The Life of Jacob Track (Book Two of the 33X Series)

Chapter Nineteen

           

CHAPTER NINETEEN

March 2, 2015

Larry sat in his office laboring over files on 33X.  He knew he was in trouble with Magnus, but had yet been called to have "the talk" yet.  Larry wasn't necessarily scared of Magnus, but he didn't trust the man either.  The fact of the matter was that he had a soft spot for the boy, Jacob.  He had known Jacob since birth and had really come to care for him.  After Larry told Jacob the truth, well most of the truth, Jacob was emotionally and physically drained.  Jacob needed a few days to process the information. Magnus wouldn't understand it, or care, of course, but it was necessary.  33X, if administered too soon, could possibly break something in Jacob's mind.  Larry still had plans for Jacob, and couldn't have him end up a drooling mess.

            Plus, there was the fact that the subjects for the 33X trails were due today.  Might as well test them all at the time same time since their testing would be the same, or at least mostly similar.  Larry was just waiting for the call from Magnus to know they arrived.

            Larry was still reading his files, when an email notification popped on his computer screen from Andrew Thompson. Larry clicked it open and began reading.

            Larry's mouth fell open in surprise. Apparently, some young scientist, Akira Redding, had figured out one step in making the LZ Virus work, dosing before the death occurs. Larry smirked.  They were halfway there, of course.

            Larry knew how to make the LZ Virus work; it was a simple fix in the structure of the RNA. He chuckled to himself.  He could help them get the virus in production, but he hesitated.  He was the only person to perfect and successfully administer the LZ Virus on a human. It was a secret to everyone, and he planned on keeping it that way as long as possible.  It was his only bargaining chip to stay alive.  Once Magnus knew that someone had been successfully resurrected, Larry would mostly like die, or be tortured endlessly.

            Most torture wouldn't bother Larry. He had taught himself to withstand most pain and violence through his tumultuous childhood. There wasn't much they could do to him that would bother him. Most pain was enjoyable to Larry. He liked the thrill of feeling alive from it.   There were a few things that would bother him, but he doubted they'd ever figure those out.

            To be honest with himself, there were very few people that Larry even cared about. He could even count them on one hand: Elizabeth Track, Jacob Track, Patty and Nick Walker. Sure, he had killed Nick, but at the time it felt necessary.  Of course, his plan backfired in his face, sending him to jail.  The fact was, he was still a bit upset Nick had to die.  So, when he used April as a LZ Virus test subject, he let her live a regular life, as a gift to Patty. 

            He had planned on using April as his lab rat, and he did a little bit, but not to the extent that he originally planned.  When he seen how horribly broken Patty was, he knew it was the right thing to send April back home without her memories.  It was a rare moment for Larry; choosing a friend over his work.  So, he kept it all a secret, deleted the files on the LZ Virus, and changed the format so Magnus never knew it was finished. Maybe he'd give them a nudge in the right direction soon, otherwise he preferred to keep it a secret.

            His thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of the phone.

            "Larry, meet me in holding area number three, please," Magnus' deep voice ordered.

            "On my way, sir," Larry replied, saved his files, and left the office.  He headed down the long, gray corridor, turned right, passed the laboratory's one and two, turned right again, and found the holding areas. He entered the wooden door of number three.