Life and Production: S1 E11: One Pill, One Patch

Speedballs

With the knowledge of the addictive grip which the drugs cocaine and heroin posed, Trevor Lesane applied it to this current problem. He went to the laboratory. In the midnight hour, he tested his theory on how best to prevent, control and end addiction. Donned in his starched laboratory jacket, Lesane measured and weighed the substances. Ten kilograms of the cocaine and heroin remained dormant inside the laboratory. Lesane soon awakened them. He brought them to life in his beakers. He trained his attention on the various plants which mimicked the effects of each drug. As noted in previous electronic journals, Lesane observed that the coffee bean would supply an albeit minimal effect on the user. The sale of either cocaine or heroin or any other drug for that matter never interested Lesane.

With the advent of the Great Transition in the state of Delaware, Lesane anticipated the sharp decline in crime and the rise in abuse of those substances. Every drug, including prescription drugs became legal and unregulated with a few strokes of a pen. Viewed as an opportunity to earn ever more cash in his chemistry work, Lesane Laboratories ramped up the study and production of drugs. No license, permit, or eyes of a government regulator ever interfered with the sacred process. Lesane thought of his laboratory as a sort of sanctuary. It allowed him to explore and develop his skills in the ways of science. That night after speaking with Saffron, he had a breakthrough. In just a few moments, Lesane would devise a method for supplying high levels of caffeine to the user. This would be delivered in pill form. That tiny tablet, he thought, would bring the addict from the depths of dependency to the glory of defeating a psychophysiological menace. Lesane peered over to the samples of heroin. He figured that some sort of patch would suffice. This patch would consist of small amounts of heroin to counteract the cravings. As he raised from his chair, he noticed that the heroin patch would revolutionize the drug game just as much, maybe even more than the cocaine pill. But this made him think about the myriad other drugs as well as the combinations of cocaine and heroin in the form of speedballs. His mind focused on the two drugs that remained a definite scourge in America and the world. For Delawareans, the idea of legalizing all substances meant that the ethics of doing drugs would be to hold using them in the utmost contempt. But in a political sense, they would be looked upon as liberation. Lesane knew this. For his laboratory to invest in research and development and receive donations on behalf of those living in Delaware, he saw himself as fortunate.

Side-effect Free

It could’ve been he who had to kowtow to government bureaucrats. Instead of running an independent, for-profit laboratory he could have been relegated to the position of streetsweeper. With no degrees not even a high school diploma, Lesane could have been on the fast track to perpetual failure. But he remained a vigilant student and practitioner of change. Since the government organization specializing in the “public good” couldn’t touch him, he continued to work without goggles and gloves. He made it optional for his staff, including the Brainchildren, to wear protective gear. Wash stations became visible once past associates raised their own funds and had them installed. Still, the space remained spotless. In this laboratory, Lesane directed orders as a drill instructor commands a platoon of recruits. Precise and concise, Lesane never cared about anything more than excellence in one’s work. Standards, though high, allowed for his subordinates to understand a particular directive and to complete the task with a great degree of attention. Now, he stared at the electronic tablet which displayed the various drugs that had been implemented in the past to fight addiction. None of them boasted side-effect free results. Lesane vowed to change that with his new drugs. As he tested the ingredients in the laboratory and studied the possible side-effects, he found that his pill and patch would be free of those hindrances. He envisioned the commercials of his drugs. What would they say? “Side-effects…. Well, there are none, of course!” He held a substance in each hand. “One pill,” he said to the cocaine. He raised the heroin sample higher. “One patch.”

Mad Scientists

His world opened. A bead of sweat trickled on his brow. His philosophy of how chemistry could change lives was made manifest with his new creations. Imagery of machines and robots fulfilling the task of manufacturing these drugs danced in Lesane’s mind. The importance of the Great Transition never showed with more glaring light than in the chemistry laboratory and in the minds of scientists like Lesane. He smirked. He thought of all the mad scientists in the movies who displayed some over exuberance upon concocting a new creation. Though they represented an over-the-top view of how scientists express themselves, he admitted that he felt a surge of mild madness. There was a reason why they called him “Insane Lesane.” His outrageous ideas turned off some, startled others, and left the rest speechless. He regarded these developments as milestones on his long journey through manhood. This sensation made him feel like an adult. The responsibility involved allowed him to appreciate his work. He spun around in the chair and proceeded to shut down the laboratory. He spent time analyzing and inspecting each utensil and glassware. He discovered a few smudges and some chip pieces. He cleaned off of the residue left behind by the cocaine and heroin when he across the ware he used to develop the pill and patch. He considered these dual items to be the hallmark of his labor. What he cherished most was the unfettered control over his work and the fact that he set his own time, standards, and conditions. His watch hologram read three am.

“Lights off,” Lesane said. He walked through the automatic door to his estate. He said, “Lock,” and he departed to his elevator up to his bedroom.