CODE X:Episode 1 by M.R. Vallone

a new idea that I think will solve a lot of the DNA questions
science wants answered.”
    “Fantastic. Tell me about it. I want to know
about your new theory. This has no bearing on your request for
resources. Like we said from the beginning, we will supply you
whatever you ask for, whatever you need.”
    Vicki moves to the edge of her chair, leans
forward, “Thank you. You know that scientists have known that
between the strands of the 23,000 or so pairs of DNA in a human
being, they discovered billions of other euchromatic bases that
seemed to have no purpose. I think they do have a purpose. I think
they are the switch that determines when a gene is turned on or
off, for example. This switch regulator is what makes one cell a
kidney cell, for instance, and another a brain cell. This could be
the identifier that would give us the answers to controlling the
makeup of a person’s DNA.”
    Landau strokes his chin. “Fascinating.
That’s a very unique view of a newly discovered problem. I don’t
have to tell you that a project called the Encyclopedia of DNA
Elements, ENCODE, has found that many of these bases do,
nevertheless, play a chemical role in human biology.”
    Vicki shakes her finger no. “Yes. But they
are identifying chemical switches. Less than 3% react to a chemical
switch and that is as far as they can go. That leaves 97% still
left to identify their usage. Right now it’s a dead end. I believe
there is something that is more universal in flipping or
controlling the switch. That’s what I’m going to pursue. I’ve named
it Code X. It's the code that makes it all happen. So I have an
unusual request for you that would aid my research. Dr. Einstein
left part of his brain for research and I would like to get a slice
to run some tests on it, to verify my theory.”
    Now landau stands up and grabs his putter.
“That is a tall order, but, you are working with the right company
who can fulfill your request. I have a few friends in government
who owe me a favor. I’ll see you have the sample delivered to your
lab in a couple of days.”
    Vicki breathes a sigh of relief. “That would
be wonderful. I do need to ask you a question concerning security.
I’m concerned that there is more surveillance on me when I’m away
from work. It’s quite unsettling.” Vicki notices a change in
Landau’s body language. She hit a nerve.
    He answers, “I sympathize with you, but, I
have no control over security. You are a quite valuable asset as
you’re proving now. So, it would not be unusual for security to
keep a close watch on you to guarantee your continued safety. As
the head of Alomet, I’m also under tight security. You should take
comfort that you are being guarded at all times. Nothing bad can
happen to you.”
    “You’re right. I guess it will take some
getting used to. Forget I even asked. Thank you again for the
opportunity.” She gets up to leave and Henry opens the door.
    Before she completely exits Landau says his
final words, “Dr. Collins, keep up the excellent, excellent
work.”
    Henry shuts the door behind her.
    Landau smiles and sets his putter down
against his desk. “I want you to increase the monitoring of Dr.
Collins. She seems to be her old self and might be on the verge of
another one of her breakthrough discoveries. Report to me any
findings she might uncover that cause a buzz among the research
staff. I’ve got a special feeling about her fresh take on an
unsolved problem.”

Chapter 28
    Six Weeks in the Jungle
     
    Parks and Biggins are running on the jungle
trail in shorts. He looks over at her and smiles because he’s not
winded. He looks down at his stomach and smiles wider when he sees
his washboard abs and how flat his gut is. Vicki won’t recognize
him.
    “Okay Parks, today we increase to the top
level test run.”
    “Did you forget to bring your leather mask …
whips...chains?”
    “Aikido’s a sport for pussies like
you...I’ll take war games any day of the