Azimuth and the Federation: The New Cortical Implant V2
12 Dec 2024Haraldsen
The sterile, dimly lit Azimuth lab ran by ABEL hummed with the faint drone of advanced machinery, its air thick with the acrid scent of antiseptic and the metallic taste of blood. In the center of the room, a figure lay motionless on a cold metal table, wires and tubes snaking from their body to various monitors and devices. Despite the constant hum of equipment, an oppressive silence pervaded the lab.Federal Agent Marcus van Doorn stood with his arms crossed, his eyes fixed intently on the motionless figure. His jaw was set, and his expression was one of grim determination. Beside him, Dr. Reinhold Harlan, a man infamous for pushing ethical boundaries in the name of scientific progress, adjusted his glasses and tapped a few keys on a console. His assistant, a young woman named Elara, stood nearby, her eyes darting nervously between the doctor and the agent, her unease palpable.
"Are we ready?" van Doorn's voice was low and tense.
Dr. Harlan nodded, a hint of excitement in his eyes. "Yes, Agent van Doorn. The improved version of the cortical implant is in place. This should give us unprecedented access to the subject's cognitive functions while they are connected to the Thargoid hive mind."
Elara bit her lip, her hands trembling slightly as she handed Dr. Harlan a small device. "Doctor, are you sure this is safe? The last test subjects didn't... survive."
Harlan waved her concerns away with a dismissive gesture. "This time will be different. We've made significant improvements to the original implant. The subject should be able to handle any neural load and stay conscious all the time. We learnt a lot from studying the Aegis data from Subject D-2, which our spies stole from the damaged Orunmilla. The chaos on board resulting from the surprising Thargoid attack was very helpful in the acquisition."
Van Doorn's gaze hardened. "Let's hope you're right, Doctor. The Federation is counting on this. If we can harness this technology to gain insight into the Thargoids' plans, we could shift from merely reacting to their actions to taking proactive measures in this war. Something like the surprise attack on Earth must not happen again."
Dr. Harlan ignored the last remark, his focus solely on the task at hand. He pressed a button on the device, and the monitors around the room flickered to life, casting an eerie glow on the faces of those present.
The figure on the table convulsed slightly, their eyes fluttering open as the implant activated. A low, guttural moan escaped their lips, echoing through the room. The subject's muscles tensed, their fingers twitching involuntarily. Beads of sweat formed on their forehead as their breathing grew ragged. The tension in the air was palpable, and all eyes were fixed on the unfolding scene.
Elara's gaze darted between the subject and the readouts on the monitors. Her voice trembled as she called out, "Vitals are stable." She swallowed hard, her eyes widening as she took in the data. "Brain activity is... off the charts."
Dr. Harlan leaned in closer, his face illuminated by the fluctuating lights of the equipment. His eyes gleamed with a mix of fascination and apprehension. "Remarkable," he murmured, watching the rapid spikes on the EEG. "The neural pathways are integrating with the implant more effectively than anticipated."
Agent van Doorn stood rigid, his expression grim. He glanced at Elara, noting the worry etched on her face. "Keep monitoring. Any signs of danger, and you shut it down."
Elara nodded, her hands trembling slightly as she adjusted the controls. The subject's moans grew louder, their body writhing in response to the invasive technology.
Dr. Harlan's excitement was palpable, his focus unwavering. "We're witnessing the future of human cognition," he said, more to himself than anyone else. "The potential applications... the possibilities..."
Van Doorn's jaw tightened. "Let's just hope the subject survives long enough for us to see those possibilities." He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he studied the subject. "Can they understand us?"
Dr. Harlan leaned over the table, his face inches from the subject's. "Can you hear me? Can you understand what I'm saying?"
The subject's eyes flickered, struggling to focus. A flicker of recognition passed through their gaze. "Yes," they rasped, their voice strained and hoarse. "I can hear you."
Agent van Doorn's heart pounded in his chest, each beat echoing in his ears. He stepped closer, his voice firm but laced with curiosity. "Good. Now, tell us what you see... what do you feel?"
The subject's eyes glazed over, their expression distant and unfocused. "I see... darkness. Cold. The void. But there's something else... a presence. It's... in here with me. Watching."
Dr. Harlan's eyes gleamed with a mix of fascination and scientific attention, his interest piqued by the potential discovery at hand. He leaned in even closer to the subject, his voice barely a whisper, filled with an almost reverent intensity. "Describe it. What is this presence? What does it do?’"
The subject's body convulsed violently, their muscles tensing and releasing in rapid succession as if responding to an unseen force. Their eyes widened with terror, and their voice rose in a panicked wail, each word dripping with raw fear and confusion. "It's... it's inside my mind! It's trying to take control!"
Agent van Doorn's face contorted with anger. His normally calm demeanor shattered as he lunged forward, grabbing Dr. Harlan by the collar, shaking him slightly. His voice was a harsh command, dripping with urgency. "Shut it down! Now!"
Dr. Harlan's hands trembled as he fumbled with the control device, his eyes wide with surprise. The confident facade he wore moments ago was gone, replaced by sheer disbelief. "I... I can't! The implant is not responding to the control device!"
Elara's heart raced as her fingers were flying over the keys in a frantic attempt to regain control. Beads of sweat formed on her brow, and her breath came in quick, shallow gasps. "I'm trying to do an emergency disconnect, but the failsafe is not working!"
The lab was suddenly filled with the chaotic cacophony of alarms blaring, monitors beeping erratically, and the subject's tortured screams. The once sterile and controlled environment had descended into a nightmarish scene of uncontrollable chaos.
Van Doorn's mind raced, desperation clawing at his thoughts. Every second felt like an eternity as he watched the subject's body writhe in agony. "We have to do something! We can't just stand here!"
Dr. Harlan's face was ashen, his usual clinical composure shattered. "It's too late. The implant... it's been taken over. There's nothing left we can do."
Van Doorn's heart sank as he watched the subject's body convulse even more before it went limp, their eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. The monitors flatlined one by one, the room plunging into an eerie silence that starkly contrasted with the chaotic noise from just moments before. The sudden stillness was pressing down on everyone present.
Elara's voice trembled as she broke the silence, her whisper barely audible and laced with horror and regret. "What have we done?"
At that moment, a holographic screen flickered to life on a wall, casting a cold, blue light across the lab. The stern face of Victoria Hothis, CSO of ABEL, materialized on the screen, her eyes sharp and unyielding. She had been observing the entire procedure from a remote location.
"Dr. Harlan, this is an unfortunate setback, but not an unexpected one. We anticipated challenges. At least you have now succeeded in keeping the test subject responsive while it is connected to the hive mind. Your task now is to analyze the recorded data and implement the necessary adjustments for future, even more successful test series." Her gaze shifted to Elara. "Elara, remember that this subject was a volunteer. A former pilot who, after being injured in battle against the Thargoids, was rendered unfit for active duty. There are countless others, willing to serve the Federation and participate in our tests."
Dr. Harlan removed his glasses, his hands shaking slightly as he regained some composure. He took a deep breath before responding, "Yes, Victoria. I'm positive we can refine the implant and ensure its success in future trials. We will perfect this technology."
Van Doorn turned towards him, his fists clenched. "Let's hope you're right, Doctor. For all our sakes."
"Dr. Harlan, who is that man who just spoke?" asked the voice of Victoria Hothis from the remote screen.
Dr. Harlan adjusted his glasses. "This is Federal Agent Marcus van Doorn, Victoria. He's overseeing the project on behalf of the Federal Intelligence Agency."
Hothis's eyes narrowed. "Agent van Doorn, this is not a matter of hope. This is a matter of science. We must ensure that every variable is controlled and that every outcome is predictable. We repeat this procedure until the result meets our expectation. Hope has no place in this."
The holographic screen went dark, leaving the lab once again in an oppressive silence, and at the start of a new trial run.