cracking his voice. "It's needed to activate the reactor gradually. To avoid overload."
Sweat beading on his forehead, he stepped over to the console. After a few button presses, Ivan's reactor came to life, warming slowly. Tiny fluctuations stabilized as the energy device hit minimum output. He dialed an increase.
An audible hum filled the air along with the subtle stench of ozone. Pierce tensed, reaching for the butt of his side arm. A bluish hue crackled over Ivan's body as the flesh absorbed and dissipated the energy which surged through him. Ymarin watched the unmoving body with amazement as Calloway dialed another increase.
The humming swelled to a low drone, a rumble which rattled inside the skulls of those present. Dr. Calloway's vision blurred, and his eyes watered. Ymarin worked his jaw up and down, as though trying to pop his ears. "Is this normal?" he asked, tones of fear in his inflection.
Clenching his vibrating teeth, Calloway said, "Yes," and dialed the final activation.
Luckily, the power-up test had already been conducted more than once. The process of gradual increase was determined and solidified, so there was no real danger of any manner of vaporization as long as Calloway handled it appropriately. The only possible trouble would be if the casing and brain tissue was not constructed or calibrated properly. All of Ymarin's hard work would be liquefied inside the skull plate, leaving a hideous, stinking mass.
The drone settled, and the hue faded away from Ivan's flesh. Calloway wiped a sleeve across his forehead. "Any second now," he murmured.
"For what?" Ymarin asked, impatient.
Calloway shot him a glare and held up a silencing hand. He turned his attention back to Ivan, unblinking and holding his breath.
The body twitched.
"Yes..." Calloway whispered.
Ivan's eyes opened.
"Can you hear me?" Calloway asked softly.
The machine, the mass of technology on the table, shot bolt upright and screamed.
Eyes wide open and mouth agape, the shrieking of the machine on the table continued for several seconds as the various people present stood completely stunned.
"This isn't right!" Calloway shouted, clapping his hands over his ears. "This shouldn't be-"
"Turn it off!" the colonel bellowed. "Shut it down!"
Ivan continued screaming, volume and tone never wavering. The machine appeared to be looking back and forth, fright etched across its eerily lifelike features.
Calloway shook his head. "I don't understand; this shouldn't be-"
Pierce seized the doctor by the arm and dragged him close, shouting into his ear. "Turn this damn thing off, now! "
Wincing, Dr. Calloway turned towards the console and punched in a few keys, sending the signal to the device to start a power-down sequence.
The undying scream cranked up in volume, and Calloway fell to the ground, vision blurring and ears feeling as though they were about to burst. Ivan's arms flailed about, scratching at the resilient synthetic flesh coating his skull.
Seeming to notice people with him for the first time, Ivan shot a glare at Dr. Ymarin and shrieked, " What have you done to me?! " The hideous wailing ceased as Ivan balled his fists at his forehead. Cross-legged on the table, he rocked back and forth.
Ymarin's mouth was open, quivering, and he stared in horror and confusion. Calloway grasped at the table edge, pulling himself up and punching a few more commands.
"Grrraaaaaaaaagh!!" Ivan flailed backwards, convulsing and resuming the agonized screams. His arms thrashed violently, denting the table upon which he lay. One hand slammed into his chest, clutching.
The reactor control device smashed easily. Weak residual currents coursed into and through Ivan's hands, dispersing in the energy absorbent flesh.
Calloway's mouth fell open as the console he worked at went dark. Whirling around, he saw the twisted bits of metal and circuitry clenched in Ivan's large fist. "Oh no..." he whispered. Paling, he turned to the colonel. "I... I can't shut it
Sweat beading on his forehead, he stepped over to the console. After a few button presses, Ivan's reactor came to life, warming slowly. Tiny fluctuations stabilized as the energy device hit minimum output. He dialed an increase.
An audible hum filled the air along with the subtle stench of ozone. Pierce tensed, reaching for the butt of his side arm. A bluish hue crackled over Ivan's body as the flesh absorbed and dissipated the energy which surged through him. Ymarin watched the unmoving body with amazement as Calloway dialed another increase.
The humming swelled to a low drone, a rumble which rattled inside the skulls of those present. Dr. Calloway's vision blurred, and his eyes watered. Ymarin worked his jaw up and down, as though trying to pop his ears. "Is this normal?" he asked, tones of fear in his inflection.
Clenching his vibrating teeth, Calloway said, "Yes," and dialed the final activation.
Luckily, the power-up test had already been conducted more than once. The process of gradual increase was determined and solidified, so there was no real danger of any manner of vaporization as long as Calloway handled it appropriately. The only possible trouble would be if the casing and brain tissue was not constructed or calibrated properly. All of Ymarin's hard work would be liquefied inside the skull plate, leaving a hideous, stinking mass.
The drone settled, and the hue faded away from Ivan's flesh. Calloway wiped a sleeve across his forehead. "Any second now," he murmured.
"For what?" Ymarin asked, impatient.
Calloway shot him a glare and held up a silencing hand. He turned his attention back to Ivan, unblinking and holding his breath.
The body twitched.
"Yes..." Calloway whispered.
Ivan's eyes opened.
"Can you hear me?" Calloway asked softly.
The machine, the mass of technology on the table, shot bolt upright and screamed.
Eyes wide open and mouth agape, the shrieking of the machine on the table continued for several seconds as the various people present stood completely stunned.
"This isn't right!" Calloway shouted, clapping his hands over his ears. "This shouldn't be-"
"Turn it off!" the colonel bellowed. "Shut it down!"
Ivan continued screaming, volume and tone never wavering. The machine appeared to be looking back and forth, fright etched across its eerily lifelike features.
Calloway shook his head. "I don't understand; this shouldn't be-"
Pierce seized the doctor by the arm and dragged him close, shouting into his ear. "Turn this damn thing off, now! "
Wincing, Dr. Calloway turned towards the console and punched in a few keys, sending the signal to the device to start a power-down sequence.
The undying scream cranked up in volume, and Calloway fell to the ground, vision blurring and ears feeling as though they were about to burst. Ivan's arms flailed about, scratching at the resilient synthetic flesh coating his skull.
Seeming to notice people with him for the first time, Ivan shot a glare at Dr. Ymarin and shrieked, " What have you done to me?! " The hideous wailing ceased as Ivan balled his fists at his forehead. Cross-legged on the table, he rocked back and forth.
Ymarin's mouth was open, quivering, and he stared in horror and confusion. Calloway grasped at the table edge, pulling himself up and punching a few more commands.
"Grrraaaaaaaaagh!!" Ivan flailed backwards, convulsing and resuming the agonized screams. His arms thrashed violently, denting the table upon which he lay. One hand slammed into his chest, clutching.
The reactor control device smashed easily. Weak residual currents coursed into and through Ivan's hands, dispersing in the energy absorbent flesh.
Calloway's mouth fell open as the console he worked at went dark. Whirling around, he saw the twisted bits of metal and circuitry clenched in Ivan's large fist. "Oh no..." he whispered. Paling, he turned to the colonel. "I... I can't shut it
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