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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
- 7
- 8
- 9
~oooOYOHOHOooo~

Chapter 08

The two weeks seem to go by so fast as everyone was busy getting the necessary preparations settled before it was time to start the next stage of the project. It was sure to be quite the monumental moment for all of them and certain to be looking back on it for years to come whether it was a success or not, hopefully the former than the latter in their case. It was all they could really think about while prepping for the procedure that was to go down that late afternoon.

Everyone had different thoughts on how this would turn out, some mostly full of anticipation since it left no doubt as to why they couldn't help feeling very excited as they were taking part in this. This was bound to be a huge leap for them and their upcoming career in the field.

But that was only one half of these as then there were those of the more sensible and rational mind who wanted to make sure everything goes accordingly. They were proceeding with every precaution to see that their fellow scientist-test subject didn't bite the big one right there on the table.

They have gotten this far with their earlier testing and being there to witness it themselves show that they had been capable of doing the impossible right before their eyes. They probably go down in history as a great accomplishment or up in smoke if things didn't go as plan.

Either way, this was going to be so much bigger than phasing a gorilla invisible and were pulling all the stops to make sure nothing went wrong today.

Although not everyone was feeling buzz about it and no one could really blame her for feeling like this. Joey couldn't hide her anxiety so well while she went to do her thing down in the lab, thinking that this was still not a smart move on any of their part as she had been examining the data carefully and thought that so called 2% was still a dangerous gamble they were willing to overlook on this.

But of course she had to do as her boss told her but that didn't mean she could like this one bit. Oh she tried to keep it from showing since everyone was already on board and didn't want to be such a stick in the mud as she went along with this. But anyone with eyes could clearly see it written on her face that she was really against this, especially in Sebastian's case for using himself in this latest experimentation that would go down within a few more hours.

Matt took in the apprehensive state she was in and decided to go have a quick talk with her, knowing that someone should at least try to ease her mind a bit. Everything was riding on the line and if she was still like this during the procedure or god forbid, if something did occur...

No everything would turn out okay and just needed them all to stay on top of their game.

He had her follow him outside the lab and taking her to one of the empty rooms within the facility not far from there. He shut the door to make sure no one would be listening in but since the others were focus on their own tasks to pay any attention to them but figure it be better just to give the two of them some privacy and let her have the chance to speak her thoughts to him.

Joey had some inkling on what Matt was probably going to tell her and decided to save him the trouble of giving her an open lecture. Though that didn't mean she didn't have a few choice things to say about this and decide to let him hear what she had on this whole matter.

"Look, I know what you're going to say and as much as I appreciate what you're trying to do, it won't change how I feel about this. I'll just can't help thinking that this is a really bad idea with what we're doing. You heard what I said on this and I will stand by with my earlier comments cause frankly I don't know which is more ludicrous, the fact that we're all going through with Phase III like it's nothing to fret about or the fact that our own boss decides he's the guinea pig in this whole mad scheme of things? It's maddening, that's what it is and he's the one willing to take such a high risk that could put his very life on the line and yet he's thinking it's no big deal!"

Matt saw she needed to vent this frustration she had going on and by the time she managed to get it all out of her system and seeming to look better now that she got it off her chest. He understood that and thought he should let her know how he also felt on the subject as well.

"Yeah I got that and don't worry I'm not Sebastian who's willing to give you a hard time but I kinda want you to hear me out for a sec and then can decide what to do." He saw she was listening as she knew him and Linda were the more reasonable of the bunch and had the common sense than the rest.

Although with this situation happening right now, she was starting to question where that reason went off to when they decided to go through with this.

"Joey I know exactly how you feel as I'm just as upset and concern for Sebastian and thinking this has to be the most dangerous thing he's ever considering and wish he wasn't doing this either. Hell, he and I've been best friends since freshman year and sometime I wonder what goes on in his head most the time."

He also thought it was difficult for him because he was dating his friend's ex behind his back and didn't have the guts to tell him to his face. He really wished Linda would so they didn't have to keep up with the secrecy but she felt that Sebastian wouldn't take it so well and probably see it as a betrayal on their half even though those two hadn't started seeing each other until after the break-up.

This was weighting heavy on him, feeling it's burden on his shoulders as well as the add bulk that they were going through with this harebrained scheme behind the government's back and knew would cost them their jobs if it got back to them. But seeing how Joey had been acting these last few days, looking so well distress over the possibly that they could actually fail and this wasn't just some animal they could just toss away but an actual living breathing person that they both knew and worried about the likely probabilities that could happen to Sebastian. He saw her turn towards him and saw the true concern shining within those doe brown eyes and taking note how very emotional she was feeling right then.

"So how can we stand here and just let him do this? You knew we just finished the second Phase of the experiment and took notice there were bound to be some complications with how the body can react to the serum and even when phasing back we had some close call as you recall. Why didn't you stop the board from giving the Okay then? Didn't you and Linda try to explain this to them when you were there."

She didn't see the guilt settle in his eyes as her words reminded him how he was much at fault with this even though he and Linda had no idea that he was thinking of actually going to do this. Matt knew Joey was right that they were much to blame and cursing himself for letting Sebastian talk them into this.

It's bad enough that he had to go and twist their arms to convince them to just take this risk when they both knew there was a probable chance it could backfire on them and wind up having to put him in a body bag if it didn't work. He thought that she had every right to be concern and as much as he wanted to tell her that this was all Sebastian's idea and not the board itself, but unfortunately Sebastian forced him and Linda to not reveal any of this to the others, especially to her.

They had reluctantly agreed to do seeing how the others would've react and if Joey were to know the actual truth, she would've really blown her top for what they were doing and wouldn't hold it against her in the slightest.

She was right that the protocols were there for a specific reason and could get them all into very hot water if the committee ever found out about this.

Matt ran his hand through his hair and sighed loudly, feeling way older than he should have been and wonder how could he make this any easier for the both of them, although maybe to ease some of his own guilt that he was carrying himself.

"You know how convincing Sebastian can be when he wants to get something done and having the committee hear had them eating out of the palm of his hand. Believe me you're preaching to the choir on this one nut can you honestly say that you wouldn't want to be in his place right now? Although if you think about it, I think it's just because he wants to go down doing something never done before and doesn't want to leave it to someone else to get to it before he does."

"You mean he wants to be kinda like Neil Armstrong and be the first person to ever set foot on the moon or something as cool as that?" She could see that in her head and guess anyone in Sebastian's place would want to do the same and not care so much the risk involve.

"Exactly. This is his chance to be Chuck Yeager or Christopher Columbus. Well, if I were him I'd do the same thing myself if I actually wanted to go through with it."

Joey had to keep from snorting at that as she didn't think he was that type of person but then again maybe they all had that same desire to want to do the impossible. She supposed that did make a whole lot of sense but there was one thing that was still bugging her.

"Let me you ask you one more question and I want your honest option on it." She could see Matt was listening when she finally told him what had been on her mind and hope he could be truthful with it, "Is the human race really ready for what we're doing?"

"What do you mean by that?" He saw her bite her lower lip and realize Joey must've been thinking this for quite some time and thought that sounded almost similar to the one Linda had asked him the other night as practically half their conversation had revolve around Sebastian and what they were doing.

"It's complicated but it's just we're barreling down a road that begs moral and ethical questions that I don't think we can answer even if we should know the answers to some of these."

He shrugged his shoulders as he thought that was understandable to think such things yet didn't see it was so bad to be looking at a different perspective on the world around them. "They said the same thing about the bomb. They said we'd never survive the nuclear age...but here we are."

Joey raised a brow at him, "Yeah? Well tell that to the people of the Ukraine in Pripyat after the Chernobyl disaster." She then was thinking of what was waiting outside the room before looking back at Matt again and asking him in a sober tone, "But still the question remains…do we really want to live in a world where people can just disappear in the blink of an eye?"

Growing up and seeing how people were in situation, she used to hear those griping about wanting to just vanish, either from total embarrassment or due to frustration. But no matter how intolerable the situation can be, she didn't think any sane person wanted to just be out of sight, out of mind. She just couldn't really picture herself going around where no one could see you and just be the outsider among them.

Matt could see that she had been giving it a lot of thought about this and obviously thinking how the government would go to such length to use it and even he had to shudder at the idea.

"You know it's really hard to say but I think we'll just have to hope for the best. But the good news is once Sebastian has done this and the three days are up, we bring him back and you can go questioning him on how he felt about it. Maybe we could do the same for you if you're interest in trying it out yourself."

He said this half jokingly and saw Joey gave him a weak smile before chuckling at that comment, "Thanks but I already laid out my offer and Sebastian said no. It's strange but when he heard me say that, he seem kinda…"

"Kinda what?" He saw Joey shook her head, "Nothing, it was probably me imagining it but anyways, thanks for the talk. You remind me so much of my dad when he'd listen to me talk of my concerns about stuff and always knew just the right things to say."

Matt was please to hear and decided to tell her he felt the same himself and glad to been of help. "Hey it's the least I could do, and if you have any issues you know where to find me, or ask Linda, she'd be happy to point me out to you and don't hesitate asking anyways."

The two exit the room and Joey did feel some of her tensions had been lifted as she was glad she had someone to listen to her and having someone who offer her some helpful words to make her a whole lot better. She thought she could try to stay positive and not look at this as a tragedy waiting to happen but more an opportunity for all of them and should be fine like Matt said.

Now they just had to wait for Sebastian to get ready so they could get the whole show start.

~oooOYOHOHOooo~

While everyone was busy with what they were doing, Sebastian was also seeing to his own as he was using one of the medical examining room to get change in and would be using as his temporarily quarters for the duration of this experiment. He was standing by the small basin with the mirror there and looking at his reflection that was staring back at him.

He took everything in and seeing that he looked well for someone his age close to being forty yet thought it was okay for him since he didn't have any gray hairs thankfully though did see the bags under his eyes from all his late night staying up within the last few weeks. Yet if he had to say what was probably his most prominent features, it had to be those striking clear blue orbs that were gazing back at him while having his fringes getting in the way and reaching to brush them to the side.

He took notice that it was getting longer and had been meaning to get them trim but been so busy with everything else and had been pushing it back when the fringes were starting to obscure his vision. He doubt it would have made any difference if he had since no one would be able to notice at the very least.

In just a few hours and if all goes accordingly, he was never going to see that face again and not sure how the world would handle missing his handsome mug but told himself it was for a good cause. He placed his hand over his cheek and muttering to his reflection, "See you in a few days…"

He heard a brief knock on the door and then Joey's voice calling out to him, "Sebastian are you ready?" Sebastian took one final glance at his image and shakes his limbs out thinking it was show-time.

Joey was waiting right outside his room and thinking to herself, Can't believe I actually going along with this even when I feel strongly against it though can I really not hold it against Sebastian for wanting to do this?

It was hard to say but she needed to remember she wasn't alone in this endeavor and that everything should be fine. They had done the first two phases with moderate success and thought maybe, just maybe it would be like that. Though she'd be a nervous wreak if she was in his place yet doubt Sebastian would be having any second thoughts to this and wasn't likely to have cold feet right then and there.

She was trying to not think too much on that and hoping he didn't take much longer in there. She had been ready to head back down to the lab to see if Sarah needed any assistance when Linda came by and asked her to go fetch Sebastian for them.

Though as much as she rather be doing something other than this, she couldn't really refuse and trying not to feel conflicted standing outside his door. She hadn't spoken to him after what happen in his office then and been purposely avoiding him whenever she could to not be around him.

Sure she suppose it might have seem childish at the time but she was so angry by his disregard to her well concerns and even she didn't think she could be civil without shooting her mouth off in his face.

"Sebastian?" She was about to knock again when it finally opened and saw Sebastian right in front of her. He was wearing a powder blue robe and seeing her right there grin, "Hey Joe, how's it going?"

"Don't call me Joe." Was her immediate response though she wanted to smack herself after realizing Sebastian had done that on purpose and flush brightly. Ugh how hard was it for him not to call her that! She should be used to this but somehow it simply grate her nerves that he did this just to get under her skin and she would response like this.

Yet as she looked up and saw his eyes were twinkling that way and felt the blood rushing in her when she took notice of the amusement on his face. Just what has gotten into her all of a sudden, never had she been like this before so why now?

"So...you ready for this?" She saw Sebastian lean against the door and raise his brow at her, "What do you think?" It was a rhetorical question that they both knew the answer to was obvious yet he wouldn't mind hearing what she had to say for herself.

Joey shrugged her shoulders after taking notice that he looked just as cool as a cucumber yet for all she knew his nerves must be overworking with all the excitement he was getting off on this whole she-bang. "Personally I'd be a nervous wreck about now, seeing how I'm practically throwing myself into the lion's den without being sure whether I come out in one piece or in pieces."

"That's perfectly logical but undermined thinking you have there. You really shouldn't fret so about it, cause you know why?" She saw him give her that cocky smirk while putting his hand in his pocket, "Because we've check the whole process over at least a hundred times and know with absolute certainty that this one will also turn out as well as the first two. So let's look at this as a moment of grand opportunity and try to stay on a positive note."

"If you say so…" They were walking down the corridor towards the main lab without saying much in the process. Joey didn't really know what to say otherwise as she wish she could be as optimistic and think like that but Sebastian didn't seem so concern over thinking of what could occur down the road. He on the other hand couldn't handle this awkward silence and decided to break the ice with a joke.

"Hey did I ever tell you the one about Superman and Wonder Woman?" She looked at him with a confuse expression and wondering what he was on about but figured he tell her anyways. "No why?"

"Well it's a good one, trust me you like it. So Superman's flying around Metropolis and he's horny as hell. He's checking out the rooftops and all of a sudden he sees Wonder Woman sunning herself on the roof of the Justice League. I mean she is lying there buck naked and spread eagle. Looks like she wants to get fucked right? So Superman starts thinking to himself, "Man I gotta get myself some of that wonder pussy" and then he realizes that he can fly down, do a little fast pumping and be gone before she even sees him. Because he's Superman, he's faster than a speeding bullet, right? So Superman, he swoops down, he fucks her so quick, she doesn't even see him. Wonder Woman sits up and says, "What the fuck was that?" and The Invisible Man says "I don't know but my asshole is killing me." That's funny right?"

Joey knew what he was trying to do and couldn't help shaking her head at him. "You're unbelievable you know that." She didn't think it was that funny yet did find it highly amusing that he could still find the chance to tell such crude jokes even at a time like this.

But Sebastian thought it was worth it as he saw the amusement shining within her eyes and the slight grin on her face. "There see, now that wasn't so hard was it? C'mon today is suppose to be special and shouldn't be so glum about it."

He had to admit he missed having their small talks and hadn't like that she had been avoiding him and not making much eye contact whenever they were at least in the same room together. Oh he knew why she was doing it and even when he thought she was getting worked up over nothing but that she was worried for his sake when she really shouldn't.

Everything would go as planned, he was sure of it.

"Yes well one of us has to in order to be the reasonable one of this mad party here but anyways, thanks for the laugh Sebastian. Although I feel almost sorry for Superman as he probably doesn't know he just did it with a guy just there. You'd think he would have notice something off as he was doing it then but I guess he was really into it."

It was nice to be just having a good chuckle over something as ridiculous as that and as they made their way to the lab and seeing everyone was set in position. Joey went to go join them while Linda and Matt came to see if Sebastian was ready to get started as they had him head towards the medical cot in the center of the room. He took account of everyone waiting for his okay and gave a curt nod before turning to Linda, "Let's do this people."

Sebastian went to remove his robes and everyone on the main floor saw he wore nothing underneath them as he stood there in his birthday suit and certainly gave them an eyeful of his nude form. "Ladies, please, this is science." He was seeing the amused smirk on most their faces, especially Linda's and Sarah's, but then catching Joey's eye to the side and winked in her direction.

Joey should've been the least surprised by his lack of decency yet he certainly had nothing to hide from them. Although having seen her fair share of the opposite sex, she give his physique an eight out of ten but that was just something she'd keep to herself and try to keep her eyes from looking below the belt. Good thing they had a blanket to cover him for the most part. He went to go and lie down on the table while she and Linda set on getting him strapped in. Linda had the restraint wrapped around his left arm while Joey did the opposite and then saw what he was wearing on his wrist. She lift her gaze towards his and seeing Sebastian him look in her direction as he saw she took notice of it there and went to explain himself.

"Like you said, for luck, though I'm not superstitious but hey better safe than sorry." This seem to get a chuckle out of her as she then put the other strap to secure him in, "Luck has nothing to do with it, just having a bit of faith and hoping you get through this is all we're going for here."

She made sure that the electrodes were set in place and that an I.V. tube with a bag of saline solution was fasten in and dripping slowly through the vein. Linda was making last minute checks of some of the equipment and pat Sebastian on the shoulder. "Okay, How are you feeling?"

"I'm a little tense, hey Sarah how's it looking over there." Sarah was standing by the monitors and seeing they all show to be normal at the moment. "Pulse 88, BP 140 over 95. A bit elevated."

"That's to be expected." Joey thought so as well but seeing no reason to be concern and knew he was ready to get this thing started.

She took one last glance at him and studies Sebastian's face seeing the written determination there and knew there would be no going back now. No going back for any of them. This was the point of no return.

"We ready up in heaven?" She turn to the observation level seeing Janice and Frank hard at work getting all the recordings up and running and were ready to make history.

"Subject: Male, Age 38, weight 166 lbs…"

Joey was keeping tabs on the monitors while half listening to the conversation going on but mostly just staying on her toes to make sure nothing jump out at her. She saw Matt was getting the serum as he jabbed the hypodermic needle into small vial of colored liquid and drawing up 20ccs before Linda took it from him when he finished. "If the tests are any indication it should work quickly."

Sebastian was watching them and turning his eyes to Linda before indicating she hand it to him, "I'll inject it myself. If anything goes wrong, they can't blame you."

She hands it to him and seeing him stare at the syringe for a moment. Everyone was waiting and could swear heard someone asking if he had any last words.

"Yeah! If I die, pretend the last words I said were real deep and clever." Then after saying this, he inserted the needle into the I.V. and depresses the plunger all the way until none was left inside the container. They were watching the liquid going in and was slowly making its way towards his bloodstream.

Joey had her eyes train on Sebastian once he did this and she along with everyone were waiting for what had been at least a few minutes since it was administered and didn't see anything happening as of yet. Maybe it takes later, Human DNA structure is slightly more complex and was possible that it needs more time...

But she could swear that she gone over her notes twice and it should be right this very second that it should be working. They were considering doing it again but then heard Sebastian speak, "Wait, wait I feel something…my arm...it's getting a bit warm...yeah, it's...it's starting to tingle..."

Everyone had their attention on Sebastian and listening to him describe the sensation he was feeling and Joey having always wonder what it was that the animals had felt but knew couldn't communicate. Now they were getting some viable data, "Sebastian is there anything else?"

He nodded as it was going through his whole body. "Okay...it's spreading to my back...like, like a fever…"

Then right before their eyes they saw it was happening. Slowly the flesh on Sebastian's arm was dissolving, revealing the complex network of nerves, blood vessels and flesh beneath it. But then Joey notice the look on Sebastian's face and turning her attention on him, "Sebastian, are you all right?"

She heard him cursing and watching as he was started to fidget and tugging at his restrains, "Shit! It's starting to burn! Oh fuck. It hurts!"

He didn't think it would be this bad but now it was getting to the point he couldn't handle what was happening to him. Then they heard the monitors were going wild as the heart beat accelerating and Sarah saying to Linda, "Heartbeat's elevated. Pulse at 100...130..."

Sebastian could feel nothing but red hot pain going through his whole body, he wanted to make it stop but couldn't. He struggles against his restraints as his skin liquefied into a muscular mass and kept on eating away at it, slowly but surely.

It's like someone was dripping battery acid in his veins and was still in the midst of dissolving and wishing it stopped and end it here.

His pulse was erratic and Linda quickly ordering Carter to grab the crash cart and Joey finding herself on autopilot while her mind was in full chaos. She was afraid this would happen but now was not the time to be thinking that.

She was seeing the monitors going crazy and heard Sebastian yelling in pure agony while still thrashing around trying to escape from the pain being thrust upon him.

Oh god no, this is how it was when Gabe—no stay focus Joanna, Sebastian needs you to not panic!

She heard Frank say something over the intercom, something about electric activity increasing in all limbs and his brainwaves were through the roof. Oh God this was not good.

Oh shit, this was not fucking good at all! Sebastian was shouting at the top of his lungs and Joey had turn to see the horror that was happening to him. He seem on the verge of becoming nothing but mass muscle and ligaments before that too start to disappear, his screams were becoming louder and more painful to listen to.

"No. Oh god! NO! STOP IT! STOP IT!" Christ didn't think it was going to hear this much!

It was pure torture for him and yet everyone could not tear their gaze at seeing how the muscular system begins to dissolve, leaving a struggling skeleton wrapped with tentacular blood vessels and stuffed with the major organs.

There was the beating heart, the heaving lungs, the small and large intestines…somehow Joey was starting to feel sick and might actually consider going vegan after this. But then they start to disappear along with the blood vessels and leaving behind only a struggling skeleton in agonizing pain.

Joey took a quick glance at the monitors and seeing they were starting to go down and that his screaming was starting to quiet down. Then as if someone had poured acid all over the bones, the skeleton evaporates into nothingness but seeing that Sebastian was still there as the bonds were moving about before he stopped and eventually passed out.

"Bio-quantum phase shift occurred at 18:26." Joey saw Linda went towards the table, seeing nothing there yet obviously felt something solid while reaching to place two fingers to where his wrist was and pressing down on it. They waited and then Linda turning to everyone with a slight smile on her face, "He passed out but he'll be fine within a few hours."

Joey was relief to find that all his vitals were returning to normal and then taking notice that when Linda move her hand slightly down his arm and seeing small electrical discharge dance around her fingertips. She could see that there was absolutely nothing there but knew that wasn't entirely true as there was something lying on that cot. It was just an invisible Sebastian lying unconscious before them.

She heard everyone in the background hollering in joy as well as Linda telling Matt and Carter to get ready to put Sebastian into recovery. Yet while that was going on, the only thing Joey could do was smile and then thinking as she look to the invisible figure lying there, you did it, Sebastian. You're the first.
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Your Hollow Heart