Mind Games

A short sci-fi story originally written for the SFX magazine Pulp Idol competition. Replicated here so as not to waste it.

Mind Games.

By Owen Niblock.

Peter stepped out of the car and onto the gravel drive, he'd done drugs trials before, but this was the first where they'd wanted quite so many references. The first where he'd had to show three lots of ID just to get through the gate. The list of firsts went on with each step, and it did nothing to help the feeling of unease set deep in his stomach.

"I guess this must be government funded" he muttered to himself as he traipsed the long pathway to the reception. Inside, his fears were confirmed, two burly men stood at either side of the sliding doors. They weren't wearing uniforms but they didn't need to. They had military personnel written all over them.

Peter approached the reception desk, "Hello Mr. Strachan. Welcome to IMR incorporated. If you'll just take a seat, someone will see to you shortly." 
The receptionist motioned Peter over to some plastic chairs. He shifted around in the uncomfortable chair and looked around. There was no reading matter to pass the time; nothing but a deadly silence echoing loudly throughout the entire room.

Just as Peter's patience was beginning to wear thin, a door at the end of the waiting room opened and an attractive brunette strode out, clipboard in hand.
"Hello Mr. Strachan. Here's your ID badge. Please have it visible at all times."
"Thank you, Miss. Erm..." Peter paused.
"If you'll just follow me, we'll begin with an interview, then we'll go through the treatment before you take part."

With that, the woman turned and sauntered back the way she'd come. A slightly stunned Peter Strachan stood up and followed her through stark, clinical hallways. There were no posters or other signs of life, nothing to say "Do this" or "Don't do that". Every now and then they passed a door and Peter couldn't help but think of all the possible tortures people might be receiving just a short pace away. He shook his head and tried to start a conversation with his companion.

"You never told me your name." He began.
The woman turned to him, although there was kindness in her eyes, her voice was stern."
I must inform the subject that conversation is not permitted until after the termination of the experiment."
Peter looked at her, the word "termination" reverberating round his mind. This was the best paid medical research he'd ever been involved in but he wondered if he was in over his head.

Just as he was about to try talking to the woman again, she stopped and opened a door, ushering him in. Inside stood a small metal table and two plain metal chairs. He was pointed to a chair and the woman whom Peter had started to think of as "The Bitch" sat opposite. She slid a piece of paper and a pen over to him. "If you could just sign this, we'll begin the interview." She said.
Peter looked at the document; he'd seen it's like before, when he'd done contracting work for the government. A standard issue non-disclosure document. So he'd been right about it being a military operation. What had he got himself into now?

Warily he signed the documents and handed them back to The Bitch. To his surprise, she smiled. Peter noticed just a fraction of bosom showing through her white medical coat. "Stop it, don't get distracted" he thought to himself, "this is what got you in this mess in the first place". She picked up the pen and looked at the clipboard.

She started with the standard questions about age, illness and family history. Nothing to raise any alarm bells, nothing until the last.
"Just one more question Mr. Strachan. Have you ever experienced Déjà vu?"
This question took Peter a little by surprise.
"Déjà vu? Erm... Well, yes of course. Hasn't everyone? I mean, at some point?"
"Good, now, before we proceed any further, do you have any questions?"
"Yes," eat this Bitch, thought Peter "What's your name?"
She raised her eyebrows, then after a moment smiled and said "It's Sarah."
"Thankyou." Peter let out a sigh of relief. At least they were human. 
"Now, what's the experiment?" he continued.
"As you may be aware, during déjà vu, a person feels like they've done something before, or been somewhere before."
"Yes, I'd say that's fairly accurate." He agreed.
"What you may not be aware of, is that recent studies have shown that human brains work in a similar fashion to a quantum computer."
"Uhuh." Peter concentrated.
"When used to compute, quantum phenomena can achieve exceptional speeds. A very simplified explanation of how it does this, is to imagine the computer existing in parallel in an infinite number of dimensions. So in layman's terms, a quantum computer is just a very high-tech parallel computer. Performing calculations seemingly instantly."
Peter nodded, he'd read a little bit about quantum computers but didn't really understand the finer points.
Sarah continued "Well, our scientists theorise that déjà vu is actually a product of the conscious mind propagated throughout these dimensions. When you get déjà vu, you're actually experiencing a parallel universe where everything occurs just moments before it actually happens in Universe Zero."
"Universe Zero?" Peter asked, he was starting to get a little confused, but thought he followed most of it.
"Universe Zero is our name for this universe, the one we're conscious of now, what you and I refer to as The Universe."
"Right."
"The experiment is designed to stimulate the brain, creating the patterns associated with déjà vu and therefore enabling you to predict the future."
"That's a very impressive aim, and, if I may say so, a little unlikely?" Peter said carefully.
"We've already had a small amount of success Mr. Strachan. Now, if you'll follow me, I'll show you to the lab."

Sarah stood up and led Peter into another, busier room. In the centre sat a chair which looked like something out of a dentist's surgery, to either side lay tables covered in implements. Crouching over a monitor to the side of the room was a bespectacled man. Straightening up, he rushed over to meet them.
"Mr. Strachan! How very pleased I am to meet you!" Exclaimed the man. "My name is Professor Churn. Please, call me Dennis." Dennis took Peter's hand and shook it fiercely. "Good, good." He said, almost to himself. "Let's get on with it shall we? Yes. Lets get started."

Every word was hurried, breathless. Peter didn't even have time to think about saying anything before being pushed back into the chair."Now, don't worry Mr. Strachan. I'm just going to strap you in, wouldn't want you moving and causing your self an injury! No no, wouldn't want that at all!"Peter felt the harness belts tighten around his head, body, arms and legs. He swallowed hard.Dennis smiled warmly at Peter and rubbed his hands "Now then, I'm just going to open up your skull Mr. Strachan."
"What?! No, you can't, I mean, I never would have...!!" the complaints burst out of him so fast, not finishing one before the next began.
"Oh dear, this one's going to be trouble Sarah. The sedative, if you please." Dennis took a needle from Sarah and stabbed it into Peter's arm. As things started to go dim, Peter opened his mouth, but only one word escaped his mouth "Bitch". Peter floated in a void, images flashing and swirling around him. Sarah appeared, "Why?" she asked. He looked at her, refusing to say. She began to strip, letting her clothes fall slowly to the floor, always swaying gently to unheard music. Peter reached out and took her hand, pulling her close, smelling her hair. He pushed her away, "No!" he shouted. "I can't do this to her!" she looked him in the eye. It wasn't Sarah anymore, she reached for him.
"Emily. No."
Anger flashed across her face. "No? No! You can't say no to me Peter. If you do, I'll tell your dear wife what we've been up to. And don't think I won't."
Peter sighed. "What do you want Emily?"
"Money".
Everything changed. Peter was sat in an office, head in hands. He could hear a man talking "I'm sorry Mr. Strachan, but if you don't pay in 30 days, we'll have to take your house." When Peter eventually regained consciousness, little had changed except for a dull ache and a strange itch on the top of his scalp. "Welcome back Mr. Strachan." Peter struggled to clear his head and looked blearily toward the Professor. "I was hoping it was a dream." He groaned.
"The dream is yet to come! If you co-operate, this will be over a lot sooner and we can all go home." Dennis showed his teeth in a manic smile. "Now, I'm going to stimulate your brain and I'd like you to tell me what you see and feel."
Peter began to protest, "think of the money Mr. Strachan." The Professor interrupted.
Peter grunted his agreement.
The Professor pressed a button on the computer and a strange tingling sensation went through Peter's entire body.
"It feels like pins and needles" he exclaimed.
"Don't worry," the Professor explained, "that's perfectly natural at this point."
The moment he'd finished talking, the room filled with colour. Blues and reds, gold and crimson and green, constantly flashing and pulsing. Peter could feel himself being sick, choking slightly he tried to shout out. He could feel someone wiping his chin.With a jolt, everything snapped into place.
"It's stopped! Everything is how it was before." he said. Only, he didn't say it, he could hear himself saying it, far away, but here and now was only silence.
"I think it's working" came an excited and muted reply.
Peter was quiet, what was going on? Had the insane professor actually done it? What did this mean? Just as he was trying to work it out, he felt himself speak. It was a strange sensation, automatic.
"It's very strange, it's like I'm there, but not there. I can talk, but I don't say it."
"Very good," Dennis replied "could you read the exact time on the clock Mr Strachan."
"It's three thirty five."
It wasn't, Peter could see quite clearly that it was 3:30.
"We've done it Sarah!" Dennis said excitedly, turning to his assistant. He smiled at Peter again, I'm going to try and send you further Mr. Strachan."
Peter felt a shiver go through his body, then his mouth began moving again.
"It's 6, there's no-one here. I feel... I feel cold."
Peter could hear the other Professor in the back of his mind. He tried to ignore it.
The Professor in front of him spoke, "Well it's a success Sarah. If you'll pass me the other syringe, I'll finish the experiment." Sarah handed the Professor another needle and he turned back to Peter, jabbing the point into Peter's arm "You've been very useful Peter." He told him. "Thankyou... and good bye."
"Wha..?!" Peter started to shout, and then everything faded away into nothing.
Peter could feel the world grow cold around him. The Professor turned to Sarah, "Get someone to deal with the body will you Sarah? I'm going home."
Peter was stunned, then he realised the questions were still coming thick and fast in the back of his mind. Thinking quickly, he formed a reply. "It's gone back to colours, there's nothing there. Just, just darkness." As soon as he said it, it became truth. Nothingness. Sarah turned to the Professor, "Another brain haemorrhage Professor?" The Professor sighed. "I'm afraid so Sarah, every time we seem to get so close and then, nothing."
"You'll get it soon Professor, we're so close this time." She reassured him.
"Yes, you're right. Get someone to deal with the body will you Sarah? I'm going home."

The End.