Science
Undeserved Ascendance
chapter 5
by
copier
· original author:
Carolyne strode across the quad like she owned every blade of grass beneath her platform sneakers, her long legs eating up the distance while Sofia, Miguel, and Jenna trailed her like obedient shadows. The late-afternoon sun slanted golden across Havenridge, catching the silver hoop in her navel and turning her espresso curls into a dark halo. She wore a cropped black tank that rode up just enough to show the taut plane of her stomach, low-rise jeans slung on her hips, and the scent of coconut-vanilla trailed her like expensive smoke.
Sofia was mid-rant, voice high and breathless. “—and they said the DJ is coming straight from Miami, like actual club bookings, not some SoundCloud kid. Open bar till midnight, themed ‘Glow in the Dark.’ You have to come, Caro. Everyone’s going.”
Miguel snorted, arms crossed over his broad chest. “Open bar means warm beer and watered-down tequila. I’m only there if you’re dancing on tables again, reina.”
Carolyne flicked a glance at him, lips curling. “Careful, papi. Last time I danced on a table you almost broke your hand trying to catch me when I jumped. Embarrassing.”
Jenna laughed too loud, clutching her phone like a lifeline. “I already RSVP’d for all of us. Got the group chat blowing up. They’re doing UV paint and those black-light necklaces. I’m thinking silver body glitter to match your vibe, Caro.”
Carolyne tilted her head, letting the compliment land without acknowledging it. “Glitter? Ay, mami, you trying to make me sparkle like a piñata? Only if you’re the one getting hit.” She reached out and tugged a strand of Jenna’s platinum hair, hard enough to sting but soft enough to pass for playful. Jenna winced but smiled wider, hungry for the attention.
They reached the edge of the science quad, where the brutalist concrete labs loomed like gray tombstones. The air smelled faintly of chemicals and overheated servers. Sofia slowed, hugging her sketchbook to her chest. “This is me. Studio’s on the third floor. You sure you don’t want to come draw with me later?”
Carolyne waved a manicured hand. “I got lab time, chica. Go make your little pictures. Text me if you finish early—I might need someone to carry my bag.”
Miguel bumped her shoulder, gentle but deliberate. “You good alone in there? Those engineering nerds still drooling over you?”
“They always drool,” she said, voice low and amused. “Keeps them useful.” She leaned in, brushing her lips close to his ear. “Don’t start fights without me, eh? Save some blood for Friday.”
He grinned, feral. Jenna gave a quick, awkward hug—Carolyne tolerated it for exactly three seconds—then the three of them peeled off toward the arts building, voices fading into the general campus hum.
Carolyne watched them go, dark eyes unreadable. Then she turned, curls bouncing, and started down the shadowed corridor alone. The hallway lights buzzed overhead, flickering every few steps. Her heels clicked sharply against the linoleum, a metronome of confidence.
Options:
1. Halfway down the hall, a bright neon flyer was taped crookedly to the bulletin board outside the bioengineering wing. Black text on electric yellow screamed:
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – PAID ENERGY PILL STUDY
Test subject positions open. 18–30 years old. $500 cash upon completion + bonus for strong vital signs. 72-hour trial. Enhanced focus, stamina, alertness. Contact Dr. E. Ramirez, Rm 214.
A small cartoon lightning bolt pulsed next to the words “Feel unstoppable.”
2. As she passed a half-open door marked “RESTRICTED – LEVEL 3 CLEARANCE,” two low voices drifted out, clipped and urgent.
“…military’s pushing the timeline. They want Phase II human trials by spring. Super-soldier protocol—enhanced strength, accelerated healing, sensory augmentation. The serum’s stable in sims, but we need real subjects before the DoD pulls funding.”
“Risky. The last batch showed aggression spikes. One rat tore its own cage apart.”
“Which is exactly why we need controlled human data. Quiet ones. No questions asked.”
Sofia was mid-rant, voice high and breathless. “—and they said the DJ is coming straight from Miami, like actual club bookings, not some SoundCloud kid. Open bar till midnight, themed ‘Glow in the Dark.’ You have to come, Caro. Everyone’s going.”
Miguel snorted, arms crossed over his broad chest. “Open bar means warm beer and watered-down tequila. I’m only there if you’re dancing on tables again, reina.”
Carolyne flicked a glance at him, lips curling. “Careful, papi. Last time I danced on a table you almost broke your hand trying to catch me when I jumped. Embarrassing.”
Jenna laughed too loud, clutching her phone like a lifeline. “I already RSVP’d for all of us. Got the group chat blowing up. They’re doing UV paint and those black-light necklaces. I’m thinking silver body glitter to match your vibe, Caro.”
Carolyne tilted her head, letting the compliment land without acknowledging it. “Glitter? Ay, mami, you trying to make me sparkle like a piñata? Only if you’re the one getting hit.” She reached out and tugged a strand of Jenna’s platinum hair, hard enough to sting but soft enough to pass for playful. Jenna winced but smiled wider, hungry for the attention.
They reached the edge of the science quad, where the brutalist concrete labs loomed like gray tombstones. The air smelled faintly of chemicals and overheated servers. Sofia slowed, hugging her sketchbook to her chest. “This is me. Studio’s on the third floor. You sure you don’t want to come draw with me later?”
Carolyne waved a manicured hand. “I got lab time, chica. Go make your little pictures. Text me if you finish early—I might need someone to carry my bag.”
Miguel bumped her shoulder, gentle but deliberate. “You good alone in there? Those engineering nerds still drooling over you?”
“They always drool,” she said, voice low and amused. “Keeps them useful.” She leaned in, brushing her lips close to his ear. “Don’t start fights without me, eh? Save some blood for Friday.”
He grinned, feral. Jenna gave a quick, awkward hug—Carolyne tolerated it for exactly three seconds—then the three of them peeled off toward the arts building, voices fading into the general campus hum.
Carolyne watched them go, dark eyes unreadable. Then she turned, curls bouncing, and started down the shadowed corridor alone. The hallway lights buzzed overhead, flickering every few steps. Her heels clicked sharply against the linoleum, a metronome of confidence.
Options:
1. Halfway down the hall, a bright neon flyer was taped crookedly to the bulletin board outside the bioengineering wing. Black text on electric yellow screamed:
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – PAID ENERGY PILL STUDY
Test subject positions open. 18–30 years old. $500 cash upon completion + bonus for strong vital signs. 72-hour trial. Enhanced focus, stamina, alertness. Contact Dr. E. Ramirez, Rm 214.
A small cartoon lightning bolt pulsed next to the words “Feel unstoppable.”
2. As she passed a half-open door marked “RESTRICTED – LEVEL 3 CLEARANCE,” two low voices drifted out, clipped and urgent.
“…military’s pushing the timeline. They want Phase II human trials by spring. Super-soldier protocol—enhanced strength, accelerated healing, sensory augmentation. The serum’s stable in sims, but we need real subjects before the DoD pulls funding.”
“Risky. The last batch showed aggression spikes. One rat tore its own cage apart.”
“Which is exactly why we need controlled human data. Quiet ones. No questions asked.”
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June 13
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