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Your Hollow Heart	By : KyuKitsune Category: G through L > Hollow Man Views: 3682 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Hollow Man, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
~oooOYOHOHOooo~

Chapter 07

Sebastian had made the call sometime later within that week after undergoing a few more analysis and tests just to be sure they had everything ready for when they show the board of directors their latest breakthrough on the project. Now given that it seem a little sudden to be setting this meeting up so soon but Linda was openly reminding him that once the serum had been perfected and was successful in bringing their subject back, they were to be notify immediately, no matter what.

She always was the one to see that things got underway and since this was top priority to the generals to hear from them or else she'd do it herself in a heartbeat. Sebastian thought that sometimes she could be insufferable with her pushiness but she was right as they had a need-to-know bases and since he was the one in charge so he should give them the big news at least.

It didn't really matter that the secretary on the other line kept saying that they were unavailable and that their schedule was all book up this month or some other excuse she had spouting out of her mouth.

Really, did she think he was going to just stand by and be push to the side like some simpleton while she went to filing her nails or whatever she was doing over there? Honestly, she didn't exactly know who she was dealing with and decided to help her understand that he was not just anyone and had important business to discuss with the board on the matter which her tiny little brain couldn't even begin to comprehend how serious this was.

He didn't threaten her per say, but told her simply in the nicest way to put it, that if she didn't get him through with one of the supervisors over there, there was going to be some very heavy consequences for her sorry ass literally. She'd be lucky to even find another desk job after this if she hadn't realized how serious he was about pulling through with his open threat.

He could be very persuasive when he wanted to be and sometimes throwing a few names didn't hurt either as she got a better image of who he was precisely and that he was someone important to those people.

Luckily for him, she did have some common sense, after he sprout out the first two that basically had 'general' and 'doctor' to start with. She saw to have him transferred to another line and got him speaking directly to one of the leading adviser who took care of all things that were deem classified and important in all situation which was what their job was basically.

Things went a lot smoother from there once Sebastian was able to inform them the minimum details but told them specifically to get everyone that was involved on the board together as soon as possible as he and his team had something to show them.

It took a few more phone calls to get everything arrange but the conference was set on that Tuesday morning over at the Pentagon.

Everyone was hoping for the best as they saw this as a big opportunity for all of them if this presentation went off without any issues. They had everything loaded into Matt's car when it was time to head on out after triple checking everything that nothing was left out of the report.

It was all conclusive and having viable information showing the charts and graphs and every last detail that went on down in the lab within the last few months was all there and in proper chronological order.

He, Linda and Matt had carefully gone over all their notes and had them complied into different folders as well as getting all the recorded documents that they would show what they've been doing thus far. Sebastian was sure it would go all accordingly and that everything would turn out as plan.

Yet little did he know that sometimes even the most thought-out plan doesn't always go the way one wants it to or in his case, he decided to alter them for his own design.

~oooOYOHOHOooo~

The drive to the formidable five-cornered structure took an hour at least as they drove in their separate cars to get there. They also had to bypass the security waiting for them outside the vicinity as well as inside the compound itself.

Most people would feel like a nervous wreck before a committee such as this, not Sebastian though, he was thinking there was no reason to be as he pulled in and waited for the others before the three waltz into the building with all their stuff.

They had to go through the standard procedure with giving them their id and information, going through the metal detector and being checked for anything before letting them through. He thought it was overkill for some but he knew that they run a tight shift to keep from having some crazy coming in with a bomb strap to their chest and blowing them to kingdom come.

Better to be paranoid with safety precaution then dead at least he supposed. It was tedious having to go through that constantly but then once it was done and seeing one of the general assistant was waiting for the three and would direct them to where the conference was being held.

They were told to wait outside as she went inside to inform the people that they were were before being summoned into the circular room. He recognized the people there, they being a handful of senior military brass and top civilian advisers that were all waiting to see what they had to show them this time around. Well wouldn't they be in for a surprise.

Sebastian took to stand up front while Matt and Linda had a seat with the others, Linda to his left while Matt on the right near the front. He was looking to the rest gather there today and feeling all eyes were on him. Well time to give these people what they want.

"Four years ago, this committee gave me with a very specific and challenging task...To successful phase-shift a human being out of quantum sync with the visible universe and then return him safely, with no aftereffects."

Matt had the disc slid into the projector and having the video showing everyone what was happening down in the lab. They saw the image of Isabelle before being turn invisible and then showing her shifting from the visible spectrum and everything slowly dissolving within a matter of minutes.

He could see the people were watching this with keen interest as seeing something disappear from existence but notice the tell-tale sign that she was still around though render invisible to the naked eye. So far so good, he thought.

"Well, we found out that sending them to 'never-never-land' was easy, it's the getting back that's was more difficult. Every time we've tried to bring a test subject back from phase-shift well this happens."

Another video was brought up and everyone saw what was obviously the first Isabelle from earlier footage and seeing the bizarrely tangled heap of flesh and bone that used to be a living breathing mammal.

Yep he definitely saw a few in the audience looking a bit green around the gill before the video switch off, ending its presentation for the moment. He waited a few second as he did leave it open for anyone to comment then and was not disappointed to find someone had something to say before he could continue with this.

"Primary DNA strands decaying on you?" He recognized the speaker as Dr. Kramer who saw what was happening in the video and taking in what he assumed was the problem there.

"Along with cellular bond instability. But now..." Sebastian knew this was it, this was what he had been leading up to but felt himself hesitating at this point. He was sure that everything would go as plan and yet he thought of something that hadn't occurred to him until just then.

With the work all finish, there was no need for the team to stay on this project anymore. There was no doubt they would consider them an expendable and find some other people to do the work, his work!

He spent so much time and effort on this and after everything there was one thing he had been aching to see through and was going to make the attempt himself one way or another.

"But now, we feel we are closer than ever to resolving this issue. We've been experimenting with a new regression formula that looks rather promising. We just need more time."

He saw Linda and Matt looked shocked yet their expressions went unnoticed as the generals and everyone else had their focus on Sebastian and asking how long it would take for them to get it done.

"Shouldn't be more than another year, Sir. Maybe sooner." He was not going to hand it off to them until he was absolutely certain that he was satisfied by everything and then let them have a go for it themselves.

He saw the others speaking to one another, murmuring to one another before Dr. Kramer spoke for all of them as he was the leading head for their assignment, "Very well we'll let you but remember this better be done or we'll find another Sebastian Caine who can."

"Of course. I wouldn't dream of seeing this fall under. I'm very much dedicated in making absolutely certain that it goes through and be sure to let you all know first thing."

He saw his former professor snort and knew what he must be thinking. Dr. Kramer always thought him different from the other in his class when he was a freshman starting his first year at the university and had been thoroughly impress by his work as he strive to do the best for his semester.

Sebastian never fail to bring in whatever assignments he had and that it was nothing short of perfect which receive top notch for his thesis.

Though the committee had given them leeway for his need to privacy and tolerated his eccentricities over the years but even they had their limits as it took time and money to pay for their expenses.

He could see their patience was running thin and if they didn't get anything that show some promising results, they were sure to find someone more suitable to finish the task and no longer be in need of his service.

Well too bad they just didn't know that they have, but he wasn't about to go and tell them that.

He turn his attention to Linda and saw her giving him that look and knew she was going to have a few choice things to say to him after this meeting was over.

~oooOYOHOHOooo~

She didn't fail to disappoint him when they left the building and the two started questioning him on why he lied to the board back there.

"Sebastian, just what the hell were you thinking or were you even thinking at all?!" Linda had been the first one to shot off once they left the building and heading for their cars.

Well more like following Sebastian to his as she wanted to know what was going on in his head to consider not letting the generals know that they gotten it down.

Matt couldn't help adding his own two cents to the conversation, "The protocol works. Why'd you tell them it didn't?"

"I wasn't ready for them to know." Sebastian could hear the exasperated snort from him along with the words, 'I'll bet…' and Linda was grabbing his arm and having him look her way.

"Being ready not it. You have results, you report them. They're the oversight committee. They're supposed to know unless you have some sort of reason for not telling them."

"I had more than a reason. I had a goddamn epiphany." They were standing over by his Porsche and Sebastian opening the trunk to throw his stuff in before looking to the other two.

"What do you think they'd do if they know we could send a subject into phase shift and pull it back out again? How many seconds would it take for them to take over the whole project, bringing in their soldiers to test the formula on? We'd have lost control of it by the end of the week."

There was no way he was letting them get their grubby mitts on his stuff without them having at least test it one more time, but on an actual human and no more lab animals.

"But it's their project, Sebastian. It's going to happen eventually." Linda knew why he was really doing this and thought this was not a good idea to be going for.

Half of her was tempt to waltz back in and tell them that it did work. But then they'd kick Sebastian and more than likely fire her and Matt for going along with this even if they hadn't had anything to do with what Sebastian was trying to pull.

"It may be their project but it's my dream, my vision. We won't let them know, at least not yet. There's too much for us to learn. I don't want my hands tied by their political agenda when we go to Phase III."

Matt glance at Linda who reluctantly nodded and he turning to look at Sebastian with his arms cross over his chest. "What are you proposing then?"

"That we go to Phase III ourselves." The two look to him in total shock and Matt couldn't help saying, "Phase III? Are you nuts?!"

"You can't jump into human testing. There's rules, procedures!" God didn't Sebastian understand that this was really a different step than testing an animal but an actual human being.

"You don't make history with rules. You make it by seizing the moment." This was how people went down in history for Christ sake and yet here they were hesitating because they worried something would go wrong. But Linda scowl as she look at Sebastian and had a real idea as to why he wanted to do this.

"You wanna be the first one. That's what this is about." She knew Sebastian better than anyone else and could see this was something he would give to see and try himself if to be the one who went through it and experience it.

"This is not about me, it's about us. We said we would change the world now is our chance. It doesn't also hurt that we'll get the Nobel Prize afterwards." He really had to get these two to be on his side if he wanted the rest of the team to follow through with this. He couldn't afford to have them backing off not when they were so close to achieving and knew was too hard to resist something this tantalizing like this.

"You know, if somebody finds out that we bypassed advisory review, we're never gonna work again." Worse he thought, they could be thrown in prison if the board thought it to be within reason.

Sebastian thought that was a minor technicality as this was all in the name of science and what the board doesn't know won't hurt them.

"But if it works, no one will care." He saw Linda seem to be willing and then saw Matt had one other thing to ask from him.

"Well then...mind telling us how you're gonna get a human test-subject for Phase III without the committee finding out?"

Sebastian had that cocky smirk in place and suddenly wish he hadn't, "I'm glad you ask Matt because you are both looking at him."

~oooOYOHOHOooo~

"You what!" Everyone was staring over at Sebastian as he gave them the news later that day, though wasn't one they were expecting at the very least. "How did you get clearance for Phase III?"

The team, including Joey had been waiting to hear how it went with the board since this morning only to wind up getting this new development thrown at them just as soon as they walk into the lab and everyone wanted to know how Sebastian manage to convince the directors to give them the go ahead on this next step.

Sebastian shrugged nonchalantly, "I volunteered. They approved."

Course instead of looking thrilled by this, they gave him the opposite and heard some of them saying, "No way…You're kidding….Shit…You volunteered? Are you insane?"

Geez what was with them, they were looking at him as if he grown a second head or something. "Jonas Salk tested the polio vaccine on himself. Was he insane?"

"Yeah I'm pretty sure he was." Frank and some of the other mutter in agreement and thought Sebastian comparing himself to the American virologist but this was completely different than injecting some unknown drugs into the body and finding a curse to the virus. This was much more serious than that!

However one of them had something to say on how they felt and Joey didn't hesitate to let Sebastian know on what she thought on this whole idea.

"Moving this fast is bad science. No matter who the guinea pig is and what you're doing is too risky." She felt everyone turn to her and saw Sebastian looking her way as she turn to him, "The protocols are there for a reason and I think that jumping onto this next phase so suddenly isn't what I call a very smart move on your part."

She knew she was being overly blunt and taking in the frosty glare in his blue eyes yet heard him say to everyone there, "Like I said, we're going to test this procedure on myself, it's that simple. If we're to move forward, this is the next logical step."

He saw the look of disbelieve on their faces and knowing this was a sudden shock to them but sure they'd get over it eventually once they realize the benefits that were sure to come. But Joey thought going to that length was too risky and no one in their right mind would even consider doing so.

"There's no telling what could happen and by estimating the odd of it being a complete success is very minimum. What you're saying is too much of a gamble to be taking so lightly as we talking about your own life being put on the line."

Everyone seem to be agreeing as it logically made sense and was a liability if they lost one of their own in such a way while Sebastian refused to let it stop him as he issue a question back at her.

"If we're that unsure, how can we morally justify testing it on someone else, to make sure we don't screw this up? Does anyone know of someone who's willing to undergo this procedure? Hmm…anyone?"

Seeing nobody giving a verbal response and turning to Joey once again with a superior look on his face as there were no takers. "As you can see I have already gotten the clearance from the board and they consent to my request on this matter. We will get started on them within two weeks' time."

"But isn't it a little soon to be moving into Phase III anyway?" Janice couldn't help asking and Sarah also thought the same thing herself. "Yeah Sebastian and I think Joey's right, for one thing we haven't even finished collating the Phase II research as of yet."

Sebastian had to bite back the urge to glower at those two. Just why did they have to keep questioning his authority! It was goddamn frustrating to see they were acting like this and getting so worked over something that they seen work but really they should be honored to go on ahead.

But instead he chose to answer it in a nice even tone that kept his frustration out of his voice, "We'll have plenty of time to collate and cross-reference later. We got enough data from Isabelle and monkey data doesn't matter anyway. The only real data is human data."

Joey scowled and cross her arms over her chest, "You don't even know if any of the protocols will work on humans. How can you stand there and assume that it will?"

Sebastian turn to lock his eyes on her, knowing that Joey was determined to put her foot down and have him halt in the process. Well too bad for her, he wasn't go to let her keep him from it.

"How are we gonna find out then huh? Just sit here twiddling our fingers and hope it comes to us out of the blue? No we are scientists here, we run tests and see what the results gives us through different theories and hypothesis that is what defines us."

He then prop his chair back slightly and looking to Joey with a bored expression, "Besides, we've succeeded with a gorilla and their DNA is 98% the same as humans. The 2% isn't all that significant and should be fine."

"You forget that there's a very large different between us and gorillas Sebastian. 1) we can talk, 2) build houses, 3) cook food in microwavable ovens and should I even dare continue with this? Gorillas on the other hand live in the jungle and live in trees. That's a helluva minimum percent there if you ask me and something that you're willing to overlook just for this."

It was like watching a tennis match between these two and no one was sure who would come out the victor though Sebastian wasn't about to back down from this.

It didn't matter that Joey had made a lot of sensible good points for the sake of their argument but he was going to get what he wanted even if he had to knock her down a few pegs.

"While your concerns are duly noted and seeing how you all are expressing such for this project but if we're gonna move forward and show some progress here, this is something we have to do. As Project Leader this is my call and I have already made my decision. The only thing I ask for is to make damn sure you do your best and see to it that we make it through with no problems whatsoever."

He then turned to the entire group and wanting to lay out a couple more things before calling this meeting to a draw and having them return to their stations.

"Now seeing that we're going to be doing this in a couple weeks, we needed to run some more reversions and tissue tests and then attempt the phase shift. I'll stay shifted for three days of testing and then we'll perform a quantum reversion. Is that clear?"

He saw everyone gave their confirmation and even Joey though with great reluctance as she still thought this wasn't a good idea and they all knew this but couldn't argue with the leader's decision.

But even though they weren't going to be questioning this any further, Joey was not about to let this drop and swore would find the chance to talk to him and hopefully make him see reason.

This was going way over their heads and could put them all on the line and wind up killing one of their own. She just got to talk some sense to him dammit!

~oooOYOHOHOooo~

It was late in the evening as Sebastian was in his office busy doing some last minute checking with his own papers when he heard a knocked outside the door. "Come in."

He didn't even bother to see who it was but found a blue folder was toss onto his desk and lifting his head to see Joey standing there with her arms cross over her chest and a scowl on her face.

"I think you should take a look at this and see for yourself as this is what I've been trying to tell you this whole afternoon." Sebastian quirked his brow her way finding that she wasn't planning on going anywhere not until he saw the notes she brought him. She still had some uncertainty about this whole thing and knowing she would not this matter drop but decided he would see what exactly she had that seem so damn important and hopefully could put this to rest once and for all.

He flipped it open and saw to read what was highlighted by her hand since she was trying to get him to see from her perspective on the whole matter about why they shouldn't even go through the Phase III stage. She must've went through every file to get it all in there and seeing by the time he finished going over it, he just glanced at her with a bored expression on his face.

"Seriously, this is what got you so worked up about? Look I understand that these are well versed to be consider but frankly as I already told you the board has given their consent to this and we are going to do it. So would you just lighten up already?"

"How can you think like that Sebastian? Can't you see how serious this is!" She slammed her hands on his desk, making the things on there rattled but Joey was trying to drive her point across to him and was trying to resist the urge to grab his collar and give him a good shakedown.

"Please think this through for a moment. You know that we have only finished the first two phases and have little to no idea if Phase III won't be any different from them. I know that we saw that it work for Isabelle but don't you think we're jumping the gun a little too soon."

She stood up and place her hand towards her temple, feeling the beginning of a headache coming but told herself she had to explain to him her earlier concern on this matter.

"Don't you even realize what could happen if something were to go wrong in this highly dangerous scenario of yours? It's a risky procedure and we just finished Phase II and now you want to just use yourself as the guinea pig this time! Do you even remember what happen to the first Isabelle and how they wound up looking like when we try to bring her back? Do you actually want to turn out like that?!"

Sebastian was starting to get fed up with people thinking they can tell him what to do. Linda and Matt had express the same thing that Joey was but really this was getting too much. He move to get up from his seat and went to stand right in front of her.

"Look I can handle this okay! I don't see how you could be so worked up about this after everything we gotten so far. Everything will be fine. It will be a few days and then I'll be back to normal when the time come."

Yet this did little to reassure her as she wanted to argue and make it perfectly clear that she didn't and wouldn't let this drop until he changed his mind about going through with this.

"Sebastian, don't do this please, think of what you're doing. I know I had sometime challenged your decisions before and for good reason but I don't think you should go through with this. I'm not asking as your colleague but as someone who strongly feel this isn't such a good idea."

She didn't know why she was so worked up over this but thinking of all the possible scenarios that might happened and not the good kind and would be putting Sebastian's life on the line.

Sebastian sighed as he looked at her, "You don't understand but I appreciate your concern but there's nothing to fret about. I got this all under control and we'll be laughing about it when it's done."

"Why you? Why not one of us?" Sebastian could see she was hoping to find some way to change his mind, "I'm afraid I can't allow that as there's too much at risks and I couldn't simply ask them to do—"

"Then what about you Sebastian, you're far too valuable to lose and if something were to happen to you...?" Joey was biting her bottom lip and then looking up into his eyes and muttering softly, "What if…what if I volunteer?"

She knew it was bit of a reach but it was better if someone else other than Sebastian should go through this and would take one for the team if she had to.

Sebastian didn't let it show yet he was astounded to hear her offering herself yet he couldn't help shaking his head. "I think you already know the answer to that question. I'm sorry but I can't let you or anyone else do this."

Joey did figured as much though it didn't hurt to try as it was all she could do. "Since you seem so set about doing this, I guess I have to accept it anyways though it doesn't mean I have to like it."

She then reach inside the pocket of her lab coat and pull out a box to hand to him. Sebastian raised an eyebrow at the small box sitting there in her grasp before he took it and lifting the top to stare at the contents inside.

He lifted his gaze back on her and wondering why she was giving this to him. "I'm flattered but I'm not the kind who likes to wear this kind of stuff, no offense."

But as he held it up and studies it more closely and realizing it wasn't that of an ordinary bracelet. It was more of a leather wristband with a tiny onyx cross set in the material. She was looking to the other side of the room, not wanting to meet his eye though she did owe him some kind of explanation for why she had that.

"It was supposed to be my gift to Gabe before he got sick and well I just thought that it be better if you had it as a sort of congratulatory gift from me to you for all that we did together on this project. I know you're not a believer in faith but you could hopefully use it for luck."

She decided she did all she could and knowing full well he wasn't going to change his mind about it. She turn and walked out of the room, leaving without so much as saying another word to him as she closed the door quickly and head back down to the lab.

Sebastian was standing there still frozen and staring to where she exit while keeping his hold on the object in hand and feeling conflicted for once in his life. Then after a while he set the thing back inside the box and turn back to the papers left on his desk and trying not to think too much of the look she gave him before she left his office.
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Your Hollow Heart