(Two Weeks Later: Solano County Jail, California)
It was around 8:00 AM when Judge Frank Stinson of Criminal District Court 7, had approved the execution of death row inmate Satenur Daemon. The death warrant had been signed to begin the final 24 hour countdown for his state approved execution. A 44 year old man, standing six feet tall and weighing 200 pounds. Satenur Daemon made his living as a professional hitman for ten years, working for the Sambrolini crime family. His criminal history includes multiple murders for hire. He had killed between 30 to 40 people including cops and politicians. Regarded as the most lethal hitman in the history of the Sambrolini crime family dynasty, he was the favorite and the most trusted hitman that the Sambrolini family ever had. Mob boss Richard Sambrolini even remembers his late father treating Satenur as his adopted son. His arrest came 16 years ago after strong evidence and witness testimony which proved his direct involvement in the murders of three police officers, one district judge and a California Congressman, and after spending 15 years on death row. A judge had already signed the warrant of his execution.
At around 10:00 AM, he was moved from death row to the death chamber to get him ready for his execution. Because of his excellent use of the gun, he requested that the method of execution he would prefer was the firing squad, but he was over ruled and was sentenced to die by lethal injection instead. While inside the death chamber, a deputy sheriff made hour by hour checks to prevent him from attempting to commit suicide. After two hours had passed, the prison execution team which were composed of prison guards transferred him to the, "Death House" by van, which was a different prison where executions were done. After reaching the death house, with 19 hours to go before his execution, he was placed inside a holding cell. A place were death row inmates usually start to fall apart from fear and panic. But in Satenur's case, he was unusually calm. He was even able to sleep soundly for eight straight hours, and was only awakened when the prison chaplain came to offer him comfort, he calmly refused his offer of a final visit.
With two hours to go, Satenur requested for his last meal, which was chicken fried steak and french fries. And while he was eating, the, "Executioner", which was an appointed prison guard checks all the equipments in the "Lethal Injection Chamber", making sure that the gurney straps were in good working order and the drugs to be used were ready. He then goes and checks the telephone which is directly connected to the Governor's office making sure that it was in working order, just in case there was a slim chance that the order to execute might be put on hold. Knowing that the defendant's attorneys were continuously filing more motions to appeal the death sentence, he knew that there was always a slim chance that an order for a "Stay", may be called in by the Governor at the last minute.
With one hour to go, people starts arriving to the prison to witness the execution. These people were composed of the families of the victims, relatives of the inmate, members of the press and the general public. Only forty people were allowed to watch the execution from an adjacent room separated by a glass window while the rest had to watch from a close circuit TV.
With 30 minutes to go, the warden arrives to bring the condemned inmate to the "Lethal Injection Chamber". Flanked by five deputy sheriffs, Satenur Daemon with his hands handcuffed behind his back presents no resistance, as they all walk twenty feet to the chamber, and as the door opens, Satenur yawns in boredom as he stares at the gurney with straps hanging down close to the floor. After his handcuffs were taken off, Satenur approaches the gurney and sits up on it. Glancing at the prison chaplain who was mumbling silent prayers, Satenur sneers as he says, "Don't bother Padre....I'll see you in hell soon....". And as he lays down, deputies starts to restrain him by strapping down his arms, legs and torso to the gurney.
With 15 minutes to go, a medical technician starts an IV infusion of normal saline to his right arm. And as the minutes passed, the procedure to execute Satenur Daemon was orchestrated to perfection complying with every small detail. The prisoner was then asked if he would like to give a last statement with two minutes to go before his execution. The rooms that held the public was filled with a deafening silence, as the people stood motionless like statues. Satenur Daemon looks up at the ceiling then say's, "Final words?...hmm...let's see....Well I am regretful, I regret that I didn't get to kill more people than I wanted to...", as he sneers once more.
After the signal was given, the first of three injections to be used in killing the inmate was administered, this was Thiopental Sodium which is a barbituate used for sedation. As Satenur becomes unconscious, the executioner flushes the drug with normal saline before preparing to paralyze the inmate using Pancuronium Bromide, but instead of grabbing the paralyzing agent, the executioner grabs a syringe filled with normal saline and administers it to the unconscious inmate's IV line pretending that it was the paralyzing agent that was injected. After a few seconds, the executioner once again fools everyone witnessing the event when he administers another syringe of normal saline and pretending that what he injected the inmate was a lethal dose of Potassium Chloride which was supposed to stop the inmate's heart. Right after the last saline was fully administered, the medical doctor quickly moves towards the inmate's side and placing his stethoscope in his ear quickly listens if the inmate still had a heartbeat. Being a part of a conspiracy to save the condemned inmate's life. The medical doctor lies and says that the inmate had no heartbeat and was deceased even though Satenur Daemon was fully alive with a fully functioning heart who was just sedated. And as the people who witnessed the fake execution files out through the exits, the conspirators made haste in transporting the unconscious criminal to an unknown location.
(Two days later: At Macrostrength Industries Main Office, Treasure Island, San Francisco, California)
It was precisely 09:00 AM when Dr. Marcos arrived at the office to give a project report to CEO John Layer. After Dr. Marcos enters John Layer's office, "Well Dr. Marcos, what news do you have for me today?..", as he inhales smoke from his cigarette. Dr. Marcos feeling a little tense answers, "Well sir, I've got great news for you....I've found us a candidate for our "Super Assassin Project"....". John Layer swivels in his chair and faces the window looking out at the ocean as he say's, "Oh Yeah?!....have a seat and tell me the full details, this better be good Marcos...". Dr. Marcos takes a seat across John Layer as he starts detailing his plans. "In finding the right candidate to be our super assassin, I've inquired with mafia boss Richard Sambrolini who's the head of Northern California's criminal organization....". John Layer swiveled his chair around to face Dr. Marcos looking puzzled, "You know that name sounds familiar, have I ever met this guy before?...". Dr. Marcos shakes his head then say's, "No sir, you've never met him before but we do business with him.....He buys tons of cartons of "Relax Cigarettes" from your cigarette factory in Arizona and his men smuggles them here in Northern California, selling them here illegally together with their drug dealing operations.....".
John Layer takes more puffs from his cigarette as he blows it towards Dr. Marcos face, urging him to continue to explain his plans. "The candidate he offered us is one of his most lethal hitman", Dr. Marcos says," who's name is Satenur Daemon, this guy had killed close to 40 people, mostly cops and politicians. He was supposed to have been executed by lethal injection at the Solano State Penitentiary two days ago, but Richard Sambrolini planned and ordered a conspiracy to fake Satenur Daemon's death by using the "Execution Team" that secretly works for him. So instead of getting the lethal injections, the "Execution Team" just tranquilized him then injected him with plain salt water, pretending that they had ended Satenur's life...". Both men starts to laugh in amazement, "Continue on Dr. Marcos..", says John Layer, "This is very interesting...". Dr. Marcos moves at the edge of his seat after seeing a reaction of approval from his boss.
"So the "Execution Team" secretly transferred the unconscious man to our Vionix secret laboratory yesterday in an ambulance..",says Dr. Marcos, " Our surgical team moved quickly and had already successfully amputated Satenur's arms and legs, and as soon as he wakes up, we will start his mind conditioning which will take a few months before he becomes totally compliant to us, taking orders just like a loyal dog complies with it's master....". John Layer looking curious asks, "What about his identity?...Wouldn't the police recognize him right away?....". Dr. Marcos sneers as he says, "When Satenur wakes up, he'll find himself wearing a permanent "Iron Mask" which is secured by a metal neck brace...The metal neck brace has a detonation device that if taken off will explode, blasting his head off into bits and pieces....Our surgical team had also surgically implanted permanent electrodes into his scalp and torso that will work just like a "Tazer". This is actually an "Electro Muscular Disruption Device", which is used as a pain compliance technique. So the moment he does not follow our orders, we will zap him with 50,000 volts of electric shock which will momentarily disable him. It will cause temporary localized pain to his body without significant damage to his central nervous system......Then once we are able to tame him, making him totally compliant to all our orders and wishes, then that's the time we will surgically attach to him our bionic arms and legs, giving him super strength and power, we will also provide him with a steel body armor to make him invulnerable to gunfire....".
John Layer looked impressed as he thought for a moment then asks, "How much time will it take for him to be fully ready to be our "Super Assassin", I really want Samantha's father killed as soon as possible....". Dr. Marcos leans back in his seat appearing more comfortable in the presence of his boss as he responds, "It depends on how much resistance he gives....but I'll say maybe between three to six months...". John Layer extinguishes his cigarette on his ash tray as he says, "That's fine Dr. Marcos, it will give us time to further enhance our bionic limbs....Call Vionix's research and development team and tell them that I want them to develop a pair of bionic arms and legs that are a hundred times more powerful than the one's we supply our disabled active duty military soldiers with, I want this project to be "Top Secret", you hear?....". Dr. Marcos nods with his voice once again shaky as he say's, "Ye..Yes sir, Mr Layer...".
( 10:00 AM, Vallejo General Hospital, Neuro-Surgical Ward )
Dr. John Kane had finally decided to meet with Grey for the first time to offer him a trial of his JK4 serum, and as he was standing by the side of Grey's bed, Grey starts asking Dr. Kane, "So have you ever tried this JK4 serum on anyone else beside yourself?....". Dr. Kane shakes his head saying, "So far, I've only tried it on myself...there are still some side effects that I need to eradicate from this drug...". Dr. Kane starts informing Grey about the negative side effects without informing him about the possible psychokinetic side effects that Grey might acquire. Since Dr. Kane planned on giving Grey only half the dosage of the JK4 serum, he expected Grey to not get any manifestations of any psychokinetic powers. Even though he was willing to use his serum on Grey because of the debt of gratitude he owed Dr. Peters, in the mind of Dr. Kane, Grey was still a drunk driver who deserves to die.
Grey thought for a minute, wishing Dr Peters was with them to help diminish his fears, but then quickly decided to try the serum. After a few minutes, he finally gives his verbal consent which was witnessed by a nurse to legally allow the procedure to take place, Ritchie arrives right in time which helps alleviate Grey's fear. After the nurse did a set of vital signs, the serum was brought into the room in a liquid form which was already reconstituted with some normal saline in a plastic bag ready to be infused. The nurse starts to attached the IV tubing into a pump that would deliver the drug into Grey's system. When everything was all set and ready, Dr. Kane give's orders on how fast it has to be infused, then quickly give's the "go ahead" signal to start infusing the serum. It only took fifteen minutes for the drug to be totally infused, and as the nurse starts to take another set of vital signs, Grey suddenly convulses, with his whole body shaking rapidly and uncontrollably, the nurse quickly turns on Grey's call light button to get assistance from other nurses. Dr. Kane quickly orders an IV shot of Ativan 4mgs to be given as quickly as possible. As the nurse turns Grey on his side to prevent him from aspirating, another nurse runs to get the Ativan which was the treatment used for seizures. After a minute, the nurse injects the IV Ativan which quickly relaxes and stops Grey's seizure, but this time he was clutching his head due to a severe headache. Squirming in pain, Dr. Kane orders some IV narcotics to control the pain and once it was given and was alleviated, he immediately orders some brain scans to be done on Grey. The drugs that was infused in him made him severely drowsy as he ends up falling asleep, Ritchie feeling worried was quickly assured by Dr. Kane that Grey would be ok. And as Grey was wheeled off the floor in a gurney for his brain scans, Dr. Kane finally tells Ritchie that he'll return tomorrow to check on Grey's progress. Ritchie feeling distraught, sigh's deeply as he sits back down, waiting for Grey's return.
The next day at around 09:00, with Ritchie by his side, Grey was feeling far from normal, and feeling dismayed due to the absence of the desired effects that he hoped for. He remembers Dr. Kane telling him that the drug should work instantaneously, once it was given. But now, not only did the drug not work, but he was also now getting dizzy and nauseous from time to time which affected his appetite. His headache also had not completely disappeared, even with medications ordered by the on duty physician, his symptoms would still come and go. After an hour, Dr. Kane finally arrives to visit Grey. He starts by performing a neurological exam, and after his exam was over, he informs Grey that there was no significant effect from using the JK4 serum. He also tells Grey some surprising news about his brain scan. Dr. Kane tells Grey that the brain scan showed that the titanium plate covering the hole in his scalp, had somehow melted and got embedded in his brain, which was causing his constant headache. Dr. Kane says that he had never seen or heard anything like this before in the history of medicine, he was unsure what to do about this problem, or the long term effects it would do to his brain and over all health. He was also not sure if there was even a way of detaching the melted titanium metal which was firmly attached to Grey's brain.
Seeing Grey looking frustrated, Dr. Kane pretends to act sympathetic to Grey's plight. Dr Kane reassures Grey that he had ordered drugs that will prevent swelling to his brain which should decrease the frequent headaches Grey was experiencing, and while Dr. Kane was finishing up with Grey, a nurse suddenly interrupts their conversation informing Grey that there was a Police officer named Sgt. Holt who would like to speak to him. Grey feeling frustrated and angry suddenly yells saying, "No!...tell him to leave me alone!....". Seeing Grey in a bad mood, Dr. Kane decides to end his visit for now. And after Dr. Kane leaves the room, he see's Sgt. Holt dressed in his police uniform approach him. Sgt Holt insistently asks Dr. Kane if he could persuade Grey to meet with him telling the doctor that he thinks that Grey was somehow framed for drunk driving and that his and his police partner's in depth investigation shows that Grey could not have been driving drunk the night of his car accident. Dr. Kane feeling a deep sense of curiosity and intrigue invites Sgt. Holt to have a cup of coffee with him in the hospital cafeteria to get the full details of their investigation, which the police officer gladly agreed to.
(10:30 AM, CURE Corp Bldg, San Francisco California )
Reclining in her office leather chair, Samantha taps her pen at her office table as she stares at a wall mounted picture of her mother. Buried in deep thought, she ponders about her need to confront her father about his secret plans to bring back her mom into existence by using the "Einstein Time Machine". She totally disapproves of this, as much as she loves, adores and longs for her mother's presence. To her, her mother's life had already ended. Remembering the difficult months she spent seeing her mother wither away from breast cancer had taken a heavy toll on her. She suffered emotionally just as her mother suffered physically as the cancer ravaged her mother slowly. "He should have been with mom, instead of spending all of his time in his laboratory, finding cancer's cure...", Samantha thought to herself. Even when her mom called out for her dad, he never came even for just a few minutes to comfort her through her fears and pain. With every drop of tear her mom had shed was torture to Samantha's soul, with every wince that she saw in her mom's face was like a dagger that pierced through her heart. It took her almost a year after her mom had died before she started to feel the numbness lift from her like a blanket of fog, it took a long time before the storms of loneliness and despair started to slowly subside, never believing that color would ever come back to her gray and gloomy life. It was a struggle that she would not ever want to ever go through again.
She consulted with different physicists about the scenario of bringing back her deceased mother by using a time machine, and they all said the same thing. That if a time machine could ever bring back her deceased mother into existence by preventing her from getting metastatic breast cancer and changing her fate, that Samantha's experience of watching her mother die in agony would instantaneously disappear as if it never happened, because the time machine had created a different and alternate reality for her mother. But as much as she would like to have her mother back, the time that she experienced seeing her mom suffer was already a part of her. It wasn't just a memory but part of her life's experience which was now molded into her own personality. For some reason, it just did not feel ethical for her mom to come back into existence, specially if it will prevent her dad from ever finding the cure for cancer. This would alter the hundreds of thousands of lives that was saved by her dad's cancer cure.
Samantha leans forward in her chair and places her elbows on the table as she rests her chin on her knuckles. Feeling sad and hurt, she also wondered why her father never mentioned to her that Grey's foster parents had passed away. Ever since she was in high school, her dad had always been honest and open with her, and now she feels as if there was an invisible wall that had been erected between them. And now, things are different, he's always at work, and they haven't even gone out for lunch or dinner for months now. And when they see each other in passing, she feels that her dad seems to always keep their conversations brief as if he was avoiding an opportunity to connect with each other and just open up to each others feelings. Samantha sigh's deeply as she spins around in her seat and looks out from her office window towards the ocean and the bay bridge. Between feeling deflated from her broken relationship with Grey and her lack of courage to confront her father about their issues. "Maybe Maria was right....maybe it's best to leave the country for a while and focus my efforts and energy in making the world a better place...", she thought to herself.
Then as Samantha opens her drawer, she stares at the brochures which was provided to her by the United Nations together with a map of Africa. Conflict Diamonds were still prevalent in Central and Western Africa. Her plan was to team up with the "Kimberly Process", which is an international environmental group and with interest groups like "World Diamond Council", and "Global Witness", to encourage governments to stop the trade of conflict diamonds, which in turn will help end the enslavement of men, women and children.
She decides to start in Sierra Leone, the President of that country is suffering from bone cancer and dreads the use of chemotherapy treatment. In exchange for the cessation of enslaving his people from unearthing conflict diamonds, she would be willing to treat him with the series of injections that will quickly cure his cancer. So far every leader of a country that she had dealt with and cured had kept his/ her word in honoring their agreement.
And just as she was about to turn on her iPad, Betsy comes barging into her office followed by two of her secretaries carrying massive loads of charts. Caught off guard, "Don't you ever knock anymore?...", Sam blurts out feeling a little annoyed. Betsy points a finger to the chair as her two secretaries quickly sets the mountainous amount of charts on the chair then quickly excuses themselves. Betsy feeling unappreciated stares at Samantha as she mockingly says, "Miss Peters, you better not be giving me an attitude...", Betsy announcs with her hands on her hips, "I have been running around for months like a chicken with it's head cut off as a favor for you...you my very best friend, and this is what I get in return?!....". Samantha plays along asking, "Are you saying that you're doing all these work as a favor to me?, because we're best friends?, and that I won't need to pay you the one million dollars a year salary I promised you?...". Betsy quickly grimaces while shaking her head as she says, "I just said that you are my best friend, I didn't say I was crazy....I'd even agree to be your mortal enemy for that amount you know!...". Once their teasing was over they started giggling out loud. "Really?!....Are you really going to Africa and leave me here on my own...", Betsy asks chuckling but looking worried. Samantha waves her hand saying, "Oh!, you'll be fine...I've been inquiring with all the corporate department heads and they all say that you're adjusting well...sort of...", Samantha teasingly smiles as she says, "Just kidding....Seriously, I'm always one phone call away, I'll always have my cell with me and if you get into problems with a regional head of operations, just call me and I'll straighten it out....". Betsy feeling a little reassured sits in front of Samantha's desk and points at the massive amount of paper work she has to review. Samantha shakes her head saying, Nope!, that's your job...that's why you get paid the big bucks remember?...".
Betsy changes the topic as she tells Samantha of her twelve year old nephew who is addicted to e-cigarettes. "I don't know what to do Sam, my sister says that my nephew started getting addicted with gummy bears and Belgian waffles that were laced with e-liquid flavors of nicotine. These are heavily marketed to children by the tobacco industries....Do you think you can do something to ban this, like how you were able to influence our California politicians into banning smoking and sales of cigarettes in this state?....The tobacco industry are insidiously hooking kids with sweet flavored e-cigars and smokeless tobacco which are flavored and colorfully packed and arranged like candies....". Samantha was suddenly caught off guard, she never once thought that the tobacco industries would stoop this low into targeting children and getting them addicted to nicotine by using candies and other sweets. Samantha quickly calls her secretary and asks for a list of all California's legislators, "You know we can't get these e-cigarettes banned overnight...", says Samantha, "You know that right?....". Betsy nods in agreement as Samantha turns on her computer to send an email to all of California's legislators about the need to ban sweet flavored e-cigarettes and other candies laced with nicotine that gets children addicted at an early age which continues on until adulthood and until death. "We'll work on this together, since I'll be in Africa, you'll be my contact point here and will represent me when the time comes to meet with California's legislators...". After a few more minutes of conversation about work, family and life in general, Samantha and Betsy hug, knowing that this will be the last time they'll see each other for awhile.
( 10:45 AM, Vallejo General Hospital, Cafeteria )
Sgt Holt and Dr. Kane were seated having their coffee as they both each gave a brief background of their career in their respective fields of work. "So can we switch our topic and talk about Grey's car accident, if you don't mind...", Dr. Kane says, "So are you saying that someone framed him for drunk driving, but what about his lab report showing him having a high blood alcohol level?....". Sgt Holt leans forward placing his arms on the table looking puzzled, "You know that's the only thing I don't understand...", says Sgt Holt. Dr. Kane sigh's as he asks, "Well, tell me what you found out in your investigation?....". Sgt Holt takes a sip of his coffee then says, "Well, for starters, the brand of the empty bottle found in Grey's car is called "Blue Castle Whiskey", there are four liquor stores within a ten mile radius of his house, and the only liquor store that carries that brand is thirty miles away. Now do you really think that if Grey wanted to get drunk because he was dumped by his girlfriend that he'd travel 30 miles just to buy a cheap type of whiskey when there are other cheaper ones that tastes better which are sold closer to his house?....Secondly, I've visited with the motorists who stopped to offer help during the accident, and all four of them say that they watched Detective Cross stagger towards Grey's car as if he was drunk, they said he could not walk straight, and when a bystander who was actually a medical doctor offered to assist, Detective Cross flashed his police badge telling everyone not to come closer to Grey's car. Another motorist also asked him why he was walking funny and he said with slurred speech saying that he hit his forehead on the steering wheel. But in his police report and his report to the insurance company, he listed his injuries to only include severe neck and low back pain but he did not report any type of head injury...".
Dr. Kane takes a deep breath as he uncomfortably adjusts himself in his seat, while Sgt Holt continues to disclose his findings, "Grey's friend Ritchie never saw him drunk during the morning, afternoon or evening, Ritchie remembers Grey even buying some pastries and was going to buy flowers the next morning to try and make up with his girlfriend....The guy has no DUI convictions, only drinks during occasions.....Now what makes me wonder is that the guy whom Grey got into a car accident with is a well known alcoholic....Most of the veteran police officers in the force are aware that Detective Cross regularly drinks and drives, he never gets reprimanded because of professional courtesy given to him by his fellow police officers....Then on the night when he gets into a car accident, he just happens to be sober?.....Another clue I found was Detective Cross had his fingerprints on the buckle of Grey's seat belt. Now I don't understand why his fingerprints would be in Grey's seat belt, unless he unbuckled his seat belt right after the accident in order to portray Grey as a careless motorist who does not care about road safety?....".
Dr. Kane shakes his head as he nudges Sgt Holt to keep on explaining as he continues to sip his coffee which makes his pulse rate start to accelerate, "Another thing is that in Detective Cross report, he states that he was in excruciating pain from his neck and lower back injury, but right after the accident, he did not even go to the hospital for treatment....Now if he was drunk, then he probably really wanted to avoid getting seen by a medical staff, just the smell on his breath, his drunken demeanor plus then, he'll have to get a blood alcohol test which would be another proof that he was driving drunk....".
Dr. Kane straightens himself in his seat, now starting to look visibly upset as he urges Sgt Holt to tell him more, as Sgt Holt starts to whisper saying, "Now I know that what I'm about to tell you is illegal, but I just had to find out...When no one was around in our locker room, I broke into Detective Cross personal locker and guess what I found?....". Dr. Kane moves his head forward in his seat, making sure to hear Sgt Holt clearly, as the police officer says, "I found three unopened bottles of "Blue Castle Whiskey", the same brand that was found inside Grey's car....".
In hearing Sgt Holt's last statement, Dr. Kane starts to feel a quick surge of uncontrolled anger take over him, feeling his heart pounding, his blood boiling and his soul in utter rage at the thought of Detective Ted Cross gruesome misdeed. And as Dr. Kane's emotions start to overwhelm him, the JK4 serum swirling in his arteries and veins starts to quickly wane as he starts to gradually feel weaker from his lower back and down to both his legs making him a paraplegic once again. Dr. Kane remembering that extreme emotions diminishes the effectiveness of his JK4 serum in his system, quickly interrupts Sgt. Holt as he grabs his JK4 inhaler from his pocket and quickly takes two puffs with each time, holding his breath for ten seconds. Inhaling the JK4 drug in a mist form, together with some relaxing deep breaths, brings back the feelings and strength in his lower extremities. Then as Dr. Kane realizes that listening to Sgt Holt will just get him even more upset, Dr. Kane decides to avoid anymore emotion provoking discussions with Sgt Holt that can diminish his psychic powers and can weaken his lower extremities again. He stands up, looks at his wrist watch and pretends to be late for a meeting. He then thanks Sgt. Holt for all the details of his investigation and promises the officer that he'll do everything in his power to convince Grey to meet with him in the near future. But before Dr. Kane leaves the hospital, he makes a quick phone call to a private detective he knows, hiring him to track down Detective Ted Cross of the Vallejo Police Force in order to try and find out where he lives.
(Vallejo General Hospital)
Later that night at about 08:00 pm, Dr. Peters who just landed two hours ago at the San Francisco International Airport, gets driven by his chauffeur to visit Grey at the hospital. Still in his dark business suit, dark green trench coat and black scarf loosely rolled around his neck, he goes straight inside Grey's room while he was holding his brief case with his right hand. "I didn't expect you to return this soon....", says Grey, "So, how did it go with the Pope?....". Dr. Peters smiles as he pulls up a chair and sits on it, "Dr. Peters places his brief case on the floor as he leans back in his seat, deep in thought. "This last two days was pretty tough, trying to convince the Pope on why he has to give up a priceless and holy artifact such as the "Holy Flask"....it was a rather daunting task, if you ask me....". Grey feeling as if his last ounces of hope were receding, remaines silent but focused on Dr. Peters every word. Dr. Peters sigh's then says, "After two days of continuous visits to the Vatican, I was eventually able to persuade the Pope to give us the "Holy Flask", but the problem is that it's release has to still go through an enormous bureaucratic red tape from a bunch of Cardinals and Bishops who are all trying to prevent it's release.....But the Holy Father did promise that we will eventually get the "Holy Flask", it's only a matter of time, maybe less than a year....". Grey looks up at the ceiling as he blows out air from his lungs as he mumbles saying, "I can wait less than a year....I guess....It's not that I have a choice anyway...".
Dr. Peters feeling the frustration in Grey's tone changes the topic saying, "Hey, I just spoke with Dr. Kane on my way here, and he says that the JK4 serum had no positive effect on you, I'm sorry....". Dr. Peters pauses then grabs his brief case and opens it, "I brought you a gift....", says Dr. Peters, as he pulls out a small four inch piece of titanium metal that was mounted on a wooden base and that was encased in a glass cover. Placing it on Grey's hospital bedside table, he reminds Grey that it was the same piece of titanium metal that was found on an archaeological dig site and is believed to be a piece of Lancelot's breastplate titanium armor. The same metal that they talked about the night that Grey lost consciousness after hitting his head on the floor during his ballroom dance presentation with Samantha during Dr. Peters birthday party.
Grey knew at once that it was priceless and was one of Dr. Peters prized possessions. Grey initially declines the gift but when he see's Dr. Peters persisting, he decides to reluctantly receive the precious artifact. And as Dr. Peters holds the piece of mounted titanium plate closer to Grey's face, Grey see's an inscription which reads "Failure is only when one stops trying". This was Dr. Peters way to encourage Grey to remain hopeful of the future even in his dire situation. And after a few more minutes of small talk, Dr. Peters stands and gets ready to leave when he gets a late phone call from Dr. John Kane. After a two minute phone conversation, Dr. Peters hangs up the phone looking baffled and informs Grey that Dr. Kane has said that he had tweaked the JK4 serum and wants to try it on Grey one last time. After Dr. Peters tells Grey of this new plan of treatment, Grey quickly asks Dr. Peters why he seems to be skeptical of Dr. Kane's suggestion. "You know, that for almost 20 years, I've tried to develop the earlier versions of Dr. Kane's "JK4" serum. The only difference with my "MP1" serum was the toxic effects to the kidneys and the "SP3" serum had the toxic effects to the liver....But aside from that, they are very similar to the JK4......And I know for a fact that if my two serums does not have a positive effect on a patient, that there won't be any chance of nerve cell regeneration, so I'm just puzzled why Dr. Kane would want to try it on you again....".
And as the two men pondered this dilemma, they were both unaware that Dr. Kane after finding out from Detective Holt that Grey could be very well have been framed for drunk driving was now trying to make amends by planning to administer the JK4 for a second time, but this time with the right amount of dose he hopes will alleviate Grey from his quadriplegic state and give him a fair chance at being normal again.
(Next Day: Mob Headquarters, At Black Lake Ranch, Vallejo California)
It was 09:00 am, inside the Sambrolini mansion. Mob boss Richard was already having his breakfast inside his bedroom suite while watching the latest local news on his flat screen television. Sniffing cocaine in between sips of his orange juice, he abruptly gets interrupted by Dice Claw, who is the mob's operational manager and third in command. Coming in Richard's bedroom unannounced. "Who told you to come in here?!...", yells Richard, as Dice Claw approaches his bed and stands in attention as he nervously says, "You're uncle just arrived and he says that he has to meet with you right now to discuss urgent matters...". Richard grumbles, then throws a fork at Dice Claw's face, aiming at striking one of his eyeballs but missing his target. Seeing the fork dart past his face, Dice Claw becomes even more afraid hoping that Richard wasn't hiding a loaded gun under his sheets which he sometimes does.
"Give me a minute will ya!, I'm trying to have breakfast here trying to watch the news. Dice Claw nods nervously as he stands in attention wearing a dark blue pinned stripe suit. Richard then picks up the TV remote control and increases the volume. "Good morning Bay Area, you are watching USNN news.....and now for the latest headlines. Three more bay area police officers were arrested by the FBI and the DEA for protecting bay area drug dealers, the suspects are believed to be working for bay area mafia boss Richard Sambrolini. We've tried to interview the lawyers for this notorious mafia boss but they did not want to talk to us given the sensitivity of this ongoing investigation. Chief of Police from four bay area counties will.....".
Suddenly, Richard's bedroom doors slams open as Dr. Luigi Courtess comes in yelling, "Richard!, turn off that TV set and we have to talk right now!....". Richard feeling irritated, turns off his TV then slaps his breakfast tray away from him in utter disgust. "What now uncle....what did I do wrong this time...", asks Richard, "Did I kill too much people this week or maybe not enough....What's pissing you off this time uncle Luigi?!...Oh! by the way, did you see that they caught three more police officers who were working for us?....It's in the news, check it out!....".
Dr. Luigi Courtest ignores his nephews suggestion and stands erect in front of Richard with his hands folded against his chest breathing a deep sigh of frustration. "You wanna know what's wrong?!...", the older man asks his nephew, "I'll tell you what's wrong Richard....You've made another wrong decision, that's what's wrong...When you took over as the mafia boss after your father had died, didn't we agree that whenever you make a decision for our organization that you'll first consult with me....huh?!...". Richard still high from cocaine sits up in bed looking puzzled as he raises his hands up in resignation waiting for an imaginary hammer to come down on him as he stays silent. Dr. Courtess seeing a baseball bat scattered under Richard's coffee table quickly grabs it and swings away in rage as he breaks Richard's bedroom glass window. "I'm talking about Satenur Daemon whom you've saved from his death sentence three, four days ago. He was not supposed to live, Richard...".
Richard looking perplexed, asks, "Were you not the one who told me that father loved Satenur Daemon as if he was his own child. I even remember you telling me 15 years ago how loosing Satenur drained our whole organization of it's venom....I thought you'd be happy that I've arranged his fake execution!...". Dr. Courtest walks closer to his nephew and kneels on one knee as he clasps his hands together saying, "Richard, it took me twelve years to assemble these mixture of judges, sheriff's deputies, doctors and other medical staff which composes the execution team that faked Satenur's execution. Do you know why I did that?....", Richard shakes his head as he looks for the cocaine bottle that he must have misplaced in bed. Dr. Courtest looking exasperated softly explains, "You see my dear nephew, three years from now, the FBI and other intelligence agencies will have enough evidences collected against us that our arrest and conviction is assured. And with the number of people we had killed over the years, I know for a fact that we will be given the death sentence and I am really hoping that it be carried out swiftly, as soon as possible....Do you know why?....", Dr. Courtest asks as he looks at his nephew in stupor, "So that these mixture of judges, deputies, doctors and medical technicians can fake our deaths...just like what they did to Satenur.....It's our ticket away from crime with all the money we made.....I already have plastic surgeons who are willing to rearrange are faces and give us new names and identities. So that we can live a new and peaceful life somewhere in Europe....And that's the reason why I've been encouraging you to kill more people, It's the only why we will be assured of getting the death penalty by lethal injection.....The same fake lethal injection that Satenur was given....It's the only way that can lead to our escape and into a new life.....".
Richard smiles as he gropes around his bed sheets for his missing cocaine bottle as he sarcastically says, "So that was what that was all about, why you had to bribe all those prison officials....And for a minute there, I thought that you were assembling that prison team to go up against Marvel's "The Avengers"....". Richard chuckles making his uncle feel more frustrated. "Richard, they were supposed to be our "Sleeper" team, which means that they are only for our own use, for when the time comes....you get it?!....". Richard finally finds his cocaine bottle in between his sheets as he sneers and says, "Well, look at the bright side....After that trial run on Satenur, now we know you're plan will work for us...". But before Richard could take another sniff at the white narcotic powder, he suddenly passes out in bed and was once again snoring.
Dr. Courtest clenches his fists in anger as he quickly walks out of Richard's bedroom thinking that, their future plan to escape and have a new life by using their hired prison staff to fake their deaths was now compromised by Richards reckless use of their "Sleepers", or bribed prison officials.
(Two hours later, at the Vallejo General hospital, Vallejo, California)
Dr. Mark Peters and Dr. John Kane decides to have a meeting in one of the hospital's main conference rooms in order to discuss the benefits and the risks involved in having Grey take a second intravenous infusion of Dr. Kane's JK4 serum. After ten minutes of small talk, their meeting started to turn into a heated discussion. "I still don't see why Grey needs to have a second infusion of your JK4 serum...", Dr. Mark Peters says, " If it failed the first time, I see no reason why it should work in having it administed into him a second time....unless there's something about your serum that you're not telling me!...What are you hiding?, John....". As the two scientists stood separated by a long wooden conference table, Dr. John Kane was starting to get flustered from Dr. Peters inquiry. There was no way that Dr. Kane could ever confess that he'd given Grey only half the dose of his JK4 serum, "I'm not hiding anything!..", says Dr. Kane, "I've done endless research in enhancing the JK4 serum that you don't know anything about!....And I don't have any reason why I should be defending myself against you...".
Dr. Peters takes off his reading glasses and leans forward on the table as he stares intently at his former research associate and says, "The foundation and the building blocks for the creation of the JK4 serum came from me, twenty years of research in which I just completely handed over to you without questions, because I trusted you as a brother....The JK4 contains at least 70% of my research, and I know that I have every right to know what's in it's completed formula so I can assess it's safety before you infuse it on Grey and risk his life...". Dr. Kane fidgets then quickly takes off his lab coat as he tosses it into a chair, Feeling some cold sweats forming, he wipes his forehead with the back of his left hand then loosens his neck tie, he paces back and forth for a few seconds then says, "I'm sorry Mark, but you don't have the right to know what's in the JK4 serum, even if a large part of the JK4 serum came from you, the serum still belongs to me...You spent twenty years of research for what?...Nothing, you were stuck at a dead end. The SP3 and MP1 serums you've created were both toxic, and because you did not know what else to do, that's when you decided to leave me alone with your research which was basically nothing more than garbage....You took a different path, which was to find cancer's cure...... That's why you hired me wasn't it, you saw me as a sorry young paraplegic physician who just lost his family in a car accident...You knew I was very vulnerable and could be easily manipulated, and you used me as your "Escape Goat", because you had really nothing more to give in paralysis research...".
Dr. Peters suddenly feels his temper rising, as he starts taking a couple of deep breaths then says, "We both know that's not true!...And I know that you're fully aware that it was because of my wife's terminal cancer that I had to leave my paralysis research in your hands, I had to try and save my wife's life by finding cancer's cure...", says Dr. Peters with his voice more intense, "...And I know that you know that, that is the truth!....".
Dr. Kane pulls out a chair and sits on it as he says, "You can make your own conclusions on anything you want Mark, but we both know that you left me with nothing but trash. I had nothing to go on with, and with no one to guide me, I had to take your whole research back to formula and I had to start from scratch, though I do admit that your twenty years of research did guide me along the way into achieving the JK4 serum...."
Dr. Peters paces the floor as he tries to stir up all the energy he needs to be patient, fair and sensible. "Look John, I just don't believe that you can just "tweak" the JK4 serum in order for it to work effectively on Grey, we both know that this is not like baking a cake wherein one can just add a teaspoon of sugar to make the cake a little bit more sweeter....You have to have a reason why you want to administer a second dose of the JK4 on Grey, why don't you just tell me the truth John...". Dr. Peters sigh's then pauses for a few seconds then says, "I've seen the reports and scans on Grey, his scalp's titanium plate, melting and getting embedded in Grey's brain?....I've never seen or heard anything like that ever happening before!...Look John, I don't want your serum, I just want Grey to live...just show me your research, prove to me that a second infusion of the JK4 will not kill Grey....That's all I'm asking....".
Dr. Kane remains steadfast, not wanting to show his formula for the JK4 serum to Dr. Peters because of it's Psychokinetic properties. "Nobody has to know that the JK4 serum can give a person super human psychic powers..", he thought to himself. Dr. Kane then finally stands up as he concludes their meeting by saying, "I've got other patients to see within an hour, and I'm really sorry Mark, but the secret of the JK4 serum stays with me....I'll guess we'll just have to leave the decision up to Grey, whether to have a second infusion of the JK4 or not....".
The next morning, Dr. Kane arrives at the hospital at about 06:00 AM to convince Grey to try a second dose of his JK4 serum. Entering Grey's room and turning on the lights, Grey was awaken suddenly from this unexpected visit. "I thought we'll be having a three way meeting at 09:00 AM with Dr. Peters on what's the best thing to do with my situation?...", says Grey, "Does Dr. Peters know that you're already here?...". Dr. Kane grimaces upon hearing Dr. Peters name as he says, "The truth is that I really wanted to talk to you alone without Mark here. There seems to be a rift between us and we really don't see eye to eye anymore....The main thing is that I know that you'll really benefit from a second infusion of my JK4 serum...". Grey still trying to wake up, blinks a few times and squints from the bright lights that seems to blind his vision as he says, "Dr. Peters told me that a second infusion of your serum could kill me, and that maybe the best thing to do is to wait for the "Holy Flask" from the Vatican, it's supposed to have healing powers.....then if that doesn't work then that's the time that I would agree on a second infusion of the JK4...".
Dr. Kane rubs his temples feeling flustered at Grey's suggestion, as he asks, "Wait?.... You want to wait?.....Mark did mention something about this "Holy Flask", for all you know, this is nothing but propaganda by the Vatican in order to increase their followers, this flask may not even have any healing powers at all, you're not even sure if they will release that thing to you. For all you know, it may take several years before you receive that flask. And while waiting for it....here you are suffering daily from spasticity, autonomic dysreflexia and neurogenic pain....". says Dr. Kane as he sits on Grey's bed trying to appear sympathetic as he continues saying, "I know that after months of being here, I'm sure you're probably sick and tired of seeing doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, social workers, nutritionists, psychologists, physical, occupational and recreational therapists and other counselors on a daily basis....I'm giving you a way out Grey....A way to be normal again, just look at me, as long as I'm taking the JK4, I don't have to use an electric wheelchair, I can jump, run, play sports and go hiking and biking....".
Grey starts to feel really convinced and impressed at Dr. Kane's explanation as the doctor continues saying, "I really want you to have the JK4 now before your cervical vertebrae starts to deteriorate, the stability of your vertebrae is at stake....The longer you wait, the harder it'll be to revascularize the damaged vertebral arteries in your spine....". Still trying to fully wake up, all Grey see's is Dr. Kane standing tall and walking around the room, and to him, it was enough evidence to agree on a second infusion of Dr. Kane's JK4 serum. After a minute had passed, Grey finally agree's to have the infusion done. Then, after Grey verbally consents to start the infusion. Dr. Kane starts giving orders to the nurse on duty. After another twenty minutes of examination and vital signs check, the infusion was started. Dr. Kane finally felt relieved that he had finally given Grey the full dose of the JK4 serum which he feels Grey truly deserves.
Forty-five minutes after Dr. Kane had left the hospital, Grey suddenly goes into a seizure. The nurses were alerted as they started giving emergency medications to help control the seizure which lasted another ten minutes. Grey was quickly transferred to the Intensive Care Unit for more close monitoring, but by then, Grey had already slipped into a coma. The nurses tried to call Dr. Kane's cell phone, but all they could do was to leave a message about Grey's dire condition.
Two hours later, Dr. Peters was furious after finding out what had happened to Grey. He calls Dr. Kane's cell phone and leaves a message telling his former associate that he will pay for his treachery and that he will sue him for control of the JK4 serum. (End Of Chapter)
