Hovernotes

Chapter Two
Henrywassittingonthecouchinthelivingroom,andstaringatthestolenpillandthecontentsof thetestkit.SynapticInterfacehadsoundedawesomewhenitwasjustatheory,butiswas slowlybecominganightmaretoimplement.Everynewproducthaditsshareofproblems,but nothingasintenseorasmessyasSIP.Histeambelievedtheyhadsolvedeveryproblem,and hasbuiltaproductthatconsumerswouldwanttouse. Henrywonderednowifthatwasreallytrue.Ifhewantedtodemonstratethenewinterface technology,thenhewasthelogicalchoiceforthethirdroundoftesting.Yet,ashethought seriouslyabouttheprocesshewouldundergoinordertomakeitwork,alongwithsomeofthe precautionsthathadbeentakenbylegalandtheguysfromthelab,hisfaithinhisownproduct wasdissolvingquickly. Theplanhadbeentotakethepill,activatethenanoprobes,andtheninterfacewiththe transmitter.Withanyluck,hewouldbeabletowalkintotheroomwiththeabilitytocontrolany digitaldevicehechose.Anythinglessthanlucky,andhewouldendupunconsciousonthefloor ofhislivingroom. Asaprecaution,hehadaskedhisgirlfriend,Amber,tocomeover.Sheonlyknewbitsand piecesaboutwhathewasworkingonatNovaBeansbuthehadtoldherwaymorethanhe shouldhave.Sheknewthatthisprojectwasextremelyimportanttohim. Herereadtheinstructionsthathadbeenincludedinsidethekit.Hehadnoideatheamountof preparationthetesterswerebeingaskedtotakebeforetakingthepill.Insidethekittherewasa specimenjar,asuppository,anadultdiaper.Mostofitwasforpreparingtotakethepill,butthe diaperwasforduringand,accordingtotheinstructions,justaprecaution.Heknewthat Amberwouldneveragreetohelphimifsheknewhowbigofariskitwas,soheneededtobe readybeforeshearrived. Hedidnthavetolikeit,butonewayoranotherhewasgoingtoeathisowndogfood. Ashewalkedtothebathroom,hejusthopedthathelivedlongenoughtomakeittothat3p.m. meeting.

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Search Results: Amber Givens, pill

iChat Transcript
Henry:Didugetmyvoicemailmessage? Amber:Yes,IlistenedtoitbeforeIleftwork.Whatswrong?Didsomethinghappenatwork? Henry:Ineedtogiveademoformyproject.Itcouldmeanmyjobifitisntready.Ineedyour help. Amber:Isntthatthepillthatyousaidwasturningpeopletovegetables? Henry:Yes.AndNo. Amber:??? Henry:Easierifyoucameover.Justletyourselfin. Amber:???Okay End Search Results

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Hello?Henry?AmberpeekedthroughthedoortoHenrysapartment,thenwaitedafew minutes.WhenHenrydidntanswer,sheopeneditallofthewayandsetherredleatherpurse onthecoffeetableattheendofthecouch.Assheclosedthedoor,shewonderedagainabout herhair.Henrysvoicemailaskinghertocometohisapartmenthadsurprisedher,soshedidnt haveanytimetoredoherhair.Shehadstayedafterschooltocorrectsomepapers. Amberranherhandsthroughherlongblondhair,gatheredittogether,andthentieditintoa ponytailwithastretchyband. Henry?Shecalledagain. Almostinreply,sheheardthetoiletflush,andafterafewminutesthebathroomdooropenedup. Henryemerged,thenpausedatthedoorway.Hewasclutchinghisabdomenandlookedreally tired. Henry?Areyouokay?Shesaid,steppingtowardshim. Water,Ijustneedsomewater.Theywalkedtogethertothekitchen.Ambersatdownwhile Henryfilledaglasswithwater. Whatsgoingon?Amberasked. Ijustspentthelasthourandahalfinthebathroom,Henrysaidbetweengulps. Somethingyouate? No.Henrypaused.Hehadhopedtoavoiddiscussingtheintricaciesoftheprocedurehewas undergoing,butthatwasinhismindandbeforeAmberwasactuallyintheapartment,watching himandlookingsoconcerned.Suddenly,itseemedmeantobelessthanhonestwithher.Itook alaxative.It,um..mademenauseous.Atthispoint,hewasntsureifthatwasjustoneofthe sideeffects,orifithadbeenplannedthatway.HemadeanotetotalktoSimonaboutitwhenhe sawhimnext. Idontunderstand,whywouldyoudothat? Henrysighted.Mymanagermessagedmetoday.HeandRogerswanttoseetheSynaptic Interfaceinaction,andwerefreshoutofpeopletohelpwiththedemonstration. Youmeanthetestsubjects,Ambersaid.Althoughithelpedthatshewasuptospeed,Henry wasbeginningtoregrettellinghersomuchabouttheprojectsfailures.Yousaidthatthepill didntwork,thatthereweretoomanybugs. Thatwasbeforetoday.IfIdontdeliver,thenmywholeteamlooksbad.Idontwanttobe responsibleifpeoplestartlosingjobs. Didyoutellyourmanagerthatitsnotworking?

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Yeah,hesknownforweeks.Iremindedhimtoday. AndhesstilltellingRogerstomoveforwardwithit?Amberasked. Yes,well,Rogersdoesntgiveanybodymuchofachancetoexplain.AndFrankdoesntknow howtosayno.Hedoesnthavemuchofaspine. Henrygrabbedthepillfromthekitchencounter,fishedthetestingkitanditscontentsoutofthe trash,thensetthemonthetable.Ineededtomoveaheadwithround3ofthetrials.Thatmeans followingtheproceduresandactivatingthenanoprobes.Nobodyelsegetshurt,andhopefullywe keepourjobs. Okay.Ihavetosaythatthisisthecraziest,moststupidestthingIhaveeverheard.But,Ican seeyoumadeupyourmind,sowhatdidyoucallmeoverfor? Henryslidalaptopovertowhereshewassitting,andflippedupthelid.Onthescreentherewas whatlookedlikeacontrolpanel.AfterItakethepill,Iwantyoutowaitfifteenminutesandthen clickthisbutton,hesaid,pointingtowardsabuttonlabeledengagenanoprobes. Hewalkedbackovertothesinktorefillhiscupwithwater.Whenheturnedaround,Amberwas standinginfrontofhim.Idontwantyoutodothis,shesaid.Tearswerestartingtowellinher eyes.Ifsomethinggoeswrong... Nothingsgoingtogowrong.Thesenanoprobesaredifferentthantheonesbefore.Henrytried hardtokeephisvoicesteadyashesaidit. Buttheyhaventbeentestedonahuman? Henrydidntanswer.Look,Ambersaid.Itotallyunderstandthepositionyourein.Itsucks.But ajobisjustajob.Yourlifeismoreimportantthananyproject.Evenyourbosseswouldagree withthat. Yes,buttheywontunderstandwhythetechnologydoesntwork.Theywantit,like,yesterday. And,Imnotpreparedtotellthemthatitsnotready,unlessIknowforsure.Ambershand clutchedthecupHenrywascarryingandlifteditoutofhishand.Shesetitdownonthe countertop. Sheleanedinclosetohim,andgavehimalongkissonthelips.Foramoment,timestopped, thenAmbersniffedandpulledaway.Idontwanttoloseyou,sheadmitted.IguessImafraid thatevenifitdoeswork,youllchange.MaybeImjustselfish. No,yourenot...Idontwanttoloseyoueither.IwouldntbeabletolivewithmyselfifIdid somethingthatIknewwouldmakeyoumadatmeorworse.But,myjobisalsoabigpartofmy life,too.Icantimagineworkinganywhereelse,ordoinganythingelse. Amberletoutalongsigh.Justclickthebutton?Henrysmiledasherealizedthatshewasgoing

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tohelphim. Yes,andthenmonitormyvitals.Thatsit.Iwishtherewasanotherway.Henrycarriedthe glassofwatertothekitchenandsatdown.Theybothstaredatthenanoprobepillwhichwas sittingonthetable.Hewasabouttoscoopupthepillandtakeit,whentherewasaknockatthe door. Whocouldthatbe?Henrysaid,feelingalittleirritated.HelookedatAmber.Givemeasecond. Illcheck,andmakethemgoaway. Okay,shesaid. AssoonasHenryhadleftthekitchen,shepickedupthepillandtheglass.Sheputthepillinher mouth,thengulpedwaterandswallowed.Beforesheknewit,theroombegantospin.Then,it wentdark.