"This water has been subjected to a number of man-made pollutants... and as you can see, its condition is extremely unhealthy... teeming with disease." "However, after my solution is introduced... it begins to change, taking on an entirely different character." "Finally, the conversion is complete... and the pollutant is gone." "Amazing!" "You were watching the surface of the liquid in this flask." "At one time, it was swimming with malignant cancerous cells... taken from a human liver, until... my nanotech machines went to work on it... changing the malignant cancer cells into benign, healthy ones." "We here at Claybourne University are very fortunate... to have someone as gifted as Dr. Stephen Ledbetter on our staff." "His latest developments in nanotechnology have perched him on the leading edge... of a stunning medical breakthrough." "Doctor Ledbetter will be happy to answer questions." "How are the nanobots able to change the cancer cells?" "They change them on a molecular level." "You must understand that in the science of nanotechnology... we are dealing with objects which are measured in nanometers." "A nanometer is one billionth of a meter." "I have been able to successfully engineer molecule-sized machines... which can enter a cell and repair it... changing the molecular configuration of that cell and altering its very being." "How do these machines know which cells to enter?" "They're programmed to identify specific cells... and recognize when they're not behaving the way they should... but the best part of it is they know how to repair what they find." "So what you're saying is you've found a cure for cancer." "Cancer, heart disease, dandruff." "I am now working on a generation of nanobots... which, when introduced into the human bloodstream... can replicate themselves and spread throughout the entire body... searching out any damaged or diseased cells and healing them." "Sounds like you're playing God." "Let's just say God created a flawed man." "I think I can do better." "There is nothing wrong with your television." "Do not attempt to adjust the picture." "We are now controlling the transmission." "We control the horizontal... and the vertical." "We can deluge you with a thousand channels... or expand one single image to crystal clarity... and beyond." "We can shape your vision... to anything our imagination can conceive." "For the next hour... we will control all that you see and hear." "You are about to experience the awe and mystery... which reaches from the deepest inner mind to..." "The Outer Limits." "Man has long worked to stave off the disease that can ravage us." "But what can happen when the cure grows more fearsome than the disease?" "Stephen, comparing yourself to God" "I was not comparing myself to God." "I merely said I was improving on his design." "University officials find statements like that blasphemous." "You'll have to learn politics if you want to keep your grant." "Norman, I was kidding." "This administration does not have a sense of humor." "And neither apparently do you." "If my research works out, the university stands to make millions off of this." "They're not gonna let it slip through their fingers... because of a few puritans on the board of regents." "It's the puritans who hold all the power." "I'd hate to see you kicked off this project." "Fine, Norman." "I'll choose my words more carefully in the future." "Stephen, give me your word you'll adhere to federal testing procedures." "We are wasting so much precious time." "The nanobots are ready for live animal testing now." "Stephen, only a fool makes the same mistake twice." "Oh, really?" "And what mistake are you referring to, Norman?" "You almost had this entire program shut down... when you proceeded with tissue testing without approval." "If I hadn't done some damn good politicizing, you'd be out of a job... the university would be out millions, and your nanobots would be imprisoned... in historical scientific journals about failed experiments." "All right." "Don't worry, Norman." "I'll be a good boy." "I'm counting on it." "Decontamination complete." "Hey, Dr. Super Scientist, nice presentation." " You were there?" " Are you kidding?" "That presentation's all you've been talking about for months." "I wouldn't have missed it for the world." "I didn't understand a lot of the technical stuff, but the overview was fascinating." "You didn't find the God reference offensive?" "It was a little over the top maybe." "But from what I saw, those little things of yours are nothing short of a miracle." "You think they're gonna let you go ahead with the live animal testing?" "You know how it is with grant boards." "This new generation of nanobots is not only ready for animal experiments... they're probably ready for human testing as well." "There they are- Suspended in saline, too small to see." "The answer to so many of the world's problems." "Before you go saving the world, we have to talk." "What's up?" "Can you come out of there?" "We can talk fine right here." "What is it?" "I came to ask for your blessings." " Blessings?" "For what?" " To marry your little sister." " You popped the question?" " We're getting married next month." "I made her promise to let me be the one to tell you." "I wanted to know if you'd be my best man." "I wouldn't miss it for the world." "What made you finally ask her?" "That's my other news." "I finally feel like I have a future." "What future?" "You got tenure?" "You're looking at the newest permanent member of the sociology department." "All this good news in one day deserves a celebration." "We'll get a bottle of champagne." "I can't, Stephen." "I have a doctor's appointment." "But I'll take a rain check on that champagne." "Good." "Congratulations, Andy." "Did the X-rays show anything?" "I believe we've located the source of your back pain." "Oh, great." "So what is it?" "A pulled muscle?" "I'm afraid it's not that easy." "The tests indicate a mass in your pelvic region." "What kind of mass?" "Osteosarcoma." "Cancer." "I'm sorry." "It's treatable, isn't it?" "What about chemotherapy?" "Unfortunately, pelvic cancer doesn't respond that well to chemo." "Surgery?" "That's possible." "The cancerous area is quite large." "It would require a radical resection." "I don't care how radical." "You have to operate." "Andy, before you make that decision, you've gotta understand." "A radical resection entails the removal of the entire leg and hip area." "We do have prostheses on the market." " We could set you up with one as soon" " Is there an option?" "How long would I have if I didn't get the surgery?" "That's hard to say." "How long would I have?" "Maybe a year." "Where have you been?" "You look terrible." "Oh." "I didn't get any sleep last night." "Sudden realization of an impending marriage will do that to you." " What brings you to this side of campus?" " I was dropping off some papers." " I thought I'd walk you back to the lab." " I'm always happy for the company." "Any word from the board yet?" "Are they gonna let you use your nanobots on live subjects?" "I haven't heard a word." "The university is so backward about taking risks." "What if there was someone, like a terminal patient, maybe... who was willing to sign a release form to take your nanobot pill?" "Andy, they're not delivered in a pill." "They're delivered through injection." "Whatever." "Would they let you try your injection... on a terminal patient who had nothing else to try?" "The university is terrified if anything went wrong, we'd lose our funding." "I don't understand." "I mean, at least you'd be giving the patient some hope." "If something did go wrong... it couldn't be any worse than the alternative, death." "Andy, are you all right?" " Oh!" "Everything's fine." " Good." "I'm just curious." "I'll let you go." "Nice to see you." " Hey, hon!" " Hey, Judy." "What's the matter?" "You okay?" "Yeah." "Fine." "I guess I'm just a little anxious about the wedding." "Me, too, but there's nothing to worry about." "Because I already booked the banquet hall, and..." "I've got a substitute teacher lined up for while we're on our honeymoon." "Oh!" "I had a dream last night... that we were grandparents." "It was Christmas morning, and we were surrounded by children." "And all the little ones were opening up their presents... and they were squealing with delight." "I woke up this morning, and I had a really warm feeling all over." "I am so looking forward to growing old with you." "Damn." "I ran the test twice to be sure, but I still don't believe it." "The cancer is 90% reduced." "I mean, I don't understand it." "Three days ago, you had a large malignant mass." "At this rate of reduction, it should be in complete remission by the end of the week." "That's just not possible." "That was great." "What got into you?" "If only you knew." "Wha" "I cannot believe you did this!" "Have you lost your mind?" "I'm sorry." "I didn't see any other option." "Those have not even been tested in mice." "There's no telling what they could do." " You said they were ready." " Ready for animal testing." "You said they were ready for human testing." "I said they were probably ready." "Speculation." "Conjecture!" "A guess!" "Don't tell me you don't understand that concept." "Forgive me for saving my own life." "It was either do this or die." "For all I know, you may still die." "The nanobots themselves could kill you." "I feel fantastic." "Suddenly I have perfect eyesight, more energy." "I'm stronger than I ever was before." "Look at this." "I had a four-inch scar here for 20 years." "It healed all by itself." "Stephen, your nanobots saved my life." " They worked just like you said." " That's not the point, Andy." "You've put me in an extremely difficult position." "You've put us both in one." "I saved my own life." "I consider that better than being dead." "I don't consider prison a better position for me." "Don't worry." "I injected them." "You didn't." "You won't be culpable." "Look at it this way." "I'm living proof that your nanobots work." "So we go public." "You don't have to spend the next two years doing lab experiments." "Andy, that's not the way it would happen." "First, you would be kicked out of the university... for tampering with a high-priority research project." "Then they would probably lock you away in some unmarked medical laboratory... in the backwoods of Langley, Virginia... and stick needles in you for the rest of your life." "We've got to move fast and deactivate them." "Deact-You mean kill them off?" " How will my body react?" " I have no idea... but I can't let them roam inside you without knowing what they'll do next." "Look, I feel better than I ever have in my whole life." "The nanobots are protecting me." "They're keeping me healthy." " I will not risk getting the cancer back." " It's not likely to come back." "Not likely." "I'm not letting you deactivate them, and that's final." " Then why did you come to me?" " I admit, I'm a little nervous." "I thought you should be monitoring them." "I'm not gonna let you shut them off." "Don't you see?" "We both stand to lose everything here." "You could be saving lives right now." "Here I am, the best testing ground you will ever have." "You can take advantage of that opportunity or not... but I am not letting you turn them off." "It's your choice, Stephen." "All right." "I'll make a deal with you." "We'll leave them in, and I monitor them." "But the second anything starts to go wrong, we deactivate." " Agreed?" " Agreed." ""E, F, P, T, 0, Z, L, P, E, D..." "P, E, C, F, D, R, D, F, C..." "E, M, F, E, L..." "O, P, E, B, C..." "D, X, D, E, F, P, O, T, E, C..." "L-E-F-M-A-D-E." "Made in Taiwan."" "Look at that." "Think I'll enter the 10K next week." "First prize would pay for a hell of a honeymoon." "You start showing off in public, you're gonna jeopardize the entire process." "Now I know how Clark Kent felt." "You're not quite Superman yet, Andy." "I'm as close as a human can get." "I'd do a lot better if I didn't have all these wires all over me." "Do I really need them?" "It's the only way to monitor the logic gate." "Logic gate?" "Yes, that's how the nanos communicate with the computer and with each other." "They're talking to each other in here?" "That's why they work so fast." "They work as a team." "Each one performs a separate task towards the same end." " Can you communicate with them?" " I can give them commands." "Can you thank them for me?" "I don't think their program language has words for gratitude." "Hey." "Check this out." "What the hell are you doing?" "You said we were conducting tests, right?" "Excuse me." "Come on, Judy!" "Can't get a good cardio at this snail's pace." "Snail's pace?" "Are you kidding?" "You're usually pooping out at this point." "Not anymore." "I'll tell you what." "I'll go once around the circuit." "I'll meet you back here." "What's gotten into you?" "What do you mean?" "I've never seen you like this before." "Like what?" "Please don't be mad at me." "Are you on something?" "On something?" "You mean drugs?" "No, Jude, I don't do that." "Good." "Because I know you've been under a lot of pressure... with work, with the wedding." "Look, I'm fine." "Let's go to sleep." "I think I'm just gonna sleep at my place tonight." "Is something wrong?" "No." "No." "It's just that every night lately you keep me up." "I really need a good night's sleep." "I have parent conferences tomorrow." "Come on, Jude." "I won't keep you up." "Andy, what has gotten you so hyper lately?" "If it's not the drugs, what is it?" "What are you talking about?" "Where's all the energy coming from, Andy?" "'Cause quite frankly, it's beginning to scare me a little bit." "Would you rather I be sedentary?" "No." "I'd rather you be the Andrew Groenig I fell in love with." "Oh, my God." "What are you doing here?" "It's Saturday." "Your nanobots don't stop working on weekends." "That's incredible." "What the hell are they?" "They look a bit like... gills." "The nanobots must have interpreted your inability to breathe underwater... as a physical deficiency." " What are we gonna do?" " We're gonna deactivate." "That's what we're gonna do." "This experiment is over." "What's with the gloves, Stephen?" "You think these things are contagious?" "I don't know." "We weren't anywhere near human testing, remember?" "What do you think?" "I know they're not airborne." "They're too heavy for that." "And since they're programmed to act as a community... they probably won't stray out of the host body." " Is that a no?" " That's a probable no." "Okay." "I'll patch into the logic gate." "Good." "I've got a link." "Now I'll enter the commands to flush from your system and deactivate." "Flush from my system?" "They'll come out in your stool." "You won't even know they're there." "Wait a minute." "Wait a minute." "Stephen." "Stephen, hang on." "I mean, give them the command to get rid of these things on my neck first." "I didn't develop the extended "C" language to be that specific." "I think it's best if we just deactivate... and then deal in a more conventional way with the lesions." "These are not lesions." "I know." "Damn." "That's not how it's supposed to work." "Don't tell me." "I'm not sure." "It may be that there are so many of them that it will take time... for the flush and deactivate command to spread through their ranks." " We may be okay." " May be?" "Okay, look." "I'll tell you what you do." "You go home." "You get some sleep." "You come back in the morning, and we'll see if they're gone." "Meanwhile, I'll work out another way to" "Are you telling me you can't stop them?" "I didn't say that." "I said it might take time for it to work." "At any rate, you'll rest better at home... and I'll be checking in on you." " Who is it?" " It's me." "Let me in." "I've been working on it all night." "I know how to deactivate them." "We have to use electricity and short them out." "What is it?" "Have there been more changes?" "I'm not sure." "I have this intense pain in the back of my head." " It kept me up all night." " Let me look." "See anything?" "Just two small bumps." "Damn it, that hurts!" "Sorry." "They appear to be filled with some kind of fluid." " What is it?" " They're moving." "What is it?" "My God!" "They're... eyes." "Get undressed while I set this up." "There has to be another way to handle this." "I tried jamming the logic gate frequency... so the nanobots couldn't communicate with each other." "They switched to chemical transmission." "What about..." "poison or something?" "Anything that would hurt the machines would probably kill you." "Radiation?" "I thought you didn't want the cancer to come back." "Won't electricity kill me?" "No." "Not if we regulate it properly." "I'm sorry, Andy, but this is the only thing we've got left to try." "Let's get on with it." "I know you're anxious, but you should be aware of what we're gonna do here." "This is an E.C.T. Machine." "It's what they use for electric shock treatment, so it's pretty safe." "What I have to do is give you just enough direct current to disrupt the nanobots." "I have to stop short of doing any harm." "Tell me this isn't gonna hurt as much as I think it is." "It's just for a few seconds." "Bite down on this." "It'll keep you from swallowing your tongue." "Okay." "You ready, Andy?" "Okay." "Here goes." "We've got 'em on the run." "Okay, brace yourself." "Here we go." "It's working." "It's working." "Okay." "One more shot, and that should get them." "Ready?" "Okay." "Come on." "Come on." "Come on." "Come on." "How do you feel?" "Like I just spent a week in the electric chair." "Was it a success?" "They're still inside me, aren't they?" "I'm afraid so." "Are you sure?" "I've taken blood samples from different parts of your body." "The nanobots have already started duplicating themselves." "We've slowed down the process... but it's only a matter of time before they're back in full force." "We're just gonna have to do it again." "This time we'll increase the voltage." "I don't think so." "You're too weak for another dose of electricity." "I almost lost you earlier." "Your heart couldn't take a higher charge." "That wouldn't be so terrible." "Better than living as a freak." "Don't give up on me, Andy." "We're gonna find a way to beat these things." " Hello?" "Hello?" " Andy." "Where have you been?" "At the university." "Listen." "We have a lot to talk about before the wedding." "Can I come over?" "No!" "I mean, it's not a good time." "I'm just gonna take a shower and hit the sack." "Is everything okay?" "Everything's fine." "I'm" " I'm just tired." "Okay." "Take care of yourself." "I love you." "Always remember that." "Me too." "Night." "Andy, are you all right?" "What's the matter?" "Do you have any idea what these are?" "What in the name of God?" "Burned me." "They've converted some of your skin cells into nematocysts." "Nema what?" "Nematocysts." "They're the poison-secreting cells that you find in... jellyfish." "They're trying to make you invulnerable to attack." "Or any medical contact." "I know what they're doing." "They're putting up a barrier to stop me." "What are we gonna do now?" "You just get dressed and meet me in my laboratory in two hours." "They're changing something big-time inside me, Stephen." "They've doubled the protection around your body cavity." " It's amazing." " Amazing." "It hurts like hell." "I'm a little beyond repair, wouldn't you say, Doctor?" "I don't blame you for this." "I'm the one who opened Pandora's box." "Andy, don't do anything crazy!" "We can still go public with this." "We can seek the help of other scientists from around the world." "I'm not putting myself through that." "I don't wantJudy to remember me as some kind of freak." "I'm sorry, Stephen." "It's better this way." "They won't let me die." "It's ironic, isn't it?" "Two weeks ago, I would've sold my soul for a new lease on life... and it appears that's exactly what I have." "Now I'm desperate to die and I can't." "Come on." "You're the only one who can help me now." " What is it you want me to do?" " I want you to end this torture." "I don't know if I can." "You said yourself when we tried this last time, I almost died." "If you increase the voltage, you should be able to kill enough of the nanobots... that they won't be able to mount a defense." "By the time we're through, my body will be so fried... not even they'll be able to resuscitate me." "Andy, I'm not a killer." "I would have died either way." " What aboutJudy?" " Stephen, look at me." "Look at me!" "Look what I've become." "Do you really thinkJudy would be happy married to this?" "What are you planning on doing with the body?" "It has to be cremation." "Otherwise, whoever finds it will know what I've become." "You could make it look like I burned up in a lab fire." "Don't worry, Stephen." "You're doing me a favor." "I'm ready." "Let's do it." "I'm so sorry, Andy." "Don't be." "It's not your fault." "TellJudy I love her." "Good-bye." "Damn." "Over millions of years... man has become the very paragon of animals." "But we must take care not to alter what nature has taken so long to forge... or risk being burned by the very fires of creation."