Six Years Ago
“Are you sure this will work?” The man urged, concern lining his brow.
“Not entirely,” Dr. Pennington began. “But, it’s your best bet. There have been cases where patients have had no response and others have had great success. It’s a procedure where the genes are altered, so it relies heavily on your gene structure. Each person reacts completely different.”
“What about side effects?”
“There have been some, but usually temporary. Nausea, fatigue, that sort of business. Again, it largely depends on someone’s DNA, and also their condition plays a role.”
“How do you mean?”
“Well, this procedure uses a chemical called Crimson X. This essentially boosts your immune system to extremely high levels, so any measures it takes to return your body to normalcy can be extreme. For instance, if your body lacks important proteins your body may then produce much more protein than you need. And your Chronic Hypohydratia is one of the worst cases I’ve ever seen. If this procedure works, you could be overly hydrated, but that could be managed with proper medical care from our facility.”
“So is that how it could cure me? Boost my immune system?’
“Not entirely. The immune system boost is more of a side effect, but the way it could cure you is by altering your DNA to its most maximum potential. It’s like taking an old tree and pruning it, and adding more roots to get more water and so it has branches that produce the lushest green leaves you’ve ever seen. Now as I stated it can go overboard, so it could give you problems in the opposite direction, but we can deliver treatments that dial back the effects of the Crimson X.”
“I see.”
“So now all you need to do is sign and we can start as early as next week.”
“What makes you so sure that I’ll agree to this?”
“Because Mr. Everton, I know that you have tried every doctor available with no success. Your condition is quite the anomaly, and has worsened. Your body is retaining less and less water, and becoming increasingly difficult to stay hydrated. The prognosis is that you have around six months to live. We seem to be your only hope, as I recall. Is this correct?”
“Yes. Yes it is. And please….call me Luke.”
“So why so cautious, Luke? You’ve nothing to lose at this point.”
“It’s just….I’ve heard….rumors.”
“Rumors? Well please…humor me.”
“NOSRAD has been known to...do some shady practices. People say that you do illegal experimentation, and even attribute to people’s disappearances. I know it’s just hearsay, but it’s just odd that none of the doctors have a clue how to cure me and NOSRAD seems to have all the answers.”
“Oh my, those rumors again. So, tell me here Mr. Everton. What proof have these people shown of any wrong doings of NOSRAD?”
“Well, a lot of people have said that…”
“Again, what proof do you have that we’re doing anything illegal?”
YOU ARE READING
What Memory Remains
FantasyQuestioning the murky details of his past, the government assassin Zenapharr Meridian seeks to uncover the truth and discover the roots of his homicidal urges, even if it means turning himself in for his crimes.
