Part I
Confidential files
WICKED Memorandum, Date 220.6.24, Time 0936
TO: Partners
FROM: Kevin Anderson, Chancellor
RE: Welcome
Welcome, colleagues, to the beginning of the greatest collaborative human effort in the history of our planet. I would not dare suggest that this is a time for excitement. The world has never known such dark times as these, and celebration is far from appropriate. What I would like to establish, however, is that we can feel hope and pride that we are a part of something that is working to save the human race. And to succeed, we must hit the ground running.
Those of you in charge of the search parties in the designated Twelve Sectors are to report back to the Council each time a suitable subject is discovered. It is far too early to know what percentage of the population meets our needs, but it has become obvious that the number will be small. We need to test each subject immediately so we can choose Candidates with the greatest potential to last until the very end.
The design team for the Maze will be presenting their latest plans to us tomorrow morning at 0900 hours at command center 3. Building a structure of this sophistication is an ambitious project during the best of times, and given the current state of the world, we anticipate that implementing phase 1 will take the next several years. We will spare no expense to keep the project on track. In a few years we will have our Elite Candidates to help in the final design and building phases.
Tomorrow’s meeting will also devote a segment to the biotech creatures we have manufactured to help us create and fully manage the planned Variables.
Our Psychs and doctors have worked to come up with an action plan. They believe that we can achieve sixty percent of the patterns we need by setting in motion the incidents we have plotted so far. With at least ten years until the project reaches its climax, I think that is an incredible number.
Members of the Council plan to stay in constant communication throughout the entirety of this project, so do feel free to share your thoughts with me or the others on the Council at any time. I am proud to be a part of this great endeavor, along with all of you.
The future has begun.
WICKED Memorandum, Date 221.11.26, Time 1056
TO: Partners
FROM: Kevin Anderson, Chancellor
RE: Elite Candidate
We have discovered a most extraordinary Candidate.
None of us can put a finger on why he seems so perfect to serve as one of our Elites. There is simply something about him. Though very young, he seems to have an awareness of his surroundings well beyond his years. His verbal and cognitive skills are at an adult level, yet somehow he still holds on to an innocence—a childlike quality—that has endeared him to everyone he has met so far.
Preliminary tests show the most promising results we have had thus far. His intelligence and capacity to learn are immeasurable. He also has the potential for incredible physical abilities, which of course will be vital in the Maze if he ends up doing what we would like him to do.
We have decided to name him after one of the most important inventors in history, as we believe strongly that he will go on to achieve great things.
If you would like to observe Thomas, go to room 31J. (Located next to Teresa.)
I think you will be impressed.
WICKED Memorandum, Date 224.9.6, Time 1108
TO: Partners
FROM: Kevin Anderson, Chancellor
RE: Implants
One of the most delicate elements of our project is complete. All brain devices, including the Swipe trigger, the manipulators, and the telepathy tools, have been successfully implanted. I am happy to pass on that the doctors reported only seven deaths during surgery. Many fewer than we had feared and anticipated.
Transcript of Subjects A1 and A2, Meeting 1
BEGINNING OF TRANSCRIPT
Thomas: Hey.
Teresa: Hi.
Thomas: Why did they put us in here?
Teresa: I don’t know. They wanted us to meet and talk, I guess.
Thomas: How long have you lived here?
Teresa: Since I was five.
Thomas: So …?
Teresa: So four years.
Thomas: You’re only nine?
Teresa: Yeah. Why? How old are you?
Thomas: Same. You just seem older is all.
Teresa: I’ll be ten soon. Haven’t you been here just as long?
Thomas: Yeah.
Teresa: Why do they keep some of us separate? I can hear other kids screaming and laughing all the time. And I’ve seen the big cafeteria. It’s gotta feed hundreds.
Thomas: So they bring your food to your room, too?
Teresa: Three times a day. Most of it tastes like a toilet.
Thomas: So you know what a toilet tastes like?
Teresa: Can’t be worse than the food they give us.
Thomas: Heh. You’re right.
Teresa: So there must be something different about us, don’t you think?
Thomas: I guess. There has to be a reason we’re kept alone. But it’s hard to guess what when we don’t even know why we’re here.
Teresa: I know. Is your life pretty much school stuff from wake-up to lights-out?
Thomas: Just about.
Teresa: They keep telling me how smart I am.
Thomas: Me too. It’s weird.
Teresa: I think it all has something to do with the Flare. Did your parents catch it before WICKED took you?
Thomas: I don’t want to talk about that.
Teresa: Why not?
Thomas: I just don’t.
Teresa: Fine, then. Me neither.
Thomas: Why are we in here, anyway? Seriously, what’re we supposed to be doing?
Teresa: Talking. Being tested. I don’t know. Sorry being around me is so freaking boring for you.
Thomas: Huh? You’re mad?
Teresa: No, I’m not mad. You just don’t seem very nice. I kind of like the idea of finally having a friend.
Thomas: Sorry. Sounds kind of good to me, too.
Teresa: Then maybe we passed the test. Maybe they wanted to see if we’d get along.
Thomas: Whatever. I quit guessing about things a long time ago.
Teresa: So … friends?
Thomas: Friends.
Teresa: Shake on it.
Thomas: Okay.
Teresa: Hey, does your brain hurt sometimes? I mean, not just like a normal headache, but deep down inside your skull?
Thomas: What? Are you serious? Yes!
Teresa: Shh! Quiet, someone’s coming. We’ll talk about it later.
END OF TRANSCRIPT
WICKED Memorandum, Date 228.2.13, Time 1842
TO: Partners
FROM: Kevin Anderson, Chancellor
RE: Telepathy Progress