Lythum Labs

[Evalaine Rosalie]

"It is a careful business indeed. I have had a degree of success but it would seem it is comparable to your own." She held up her arms, her sleeves pulling back so the two computer could be seen. "These units contain a self sustaining computer system running at clock speeds that match reaction time. By implementing a level of artificial intelligence I have been able to transplant a personality and thought process directly into the computer matrix. The end effect? A responsive and stable version of the person's conciousness but at a cost. The system still runs via the AI technology therefore independant thought is not possible and they respond to commands like a computer."

She lowered her arms and looked back outside. "I won't be able to rest until I find a way to separate those issues and allow the full personality to have individual control and rational thought."

She paused and looked directly at Davis. She had an odd glint in her eye as if she suddenly didn't trust him. Her eyes then narrowed and the stepped forwards aggressively. "So what do you want from me? I see plenty of advantages for me but I find it hard to believe that your company wants nothing in return. Come to think of it you've not told me anything that wasn't already obvious or would have been hard to find out. I've revealed quite a lot...planning on hijacking my research? Or maybe you're after more than just paper work."

Her right hand quickly shifted to the handle of one of her hand scythes and drummed along it slowly. Her left eye gave a visible twitch. "You want my girls don't you? I saw how you were looking at them earlier. You were interested...too interested...I'll have your head if you come anywhere near them."

It seemed as if Evalaine had had a sudden a rather violent personality change. The well spoken individual from a moment ago was gone, replaced by a rather tense and defensive one.

[Viper]

"Is it not obvious? I have no interest in your girls, as my fields is cyborgs."

A side affect or mental trauma?

The shaft was a bad place for any fighting to break out but then again Tia was also close range as well so it would be only bad for him who can retreat at this distance. He did not think he had to worry about that right now.

"Lythum Corporation uses the research we create her to deploy in the real world to make money. Simply put Lythum, wants to make money like any proper business, produce results and they careless what you do. I mean truthfully the research notes on that drug you mention likely would make the Board of Directors happy for years to come and the potential of your future research is considered a major worthwhile venture."

The shaft door opened and he walked out into the open area again with Tia. She was very carefully watching the new hire with great intent but she still made no reaction.

"They would likely want to use the research and apply it to themselves in search of eternal life, such is the way of fools, so even they would have no interest in your girls. The biggest thing they want is results that get them more money and like I said the drug you designed would be alone enough to make them happy for hiring,"

Davis gave a small laugh as he kept walking down the hall.

"I mean my research appears as part of the limb replacements you might have seen on TV. The fact is Lythum has technology generations ahead but they do not use it, they milk it to get the most of it."

[Evalaine Rosalie]

Evalaine remained fixed on Davis for a moment and then slowly seemed to calm down. As she did something flashed across her eyes and she quickly raised a hand to her temple. She pressed for a moment, so hard in fact that the area of skin under her finger went white as the blood drained from it. After a moment she lowered her hand and shook her head.

As she looked back up her smile had returned and the look in her eyes was gone. "Well I can certainly share some of the chemical details if I'm allowed the freedom I need for my research. I can't take full credit for it but I did design the chemical balancer. Before the drug would simply keep raising the mental processing rate and test subjects would simply think themselves to death. The balancer limits to the level of processing to a level the brain can accept. It took several decades to perfect."

She follows on, seemingly unaware of how close she came to a serious scuffle a moment before.

[Viper]

"That would be wonderful. If Dr. Cline was alive he would be happy."

Davis seemed sort of happy he was robbing a dead man of his research. He clearly got an idea of some of the side affects that she was having from drug.

"Research here is rather free here, so you will find we 'hate' rules with a passion so we do not have limits too much. I mean we do have a budgets but the figure are normally so large that you don't have to worry so much, in fact I've never hit my budget the entire time I was here."

He tried to recall if he ever hit the limit but found that he never did and considered the equipment and the clones and such, had it been any normal place then it would have been long since over budget. He was thinking and as he did they watched the receptionist roll by them on a stretcher with two lab hands pushing her down the hall. Davis got distracted for a second as he turned to lab hands.

"Make sure you prepare her. I'm hoping to try V1.37B Nano machine types I've been designing. Let the lab crew to get her biometic data ready by the time I get to the lab."

"Sweet! We going to try making an infected cyborg type!"

The two lab hands seemed pleased as they pushed the stretcher down the hallway even quicker as if very interested in seeing how things would turn out. A small crash could be heard as they did not turn it in time for the turn. Davis turned around and yelled, clearly pissed.

"DO NOT DAMAGE THE TEST SUBJECTS!"

The two slowly disappeared around the corner this time. He gave a small sigh and turned back to Rosaline.

"Where was I? Ah yes freedom of research... any questions?"

[Evalaine Rosalie]

"Live test subjects...well this is certainly interesting..."

Evalaine's attention had wandered for a moment but was quickly brought back into step as Davis asked his question. "Just one, where is my desk. Oh and perhaps a little request. If your little receptionist there is alive after whatever research is planned for her. I mean alive in the sense that her brain is active and thought processes are natural, concious preferebly...I have a few ideas of my own that I wouldn't mind testing. I haven't had the luxury of a live test subject...this place will make for some good progress I feel."

[Viper]

"Ah the live test subject thing. Yes, Lythum has no issues with live test subjects. You can bring them in so long as you file with HR department... they like to make sure no 'loose' ends show up or searching for the test subjects. You can also request test clones but those can take months cause they have to be grown. Lets see..."

Davis was running through some of the rules for obtaining subjects.

"As for our receptionist here, as you saw from her panic she was not cut out to work here. She likely not going to be usable for awhile, I'm currently trying a nano-machine that converts the person to cyborg via a simple injection but the last few died from shock. I fixed some of the issues but more testing is needed, if still has a fully functional brain I'll be sure to send her your way. I hate waste... I mean Tia here was going to be thrown away after some super solider formula burnt her entire nervous system out and here she is now as a beta result of my research. I hate wasting good material, beside I was going to replace the nervous system anyway."

Etha came walking over and gave a small bow.

"Ah Etha please show her to the open lab across the way and handle the registration and questions."

Etha gave a small bow.

"Understood. Please follow me."

Davis seemed very excited it seemed to be trying out his research, almost crazed. Tia just followed like she did before.

[Evalaine Rosalie]

Evalaine nodded in approval and then moved to follow Etha. She studied her closely, another failed experiment it seemed yet she was still interesting in her own way.

"Thank you Dr Heather. I'll get the information you requested once I'm settled in."

[Tia]

Etha slowly began walking in the same direction but not in the same pace of Dr. Davis. He had already disappeared around the corner as they walked.

"The labs generally three rooms in nature, the largest being the lab itself. They have two smaller rooms in the rear, a personal desk space, and a living area with bathroom. The cafeteria can be found Level 2, which we visited previously. You are welcome to bring in lab assistants, but their pay will come from your budget as a research, but please mark sure they are mentally prepared for this place before arrival. We have lost many interns to this."

The slowly rounded the corner as a large shutters shut on a door. A red light appeared above the the door and it made no attempt to open when they walked past.

"Labs with red lights mean an experiment is in progress, yellow means a project has started to enter with caution. Green light means everything is ok."

The kept walking down the hallway a bit more as they were coming up at another lab.

"You are welcome to bring your own test subjects, willing and otherwise, but make sure to file with HR. They will take funds out of your budget with the respective person in question, depending on how much effort it takes to erase all paper documents of the persons existence, so do not bring subjects that are well known or will be missed. Willing subjects however are free."

She turned into an open lab that appeared to be brand new. It was clear and open and no equipment could be found, the back however had a simple desk and a computer in front of it. A whole corner of the room, which was a sizable amount (likely a small 1 person apartment), was walled into another room. Etha led her to the desk and from this angle one could see a living quarters inside of the box off room, and a bathroom of sorts as well.

"Labs have no equipment till requested as per policy however all equipment can be ordered via computer system and will be delivered by acquisitions department the following day unless otherwise stated."

Etha began typing away at the computer as a setup screen appeared. She walked away from the terminal to let her decide the rest.

"The computer system is the latest but all terminals are stand-alone models. Any requests have to be printed and taken to Acquisitions by hand on Level 1. The computer system here runs mostly by different stand-alone computers, to prevent hacking and cyber terrorist activity. A few system are inter-connected but the research station in this lab are only networked to everything in this specific lab. Any computer OS or system you need you may install on the terminals in your lab as they are not connected to the network and as its your own lab any security protection you wish to place on the terminals is also your own. You are however not able to change the control systems for the door. Any changes to the door will result in the system purging this lab as per safety protocols of terrorist activity."

Etha opened one of the drawers to reveal a rather large book of corporate policy.

"Almost 98% of this does not apply to you but this written copy is for your own records. If you have any questions please feel free to ask"

[Evalaine Rosalie]

Evalaine just listened and nodded as Etha spoke and simply shook her head as she finished. "No that all seems fine. Jasmine honey?"

A small momentary whine filled the air and then the image of Jasmine flashed into view alongside Evalaine. She looked pleased to see her mother but quickly jumped behind her as she saw Etha. "Don't worry Jasmine, she won't hurt you."

Jasmine looked a little unsure but eventually stepped out from behind her mother and edged forwards towards Etha. She reached out and quickly poked her before hurrying back behind Evalaine.

"Now Jasmine its rude to poke people. Run a system check and then start organising what we need. Make a full list and don't spare any expense. When you're done transfer the information to Alia and have her print it out."

"Yes mother!" replied Jasmine as she quickly started darting around the room.

[Tia]

"If then you'll excuse me, Dr. Davis Lab is directly next door if you need anything else."

Etha gave a small bow and a small smile towards the child and walked out of the lab.