Fired Up

I’m afraid that is the nature of cutting-edge science. There are always a number of failures before one makes the great breakthrough.”
    “I understand, Dr. Hulsey. It is unfortunate that the lamp did not work as we had hoped. However, unlike my predecessor at Cascadia Dawn, I do appreciate the nature of the scientific process, and I am prepared to accept some failures. We will now move forward together.”
    Hulsey stopped polishing his glasses. He blinked several times.
    “Together?” he said.
    “Of course. You are now my director of research. At the start of the Burning Lamp project I promised you the fully equipped lab and funding that you require for your dream work. That is what you will receive.”
    Hulsey glowed. “Thank you, Miss Knight. You won’t be sorry.”
    “I’m sure I won’t. You see, unlike so many before me who have been obsessed with the formula, I do understand that the secrets to enhancing talent in a stable fashion are locked in dream-psi research.”
    “Yes, yes,” Hulsey said excitedly. “That is what I tried to explain to Mr. Nash, but he refused to listen. Both the formula and the lamp work by accessing the latent energy of the dreamstate. But dream psi is inherently unstable. That has always been the source of the problems with the drug. Until I can solve some of the riddles connected with the dreaming process I will never be able to deliver a stable, reliable version of the formula.”
    She smiled. “Then it is a good thing that neither you nor I have been foolish enough to take the formula ourselves, isn’t it?”
    He snorted derisively. “A very good thing, indeed, Miss Knight. Really, it astonishes me how otherwise seemingly intelligent people in this organization are so eager to dose themselves with such an unstable drug. Ridiculous.”
    The fact that neither of them was on the drug was a secret between herself and Hulsey. In an organization run by formula-dependent talents, being free of the drug gave them an edge. But it also made them vulnerable. If the higher-ups ever discovered that she and Hulsey were not using the drug, it would be a death sentence for both of them. The board of directors insisted that all members of Nightshade be on the drug. It was the ultimate form of personnel management, the ultimate form of control.
    “We are a team, Dr. Hulsey,” she said.
    “A team,” he agreed.

61
    THEY DROVE DOWN TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AFTER THE wedding, making a honeymoon out of the road trip. They followed the old route, Highway 101, hugging the spectacular coastline. Hector rode in the backseat, his nose stuck out the window as much as possible. At night they stayed at charming windswept inns, including one aptly named Dreamscape in a little town called Eclipse Bay.
    They arrived in Scargill Cove in the early evening. The lights still burned in the offices of Jones & Jones. Chloe and Jack climbed the stairs to the second floor, bags of groceries in their arms, Hector at their heels. On the landing Jack raised his hand, but the door opened before he could knock.
    Fallon stood in the opening, looking out at them with a bewildered expression.
    “Jack,” he said. He looked at Chloe. “You’re Chloe.”
    “And you’re Fallon Jones.” She smiled. “Nice to meet you in person after all we’ve been through together.”
    “What are you two doing here?” Fallon asked.
    “Honeymoon,” Chloe explained. “We’ve got a room at the inn down the street.” She indicated the bags of groceries. “We heard there’s no decent restaurant open after five thirty, so we picked up a few things. I’m going to cook dinner for all of us.”
    Fallon was beyond bewildered now. He looked poleaxed.
    “Dinner?” He repeated, as if the word and the concept were new to him. “As in home cooking?”
    “Right,” Chloe said. “Do you mind?”
    “Uh, no.” Fallon frowned. “No, I don’t mind.”
    “Where’s the kitchen?” she prompted.
    “It’s sort of attached to my office.” He glanced over his shoulder as though searching for the kitchen.
    Jack held up the six-pack in his hand. “Figured you and I could have a couple of beers while Chloe’s fixing dinner.”
    Fallon’s expression cleared. He stood back, holding the door open.
    “I’d like that,” he said. “I’d like that a lot.”