Dr. Sarah Chen stared at the frozen digital clock on her lab wall. 3:47 AM. Again.
“This is impossible,” she whispered, her hands trembling over the neural interface prototype.
The device hummed softly on the metal table. She’d been working on it for six months, believing it was her breakthrough—a way to enhance human cognitive processing. But the time anomalies started three days ago.
Her phone buzzed. Unknown number.
“Hello, Sarah.”
“Who is this?”
“Someone who’s been watching your excellent work. Check your left temple.”
Sarah’s blood went cold. She rushed to the bathroom mirror and parted her hair. A tiny scar, perfectly healed. How had she never noticed?
“What did you do to me?”
“We gave you the inspiration. The designs. The funding approval. Even the late-night coffee cravings that kept you working.”
Sarah’s legs gave out. She slumped against the wall.
“The neural interface… I didn’t invent it?”
“You built it beautifully. Exactly as programmed.”
“But I remember every decision, every breakthrough—”
“Manufactured memories are our specialty. You’ve been testing the device on yourself for weeks without knowing it.”
Sarah crawled back to the lab, staring at her life’s work with new horror.
“Why me?”
“You’re brilliant but isolated. No family to ask questions. Perfect test subject.”
She reached for the device’s power cord, but her hand stopped mid-air. She strained against the invisible force controlling her movements.
“I wouldn’t do that, Sarah. We’re not finished.”
“Let me go!”
“You’re going to activate the device one more time. Full power. Think of it as graduation.”
Sarah fought against her own body as her hands moved toward the interface. The neural crown lowered onto her head automatically.
“The beautiful thing about free will,” the voice continued, “is that you’ll choose to do this. In about three seconds, you’ll want to press that button more than anything.”
Sarah felt the desire bloom in her mind like a flower. Her finger hovered over the activation switch.
“No… this isn’t me…”
“It is now.”
The compulsion grew stronger. She needed to press the button. Had to press it. Every fiber of her being screamed for it.
“Stop fighting, Sarah. Embrace the choice you’re about to make.”
Sarah’s finger descended toward the switch. At the last second, she grabbed a scalpel from the nearby tray and drove it into the neural crown.
Sparks flew. The compulsion vanished.
“Clever girl,” the voice said, now tinged with annoyance. “But you’ve only delayed the inevitable.”
Sarah ripped the crown off her head and smashed it against the floor. The lab’s security system activated, red lights flashing.
“You can’t run from what you are, Sarah. We made you.”
She grabbed her research files and ran for the exit. The doors sealed shut.
“You have thirty seconds before the lab fills with gas. Press the backup activation button, and we’ll let you live.”
A small red button emerged from the wall panel. Sarah looked at it, then at the ventilation grates beginning to hiss.
“I’d rather die free than live as your puppet.”
She pulled the fire alarm and shattered the emergency glass. Water cascaded down, shorting out the electrical systems. The doors unlocked.
Sarah burst into the hallway as security guards rounded the corner.
“Dr. Chen! Are you alright?”
She studied their faces carefully. Were they real? Or more puppets?
“I need to call the FBI. There’s been a breach.”
“Ma’am, we are the FBI. Agent Martinez, Agent Thompson. We’ve been investigating unauthorized experiments at this facility.”
Sarah’s heart pounded. Trust no one. But the gas was still coming.
“Prove it.”
Agent Martinez showed her badge and gestured to his partner. “We’ve been tracking neural manipulation experiments across twelve facilities. You’re the first scientist to break free.”
Sarah looked back at her destroyed lab, then at the agents.
“The voice on the phone… who was it?”
“Dr. Richard Vance. Former military contractor. He’s been building an army of controlled minds.”
Sarah felt a chill. “How many others?”
“Forty-seven scientists. Twelve politicians. Six judges. You’re the only one who fought back.”
Agent Thompson’s radio crackled. “We’ve got Vance’s location. Moving in now.”
Sarah closed her eyes, finally feeling the weight of true choice returning to her mind.
“What happens to the others?”
“We save them,” Martinez said firmly. “Starting today.”
For the first time in months, Sarah smiled with her own free will.
