THE FIRST SPECIMEN
Adam sat beneath the bridge, curled inside the remains of his makeshift shelter. It hadn’t been too bad during the summer, but winter was setting in now, and the wind swept beneath the concrete, finding every gap in the cardboard. He couldn’t stop shivering as he pulled it tighter around himself.
He had fled his house when the debt collectors kept banging on his door and eviction became inevitable. At least they couldn’t find him here.
That was the only positive he could think of as he rearranged the newspapers that had slipped from his body. How long could he last? Winter had only just begun, and the sperm collectors paid only fifty bucks a week. Just enough to eat.
As he pulled at the corner of one newspaper, his eyes landed on a headline.
VOLUNTEERS WANTED FOR COMPENSATED MEDICAL RESEARCH
Are you struggling with debt? Have you lost your home or employment? Our programme may offer the fresh start you need.
Noble Fields Biosystems is seeking healthy adult men between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five to participate in a groundbreaking reproductive-health study.
Successful applicants will receive:
Immediate private accommodation
Three nutritious meals a day
Comprehensive medical care
A generous weekly wage
Full repayment of qualifying debts upon completion
No previous medical experience is required. Participants must be willing to remain at our secure research facility for the duration of the trial and follow all prescribed treatment and collection schedules.
Places are limited. Initial assessments are free and entirely confidential.
Noble Fields Biosystems
Intake Facility 7
1846 Harrow Industrial Road
Bellwether
New Columbia 10427
Your body could secure your future. Apply today.
Adam read it twice.
Accommodation. Food. Medical care. And his debts paid. There had to be a catch.
He had heard whispers about the research ever since scientists discovered that certain proteins in human sperm could slow ageing and prolong life. The treatment was only available to the wealthy. Since the last economic crash, the population had split between those who were extremely rich and those barely surviving.
Adam had fallen into poverty after losing his job when the company he worked for went bankrupt. He had tried to keep up with the bills by taking out loans and selling his sperm, but it had never been enough.
Scientists were searching for a way to alter men with hormones so they would produce more of the protein. With promises of accommodation, food, medical care and enough money to clear their debts, they would have no trouble finding desperate men willing to take the risk.
Was he really that desperate?
Places are limited.
His eyes remained fixed on the words. If he didn’t apply now, he might never get another chance. Looking at the address, he realised the facility was only two blocks away.
He ripped the advertisement from the newspaper.
Slowly, Adam got to his feet. He wrapped his coat a little tighter around himself and set off as the wind beat against him.
When the building finally came into view, he stopped and looked up. It was completely white, with windows that reflected the street like mirrors. He couldn’t see what was inside, and no one seemed to be around.
Making his way up the few steps, he tried the large door and found that it opened easily.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside.
“Congratulations, Adam. You appear to be an ideal candidate.”
Dr Cain turned towards him with a broad smile before pulling a thick stack of papers from a drawer and placing it on the desk. A pen soon followed.
“Unfortunately, we can’t disclose too much about the exact nature of the tests before you agree to participate. We have had several people attempt to steal our research.” He tapped the stack of papers. “This is our general contract. I’ll guide you through it to make sure you understand everything. I also need to record our conversation for the legal department.”
He took a small camera from another drawer.
“Is that all right?”
“Yes,” Adam replied.
He was still trying to process the fact that he had been selected.
Dr Cain positioned the camera and placed a small microphone between them.
Adam looked down at the closed contract. A serial number was printed across the cover.
SUBJECT NFB-TRIAL 028
“This is all legal information I am required to make you aware of before you sign,” Dr Cain explained as he switched on the camera.
He opened the contract to the first page.
“Can you confirm that this is your full name, date of birth and social security number?”
Adam studied the information for a moment. “Yes, that’s correct.”
“This is Subject NFB-TRIAL 028, Adam Foster. I am explaining the terms of the participation contract to him,” Dr Cain said to the camera.
He turned his attention back to Adam.
“The first section is the confidentiality agreement. Very basic. You cannot discuss anything that happens during the trial with anyone outside Noble Fields.”
Dr Cain used the pen to point at the first few lines.
Adam quickly scanned them. It seemed no different from the confidentiality agreements used by many companies.
“Yes, I understand.”
“This next section concerns liability. Noble Fields cannot be held responsible for any bodily changes that occur during the trial. Some of those changes may be permanent or irreversible.”
“Bodily changes?” Adam asked.
“You will receive an experimental treatment that may cause certain parts of your body to change.”
“Okay…”
Adam wasn’t sure what he was supposed to think about that.
Dr Cain didn’t give him much time to consider it before continuing.
“During the trial, Noble Fields will assume temporary legal ownership of your body and all biological material it produces.”
Adam looked up sharply.
“Ownership?”
“It is primarily a legal term,” Dr Cain assured him. “It allows us to conduct the study without requesting separate permission before every procedure.”
He moved the pen farther down the page.
“Once treatment begins, the subject cannot withdraw from the programme. The subject has no authority over any procedure considered medically necessary for the success of the study. All treatments, surgeries and collection methods will be performed at the discretion of Noble Fields.”
Adam stared at the lines in front of him, but the words seemed to blur together.
“The subject may also be restrained, sedated or isolated whenever medically required,” Dr Cain continued. “By signing, you confirm that your participation is voluntary and that you understand these conditions.”
Voluntary?
How could it still be voluntary if he wasn’t allowed to leave?
“Noble Fields will determine when the subject is no longer required for the programme. Appropriate medical care will be provided afterwards, although the company cannot guarantee that all physical or psychological changes will be reversible.”
Adam tried to process everything being said to him.
Ownership. No authority. Restraints.
This was far more than testing a new drug.
Was it worth it?
“Okay, the next section concerns the payment and benefits provided to the subject.”
Dr Cain moved his pen farther down the page.
“The subject will be provided with private accommodation, food and all necessary medical care.”
He glanced at the computer.
“As for the subject’s financial situation, the full outstanding debt of seven hundred and seventy-eight thousand, nine hundred and forty-five dollars and fifty-nine cents will be cleared immediately after the contract is signed.”
Adam stared at him.
All of it?
“We will also open a protected account in the subject’s name. A signing bonus of ten thousand dollars will be deposited immediately.”
“A weekly wage of eight hundred and fifty dollars will then be deposited into the account for every week the subject participates in the trial.”
“After completion of the programme, Noble Fields will pay the subject one thousand dollars a month for two years. All necessary medical care will also be covered for a further ten years.”
“Wow. That is a lot,” Adam couldn’t help saying.
“We find it very important that the subjects who are so vital to our research are paid what they are worth. They are doing us a great honour.” Dr Cain looked up at Adam and smiled kindly.
Adam looked down at the contract and folded one of the pages back to reread part of the liability clause.
“How long do I have to decide?” he asked.
“This is rather a now-or-never offer. Once we determine that someone qualifies, the contract must be signed immediately. If you decide to leave, the offer will be withdrawn and you will not be allowed to apply for the programme again. Your debt will remain as it is, and we cannot compensate you for the time spent here today. I’m sure you understand.”
“Yes… yes, of course.” Adam continued staring at the paper. “It’s just a lot. The restraints…”
“Oh, I understand, and it would be easier if we could explain every procedure in advance. Unfortunately, with other companies trying to steal our research, we simply can’t.” Dr Cain sat back and studied him for a moment. “You don’t need to worry about all the details. The restraints are a precaution in case a procedure requires complete accuracy. The same applies to sedation. If something is painful, you would want to be sedated, wouldn’t you?”
Adam couldn’t argue with that.
“And having no authority over the procedures?”
“We’ve had a few subjects try to stop important treatments because they were frightened of needles,” Dr Cain explained. “Allowing fear to interrupt the programme could place both the research and the subject’s health at risk.”
Adam nodded slowly.
“How long do most people stay?”
A small smile appeared on the doctor’s face.
“Most remain for around six months, although we have had a few who stayed for a year or even longer.”
“That’s not too bad,” Adam replied.
“No, especially since you won’t have any living expenses. Every dollar you earn will go directly into your protected account,” Dr Cain said proudly.
“And the debt will be gone.”
“Yes, exactly. A completely fresh start once this is all over.” Dr Cain leaned forward and offered him the pen. “Are you ready to sign?”
Adam hesitated for another moment before accepting it.
“Sign each page in the bottom-right corner, on the marked line.”
His hand shook slightly as he signed the first page, then the second. By the time he reached the last one, his signature barely looked like his own.
He handed the contract back.
Dr Cain checked every page before stopping the recording.
“Congratulations!”
He turned towards the computer and clicked through several screens. Adam watched as the enormous figure beside his name disappeared.
OUTSTANDING DEBT: $778,945.59
STATUS: SETTLED BY NOBLE FIELDS BIOSYSTEMS
REMAINING BALANCE: $0.00
Adam stared at it.
His debt was gone.