In the communal kitchen later, a few scientists approached Mangle. “Hey, kid, I hear you were an abomination advocate earlier today!” an older one exclaimed by way of greeting.605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2w9IZ4VJj
“No, I wasn’t. I was simply trying to give an objective view of my subject’s development. The fact that is was misconstrued by the board members does not mean I see any subject here as human.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IqzJgUapj
A scrawny little student came up to them and laughed. “Tell that to Dr. James! She was livid!”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2ix4aZFXF
Mangle frowned. “Do you speak to all your superiors here like that, Mx. Reich?”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgNGKJGUyP
The student shrugged. “Only those I respect, Doc! You got stones, saying you thought that thing was as smart as some of us!”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxI2NxCYOK
Mangle sighed. “That was hyperbole. I don’t actually believe--”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuqFJQmEyk
“Can I help any of you?” Dr. James snapped, walking into the discussion.605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRtUJzkGNI
The scientists all looked away and muttered. Mangle cleared their throat. “Dr. James...about earlier…”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7zadHN1Ht
“No, I understand, Doctor. You were simply trying to be objective and did not see how your comment might be detrimental. The board doesn’t see much merit in what I do, and I overreacted to your simple overstatement. I simply ask that you refrain from doing that again.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAe8UOGJww
Mangle nodded. “Of course.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyh3C9HMy7v
Dr. James smiled at the quick resolution. “Now, then, Doctor. We have a few things to discuss. Perhaps you can explain your reasoning for your statement earlier while we’re at it? Surely something astronomical must have happened.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocmqzAUB9c
Mangle shrugged. “It was as I said, the subject devised a name for itself. It was a startling and disconcerting experience for me.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1A4CGTrEO1
The old scientist laughed. “Oh, I call mine ‘Joey’! What’s yours?”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbFe9iRGO3
“Um…‘It’,” Mangle supplied.605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GQlSBm83l
All the scientists in the room got quiet.605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6lC9n53Pw
“You...you weren’t joking or saying that it took a nickname you had for it and made that its name, did you? You were serious,” Dr. James whispered.605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmE8byudrKM
Mangle nodded gravely. “It told me its ‘name’ before I left.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSEgXydPlg
There was a sudden uproar from all the scientists save Mangle and Dr. James, crying “Kill the thing before it can get dangerous!” and “Geez, Mangle! Tell us when you’re planning to try something dangerous!” and “Dr. James, how could you let such an intelligent subject live?!”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSrcmXn7cW
Dr. James held up her hands for silence. When the cacophony died down, she said calmly, “Listen. We have no way of measuring intelligence in the womb. The fact that this subject is so smart must be simply a freak coincidence. After all, we’re all geniuses, and no one messed with our DNA, right?605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtk5fA93kb4
“Furthermore, the subject is not a threat to us. All subjects are contained, safeguarded, and kept ignorant of the world around them. All we have to do is ensure this subject is not introduced to any other subjects that may turn it against us, and we’ll be okay. Dr. Mangle is more than capable of staying objective in this matter. Anyone opposed to this?”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6KyHH0SUt
No one argued.
“Well, then, I’ll leave this ‘It’ in Dr. Mangle’s capable hands, and we’ll all go about our business as if this never happened. No need to worry anyone on the outside unnecessarily.”
Everyone murmured agreement and went their own ways, to their houses, experiments, or offices. Dr. James turned to Dr. Mangle. “I hope I’m not misplacing my trust in you, Doctor.”
Mangle shook their head. “No, no! I can handle it!”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BLiCHBOd4
Dr. James huffed in amusement. “A little eager, aren’t we? But I suppose when you’ve only been here two days, with such an interesting project ahead, anyone would be. Let’s talk in my office, shall we?”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MgxwIyDiT
“Okay, what would this be about?” Mangle asked as they started out of the kitchen towards Dr. James’ office.605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiNDlnvaLx
“I’d prefer to wait until we are in the privacy of my office to talk. The hallways are far too watched for me to feel comfortable.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzeuo4GO1t
Mangle nodded. “Perfectly understandable. They have quite the collection of security cameras.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7f6WuBYBh
Dr. James hummed. “Yes. I’ve been here for 10 years, and I probably still haven’t found every camera in this hallway, which I go through every day. Big Brother is always watching, Doctor.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK07e5aOa0N
“‘All the world’s a stage,’ I suppose,” Mangle contemplated.605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUYFWXX87S
“Quite.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6yaOnVk4p
They closed the doors to Dr. James’ office and Dr. James slumped down in relief. “I have to be honest, Mangle. Sometimes I really hate it here.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibChkp1lhM
Mangle watched Dr. James curiously. “What do you mean?”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGbfYVQKU7
“I’m here about 16 hours every day. I have no time for my own life, I go home and I immediately fall asleep when my head hits my pillow. This project is amazing, yes, but it’s also incredibly taxing. Did you know that I nearly had a heart attack 8 months into this project? I had worked myself so hard, I nearly dug my own grave. I’m relieved to have scientists who are willing to visit subjects regularly for me, but my doctors say it might be too little too late.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhqtftIggH
Mangle shook their head in confusion. “I’m sorry, Dr. James, what are you trying to say?”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhDFWR0pb9
Dr. James looked at Mangle, eyes full of sorrow. “I may not live long enough to see this project to fruition. My life’s dream, finished after I am dead. If I don’t relieve myself of the everyday stresses of this job, then I will die. No questions about it. The stress will send me into a heart attack. I wouldn’t have this problem on any other project, no matter how painstaking. Never have. But I have to reign myself in to simple observing and administrative work. I’m not asking you to take over my duties, you have your hands full with…‘It’. I shudder at the thought of trying to keep that thing’s curiousity down enough to be manageable.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5xLib3XCI
Mangle hadn’t considered that. They’d have to work hard as it matured to keep it as restrained as it could tolerate without rebelling. That one thought nearly sent them scrambling back to their previous job. “Do you need my opinions to find a new administrator to do the rounds?”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKGYn2PMKm
Dr. James waved him off. “No, no, I have someone lined up. They start in a week. But...I do want to make you an offer.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20yQdAgaUu
Mangle was curious. “An offer about what?”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjs2HItkU0
“I’ve been pushing for this since I started, but I need one more person to sign a petition to make it work. I plan on setting up living quarters within the lab, to reduce commuting, and for health reasons for myself. You wouldn’t have to forfeit any housing you already own, I know that you have that beach house down in Bethany that’s in your family, but you wouldn’t have to pay rent here in the city, no hour-long drive through traffic, and easy access to the subjects at all hours should you choose to accept. What do you say?”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthQzeX1Yyb
Mangle couldn’t believe their ears. “Yes! Of course, yes! That would be very beneficial. There wouldn’t be any cameras, right?”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVUy068bBw
Dr. James laughed. “Not if I have any say in the matter, which I do! Don’t worry, you’ll be allowed your privacy.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSCNC0SVS4
Mangle nodded approvingly. “Well, that’s certainly a relief.” A thought occurred to them. “Dr. James, are there cameras in the subjects’ rooms? I imagine that if any of them are as self-aware as mine is, if they find one they’ll completely shut down until they know they are not being watched.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DURpfq9Ow
Dr. James thought about it. “There aren’t any that I know of, and I’ve never seen feed of a subject in the security room, so I’d say there are no cameras in their rooms. But there are cameras and microphones nearly everywhere else, so I imagine that their reasoning is that if one tries to escape, they’ll capture it elsewhere, rather than making it paranoid. Why?”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlagpAeW4f5
Mangle shrugged. “I was just curious. I need to make sure my subject won’t refuse to participate purely because it feels it is being watched.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0B4gVNRC6Z
Dr. James nodded. “Rest assured, your subject won’t shut down because of that. It might refuse to participate because it has to deal with Dr. ‘Cold Heart’ Mangle, though!”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnWKLwR244
Mangle laughed. “I’m trying to tone that down so I can interact with the subject beyond it calling me a liar, rest assured. When will the living quarters be accessible?”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ni3fkv9m5
“Give me a month,” Dr. James assured. “I should be able to do something with the offices and add a bedroom. It’ll be more like a college dorm than anything, but it’ll function.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmsrvvA00x
Mangle nodded. “I’ll be off then. I have some research to do for my next tests.”
Dr. James waved him off. “Best of luck, Dr. Mangle.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9VfqgeENY
“Thank you, Dr. James.”605Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1c1DI1CySv
