Adam Zed: SHORT STORIES - NOVELLAS, #3

By E L Russell

Adam Zed, a graduate student continually jerked around by his Dissertation Chair, lives in a run-down former frat house with six close LGBTQ friends from several undergraduate schools throughout the country. He is driven by his desire to complete his research, grab a Ph.D, and get as far from Upper Peninsula State University as possible. He also wishes to help his friends jack up their less than satisfactory social life.
Adam persuades them to be a part of his research by offering to alter their microbiome to enhance their chances of getting laid. What could go wrong with that?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Entanglement Publishing
• Release date: Dec 9, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393653394

E L Russell

Editorial Reviews About the Authors Enid and Enos Russell hail from Houston and sincw 2010 have published 15+ high-concept science fiction and techno-thriller novels, as well as 10+ Short Stories. Our first question is always, "What could go wrong?" Educated in mathematics and research, I have spent ten years writing White Papers advising corporations on emerging technologies. My latest research has resulted in a series of novels and short stories about the ability to re-program inheritable genetic code, curing disease through self-healing, waging war, and acquiring immortality. Our protagonists, powerful women scientists, medical researchers, are members of the next human species, Homo Evolutis. We publish through Entanglement Publishing. --This text refers to the paperback edition.

Book preview

Introduction

Adam Zed is a radical departure from our collection of novels. All of our novels have strong, intelligent female leads. The protagonist in this short story is (spoiler alert) a young male in his twenties.

Adam is a graduate student being jerked around by his Dissertation Chairman. He lives in a run down former frat house with six close friends who come together from several undergraduate schools across the country.

Partly because he sees the need and mostly because he can use the information for research in his doctoral thesis, Adam attempts to jack up the social life of his friends. He persuades them to let him alter their micro biome to enhance their chances of getting laid. What could go wrong with that?

We are testing the waters, so to speak, for a new series that will focus on the micro biome, the 99 trillion cells that we unknowingly shelter as guests on our skin and in our gut. Follow us @EnosRussell

Our Newsletter will post notice of new releases, changes to pricing, coupons, and additions to our FOREVER FREE STORIES collection. In addition, we will offer special opportunities for readers such as ARCs, beta-reading gigs, and significant news related to publishing and marketing.

Thanks again! We hope you enjoy reading our stories and look forward to your comments and reactions.

E L Russell & E C Russell

Chapter 1 - Me and God

Dr. Dean Bainard’s Office

Adam Zed sat in the Dean’s office of Upper Peninsula State University his eyes fixed at the ornate, oversized mahogany desk of his department chairman and the head of his dissertation team. The piece of furniture fit the pretensions of the man. Dr. Dean Bainard, who at the moment paced behind the wooden barrier, dressed in what might be the last three-piece, grey tweed suit in Michigan. With eyes magnified by a pair of rimless glasses, the Dean’s piercing dark gaze looked like a predatory bird studying Adam as his next victim.

Bainard punctuated his steps and speech by slapping the carefully crafted rolled up copy of Adam’s research proposal into his other hand.

Adam’s heart sank. Today might mark the end of his dream goal to be a microbiologist. He felt each whack of the draft of his proposal echo deep within in his crotch and adjusted his pants to ease the pressure.

The Dean paused his rant to sneer, Human subjects, Adam?

Adam nodded.

You honestly believed you would get permission from the university to use human subjects for your research? Do I understand your intentions correctly? The chairman tossed the paper on his desk as if throwing away a used tissue. Unwise, Mr. Zed, Unwise.

True to form, the bastard cast a line in the water like tournament-winning fly fisherman and waited for his favorite fish to bite.

Adam knew from insufferable hours in Bainard’s class any reply would be confronted and he hated to give the asshole an opportunity to make another smug response. He delayed as long as possible. Well, . . . he cleared his throat and adjusted his position on the chair he’d been offered. It was one of those ladder-backed upright chairs with sitting area too small for a person’s butt. It was designed for discomfort, and it was no accident it was the chair he’d been offered.

Bainard glared at him and waited.

Well, it seems to me—

Most unwise, Mr. Zed. Bainard waved the back of his hand dismissively. Human trials, he leered, peering over the top of his rimless glasses? Shaking his head slowly he hissed, Way beyond your reach. For emphasis, he clicked his tongue and shook his head as if to say, you dumb shit. There are many research steps you have not yet designed before an application for human research could even be considered. He leaned with both arms extended on his ostentatious desk and lowered his face toward Adam.

Wouldn’t you agree, Mr. Zed?

No, he didn’t agree. Christ, He hated the bastard. Why would this micro-controlling slice of shit be asking for my opinion? The bastard held all the cards. Bainard’s single joy in life was to take a graduate student by the balls and squeeze. It was a losing battle and he knew it.

If you say so, Dr. Bainard. He didn’t remember moving his lips. And the asshole had the nerve to smile. Why was he surprised?

Of course I say so. We must work closely on this one, Zed. It will need some modifications. By the way, I recommend adding a course or two to bring up your GPA. A good idea, right? You don’t want to lose your grant money, do you?

I’m fucked. Adam tried to swallow, but couldn’t find the spit. He’d never get out of this hellhole. Bainard often bragged as a high-ranking member of the administration, but he only taught to keep his fingers on the pulse of rising young scholars. It was all BS. The reality was he kept a thumb on the jugular of his graduate students. He required them all to take both his Advanced Molecular Biology class and his Genetic Protein Engineering class, which allowed him to weed out anyone he deemed unfit for his ‘prestigious’ program and today he was in full pursuit of Adam.

As his dissertation chairman, Dr. Dean Bainard totally controlled Adam’s research design and what content he allowed in Adam’s doctorate would define Adam’s career options for the next ten years. If he still had the opportunity to have a fucking career.

Bainard’s smug lip smile got nowhere near his icy stare.

Two more courses. Great. Of course, sir. Rah, rah, shit. One for the bastard, one for the university and zero for Adam Zed.

Bainard turned and nonchalantly took a book from the wall behind his desk. After opening it, he looked back in mock surprise. You still here Adam? One more thing, be sure to pick up your grant application papers from Mrs. Puff. You’ll need to complete them, along with your amended dissertation proposal. There’s no need to do a rush job on this, Mr. Zed. Get it right this time. He snapped the book shut. We’re done.

---

Myrtle Puff, Bainard’s perpetually typing gatekeeper, had already placed his to-do list on a manila envelope lined up precisely in the farthest corner of her desk.

He nodded. Mrs. Puff.

"Good