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“Coffee, sugar, those crackers you like, propane,” Alissa enumerated, only slightly louder than the persistent sound of people trying to escape their rooms. Doctor Weiss had a vision for today’s experiments, and Alissa ignored the voices in favor of her job. “Anything else, doctor?”
The camera room was a thing of beauty: too many screens, all the best resolution the market could offer and with crisp audio. There were buttons to change it into a nightcam, a heat map, and even an x-ray one that Alissa didn’t ask how it worked. Also present was a panel full of buttons, which had all been labeled by Alissa, telling what they did and which room they affected, but they were starting to wear out. Alissa tabbed out of her shopping list and put on her to-do list a reminder to redo those. Right in front of the doctor, a microphone, a dial button allowing to choose which room her voice would go to, and another for all rooms alike to listen to her.
“Paperclips,” the doctor said, taking notes on her laptop, pushing the glasses perched on the tip of her nose. Alissa tabbed into her shopping list again. “We might need extra rations.”
“Extra strength coffee, duly noted,” Alissa nodded, looking down at her tablet, adding another note. “You’re also out of frozen meals, doctor. Would you like me to make a few more, or just buy them?”
The doctor’s hand moved to a button, pressing it idly. Alissa heard the noise of sleeping gas being poured out, and cocked her head.
She changed to the messaging app and put in a maintenance request. It should have been silent. Alissa tutted. That should’ve been solved on the last maintenance, she’d even asked for the guy to check it...
“The ones you make are more edible, but buy a few frozen meals as prize for the better behaved experiments,” she said, and her eyes looked at the screen, watching as experiments fell one by one. “Finally, some silence. I hate when people scream. It’s just temporary imprisonment.”
Look, Alissa was just a grad student, and doctor Weiss, despite her unconventional methods, produced more articles than anyone else. If she wanted any chance at a good job, padding her resume with doctor Weiss’ help was a must. All she had to do was organize experiments, buy things, oversee maintenance, and her name was going to be printed as a collaborator. Simple. Easy. Practical.
“It’ll be a long night. Donuts?”
“Oh, absolutely. And get some for you, too.” Doctor Weiss said, going back to her notes. Alissa pumped her fist quietly - score. “Also, a crowbar. I want to see what they’ll do.”
“For all of them, or...?” On one screen, one man rose from his induced stupor. When had she last checked the best by date of the gases? Another item went to her list. “One of them woke up.”
Doctor Weiss looked up, scanning the screens until she found the person, and she observed him for a few moments, a grin spreading over her face. Alissa stood by. No answer on the crowbar: she was going to buy two, just in case.
“Get some nitrile gloves and those crackers I like. It’ll be a long night.”
Alissa beamed at her foresight.
“Already on the list, doctor.”
“Then get going, Alissa.” The doctor rose from her seat, wandering to the coffee maker - already filled and primed to go. “I’ll be directing that one for a while.”
Alissa pressed the tablet against her chest.
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll be back soon.”
“See that you do, I want to trick him,” the doctor said, and Alissa nodded, quickening her pace. All in name of science and a good resume.