Temple Labs

Temple Labs

By Thomas Bergin

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Temple Labs

Augmentation Log File

Location: 6B

Date: 7/09/2011

Subject No.: 118

Augmentation: Operation 77C (Mental Pathway Strengthening)

Post-Op: 1 Week

Doctor on Duty: Frank Cohen

Signature:

Today is the first log in the progressive recovery examination of Subject 118. He is so far showing the most potential out of all of the Patients that have so far undergone Operation 77C. We were only able to make previous assumptions on the rate of recovery for the Subjects that have undergone this Augmentation, but judging by today's examinations it has far exceeded our expectations, and some of the Subjects abilities are already becoming present. I have been asked to briefly give a bit of background into what the aim of the Augmentation was before I going into any more detail about the Subjects progress. Operation 77C began as a research project to discover more about the subconscious of human mental pathways inside the brain. It has been Hypothesised for well over a decade that the Conscious Human Mind is only in control of about 10% of the human brain, with the other 90 odd percent left uncharted. The basic question behind the Aim of the project, that the research team here at Temple Labs began to ask themselves, was "What if the conscious mind could be put in control of the full capacity of the brain, or close to it?"

This question launched the project to new heights, gaining recognition from some of the top Science Researchers in the world. This is when the project changed from a research project into a fully funded program to test the new theory. The theorized results for the Operation itself were mind boggling and soon all major sponsors were excitedly on board. Some of the expected results of full control of the capacity of the brain are as follows: Increased IQ and heightened ability to intake information, Increased Muscle to Fat ratio and increased Muscle mass, Faster Metabolism, Greater memory recall, and, perhaps the most exciting prospect of the program, the ability to change the body's appearance at will. Will increased control of the brains functions the conscious brain should be able to communicate directly with the body's cells and DNA allowing it to control the overall appearance of different parts of the body. It is yet unknown the full extent of this capability. To protect the Subjects and the Doctors from the potentially harmful results that the capability can be used for The Subjects are being fed concentrated drugs to slow down its effect

Only having been 1 week since the operation, Subject 118 has been showing great improvement and a hint at the success of the project. The Subject's head was fully shaved and gelled for the operation, but in the past week The Subject has grown his hair stubble to three centimeters and changed its colour to blue. Keep in mind that The Subject is being kept in a completely contained environment and has not been giving any items other than food products. This includes hair dye.

The day after the operation the Subject was in extremely weak physical condition and it was estimation that it would take weeks to get his body back to full health and nutrition. Such a feat has been achieved in a few days time. He has been able to take the Vitamins and Proteins out of the meals we have been giving him, dispose if everything that his body doesn't need, and then concentrate these Vitamins and Proteins to the parts of his body that need it most. He has gained half of his previous body

Weight in muscle mass and is at peak physical condition.

We have been allowing his usual teachers to see him since 4 days Post-op and he has become easily bored with the lessons and is easily picking up information not taught until higher levels of Tertiary Study.

We are hoping that in the next few weeks all of the Subjects will be showing close to the full extent of their capabilities and we can begin the test stage of their examination.

* * * * * *

Dr. Cohen sat at the plain wraparound desk in the observation room busily making adjustments to his notes. The rustling noise of him flicking pages, lazily melding in with the sound of the ticking clock. It was late at night and he was beginning to wonder exactly how long it would be until he would be able to work normal hours again. With the inflow of work for the current project growing larger everyday the company assured him that they could not afford to give him any time off at the moment and that they needed him every extra hour he could give.

Dozens of monitors flickered around him in the small room. The screens showed teenage children sleeping in cheap cots in plain white cells. Most of them were bald, but some of them had radical hairstyles and facial features far exceeding their age. The results of them slowly beginning to realize their abilities. But one screen was not showing the same scene as the rest. It wasn't long before Dr. Cohen began to notice the unusual light flickering on his pages. He looked up and stared blankly around at the monitors, searching for the source of the problem.

He soon realized that Screen 8 was filled with static. The camera showing the room of Subject 118. Thinking that it may have just been a camera malfunction he flicked a switch at the bottom of the monitor that changed the screen to a different camera angle.

Static.

Dr. Cohen picked up his the old fashioned phone on his desk and pressed the button that put him through to the guard's room.

"Yes Dr. Cohen", the voice pierced Dr. Cohen's ears as he had not heard much sound other than that that made by his own paperwork in hours.

"Ted, I'm not picking up any Cameras for room 118. Can you confirm?"

"That is correct Dr. Cohen. No Pickup on the receivers from the cameras in Room 118. Do you want me to check it out Doctor?"

"As fast as you can." Dr. Cohen said, trying to sound as calm as he possibly could, "And take a weapon"

"A weapon sir?" Ted replied in a confused tone, "OK, if you insist'

For the third time this week Dr. Cohen wished that they had guards that understood the possible danger of the program. Or knew what the program was at all. He hastily flicked on Screen 7 and changed the camera to the one directed to the hallway outside Room 118.

* * * * * *

Ted strolled along Corridor 8 sub-consciously jangling his keys and whistling a tune that he didn't really know. The lights in the corridor flickered constantly but he thought nothing of it. He reached the door marked "Room 118" and began to search his collection of keys. Why don't they just put windows in this place, he thought to himself. He fit the key into the slot and turned it.

The door opened and Ted held his baton firmly in his right hand. Quickly surveying the room he realized that the subject that should have been in here, Subject 118, was missing. His eyes made small side glances to the smashed remains of the cameras hanging from the roof in the corners of the room.

He picked up his radio, about to radio in to Dr. Cohen when he saw a shadow move underneath the bed. He began to slowly move towards the bed his breath speeding up. The Shadow moved and a dog, some sort of Labrador, leapt from under the bed. Aside from his sudden shock Ted realized that the dog looked extremely peculiar, as if it was deformed in some away. Its fur seemed very blurred, and its face was very squashed for a Labrador. The Dog glanced at him once and then jumped him, knocking him to the ground. Ted lied there winded staring up into the eyes of the unusual dog standing on his chest.

Subject 118 looked down into the eyes of his unidentified attacker. Going through a scenario that he had created in his head he realized that harming this man was not necessary to complete his task. He leapt out of the room and bounded down the hallway, four legs bounding on the concrete.

Dr Cohen watched the screen in bewilderment. One thought flashed through his head. The drugs are not working, the subjects are beginning to play with their abilities. Subject 118 had morphed into a primitive version of a dog, and was using this cover to escape. Dr. Cohen's hand moved towards the alarm trigger.

Sam Ran

Sam Ran

By Thomas Bergin

Sam ran. But it was not a scared run, or an angry run. It was one of deep joy and happiness. He ran through fields of deeper green then he had ever seen before. The trees were old and strong, and their leaves rustled with sweet music. The cares of the world had disappeared leaving only Sam and his overwhelmingly blissful emotions. Sam reached the crest of a hill and sat down to admire the view. He was not tired, for what he could feel was not physical, and his senses seemed irrelevant in this place. The birds flew in the valley below, but their flight was not natural and they glided in an awkward dance. There were clouds in the sky, but not once did they falter the suns radiance. Such it was that there was no shade under the trees, but it was not hot. Sam thought his skin was tingling, but it felt much more like a tingling of the mind. And as he stared out to the horizon he knew that this was Peace, and that he would dwell here forever. Even then he did not realise the clear differences between this place and reality. Perfections and faults that meshed together to create an environment entirely unlike his own. The trees below him glistened with an eerily unnatural beauty, and the surface of a deep blue creek sparkled at him through the branches. Everything was alive and moving, although there was no breeze.

Yes there was something unnatural about this place.

And he realised it all too late. And he felt the feeling that he had felt many times before. As the unpleasant feelings of the world crept in via his senses. And the landscape before him darkened, and the colours flickered violently. He had seen this happen, and he cringed as his oasis crumbled away. And people's voices reached in and called him away.

His beautiful world went black, and noise filled his ears.

"Sam, I understand that you were sleeping during your English class today." The Counsellor looked into Sam's eyes trying to glimpse a scrap of meaning from their dark recesses. There was emotion there, something triggering this behaviour. "Before our last session you had been caught sleeping during Mathematics." She continued to pry into his eyes, looking for something his words could not express, were he to talk. "Sam, Im going to ask you straight up if there are any things happening in your home life that might be affecting your sleeping pattern. Too many late nights, troubles with your parents, perhaps something at school?."

His eyes flickered.

"Do you ever dream Ms. McKenzie?" Sam voiced his question confidently.

"Sam I don't want you to feel that this session is here for anyone but you."

"I mean, do you really dream? Is there a definite moment where you feel that you have broken free from the world?"

"Is that what you are trying to do Sam, Escape?"

"My dreams don't last long enough for complete satisfaction. They aren't what I hope them to be."

"And what is that?"

"Under my control."

"Dreams are not meant to be under our control Sam, they are a representation of our thoughts and emotions. Feelings explored by our sub-conscious." She looked at his face and noticed a small twitch of defiance, as he struggled to explain his world.

"Have you ever heard of Lucid dreaming Ms. McKenzie?"

"No Sam I can't say that I have"

"There are some instances during sleep where a dreamer understands that they are in a dream, and have the power to change the dream completely. But usually people are taken along in the flow of the dream and believe it to be reality until they wake up and forget about it completely."

"Have you achieved this before Sam?"

"No Miss I haven't."

Sam lay on his bed, looking at the roof. His vision was blurred a little by the large purple-black bruise squinting his right eye. He closed his eyes and strained his forehead, holding back tears, and thinking of the world inside his mind. If only there was some way that I could stay there, he thought to himself. He dreamt everyone night these days. He had learned techniques to induce dreams. He practised them during class when he thought no one was watching. He couldn't deal with school anymore. His marks were below average, and the teachers had given up on him.

Most days after school he would just sit and strain his mind, hoping that his surroundings would just pop, and he would be sitting in his dream world. He had recently become interesting in the concept of Lucid Dreaming, and he wished to attempt to use it as means by which he could extend his dreams. But even when he saw things that clearly weren't possible he was too giddy with excitement to put two and two together and his dream went on, and he wasn't aware.

As he lay there his mind began to slip, and he slept. His complexion went blank.

Sam ran. And he was scared.

The street was darkened and plain clouds swooped over head. There was no change in the density of the light, everything was dull. There were no areas of darkness, or light, just the same dull tone of grey. And he ran.

He was aware of the footsteps gaining on him, but he was determined to outrun them, to outsmart them. But he was not thinking, he was running.

He ran past dull cement houses, each the same, each without sense of emotion. And he realised that he didn't know where he was. Each house had a guard dog, and each guard dog snarled as he ran by. And he tripped. He skidded along the cement, and he continued to slide. And he felt no pain. After he had stopped sliding he saw how far he had went, and he saw the skin on his arms. And it was unbroken. This isn't real, he thought to himself, I am not feeling, I am dreaming.

He turned to face the on comers, and he saw they had the same face. And he wished them away.

And they were gone.

And he was in the fields again. And the birds were at his feet. And he dreamt of a pond, and the ground sloped down before him. He was wearing his bathers. His eye was no longer bruised, and he was happy.

He slipped into the water and he flew across its surface. And when he looked beneath the surface he saw a world undiscovered, and beasts of immense beauty swam up to meet him.

And the water was not cold, it was wonderful.

"How is he?"

"Your son's vital signs are remaining stable, and there appears to be no change in his condition."

"What is his condition Doctor?"

"Mrs. Dell I want to assure you that Sam is perfectly fine, there appears to be nothing wrong with him. His mental condition is perfect."

"But he is in a Coma. Doctor how can he be ok?"

"We have no explanation for it. He simple went to sleep and didn't wake up."

And lying in the bed between them Sam dreamt, and there was a smile on his face.