Chapter #4Curt and Will Become Conjoined by: Ctbro   In reality, Curt feigned ignorance of bumping into the activate button. Getting himself and his best friend Will into the fusion machine at the same time was the plan after all. He remembered the conversation that he and Dr. Highgrove had in private.
*****
'I'm not so sure Curt... That would greatly expand my research, having live subjects. But, what you are suggesting...' The elder woman rubbed her forehead gently, clearly at odds with her protégé's idea. 'The machine is still in its infancy. Combing genomes is much easier than untangling them. If you really want to do this, perhaps a less drastic option. Say... a connection by a joint hip or abdomen...'
'Doctor, you've explained, how many times, that you've run into a dead end with the research.' Curt spoke assuredly, as if his plan was the only, logical next step. 'You need actual data on combined cells, blended genes; you need a variety of entangled organic structures. Besides, with the large amount of new data, you could move forward with your research, allowing you to learn how to untangle genomes as well.' He then iterated, 'You have a very willing test subject standing before you. And a research aide who could assist you in the study.'
'Half of a subject and aide if we move forward. Since Will is not present to help in this endeavor of convincing me, I can only assume you have not gotten his consent.' The doctor answered, though Curt could tell by her tone that she was leaning towards accepting the offer.
'Will... he'll accept the results. I'm sure of it. But in the mean time, we can make up a scenario that would put us both in the chamber at the same time; then the accident can occur.' Curt replied. He had gotten his teacher to agree to the plan, and they finished discussing the finer details.
*****
"What's going on?!" Will turned around at the sound of the closing doors, too late to do anything. The chamber had sealed the two of them in. He pounded on the door, but it did not budge in the slightest. "Dr. Highgrove! The chamber..."
"No! We're stuck inside!" Curt yelled, pretending to be shocked. He also banged on the doors. Per the plan, his mentor had disappeared inside of the closet.
His legs began to tickle and the hairs on his body began to stand on end. Curt glanced downward. The electrified gasses had already begun to be pumped in from the floor, along with an uncountable about of nanites. It was a concoction of different substances, that when in combination, created the organic merging results. The tiny robots controlled the gaseous mixture and helped with removing any extraneous materials.
The mixture rose around them, obscuring everything on the outside. Curt glanced at his friend. Will's eyes were full of fear, and it pulled at his heartstrings. Fear was the last thing he wanted his friend to feel, but it was an unavoidable. His plan had to remain a secret. "We'll be okay..." he offered the overused statement as a statement of hope to ease his friend. He embraced Will in a tight hug.
After a moment of hesitation, Will wrapped his arms around Curt, returning the hug.
Curt smiled, thankful that his friend could not see his face. Soon, he and his friend would become the closest of brothers, true brothers in every genetic sense of the word.
He felt the mixture begin to do its job. The nanites went to work at removing their clothing, eating it away. As the material dropped off their bodies, Curt felt a burning sensation all around his body. His right hand sinking into Will's back; his wrist soon followed. The toes of his right foot began to be pulled towards his friend's left. Soon their knees did as well. The process began to pull them side-ways, forcing them to stand beside each other, but even still, Curt kept his free left arm around Will's right shoulder. That arm felt a similar burning sensation, but it was not blending into his friend.
Curt, as well as Will, knew that the missing parts of their arms, and now legs, were being broken down to genetic material and cells. Those raw organic materials were being 'shared' with each of them. It was blending with and 'enhancing' the parts that remained. Curt felt the burning sensation spread around his face and cranium. His nose seemed to shorten and his cheeks pushed outward. Will was the one who described the process as 'twining'. The individual features of the subjects were blurring and blending together.
As the process neared its climax, Will and Curt had become unsteady as they now only had two legs between them. Two arms, also the only two between them, stretched forward against a side of the chamber to help support their tenuous balance. The vents at the top of the chamber then kicked on, pulling out the gas and nanites. The merging process was complete.
Curt breathed a sigh of relief, his plan had gone off without a hitch. He glanced at their identical, outstretched arms, pressed against the thick, yet see-through, plastic of the chamber. He stared in wonder. The arms, their two arms, looked alike, yet he could only feel the hand of the left pressing against the wall. He gaze shifted downward to their two feet. Again, he only felt the cold metal of the floor with the left foot. It was just as they had theorized with the rats. Locomotion and sensation was split between the two previous individuals. The scientist in him was quite fascinated and curious, but he ignored the questions in his mind for now. Instead, he turned to his friend, now twin. The plastic wall was still slightly reflective, and their seemingly identical faces were now staring at each other.
"Will..." Curt tried to speak, his voice hoarse from the transformation. The sound of it, also different from what he was used to hearing. He paused, unsure what to say next. He realized that he had not thought much about what happened after.   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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