T5
By Krael
 
 
 

In a far corner of the room - sublevel 8 - a thick panel of glass broke the monotony of the vented, steel walls. Behind this glass was a haze of red light. Bathed in the sterile crimson glow was a sparse habitat, consisting chiefly of sand and a dry form of grass. Tucked away just beyond the dim lights was a small cage-like structure. Its walls were made up of tightly inter-linked steel mesh. The roof was a thicker, solid steel device, which curved down over the top half of the enclosure. A small, square opening had been allowed in the forward right corner of the structure, marked by a smooth steel semi-circle stretching out on the sand before it.

Within the small cage-like building was a quiet and timid creature. Its body was primarily free of hair, save for a tangled, dark mass perched upon its head. On the floor, a few places away, was a small gathered mass of the dry grass that grew wild in patches throughout the small habitat. It was here the creature made its bed. The grass sheltered its bare skin from the cold steel floor. In the rear, right corner of the building were two bowls. Both were made identically of the same smooth steel which composed most of the enclosure. Positioned at an angle above each of the bowls was a hollow glass tube, which ran in from the wall. To each side of the mouth of each tube was a red button. To press the button on one side would bring water. To press the button to the other side would bring food. The creature had been quick in its study of the process.

The inside of the enclosure stayed dark, save for a very dim residue of the dark red light which flooded the sandy area a short distance beyond the creatures home. The creature did not enjoy that area. The light hurt its eyes. Once a day, the creature was driven from its beloved darkness into this uncomfortable environment. Long ago, the pain would come from the floor. The pain would only stop when the creature had fled the structure. Again, the creature was a quick study. It began to anticipate. After much trial and error, it had come to predict when the pain would come. Now, at the same time every day, the creature could be observed leaving the habitat; its eyes squinted uncomfortably, as it ventured into the red glow.

The creature feared the hands. When the pain had first come, the creature had not fled far from its home. It was confused and scared, but the light bothered it more. But the hands had come. Their size and quick movement frightened the creature. When the pain came, the hands soon followed. The creature disliked the light. It feared the hands more.

***

"Terrarium 5."

"Specimen exhibits no notable change in habit."

"Food consumption?"

"Steady."

"Water consumption?"

"Steady.

"Health?"

"Results of the most recent scan indicate no cellular breakdown. Growth remains at zero increase."

"When was last scan?"

"Fifty-six hours ago."

"Proceed."

***

At precisely sixteen-hundred hours, a light electric current was delivered to the floor of the housing-cell in Terrarium 5. As had been observed for over three months now, the specimen had effectively removed itself from the cell minutes before the shock was sent. In a few more weeks, the current would be discontinued; confidence having been reached as to the specimen's change in habit.

Also noted was the specimen's continued aversion to the intrusion of handlers into the environment. The handlers' only task within the Terrarium was the replacement of the food and water receptacles inside the housing-cell. Despite the lack of conscious contact between the specimen and the handlers, the former maintained a noted fear response in relation to the handlers. This was encouraging. The survival instinct was strong.

Terrarium 5 was one of eighteen other related specimens housed on sublevel 8. Of course, the specimens were not aware of this. The scientists and technicians on sublevels 1 - 7 were also unaware, just as sublevel 8was unaware of activities in outside sectors. Their employer preferred to keep things this way, and provided quite enough money and other incentives to ensure mutual cooperation. The identity of this employer was also a matter of non-inquired mystery. Many operatives on sublevel 8 had their varying lists of names and rumors, but these were nothing more than casual talk…of less importance than a nightly baseball game.

***

"Tough night?"

Ned Stallworth stared up blankly from his terminal.

"You look rough Ned. Putting in more overtime this week?"

"Not really…" Ned muttered noncommittally, managing to place a name to the face. "Just another night trying to catch up with the American dream." The face smiled broadly. "How are the wife and kids Dave?"

Ned resisted the temptation to return his eyes to his work as Dave staggered to the conclusion of his work-place small-talk ritual. He never retained anything of value from these exchanges; he had serious doubts that Dave did either. These mindless encounters were a necessary evil though he had learned. Try and play the rebel and walk away from them, and you draw suspicion. Though this once seemed glamorous to his young mind, he had quickly sobered to the consequences. Suspicion brought rumors. Rumors brought attention. Attention brought trouble. Trouble could cost you. In Ned's position, trouble was something he absolutely could not afford.
He smiled and nodded in parting as Dave finished his dialogue and wandered off in search of another victim.

"Whoever invented coffee breaks should be shot…" Ned muttered, returning to his work.

He punched a key and a grid of numbers appeared. Ned only had to glance at the screen briefly to deduce that all the terrarium environments were stable with minimal fluctuation in conditions. He brought up another screen.

"What a life you must lead…" he muttered, scanning over the data. "Still running from the techs too…"

Of all the specimens observed and recorded, Terrarium 5 held the only one to exhibit a human-like intelligence. Because of this, he was of greatest interest to Ned, who collected and reported on technical data and behavioral patterns recorded from the various habitats. Personally, Ned failed to see a reason for these particular experiments, but as in most things, his opinions were of little consequence. The bosses had their reasons, and made it quite worth Ned's while to leave things at that.

Ned punched another key, and the most recent photo of Terrarium 5's sole resident materialized. He looked apprehensive as usual. His hair had begun to weigh from the curls, beginning to drift down his shoulders. His skin was clean…another aberration from his fellow experiments. One of the unique habits T5 had developed was using his supply of water to clean his skin. The reports had observed this behavior developing into a timely pattern. The specimen's was now up to three "baths" a day…usually around the same time.

Ned's overheads had made T5 nearly their sole interest in his weekly briefing sessions. All of the specimens carried nearly identical characteristics, with some variances in the development process. Ned was forbidden access to exactly what these variances and processes where. His job was to sort and report; in essence, a paper-hound. From what he did have access to though, he did know that T5 was progressing at a much more rapid rate than the others, who seemed less advanced in some cases than many types of mollusk. He also knew that T5 hated any bright lights. Even the dim red that filled the better half of the terrarium seemed to cause him
discomfort.

"All gifts come with a price, young grasshopper…" Ned muttered, letting his attention drift momentarily from his work.

As usual, his thoughts turned toward Katherine. As usual, these thoughts were tinged with a strange mix of longing and annoyance. He wondered if his overheads knew about her. He wondered if it mattered. Katherine had teasingly avoided any kind of significant tie to him. She seemed to exist in his life merely to confuse him.
Of course, the bosses discouraged romantic involvement in their employees. More than one had been wiped when their relationships became too serious. No harm came to them as far as he knew; all employees were subjected to some form of hypnotic suggestion upon hiring. As Ned understood it, their memories relating to work were erased at this time. Some new suggestion was planted, and the former employee was given some safe civilian job through resources the bosses possessed.

Ned was a long way from any desires to give up his comfortable lifestyle. There were more than adequate compensations for his loneliness in his pay. As luck would have it, his paths had crossed with the antithesis to his stability.

He had first met Katherine at a hotel lounge he frequented. It was a relaxed place. Not the sort of place you went looking for sex or romance. Most nights, Ned hardly saw a woman in the place. It was full of people like him. Guys too involved with their own lives to wander the neon strip, yet not quite too far removed from life outside to enjoy a quiet drink and some soft jazz.

She was beautiful. Her entrance turned nearly every self-involved male face in the place…including his. She was alone, which for a woman of her looks was in itself enough to draw Ned's interest. He forgot now what lame opener he had used, but she had bitten. They had spent the evening discussing her writing career. She had published a few children books, and was trying to break into the adult fiction market. In the interim, she kept an accounting job to pay the bills.

From that first night, Ned was enthralled with her. Unfortunately, she had regarded him as little more than a friend. That is, until one drunken night at her low-rent downtown apartment, he had revealed his line of work. It had all spiraled down from there. Now, she tormented him with smiles and soft-spoken promises; the weak male mind revealing all in the face of sexual appeal.

Most curious was her reaction to the terrarium specimens. He had almost thought he would finally land her in bed that night, as excited as she had become. She had later explained a longstanding sexual fantasy centering on tiny men. She supposed it came from her fierce ambitions…some strange twist of the feminist mind. Afterwards, she had let the matter…and Ned's hopes for the evening…drop. This wasn't quite the case though, as Ned would soon discover.

It had been two weeks ago when she had made the suggestion. He had laughed at her. He had called her crazy. He had left in a rage. A week later, he was pondering how to make it happen.

Her idea was for Ned to kidnap one of the specimens for an evening. She swore she just wanted to see it, touch it…nothing strange. She made all sorts of erotic promises to him in exchange. It was a lunatic idea, nevertheless, Ned had come up with a possible way to make it happen.

The alarm systems were not a problem. They fell under his domain. He had set them to turn off that evening, and turn back on just before 5 AM the following morning, when everyone returned to work.

Security would not be a problem. Ned often put in overtime on his reports; sometimes it was unavoidable given new findings. His presence late at night would not be seen as unusual, and security was not allowed into the lab itself.

It would have to be fast. He would let her have her look, then return the specimen immediately. Barring any unforeseen difficulties, no one would ever suspect.

Ned glanced back over the data for T5. Despite the specimen's aversion to light, T5 was the only specimen to react normally to introduce earth-like atmospheric conditions. Reports had even noted a lack of negative effect when opening straight building ventilation into T5.

"Look like you're the one, buddy." Ned sighed. He had a few things left to do before nightfall.

***

"I've got someone I want you to meet…" Ned proclaimed, as Katherine led him into her one-bedroom apartment.

"What's this?" Katherine asked, amused, as Ned turned off the room lights.

"He doesn't like lights." Ned grinned sheepishly, producing a small plastic box.

"Oh my…" she breathed, as he snapped off the lid.

T5's tiny inhabitant huddled in a corner of the box. His large eyes were wide in fear. With a small high-pitched whine, buried his face in his arms, trying to hide from his giant observers.

"Katherine, meet T5." Ned swept his hand in a dramatic gesture. Glancing at her face, he noted with pleasure the
hungry look spreading in her eyes.

"Can…can I hold him?" she asked softly, her eyes never leaving the cage.

"Well, I don't think that's a good idea…" Ned said hesitantly. "He usually has to be sedated even for the scientists to get near him."

"I see." She glanced up at Ned, a sexy pout on her face.

"Look, I'll let you hold the box, but don't try and touch him. The scientists are afraid sudden shock may be deadly…"

She eagerly took the box. For a long moment she stared at T5, that same greedy expression on her face.

"I'd get out of the country if I were you Neddie." Her voice was amused, but something in it sent a sudden shock through his body.

"What do you mean?" he asked nervously.

In answer, Katherine produced a small pistol from behind her back.

"What's this?" Ned tried to laugh. "A joke or something?"

"Call it a business transaction Neddie." Her smile was predatory. "You walk out of here without giving me any trouble, and I won't have to shoot you."

"You wouldn't…"

"Oh, but I would Neddie." She stepped closer to him. "Your boss would thank me for doing the job for him, once the story hits the press."

"What story?" Ned felt numb. How could he have been so stupid?

"Our government involved in secret, bizarre experiments in secret underground labs. Ah yes, fodder for the tabloids. But not any more! Thanks to Ned Stallworth - bumbling deskjock - we have evidence!"

"Why…"

"Because it's worth money Neddie." She laughed. "Oh, not the story. I highly doubt it will ever print. But it's going to cost your bosses a lot of cash to keep it that way…and they'll have you to thank for that Neddie. How much do you think your life will be worth then?"

Ned merely nodded. If they didn't kill him, they'd wipe his memory back to infancy and stick him in some mental home on tranquilizers for the rest of his life.

"I feel I owe you something though, darling." Ned bit back his anger. "So, to show you I'm not such a bad girl after all, I'm going to do you a favor. I'll give you two days to disappear before I make my little call to your bosses."

"How generous of you…" Ned hissed.

"I think so." She smiled cheerfully. "Oh Ned, I've been watching you for some time. You see, the government usually makes sure that their male employees are happily married before they take them in. They slipped with you. Young, single…all that money and no poor silly bimbo to play with." That smug smile again. "It must have been hard for you Neddie. It was too easy getting into your confidence. You suprised even me."

Still smiling, she walked around Ned and opened the door.

"Don't worry about your friend here." She reached into the box and poked teasingly at the terrified little man. "He should be back in his little underground lab in no time, and I'll be rich. As for you Neddie, you'd better get started. I'd suggest one of those war-torn Central American countries. I understand even the government has trouble finding people there. Word of advice next time Neddie? Keep you head on your shoulders, not in your pants. Cheers!"

***

And so it was that Ned Stallworth - wiser to the ways of this cruel world - set out towards Guatemala in search of sanctuary from the storm that was surely to come. Meanwhile, in the small nightly-rental apartment suite that Katherine, AKA Tabitha Martin, AKA Cheryl Allison had checked out for her rendezvous with another foolish, trusting man…a tiny figure cowered in the palm of his newest nightmare. He had buried his head in his arms, trying to push away the horrible blinding lights that had suddenly appeared.

"Our Mr. Stallworth wasn't kidding about you and lights was he little man?" She poked softly at her prize, chuckling as he squealed in protest. "Well, don't worry my little friend. Soon you'll be back in your dark little lab cage…and I'll be living the good life in some expensive coastal resort town." She looked her tiny catch over speculatively. "In the meantime, I know a nice and dark place you'd be just perfect for."

***

"They still haven't found Stallworth?" the man asked, peering into the small red-lit terrarium and jotting a few notes down.

"I've heard they think he's in Bolivia." The other man shrugged. "Personally, I say why bother? Stallworth probably so scared for his life, he'll never be seen in this country again." He peered into the terrarium. "Still at it?"

"Yeah." the other man shook his head. "I don't know what's wrong with the little guy. He used to stay out of the lights as much as he could."

"Probably a lingering shock. The little guy's been through a lot these past few weeks."

"They ever find that woman?"

"Disappeared without a trace. As much money as she got out of this mess, she'll be able to stay that way for awhile."

"Well, I'm going to go input morning's observation into the computer. Have you seen that new lady they replaced Stallworth with?"

"Yeah, she's something else. Too bad you and me are both married."

"What's her name again?"

"I think she said it was Katherine. T5 here almost had a coronary when he saw her."

"His kidnapper was a woman…guess he's learned to tell the difference."

"Lucky him."
 

End