The Iso-Stasis Experiment (The Experiments) by Jacqueline Druga Page B

P.M.
     

    Stan and Lyle reached the double doors to the observation room. The doors that were supposed to be almost sound proof weren’t anywhere near that, they discovered as they reached for the handles.
    Stan, arms filled with folders walked into the room first. “Barb . . . Tina.” He set his folders on the table. “Your hair looks good today, Tina.”
    Tina knew it did. It always looked good when she wore her red hair up in a twist. But Stan’s flattery tactics were getting them nowhere. “You guys are late.” She stood up.
    Stan checked out his watch. “Yes, we are. Thank you for confirming that. Dr. Jefferson had us in his office. You know how he rambles. Did anything happen today?”
    Barb pushed in her chair as she stood and stretched. “Nothing, still boring and it will be until phase one, I can see that already. Rickie told a couple of good stories, but that’s about it. Oh, we put a new one up on the board if you guys are interested.”
    “What is it?” Stan asked.
    “It’s for who’s going to ruin the first easy to prepare meal.” Barb pointed to the cork board.
    Stan shook his head. “That is so weak. What a lame poll.” He moved to the cork board. “Anyone take Caleen ?” He saw their heads shake no, reached in his pocket for a dollar bill, stuck it in the envelope tacked next to the poll and signed his name. “We have to remember to take this down for the holding event, orders from Dr. Jefferson.”
    Walking backwards to the door with Barb, Tina lifted her hand to wave. “We’re out of here.”
    Lyle stopped them. “Any chance we’ll get a good sex scene tonight?”
    Barb scoffed at his remark. “Please, this early? I worked on the last experiment and it was a month before anyone hooked up. But of course, they didn’t have a Jennifer.”
    “All right, then.” Seemingly disappointed, Lyle sat in the chair next to Stan.
    “And . . .” Barb continued as she opened the door, “masturbation does not count. So since you two have the earliest sex guesses, don’t snatch up the money for that. Remember the rules.” She left with a giggle to Tina.
    With a smirk at the just closed door, Stan looked to Lyle. “I think masturbation should count. Don’t you?”
    “Absolutely.”
    “Too bad,” Stan said and then grabbed the remote control zooming in on monitor seven. “Hey-hey-hey, I don’t know what’s going on, but this ought to be good.” He grinned. “Graison’s going into Rickie’s room.”

I-S.E. Twelve - Seal River Complex, Manitoba, Canada
     
August 3 - 2:11 P.M.
     

    Jake was a man who had ventured into many dangerous situations. Never did he think twice about any venture like he did as he stood before Rickie’s door. Fist raised high to knock, annoyance level peaking from the too loud music that blasted into the hallway, Jake stopped. He tilted his head and stared at the door in utter perplexity.
    “And I’m going to keep on loving you . . .”
    “What the fuck is he listening to that for?” Jake knocked hard believing even more, upon deciphering Rickie’s choice in music, that something was just not right about him. There wasn’t an answer and Jake knocked again . . . then again.
    “Dude!” upbeat, loud and excited Rickie yelled when he opened the door. His eyes were squinted and red.
    The cloud of smoke billowed out at Jake. The tickle hit his throat and he immediately coughed. “Quit calling me, Dude.”
    “OK.” Rickie grinned. “Sarge, why are you . . .” Rickie stepped back out of the way when Jake walked in.
    Twenty-four hours , Jake thought. A span of a day and Rickie’s room appeared as if he had been living in it for two years. Magazines, music, food sprawled out all over the room which was engulfed in a heavy cloud of smoke.
    Rickie walked back in the room talking loudly. “Sarge, what did you want?”
    Jake’s peered about the room through the fog. The room wasn’t that big but he couldn’t spot it. Listening, slightly hunched, Jake