To Be Or Not
Story by Cederwyn Whitefurr on SoFurry
Greyfurr reveals a dark side of the Inteli-Pet Corporation to the young Buck Elk - how the corporation have a standing 'contract' with the Government, so they get their pick of prisoners sentenced to die in death row, for their 'experiments'. When they use the prisoner in one of their experiments, things take an unexpected turn - without thinking, Greyfurr allows his compassion to overrule his common sense - and tries to help the prisoner - with dire concequences...
To Be Or Not
Chapter Three
© Cederwyn Whitefurr
29th June, 2019
All Rights Reserved.
Greyfurr sat at the laboratory bench, his chin cupped on his pale, slender paws as he stared at the screen before him. Confusing complex things rushed past on the screen as he tapped the space bar with a claw then rubbed his aching, tired eyes. Stiffling a yawn, he felt the presence first, then the scent of the young Elk behind him.
“Yes Blackmane?” Dr. Greyfurr asked, as he turned about on his stool and looked up into the young Elk's eyes.
“Sir, you look distracted, out of sorts today. Is everything okay? Can I get you anything? A few of us have been noticing, you seem a bit – well – not yourself.”
“Thank you for your concern, all of you!” Greyfurr smiled then waved a paw in acknowledgement. “I appreciate your concern, I didn't sleep very well last night. Must be this project – where do we currently stand?”
“Uh, sir - “Stammered the Elk, before he swallowed and stepped from one hoof to the other. “That report was sent to your station three hours ago!”
Greyfurr blinked slowly, then shook his head. “I – Forgive me, there's a lot of stress and pressure from 'on high'”
Greyfurr gestured towards the ceiling, and the Elk shuddered and nodded understandingly.
“Sir?” Spoke a young woman. “Prisoner subject #4223 is prepped and ready!”
“I hate this - “ Greyfurr whispered, barely audible. “We have a contract with the Government, to take our pick of condemned death row inmates..for our studies and research -”
“Sir?” Stammered the Elk, his eyes widening and ears flattening as his muzzle fell open.
“Its the truth,” Greyfurr admitted. “Without their – sacrifice – this corporation would have imploded two decades ago. They're condemned criminals, committed the most heinous of crimes against our kind, and fellow humans. Crimes that earned them the death penalty – we just facilitate – that ending.”
“I never - “ Moaned the Elk, clutching his tablet to his chest as he began shaking.
“Son? Pretend you never heard it, please? It'll be best for you, if you block any memory of this moment. Believe me, it helps. Do not view it as a person, view it as a test subject – meat – if you prefer.”
Shuddering, the Elk stepped backwards, then returned to his own station, his whole body quivering.
*
Doctor Greyfurr stood in the observation room off the main chamber, watching as Technician's fiddled with wires and other components. He didn't understand much of what they were doing – it wasn't his field of expertise – yet he watched and absorbed everything. Various IV needles were slid into the drugged humans flesh and Greyfurr shuddered, but refused to turn away.
Finally, the subject was fully prepared. Greyfurr watched them leave, before he glanced over at the other subject – an empty vessel – it was a young equine, quadruped, female...
Greyfurr's mind rattled off the necessary specifications of the cloned filly. He could, if pressed, have broken her down mentally into her constituent anatomy, but that was irrelevant. As a clone, she had nothing in her mind – it wasn't even technically alive – as there was no spark of intelligence or thought behind those eyes. It stood there, muzzle slack and eyes staring – an empty shell – awaiting to be filled.
“Begin...” Greyfurr muttered, as he nodded.
As the transference – the best way of describing it – as the science behind what they were doing here, confused even him, the human's eyes suddenly snapped open and he screamed in fear and agony.
“Abort, abort!” Greyfurr shrieked at the staff.
“Sir, we're trying but - “ One Tech moaned, as the computers refused the commands. “System isn't responding to input!”
“Then...never-mind, I'll do it myself!” Greyfurr snarled, as he stormed out then slapped his paw against the scanner.
“Doctor Greyfurr, confirmed.” Spoke the feminine voice.
“Open the damn door, that's an order!” He raged at the computer, banging his paws on the thick glass.
It was futile, as the computer was unfazed by emotion. It had no concept of urgency, or fear, or anything. It was logical, and practical in its strictly deliniated programming.. It wouldn't care if he asked nicely – or threatened to reprogram it with a tactical nuke.
Finally, the door to the airlock hissed open and he rushed in, slamming the emergency close to the outer chamber, before stamping his foot paws in agitation, waiting for the cycler to switch to the other room. When it hissed open, Greyfurr rushed in – unmindful, then placed his hands on the screaming human who thrashed and struggled.
“Easy!” Greyfurr yelped, all rational thought swept from his mind as his senses overwhelmed him. “I'm here to help and...urk!”
With strength born of desperation and agony, the human prisoner tore one of the IV's free, then stabbed it violently into Greyfurr's belly. Again and again the human stabbed the shrieking rat, who staggered backwards, clutching his paws to his stomach, before he slithered to the floor.
“I...just wanted...” Gasped Greyfurr feeling his blood soaking through his body.
Without warning, the human leapt at him, expensive machine crashing and sparking, before he gripped Greyfurr around the upper arm, twisting a paw up and back behind the squealing rodent's shoulder, almost dislocating it.
“Get me out of here, or I'll kill him!” Snarled the prisoner. “What are you sick freaks doing to me?”
“Let him go” Growled the lead technician, who stood shaking with rage.
“I'll twist this fuckers head backwards...” Raged the human.
“I won't ask again...” Come the voice from the speaker.
“He'll do it – please!” Greyfurr choked. “Let him...urk!”
“I've never had a rat before..,might be...”
A sickening splat was heard, and a spray of blood, bones and brains decorated the chair behind the prisoner, then Greyfurr croaked and fell face first onto the floor.
“Subject...terminated.” Spoke the computer.
*
Greyfurr wheezed, then winced as he found himself laying on a medi-bed, then the muzzle and eyes of a young Red Deer Doe come into view. She wore the uniform, what little Greyfurr could see, of a Med+Tech.
“Sir, easy!” She whispered, then placed a paw lightly on his shoulder. “It's okay, you're alright...”
“Whur...” Greyfurr gurgled, then weakly, he looked around, then back at the Doe.
“You're in the Infirmary, sir - “ She spoke softly. “You were – hurt – but nothing life threatening, we're just keeping you here for a little while, make sure everything's okay.”
“I...I can't - “ Greyfurr moaned, as he struggled to sit up.
“Sir? With respect, I outrank you in my Infirmary. As your treating Physician, its my responsibility, and I am temporarily suspending you from working. You've suffered fairly significant wounds, nothing, as I said, life threatening – but I'd like to keep a close eye on you, okay?”
Greyfurr shuddered, before he sighed softly. “Did - “
“Subject, prisoner #4223 terminated.” Spoke the computer. “Direct physical harm against Doctor Greyfurr - “
“That will be all, thank you - “ Snapped the Doe, as she sighed. “I despise that thing, truly – watches us day and night, as long as we're in the complex – it's got its electronic surveillance on us!”
“I know what you – you...” Greyfurr suddenly retched, and the Doe squealed and grabbed a bucket, before Greyfurr clutched it in his paws and began vomiting profusely.
“Doctor?” Asked the Doe, as she placed a comforting paw on the back of his neck. “You...you're burning up!”
“I...” Greyfurr gurgled, before he swallowed and shuddered. “What's wrong with me?”
“Doctor...I'm not sure – let me quickly some some tests...we'll get to the bottom of this, I promise!”
To Be Continued...