hapter: Royal Council Meeting on Furthering the SerumOrb Studies
The Keepers, Royal Families, along with an assortment of hand selected individuals and Department heads sat around a circle table, each person hidden beneath a cloak of their assigned color.
"Why have we met outside of our normal schedule?" Kingdom I's Princess Scarlett Voltaire questioned. She was quite young, about the age of Prince Marigold of Kingdom II and her voice, although annoyed, was slow and sweet, flowing like a drip of honey. She sat next to her older brother, Prince Sterling, who sat beside the oldest of the Voltaire children, Princess Penelope. Their mother and father, King and Queen Voltaire, headed the Kingdom I table. All were shrouded in red cloaks, barely leaving the tips of their noses visible from the hoods' enchanted shadows.
Kingdom I's keeper placed a patient hand on the interrupting Princess's shoulder, nodding for Kingdom II's Keeper to begin. He stood and with a wave of a hand closed the doors to the room.
"We have called this impromptu meeting due to the actions and resulting discoveries of one of the Kingdom II's Research and Sciences department scientists. They broke into the lab containing their experiment, a lab that had previously been prepped for a demonstration the next day, the subject was already prepped to reduce contamination through the night. The scientist proceeded to perform their experiment, the assistant taking notes and documenting yet another failure. Another added onto a list of many, many failures."
"We are meeting because a scientist not only broke rules but is incompetent in their studies?" King Voltaire seethed.
"My King, let us hear out the Keeper. There must be more. Please, do continue." the Keeper of Kingdom I sighed.
"As we all are aware, the scientists in our research departments throughout the kingdoms are a determined bunch of minds, and this scientist is no exception. Upon realizing another failure they decided to lock themselves in the experiment room and test their invention on themself, yielding some pretty impressive results. We've spent the last few days observing the scientist's newfound capabilities in awe, hardly believing what was right in front of our eyes. Our hope is you will be as excited to further the study and testing of this invention as we are."
"What's so impressive about this 'invention'?" King Des of Kingdom III questioned.
"It appears to give the recipient inhumane abilities. The scientist has demonstrated amazing speed, strength, reflexes, and tolerances. They were able to break the experimentation room window in multiple labs and even jumped from a building. This invention, this SerumOrb, could forever change the Guard and Hunter warriors ability to protect the inhabitants of the Three Kingdoms."
"If I may," Queen Voltaire stood, looking to her Keeper for permission to speak, "if the failures tower over this one small success how can you even consider furthering this experiment? What happens to the subject when it fails? You have not had nearly enough success to know if this invention even yielded these results and not some random contaminant."
"The head of the department here in Kingdom II, as you know, is scientist Andradel Gathooc, one of the most renowned scientists in the three kingdoms . He's speaking on behalf of the scientist, the Creator, if you will. We see it best to keep their identity a secret since they are underage. He can address your questions and concerns. '' One of the white lab-coated men stood giving a small bow to the queen.
"When our scientists reach the stage of experimentation any live subjects needed are recruited from the prisons. We offer money in exchange for their bodies. The payout usually matches the risk involved with the experiment. This experiment was well beyond the normal expense allocated, and the last subject was indeed the last we were willing to pay for. It also prompted the announcement of a new fail to success ratio rule. That being said, the scientist had raised many concerns that the subject's personal morality may be playing a role in the success or failure of the invention. The invention is a serum containing mystico elements inside a Mystico Orb. Being based in Kingdom II mystico orbs are one of our expertise and it is well known who you are as a person can indeed affect the Magic. However, with the limited information, rate of failure, and newer status of the experimentation phase we could not grant access to recruiting subjects from the common people. What we would like to do is open that resource and hold an audition-like process with background checks in order to allow the Creator to choose their own subjects. Which I predict will yield much better results for us to look over."
"But are all the deaths worth the risk?" Queen Ashton questioned.
"My queen,there have been no deaths, only failures." Keeper II interjected.
"How do you define failures?" Queen Voltaire questioned, her voice full of suspicion.
"This is where we'd like to request the help of Kingdom III and their Research and Sciences Department. The failed subjects have all turned to Beasts, carrying on all the personality and knowledge of the person they were previously. We feel you, Specifically your Beast Tamers, may be able to help."
"Wait!" Queen Voltaire gaped, "you mean to say you have a SerumOrb that turns people into talking Beasts and you expect us to let one different result open up the next level of experimentation?"
"No disrespect intended, Queen Voltaire, but anyone who has been observing this scientist, including King and Queen Ashton, can tell you that SerumOrb is on the line of great discoveries. If we give this a chance it can connect our people, strengthen our world, and open doors to knowledge previously unattainable."
"We have yet to be given any reason not to trust the judgment of Kingdom II," King Des began, "our concerns are with the growing strengths and populations of the Beasts inhabiting the Three Kingdoms. The growth has already proven a challenge for even our Royal Hunter Squads. If this SerumOrb does indeed yield the results your Scientist is experiencing, will it be able to match the strengths of the Beasts?"
"From what I've witnessed I have every reason to believe so. However we do not see it an intelligent decision to put a scientist with no warrior training up against a beast. They may be strong but they have no fighting skill to join that strength." Scientist Gathooc answered matter of factly. King Des looked to his Keeper.
"If my keeper agrees, we will work with you. We can even send out word for subjects."
YOU ARE READING
The SerumOrb
FantasyA magical Orb is created that grants its user abilities and near invincibility. (a work in progress for 12+ years; posting here for comments and criticisms even if its to complain about rediculously disorganized moments 💜)
