Jacobi Jarzen Tadel - Echoes of Peace

1. Auflage 2014
ISBN: 978-0-9906318-1-1
Verlag: TeBo Publishing
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 207 Seiten

Jarzen Tadel's body is safe for the moment, strapped to a large metal chair with wires, electrodes, and probes attached directly to his brain. The full fury of an Ion Storm is in its lightning, which has a direct line into Jarzen's brain.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Jacobi, Robert

Leseproben

CHAPTER ONE HORRIBLE EXPERIMENT “Patrax Codor, Patrax Master Tadel, subject nine seven four six has taken numerous hits and he is still alive; why not unhook him and evaluate the data?” “Patrax Rando, please refer to him as Jarzen or simply by his subject number. And as I have already explained; Jarzen is a very special case. I plan to benefit significantly from the use of subject nine seven four six. I plan to derive maximum pleasure from this opportunity; I will benefit greatly by his participation and be rid of an old rival all at the same time. Besides, he has not yet taken a direct Ion Lightning strike.” “Patrax Codor, if his brain gets totally fried by the Ion Lightening, we may derive no benefit from his participation; on the other hand we could lose invaluable research data. I am very intrigued by his insistent claim that he now has two brains. Science demands it; we must evaluate this claim.” “Two brains, preposterous, totally preposterous; however, if it will appease your curiosity, let’s take a closer look. You should know; I have no intention of unhooking Jarzen, at least not yet. Look, Rando, our subject is fine, and as you can clearly see, he still has only one head.” “Jarzen, how are you bearing up under the experiment? Are you still alive and cognizant? How is the pain; does it subside after the strike? Speak up, Jarzen; you’re not offering up much useful scientific information. I wanted you to enjoy this as much as I am enjoying it … and I am enjoying it. I’m still waiting for you to make your contribution.” A terrified Jarzen replied, “Codor, I have amazing new data; unhook me.” “Jarzen, it’s about time; explain about your brain being torn in half?” “Codor, unhook me and I’ll explain. I have amazing, valuable data.” “Jarzen, explain and I’ll consider unhooking you. You haven’t even taken a direct lightening strike yet. The three incidents so far have only been near strikes.” “Near strikes? Codor; unhook me; if those were only near strikes, you must unhook me. I’ll never survive a direct strike. You’ve made a tremendous breakthrough; my subconscious mind is, is, is …” “Jarzen, explain what you mean, by your brain having been torn in half?” “My brain was torn in half. I’m certain; I now have two separate minds. Codor, unhook me before it’s too late, please; you must unhook me now.” “Jarzen, look at yourself in the monitor; LOOK AT YOURSELF. Your skull is still intact, and you are still able to communicate. Witness the facts: your brain could not have been torn in half, there isn’t even any blood.” “Codor, you must believe me. For the love of the Creator, Codor, you must unhook me. I now have two functioning minds. I do, I do. I’m telling you, I am conscious of everything I’m doing: talking, breathing, even the beating of my heart. I’m participating in this conversation and I’m watching it at the same time.” Pain … pain … searing pain … NOT AGAIN … NOT AGAIN, fight back … fight back … pain … sharp pain … stabbing pain … PAIN BEYOND ALL PAIN … . “Jarzen, Jarzen, can you hear me?” “Yes, Codor, I hear you, you must unhook me now. UNHOOK ME RIGHT NOW. I can’t take another hit. I just can’t. I can’t … .” “Jarzen, Jarzen, get a hold of yourself. That was the closest Ion Lightening strike so far; however, the collectors have yet to sustain a direct hit. Take one direct hit and survive and I’ll disconnect you.” “Jarzen, tell me, how can it be possible for you to have two brains?” “I don’t know Codor; I just know I definitely have two minds. They are now completely separate, functioning separately and functioning in unison at the same time. It’s truly amazing. It’s truly incredible, truly astonishing, and truly beyond belief.” “Jarzen, prepare yourself, the Ion Storm is coming ashore, it will be directly over the Institute in a few minutes.” “CODOR, IN THE NAME OF THE CREATOR, UNHOOK ME. Please unhook me. I’ll never survive a direct hit. YOU MUST UNHOOK ME NOW! Please, Codor; please, do you possess no compassion, have you no mercy?” “Jarzen, for your information, we currently have eleven subjects who are still alive after a direct lightening strike to the collector. We have learned a great deal from their direct encounters with the energy contained in lightening. We have all of our precautions in place; you should survive this experiment. Keep up your running commentary, it’s been very entertaining.” PAIN … RELENTLESS PAIN … SEARING PAIN … BLINDING PAIN … ALL CONSUMING PAIN … P A I N … P A I N … P A I N … nothingness… . “Patrax Codor, Jarzen is still not responding. He must be dead. We took four direct Ion Lightening strikes to the collector, only solar seconds apart. No one could have survived that.” Patrax Codor moaned, “Can we disconnect Jarzen from the collector from here? We must save the data.” “Patrax Codor, that won’t be necessary. The fourth direct hit melted all of the antenna cable connectors. Jarzen is for all intents and purposes disconnected.” Patrax Codor lamented again, “We must get this door open. Why can’t we get this flaming door open?” “Patrax Codor, we have tried; the military commandant has sealed the entire complex. The storm is hovering right over us. The storm surge has flooded all of the outer buildings. The lightening collector is gone, as are the dormitories. The entire back wall to the holding cells and many of the buildings have lost their roofs. This storm is said to be one of the worst on record. Not even Tar-Que building materials and construction methods are able to completely withstand this colossal potent Ion Storm.” “We must get to Jarzen, we must. We are losing invaluable data.” Patrax Codor’s frustration went on to become complete. He sat slumped in a corner bemoaning the tremendous loss. The Institute was sustaining substantial damage and loss of life, yet Codor’s only concern was for the data he was losing. The Ion Storm raged on without surcease, hovering right over the Institute for two days, and two nights, before the storm miraculously dissolving into nothingness. When the research facility’s lock down was finally lifted, Patrax Codor ordered his entire team to recover Jarzen’s body for immediate autopsy. Codor’s only concern was the amazing breakthrough he was certain they had made, and the incredible amount of data they had lost, while Jarzen’s body lay decomposing, just beyond his reach, yet only thirty Standard Galactic feet away. Codor pushed everyone to urgency—time was critical. Because a living brain contained so much fluid, it was possible that after two days of decomposing they would get no useful data from subject nine seven four six. Jarzen was quickly rolled into the dissection lab; the mobile couch-table was repositioned for autopsy. All of the restraints were rapidly removed from Jarzen’s arms and legs to facilitate the researcher’s closer accessibility to the subject. When Patrax Codor arrived in the lab, he quickly released the head restraint, and then he requested the autopsy laser. Codor was lining up for his first incision when his assistant stayed his arm. “Patrax Codor, the subject just moved his hand. There, he moved again; Jarzen is still alive!” Patrax Codor spent the next few solar minutes actively trying to revive Jarzen, he even shook Jarzen by both shoulders, trying to get him to speak or even to blink. His team did a quick medical workup on subject nine seven four six. With the exception of severe electrical burns on the base of his skull and shoulders where they had rested on the table, and the same for his upper back, buttock, calves, and heels he was medically all right. With proper care, Jarzen would heal physically. In all probability he would survive; but what of his mind, what of his brain? Patrax Codor, wishing to lose no more time decided Jarzen would never be able to verbally communicate again. He was determined not to lose the valuable data he could collect from Jarzen’s dissected brain. Patrax Codor announced the end of all medical procedures and ordered his staff to prepare for live autopsy. The urgent movements necessary to try and awaken Jarzen, combined with the quick medical exam and the repositioning of his head and body after the removal of the restraints, along with the alteration of the table’s configuration from couch to gurney had revived Jarzen. When Patrax Codor addressed him, he had tried to speak. His body was not working. His minds seemed to be working just fine. Yes, his minds, he still had, he did have TWO MINDS. How could that be? Jarzen had to communicate with Codor. He had to. He had to move. Try as he might, all he could move was his left hand, and only just barely. “Let’s proceed with the live autopsy,” said Codor. “I’ll not take the risk of losing this data. We will keep him alive as long as possible. Hook up the leads on the underside of his skull. I will remove the entire frontal skull bone in one piece.” Once again, panic swelled in Jarzen. Then full blown anger....