Pass It On
By Jimbob
[Another quick stream-of-consciousness concept inspired by a dream. Will update...whenever I can...???
(BBW, BHM, XWG, Sci-Fi)
By Jimbob
[Another quick stream-of-consciousness concept inspired by a dream. Will update...whenever I can...???
(BBW, BHM, XWG, Sci-Fi)
(Click!)
(Tap. Tap. Tap.)
"Interview with suspect Laurie Boggs beginning 13:07 PM, Agent Aaron Yung conducting. Can you please stop that."
(Tap. Tap. Tap.)
"What, this? Nervous habit. Keeps me calm."
"We can get you a stress toy if you want..."
"No need. I can sit on my hands. Here's your pen back."
"How did you - ? Uh, thank you. Now, Ms. Boggs - "
"It's Mx. Boggs, but I prefer Doctor, just for the record. Oh, and they/them pronouns."
(Keyboard Typing.)
"You done?"
"Sorry. Sorry! I just want it to be clear. Oh, and I'm about 5 foot 7 inches and weigh 220 pounds."
(Keyboard Typing Ends.)
"Why would that matter?"
"Some people certainly seem to think so."
"Including your former boss, I'd guess."
"Astute of you, Agent Yung."
"When did you start working for-"
"With."
"With Dr. Undance?"
(Chair Creaking. Dr. Boggs Sighs.)
"How do these things ever start? I presented my research at the 'New Science NOW' conference and he approached me with his card."
"At the time your specialism was..."
"Was and is robotics with a focus on botany and food pollination. I love bees, Agent Yung. I want a world where they're looked after."
(Keyboard Typing.)
"...'looked...after'. Dr. Undance was...charming, was he not?"
"No more so than most scientists, or most rich men, come to think of it. A little too in love with himself, is what I'd say. Are you hinting at a romantic entanglement? I assume you seized the security tapes, if they survived...what happened."
"Of course we did. And yes...we know there was no 'romantic entanglements' between Dr. Undance and any of his staff. Understand, we're in a bit of a bind here, Ms...Dr. Boggs. The more we know, the better we can fight this. Speaking of: how would you describe the atmosphere in your little science team? Professional? Familial? Maybe something more of a...cult?"
(Chair Creaks Suddenly)
"Oh, not at all! I always thought of us as kind of a researching Mystery Gang."
"Beg pardon?"
"Scooby Doo, Agent. You never watched it?"
"TV was never my thing."
"Surely you must..."
(Creaking Sound As Dr. Boggs Leans Forward, Followed By A Sharp 'Ping')
"Oops! Buttons..."
"For the record, a button on my lab shirt has come off, and the interviewing Agent has pointed it out in a most ungentlemanly fashion...while staring at my chest enhancements."
"That is...I'm behaving professionally."
"You can touch them just as 'professionally' if you like, Agent. You'll never tell the difference."
(Pause)
"Please...let's not get off topic. You were saying the research team was a 'gang' to you?"
"If you want to be crude...Abe saw it a little different, though...on my first day, I remember he called me his 'missing puzzle piece'."
"In reference to your little project..."
(Pause. Tapping of Keyboard. Dr. Boggs Clicks Their Tongue)
"...what you have to understand, Agent, is that Abe isn't any kind of...at least, when Wendell, Martha, Frances and I really started work, he never seemed 'mad' to us. We've all heard of those Elon Musk types, the ones who never lived without money, who think they've got license to change the whole stupid planet to suit their whims...Abe was never like that. He had a wife. Kids, once."
"For the record, Dr. Boggs is referencing Ms. Angela Dix, nee Undance, and Timothy Undance, now deceased."
"Deceased at 15, Agent Yung."
(Typing Stops)
"...excuse me?"
"Dehydrated, hiking alone in the wilderness...and afraid, that most of all. Abe didn't want anyone to be afraid any more."
"You're saying there's a direct causal link between the death of Tim Undance and...the accident?"
"Surprised you didn't figure it out yourself. You got the notes, right? Right. So you know what we were up to. Abe was no engineer, he worked in therapy...but all of us could see how much this meant to him. An end to fear, to starvation, to dying by accident! A way to optimise the human body for surviving literally any situation..."
"Please don't proselytize. We're here to establish the facts."
"How he felt - how we felt - IS the facts. We all had our part to play. Wendell with the hormonal mixology...Frances planning out the anatomical and mobility consequences...Martha monitoring the genetic makeup of the subject recipients. And as for me..."
"Dr. Undance has since disappeared."
"Oh, he did get away! Clever old Abe."
(Laptop Closes. Chair Scraping The Floor. Agent Yung's Footsteps Around The Desk...)
"Which didn't do you many favours. He left you four to take the hit for his...highly illegal project."
"I have a feeling it won't be much of a 'hit', Agent. Not when you see it for yourself."
"Ah yes, and for the record, we're now getting at the heart of this scandal: Dr. Undance's 'Protection Project', aka 'CushN'. Would you walk me through it, Dr. Boggs? Please note that your co-operation will definitely be noted when this comes to court."
"I'm not going to court, Agent Yung."
"Indulge me anyway. I'm sure you've been...heh, bursting to tell the world."
"For the record, that was another dig at my weight. Not very original, either. Just taking note. The way CushN works is simple: the system monitors your average human being for elevated levels of stress, fear, aggression...all the sorts of emotional states that can contribute to quick thinking and an early death. Then, it tweaks them."
"Tweaks them how?"
"Makes them hardier."
(Creaking)
"I need more info than that, Doctor, no matter how unusually uncomfortable it makes you to sit."
(Creaking. Chair Scrapes Backwards)
"The...cocktail of hormones and organic bio-enhancements communicates with specific mood receptors in the brain to reduce untoward stress while a matrix of cushioning is built around the rest of the body to prevent injury, add flexibility - "
"I'm going to stop you there. let me clarify: what I want to hear is the layman's version. Something that Jim or Dana down at the bar would understand."
(Pause. Audible Sigh From Dr. Boggs.)
"What happens is the subject gets very calm...and very levelheaded...and their body adapts to keep them safe too. They get...cushioning. In most if not all cases, they would appear to have gained...um, what did we say...about 200 pounds of fat."
"In 'most' cases?"
“Where they didn't seem to gain upwards of 400. (Lucky bastards...)"
"Why only 'seem'?"
"This isn't human body mass as you or the 'layman' understand it, Agent. It's a shame you all raided us when you did, really. We were only just getting into beta testing. Now I doubt we'll be able to give the UN a thorough presentation."
"Because it's out of your control?"
"Precisely. With subjects like Winona and Ril...I mean, 'Participants A and B', we had all the data we needed. They're not so much 'fat' as they are...'enhanced', even if they look a little chunkier. The subcutaneous tissue provides them with cushioning, new flexibility where available, an excess store of nutrients in a bind, not unlike a camel's hump...it might even increase strength and speed, who knows."
"And thanks to your nano-cloud delivery system, you've released it into the air. It's out there."
"But we didn't release it."
“How do you mean?"
"I'd say you did that, Agent Yung. Your colleagues, I mean, not you personally. We're all a bit miffed about that, you know. We could have refined it, presented it to the authorities, done further testing...now all we can do is watch."
"You say that as though there's nothing that can stop it."
"It's an automated system with no kill switch. Nothing can stop it. It's out there...and who knows where else. Helping out the stressed, the hurting...the fearful. Leaping from person to person as it does its' sweet work. Damn, I'm so jealous of Abe! He must be having the time of his life, watching all of this..."
(Typing)
"Hey, how did you - that laptop is for authorised personnel only!"
"Yet you left it here on the desk, right in reach of my busy fingers...and look at that, you used to run track and field, Aaron! But they've had you at a desk job for...what, five years now? Long time since you've gotten that heart-rate pumping, eh?"
"Give - stop dodging me - give that back!"
"So easy, Agent. Letting me in here, typing your password after the interview started, getting close enough for the air to circulate...I mean, you weren't part of the raid, were you? CushN hadn't gotten into your system...until now. Why do you think I volunteered myself up for interview?"
(Footsteps Towards The Door. Soft Bouncing. Agent Yung Gasps.)
"No - no-one's that fast - "
"No-one in the world before, Agent. That's all changed. And with that last simple keystroke...everything you people thought you knew...is gone!"
(Thudding Sound As Laptop Is Tossed To The Floor)
"You wanted to know how it worked, right? Because you wanted to stop it."
"We can stop it! We can save the world from your mess, if you just co-operate..."
"Not really. But as for seeing how it works...allow me."
"Stay back!"
"BOO!"
(Confused Steps. The Interview Desk Topples. Recording Equipment Screech. Sound Of Shallow Breathing...Shuffling...Soft Giggles.)
"What --- huff --- whattish happ'nin' --- huff --- stobbid --- stob...oh...ohhh...that'sh...nice...I'm...you're..."
(Clothing Creaks, Tears, Rips. Popping And Whistling Sounds. More Giggles From Dr. Boggs.)
"Oops! Buttons..."
