Episode Eleven — Part Four (Chapters three and four): Helena and Rob plot the down-throw of the King of the Gag, deciding to move on both the Oberon project, and on whatever Gargantuan was doing to Nick. They realize too late that Nick is already getting his third treatment, which is creating the final changes to his DNA. Helena meets him for one more coffee break in the lobby, while Rob gets to work on his sabotage. Meanwhile, Spider and Seedy try to figure out, with their kidnapping victim’s help, how to get something out of Shute.
Excerpt from chapter three, while Helena and Rob plot their coup:
I laughed again. It was easy to forget that Hot Helena was also really funny. She could definitely do much better than Shute, but she hadn’t been trying. From what I could tell, Helena had spent the last ten years working really hard.
“So, I have a couple of things to ask,” I said.
“Why don’t you let me start? I’ve learned a little bit about what Nick’s doing here.”
“Really?”
“Yes,” she said. “I’m supposed to have dinner with the guy who’s running the program Nick is in tonight, so I’ll have details, but he’s altering DNA. They’ve already done it to other animals.”
“You mean, like, in vitro animals. Cloning?”
“No. Live animals. The Letch seemed proud of that. They’re changing the DNA of live animals. They’ve already done their work with lower animals, and they’re starting on humans.”
“Holy shit.”
“I think that’s what’s happening to Nick,” Helena said.
“What are they doing?”
“That I don’t know. Fucking with his DNA. The Letch said something about wanting to upgrade chimps, so from that, my guess is that they’re regressing their human subjects.”
“Regressing?”
“Did you ever watch Star Trek?”
“Uh, yeah.”
“Remember the one where Riker turns into a caveman and Worf starts spraying poison all over the crew as they also deevolve?”
“Oh Helena. The Next Generation?”
“Yeah,” she said. “What? The middle seasons were good!”
“A hottie who watches Star Trek. Even The Next Generation. How did I not date you?”
“You never asked, bonehead. And that ship has sailed, so don’t get any ideas.”
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[podcast]http://markarayner.com/mp3s/PB-marvelloushairy-11.mp3[/podcast]