Science is Magic pt. 1

Over Three Weeks Ago

Twilight Sparkle was busy reading in the library, as she was want to do in the early morning. It was a beautiful bright summer day, perfect for the picnic they had planned. Spike was busy in the kitchen with all the cooking. Twilight had offered to help but Spike refused saying that she should do what she really wanted which was studying. But they both knew the real reason. Twilight was a terrible cook.

Spike walked in wearing his pink apron. “You ready for the picnic Twilight?”

“I sure am Spike. I packed all the books we might need and even prepared a few conversation starters.” Spike rolled his eyes, which Twilight ignored. “Is the food all ready?”

“Just letting the muffins cool. It's no surprise that we were assigned with muffins considering both Applejack and Pinkie’s mess up.”

“Spike you know that was an accident and you even enjoyed them, which is so gross.”

“Yeah well we all have our guilty pleasures.”

Twilight blushed, as she knew what Spike was referring to and quickly changed the subject. “Well when will they be cooled off?”

“Oh... Maybe four to five minutes.”

“Good. Maybe we can get a few things done before the picnic this afternoon.”

Right after she finished speaking she heard a large clapping of what sounded like thunder. She and Spike ran outside, fearing that off in the distance would be a rain cloud in the Everfree that would ruin the picnic, but even the Everfree was free of clouds. Just then, a large gust of wind whipped and wailed passed Twilight and Spike almost blowing them off their feet and hooves. Then calmed just as quickly as it came.

“What was that?!” Exclaimed Spike in confusion.

“I don’t know Spike but whatever it was I think it might make us call off our picnic.”

May 12th 2007

Today seemed like it was another day of college life for Evan Kelly. He rose from bed hit his blaring alarm and went to the bathroom to ready himself for the day. He brushed his teeth and flossed while looking into the mirror. He saw his usual features, his plane brown hair and green eyes. He didn’t have too many features of his face that he didn’t like but he always did wonder why he hadn’t gone out and found a girl to get with. Truth be told he was shy when it came to women, so in no way was he a Casanova. After pushing out the slightly depressing thoughts he moved on to more important ones as he hopped in the shower. His professor was one of psychology, chemistry, and biology. Three subjects that he was studying for his doctorate. Today was Evan’s midterms but he wasn’t too worried. He was considered a prodigy after all. He was mostly modest when it came to his ability but to call him smart would be an understatement. He would be finishing college at the tender age of 16 after all.

Just one year to go. Evan thought.

This didn’t mean however that he was out of the social loop as it were. He made many friends at the campus and even those that were his age. He was even capable of having fun with music, online discussion forums, and mindless videogames. When he was given something it didn’t take him long to know it inside and out. But now was not the time to think of that; now he was prepping for the test in his mind. Due to the mundane task of showering it was easy to think of all the questions that might be on the test and testing his mind for the answers. When he felt that he had gone through enough variables he walked out of the shower, dried himself off, and got dressed in the bathroom.

When he got out he looked at the clock and panicked. “Oh crap!” He spent way longer in the shower then he thought he had and his test should be starting right about now. He grabbed his pack and ran out of the dorm room. He ran as fast as he could to the classroom but nothing could change the lapse of time so that he would be there when he was supposed to.

He arrived twenty minutes late and walked in as his professor was sitting at the desk reading a book. He had a slightly crooked nose with glasses at the bridge. He was roughly in his early forties and had peppered hair with a few wrinkles starting to show in his face. The test was on the corner of the table, which was centered at the front of the class. Good I can just grab a test sit down and take it without him noticing. He thought. The student thought very highly of his professor and didn’t want him to think that his most promising pupil was a slacker. He snuck up to the table and took a test. Evan looked up to see if the professor had noticed anything yet. The avid teacher's eyes were firmly glued to the book he was reading. The undergraduate mentally sighed, relieved that so far his plan was working as childish as it was. He snuck up to his seat slowly, quietly lifted the chair and pulled it out to eliminate the sound of scraping legs. After setting the chair in a manageable position, he carefully sat himself down. Lightly setting his book bag down and pulling out a number 2 pencil he went to work to his te-

“Mr. Kelly?” Evan jumped and fell over his seat because the voice had come from right beside him. He looked up to see his professor standing next to him. Damn

“Yes Dr. Cooper?”

“Why are you late?”

Evan got up off the floor and said, “Well I got into studying for the test and lost track of time.”

“Well at least you weren’t playing video games this time. Next time you're late to anything make sure you can get away with it or come up with a good excuse at least. I would like to talk to you after class. Come to my office after the test.”

“Yes sir.”

He walked back to his desk and sat down going back to his book. He must have spliced himself with a cat Evan thought, as he returned himself to his test.

* * * *

Evan sat in the uncomfortable desk in doctor Lenard Cooper’s office. He had finished his test slower then normal but that was not because it was overly difficult. He was worried why Dr. Cooper had asked him to come to his office. This wasn’t high school and tardiness wasn’t as looked down upon in college. It’s your money that you’re wasting after all if you don’t go. So what was it that was so important to talk to him about? He had pondered several different things that it might be but his pondering came to a close as he heard the door behind him open.

Evan watched Dr. Cooper walk in. “Hello Mr. Kelly,” he said with a smile as he walked over to his desk.

“I’m sorry doctor but why did you ask me to come here? It’s KILLING me,” Evan asked with a mixture of excitement fear and curiosity. “Am I in trouble or something?”

“Oh heavens no. It’s more of an opportunity. I have been recently been assigned a very special and top-secret project and can select only one assistant to help me. And I’m offering you the job.”

Evan was speechless. This was absolutely more epic than anything that he could think up. After the initial shock he jumped out of his chair. “Seriously? You want me to work on a project with you? Of course I will! When do I start? What is it about? What will I be doing?” Evan shot off so many questions all at once that none could be understood let alone answered.

“Whoa their young man, just calm down. You can’t join quite yet because you haven’t graduated but once you do then you will be working under me as my assistant, while I will be lead scientist on the project.”

“Oh wow this is absolutely amazing thank you so much doctor!” Evan exclaimed as he shook Dr. Cooper’s hand.

“Now this is top-secret so here is the disclosure agreement.” The seasoned doctor pulled a stack of papers an inch thick from the desk with his free hand and placed it in front of the amusingly enthusiastic student. “Read it carefully because it states that if you break the agreement, you’ll be committing treason.”

“Alright doctor I understand. Thank you so much for the opportunity!” The teenager released his death grip, scooped up the papers, and rushed out the door down the hallway.

Dr. Cooper sat back down in his chair and chuckled. “That kid.”

October 25th 2011

Two scientists with lab coats walked out of the conference room accompanied by cheering. One had a worried and concerned expression, the other smiling happily at their very speedy accomplishments. The very young 19-year-old scientist started the conversation as they walked to the lab downstairs.

“Dr. Cooper are you sure that we have to kill the test subjects? They have gotten smarter and it doesn’t feel morally right to me. I know their only animals bu-“

“I am sorry Dr. Kelly but this must be done. This goes over my head.”

The 19-year-old Evan sighed in defeat. There really was nothing they could do. If the superiors wanted no trace then there would be no trace.

“Think on the brighter side of things, Aldaphedrapsychomean XIII is now ready for human testing. Who knows what kind of intellectual genius we will create if the drug is used on a person. We could become billionaires.”

“But weren’t there some physical changes too? What if nobody is willing to try the drug if it means living with extra appendages or other such mutations?”

“Well hopefully it won't come to that. Besides the mutations were not varying in the same species. But all had the same effects, increased intelligence. And not a single death in the history of this strain. Trust me everything will be smooth sailing from here.”

“I still don’t think it's right,” Evan exclaimed solemnly.

“Well, know that what we do is for the betterment of man and the United States Of America. Besides it’s just not natural for mice to do complicated puzzles don’t you agree?”

And what we do for man is totally natural for man… Evan thought to himself.

Dr. Cooper smiled at his old protégé and tried to cheer him up. “Come on let’s go have a drink after we clock out. We should be celebrating after all.”

Evan smiled at his mentors slightly thoughtless words. “I’m under age remember?”

* * * *

May 3rd 2013

In the same conference room where roughly two years ago there had been celebrating, there sat two saddened scientists and a group of investors and government officials around the conference table.

“I’m sorry you two but we all came to a conclusion. If you don’t find a willing person to take the drug then we're going to shut down the project and destroy all evidence of it ever existing. I truly am sorry,” stated the general with a frown.

The two were absolutely distraught at the news they had been given. They tried reasoning with them all and they were unmovable in this. The project was stagnant. No one wanted to try the drug because of the slightly strange mutations that were apparent in other species. Most species were left alone and nothing besides increased intelligence were achieved. Even in most other cases where there were mutations it was a pigment change of fur and depending on the dose was drastic but otherwise successful, but others were not so lucky, receiving larger bodies or a mismatch of different protrusions or appendages that were, although surprisingly functional, not natural on the specific creature. Further research had been unsuccessful in trying to keep the desired intelligence without the undesired side effects.

Dr. Cooper looked at the general with defeat. “We… understand. Thank you for your time all of you.” And with that the conference room filled out.

There was a long silence between the two scientists that stayed behind in the conference room. Until the 21-year old Dr. Evan Kelly spoke up.

“That settles it then I’m doing it.”

“Oh please don’t. Not yet. Wait a couple of days. We can get the whole staff on the job trying to find a willing tester.” Replied Dr. Lenard Cooper.

“No. They’re pulling the plug in a week. They’re determined to shut us down. Plus we’ve BEEN looking for a tester for the last year and a half offering all kinds of money to try it and none would. It’s me or not at all. My whole career has been this project and I don't want to see it fail.”

Dr. Cooper was speechless at his young protégé that he now called friend. “Is there nothing I can do to change your mind and make you stop from doing this?”

Evan only shook his head.

“Youth is stubborn. Fine we start in a week.”

May 10th 2013

Evan woke from his slumber and got out of bed. "Today’s the day” The soon to be test subject said to himself. Who knew what was going to happen to him after today. He hadn’t talked to his parents. Wonder what they would think if I suddenly came home with wings? he chuckled at the thought as he went to the shower to get ready for his “new day”.

After getting showered and dressed, unfortunately he couldn’t have any chemicals on him so deodorant and hair gel were out of the question, he grabbed his bag with clothes and other personal belongings and left for work where he would be kept there for experimentation. He was a little nervous even in the car. What kind of fear will he be filled with when he gets strapped down to a table? He pushed out the anxiety filled thoughts and proceeded to drive to work for the last time in a long time. When he arrived it was like a normal workday except that he was without his lab coat. He walked into the waiting room across from the glass room where he might turn into- No don’t worry nothing bad will happen. None of the test subjects died and neither will you. The thoughts calmed him down some but did nothing for the butterflies that seemed to make him want to dry heave. He then removed his clothes to get ready for the procedure.

“Thank goodness they let me keep my underwear for a small bit of privacy, ”he said to himself.

After a short time of waiting, one of the scientists came in with a HAZMAT suit on, minus the headgear. “We’re ready for you Dr.” Evan got up uneasily as the sight of the HAZMAT suits brought back his previous panic. However he was determined. He refused to think that he was a failure and his stubborn pride pushed him forward to complete his mission. He walked into the cleaning chamber where all but him put on the HAZMAT suits and were sprayed with disinfectant mist. Then he walked to the table and laid down. Evan could see Dr. Cooper behind the glass viewing-window controlling the whole process. The human lab rat gave the leading doctor a thumbs up which he reciprocated. Evan’s hand was then taken from him as they strapped him down to the table. It was at this time that he wished he had nitrous oxide over his mouth to keep him calm. But at this point he would have to make do with deep breathing. And here comes the scary part. The chemical had to be injected in close proximity to the brain to be effective. Therefore the most logical place to stick the needle is in the neck. As you can imagine this is rather dangerous, thus his apparent fear.

“Are you okay in there Evan?” that was one of the few times Dr. Cooper ever called him by his first name.

“Just a bit nervous. To be expected really.”

“Yes. But you’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”

The older scientist behind the glass helped his breathing and pulse slow and he closed his eyes.

“Just numb me so I don’t feel anything,” he said to the doctor who would inject him with the experimental drug.

“Of course,” he replied and applied the numbing agent that would keep him from feeling anything more then a pinch.

“Now injecting subject with experimental drug,” announced the doctor holding the needle in a hazmat suit. The old doctor standing behind the safety glass gave a nod in the affirmative to start the procedure.

The wait was excruciating as the hero test subject lay on the table waiting for the unknown effects that the drug would take on him. He felt a pinch in the neck for a few seconds, then it was gone. There was nothing to do now but wait for the inevitable as Evan looked up at the bright lights of the ceiling.

Ten minute-like seconds passed with no results. The other animals had had a much shorter waiting time so this boggled the minds of all doctors and scientists alike. The injected patient started to say “Well this is dis-“ then the most agonizing headache he had ever experience racked his brain. Evan sat there with nothing but the company of the immense pain rampaging through his entire mind. Everything tasted like metal and his vision blurred. The excruciating pain spread from his head to out to his extremities. He started to convulse and have seizure-like jerking making the doctors try to hold him down on the table but all of his body movements were intentional. Anything was better than feeling this horrid pain spreading across his body which is why he jerked to find a new pain to focus on in wasted effort. His eyes went in and out of focus and he lost sight for a minute, feeling every bit of change that the drug had brought on. If he were in his right mind then he would have wondered what was happening to his body. But he was too preoccupied by the rising pain in his head. As the self inflicted torture victim thought he couldn’t take it anymore the pain ceased as quickly as it had come. He lay as still as he could on the table and breathed long and steady breaths to not aggravate any part of his recently ravaged body. His eyes remained closed, relieved that it was all over.

“Tests confirm that there is no contamination.” He heard over the speakers. “You OK their Evan?”

The table-strewn figure finally recognized the sound of his good old friend and gave a slow and tired nod. As he felt the restraints on his hands and other limbs start to loosen, gravity started to turn as he was flipped up and the doctors bent down and grabbed his arms in time before the dreary man could fall face first to the floor. The two doctors that caught him draped his arms like a scarves around their necks and helped to put him on a stretcher. He had enough strength to lift his head and drearily fluttered his eyes open. He caught a glimpse of a figure in the reflection of the glass being helped to a stretcher by two men in white coats, the figure’s hair just a brilliantly white as the coats.

Wonder who that is? Evan thought in his delusional state, as he was laid on the stretcher. Then he heard the door open and the familiar voice could be heard again, this time without the aid of speakers.

“We did it Evan! You did it!” And there was much cheering. That’s when Evan’s mind gave out as his whole world went black.

June 1 2013

Evan’s eyes shot open from his bad dream in a cold sweat, lying in his recently assigned bed. The dream was a nightmare but it was real all the same. The pain would return in a few of his dreams and in the worst ones the current dilemma that had befallen him. The last three weeks seem to have flown by. But there is one thing that remains early disturbing. He rose from the bed and went to the mirror and did his morning hygiene rituals while examining himself in the reflective surface. His hair was snow white and his eyes had changed from his old vibrant green to a bright yellow. He considered himself extremely lucky that these were the only changes to his physique. If he had changed into a horrific monster then merging into society might be an unavailable option. He shuddered at the thought and got into the shower to get ready for another day of testing. As he left his assigned quarters and went to the lab he noticed that it was much busier than it normally was. Actually the correct word would be more bustling than normal. The confused scientist turned experiment went to his old friends office to see him with his head on his desk. Seeing his mentor make a gesture on his work station that was virtually never seen, made the Evan’s stomach turn with worry.

“Dr. Cooper?”

The called biologist’s only response was to lift his head off the table and sigh, shutting his eyes at the unpleasantness of what he had to do.

Evan continued, “Doctor what’s going on here? What is everyone doing? It’s like a tornado out there.”

The seasoned doctor of science sagely walked to the window of his office and looked out at the chaos that was the lab with a completely stoic look on his face.

“I am deeply sorry Evan. You have sacrificed more for this project then any of us combined. But even with our struggles they’re still shutting us down.”

“…No.” was all that could be squeezed out of the stunned young white haired man’s lungs.

The scientist at the window continued to look out. He did not make any eye contact for fear that the shame would overwhelmingly show. “You can continue your life as normal and live in society and even get 2 million dollars for testing the experimental drug. The highest we ever offered, but all research and samples are to be destroyed or burned.”

As the shock passed, the frantic scientist tried reasoning with him, “But it’s only been three weeks. There have been some results and even-“

“Enhanced brain activity that we cannot track and impeccable memory which is probably the cause, are too small a price to pay to make the drug in the first place,” the elderly scientist interrupted, while turning and repeating the words spoken to him by the general. “Unfortunately your intelligence remains the same. And there were no other changes we can see other than your hair and eyes. I am sorry Evan but they won't back down. I fought for you,” said the father figure as he walked out the office with tears streaming down.

Evan walked over to the desk feeling completely numb and looked at the screen saver on the computer screen on the desk. He moved the mouse and expected a password screen but only the default background screen could be seen.

There was nothing to hide…

* * * *

Evan tried all day to change the minds of the people shutting them down but it was futile. He was driving home completely defeated. He pulled into the driveway of his home, which hadn’t been touched in three weeks. He had hoped that it would be much longer that he would see it. He got out of the car feeling nothing and walked to the trunk to pull all his belongings out of the car’s trunk. As he walked to the door, his depression weighed heavily on his heart.

Had these five years really been for nothing? He thought. He lifted his heavy arm to his pocket and fumbled for his keys. The young man found the key and gripped it firmly. He raised it to the doorknob, and the house key slid into the keyhole grinding against pins. With a turn the deadlock was retracted allowing entrance and, to Evan, represented an utter failure to save his first project. He pushed the door open and stepped in, each footstep feeling like an anchor slamming his wood floor. He closed the door, dropped his bag, and walked to the kitchen. He sat at the stool at the edge of his stone island and then all the emotion hit him at once. Tears started to stream as he sobbed on top of the stone counter.

In a flash grief turned to rage as he kicked his stool back and slammed his fist into the stone slab formed table. However, instead of feeling the pain and possible broken hand he would have expected to receive, the table shattered. Wood splinters and pebbles flew passed his face as the punch continued through the table. As the chaos caused by his emotions settled he froze as he saw the damage that he had created. There was powdered stone in the air and the stone island lay with a shattered tabletop that pointed to the epicenter of the blow. He pulled his hand out to inspect the damage. Absolutely nothing had happened to it despite the chalky stone clinging to it. He looked behind him to see that the window had shattered as well. He looked out the broken hole in the glass to see the stool he had been sitting on hanging in a nearby tree. Evan’s smile grew on his face and started laughing maniacally. It wasn’t all for nothing after all.

Author's Note

Well there's part of the history. next will be the sad bad news. I need to get some advice about how to proceed so it might be a bit before the next post. I'll see you soon though and try not to be reclusive ^_^.