The End of the Experiment (924 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.8 on 26 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Mike the Scottish (View user info) at 2005-01-21 02:15:29 EST
Ronald is a low-level scientist at a public institution you probably know well, working towards his PhD- building his career around individual advancement. His first encounter with Dr. V was perhaps not that which careers are built upon- struggling to open a crate, the Doctor saw him in need and leant a hand- it didn't take much for the lid to come off. Batting the smell of dust away from his eyes, Dr. V looked at a small glass container, surrounded by some sort of dense packing material. He raised his eyes towards Ronald
"What would be your name, young man?"
Ronald nervously pointed at his namebadge.
"Uhh... names Ronald. Studying electrolytic techniques."
"I'm Dr. V"
"Why V?"
"Because I come from India- you couldn't pronounce my full name; and besides, I don't like it. So it's V."
"Oh."
"May I enquire as to the contents of this crate?"
Ronald scratched his head.
"It's some sort of mineral they dug up in Brazil. Sent it here to be analysed."
Dr. V picked up the container, looked at the contents. A reasonably sized rock lay inside it. Noting the colouration, V turned to Ronald, concealing his excitement.
"There's something here which could be of great significance. We should run some tests on it."
Ronald stammered.
"We? I... I'm the only man in my department, Doctor. I wouldn't want to stretch your resources too far."
"Nonsense. There could be something of great value in this."
After a few prolonged conversations, V gained the trust of Ronald, and vice versa. The two scientists ran tests on the rock. Emerging from behind his computer screen the next day, V's face was alight.
"I knew it. I knew it from the moment I saw it. Amorium. The largest pure concentration I've ever seen. Our names could go down in history for this."
His interest piqued, Ronald turned to V.
"So that's why the colouration's off! The pigmentation from the Amorium!"
"Precisely. If we can use your electrolytic techniques, we could wrench the Amorium of its composite parts. Have the purest, brightest example known to man. But you have to break the shell yourself. I don't possess the techniques to do this by myself."
And so, Ronald tried to break the shell, release the Amorium, which had previously been considered nigh-on mythical. But his advances were too small. After several days of concentrated attempts, he had achieved nothing. V took him aside.
"Ronald, I don't want to put pressure on you. But the composites in the Amorium are undermining its structural integrity. Have a look."
V turned the specimen towards the light. Down the middle, there was a large, jagged crack.
"Did you not see the gap widening?"
Ronald blushed slightly.
"I have had to do work on my electrolytes. For my... for my PhD. I can get rid of these cracks. I can make the Amorium purer and brighter. I will work on my techniques."
V was less than impressed. For a man so passionate about getting his name on the world stage, Ronald was showing remarkable indifference to the opportunity before him. But V gave him another chance. Part of him was determined not to let such a great opportunity float past. V's confidence in his newfound assistant was waning.
In the coming few days, Ronald showed signs of real progress with the Amorium. Some of the cracks had retreated, if not disappeared, and the layer of superfluous rock had been eroded slightly. It was enough for V to continue with the experiment. However, three days later, V called on Ronald, checking progress. He lay hunched over his desk, the Amorium all but forgotten on the work surface behind him.
"Ronald? What's happening?"
"I have... I have to work. I can't fall behind in my own research."
"Is this not research as well, Ronald? Does it not merit a similar level of attention?"
"Of course, Doctor. My own work has taken precedence, but I will devote myself fully again."
So, for the next few days, V left Ronald to it. He inquired occasionally, but would always be met by the sight of Ronald at his desk, working out equations. He glanced forlornly at the Amorium.
"This Amorium could be the defining point in my life. We could go down in history together for all eternity."
"I know. I believe the same. Once I've finished my own work, I'll make it work."
And so, the next day, V came into the lab. Tears were in his eyes as he picked up the Amorium.
"We've lost it. It's beyond repair."
V directed Ronald's gaze towards the Amorium, where a crack had developed down the centre, on the site of the old scars.
"The superfluous materials are eating at it. It's virtually useless. There's no point in trying to keep it."
Ronald looked pleadingly at V.
"Doctor, I can repair the damage. I know I've neglected it, but it means more to me than anything. I can change my priorities, we can make this our defining experiment again."
"No, Ronald."
V was shaking. He knew it needed to be done. The Amorium was useless, beyond any technique of Ronald's. He felt that the superfluous rock, the hard shell, would never be removed.
"V, I have a great new technique. I... I can get rid of the shell in hours. I can get rid of the composites, I can make the Amorium better and purer than it ever was."
"That's what you said last time, Ronald."
"I mean it! I can change!"
"It's too late."
Turning towards Ronald, V held the Amorium, then, knowing it to be his life's goal, to have been his sole research aim, he let it fall. Ronald stood there, gawking, as the Amorium shattered into a thousand pieces, scattering around the lab. He scrabbled around on the floor, grovelling, trying to push the pieces back into a cohesive mass. V just looked at him, knew he couldn't fix it, no matter how hard he tried. In his heart, Ronald knew it too. Ronald turned towards V, as shattered as the rock around him, hearing him but not wanting to.
"This is the end of the experiment, Ronald."
User Reviews
Submitted by Deidra (user info) at 2005-08-10 10:32:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2005-03-01 12:21:41 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
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Submitted by Durae (user info) at 2005-01-21 10:54:03 (#)
Ranking: 2
I don't really like the idea that love has to be someone's top priority for it to work. I think it's the opposite really. Have you ever read Still Life with Woodpecker?
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While I have not read the piece Durae refers to I think more oft than not it does require a higher priority than anything else. The metaphors you used were apt I thought. the ever widening rift of inattention definitly can happen and like your story if left too long can then be impossible to repair. I thought the peice stood on it's own without the picture but still good stuff.
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2005-01-21 17:01:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I kind of got the bits of symbolism.
But I liked it as a piece of writing.
Go Derby Woo???
-Dave
Submitted by CookieLass (user info) at 2005-01-21 12:04:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Durae (user info) at 2005-01-21 10:54:03 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I don't really like the idea that love has to be someone's top priority for it to work. I think it's the opposite really. Have you ever read Still Life with Woodpecker?
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2005-01-21 09:47:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
So did you at least touch her where she pees before she dumped you?
Submitted by The_taste_of_Monkeys (user info) at 2005-01-21 08:23:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Drap that pish, get her pumped!
Submitted by mrwolf (user info) at 2005-01-21 08:23:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This Mike, was beautiful. Also very painful, stop it you silly man.
Submitted by Soley_Trinity (user info) at 2005-01-21 08:22:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I enjoyed reading this, not overly keen on the picture though.
Good luck to you and yours Mike.
;)
Submitted by mikethescottish (user info) at 2005-01-21 08:03:06 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-01-21 07:28:21 (#)
Ranking: 1
I hope it works out for you...
...hey wait. "Amorium." I just got that. I am so smart! I am so smart! S-M-R-T!
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Hahahaha, thanks. Most of this story is thinly disguised, but i'm glad my trawl on Babelfish wasn't completely worthless. I've been a pretentious ass with a lot of the wordplay, it's cool if people pick up on bits.
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-01-21 07:28:21 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I hope it works out for you...
...hey wait. "Amorium." I just got that. I am so smart! I am so smart! S-M-R-T!
Submitted by Wazza (user info) at 2005-01-21 05:02:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Ay , i thought it was good.
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2005-01-21 04:22:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
so did she wank you off or what?
Submitted by mikethescottish (user info) at 2005-01-21 04:13:37 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Dervel (user info) at 2005-01-21 04:11:27 (#)
Ranking: 2
When the moon hits your eye like a big-a pizza pie
That's amor.. Arse. Wrong song.
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Hahahahaha!
You crazy, random, Englishman.
Submitted by Dervel (user info) at 2005-01-21 04:11:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
When the moon hits your eye like a big-a pizza pie
That's amor.. Arse. Wrong song.
Submitted by Ainkara (user info) at 2005-01-21 03:21:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Envenom (user info) at 2005-01-21 03:11:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Seize the day.
Submitted by Circe (user info) at 2005-01-21 03:07:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by mikethescottish (user info) at 2005-01-21 02:23:22 (#)
Ranking: 0
I'm beginning to regret that picture. It's about as subtle as a sledgehammer to the forehead.
___________
Yeah.. see, now just any idiot can understand what you mean.
The trick, dearest, is to make the smart people feel special.
Submitted by mikethescottish (user info) at 2005-01-21 02:44:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by shitfuck (user info) at 2005-01-21 02:29:24 (#)
Ranking: 0
So did you fuck her?
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Well, i'm not putting any incriminating photos up, if that's what you mean...
Submitted by hungovermondays (user info) at 2005-01-21 02:40:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
ack. very good, but too close for comfort.
thanks though.
Submitted by phuzzygish (user info) at 2005-01-21 02:34:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Ah shitfuck, now THAT was subtle!
Submitted by FuckTheArmy (user info) at 2005-01-21 02:32:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Cheers.
Has anyone actually read this?>
Submitted by phuzzygish (user info) at 2005-01-21 02:30:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Definitely a perfect metaphor for a relationship that I can identify with 100%! Very good.
Submitted by shitfuck (user info) at 2005-01-21 02:29:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
So did you fuck her?
Submitted by mikethescottish (user info) at 2005-01-21 02:23:22 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I'm beginning to regret that picture. It's about as subtle as a sledgehammer to the forehead.
Submitted by mikethescottish (user info) at 2005-01-21 02:15:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
This is basically one giant metaphor about the past two months of my life- I think writing directly would've been harder, both to write and to read. For those who don't care about my personal life, or hate metaphors, I hope this was readable as it stands.
And if you criticise my use of inappropriate scientific words, then you're missing the point a bit. Cheers.