In the end, Henry Wu opted for Claire Dearing. Despite her being a high profile manager, the doctor thought that the pro's outnumbered the con's. She was often in her office, living a sedentary working life. She wasn't much needed on the field, and her role could have been managed through proxies if something would have happened to her. Plus, despite Masrani's inclination toward her work, he didn't seem the type to worry too much about her work ethics.
The doctor, having finally chosen his test subject, was now ready to begin testing and so, he left the plant in an unmarked box addressed to be delivered to Claire, under the fake signature of Simon Masrani. Having been sure that nobody had seen him, and quickly replacing the prototype he had in his own lab, Henry now had only to wait to see how his test subject was going to react to the plant.
Claire was sitting in her office, speaking on the phone to one of the many contractors of the ark, while working at her computer on the monthly report review of the park itself. She was so focused that she barely noticed the guy from the deliveries as he entered her office, bringing a quite large box. as she asked him to wait a minute she quickly closed her call and then turned toward him with a curious glance.
"I'm sorry? Do you need anything?"
"Erm...Yes, Ma'am. Your signature for acceptance. We've got this box here to be delivered to you. The sender is unknown but the approval is signed by Mr. Masrani."
Claire stared at the box in confusion. An unknown sender was strange while Masrani's signature wasn't in truth.
The guy was so distracted in his job that she believed he had probably signed the approval without even reading for what it was. Sighing in defeat, she quickly counter signed the receipt and took custody of the unmarked crate. As the delivery guy left her office she swiftly opened the box only to find herself face to face with a strange, potted, plant.
She was no naturalist but she was curious about the strange appearance of the plant itself. It was fairly big, with a single trunk into the dirt. The plant in itself was a fern like bush of some kind, and yet she found herself mesmerized by the flower-like sprout on top of the leaves. But, as she admired it she realized that it was no flower on top but were actually some strange small berries which were growing in such a pattern to appear like a flower.
Moving the pot across the room she left it against the wall, beside her desk, so to be seen and yet, not in the way of those coming to her office.
Shaking her head she returned to her work, but in doing so she failed to notice how fast the berries were seemingly growing, nor did she notice that the plant itself seemed to be growing larger as the light from the light bulbs seemed to be having a positive effect on its growth.
As lunch time rolled in,Clarie let herself lean back on the back of her chair, as she released some well needed steam by simply resting her eyes on the ceiling. As she leaned like this, at the edge of her vision, she noticed that the plant she had received that morning seemed quite a bit taller and larger than before. intrigued, she rose from her chair and moved closer to it seeing that indeed it was somewhat bigger than before.
Yet, she didn't think much of it, as she simply thought that after being cooped up in a dark box the plant was simply adapting to a new environment. Still, she wondered why someone would send her such a gift. Maybe it was a gift from Masrani? That seemed strange, and yet, it was possible... as it was also entirely possible that the guy would have already forgot about it, so it was no use asking him.
As she turned away from it, she looked at her watch and, with a smile, decided that she could do with some light lunch.
As Claire left her office, leaving the lights on, the plant continued to absorb in itself the unnatural light as its berries grew slightly rounder and more purpish in color. As that happened, small pollen like particles began to leave the plant itself, filling the room with a pleasant smell.
Meanwhile, Henry was in his own office, looking at the camera's feed he had hacked through, as he stared at his creation's growth.
"Hm... It seems that, as planned, the plant is absorbing more energy from the electrical lights than what it should receive from the natural light of the sun. Peculiar is the rate of growth, although it seems to have stopped.
As of now, no signs of the alluring pheromones have been detected. Yet, Plant Prototype XXX-576, is still maturing. By my estimates, it should start producing the pheromones by the end of the day, at the latest.
Subject C.D. doesn't seem to be yet under any ill physical effect. Similarly, no psychological change seemed to have grown within her. Will have to keep on tracking her. "
After a well needed lunch, and short break, Claire returned to her office although, as she opened the door she suddenly felt much more relaxed than ever before, as a pleasant smell seemed to have filled her office. Breathing in that smell, she smiled a bit, although she already knew which was the culprit. Her stare moved onto the plant, seeing as there the smell was at its strongest and yet, she kept breathing it in, as she found it more and more amazing, the more she bathed herself within it.
As she returned to her seat, she tried to get herself to work but she just felt so relaxed and so happy that she could barely focus on her screen. Smiling, she leaned back on her chair as she just stayed there, breathing in and feeling much more relaxed the more she took in the amazing odor that had filled her room.
Growing increasingly relaxed, she barely felt any need to resume her job, as she could just bask herself in the amazing smell, and yet, something suddenly seemed to attract her attention. As she just lay there, breathing in and out on the relaxing perfume that now filled her room completel, she turned her head toward the fern like plant, as she stared at it with a glassy stare for a few minutes.
Wu, who was still observing her, noticed immediately that Claire seemed to have grown extremely relaxed, and yet, she didn't seem in complete control of herself, as he watched her stare blankly at the fern-like plant.
"Hm... interesting.
Apparently the plant doesn't produce only a mild relaxing perfume, but it seems to be turning Subject C.D. into an extremely relaxed version of herself.
I wonder if this is the plant's way of luring creatures to consume its berries... and yet, why would a plant be willing to share its offspring with other creatures? It makes no sense... it doesn't seem like a defense mechanism at all... "
Claire relaxing trance, though, was abruptly interrupted when her phone began to ring. As she snapped out of it, she quickly shook herself and took the call, and yet, as she spoke on the phone, she could feel herself being way more relaxed than she had ever felt before. Smiling as she quickly glanced at the plant , she swiftly ended the call and then moved closer to the plant itself, having decided to move it from its current spot.
"Well, my dear... I have never felt so good and so relaxed. If this is what you are for, I believe we could make millions out of you. For now, though, I'll just move you closer to my desk, so that you can help me relax..."
Yet, as she moved the potted plant, she suddenly noticed that the berries growing on top of it seemed much more rounder and softer than before. As they dangled while she moved the pot, she felt herself being hit by a wave of perfume that almost left her breathless. As she returned to her seat, with the plant way closer to her, a dopey smile appeared on her face, as she went back to bask in the delicious smell surrounding her, while her stare began to be intrigued more and more by the dangling berries on top of it.
"Mhmm... I wonder... if those taste as good as they smell..."
Yet, despite her mind being so entranced by the wonderful odor permeating the room, she still worried about the sudden thoughts she had felt growing within her mind. Those berries smelled amazing and yet, nothing proved them to be good for her to eat. And still, as she felt herself growing tantalized by them, she wondered if having a little taste could be so dangerous to her.
Still seated at her desk, feeling completely relaxed, she felt her fingers brushing those berries, as her arms were left dangling from her chair. That simple contact, coupled with how good she felt, was more than enough to push her in to have a taste... although she still felt somewhat unsure about it.
Henry, instead was smiling widely.
Just as he had expected, he saw as Claire was growing intrigued by those berries, although he was barely able to hear her whispering, he could see that she was growing more and more interested in trying them for herself. Once more he felt sure that it was something in the pollen of the plant that pushed those around to try and taste its fruits.
But still, he didn't understand why the plant was acting in such a way.
To his mind this seemed more like a predatory behavior, but he immediately rejected the idea. What they were seeing was a plant, not a predator.
"It can't be... This must be some kind of twisted defensive mechanism. The plant will probably entice the 'predator' to consume its fruit only to give them a bitter taste, so that the predator will not get closer anymore... yeah... that must be it... it has to be..."
And yet, as he whispered to himself, he could see Claire as she began to slowly move her hand closer and closer to the berries, as if she wanted to pluck a couple of them from the plant itself, as her face still was distorted by that dopey smile and glassy eyes.
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