The Empirium vessel Strike 1approached the Galapagos abandoned research site. Scans and probes were employed to find all available information from the HEEP structures and the surrounding area for miles.
When the readings were analyzed the ship pulled back and on command, released a barrage of photon bombs that completely destroyed the planet beyond recovery. Back on Earth the report was received with serious relief.
Months earlier, during the debriefings of the two doctors, the news of what had been released in the laboratory had prompted panic and an instant response. After reassurance from the CRS that the seal of the building containing the lab had not been compromised in any way, steps were taken to demolish everything within a large area including the removal and sterilization of tons of soil beneath the lab and surrounding buildings.
Urgent meetings were held with Empirium's military and Dr. Sommers had been forced to reveal her secret code for the transition stage in the Promession process. Diane was also released from service at HEEP, forbidden to take part in any further research anywhere.
Dr. Frost was remanded by the Empirium to serve in their biotech centre to immediately begin work developing another Alice. The initial fear of the doctors was coming true - Empirium meant to create a weapon.
Hunter Lewis was sent to a facility for re-indoctrination training and reassigned to a government office analyzing, ironically, the surveillance reports on suspicious citizens and the unpleasant demise of Horace Torrance was finally recorded as a blameless occupational misadventure, and his file was closed.
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The tiny cube sample Diane had saved from Horace's attempt to transition tumbled out of the bag, which had been left in her living quarters and forgotten. When she was informed of her dismissal, she tried to explain that she needed a number of personal things from her unit but was refused entry and sent from the HEEP premises.
The cube's shape and consistency began changing and soon it was a small puddle of black slime that oozed its way across the table and dropped to the floor.
A security droid making rounds, stopped and looked at the black substance oozing from beneath the door seal of Dr. Sommers unit in the HEEP tower. Immediately a report of the item was recorded and prepared for submission.
An employee returning from her shift saw the strange pile on the hall floor and approached to examine it, looking in horror at the dissolving security droid. She turned and ran screaming to the elevator, unaware of the splash of slime that had adhered to her uniform leg.
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"Hunter? It's Diane, thank god I found you. It's here!"
"What's he- oh no, you mean the slime?"
"Shhh, yes. We need to talk - privately."
"Where are you? What happened--"
"Not now! When we meet. Can you get a cab and pick me up, I'll be on the street by that restaurant you took me to."
"Bathtown!"
"Just get here, Hunter."
********
The cab stopped when he saw her waving. She had changed in the past months, he noticed. Longer hair, slimmer and dressed in the casual uniform worn by most of the populace. The door opened and she slid in beside him.
"Are you still being monitored?"
"Hello to you too."
"Hunter!"
YOU ARE READING
Transition
Mystery / ThrillerWhat they found, arriving at the planet was the entire research team, except for one terrified doctor, had been wiped out by a deadly organism and rescuing her cost the supply ship its crew. The Commander, his Executive Officer and the survivor were...
