Dr. Alexander Angevin brings his mug to his lips as he reads the latest results of the Longevity drugs. He grimaces as he got to the line: subjects’ aggression is high, quires depressants to control. They have focused on repairing this flaw, but it persisted. If administered, the drug helped all cells in the body repair themselves perfectly. All but stopping a subject’s aging process.
However, the side effects included higher body temperature, increased appetite, and aggression to anything that might impede. The good news was the first two problems weren’t critical. In fact, they made the drug more desirable; in the first world, countries they would sell it in. Where obesity became the norm, every doctor preached the value of an active lifestyle to a deaf audience. Addicted to the trappings of social media and streaming services. As far as Alex was concerned, the only positive to come out of the internet, other than the easy in which he could research and cross check. Was online shopping. It freed him to pursue his interest more effectively. As it did for everyone, a physical store were only a shipping station now.
Alexander shook his head to clear it of probable reasons to justify the drug as it was. The problem was the level of aggression the drug promoted. Though it was possible to curve the aggression with other drugs, at the cost of effectiveness to Longevity. A half reduction in effectiveness wasn’t acceptable.
From behind him, his door opens as his second-in-command walks in. He sighs, before turning around to talk to the stunning woman. Everything seemed in line; even the nerdy glasses and lab coat oozed sex appeal. “Reviewing the test results?” Sue asks as she bumps her hip against his desk.
The man nodded as he gave her an admiring glance, wondering why he’d not asked her out for a date. God knew he needed one. How long had it been again? “Yes, we’ve met the primary goal somewhat. It’s the heightened metabolism and aggression that are causing the problems now.”
Susannah’s face scrunched up in disapproval. “No shit. We’ve been at that for months now and have tried everything. Do you think we’ll need to go back to square one?”
“I’m hoping not to, but it’s not looking good. A few more tests, and I think we’ll have no choice.” He pushed the papers away as he gathered his courage. “However, on a fresh note. Would you be interested in getting a coffee with me at some point?”
Her face lifted in a mischievous smile as she brought her own cup to her lips. “That sounds nice. When were you thinking of getting that coffee?”
"Well, I could go for another cup in about fifteen minutes if you’re not busy,” Alexander said, eyeing the cup in her hand and kicking himself for not noticing it sooner.
Susannah smiled over the cup in question, eyes amused as she watched the man try to think up a way to save himself. She sighed inwardly and gave him a bone. “Well, I need to check my inbox and a few other reports. But I think we can get that coffee. Excuse me for a minute.” Sue put a hand on Alex’s shoulder as she passed, giving a slight shake of her hips as she left his office.
The man was susceptible to her charm, and somewhat clueless, but was brilliant in biological science. Overly cautious for her taste. The drug worked and would allow her to remain in her early thirties. For who knew how long? So what if the subject got a little aggressive over their food? It’s not like they could reason all that well. Plus, the benefit of not gaining any weight while eating whatever was just a bonus. Susannah investigated the lab where the pills were kept; no one was in sight. Casually, she walked in the cabinet, plucked two bottles from the back, and poured half their contents into an aspirin bottle. She put the Longevity bottles back and considered grabbing another set, but thought better of it. Susannah left the lab to do as she’d promised Alexander. Then distracted him away from stopping the small production they could produce. She would need them in the long run, Sue smirked to herself, believing she had the upper hand.
Alex leaned back in his chair, elated he’d asked Susannah out on a date? Maybe not, though, but he’d ask for a proper date while getting coffee. Yes, that would do nicely. He just needed to wait for her to tighty up whatever emails were in her inbox, and they’d have a pleasant talk over coffee. In the meantime, what could he do that won’t interfere with his plans for the day? Alexander sighed as he glanced at the report. He started his own report to legal, telling them in no uncurrent terms that the produce was unsafe for use. Although it worked, he CC’d marketing before emailing. I hope they will continue to fund our research in Longevity. Before Alex could work himself into a black mood over the lack of progress, Sue knocked at his door.
“Are you ready to get that coffee?” Sue inquired twisting a bit of her hair between her fingers.
Alex all but jumped out of his chair, “Yes, um. Has it been fifteen minutes?”
Sue smiled sweetly. “Only about ten. There weren’t all that many emails in my inbox.”
“That’s great news. Which coffee shop would you prefer to go to?” Alex asked, rubbing what wrinkles he could out of his own lab coat.
“Well, I’m a simple girl. So the cafeteria in the main building would be nice.”
Alex nodded as he started towards the door. Wishing that he’d been a little more active over the last few months. “That sounds nice. I’ve been needing a walk.”
Sue stuck her tongue out just a little and bit it playfully. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
Alex stopped at the door and thought about the answer. He had his ID, wallet, and keys. What else did he need? “Oh, thanks. I almost forgot my mug.”
Sue smirked as he turned around to grab the empty mug, placed haphazardly on the report he had been reading. Maybe she could overlook his over cautiousness and date him. It was cute to see him flustered.
***
Sue strolled into the Olive Garden with a pep in her step, "The Scale", her mortal enemy from high school finally spoke her language. Even after a week of taking Longevity and eating more than she'd ever done in her teens. She felt untouchable as the warm smell of fresh baked breed hit her nose. Her mouth flooded as a waiter walked by with a steaming plate. Sue arrived at least five, maybe ten minutes earlier than she'd told Alex the reservation was, so she could get a head start with a basket of bread. The brunet hostess guided her to a table on the far side of the restaurant. Sweetly gave Sue her menu with a promise that the waiter would bring her a basket of breed soon. Sue thanked the woman who turned with a wooden smile.
Sue didn't blame the girl, as she was a little on the hefty side, though still attractive enough. But with the help of the drug, Sue was a knockout, without a diet plan she have to follow. Her waiter brought the promised bread and pitcher of water. Sue flipped her cup in invitation to fill the glass. He obliged her with expert hands, Sue smirked. The man needed to know his job, as he didn't take his eyes out her ampule cleavage held by a cute summer dress. Sue grunted as the cup began to overflow, bringing the man back to reality. She laughed as he brought the liquid back to a reasonable amount hand placed it on the table. Asked if she'd need anything else for the time being, and left. Sue watched him go as she dug in her purse for the bottle responsible for the boys distraction. The cute hostess caught up to the waiter and slapped him lightly, before both were out of sight.
Sue nodded to herself, understanding the cool reception she was given, as her hand landed on the needed bottle. She tried to draw out two pills, shaking the bottle. When another customer bumped into her, sending several pills flying across the table. Irate Sue snapped the inconsiderate woman, before turning back to the table and cleaning up the pills. Disgust, she rapped the pills in a napkin and placing them on a tray of plates headed for the kitchen. And after the sparing match, she waited for her date to arrive.
The bust-boy rolled his eyes as he made his way to the kitchen, placing his mass of dishes on the far counter. He huffed as his eyes landed on the trash bin. Filled to the top again, he quickly divided the trash from the plates, then set to the taking the bag out to a dumpster. What was at his third or fourth trip to the sickly sweet smelling can. He heaved the bag on top of the pile and returned to his job.
***
After the human went back into the noises den, the mouse waited a few dozen heart beats before scampering into the new bag. sniffing about it came to an Alfredo covered set of pills that smelled of rich grains. Though there was something off out of them. A noise from the human den drove the thought from the mouse's mind, and it ate the offering the humans would not touch. After which, the mouse, feeling full and at risk of being found, jumped from the dumpster to the ground. Waited a beat to see if any predators were about, then made its way to its own den.
***
The mouse that had eaten the pills outside of the Olive Garden had slimmed down over a few days, despite eating twice its body weight each night. It had spread the infection to others without knowing as, and the den was in a mindless panic as they searched for food day and night. One of the cleaners of the restaurant had seen the hoard of mice in the dumpster and poured a series of rat poison packets into the can, before going to the manager to warn her of the problem. As he'd done all the restaurant could with the dumpster, the manager set the staff to clean the whole restaurant again and called the exterminators they'd used in the past. Then calling the evening staff to let them know that the restaurant would be closed for the next few days. Though they were welcome to work a half shift to clean everything again if that needed the work. Most didn't take her up on the offer, but were pleased that she would give them a chance to earn something over the closer.
Carlos was not so lucky, he'd been fired from his second job by his racist employer. He had not half assed his end the of the job, and caused the shelf to fall apart. But it was just ambiguous enough that the man could blame Carlos, so he had. And as a woman just so happened to get hurt, and was enough of a "Karen" to need to know someone paid for the inconvenience of her broken foot. Carlos was number one in the man's eye, though he should have focused on the dipshit Carl, of had put the thing up and left Carlos to think it was ready to go. A week later, and the thought still boiled his blood. Luckily, he could pick up a few hours while the restaurant was closed. It was unpleasant, but while he was searching for his next job, it was welcome.
"Hi Carlos, thanks for coming in. Sorry it's not what you're supposed to be doing." Stacy said a bit sheepishly as she held out a roll of trash bags and dust pan. "Have any luck finding another job?"
Carlos took the offered equipment, shrugging, "No, put in another three applications today. Where am I going?" Carlos nodded to the room in general, a forest of chair legs covering the floor.
"Check the glue traps under each table and clean whatever you can. Just remember, if you don't want to do something, leave it and report." Stacy sighed. Carlos nodded in understanding she couldn't tell the normal staff to do anything not in the contract they'd signed. But, many working here needed the work. So she opened the door for anyone who wanted or like Carlos needed a chance to made something. Carlos smiled as he bent over the first table Stacy was good people. A little over protective, but always there when need. He'd take whatever she gave him. The first trap was empty, save for the piece of bread and poison pelles so Carlos swept what dust he could and moved on. If it remained like this, he'd be done in forty, forty-five minutes and could apply for more jobs while being paid if Stacy would allow it.
For most tables, Carlos did just that, picking up a few crumbs the vacuum had missed for whatever reason, and glancing at the traps. Until he came to a trap with a live mouse flalling to get closer to the bait. Carlos's stomach dropped as the animal had shed enough to cover a good portion of the trap underneath itself, and was only held in place by its feet. Carlos didn't want it to suffer any more than it had to, so he picked the trap up and planned to take it out back and finish the poor creature off.
"Hey Carlos, do you have a minute? I think I have a lead if you're interested." Stacy called as Carlos bumped his head on the table. "Are you okay?"
Carlos shook his head as me back out from under the object, pulling the trap with him. "I'm fine, just got startled? I'll be right there." He looked at the trap in his hand and groaned softly. Well, that's just great. I get a nest egg on my head and the trap glued to my hand. At least the mouse cannot get to it but I'm not looking forward to pulling it off.