In this Science Fiction Horror piece, Frank wants nothing more but to pursue his research with a bit more lab space and better light. Maybe an assistant or two. But can his ideals survive contact with Silicon Valley venture capitalists? And when the government comes to call, asking him for revivified soldiers to fight in the war, can he navigate the complex ethical questions involved?  Not only his dreams of a perfect lab but also the ultimate fate of the human race are at stake.

My Work Will Change The World

by A.W.McCollough

This is not the kind of research we want here, they say at the graduate school ethics inquiry, There have been complaints.

I fold my arms and say firmly, This is breakthrough research that will change life and death. I look for help to my advisor but he shakes his head and looks away. He says nothing. His mustache twitches like a galvanic frog leg.

This work is unethical, Frank, they said, Illegal, but we will not press charges if you leave today. My advisor will not look at me. His mustache quivers again.

This is ridiculous, I protest, the rats are already dead – there are no ethics involved. I do not kill anything, I recycle materials that would be wasted. I just use the dead rats from Dr. Maarsten's bio lab. Maarsten sacrifices twenty rats for a single experiment, smothers them with carbon dioxide in a plastic box, and there is no mention of ethics. Why accuse me of unethical research when I don't kill anything? Maarsten's work will change nothing; it is a waste of space and materials. My work will change the world.