Artificial Agent

a novel by Isaac Bailey

Summary of Act One, Scene Four:

The Experiment

Scene Overview:

Margaret Lee and her team initiate a groundbreaking experiment aboard the space station, aiming to test the Crystal Diamond Matrix Pods (CDPMs) for sub-million-degree fusion. The experiment begins as a moment of triumph and awe, achieving results far beyond expectations. However, the situation rapidly deteriorates as a series of critical system failures, sabotage by Garrett, and escalating danger force the team to evacuate. Margaret’s realization of Garrett’s betrayal sets the stage for a catastrophic turning point in the story.

Key Events:

  1. Preparing the CDPMs:
  • Margaret carefully retrieves the CDPMs from their sterile containment, marveling at their alien, almost sentient design.
  • The pods, central to the experiment, are placed in the plasma chamber, where advanced photonic computing and quantum entanglement principles will be tested.
  1. Initiating the Experiment:
  • The team successfully generates a stable wormhole and achieves sub-million-degree fusion, an unprecedented breakthrough.
  • The CDPMs’ organic and engineered fractal geometries dynamically interact with photons and plasma, creating phenomena that exceed all models and expectations.
  1. Escalating System Failures:
  • The station’s containment system begins to fail as temperatures spike dangerously high. Alarms signal decompression and a critical systems breach.
  • Garrett’s behavior becomes increasingly suspicious as he appears calm and focused on his terminal, seemingly unaffected by the chaos.
  1. Garrett’s Sabotage:
  • Garrett secretly sabotages the experiment, shutting down critical systems and disabling the containment field under the guise of following protocol.
  • His smirk and detached demeanor hint at his betrayal, which Margaret pieces together as events unfold.
  1. Evacuation and Betrayal:
  • Margaret orders Jennifer and Roy to evacuate in an escape pod while she and Garrett remain behind to secure the experiment data and CDPMs.
  • Garrett drugs Margaret with a dermal patch, revealing his full betrayal. He boasts about his success and plans for wealth and power as their escape pod disengages.

Key Characters Expanded:

  1. Margaret Lee: Driven and meticulous, Margaret’s emotional connection to the experiment contrasts with her growing suspicions about Garrett. Her quick thinking saves the CDPMs, but her vulnerability is exploited by Garrett’s betrayal.
  2. Garrett: Revealed as a saboteur, Garrett’s arrogance and duplicity emerge fully in this scene. His betrayal is calculated and chilling, setting him up as a primary antagonist.
  3. Jennifer and Roy: Their camaraderie and humor provide brief levity before the chaos. Jennifer’s technical expertise and Roy’s pragmatic attitude are key during the experiment.
  4. Athena: The station’s AI plays a critical role in monitoring the experiment but is compromised during the sabotage, leaving Margaret and the team vulnerable.

Scene Outcome:

  • The experiment achieves unprecedented results, including sub-million-degree fusion, but the station is critically damaged due to Garrett’s sabotage.
  • Margaret narrowly escapes with the CDPMs, but her trust is shattered as Garrett reveals his betrayal.
  • Athena’s compromised systems and the destruction of the station mark a major setback, heightening the stakes for the next phase of the story.