. We’ll confront Laura and turn her over to Gordon.”

  She rubbed her wrist and loosened her shoulder with a few shrugs. “We need to question Doc as well. He was there.”

  “First we’ll check the video record. The infirmary is under surveillance; there’s no medical privacy in a BSL-4 facility. We’ll know exactly what they did to you.”

  “While we’re there... can you erase the video that shows me naked in the hallway?”

  “No.” I remembered her earlier attempt to have me sabotage records, and my position hadn’t changed. “I know it’s embarrassing, but it’ll provide proof that you came to me in some kind of trance. In conjunction with the infirmary video and physical evidence”—I held up the vial—“we can have the responsible people arrested and taken away.” Even Kingpin couldn’t ignore an attempted murder.

  She chewed her lip and gave a curt nod. “We need to undo the hypnosis somehow. What if I try to kill you again tonight?”

  “We’ll be proactive. Handcuffs before bed.”

  She frowned until she saw my grin. “Men,” she said. Holding the blanket close, she stood and looked around. “I have to get dressed.”

  I grabbed a spare uniform from the closet and turned away while she put it on. When finished, she looked like the incredible shrinking woman. The shirt sleeves extended past her hands, and the chest billowed like a half-inflated dirigible. Even with the shirt tail bunched into the pants, the tightest notch on the belt failed to find her waist. She tied a knot in it to keep the pants from falling. The excessive length of the pants legs transformed her feet to floppy flippers.

  I picked the top hat off the floor and handed it to her. “You’ll look no quirkier than usual walking back to your room.”

  The frown returned. “From your room. With surveillance cameras watching.”

  “Got a better idea?”

  She didn’t. I watched her waddle down the hall and tried not to laugh.

  ***

  Twenty minutes later, with Zita dressed in her more typical weird wear, we entered the security office and watched the video of yesterday evening in the infirmary. A short time after Zita fell into a trance, Gordon called Laura and Doc to the observation room.

  During the ensuing silence, I asked, “The Amobarbital, could it have, I don’t know, created a desire to murder someone?” Some drugs have bizarre side effects.

  “No,” Zita answered. “It just made me more susceptible to being hypnotized.” She leaned forward and put a hand on my arm. “Go back a few seconds. I said something.”

  “The room’s empty except for you. Doc locked the door on the way out.”

  “Rewind it. Ten seconds,” she insisted, and I complied.

  “Hello, Nathan,” she said on the video.

  “What the hell?” I said. “You’re alone.”

  “Quiet,” Zita hissed.

  On the video, a starry-eyed Zita spoke in a dreamy voice. “Important.” A few seconds later she uttered the words, “Yes,” and “I understand.” She walked as if in a daze to the pharmacy cabinet, where she pocketed a vial and a syringe. She returned to the examining table and sat down. She seemed to listen to a silent voice. Eventually she said, “No memory.”

  Five minutes later Doc and Mopes reentered the room. Mopes resumed the hypnotic session, implanting suggestions that Zita would have full control over her dreams, and while awake she would be aware of any unusual thoughts or urges. Zita could then choose to oppose the invading thoughts, run from them, or simply listen. The session ended without mentioning murder or seduction.

  “Damn,” I said. “What did we just see? Or not see? Did Nathan become invisible and walk through walls?”

  “Telepathy,” Zita said. “I’ve been mind fucked.”

  “No, this has to be some kind of trick. Hallucinations, like Laura says.”

  “Whoever or whatever is behind this expects you to be dead.”

  “Sorry to disappoint. I’m going to confront Nathan, then tell Gordon.”

  “Waste of time and effort. In the recording I mention Nathan’s name only once, and there is nothing to indicate he did anything wrong. He wasn’t even in the room. Gordon won’t do a thing.”

  “Maybe I can find the other half of the conversation.” I cued up surveillance records for the other hallways, the mess hall, observation room, vault, and laboratories. I showed up in the kitchen. Kingpin, Mopes, and Doc showed up on the observation room video, which later showed me as well. Brainiac tinkered in the physics lab during that timeframe. In the vault, Choirboy appeared to float a few inches off the bed, then descended and spoke to the people in the observation room. I suppressed a shiver.

  Slick didn’t appear anywhere. He must have stayed in his room. Slick was Kingpin’s golden boy, untouchable without hard evidence. I was the scullery maid. But my situation didn’t matter. Zita’s safety did. “This place has become dangerous. Gordon needs to take you off the team and send you home.”

  “No! I’m the only one with a real chance of figuring out what the taint wants and how it works. Without me, everyone will fall under its spell. The way I almost did.”

  Brave and stupid. An old adage from the air force came to mind: There are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but there are no old bold pilots. “Zita, I want you out of here.”

  “I’m not leaving.”

  “It isn’t safe.”

  Zita’s face went granite
hard. “Don’t dump your macho shit on me. I’m no shrinking violet who needs protecting.”

  “You’re right.” Not only were my protective overtures old-school, they were flat out wrong. Zita could go toe to toe with a Marine drill instructor on sheer toughness. “At least see Laura. Maybe she can undo whatever Nathan did. Borrow her Pavlok until I find the missing ones.”

  “Where do you keep the duct tape?”

  “Huh?”

  “I need some,” she said. “Don’t ask why.”

  I thought about asking anyway, then decided it wasn’t worth the hassle. “Maintenance shop across from the security office. It’s not locked.”

  She nodded. “Let’s go to breakfast. Nathan’s reaction when he sees you alive might reveal something.” She patted my cheek with affection. “Then I’ll see Laura. Okay?”

  I nodded. “I’ll come late to breakfast. Act like nothing happened.”

  “Nothing did.” She winked and walked out the door.

  Chapter 34

  Zita entered the mess hall where the rest of the team sat at a round table drinking coffee or tea. She took the space next to Sonja, across the table from Nathan. Unused plates sat on the table.

  “Where’s Miles?” Gordon asked with obvious irritation.

  Zita answered in kind. “How should I know?” Why is he being a grouch first thing in the morning? Everyone else seems happy enough. Oh... Miles has permanent kitchen duty and Gordon’s hungry. I should have grasped that immediately.

  Gordon frowned. “He’s late. Doesn’t answer his cell.”

  She shrugged as if it weren’t her concern. “Probably forgot to charge it.” She eyed Nathan, hoping to catch a reaction.

  Nathan rewarded her with a smirk. “Maybe he had a rough night.”

  Laura said, “Zita, there are frozen waffles in the walk-in. Help me make a stack.” An inclination of her head bolstered the invitation.

  “Sure.”

  When they reached the kitchen, Laura said, “I’m eager to know how the hypnosis worked. Any dreams last night?”

  “I don’t know if it worked. I don’t remember dreaming last night.”

  “Then it probably worked. But maybe you’re missing out,” Laura said. “I had a wonderful dream. I think something amazing is going to happen to all of us.”

  “What?”

  “Oh, that would spoil the surprise. But I’ll tell you this: Barry is the best thing that’s ever happened to humanity.”

  “But you warned us about hallucinations. You insisted that Gordon order shock watches.”

  “I was wrong.” Laura displayed her bare wrist. “Look. No Pavlok. It isn’t necessary anymore.” They toasted waffles and warmed some maple syrup as Zita digested the 180-degree change in Laura’s opinion of the taint and Barry.

  “Can I use it?” Zita asked.

  “Use what?”

  “Your Pavlok.”

  Laura chuckled. “Whatever for? Dreams are one thing, reality is quite another. Don’t get them confused.”

  “I am confused.” Laura didn’t make sense. Did her sense of relief come from losing touch with reality? “Anyway, can I borrow your watch?”

  Laura sighed. “If it gives you peace of mind. Come by my room after breakfast.”

  They carried the food out to the mess hall. Nathan favored Zita with another smirk as she placed a couple bottles of syrup on the table. He said, “Soldier boy is still AWOL. Maybe we should look for him.”

  “Go ahead. I’m hungry.” She took her seat and forked a waffle onto her plate. Nathan made no move to leave.

  The clink of forks on plates replaced conversation until Zita said to Laura, “What did the MMPIs and brain scans show?”

  Laura didn’t look up from her plate. “All normal.”

  “No changes? But the taint’s been working on us, influencing our thoughts. There ought to be some evidence of that.”

  “Nope,” Laura said. “None.”

  An unexpected sound diverted Zita’s attention. Musical. Sonja was humming as she poured syrup on her waffle.

  Doc said, “Cheery tune. I don’t recognize it.”

  “It’s a lullaby my mother used to sing. Called ‘Nini baba nini.’ In English, Sleep, Baby, Sleep.” She sang a few words in Hindi.

  “Any particular reason for the good mood?” Nathan asked.

  Sonja beamed. “I’ve solved the first set of matter permeation equations. I can now soften portions of any solid material in a clearly defined area, and allow a second solid object to pass through the first as if the first were nothing more than a holographic projection!”

  Nathan looked intrigued. “So you could, in theory, walk through walls?”

  “Not in theory. For real.”

  Gordon set down his fork and leaned forward, his face filled with interest. “I’d like to see a demonstration.”

  “I can set one up for this afternoon.”

  “I also want a full written report, including equations, schematics, and anything else required to build and operate the thing.”

  Sonja stopped smiling. “It’s very complicated.”

  “By tomorrow. Your work has to be vetted by our own scientists. You’ll get full credit, of course.”

  A microsecond of anxiety flashed across the physicist’s face, immediately followed by a thin coating of smile. “I will do my best to accommodate your request.”

  Nathan murmured, “This is going to be interesting.” He turned to Doc.

  “My demonstration is ready now,” Doc announced. He held up his hands, the left one empty, the right one holding a scalpel. “Watch!”

  He lowered his left hand to the table. His right hand swooped down. One smooth stroke amputated the left hand’s index finger at the middle knuckle.

  Zita gasped. A surge of adrenaline flooded her body, quickening her pulse and thoughts. Time seemed to slow, bringing details into sharp focus as her attention darted from scene to scene.

  Blood welled from the stub of Doc’s finger.

  Laura, sitting nearest the severed finger, cried something inarticulate and pushed away from the table so fast that her chair tipped. She would have tumbled backward if Nathan hadn’t caught her.

  Sonja’s eyes went wide, and she covered her mouth with the back of her hand.

  Gordon rose to his feet, sputtering chunks of waffle.

  No one could look away. Blood pooled on the plastic tabletop.

  “Stings,” Doc said, wincing. He placed the scalpel on the table and pulled a small jar from the pocket of his scrubs. He fumbled with the lid, as both hands had become slick with blood. Once the jar opened, he used a butter knife to scoop out a bit of gray matter. He dabbed the pudding-like salve on the stump of the missing finger, then pressed the finger onto the stump for a few seconds.

  He let go and wiped away the blood with a napkin. He flexed his left hand. The finger remained attached. It moved properly and showed no scar. Doc extended his hand for inspection. “Perfect, instant healing.”

  Laura chanted, “Not real, not real.” The words lacked conviction, not unlike an oncologist telling a stage-four cancer patient that there was hope of recovery.

  Nathan leaned toward Laura. “You want it to be real with all your heart.” He then turned to Doc. “Congratulations, Doctor! You’ve put ectoplasm in a bottle.”

  Zita’s face scrunched in dismay. She wanted to grab Nathan and shake some sense into him. Into everyone. “Can’t you see? The more we understand it, the more it understands us. We see what it wants us to see. We do what it wants us to do.”

  Laura stopped chanting and patted Zita’s hand. “It’s gone beyond that, dear. We believe what we most want to believe, and reality follows.”

  Zita pulled away. “The taint is dangerous. Barry is dangerous. We need to stop all contact, all experiments. And keep Barry isolated until we regain control. If we can.”

  Gordon shook his head. “We’re making discoveries so rapidly that it’s a bit overwhelming. But we run the show. In fa
ct, Barry’s already been sedated. He’s in a coma and will remain so.”

  “You’re wrong,” boomed a voice from the entrance. Everyone turned to see Miles standing in the doorway. “I just came from the observation room. Barry is wide awake. Zita’s right. No one can control the taint. It has to be killed.”

  Gordon and Doc spoke simultaneously. “Nobody is going to harm Barry.” They looked at one another and gave a nervous laugh at their synchronicity.

  Laura gave an impassioned plea. “Barry’s the victim here. He’s not a threat to anyone. He’s a boon. Besides, I have a rapport with him. He’ll listen to me. He’ll help us. He has so much to offer.”

  Gordon lifted his hands and patted the air in a calming gesture. “Like I said, nobody’s going to hurt Barry. Hell, he’s the goose that lays golden eggs. We don’t know how it works, so we need to study him and the taint. He’s locked up and can’t get out. We are in complete control.”

  Zita didn’t believe it. Neither did Miles, judging from his dark expression. Belatedly, she turned to Nathan, wanting to see his reaction to Miles being alive. Nathan’s attention was already on her, his face showing surprise and annoyance. She stuck out her tongue.

  “We need more security,” Miles said. “And complete isolation of the patient. Doc, I’ll deliver his meals until we decide what to do with him.”

  Gordon glared at Miles. “I make the decisions here, soldier. Your request to handle the patient’s meals is approved.” He turned to the group. “No entry to the vault without my personal authorization.” His smile looked almost genuine. “We’ve made a lot of progress. Start working on drafts of your final reports. We’ll take a break this afternoon to watch Sonja’s demo.”

  Chapter 35

  What went wrong? Nathan tried to read Zita’s mind, but her thoughts danced just out of reach. When she stuck out her tongue, he feared she sensed his mental probing. Had Laura succeeded in giving the girl heightened sensitivity? Maybe. But Laura didn’t know about the latent command to kill Miles and therefore couldn’t have undone the compulsion.

  Did Zita try to carry out the command? Had she gone to Miles’s room? Neither she nor Miles seemed upset, angry, or fearful. Did Zita’s skill at controlling dreams extended to hypnotic fugue states? Or was the failure as simple as Miles refusing to open his door? Either way, the latent command would remain intact. Zita would try again tonight and every night until she succeeded, hopefully sooner rather than later.