Lab (Patreon)

Lab 3B was the final stop on Rachel’s tour of the facility. Five years into her stint as Administrator Jones, she couldn’t help but wonder if those quarterly visits on each project were growing longer or if her patience for the exercise had worsened. A part of her longed for the days she’d spend in those very labs, leading her own ambitious research to commending results.

The distinct sound of her heels clacking against the cold floor echoed in the empty corridor as she made her way towards the last lab. It’d been two years since Dr. Elena Hardy, a young and brilliant biologist, had made it her own. However, despite the great respect she held for her colleague’s talent, Rachel was growing concerned her research was leading nowhere fast. Trying to find protection against the shrinking virus for the non-immunised had been attempted before - several times and by scientists even greater than Dr.Hardy. To imagine she’d find something where her peers didn’t was too close to wishful thinking for Rachel’s liking. Nonetheless, she’d be given a grant from the board, which was more than enough to put the administrator’s worries at ease. It was their problem, not hers.

Finally, Lab 3B. Standing in front of the blue door, Rachel could hear the pop music blasting inside the lab as clearly as if she’d been inside. The decibel level deterred her from knocking, knowing full well it would be a loss of time.

“Dr. Hardy? Elena? Are you in here?” Rachel asked rhetorically, simply trying to make her presence known. Looking around, she could see a number of small glass enclosures containing shrinkies of different sizes. It was common procedure to sort them by size, in order to avoid miniature reenactments of Lord of the Flies in each container. As she walked between the workstations, she couldn’t help but think of the miserable existence those specimens had. So many years after the start of the epidemic, it was becoming harder to remember that those little things had the same abilities to think and feel than she did. “At least they’ve got unlimited food and drinks…” Rachel whispered to herself as she walked closer to a container, looking at the comparatively massive water and food pellet dispensers.

The group of 4mm tall shrinkies all came to a sudden stop as the blurry form of the massive scientist stopped by them. Her shadow engulfed them, breaking the constant bask of neon light they were subjected to for the first time in months. If the blouse wasn’t enough to tell, the coldness in her piercing gaze confirmed it - she was another scientist. The tension in the small container was palpable. Men and women caught themselves holding their breath, praying the titan in front of them would just continue on her way.

It’d never get old for Rachel. The feeling rising in her as the dots stopped in their tracks from her presence alone. She snickered, before resuming her search for Dr. Hardy. In their small tank, the shrinkies sighed in relief as the tremors from the titaness’ heels weakened.

“Dr. Hardy? I’m here for our quarterly sync. I sent you a meeting invite two weeks ago but I don’t know if you’ve seen it.” Rachel spoke loudly, trying her best to be heard despite the music.

“Over here, Administrator Jones! By the hood. I’m finishing something very quickly and I’ll be right with you.” a voice replied from behind a row of shelves containing all sorts of equipment. Rachel made her way towards the voice. The music stopped.

“No problem, Elena, take your time. You’re the last one on my list today. How have y-” Rachel stopped in her tracks as she reached the busy scientist, feeling the faintest cracks under her foot. Immediately lifting her weight hoping to not completely encrust whatever she had stepped on in the red sole of her boots, she looked down. What she first thought were crumbs from whatever Elena snacked on today, were in fact panicking pink specks running around her foot.

“Oops…” Rachel let out under her breath, immediately realizing it wasn’t the appropriate reaction to her actions.

“What’s up?” Elena asked, not bothering to turn away from her work to check for herself what could have possibly interrupted her colleague.

“Do you often conduct experiments on the lab’s floor, Dr. Hardy?” Rachel asked sternly, cocking her head to the side as she looked with curiosity at the scene happening down at her feet.

“On the floor? No, that’s not a-” Dr. Hardy started, before turning around with a hint of embarrassment drawn on her face. “Oh fuck, sorry I forgot about this mess. Guess the tube opened up when it fell. Messy desks, you know how it is…” Elena continued, hoping to garner some sympathy from the intimidating admin.

“I don’t. But I see the picture. You’d be wise to be more careful with the resources made available to you Dr. Hardy. And what was in that syringe? Virus bio-activators? You’re fine walking around here with potentially hazardous substances on the floor?” Rachel inquired, more pissed off by the little mess under her boots than the state of the lab’s floor.

“Don’t worry about it, that’s just electrolytes. I give it to the little things when they’ve cooperated on a task. Makes their tiny brains buzz.” Elena smiled, amused at the thought. “Sorry about that, I’ll get it cleaned up before I leave tonight. Unless you want them, of course.” Dr. Hardy continued, turning back towards the hood to finish her work.

“Dr. Hardy, they’re lab property, not toys for you to give away.” Rachel replied sternly, mechanically tapping the sole of her boot against the cold floor, pulverizing for good the poor souls trapped beneath it.

“Relax Rachel, they’re 2 cent micros that spent all afternoon on the floor overdosing on Gatorade. We’ll recover from this.” Elena replied, turning her face away from her workstation to give her administrator a jaded look. While Rachel didn’t appreciate the tone, she had to admit being zealous about this was not a fight worth picking.

“Fine, I’ll take a couple. I leave you the rest to clean up. Be sure that it’s done. I don’t want shrinkies running around the place” Rachel smiled softly as she bent down to delicately catch two fleeing shrinkies that had tried to get her attention. Without even taking a closer look, she lowered her pinched fingers down her pocket, hoping her prize would survive the landing.

“I will! Anyway, I’m done here. Wanna head to the cafeteria for that sync? I’ve made some progress on the immunity’s synthesization but I’d love to get your take on those results. Plus I could use a coffee...” Dr. Hardy asked as she picked up her keys, ready to leave the lab.

“Sure, why not. Careful where you step. Those little ones got enough trouble for one day.” Rachel replied, walking alongside Elena on their way out.

As the deafening sound of their heels weakened in the distance, the shrinkies left on the floor broke down and cried. Their minds failed to justify the horrors they had just witnessed. Their hearts raced, knowing their misery was not over yet…

A little quickie I've put together after watching Love & Small Vol. 1 for the first time in many years. For those who don't know it, it's one of the greatest size clips ever made and it still beats most FX work done today so many years later. The main character in it is a doc with a blouse and boots which is just a dope vibe :D

Anyway, I hope you like it!