Chapter 32 Navuh
NAVUH
The young man standing in Navuh's office looked nothing like what he'd expected from Doctor Petrov's assistant.
Where Petrov was wild-eyed and disheveled, Dmitri Volkov was neat and composed.
Late twenties in appearance, dark hair combed back, intelligent eyes that assessed the room with interest, cataloguing everything.
His clothing was almost ragged, but he carried himself with confidence.
Navuh leaned back in his chair, studying the newcomer. Losham sat to his right, a leather portfolio open in front of him, ready to take notes during what was ostensibly an interview but was really an evaluation.
"Doctor Volkov," Navuh began. "Thank you for agreeing to join Doctor Petrov's research team."
"It wasn't much of an agreement." Dmitri's English was accented but clear. "More of a rescue, really. Thank you for getting me out of the labor camp."
Interesting. Direct and honest rather than obsequious. Navuh appreciated that.
"Tell me a little about your background." Navuh motioned at the chair across from Losham. "Doctor Petrov vouches for you, but I like to know who I'm hiring."
"I have a doctorate in neuroscience from Moscow University. Specialized in consciousness studies and neural plasticity. I met Konstantin, I mean Doctor Petrov, when he chose me to assist him on a classified military project five years ago."
"What kind of military project was that?" Losham asked.
"Enhanced cognition protocols. The Russian government wanted to create soldiers with improved processing speed and faster reaction times."
That was interesting. "What were the results of the project?" Navuh asked.
Dmitri's expression remained neutral, but a flicker of unease drifted through his eyes. "The project was problematic."
"How so?" Navuh watched the man's face carefully.
"We were experimenting with consciousness transfer.
We networked forty-seven rat brains together and then attempted to upload a man's consciousness into the collective rat mind.
It worked for a few hours, but then his consciousness began to fragment.
The authorities called the experiment unethical despite the fact that the man volunteered and was approved for experimentation because he was a murderer scheduled for execution.
They claimed that we misrepresented the methods of our experiment. "
"Did you?" Navuh asked.
Dmitri shrugged. "Doctor Petrov submitted the request, and he might have been unclear about what he intended, but I believe that they just didn't understand what he was trying to do.
It's also possible that someone higher up wasn't happy with what we were doing and wished to terminate the project.
Petrov was sent to the asylum, and I was sent to prison and then to a labor camp.
When your representative showed up with release papers for me, I thought I was dreaming. "
Gorchenco hadn't provided details about his methods of releasing Petrov from the insane asylum and Dmitri from the labor camp, and Navuh hadn't asked.
It wasn't important. What was important, however, was this new information about the two having no moral problems with the subjects they were working with.
"And now you're here," Navuh said, "to work on a project that sounds remarkably similar to the one that got you arrested."
"With significant differences." Dmitri didn't flinch from the observation.
"The Russian project was about enhancement within normal human parameters.
From what I was told so far, this project involves something much more advanced.
Consciousness merging. Hive mind formation. That's entirely different territory."
"It is." Navuh leaned back in his chair.
"The consciousness merging was a side effect Doctor Zhao hadn't expected, and there are advantages and disadvantages to it.
That's one of the things I want you and Petrov to figure out.
But if you failed with a much simpler project, what makes you think that you will succeed with a more complicated one? "
"I've had a lot of time to think about what went wrong, and I think I figured it out.
Doctor Zhao avoided the same pitfall by experimenting on people instead of rats, and he made a quantum leap forward.
We are not talking about a simple enhancement.
This is an unimaginable transformation that opens an entirely new frontier in human development. "
Navuh smiled at the young man. "So, you have no moral dilemma about proceeding with the program?"
"I didn't say that. It's highly unethical, but the damage has already been done, and Doctor Petrov and I were brought in to salvage what's possible."
The damaged goods were probably beyond salvage, and Petrov wanted to start from scratch with a new group of test subjects who hadn't been damaged yet. It seemed that he hadn't had time to update his assistant on the full scope of their project.
"Your honesty is refreshing," Navuh said. "Though perhaps unwise."
"I believe that lying would be more unwise.
" Dmitri's tone was pragmatic. "I'm a scientist who was rotting in Siberia.
You gave me a second chance. I intend to earn it by being useful in any way I can, even if it means uncomfortable truths.
If you only wanted reassurance, you wouldn't have bothered interviewing me personally. "
Smart. Very smart. Navuh could see why Petrov had insisted on retrieving this particular assistant.
"That's an astute observation. You represent a significant investment, Dmitri. Tell me why you are worth it."
"That depends on what you need. If you need someone to tell you the enhancement project is perfectly safe and proceeding according to plan, I'm worthless. If you need someone to identify problems before they become catastrophic, I'm invaluable."
Losham cleared his throat. "Doctor Petrov's research notes are dense. Can you actually understand his work?"
"Better than he does in some regards." Dmitri's expression softened slightly.
"Konstantin is brilliant but chaotic. He sees connections between concepts that others miss, makes intuitive leaps that turn out to be correct even when he can't explain why.
I'm the one who translates those insights into practical applications. We complement each other."
Losham put down his notepad. "Is Doctor Petrov mentally stable?"
"No." The answer was immediate and unequivocal. "He's functional but unstable. The vodka helps, ironically, as it dulls the worst of his manic episodes. Without it, he'd be completely unmanageable."
"You claim to be able to work with him," Navuh said.
"I know how to manage his moods, redirect his focus when he spirals, and extract useful research from his ramblings. He's difficult, but he's also one of the most brilliant minds in the world today. He's well worth the trouble."
"Good." Navuh stood. "Let's go see your brilliant madman. He'll be overjoyed to see you."
As they drove through the compound, Dmitri looked out the window with interest, taking in the repair work still underway, the security systems, and the subtle displays of wealth and power.
"This is not what I expected from a secret research facility," he observed.
"What did you expect?"
"Something more utilitarian. Cold concrete and fluorescent lights. This is paradise."
Losham chuckled. "You have no idea. I'm sure Petrov will fill you in about the built-in perks of this island. He's already availed himself of several."
Navuh smiled while Dmitri looked confused.
He wouldn't be for long.
They found Petrov in the main lab, hunched over a computer screen, his ever-present vodka bottle within arm's reach. When the door opened and he saw who'd entered, his face transformed.
"Dmitri!" Petrov pulled him into a tight embrace as if he hadn't seen him less than an hour ago. They hugged and clapped each other on the back, both speaking in rapid Russian. "Did he like you?" Petrov asked.
Dmitri laughed. "Of course. I told him that you cannot manage without me."
Navuh kept his expression neutral, giving no indication that he understood every word. Beside him, Losham did the same. When people thought you didn't understand their language, they revealed things they'd otherwise keep hidden.
Petrov pulled back. "Come, come!" He switched to English as if remembering their audience. "While you were meeting with Lord Navuh, I organized the data about the neural integration protocols and the consciousness merging."
He practically dragged Dmitri to the computer station, pulling up screens of data and research notes.
Dmitri settled into the chair, his demeanor shifting to full focus. The change was remarkable. Gone was the affable young man from the interview. This was a scientist in his element, eyes scanning data with incredible speed, fingers flying across the keyboard to pull up additional screens.
"The enhancement serum formula," Dmitri murmured, more to himself than anyone else. "Modified neurotransmitter inhibitors... consciousness field amplification... wait, you used what as a binding agent?"
"Synthesized pineal extract!" Petrov was practically vibrating with excitement. "It creates quantum entanglement at the neurological level!"
"That shouldn't be possible." Dmitri was already pulling up more data. "The molecular structure would be too unstable—oh. Oh, you clever bastard. You stabilized it with..." He trailed off, completely absorbed.
Navuh watched the display with growing certainty. This young man understood Petrov's research instantly—not just understood it, but grasped implications and connections faster than Petrov could explain them. The assistant was the real brain behind their partnership.
For a while, Dmitri did nothing but read, occasionally making small sounds of surprise or approval. Petrov hovered beside him, drinking vodka and offering excited commentary that Dmitri mostly ignored.
Finally, Dmitri leaned back, his expression troubled.