The SAGE Project

Episode One

The Search

"Don't you think we're quite sure the candidates will be sufficient for the trial?" a graying haired man asked his colleague, who sat across from him rummaging through a pile of papers.

The small man paid little attention to the question asked. He had spent hours scanning every fine detail to this project and he refused to allow one unknown variable to pass by his keen eyes. 

"We can't be too sure, now can we?" he finally replied after picking one of the files up.

The name on it read: Casey Adkins. He opened it and began to scan the profile. His brow wrinkled with thought as he read a few specifics.

"I'm not so confident in this particular subject," he said sliding the profile across the table. "Could be dangerous to have him mixed in with the others."

The gray-haired man picked up the profile and slowly skimmed the contents to discover the need for concern. After he was certain that none of it bothered his self, he closed it and flopped it down onto the desk as if bored.

"We're quite aware of Mr. Adkins, Donald," he said rather unenthused. "He's actually the most prospective of the group, and we look forward to seeing his results."

"This is serious, not some game of poker you and the board get to play. We shouldn't be betting on winners," Donald pointed out.

"Of course, I fully agree. Let's do one last review and then we'll schedule to begin in ten days' time."

~~~

Day 1

February 19, 2029

Today marks the beginning of the first trial for the SAGE project. Our 12 test subjects have agreed to take part in a human trial of drug, Sec10-115. The drug is designed to increase cognitive and analytical thinking. In short, an increase in brain function is the goal. Sec10-115 was first tested on a small portion of lab mice followed by monkeys. The results were astounding. While monkeys typically show signs of advanced intelligence compared to other wildlife, the monkeys that received Sec10-115 showed signs of rapid learning and brain function. Problem solving, memory and even multitasking were all received in half the time it took the non Sec10-115 subjects. With those results, human trials had to be done. If the specific research I'm conducting produces the predicted results, Sec10-115 will be the future leading brand of brain enhancement. While the original purpose was to provide militant soldiers with the means of heightened senses, they've managed to repair and produce new brain cells. We could bring back those who have lost brain functioning with minimal tweaking. We will administer three variants of the drug. A placebo, a high dose, and a low dose. I will personally be monitoring the trial. Close monitoring is required...We wouldn't want a repeat of animal trial 003...

Meeting the patients

The room was brightly lit. It had all the accommodations of a modern hospital. Gurneys were aligned into each stall, separated only by curtains. Twenty stalls in all were the count, but only sixteen were in use. A staff of nurses, all being male; and three doctors, two being women, scurried about trying to collect all the data they could. The sixteen subjects of project SAGE were being administered physicals.  Pre-medical history had already been researched and now was the time to get the last charts filled before the clinical trials began.

One male, black, with a dark complexion found himself disgruntled with the hours they had spent laying in the gurneys. He was growing tired of being pulled left and right to various test locations. It was Henry Bounds, a high school football coach.