"Why the hell did I agree to this?" was the first thought through Jack Palmer's head as we walked through the door.
These parties always put Jack in a bad mood. The research committee insisted that he attend although he could never understand why. They were adamant that the Chief Experimental Theologian for InstaGen Incorporated must attend these fundraisers.
He steeled himself as one of the committee approached.
"Reverend Palmer, great to see you. We appreciate the time you make for us in your busy schedule."
Peter Steinberg had a low security clearance and knew nothing of the real work going on in laboratory nineteen but he was important part of the cover story, so Jack couldn't afford to let his true feelings show. He affects a smile and hopes it looks genuine.
"Hello Peter. Happy to do my bit."
"How are the new livestock strains coming along?"
"Very well. Raising the phlogiston levels has eliminated the initial low acceptance rate. The new batch should be hatching any day."
InstaGen were famous for their livestock recipies. Cows, sheep, pigs, bees; you name it and InstaGen were producing the best quality stock on the market. The company's advances had helped bring an end to world hunger. Feeding the world had made them the most trusted brand on the planet and that was what made them a perfect cover.
Steinberg smiled broadly, his eyes looking glazed. Science was not his strong suit.
"Excellent, excellent. By the way, I have someone I'd like you to meet."
He beckoned to a tall woman with mousey hair and thick rimmed glasses. Jack hadn't noticed her hovering nearby. The sort of person invited to these functions was rarely worth his notice.
"Reverend Palmer, this is Lucy Warder of the LAC."
She smiled nervously, "An honour to meet you, your grace."
Jack winced internally.
"No longer miss Warder. I gave up that title when I left the Vatican. Please, call me Jack."
This seems to make her more nervous.
"Okay... Jack... and you must call me Lucy. I have been following your work with interest for quite some time."
"Really? I manufacture low yield luxury cattle. Novelties. Hardly the sort of thing I would expect those here tonight to appreciate. Surely the Luminiferous Aether Company would be more interested in the high publicity work like Bishop McKinley's fresians."
"A lot of threads of seemingly disparate research are coalescing. There have been a number of developments recently in phlogiston and spontaneous generation techniques that could have some interesting applications if coupled with the latest generations of signal propagation technology."
Jack smiled. He looked at her and saw that the nervousness in her face was gone. He had underestimated this one. Perhaps it was he that should be nervous.
"I'm not sure I follow Miss Warder"
"Lucy. Surely what I am saying cannot be that much of an... Enigma?"
His spine turned cold. How could she know that? The Mengele Enigma twins were the most closely guarded secret in InstaGen. He struggled to maintain his composure. She couldn't know.
"I see that you do know what I am talking about. Perhaps we should move this conversation to a less public setting?"
What did she want? He had no choice but to find out.
"Security generally contains the party to the ball room. Perhaps we should retire to the library."
As they approached the wood panelled door he nodded to the security guard who was watching the door. Anyone else trying to pass would have been gently guided away.
After closing the door he turns to face the LAC representative.
"Who are you? Are you with the Inquisition? The next inspection isn't due for another six months."
"I am not with the church your grace. I am just a communications researcher with LAC."
"Come now, you are obviously a scientist from your language. Which branch of the church do you represent?"
"Science was not always the exclusive realm of the church."
"Madam, I fear you are showing signs of the female hysteria."
Her face hardens, a steely glint in her eyes.
"I can assure you, sir, that I am not. I treat myself regularly as a preventative measure."
He sighs deeply. Of course she would. The treatment for female hysteria was well proven and very few women allowed themselves too long between sessions.
"Even so. I am responsible for the security screening of all laboratory nineteen staff. There are no leaks here, which only leaves the Vatican."
"The source of my information is irrelevant. I know you are continuing Dr. Mengele's research. LAC is willing to make it worth your while if you allow us joint access."
Furious indignation burned in his chest.
"The twins are a perfect example of why science should not be performed by the layman. When Mengele applied Lamarckian principles to elevate these poor unfortunate souls he committed a crime against God that can never be forgiven."
"It is established scientific fact that phlogiston is the key to intelligence. It is also well established that phlogiston enhanced by the nervous fluids of a human host is the most effective."
She stops just short of actually praising Mengele's work but comes close enough to leave a bad taste in his mouth. The link between phlogiston and human intelligence had passed unnoticed for centuries. It has long been evident that an increase in industry was inevitable as a society became more advanced and that the increased industry led to a further increase in the advancement of that society. A feedback loop acting on the human race throughout history. A feedback loop fueled by the phlogiston released during combustion.
"Man's progress to the kingdom of heaven is proceeding according to a plan. Phlogiston is God's greatest gift and our path to enlightenment. It is not something to be squandered."
"And yet your research on the effects of phlogiston on cattle generation is advancing the battle against world hunger."
"Now you are showing your ignorance. In my spontaneous generation experiments phlogiston is merely a catalyst. None of it is retained in the cattle, it simply improves the efficiency of the process of generation. Mengele burned thousands of human souls and concentrated the phlogiston emitted into two test subjects. The twins are able to communicate with each other instantly over any distance through direct manipulation of the aether. Mengele saw them as a simple communications device. The ultimate code talkers."
"And you see them as more?"
"It will take thousands of years of natural phlogiston absorbtion for us to reach their level of advancement. The experiments that created them can never be allowed again they our only chance to look into our own future. I look into their eyes and I see the hand of God."
"I want to be part of your research."
"To what end? The twins are advanced but they do still age. They are already more than seventy years old. Do you think you could learn how they manipulate the aether in the time they have left?"
"I could try."
He looks at her thoughtfully. She is intelligent and driven. Both are qualities that could be invaluable in his research. Maybe he save something from this.
"You are determined. I can appreciate that. If I offer to make you part of my research it will be on my terms. Is that acceptable?"
She doesn't hesitate.
"Absolutely."
He sighs. The decision made he motions for her to follow and says "Then I guess I should show you through to the lab."
...
The next morning Jack smiles sadly as he washes the blood from his hands.
He informed the inquisition of LAC's interest in the twins approximately six hours ago. Lucy cannot have been acting alone and there was no way to tell who was involved and who was not. The inquisitors have probably sterilised the entire staff by now. They have no option, the temptation of phlogiston research cannot be put into corporate hands.
He checks his watch and presses a button on the intercom.
"Daphne, could you send in a lab tech to collect a new generation culture?"
The label on the test tube he holds reads "Strain ID: Warder/1". At least she will not be part of the inquisitions purge. He promised she would be part of his research and now her nervous fluids will help feed millions. He wishes he could believe that this would make her happy.
