OOC: This will be a collaborative story about my character The Laughing Man and Vrahn's Character the Creeper, each of us will be writing the story part by part and I've rewritten my part because I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote the other thing, teaches me to write something at 4 or 5 AM. Anyway I hope you enjoy it you can leave feedback here: http://discoverygc.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=53639
Years ago aboard the Ageira Research Station Everest, researchers were busy working on a very interesting project in the Cybernetics Wing. In charge was a man named Howard R Albatross; he was middle aged and the Head of Cybernetics Research aboard the station. He was a very determined man who had a lot of radical theories and worked on a number of projects based on these theories. The Director of Ageira overlooked his unsuccessful projects as long as he brought results from other projects, which he did. The project he was working on at the time was very special to him. Howard had many radical projects and ideas but there had always been one similarity between them, they were all researching ways to extend ones life and/or improve the physical and mental body and mind.
Cybernetics were a major part in his work and this project was no different. The project was called "Project Genesis " and it had a number of goals. The first part of the project was the development a storage device for the subjects mind and actually consciousness; there were two ways to go through with this. The first being the manufacturing of a Artificial Brain using computers or modifying an existing brain with Cybernetics so that the subjects mind could be transferred into the new body. Obviously the second way was denied by Ageira Technologies as costing too much as a human life would have to be given up in order for the process to be completed.
This left the development of a Artificial Brain to be completed. The work went slow and Howard began to grow impatient with the time and effort that was needed to complete this project, and he wasn't the only one. The Director was beginning to question the amount of resources being put into this project. While he allowed Howard to complete his own projects on the side, this new project was starting to interfere with other projects on the station as manpower and resources were being diverted to the development of this artificial brain. Howard soon gave into the Directors warning of shutting down his project if he continued to waste resources on it so he could continue slowly. Eventually his patience paid off after about six years in development his Artificial Brain was finished any they could finally move on to the next stage of the project.
With the Brain developed a way to transfer the Consciousness of a subject to the brain would be needed, but Howard was already on this. With his associate Dr. Julian Sullivan he had developed a complex system of cybernetics that would be hooked up to a test subject. In theory the subjects consciousness would be transferred using the device and stored inside the Artificial Brain which was now being called "ARK". As soon as Howard finished his Cybernetics Device it was time to move on to the third stage of the project, Testing. This would require a lot of work as two things are needed. The first being the test subject; it would need to meet Ageira Technologies Testing Protocols and be able to register on the equipment which was the second part. They would need a way of confirming if the transfer was successful and if the subject's consciousness was still there. This would be done by hooking up the subject to a device that measure brainwaves; the subject would be shown images to stimulate the brainwaves and than it would be transferred to the Ark.
After the computer would stimulate the Ark with the same images as the subject and the data would be compared and confirmed to see if consciousness was transferred. If it was the brainwave patterns during stimulation would be similar proving that the subject existed in the Ark.
"Sir, we have narrowed the choices of subjects down to three possibilities the first and most likely to be successful being ruled out as human testing can't be done at this time. With that said our next best choices are a Gorilla or a Monkey as both are the closest thing to a human and will show distinct patterns during brainwave stimulation." Dr. Sullivan walked up to Howard and whispered to him. "Screw the Director, we can easily get the navy to provide us with a few condemned prisoners to test on, and if we do it in the lower labs no one will be the wiser."
Howard pondered for a moment but shook his head. "We can't risk being shut down, even if the chance of success is greater should something go wrong our entire project would be shut down." Hi college places a hand on his shoulder. "Howard, any accident's could be tak-" He pushed his hand off his shoulder and shook his head again. "The answer is no, I will not risk years of Research to get the job done quicker. I've waited this long I an wait longer."
Dr. Sullivan sighed, "Very well, I will be in my lab should you need me, tell me how the tests go." And with that he left the room, Howard questioned his choice; the chances of it working were better but the risk was too great and the cost too high. He looked back at the Researcher, giving him authorization to start testing on the Gorilla, and over the course of several weeks five tests were conducted on five Gorilla's. The first test was a utter failure killing the Gorilla on transfer, it was discovered that the device created would have to be reconfigured for it to work.
The second test showed promise as the Brainwaves of the Gorilla flat-lined but there was no change in the Ark. The third and fourth test showed similar results though there was a small trace of brainwaves in the Ark but it didn't react to any of the stimulation tests.
"Sir, test four showed signs of brainwave activity in the Ark but it didn't react to any of the Stimulation tests." Howard sighed at this news. "Signs of Brainwave activity isn't enough evidence, there are a number of things that could have caused that. I want you to continue with the fifth subject but this time I want you to use the alternative method that Dr. Sullivan created."
"You mean Cybernetic Implantation?"
"Yes, I'm not sure that the basic device is complex enough to transfer the consciousness we are going to have to physically connect it to the Ark."
"Sir, were going to need more manpower to complete that kind of surgery."
"I'm aware of that, pull who you need I will deal with the Director should he ask where the staff are being pulled to."
"Yes sir."
The fifth test would take time to complete as the Gorilla would have to undergo surgery and cybernetic implantation. This process would implant cybernetics directly into the Gorilla's brain allowing for it to "download" into the ark easier. This improved the chances of success but it also increased the chances for complications. The surgery itself was done by Dr. Sulivan being a expert in both cybernetics and the conducting a surgery this complex he was the obvious choice. When the surgery was done the Gorilla would have to be observed for a few days to ensure the procedure was successful and that it had time to recover. Once this was done the Stimulation tests could begin and than the actual test itself.
Both the procedure and the stimulation tests looked good as they prepared for the final stage of the test. Howard stood in the observation room as he gave the command to start. At that moment the download began and the brainwaves of the subject flat-lined as expected. Howard stared at the Ark's readings as minimal signs of brainwave activity were detected, unfortunately they didn't react to any of the stimulation tests.
Howard slammed his fist onto the table. "This isn't going to work!" He looked over the data again, everything we good but there was no response from the Stimulation tests. "Start the tests again on the Ark, I want it checked again and than once more!" He collapsed into his chair as he pondered what to do next. The test had failed but not completely, there were brainwaves detected but not enough to prove that there was consciousness. There were two possible reasons for this, the first being that the subject wasn't compatible, or that the artificial brain wasn't good enough to hold a consciousness. In any case he knew what needed to be done, he accessed his terminal and began typing up a message.
With the message sent he sat back in his chair and closed his eyes, and rested.