Rick in your department at university just got a massive research grant didn't he...?

As you're standing there, freaking out in your living room you have an instant flash of inspiration. Who do you know with that kind of money? Jeez, at your department people get crazy money to research new **** and therapies, and Rick (who's always had a secret thing for you, you're pretty sure) just got a whopping one. From the military- now that's serious money!

You need to be at work, but you put on your best 'sick' voice and call your boss Jeff and tell him that you're feeling terrible and you can't make it in. Then you jump on your bike and pedal hell-for-leather down to campus. The quicker you can get out from under this thing, the better.

It's too early in the morning for your department to be busy, luckily, but studious Rick is in nonetheless. He's only just fixing himself coffee in the kitchen when you burst in, panting and red in the face from your bicycle sprint. He's tall, rake-thin guy, but he's actually pretty cute and not all that nerdy at all for a biochemist with genius level IQ.

"Don't you have work this morning?" He glances up at you as he fits the filter into the machine and you wonder how the hell he remembers so much about everything. Probably has lots of extra room in his head from not having any interest in popular culture.

"Rick, I need your help." You gasp. You feel OK asking Rick because, while he probably has something of a crush on you, he really doesn't think all that much about girls at all. He's nothing like fixated.

"Sure, what can I do? Need me to look over something? Watch some experiments for you?"

"It's... It's more personal. It's a pretty big favor." You try to sort out the wind-blown strands of your hair and catch your breath. Hot water starts to trickle through the filter.

"Ok..."

"I need to borrow some money."

"Really?" He's surprised. "Well, I'm not exactly loaded, Hol."

"No... but it's a lot of money. And I don't know anyone with this much money. But... but you just got that grant..."

His expression turns to one of shock and disappointment. "Hol, what are you asking? That would be... beyond unethical. Illegal maybe! I can't just dip into the research money to help out a friend. How much is it anyway."

"Five thousand dollars."

"My GOD! Why do you need it?"

"I owe money to some very scary people, don't ask what for. It's complicated. And... I'm really scared what's going to happen if I don't pay." The real fear of the consequences chills you again, and you lean against the kitchen counter, and rub your eyes. "But you're right. What am I thinking, doing something like that could end your career before it's even begun." Yeah, you should never have put Rick in this position, he's a good guy. There must be other ways.

"Well," Rick finishes fixing his coffee and picks the steaming cup up thoughtfully, "there is one thing I can think of."

"Yeah?" you look up, your eyes big with hope.

"There's a LOT of money in the budget put aside for trials. If we enter you as a test subject then... well we'd have to pay you. We could even probably pay you all you need and more."

"Really?" Your heart leaps, but you quickly realize what this means. If Rick's military-funded project is willing to pay more than five grand to its test subjects... then whatever they're doing must be pretty risky.