Nails/2

Special Medical Director Dobashi noticed that his own breathing rate was elevated and his hands were shaking. Was it really going to be this easy? Could that fool Masahiro have selected an effective combination of drugs? Was Lieutenant Shimousa really a perfect combination of intelligence and suggestibility?

He stood up and went to the shelf to get a bottle of water. In the small office he had to reach over Shimousa. Her eyes remained locked on his. He found it hard to think with her staring like that. He took a long drink and tried to calm down. Still, he could not resist looking down at her upturned face from the corner of his eye. No question about it...she had a rugged charm. Dobashi cursed himself for his weakness and thought for a moment about the power he now had over her. He could suggest anything to her at this moment and she would do it!

He went back to his chair. "You will demonstrate to Colonel Masahiro that her mission has been successful. You must show her that you are willing to do anything you are told to do."

Shimousa bounced out of her chair. "Yes! I will do it now!" She had the door open before Dobashi could stop her.

"Stop! Halt! No! That is wrong! I order you to do nothing without my explicit orders, Lieutenant! We are still discussing the nature of what you must do. I have not yet given you an order. Do you understand that distinction I'm making?"

Shimousa bit her finger, "Yes, it is clear. I will wait until you say, 'these are your orders... and then I will act."

"Very good, that is perfect. I may have given you too large a dose of AJK32...it might not be safe for you to leave this room. Do you know what I'm talking about?"

Shimousa replied, "Of course, Doctor. We are testing the drugs to see if they will make me do anything I am told to do."

Dobashi was surprised that Shimousa seemed completely coherent. It was as if she could switch back and forth between two minds, one a willing slave to the ideas he had suggested and the other a perfectly rational military officer. Was the drug wearing off already? He decided on a small test. "Tell me what was in the orders delivered to Colonel Masahiro yesterday by the currier."

Shimousa disclosed the secret orders without hesitation, "It was from Admiral Dardtso, demanding results. It contained an explicit order that higher doses of the drugs be used, even if you objected. Dardtso ordered that you be replaced if you object."

Dobashi muttered, "Those weasles! Replace me? This is my project!"

Shimousa asked, "Weasles? It is not proper to speak thus of superior officers. You will get into trouble, like I have."

Dobashi asked, "Who would replace me if I was removed from the project?"

"Dardtso mentioned no names, but indicated that a military doctor could be dispatched on 24 hours notice to replace you."

"That's not true. Nobody could replace me. The project would fail if I were removed from my position."

Shimousa cried, "The mission must not fail!"

Dardtso chuckled. Shimousa was completely his puppet! All that remained was to see if she would do something outrageous when ordered. Dardtso feared for Shimousa's safety. Maybe there was nothing she would hesitate to do while under the influence of these drugs.

Dardtso asked, "The currier is still on board?

Shimousa nodded. "He will leave on today's mail helicopter." She looked at her watch. "In about an hour."

Dardtso flicked on his computer and checked the available data for how quickly AJK32 was removed from the body. He decided that Shimousa would probably still be under the influence of both drugs for another hour. "Here is what you must do. You will go to the helipad and wait for the currier. When he arrives at the helipad, you will tell him to report to Colonel Masahiro's office. You will then get on the helicopter, take the place of the currier and leave the ship."

Shimousa asked, "Are you ordering me to leave the ship?"

"I will do so, soon. Now we are still discussing what must be done and how to do it. Normally you would not lie to a Military Intelligence currier and go AWOL from the ship. Doing so will show Colonel Masahiro that you are willing to do anything I suggest. Now, tell me what you must do in order to make sure that you get off the ship."

Shimousa was confused. "I will need a written pass, but within minutes the currier will reach the Colonel and my lie about her wanting to see him will be revealed."

Dardtso assured her, "No, I will be there and I will take care of that." He printed out a 48 hour medical shore leave pass for Shimousa.

For the next half hour Shimousa and Dardtso formulated the details of their plan. Then Dardtso said, "These are your orders. Take this written pass to the helipad. Send the currier to the Colonel's office. Tell the helicopter pilot to take off, that the currier will stay on board another day. Don't let the pilot think about what is going on. Flirt with him. Invite him to dinner. Do what you must do to get off the ship and get away without being caught. Remember, you are trying to impress the Colonel with your willingness to do anything I tell you to do."

Shimousa saluted, said, "Yes, sir!" And headed for the door. Then she paused and turned back to Dardtso. But won't me going AWOL just get me into more trouble with the Colonel?"

"No, this is exactly what is needed to show the Colonel that her mission is a success. Remember, she ordered me to give you the drugs and complete the mission. So, do as I have ordered you to do and all will be well. Your honor will be restored. Even Admiral Dardtso will be impressed if you can get off this ship. You will become a famous military hero!"

Shimousa showed no more hesitation and left the office, heading for the helipad. Dardtso went to wait for the currier outside the Colonel's office.

AWOL
Twenty minutes later the currier arrived, jogging. Dardtso stepped forward, "May I have a word?"

The currier stopped, "What is it? I'm in a hurry."

"I'm Doctor Dardtso. Do you know me?"

"No. Should I?"

"Do you know Lieutenant Shimousa?"

"I just saw her at the helipad. She told be that the Colonel Masahiro wants to see me. Now, I must go..."

"I will go with you. I sent Lieutenant Shimousa to find you."

The currier shrugged and went to the Colonel's office, "Colonel Masahiro? You wanted to see me?"

Colonel Masahiro pulled aside the cloth that covered her doorway and looked out at the currier and Doctor Dardtso. The Colonel looked puzzled and Dardtso spoke first, "Let's step into the Colonel's office and I'll explain."

The currier said, "Explain what? I'm just a currier. Is there a message for me to carry or not?"

Dardtso said, "Yes there is a message." He spoke to Colonel Masahiro, "I gave Lieutenant Shimousa the two drug combination. The results were very favorable. She remained alert while being highly suggestible."

Colonel Masahiro asked, "So what are you trying to say? Where is Shimousa?" She turned to the currier. "No, I do not want to see you."

Dardtso explained, "I ordered Lieutenant Shimousa to tell the currier that you wanted to see him. She'll do absolutely anything I tell her to do. Its quite remarkable."

The currier was confused and exasperated. "If there is no message for me to carry, I'm going back to the helicopter." He turned and headed back to the heliport at a run.

Colonel Masahiro said to Dardtso, "Why send the currier to see me? Just to show that you could?"

"Yes, its part of the test."

"Part? Where is Shimousa?"

Dardtso grinned, "The test is not over yet."

Masahiro was tired of the Doctor's evasiveness. "I'll not ask you again. Where is Shimousa?"

"Let's step into your office. I do not want to speak out here."

Colonel Masahiro led the way into her office. She turned and demanded, "Well?"

Dardtso asked, "Did you read any of the information I gave you about AJK32?"

The Colonel crossed her arms, "Are you trying to answer my question with a question. Let me tell you something, Dardtso. That currier you were just playing games with works for Defense Intelligence Central Command. He brought me orders authorizing your termination."

Dardtso asked, "What do you mean 'termination'?"

"Think about it, Doctor. Admiral Dardtso has grown tired of your delays. But if what you say is true about the drugs you gave to Shimousa, then you are truly past your usefulness." The Colonel leveled her Kahr revolver at Dardtso.

Dardtso's knees started to shake and he slumped down into the chair beside Colonel's desk. Colonel Masahiro said, "What's the matter Doctor? Were you fool enough to think we would give you a medal and send you on your way as soon as this project was finished? Admiral Dardtso has long thought you were stalling...had you guessed that your life would be worthless if you ever finished the project? I told Dardtso that you are just a spineless worm that wanted government funding but was smart enough to realize that this project has always been illegal. How could you think otherwise? Of course, you could not have if you had ever read the Self-Defense Forces Act."

Dardtso decided he better start talking, fast. "What does the Self-Defense Forces Act have to do with the legality of out project?"

"The act has frequently been amended to forbid many weapons programs; in particular, there are the chemical warfare restrictions. After the Defense Intelligence experiments in the 1960s with psychoactive drugs a provision was added to the Self-Defense Forces Act specifically forbidding the development of psychoactive drugs for military uses."

Dardtso said, "Of course I know that Japan has renounced chemical weapons, but I've never heard of experiments in the 1960s."

"Well, of course, they have never been admitted to by the government, but the restriction against psychoactive drugs for military use are in the public record."

Dardtso had not known about the illegality of the drug research project, but he had grown to regret the fact that his research might be used for military purposes. Still, he had trusted that if the military was willing to fund his work then it must work that was vital to Japan's defense. But all that was no longer of any importance.

Dardtso had never looked into the barrel of gun. He was glad that he had decided to act as soon as he learned of Admiral Dardtso's orders. "You better start thinking carefully about the implications of success for our project."

Colonel Masahiro laughed. "I've thought of little else for twenty years. Does that surprise you? Of course there have been others before you who have worked on this project. An they all met the same fate as you." She casually waved her pistol from side to side.

When Lieutenant Shimousa