The Iso-Stasis Experiment (The Experiments) Read Online Free
Author: Jacqueline Druga
the applicants.” He waved the bartender over for another beer.
“You seem pissed.”
“I am pissed. And you want to know why? And I know I’m not living it down once I tell you this, but I have to. Not only did I get beat . . . I got beat by a woman. Can you believe that shit? Beat by a woman?”
“Jake, Jake, Jake. I am . . . uh . . .” Chuck shut up and put his bottle down, giving Jake a serious look.
“A broad beat me! She’s probably some fat chick that weighs like nine hundred pounds and belongs to the Mensa society.” Jake rambled on, totally ignoring the motioning head and bulging eyes that Chuck was giving him. “Now what the hell was she doing beating me? A woman, can you believe? A goddamn woman and there isn’t . . .” He felt a tap to his shoulder and slowly turned his head.
“Major!” A uniformed woman with short blond hair and glasses glared at him. “I believe before you start making such chauvinistic comments, you should check to see if there is anyone around who may take offense to what you are saying. I for one have taken offense.”
Jake hesitated before saying anything to the woman, who unfortunately outranked him. He made a slow blink, kept a stone face and, sounding less than sincere said, “I apologize Colonel Stevens, Ma’am.” He turned from her, rolled his eyes at Chuck and grabbed his beer. “Let’s sit at a table.” He motioned with his head and walked away.
Chuck followed, trying not to laugh and whispered, “Busted.” He pulled out a chair and sat with Jake. “All kidding aside, you think they’re going to pick you even though you scored only second highest?”
“I don’t know. But if they do choose me, you know it’s going to irk me if she is there. She probably will be though, unless she couldn’t pass the physical part.”
“Ah . . . the sweet sounds of competition. Too bad she won’t know what she’s up against.”
“Nah,” Jake said and waved his hand. “What am I going to do? We’re going to be stranded out there together and I can’t compete with her. It wouldn’t be right. Work together not against.”
“True. But if you wanted to, it is an isolation project. Make her think she’s nuts.” Chuck pointed to his temple.
“No. But that could be pretty funny.” Jake hesitated and brought the bottle to his lips. “ If I did want to challenge her, I’m sure there are many other ways. I mean we’ll be stranded. I do, however, want to see what this babe has that I don’t. And . . .” Jake pointed his bottle. “I guarantee you one thing. Higher score than me or not, she will break. She’s a woman. Hell, the competition is over the moment she becomes pre-menstrual.”
“Now listen to you. It’s no wonder I’m your only friend.” Chuck put his empty bottle down. “Let’s go get that steak.”
“Yeah, let’s go.” Jake stood up, his huge body moving the chair loudly as he did. “And remember, you’re my only friend by choice. I’m not a people person. Emotional attachments are not good. That’s why I can do what I do.”
“True.” Chuck pushed in his chair and walked with Jake. “But take it from someone who has a woman, the sex is definitely a bonus. Maybe that’s why you’re so mean to everyone but me.”
“I am not mean to everyone.” Jake tilted his head as they walked by the bar and placed the empty containers there. “I’m just quiet to them.”
Chuck shrugged at the honesty in that comment as he walked with him. He knew that Jake only spoke like that when he was around him. And knowing that Jake was a quiet guy by choice, Chuck also knew that Jake wouldn’t select the quiet route over their dinner on this night. There were two things that topped Jake’s list of things he couldn’t take. One was being outdone in something he knew he was a master at and the second was having it done by a woman. Jake was the epitome of the feminist movement’s nightmare.
CHAPTER TWO
I-S.E. Five Preparations - Caldwell
“You seem pissed.”
“I am pissed. And you want to know why? And I know I’m not living it down once I tell you this, but I have to. Not only did I get beat . . . I got beat by a woman. Can you believe that shit? Beat by a woman?”
“Jake, Jake, Jake. I am . . . uh . . .” Chuck shut up and put his bottle down, giving Jake a serious look.
“A broad beat me! She’s probably some fat chick that weighs like nine hundred pounds and belongs to the Mensa society.” Jake rambled on, totally ignoring the motioning head and bulging eyes that Chuck was giving him. “Now what the hell was she doing beating me? A woman, can you believe? A goddamn woman and there isn’t . . .” He felt a tap to his shoulder and slowly turned his head.
“Major!” A uniformed woman with short blond hair and glasses glared at him. “I believe before you start making such chauvinistic comments, you should check to see if there is anyone around who may take offense to what you are saying. I for one have taken offense.”
Jake hesitated before saying anything to the woman, who unfortunately outranked him. He made a slow blink, kept a stone face and, sounding less than sincere said, “I apologize Colonel Stevens, Ma’am.” He turned from her, rolled his eyes at Chuck and grabbed his beer. “Let’s sit at a table.” He motioned with his head and walked away.
Chuck followed, trying not to laugh and whispered, “Busted.” He pulled out a chair and sat with Jake. “All kidding aside, you think they’re going to pick you even though you scored only second highest?”
“I don’t know. But if they do choose me, you know it’s going to irk me if she is there. She probably will be though, unless she couldn’t pass the physical part.”
“Ah . . . the sweet sounds of competition. Too bad she won’t know what she’s up against.”
“Nah,” Jake said and waved his hand. “What am I going to do? We’re going to be stranded out there together and I can’t compete with her. It wouldn’t be right. Work together not against.”
“True. But if you wanted to, it is an isolation project. Make her think she’s nuts.” Chuck pointed to his temple.
“No. But that could be pretty funny.” Jake hesitated and brought the bottle to his lips. “ If I did want to challenge her, I’m sure there are many other ways. I mean we’ll be stranded. I do, however, want to see what this babe has that I don’t. And . . .” Jake pointed his bottle. “I guarantee you one thing. Higher score than me or not, she will break. She’s a woman. Hell, the competition is over the moment she becomes pre-menstrual.”
“Now listen to you. It’s no wonder I’m your only friend.” Chuck put his empty bottle down. “Let’s go get that steak.”
“Yeah, let’s go.” Jake stood up, his huge body moving the chair loudly as he did. “And remember, you’re my only friend by choice. I’m not a people person. Emotional attachments are not good. That’s why I can do what I do.”
“True.” Chuck pushed in his chair and walked with Jake. “But take it from someone who has a woman, the sex is definitely a bonus. Maybe that’s why you’re so mean to everyone but me.”
“I am not mean to everyone.” Jake tilted his head as they walked by the bar and placed the empty containers there. “I’m just quiet to them.”
Chuck shrugged at the honesty in that comment as he walked with him. He knew that Jake only spoke like that when he was around him. And knowing that Jake was a quiet guy by choice, Chuck also knew that Jake wouldn’t select the quiet route over their dinner on this night. There were two things that topped Jake’s list of things he couldn’t take. One was being outdone in something he knew he was a master at and the second was having it done by a woman. Jake was the epitome of the feminist movement’s nightmare.
CHAPTER TWO
I-S.E. Five Preparations - Caldwell