"Transformation initiating" the machine finally announced "please do not interact with the terminal until the process is complete"
Nicola looked hopelessly at James through the glass panel before the device that had been pointed at her enveloped her entire naked body with a brilliant, bright white light that gave her an almost angelic appearance for a moment or two before seperating her into seemingly millions of tiny, glowing particles that swirled majestically around the container she had been sitting in.
James was aghast. Was this supposed to be happening? How long would it take? What would his friend eventually become? He was at least convinced that interfering with the machinery at this point would be a bad idea. He took a step back for safety.
"Oh, you started without me?" An annoyed, American voice he didn't recognise suddenly made itself known from behind him.
James spun around to see a beautiful, young black woman dressed in a lab coat similar to his glaring at him. Even in such unflattering attire, with her hair tied back and wearing a pair of functional rather than stylish glasses she still somehow looked like a model.
"Um, sorry about that" James figured it was best to play along for now, having no idea at this point if he was speaking to a real person or a figment of someones imagination.
The young woman's stern stare turned into a cute giggle "Relax, I'm just messing with you!"
To James' surprise she walked over and gave him a gentle but intimate kiss while resting one hand on his butt.
"You're the genius, I'm just here to learn" she smiled seductively.
"Um, remind me..Deanna" James tried not to get too distracted by this unexpected encounter or make it too obvious he had needed to check her name badge "How long will this transformation take and what will Nicola become?"
He hated to ask but he needed to know.
"Nicola?" Deanna raised an eyebrow jokingly "becoming a little familiar with Subject N aren't we? Should I be jealous?"
"No, I..." James began, but Deanna burst into laughter again.
"It's fine, I'm teasing" she sat herself on a table opposite him "besides, I love your little tests. The transformation of Subject N should take no longer than thirty minutes, no less than twenty. I have no idea what you are turning her into as you saw fit to start without me. But it must be an existing, living organism that we can force her DNA to imitate. Sound about right?"
"That's very good Deanna" James nodded "and then we restore her?"
"Of course" Deanna nodded "so we can transform her again"
"Um, actually I think we should let her go after this" James posited, hoping he would be unnopposed.
"What? Are you serious?" Deanna's eyes widened in astonishment "how do you plan to explain that to the Directors?"
James took a moment to think before he said anything else. Clearly this situation was even more complicated than he realised.
"I'm just not sure this is ethical" James answered eventually.
"Ethical?" Deanna seemed a little vexed now "She signed up for this, right here"
James' assistant walked over and thrust a contract into his hand which did, indeed, contain Nicola's signature. Glancing through the contract and exactly what it allowed him to do with her, there was no way she have signed it though.
"Besides, ethics has never stopped you experimenting on all the your other subjects" Deanna folded her arms unhappily "What's so special about Subject N? Maybe I should be jealous"
She didn't seem to be joking this time.
"Um.." James began as he tried to decide how to handle this increasingly hizarre dilemma.