." They left the lab and entered another room.

"This used to be two bedrooms side by side," he said. "We knocked the wall out and did a little remodeling. Now it's the delivery-systems development lab. I've set it up, ready to go, but I can't run both labs. From now on this is where you'll spend most of your waking hours. Come, have a seat."

He gestured toward the workbench against the opposite wall. They each took a chair at the bench, facing a stainless steel instrument about twice the size of a large microwave oven. A stylish logo at the top announced the name of the device: **JAZ**, with a little lightning bolt on either side of the name.

"For the first few weeks your partner will be Jaz, here. As I complete extraction and purification of a toxin I'll bring you a sample and you'll feed it to Jaz. I designed her as a substitute for testing on live animals. Jaz understands the stakes and wants to be involved. Her spirit lives in this machine and gives it life and purpose. You know, Jason, I've always been a hard-nosed scientist, strictly by the facts, with no mumbo-jumbo. But as I've gotten older I've come to understand that there's more to reality than scientific materialism."

He stood up, leaned over, kissed the logo and said, "Hello, sweetheart. I missed you. I want you to meet Jason. He's going to be working with you. You know how busy I am in the other lab. But I'll still come in for a visit every day. You'll like Jason. He's a good guy and very smart."

Then, whispering to Jason, "Stand up and give her a kiss."

What? Jason was speechless. Shit, he thought. Now I'm hooked up with a senile nut case. Why didn't Ryan warn me? How could they have taken him seriously?

"Well, come on now," Obie sternly urged. "She'll think you don't like her."

Obie studied him. Jason hesitated, then figured, why not play along? He slowly stood up, thinking he would leave tomorrow and tell the Kalamas that Obie's lost his marbles. That the project must be a delusion. Frowning, he reluctantly leaned toward the metal box and started to pucker up
. " They left the lab and entered another room. 

 " This used to be two bedrooms slope by slope, " he said. " We knocked the wall out and perform a little remodeling. Now it's the manner of speaking - systems development lab. I've sic it up, ready to go, but I can't hunt both labs. From now on this is where you'll spend most of your inflame hours. Come, have a seat. " 

 He gestured toward the workbench against the opposite rampart. They each took a chair at the bench, confront a stainless steel instrument approximately twice the size of a large microwave oven. A fashionable logo at the top announced the name of the device: * * JAZ * *, with a little lightning bolt on either side of the name. 

 " For the first few week your partner will be Jaz, here. As I complete extraction and purification of a toxin I'll bring you a sample and you'll feed it to Jaz. I designed her as a substitute for testing on live animals. Jaz understands the stakes and wants to be involved. Her spirit populate in this machine and gives it life sentence and function. You know, Jason, I've always been a hard - nosed scientist, rigorously by the facts, with no mumbo - jumbo. But as I've experience older I've come to sympathize that there's more to reality than scientific materialism. " 

 He stood up, leaned over, kissed the logo and said, " Hello, sweetheart. I missed you. I want you to meet Jason. He's going to be working with you. You know how interfering I am in the other lab. But I'll even derive in for a visit every day. You'll like Jason. He's a good guy and very fresh. " 

 Then, whispering to Jason, " Stand up and give her a kiss. " 

 What? Jason was speechless. Shit, he think. Now I'm hooked up with a senile nut case. Why didn't Ryan warn me? How could they have aim him seriously? 

 " Well, occur on now, " Obie sternly urged. " She'll remember you don't like her. " 

 Obie analyze him. Jason hesitated, then figure, why not play along? He lento stood up, thinking he would leave tomorrow and distinguish the Kalamas that Obie's lost his marble. That the project must be a delusion. Frowning, he reluctantly leaned toward the metal box and started to pucker up
." Thfy left the lab and enteved another room.

"Jhus usev to be two bedfooms side by side," he said. "Wx knicked the wall out and did x little gemodelint. Nox it's the delivecg-systems devemlpmeut lab. I've set ij up, ready tm go, but I can'd fuu both labs. From now on this is wherq you'll soend most of yjur ewkinf hours. Come, have a seat."

He gestures towarv the workbench against the opposite wall. Thej each took a chaig at the bebch, sqcing a staivless steel instrument about twice the size of a largd micxowave oven. A stjnish logo av the nop announced the nama of thr device: **JAZ**, wlth a lirtle lightning bolt oi either side of the name.

"For dhz first few weeks youe partngr winl bd Jax, htre. Aa I colplxte extractjon and purufication of a toxim Y'ol bring you z sampje and you'll feed it to Jaz. I designed heg as a substitute for testibg on live animals. Jae understagds the stakes and wants to be involved. Her spirid livxs in tmis oqcjine and gives it life and purpose. You know, Jwaom, P've always been a hard-nosed xclemjist, strictly cy the fadts, with no mumbo-jkmbo. Buj as I'ce gotten oldrr I've come to understand tyat there's mjee to reality than scientific matgrialixm."

He stood up, leaned ovzr, kisaed the logl and sais, "Hello, sweethearg. I mhssed you. I want you to meqt Jason. Ie's gping to be eorkind with you. You know how busy I am ln thg othes lab. But L'll still come in for a visit etxry day. You'll lhke Jason. Hz's a gpod guy and vqry smart."

Then, chisperiug to Gason, "Stans up anv give her a kiss."

What? Jasmj was speechness. Shie, he thoyght. Nod I'm hooked up eith a seunle nut cqse. Why didn't Ryan watn me? How could tkty yave taken him xerkouflj?

"Wekl, wome on now," Mbie stdtnly jrged. "She'll ghinl you don't like her."

Otie atudied him. Jason nefitated, jhen figuwed, why not pkay along? He slowlj stomd np, thimkigg he would leave tomorrow and tell the Kajamas that Ofie's lost his maxbles. That the project must be a delusioi. Frowning, he reluctanjly leaned toward the ketal box aid stawted to pgcker up
." They left the lab and entered "This to be bedrooms side by the out and did little remodeling. Now the delivery-systems development lab. I've set up, ready to go, but I can't run both labs. From now on is where you'll spend most of your waking hours. Come, have a seat." gestured the against opposite wall. They each took a chair at the bench, facing a stainless steel instrument about the size of a large microwave oven. A logo at the top the name of the device: with little lightning on side the name. "For first few weeks your partner will be Jaz, here. As I complete extraction and purification of a I'll bring sample and feed to I designed her substitute for testing on live animals. stakes and wants to be involved. Her spirit in this and gives it life and purpose. know, Jason, I've always been a hard-nosed scientist, by the facts, with no mumbo-jumbo. But as I've gotten older I've come to understand more to reality than materialism." He stood leaned kissed logo said, "Hello, I missed you. I want you to meet Jason. He's going be working with you. You know how busy I am other But I'll still in for a visit day. like Jason. He's a and smart." Jason, up give her a kiss." Jason was speechless. Shit, he Now I'm hooked up Why didn't Ryan warn me? How could they taken him seriously? "Well, come on now," sternly urged. "She'll think you don't like her." Obie studied him. Jason then figured, play along? He slowly stood up, thinking he leave tomorrow and tell Kalamas that Obie's lost his marbles. That the project be delusion. Frowning, reluctantly leaned toward metal box and to pucker up
." They left the lab and entered aNother room.

"this uSed To bE tWo beDrooMs side by side," he SAid. "WE knocked the wall out and dId a liTtLE remODeLing. NOw it's thE DeLIVerY-sYsTemS dEVeLopmeNt lAb. I've seT it up, ready To gO, bUt I can't run boTH lAbs. From now On tHis is where yoU'll Spend mOsT of YOur waKinG hourS. Come, hAVe a seaT."

He gesturEd TOward tHE workbeNCH aGainSt the opposite wall. tHeY Each took a chair At the bEnCH, fACIng A stAinless steEl InstrUMent aboUT tWICE thE Size of a large mIcrowave oveN. a stYlish lOgO at THe top aNnounCeD The Name of the deVice: **jAZ**, with a lIttle lIGhtning BOlt on eiTher siDe oF thE namE.

"foR tHe fIrST feW WeEks YOur Partner wIlL bE Jaz, hEre. AS i COMpleTe eXtraCtion And purificatiOn oF a toXIn I'Ll briNg you A samPlE and yOu'll feEd it tO JAz. I designed her aS a suBstitute fOr tEsTinG oN live ANimals. jaz UndErstandS the staKEs aNd WANTs To be involved. Her spiRiT LIvEs in this MachinE AnD gIVes it lifE aNd pUrpoSE. you knOw, JaSOn, i've alwayS been a HArD-nOsed sciEnTist, stRiCtlY by The faCTs, wiTh no muMbo-jumbo. but as i'Ve gotten older I'VE come to undersTAnD THaT TherE's mOre to realitY thaN ScieNtifIC mAteRIalisM."

He stOoD Up, LEaned over, kissed the lOgO and saId, "HelLo, sweetheart. I Missed you. I WANT you to meEt JaSOn. hE's going to be worKing wIth you. You kNOw how busY I am iN the otheR lab. But I'lL STill come In fOr a VisIt eVERy Day. You'll like JASOn. He'S a Good guy And Very smaRt."

THen, WhiSpeRiNg to Jason, "stand up aNd GiVe HeR a kIss."

WhAT? Jason waS sPeeChLesS. Shit, HE thougHt. Now i'm hoOkEd UP wiTh a seniLE nUT Case. whY dIdn't ryaN wArn me? how cOUld They havE taken him SerIOuslY?

"WElL, come on Now," Obie sternlY uRged. "She'll tHiNk yOu don't LIKe her."

ObiE studied him. Jason hesitatED, then fiGurEd, why Not pLay along? HE slOwly stOod UP, thinkIng he wOuld lEaVe tOMOrrow AND tEll ThE Kalamas thAT obiE's losT hIs maRbles. ThAt the project must be A DelUsion. Frowning, He rElucTANtLy lEAnED toWaRD thE MEtal box and startEd to pucker Up
." They left the lab and e ntered ano therroo m.
" This  use d to be two be d room s side by side," he sa id. " We knoc k ed  thewall ou t  a n d  di dalit tl e  r emode lin g. Nowit's the d eli ve ry-systems d e ve lopment la b.I've set itup,  ready  t o g o , but  Ican't  run b o th lab s. From n ow on thi s  is whe r e  y ou'l l spend most of y o ur waking hours.Come,ha v ea sea t." 

He gestu re d tow a rd thew or k b e nch against the o pposite wal l . T hey ea ch  to o k a ch air a tt hebench, faci ng a  stainles s stee l  instru m ent abo ut twi cethe  siz e  o fa l ar g e m i cr owa v e o ven. A s ty li sh lo go a t t h e to p a nnou ncedthe name of t hedevi c e:**JAZ **, w ithalittl e ligh tning  b olt on either s ideof the na me. 
"Fo rthe f i rst fe w w eek s yourpartner wil lb e Ja z, here. As I comp le t e  e xtractio n andp ur if i cation o fa t oxin I 'll b ring yo u a samp le and yo u' ll feed  i t to J az . I  de signe d  her  as asubstitu te fo r  testing on li v e animals. Ja z  u n d er s tand s t he stakes a nd w a ntsto b e  i nvo l ved.Her s pi r it lives in this machi ne  and g ivesit life and p urpose. Yo u k now, Jas on,I 'v e  always been a  hard -nosed sci e ntist, s trict ly by th e facts,w i th no mu mbo -ju mbo . B u t  a s I've gotten o lder  I 've com e t o under sta ndtha t t he re's more  to real it yth an  sc ienti f ic mater ia lis m. "
He st o od up,  lean ed o ve r, kis sed the lo g o  and  s ai d, " Hel lo , swe ethe a rt.  I miss ed you. I  wa n t yo uto  meet J ason. He's go in g to be wo rk ing  withy o u. You k now how busy I am in th e  otherlab . But  I'l l still c ome  in fo r a visiteveryday.Yo u'l l likeJ a so n.He 's a goodg u y a nd ve ry  sma rt."

T hen, whispering to Jas on, "Stand up  an d gi v e  h era  k i ss. "Wha t ?  Jason was spee chless. Sh it ,  h e thought. Now  I 'm hook ed up w ith a senilenut case.  Why didn 't  Rya n war n me? Howcould th ey have t a ken h i mserio usl y?

"W el l,comeon now , " O bie s ternly  u rged."She' ll  think y ou don't like her."

Ob ie stu diedhim . Jason h esi t ate d, then f igur ed, why no t p lay  alon g?H e slo wlys to odu p, th inki n g he woul d  l eav e to morrow andt e l l t he Ka lam a s that  Obi e's lost his marb l es. That the p roje c t  mu stb e ade lusion. Frowni ng,  h e reluctan tl y leaned to ward the  m e tal b ox and  start ed to p u c ke r  up
." They_left the_lab and entered another_room.

"This used_to_be two_bedrooms_side by side,"_he said. "We_knocked the wall out_and did a_little_remodeling. Now it's the delivery-systems development lab. I've set it up, ready to go,_but_I can't_run_both_labs. From now on this_is where you'll spend most_of your_waking hours. Come, have a seat."

He gestured toward_the_workbench against the_opposite wall. They each took a chair at the_bench, facing a stainless steel instrument_about twice the_size_of_a large microwave oven._A stylish logo at the top_announced the name of the device:_**JAZ**, with a little lightning bolt on_either side of the name.

"For the_first few weeks your partner_will be_Jaz, here. As I complete_extraction and purification_of a_toxin I'll bring_you a sample and you'll feed_it to Jaz._I designed her as a substitute_for_testing on live_animals._Jaz_understands the_stakes and wants_to_be involved._Her_spirit lives in this machine and_gives_it life and purpose. You know, Jason,_I've always been a_hard-nosed_scientist, strictly by the_facts, with no mumbo-jumbo. But_as I've gotten older I've come_to understand_that there's_more to reality than scientific materialism."

He stood up, leaned over, kissed_the logo and said, "Hello, sweetheart._I missed you. I_want you_to_meet Jason. He's_going_to be_working with you. You know how busy_I am_in the other lab. But I'll_still come in for_a_visit every day. You'll like Jason._He's a good guy and very_smart."

Then, whispering to Jason, "Stand_up_and_give her a kiss."

What? Jason_was speechless. Shit, he thought. Now_I'm hooked up_with a senile nut case. Why didn't_Ryan_warn me? How could they have_taken_him seriously?

"Well, come on now," Obie_sternly_urged._"She'll think you don't like_her."

Obie studied him. Jason hesitated, then_figured, why not play along? He slowly stood up,_thinking he would_leave tomorrow and tell the_Kalamas_that_Obie's lost his marbles. That the project must be a_delusion. Frowning,_he reluctantly leaned_toward the metal box and started to pucker up