David Robbins - Green Bay Run

“We?”

“The Minister and the directors of the different divisions. As head of the Science Division, the project was put in my hands. Given our computer projections, we knew we had to act quickly. The more dissatisfaction spreads, the harder it will be to stop. So we’ll stop it now.”

“How?” Blade inquired, his gaze riveted on the woman’s brain.

“We realized that our educational system had failed if we couldn’t guarantee our citizens were properly indoctrinated in Technic teachings.

But we were bewildered because we knew our system was the best it could possibly be. Why then, we asked ourselves, was our system breeding individuals who were able to resist indoctrination and reject the concept of loyalty to the Technic state?” Darmobray talked in a clinical fashion, as if he were instructing a novice Technic. “We came to the conclusion that the fault didn’t rest in our system—the fault lay in our citizens. There would always be those who were incapable of assimilating our indoctrination. There would always be those who naturally inclined towards rebellion.”

“So instead of changing your system, you decided to change your populace,” Blade deduced.

“Improve them would be more apt,” Darmobray said. “I hit on the idea about eight years ago, but I wasn’t able to implement my experiments until I came to Green Bay.”

“What idea?”

Darmobray glanced at the oblong black box to which the woman had been attached. “Where do I begin?” he asked, and paused. “What do you know about the human brain?”

“It’s the center of thought and understanding.”

“Crudely put, but adequate. Actually, I was referring to the physiological aspects. As you may know, the brain continually gives off waves of electricity which can be measured by means of an electroencephalogram. By tracing this electrical activity, the lines of communication within the brain itself can be traced. Follow me so far?”

“No problem.”

“Okay. To be more specific, these brain waves have a frequency of about three to one hundred per second, and a magnitude of only five or five hundred millionths of a volt.”

“And all this relates to your Research Facility?”

“Bear with me. Studies have shown normal brains function within a given range of frequencies and voltage. Once the parameters are exceeded, all kinds of problems can result. Grand mal epilepsy, for instance, is associated with beta waves that attain a voltage of one hundred millionths of a volt,” Darmobray detailed. “Other studies have demonstrated that different drugs affect the generation of brain waves differently. If strychnine is put directly on an exposed brain, it will increase the frequency and the voltage. Dilantin can eliminate abnormal waves. Even more important, from my point of view, was research that proved that the frequency of brain waves can be increased or decreased by temperatures.”

Blade stared at the woman, wondering who she might be and whether she was aware of the wires inserted in her brain.

“I became fascinated by the correlation between brain waves and human behavior,” the Director mentioned. “It occurred to me that controlling the frequency and voltage might be the key to controlling conduct.”

“And if you can control human conduct, you can eliminate the Resistance Movement,” Blade interrupted.

“If I can perfect my technique, not only will all of our citizens become models of loyalty, devoted to our Technic doctrines, but they’ll also do whatever we want without hesitation. Imagine that. Millions of men and women at the Minister’s beck and call. His slightest wish will be their command.”

“Not to mention the slightest wishes of the directors of the various divisions,” Blade noted facetiously.

“Well, us also,” Darmobray admitted.

“If you can accomplish your goal, you’ll be the envy of every dictator on the planet.”

“Won’t we, though?” Darmobray said, smiling.

The Warrior pointed at the nearest oblong box. “Is this the technique you’re so proud of? You stick wires into someone’s brain?”

“Not quite,” Darmobray replied. “These are my research subjects. Let me demonstrate.” He moved to the woman’s oblong box and flicked a switch, activating the device. A row of meters and dials lit up and the box buzzed loudly. “Now watch what happens when I adjust that dial.”

Blade saw the Director turn a green dial, and the next instant the womans’ arms flapped uncontrollably. The dial was rotated to another setting and her legs quivered. Another turn, and her eyes unexpectedly opened and stared blankly at the ceiling. “Is she alive?” he inquired.

“Technically, she’s a vegetable. If I disconnected the life-support system, she’d die,” the Director said. He touched the wires attached to her exposed brain. “By inserting the needles attached to the ends of these wires into specific areas of her brain, then regulating the frequency using the black box, I can control her bodily functions.”

“How can a person live with their brain exposed?”

“With the proper equipment, they can be kept alive indefinitely. This one has lasted almost a month.”

“And I suppose she volunteered to be your guinea pig?”

Darmobray laughed. “She was a farmer’s wife, I believe. Her daughter was brought in at the same time, but the girl only lasted a week, as I recall.”

A farmer’s wife? A mother and daughter who had been brought to the Research Facility together? “Were their names Sandra and Nadine Wolski?”

“Wolski?” Darmobray said, his brow knitting, gazing at the Warrior in surprise. “Why yes, I believe they were. How did you know?”

“A lucky guess.”

The Director’s eyes narrowed. “In any event, the experiments I conducted in this room were the first step in proving my theory on how to control human behavior.” He walked to the doorway. “Come with me.”

Blade exited the revolting chamber of horrors on Darmobray’s heels, bearing to the right. “What was the second step?”

“Implants.”

“More needles in the brain?”

“No. By implanting a unique tetrode transistor into the brain stem, then using a modified broadcast transmitter to emit the proper signal, I can control the behavior of the recipients.”

“I don’t follow you.”

“Okay. Let me explain in greater detail. We have manufactured hundreds of revolutionary transistors, which are tiny electronic devices, mere wafers constructed of silicon. Through a simple surgical procedure, one of these transistors is implanted in the brain stem. They impair normal brain functioning by impeding the brain’s electrical activity, in the process transforming the recipient of the implant into an Automaton. To put it simply, they can’t think for themselves.”

“But how do you control them? How do you get the Automatons to do what you want?”

“That’s where the transmitter enters the picture. The implanted transistors are attuned to the specific frequency emitted by our one-hundred-thousand-watt transmitter. When the implants receive the signal, they activate the brains of the Automatons,” Darmobray elaborated. “At least, that’s the general idea. Unfortunately, the system hasn’t been perfected yet. I haven’t achieved total control over the Automatons. Most obey the electronic commands incorporated into the transistors. A few renegades don’t.”

“What sort of commands?”

“Oh, basis instructions,” Darmobray said evasively. “It will be another six months to a year before I can successfully, consistently program the Automatons to the point where they almost resemble normal human beings and can perform even routine everyday tasks.” He sighed. “I’m still in the experimental stage, but on a grander scale.”