Her heels echoed on the tile floor as she strode down the hallway with purpose. She placed her feet in position, staring directly into the retinal scanner. There was a dull hum for three seconds, a light flashed green, and the door opened.

Behind this door was LaRissa's pride and joy, Black Lotus. Where the rest of BioGene Pharmaceutials acted to provide medicinal drugs designed to save lives, Black Lotus would taint and destroy lives, all under the control of her perfectly manicured hands. With a whoosh the door closed behind her as she stepped into the hallway. A white-coated lab technician stood watching through a one-way mirror as a shot was administered to a terrified young woman strapped to a gurney. LaRissa stopped beside him and spoke only one word.* Progress?

*The technician glanced briefly at the sheet before speaking at a rate slightly faster than normal.*

~Subject 4231 has been administered the second dose of compound 4983.~ *Compound 4983 was a designer drug. The highs it could produce were unmatched by heroin, ecstasy, peyote, LSD, cocaine, anything. When Black Lotus was finished, the withdrawal would be fatal. A drug so addictive that trying to quit would kill you? The money it could make! It could also be an excellent way induce loyalty among her staff, if she so desired. With a brief pause, the technician continued.* ~Subject 4231 recovered from the administration of one dose. However she did experience nausea, vomiting, headaches, and cold sweats. She also begged us to kill her.~ *The technician smiled at the thought. He loved it when they begged.* ~However, we followed protocol and left her as she was.~ *LaRissa nodded*

Good, no one is to die unless -I- say so... *The technician scratched a couple more notes on the chart and added. ~After whe had recovered, we administered dose number 2. See for yourself..~ *The girl had already begun to twitch, with her eyes rolled back into her head. ~The colors, the colors....~ *And then she began to scream, and scream, and scream...It was music to LaRissa's ears.*

~*~Back~*~