The sign outside the contemporary office building simply read "BC" with a small logo representing a simplified version of Da Vinci's Man.
Valerie parked her red convertible in the car park in front of the building and stepped out in casual blue jeans and a white knit sweater. Her long brunette hair spilled around her head as she swung the door shut and put her keys in her pocket.
So. Now what? She took a deep breath, relaxed, and looked at the ad in her hand one more time. Was she mad? Probably. She walked down the sidewalk towards the front doors, stepped inside, and her jaw dropped.
The main foyer of the office was a rich tapestry of art. Adorning the walls were stylish and colourful murals of seemingly random things. Athletes performing at the Olympics, a depiction of an old man returning to youth, people turning into powerful animals, stylistic representations of DNA sequences, and men and women in white lab coats standing proudly. The depiction was powerful and at the same time bizarre. In the middle of the foyer was a reception desk and at the corners of the room four pillars reached to the ceiling each shaped like a double helix.
“Uh... hello.” Valerie approached the reception desk, nervously clutching the ad in her hand. “I'd like to enquire about your research ad in the paper.”
The secretary, a pleasant and attractive woman in her 30's, looked Valerie up and down a couple times and then nodded. “Yes, of course, ma'am. I know BC Limited is very interested in volunteers right now, but you'll want to speak to the organizer on the 4th floor.”
“Perfect. Thank you so much!” Valerie smiled, and began walking towards the elevators.
* * *
The elevator was squared by a mural of dolphins and the ocean and Valerie found herself calmed by the sweet burble of waves and singsong cetacean calls from the speaker above her head. This was truly a surreal experience.
The lift finally dinged and a computerized voice announced the 4th floor. The heavy metal doors slung open to reveal an equally ornate but far less impressive office beyond which white sterile labs were visible behind a sealed security door.
This must be it. She stepped out of the elevator and approached the main desk. This time, a man of middle eastern appearance sat. He was young, in shape, with a well groomed beard, and she found him enticingly handsome.
The man looked up and smiled pleasantly. “Good afternoon. I'm David, I'm the Intakes and Testing Facilitator for BC Limited. Downstairs just called up and said we had a potential new recruit for our test base, is that correct?”
Valerie nodded and produced the ad once more. “Yes, I saw this in the paper.”
“Excellent!” David seemed genuinely pleased. “It's volunteers like yourself who are literally shaping the future, miss, and I'd like to be the first to offer my sincere thanks for your participation.” He produced a clipboard from under his desk and set it down on the counter along with a pen. “If I could ask you to please fill out this initial paperwork, I can have a doc come down for your orientation. It's mostly a formality, but please ensure your medical history and biographical details are completed accurately.”
Valerie smiled and took the clipboard. “Okay, I can do that.”
She began filling out the forms and started to notice some odd questions to fill out. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? She considered this carefully and laughed, writing down 'my big nose.' Do you have any interest in transformation? She blushed slightly and wrote 'yes.' She filled in her family history, medical details, and noted that she was single.
The last question was somewhat cryptic, and she raised an eyebrow. It asked for absolute secrecy and discretion and threatened legal action if this was violated. She checked the last box, returned the clipboard, and stood patiently as David looked over her forms.
“Yes, this is all in order.” He looked at her somewhat seriously. “You're probably freaked by the last question, and I have to explain. See, what we do here is highly technical and ground breaking work, funded by private investors and held to the highest standards of medical testing. Our company is currently developing a project that will see public use in about four years – God willing – and the technology being used is so advanced that the government itself has put a blindfold on public knowledge of our work.”
Valerie's eyes went wide in response. This was serious.
“I don't have to tell you that as a test subject and research applicant we are giving you a great deal of trust not to violate this order. This is all we really ask. Nobody can know, not family, not friends, not lovers.” David's sternness faded and he smiled. “At this point, I can offer you an opt out right now.”
Valerie smiled slightly. “No, I'm still in.”
David nodded and gently slapped his desk. “Excellent! I thought you were the type. If you'll just take a seat over there, I'll bring in your Assessor in the next ten minutes. They're pretty busy back there, so please feel free to grab some of our complimentary coffee from the tray.”
Valerie sat in stunned silence, barely believing she was doing this, and helped herself to some coffee. She sat, wondering what she had gotten herself into... and waited.