Monday, January 21, 2008

And Now You Know

"Well, well, if it isn't Cody Smith and the messed-up security gaurd."
That's how Jean greeted Taylor and me as we entered the interrogation room.
"Miss Matthews, you remember me." I replied.
"Mr. Mason, my life's work is living inside you. Of course, I remember you." Jean said.
"Please, call me Nicholas."
"Okay, Nicholas, what do you want from me, and who in the world are you?"
"As I said, I'm Nicholas, special agent for the FBI. This is my partner, William. What we want from you, Jean, is for you to tell us what your life's work is and to give us information on your boss.
"Ha, you're supposed to be two secret FBI agents, but you have no idea what's going on."
"We've got the basics down. Educate us."
"Well, I might as well tell you. As you know, I work for Genecorp. I'm part of a larger group working with the military to create the perfect soldier. Sam Miller and I were experimenting with rapid tissue regeneration. We finally engineered a cell that works like a virus. It infiltrates the cell and changes its genetic makeup, reacting to elements associated with healing, such as cortisol. You get the idea."
"Yes, rapid healing."
"Mayhem found out about this (probably from Miller, although he denied it) and contacted us. The only problem was that it hadn't been tested on humans. Our first human volunteer's immune system killed the cells before they could take over. Our next volunteer wasn't so lucky. the virus took over his body completely, and then his immune system killed him. After that we ran out of the cell. It was fairly expensive to make. We finally obtained some more samples. Mayhem came to consult us, and that's when you showed up. Amazingly, it worked on you. I have to admit, I feel a connection between us, Nicholas; which compels me to worry for you, both of us, actually. If Mayhem finds out about you, what you are capable of, he's going to turn you into a lab rat."
"But, why should you be afraid, Jean."
"I healed too."
We sat in silence for a while: and then I asked, "What about Mayhem? Do you know anything about him?"
"No, I never really talked to his men. It was mostly Sam."
"Well, thank you for cooperating with us, Jean. And don't worry, the FBI will protect you."