By Science Betrayed - part 1
by Phishhed

Patrick Wilson was the youngest person to ever receive a PHD at City university. He first showed his talent in chemistry ate the age of nine, when he blew up his fathers barn while attempting to make fireworks in his makeshift laboratory in the hayloft. Never happy on the farm, he escaped his rural Texas beginnings by graduating high school at the age of 14 and moving to Patriot City to attend university. Patrick received his doctorate in chemistry five years later. He applied for and received, much to the older graduates chagrin, a large and prestigious grant for research in new pharmaceuticals.

Now, at twenty-one, he is an experienced and respected researcher, but not a happy one at the moment.

"I can't believe I forgot to file my budget reports!" he grumbled to himself. "Gosh, I really wanted to meet Shanova's sister too. Which reminds me, I need to call her."

He reached for the phone and dialed the home of his new fiancee.

"Hello?"

"Hi, honey, I'm really sorry about this, but you're going to have to take Charleen to dinner without me. I've got a ton of paperwork to catch up on here." said Patrick.

The quick tempered redhead was not pleased. "Pat! You promised that today was going to be different, Charleen is..."

"I know I promised but things have been really busy at the lab and I just fell behind. Why don't you and Charleen go out and I'll take you both out for lunch tomorrow.?"

After what he was sure was an anger filled silence she said "Well, all right, but you'd better show up or you're in big trouble Buster!" As he hung up the phone Patrick wondered if Charleen was as high strung as her twin. He sincerely hoped not.

It was about an hour later that he heard the voices through the ventilator. It amused him that his new neighbor never realized that he could hear every word said in the other's office. Dr. Wanzor could be such a wet-noodle. Patrick thought about their initial meeting.

It was soon after that strange group of Superheroes, the Freedom Force, appeared that he bumped into Dr. Wanzor in the hall.

"Oh, please excuse me, sir." Patrick had said.

"Watch where you are going you young dolt!" barked the bespectacled old man. "And what are you doing lurking around here anyway? This floor is off limits to students!"

Patrick grinned and said "Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Dr. Wilson." He put out his hand.

"Dr...Oh do forgive me my boy! I've heard of you of course; I just expected someone..."

"Older, maybe? Don't worry , I get that a lot."

"My name is Wanzor, Dr. Emil Wanzor. I'll be using the lab next door to you."

Patrick had wondered about that. There had been a lot of bustle in the hallway lately.

"What are you researching?" Patrick asked.

"I'm afraid I can't tell you that, Classified you know." said Wanzor. He had immediately gone to his new lab and shut the door. Patrick and Dr. Wanzor had spoken many times since, and Wanzor always asked how Patrick's research was going but steadfastly refused to speak of his own.

Patrick's musing were interrupted when he realized that the voices coming through the vent were speaking about him.

"No, General. Wilson doesn't suspect a thing. The man is brilliant when it comes to science but he is completely naive."

Although Wanzor never seemed to realize that sound carried through the old ducts, Patrick found himself holding his breath.

"How is his research coming along? Has he found anything useful to us?" said a man, undoubtedly this ‘General' Wanzor was talking with.

"As a matter of fact, yes. His work in hallucinogenics is simply amazing. He's been trying to reduce the hallucinatory effects of LSD while increasing its euphoric properties. His latest formula seems to have amplified both. And while we don't need the euphoric it should serve our purposes."

The General said "Good, I'll have the canister sent over right away."

The voices faded and a door could be heard closing.

"Whooo" Patrick's breath exploded out of him. "What is going on here?" he wondered. "I've got to get to the bottom of this!"

Patrick, angry now, went into his laboratory and headed to the door that opened into the adjacent lab. The two labs had once been used as a single large complex, and though it was kept locked, the door had never been bricked up. There was a large cabinet in front of the door and Patrick nearly knocked its contents all over the lab when he shoved against it. Surprised, he checked the underside of the cabinet and discovered that it was on wheels!

"This must be how he's getting into my lab."

Placing his ear against the door he heard no sounds from the other side. he pulled his keys from his pocket and unlocked the door.

Patrick's heart was pounding as he slowly opened the door. He wasn't surprised that the hinges didn't squeak. After closing the door behind him, he quickly stole across the room and went to Wanzor's office. Patrick was reaching for the door, praying it wasn't locked when he realized there was something was very strange about this lab. He turned and looked around. None of the equipment in the room had been used! All the scientific implements lay shrouded in plastic, untouched. There was only one table that looked in use, a clamp was bolted to it, and there were several wires running to a flask of clear liquid. Several syringes lay in a tray nearby.

Patrick was peering at the label on the flask when a noise caused him to spin towards the door to the hallway. He heard a jingling sound and a muffled curse, as if someone had dropped their keys. He sprinted back to his own lab and could see the other door opening as he closed his. Patrick was shaking with fear and fury as he leaned his head against the door.

LSD3. That what the labeled flask read. Tri-lysergic acid diethylamide. Ten times stronger than LSD. "That formula is dangerous, that's why I abandoned it!" thought Patrick. "They are going to inject someone with it, but why?"

There were voices coming from beyond the door.

"....put the canister in that clamp....Careful you idiot! ........All right General, it's connected. The formula should be ready in about an hour, let me show you the test subjects. They've been set up in the bomb shelter in the basement....."

Patrick heard the door shut .

Dr. Wanzor's office was unlocked, but his desk wasn't. It wasn't hard to break into, but anyone could tell it had been. In the bottom drawer was a large file labeled Project Ultra-Soldier: Top Secret.

Patrick opened the file and began reading. ".......after infusing the formula with the alien Energy-X, it will be administered to the subjects. The LSD3 will heighten the subjects brain activity. Energy-X is believed to grant super powers based on the recipients state of mind as well as their natural inclinations. Other unknown factors may apply. It is hoped that the combination of these two substances will produce superior soldiers with a variety of mental based powers, possibly including thought control and the ability to kill by thought. Due to the unpredictable nature of the results, precautions have been taken to destroy the subjects should they prove uncontrollable after the transformation."

Patrick was in shock, his government was going to inject its own people with this formula and then kill them if they weren't the obedient little super soldier they want. "No, not the government, Generals don't show up at laboratories. The scientist goes to them. This MUST be some secret plot!!" he thought.

Just then he heard the outer door opening. Patrick rushed into the lab.

"Wilson, what are you doing here?" In his fury over what had been done with his work, Patrick was oblivious to the danger he was in. "Monster! How could you do this to your fellow man?" He waved the file at Wanzor. "Science is supposed to help people, not turn them into freaks and mutants!"

Dr. Wanzor was contemptuous. "Fool boy. Don't you know the commies are already creating their monsters to take over the world? Nuclear winter almost destroyed this city! We have to stop them, we have to crush them first!"

As the two scientists argued about the ethics of science, a mysterious canister lay clamped on a nearby table . Wires running from the object were feeding the alien energy into the flask of hideously potent LSD3. The formerly colorless liquid was now glowing purple and growing brighter by the moment.

Patrick suddenly lost control, screaming "You won't get away with this!" He grabbed the scarecrow-like figure of Dr. Wanzor and threw him to the floor. Quickly turning to the table he grabbed the flask and yanked it free. As the wires connected to the canister of Energy-X came loose, there was a blinding flash of purple light and the flask exploded in his hand. Like liquid lightning, the hallucinogenic brew soaked into his torn hand sending agonizing arcs of pain through his body. Patrick leaned against the table, cradling his injured hand to his body and looked up.

And the world began to melt.

To be continued...