An Even Worse Monster

Unwelcoming Changes

IIIII

"So, what are the results?" Ms. Viper questioned the row of doctors standing before her. She'd been growing more and more annoyed these past two days with the lack of any results. She'd expected a few delays, of course. Researching a new drug on a live test subject was bound to have a few complications. But it was beginning to grind on her patience.

Looking nervous, one of the older doctors stepped forward, breaking the line they'd made in front of her. "Better than previously anticipated, madam. Subject X handled the drugs extremely well. With no noticeable damage to his mental facilities."

"Oh?" Eyebrow raised, Ms. Viper glanced at the unconscious and deathly pale Peter Parker from the other side of the tinted window panel. The boy had surprised her many times over the years, giving her organization excellent new experimental data, which had helped solidify her position among the elders. But she hadn't expected him to survive their latest drug. It usually turned the subject's brain to paste. So seeing Peter make it farther than any had before was intriguing.

Not enough, however, for her to keep him alive.

"Not only that, but we also tested a... Well, a side project of ours."

Staying quiet for a moment, Ms. Viper tapped her finger along a steel table. Letting the doctor sweat for a little while longer before asking her question. "What side project?"

"Um... W-W ell..." Wiping away the sweat that had built up on his forehead, the old doctor looked to the side as his coworkers for help. Unfortunately, they stayed silent, all looking away from the old mans pleading gaze.

"I'm waiting." Ms. Viper said with a tap of her foot, her voice falling an octave as she gave a glance at her guard, the soldier drawing back his gun and pointing it at the doctor.

"A-After putting subject X back into another coma. We tested a new drug, wanting to see if we could get a different reaction to the 'are you a good person' question." Seeing the soldier's finger move closer to the trigger, the old doctor spoke quicker. "I-Interesting enough, we did, the drug somehow mutating. Most likely conflicting with one of the other drugs in his system. When we asked the question again, subject X no longer showed any signs of guilt. Not like he had much before after our previous experimentations. But this time was different! He appeared to be impassive, uncaring even. An almost complete opposite reaction from-"

"Enough... I assume you recreate this mutation and continue our goal?" Ms. Viper cut the doctor off before he rambled further. An emotion-suppressing drug wasn't anything new. What she wanted was to see how far she could push the human mind. Using drugs to stimulate the human brain to reach a higher potential. The aliens they'd studied already proved it was possible. They just needed to figure out how.

"...Unfortunately, madam, given the number of drugs in subject X's system, it's almost impossible to tell how or why without dissecting him. Even then, there's almost no chance to pinpoint and recreate the source."

"Good, you have two days."

"Wait just a moment, madam!" A younger doctor with black hair and dark glasses pushed through the crowd. "While I have no problem dissecting Mr. Parker. Far from it, in fact. May I have permission to experiment on him today before the dissection?"

Eyes narrowing, Ms. Viper stared rather coldly at the doctor. She did not like the interruption but knew she'd have to put up with it. She recognized the man, a son of a general under her command. Unless she wanted to offend the man's father, whose allegiance she'd only recently acquired. She'd have to put up with it. "What type of experiment?"

"Well, through my chats with Mr. Parker and our many, many experiments. I've come to admire his will and sheer stubbornness, something no one his age should possess. It's fascinating." Smiling, the doctor took another step forward, glancing at Peter through the glass. "With your permission, and as we are going to dissect him anyways. I'd like to see how far I can push him... Before he snaps."