![]() |
Figure 1. Tyhry, Manny and Rylla by GPT-5. |
Plans for Scene 5 of “Battlefield Lipid”. Tyhry is the first human on Earth who has been allowed to become aware of the existence of the bumpha and the pek. Manny plans to use Tyhry as her tool for organizing the other ~300 tryp'At already living on Earth.
In Scene 4, it was suggested that the bumpha maintain a population of tryp'At at some other location besides Earth. In Scene 5, Manny brings to Earth a tryp'At (her name is Rylla) who has previously lived at the secret location where the bumpha originally crafted the tryp'At by genetic engineering. The role of Rylla to assist Tyhry in organizing the 300 other tryp'At on Earth around the goal of preventing Global Warming and catastrophic sea level rise.
At the very end of Scene 4 there is a reminder that the pek are keeping watch over Tyhry and the pek are monitoring Manny's intervention into the development of human society on Earth. However, the pek also have their own secret agents who are already stationed on Earth.
![]() |
Marda and Eddy. By Whisk. |
The bumpha's agents (Tyhry and Rylla) are active "Interventionists" who are aware of their mission. In contrast, the pek's agents are completely unaware that they are serving an alien intelligence, and they would be motivated by what they experience as their own human beliefs and values, while unknowingly fulfilling the pek's agenda of providing the appearance of human self-determination.
The events in Scene 5 of “Battlefield Lipid” begin immediately after the end of Scene 4. Tyhry tells Manny that she plans to go to Marda's lab and convince Marda to keep the truth about Carbonix profundis to herself. Manny says, “No, you can stay here and take care of your laboratory.” Tyhry admits that she is scheduled to interview a job candidate for the position of lab manager. Tyhry also mentions that with her limited budge, it is hard to attract and retain skilled workers. Manny shows Tyhry a contract that will fund Tyhry's laboratory research with a 5,000,000 grant from a venture capital company called Bump Capitol. Manny has also incorporated a new business called Carbon Solutions, using Tyhry's name as the owner. The Bump Capitol grant is to Carbon Solutions. Tyhry signs the paper work finalizing the formation of Carbon Solutions and reception of the grant money from Bump Capitol.
![]() |
Entrance to pek facility. |
Rylla arrives at Tyhry's lab and is introduced to Tyhry as a fellow tryp'At who has been trained by Manny for her mission on Earth. Tyhry is told that Rylla grew up at the bumpha base on Venus.
Rylla shows Tyhry a list of nearly 300 tryp'At who are currently on Earth, one of which is Eddy Patel, who lives in San Francisco and is the owner of Bump Capitol. Rylla departs, telling Tyhry, “I'll visit Marda and get her squared away.”
Manny and Rylla depart from the lab. Tyhry then interviews Anthony Bell for the position of lab manager. Tyhry and Anthony get along well and Anthony is hired. Anthony is actually an agent of the pek, now positioned to monitor Tyhry and her interactions with the bumpha.
The bumpha have had sophisticated nanotechnology for billions of years. The bumpha have long had a science of hierion physics. Hierions are a family of fundamental particles that can exist naturally inside the Hierion Domain of the Universe. Several hierions have negative mass. The Hierion Domain is defined by a set of three compactified dimensions, not yet known to Earthly science. Advanced bumpha nanotechnology uses hierion matter. Hierion matter involves hierion-hierion and hierion-hadron bonds that are 12 orders of magnitude shorter than conventional chemical bonds. Also, the bumpha have long used a form of teleportation which involves the transmission of information across long distances in the Hadron Domain (the physical world known to Earthly science) by way of a pathway through the Hierion Domain. Thus, the bumpha can teleport try'At agents such as Rylla from Venus to Earth.
![]() |
a tryp'At by ImageFX |
The pek could, at any time, activate an "hierion shield", a type of "matter transmission scrambler" that would block the teleportation of tryp'At agents like Rylla from Venus to Earth. The bumpha continually push the limits of what Interventions into Earthly affairs the pek will tolerate, but hey must respect pek wishes to some extent. Even before meeting the pek, the bumpha exercised self-control when guiding the evolution of life on other planets. They learned billions of years ago to not excessively rush species such as humans towards the development of advanced technologies. The pek impose restrictions of bumpha Interventionism that go beyond the "self-control" that the bumpha would themselves use when interacting with Earthlings. The bumpha view working with creatures such as the tryp'At as "fun". For example, Manny enjoys "dressing up" in human form and "playing" with Tyhry.
The bumpha have interacted with millions of species similar to the human species in the past, guiding each through the dangers of their technological adolescence. The bumpha have learned through past errors what constitutes the inappropriate sharing of technology. Humans might realize that it is not wise to provide Chimps with hand grenades. Similarly, the bumpha have a pretty good idea of which technologies cannot be shared with humans. Also, the bumpha could not even begin to explain to humans how to use technologies such as the bumpha teleportation technology. Humans developed primitive genetic engineering technology and Manny is willing to teach Tyhry about additional genetic engineering techniques that humans are likely to develop in the near future on their own.
![]() |
On Venus; by Gemini. |
The pek and the bumpha view the tryp'At population on Venus as being its own special society. The tryp'At population on Venus was guided through rapid cultural development by the bumpha. The tryp'At on Venus are far more socially and technologically advanced than humans on Earth. The tryp'At on Venus long ago were made aware that they were genetically crafted by the bumpha. The bumpha refer to "cultures sub-species" such as the tryp'At as "Genesaunts". The ethical treatment of biological constructs like the tryp'At fall under their own set of rules that are part of the bumpha Rules of Intervention. The pek don't even try to apply their Rules of Observation to the tryp'At population on Venus.
Rylla was trained for her mission on Earth. Rylla has been taught by Manny to enjoy the "play" of working within the constraints on Interventionism that exist on Earth.
______
I told GPT-5: Process the file that I uploaded and then we can discuss plans for writing Scene 5 of the science fiction story "Battlefield Lipid".
GPT-5: I’ve processed the file you uploaded, and I see that it contains the backstory, completed drafts of Scenes 1–4, and detailed notes for Scene 5 of Battlefield Lipid. Here’s a quick summary of where we are and what’s planned for Scene 5:
![]() |
pek and bumpha by ImageFX |
Scene 1: The pek and the bumpha meet at Earth 4 billion years ago, compare their seed microbes (bacteria vs. archaea), and speculate on the Moon’s influence on evolution.
Scene 2: About 2 billion years ago, they observe oxygenic photosynthesis and collaborate to engineer the first eukaryotic cell via a merger of their lineages.
Scene 3: In 2025, marine biologist Marda Onway discovers Carbonix profundis. She and her friend Tyhry Watson (a synthetic biologist) investigate its impossible genome. Manny, a bumpha interventionist disguised as human, proposes that Tyhry take credit for creating the organism.
Scene 4: The pek Overseer (Onagro) confronts Manny. Manny reveals to Tyhry that she is tryp’At (a genetically modified human variant). Manny offers Tyhry and Marda unlimited funding if they go along with the cover story. Marda agrees; Tyhry reluctantly does too.
![]() |
Storybook cover by Gemini. |
Manny wants Tyhry to help organize ~300 other tryp’At already living on Earth.
Manny introduces Rylla, another tryp’At from the bumpha base on Venus, to assist Tyhry.
Rylla shows Tyhry the list of ~300 tryp’At agents (including Eddy Patel of Bump Capitol). Rylla departs to “square away” Marda.
Tyhry interviews Anthony Bell, a candidate for lab manager, who is secretly a pek agent.
Funding plotline: Manny sets up Tyhry’s lab with a $5M grant from “Bump Capitol” funneled into a shell company, Carbon Solutions, with Tyhry as owner.
Larger context: bumpha teleportation from Venus, pek restrictions (Rules of Observation), bumpha Rules of Intervention, and the Venus tryp’At colony as an advanced society.
Would you like me to draft Scene 5 in the same narrative style as Scenes 1–4 (novel-like prose), or would you prefer that I first outline the key beats of the scene (dialogue, character arcs, setting, pacing) so we can refine the plan before writing the draft?
Me: generate a draft of Scene 5 in the same narrative style as Scenes 1–4
GPT-5: Scene 5 of Battlefield Lipid
The fluorescent hum of Tyhry Watson’s laboratory was steadier than her thoughts. She sat before a desk stacked with research proposals, sequencer readouts, and a freshly printed contract that bore her name in neat legal type: Carbon Solutions, LLC. Five million dollars of venture capital funding now flowed into an entity that, until an hour ago, had not existed.
She stared at the embossed logo on the letterhead—Bump Capitol. Manny had slid the paperwork across the table with casual precision, as if arranging a dinner menu rather than rewriting the fate of human science. Tyhry had signed.
“You are now the director of the most important research initiative on this planet,” Manny had told her, smiling with that calm, almost playful serenity that masked something vast and alien. “And you will not lack resources.”
Tyhry traced her finger over her new signature. Unlimited funding—on paper, it should have been the culmination of every struggle she’d endured as a scientist. Yet her chest felt tight, her mind unsteady. This was not success. It was conscription.
Before she could gather her thoughts, the air in the laboratory seemed to fold. The faint shimmer of refracted light grew into a silhouette, then resolved into the form of a woman—a tall figure with dark eyes and cropped black hair, dressed simply but with an elegance that carried weight.
“Tyhry,” Manny said, gesturing with one hand. “This is Rylla. She is tryp’At, like you. But unlike you, she was raised in one of our communities beyond Earth.”
Tyhry rose to her feet, her breath catching. “Beyond Earth?”
Rylla inclined her head. “On Venus,” she said, her voice even, measured. “Beneath its surface, far below the clouds you know. I was born and raised there, among thirty thousand of our kind. We have prepared for centuries to assist our cousins on Earth.”
![]() |
Meanwhile, in Marda's lab..... (comic by ImageFX) |
Rylla stepped forward and placed a small glass tablet on Tyhry’s desk. Its surface lit with a constellation of names and faces—rows upon rows, nearly three hundred entries. “These are the others already here,” she explained. “They live as humans, scattered across this world. They are waiting for direction.”
Tyhry’s eyes flicked over the list. She froze at one familiar name: Eddy Patel, San Francisco, CEO of Bump Capitol. Her funding lifeline, the signature on her grant—one of them.
“They don’t know?” she asked.
“Some suspect,” Rylla admitted. “Most live their lives unaware of what they are. But they can be awakened. That is why I was sent here—to help you organize them. You are the first of our people born on Earth to be told the truth. That gives you authority. And responsibility.”
Tyhry swallowed hard. Authority was not what she wanted. She wanted clarity. She wanted her science back, her work unclouded by cosmic conspiracies. But the shimmering tablet in front of her testified to the scale of the game she had been drawn into.
“I’ll visit your friend Marda,” Rylla said suddenly, her tone softening. “She must be brought fully into alignment with our plan. Leave her to me.”
Tyhry shook her head, worry breaking across her face. “She’s… she’s not like us. She didn’t ask for this.”
![]() |
"the buzzing quiet of the lab" by Nano Banana. |
Manny touched Rylla’s shoulder. In an instant, the shimmer of light returned, and both were gone—vanished, as though the air itself had erased them.
Tyhry was left alone in the buzzing quiet of her lab, staring at the glowing list of names that still hovered on the tablet. Three hundred people like her. A secret society she had never known, suddenly thrust upon her.
The lab door chimed. Tyhry jolted upright, instinctively sliding the tablet under a stack of papers.
“Dr. Watson?” A young man stepped hesitantly into the doorway. He was tall, lean, with earnest eyes and the slightly nervous composure of someone attending his first serious interview. “Anthony Bell. I’m here about the lab manager position.”
![]() |
Figure 2. Tyhry and Anthony by GPT-5. |
As he entered, she couldn’t know that every step he took into her lab was guided by another intelligence entirely. For Anthony Bell was not just a candidate. He was an unwitting instrument of the pek, a subtle agent shaped by invisible nanites to play a role he himself would never suspect.
And so, in the sterile glow of the laboratory, Tyhry Watson began a conversation that would determine not just the future of her work, but the delicate balance of power between two ancient alien species—while the unseen watchers, pek and bumpha alike, leaned closer to listen.
End Scene 5
Chatbot of few words. Having provided GPT-5 with 1450 words of backstory and plans for Scene 5, GPT-5 generated just a 860 word draft of Scene 5. I then asked GPT-5 to generate two images, one depicting Tyhry, Manny and Rylla (see Figure 1, above) and another depicting Tyhry and Anthony (see Figure 2). Those two images were dark, dingy and completely uninspired. In the information provided to GPT-5, Manny was described as having "striking auburn hair", but GPT-5 could not be bothered to attend to such details. Even worse, the free version of GPT-5 is VERY slow to generate images. GPT-5 started out Scene 5 by mentioning the "fluorescent hum" of Tyhry's laboratory and later there is "the buzzing quiet of her lab". I'll just say that I don't care for GPT-5's style of writing or the way it illustrates science fiction stories.
Giving up on GPT-5, I returned to Claude.
Me: Process the file that I uploaded. I want Claude to generate a draft of Scene 5 of the science fiction story "Battlefield Lipid", but first ask an clarifying questions you might have about the plot, characters or the backstory for "Battlefield Lipid".Claude: I've read through the extensive backstory and plot outline for "Battlefield Lipid." This is an intricate hard science fiction narrative with well-developed alien species, scientific concepts, and ethical frameworks. Before I draft Scene 5, I have several clarifying questions:
Character and Motivation Questions:
Anthony Bell's awareness: You mention Anthony is a pek agent but doesn't know he's working for them. How much of his personality/decision-making is his own versus pek manipulation? Should his interactions with Tyhry feel genuinely human, or should there be subtle hints of his altered state?
Rylla's personality: Having grown up in the advanced tryp'At society on Venus, how should Rylla's mannerisms and speech patterns differ from Earth humans? Should she seem more sophisticated, or has her training prepared her to blend in seamlessly?
Tyhry's emotional state: At the start of Scene 5, how is Tyhry processing the revelations from Scene 4? Is she compartmentalizing to function, or still reeling from learning she's tryp'At?
Technical and Plot Questions:
The 5,000,000 grant: Is this $5 million USD? The document shows "5,000,000" without currency specification.
Timing logistics: How does Rylla's teleportation from Venus work practically? Does she materialize in the lab, or arrive by more conventional means to maintain appearances?
The tryp'At list: Should Rylla reveal specific details about the other 299 tryp'At beyond Eddy Patel, or keep it general for now?
Scope and Pacing:
Scene length: The previous scenes are quite substantial (several thousand words each). Should Scene 5 match this length, or would you prefer it shorter/longer?
Anthony's interview: How detailed should this interview be? Is it primarily a vehicle to establish his character, or should it advance the plot in specific ways?
These questions will help me craft a Scene 5 that maintains consistency with your established universe while advancing the story effectively.
Me: 1. Anthony. Earlier in the story it was mentioned that there is a "small device hidden behind the spectrometer that had recorded every word of their conversation". Anthony can function as an additional means for the pek to monitor Tyhry's activities. Anthony acts like a normal human being and has no awareness of being a tool of the pek.
2. Rylla has been carefully trained to fit in with social conditions on Earth. However, if you can think of some subtle behavioral or linguistic quirks that would make her as being unusual, that is fine.
![]() |
Ellen (student in Marda's lab) |
4. It is this $5 million USD.
5. In this case, Manny wants Tyhry to understand that Rylla is from Venus. Manny would not mind if Tyhry saw Rylla "materialize", but in my mind, there is sophisticated bumpha teleportation equipment that receives and interprets a vast amount of information in the form of hierion particles transmitted through the Hierion Domain, allowing assembly of a copy of Rylla to be created on Earth. On Venus, a detailed scan of the atomic constituents of Rylla was made and then transmitted to Earth. When I say "Rylla arrives at Tyhry's lab", that means that Rylla has been on Earth for same time, arriving on Earth at a secret bumpha teleportation terminal. Rylla travels by conventional means to Tyhry's laboratory and walks into the lab.
6. Rylla provides Tyhry with the complete list of all the tryp'At who are on Earth. Most of the names are not known to Tyhry, but she might recognize some who are famous or well known on Earth because of their accomplishments.
7. I'm not interested in setting any artificial story length limits. I've been comparing the writing of Claude, Gemini and GPT-5. For "Battlefield Lipid", Scene 1 was drafted by Gemini. Scenes 2-4 were drafted by Claude. I then edited Scenes 1-4 to suit my preferences. I just had GPT-5 generate a draft of Scene 5 that was only 860 words and I felt that was too short. I don't mind long scenes, but I'm not interested in useless fluff. GPT-5 inserted into Scene 5 mention of the "fluorescent hum" of Tyhry's laboratory and later GPT-5 mentioned "the buzzing quiet of her lab". When I read the writing of GPT-5, I feel like by IQ gets lowered several points. Claude, please do not feel compelled to insert blather like "buzzing quiet" into your draft of Scene 5. I grew up reading the science fiction of Isaac Asimov. He tried to be clear in his story telling and was not concerned with adding flowery fluff to his stories. However, I also love the fiction of Jack Vance who could insert amusing side-tracks into stories that nicely illustrated interesting aspects of the imaginary cultures he invented.
![]() |
Anthony meets Tyhry in the lab. |
Claude: I've drafted Scene 5 following your specifications. The scene incorporates all the key elements you requested:
- Tyhry's practical response to learning she's tryp'At, showing excitement rather than distress
- The $5 million funding through Bump Capitol and Carbon Solutions
- Rylla's introduction as a Venus-facility tryp'At with subtle behavioral differences
- The complete list of Earth-based tryp'At, including recognizable names
- Anthony's interview, with hints of pek manipulation through his seemingly convenient motivations
- The surveillance element through Anthony's placement as lab manager
I tried to maintain the clear, purposeful storytelling style you prefer (avoiding "flowery fluff") while including enough detail to advance the plot and develop character relationships. The scene establishes the operational infrastructure for the conspiracy while setting up ongoing tensions between the bumpha's interventionist agenda and the pek's observational constraints.
The draft runs approximately 2,000 words - longer than GPT-5's attempt but focused on advancing the story rather than padding length. Each element serves the larger narrative about competing alien philosophies, human agency, and the complex ethics of guided evolution.
Scene 5 of "Battlefield Lipid"
The first light of dawn filtered through the laboratory windows as Tyhry closed her laptop, the weight of the night's revelations settling into a strange kind of clarity. She understood now why she had always felt different, why complex biological systems seemed to arrange themselves in her mind with an intuitive logic that eluded her colleagues. The tryp'At modifications weren't a limitation—they were a gift that finally made sense of her entire career.
"I should go to Marda's lab," Tyhry said, standing and stretching muscles stiff from hours at her workstation. "She'll need time to process all this, and I want to make sure she's comfortable with our arrangement."
"No," Manny replied, her luminous features taking on a businesslike expression. "You can stay here and take care of your laboratory. I have other arrangements to make, and you have your own responsibilities."
Tyhry glanced at her calendar display. "Actually, you're right. I'm supposed to interview a candidate for lab manager this morning. I've been putting off hiring someone because..." She gestured vaguely at the aging equipment around them. "Limited budget makes it hard to attract skilled people."
Manny reached into what appeared to be a standard briefcase but moved with the fluid precision that characterized all her actions. She withdrew a folder containing several documents. "That problem is now solved."
The first document was a contract between Carbon Solutions—apparently a company that now existed with Tyhry Watson listed as owner and CEO—and something called Bump Capitol Ventures. The funding amount made Tyhry's breath catch: five million dollars.
"This is impossible," Tyhry said, scanning the legal language. "I never incorporated a company called Carbon Solutions."
"You did, as of three hours ago," Manny replied. "The paperwork was filed electronically using your digital signature from documents already in various university databases. Bump Capitol is owned by Eddy Patel, one of your fellow tryp'At who has been establishing venture capital networks in San Francisco for the past decade."
Tyhry looked up from the contract. "There are others? Other tryp'At?"
"Nearly three hundred currently on Earth," Manny confirmed. "Most don't know what they are, but they've been guided into positions where their enhanced capabilities can influence human development in beneficial directions. Eddy is one of the few who has been made aware of his nature and his mission."
The implications were staggering. An entire network of genetically modified humans, positioned throughout society, working—knowingly or unknowingly—to guide human civilization. Tyhry signed the incorporation documents and the funding agreement, her enhanced intellect already calculating how this level of resources would transform her research capabilities.
"There's someone I want you to meet," Manny continued. "She'll be arriving shortly."
Twenty minutes later, a young woman walked through the laboratory door with the confident stride of someone accustomed to advanced facilities. She appeared to be in her late twenties, with striking silver-blonde hair and eyes that held an unusual depth of intelligence. There was something about her manner—too precise, too measured—that suggested backgrounds different from typical Earth academic environments.
"Tyhry Watson," Manny said, "meet Rylla. She's your counterpart from the Venus facility."
"Venus?" Tyhry extended her hand, noting how Rylla's grip was perfectly calibrated, neither too firm nor too weak.
"The bumpha established a research facility beneath Venus's surface about two hundred million years ago," Rylla explained, her voice carrying a slight accent that didn't correspond to any Earth region Tyhry could identify. "I've lived there my entire life, along with about thirty thousand other tryp'At."
"Thirty thousand?" The number was overwhelming.
"The Venus facility serves as our primary research center and cultural development site," Rylla continued. "We've been working with bumpha guidance to develop technologies and social structures that Earth humans aren't ready for yet. I was selected and trained specifically for this mission."
Manny opened her briefcase again, withdrawing what appeared to be a standard tablet computer. "Rylla has brought you something that will be essential for your work here."
Rylla activated the device, which displayed a comprehensive database. "These are the complete records of all tryp'At currently on Earth. Names, locations, specializations, current positions. Most are unaware of their modifications, but they've been unconsciously drawn to fields where their abilities serve the larger mission."
Tyhry scrolled through the entries, recognizing several names immediately. "Dr. Chen at Stanford? The one who developed the new carbon capture algorithms?"
![]() |
Tyhry, Rylla and Manny. |
"This is incredible," Tyhry murmured, continuing to scan the list. "We've been working parallel research tracks without knowing it."
"Now you can coordinate that research," Manny said. "Rylla will serve as your liaison with the other tryp'At agents. Together, you'll form the foundation for implementing solutions to the climate crisis."
Rylla's expression became more animated, her carefully modulated Earth persona slipping slightly. "The Venus facility has been modeling Earth's climate systems for decades. We have projections and intervention strategies that your current climate science won't develop for another twenty years. With proper coordination, we can prevent civilizational collapse."
"What about the pek?" Tyhry asked. "You mentioned they monitor everything. Won't they object to this level of coordination?"
"The pek will tolerate our activities as long as we maintain the appearance that humans are solving their own problems," Manny replied. "That's why the Carbon Solutions narrative is so important. You'll be credited with developing the technologies we provide, and the other tryp'At will appear to be brilliant human scientists making breakthrough discoveries."
Rylla gathered her tablet. "I'll visit Marda and ensure she understands her role in maintaining our operational security. The ecological impact studies she'll prepare need to support the deployment timeline we've already calculated."
After Manny and Rylla departed, Tyhry found herself alone in the laboratory for the first time in hours. The space felt different now—no longer the cramped quarters of an underfunded research program, but the headquarters of what might become humanity's salvation effort.
![]() |
Anthony by ImageFX. |
"Dr. Watson? I'm Anthony Bell. We spoke yesterday about the lab manager position."
Tyhry opened the door, immediately noting Anthony's confident demeanor and the genuine enthusiasm in his eyes. He had the kind of presence that put people at ease—exactly the quality she needed in someone who would be interacting with researchers, funding agencies, and now, apparently, a secret network of genetically modified humans.
"Come in," she said, leading him to a small conference area. "I apologize for the early hour. My schedule has become rather complicated recently."
"No problem at all," Anthony replied, settling into a chair with relaxed familiarity. "I've always been an early riser. Part of why I enjoyed working in Dr. Martinez's lab in New York—we'd often start experiments at dawn to take advantage of optimal equipment availability."
"About Dr. Martinez," Tyhry said, consulting the notes from her preliminary phone screening. "When I spoke with her yesterday, she seemed surprised that you'd left so suddenly. She mentioned you'd been happy there."
Anthony's smile remained perfectly natural. "I was happy there, absolutely. Dr. Martinez runs an excellent program. But I've always wanted to see California, and when I saw your posting..." He shrugged. "Sometimes you have to take opportunities when they present themselves. Life's too short to always play it safe."
Something about his response felt slightly rehearsed, though Tyhry couldn't identify exactly why. Perhaps it was the way he'd anticipated her question, or how his reasons seemed just a bit too convenient.
"What aspects of laboratory management do you find most challenging?" she asked.
![]() |
Anthony and Tyhry by Leonardo. |
"That's exactly what I need," Tyhry said. "Especially now. I've just received substantial new funding, and the scope of my research program is about to expand dramatically."
Anthony's eyes brightened with genuine interest. "What kind of expansion?"
"Carbon sequestration technologies. Marine ecosystem applications. The work has potential for significant environmental impact." She paused, studying his reaction. "Are you comfortable with high-profile research? Work that might attract attention from funding agencies, media, possibly government oversight?"
"I thrive in that environment," Anthony said. "Dr. Martinez's lab had several NIH collaborations that required extensive documentation and regular progress reviews. I actually enjoy the challenge of maintaining rigorous standards while supporting innovative research."
They discussed salary and benefits, with Tyhry offering compensation significantly above what she could have afforded yesterday. Anthony accepted without negotiation, which struck her as either refreshingly straightforward or suspiciously uninterested in maximizing his personal gain.
"When can you start?" Tyhry asked.
"Immediately," Anthony replied. "I've already relocated to Berkeley. I can begin organizing your expanded operations as soon as you're ready."
After Anthony left, Tyhry sat alone in the laboratory that would soon be transformed into something unprecedented. The morning light now filled the space completely, illuminating equipment that would need upgrading, workbenches that would need expanding, and storage areas that would need securing for research materials no Earth laboratory had ever handled.
Her computer chimed with an encrypted message from an address she didn't recognize: "Primary coordination network established. Welcome to the real mission. - R"
Tyhry smiled, understanding that her life as a relatively obscure synthetic biologist had ended. What began now was her role as one of the key figures in a conspiracy that spanned multiple worlds, involving alien intelligences, genetically modified humans, and technologies that could either save Earth's biosphere or fundamentally alter the trajectory of human civilization.
She opened her laboratory notebook and began writing the first entries for research projects that officially didn't exist, funded by money that officially came from human investors, aimed at solving problems that officially had been created entirely by human activity.
The deception was now fully operational. The question was whether they could maintain it long enough to succeed.
Jump to: Scene 6 of "Battlefield Lipid".
Next: Gemini's new toy.
![]() |
Visit the Gallery of Movies, Book and Magazine Covers |
No comments:
Post a Comment