I is for IQ

 IQ

(Continued from Hairpin)

The semester was almost over and, with her former rival writhing in the corner of her room, Isabel was confident in her secured valedictorian status. With that pressure off, she could focus her energy on a project that would set her up for life after graduation.

Doctor Juniper, her biochemistry professor, had tapped Isabel specifically to work on a revolutionary new brain drug that would accelerate the human capacity for thought. If they really hit a breakthrough, it would not be an exaggeration to say their work could be the next major step in the progress of humanity as a race.

Assisting the person who would change the world would let Isabel begin her scientific career as a rockstar in her field, but being the one to change the world would make her a legend.

Isabel was the one mixing test batches of the drug to be administered to non-human subjects, so she was the one developing an intimate knowledge of her product. She was the one who knew the sweet, floral scent of the vapors and she was committing the Doctor's formula to memory. She was sure, if she studied it enough, she could mix up a drug with the opposite effect. After that, all it took was a little prick and her professor could enjoy an early, simple-minded retirement.

It sounded simple on paper, but every time Isabel tried to mix the IQ Loss Formula, it would blow up in her face. Once, literally. The more she attempted it, the further she was getting from a stable solution, as though her grasp of chemistry was failing her.

One day, Isabel was finally being allowed to sit in on the tests as rats injected with the serum were challenged with a maze. It was not the complex maze Isabel expected, and yet the rats were utterly lost, going so far as to bump into walls. "Huh? But... why didn't the smart serum make them more smarter?" Wait, that wasn't right...

Doctor Juniper approached their student from behind, smirking. "Because it was never meant to do that, dummy." Isabel gasped as she felt a quick, sharp prick in her neck, followed by a rush of warmth. "You would have figured that out if you wore a mask to avoid the fumes."

Isabel spun and fumbled backwards, trying to understand what was happening and what went wrong. She had a plan to... she was going to use science and make the Doctor more... dumber? But how could she do that when they were so smart and even were a doctor? She had made a mistake somewhere!

"Oh, little Izzy, always too ambitious and predictable. After you used your little hex to turn Haley into a useless slut, I knew you'd be looking for someone new to exploit for the sake of your own ego." They approached Izzy, who tilted her head as the Doctor pulled her labcoat off her shoulders. "You won't be needing that. I decided you were far too dangerous to be trusted with the knowledge of witchcraft or science."

It was true; Izzy knew she had been going to school for years and had gotten very good at science. She had also read so many spellingbooks... no, spellbooks. She had taught herself so much, but the concepts went so far over her head, when she tried thinking of the most basic elemental compounds, her eyes started glazing over.

"Of course, the formula doesn't discern between what knowledge it erases from that empty little head of yours. I'd dare say you're as useless as your little Haley now, in your own way."

Izzy pouted, hit with the concerned panic of confusion. "But... if I can't do science anymore, what am I s'posed to do? I don't know what jobs I'm good at!"

"Not many, I'd bet. I doubt you can read at this point." 

Izzy gasped and looked for Doctor Juniper's name tag, only to find unfamiliar squiggles next to their picture. 

The professor rested a hand on Izzy's shoulder, and something about reassurance from someone smarter than her did ease her nerves. "Don't worry, Izzy, I'll make sure to find something even an idiot like you and a fuckdoll like Haley can handle."

That was the start of Izzy letting go of all her stress and machinations too big for her tiny brain. She could let her new keeper, Master Juniper, make big decisions and she could focus on fucking Haley on the Master's website. It was an enjoyable job even a low-IQ moron like Izzy could do!