Vigilante Files Database: Sport

Chapter 3 - Breakthrough

       Life passed uneventful for most of the semester. Matt made progress in physical therapy where he could walk around for over an hour before being exhausted. 'My legs have turned into noodles' was all he thought when he looked in the mirror anymore. But he was more than determined to get back on his feet for good, he had found a new purpose for recovery. Matt was aware that sports may never welcome him back, but when he beat down Damian and his thugs, the adrenaline shooting through him had twice the exhilaration than a touchdown or homerun ever did. Matt planned to take it to the next level once he could walk for longer than an hour. So he trained hard and carefully to overcome his injuries.
       Meanwhile Nick was working in the chemistry lab once again to help him think. The chemistry professor at the college, Prof. Tyler Ignis, helped Nick talk it out and helped him with the formula. Ignis's appearance was similar to Nick; tall and skinny, dark hair and a big brain behind some glasses. Although Ignis is known throughout the college as weird. Students drop his class all the time because he goes on extensive political rants to the point where it doesn't feel like a chemistry class. Some get uncomfortable as Ignis tries to change their views on the United States. But Nick learned to just ignore and look past it because anti-authoritarian or not, the man is a great teacher otherwise and Nick respects him.
"I'm still worried about Matt, Mr. Ignis. He looks way better but I don't know how fragile his shell is."
Ignis's high voice comforted Nick; "He's made huge progress, Nick. I think he'll be just fine once he's all healed up."
"That's the thing, though. I had the idea that if he heals sooner, he'll be himself sooner. I want to speed up his healing, make it take a week rather than over a year." Nick's determination resonated as he said it "I've been tinkering with what we have available, but I need just one or two other ingredients to solidify the formula."
Ignis's attention has been piqued. A concoction that could speed healing sounded promising. "Oh?" Ignis started. "And what ingredients do you need? I could help if I claim to be helping you with a competition project."
"You can? Oh thank you Mr. Ignis. I think these are a bit expensive but I can help cover the costs because I'm the one who needs them."
Nick handed the professor his list of ingredients and elements. Ignis's eyes widened significantly as he read the requirements. "Uh... have you researched this combination? Should I know anything before I spend school money on this?" He looked over the list once more and thought Nick might either be crazy or really on to something strange.
"Yes sir, it's hard to get a solid reading because I believe I'm the first to try all these together. But on the virtual mixer, it comes out stable and effective." Nick now has confidence ringing in his words.
"Alright... don't make me regret buying this stuff, it's top notch and expensive as hell." Ignis went to the school computer to put in the request.

       A month passes. Matt can go a most of the day without the wheelchair as long as it is minimally taxing. Nick uses the new resources to test and perfect the fast healing serum, and Ignis watches over with great care. Nick assumes it's because the materials were no small investment.
       Another month. Matt can go the full day without the wheelchair, but his legs feel similar to a cross country runner's after a marathon. Nick has the serum essentially perfect. The only reason it isn't completely perfect is that there is still an issue.
"It's too fast, Mr. Ignis. The half life of the stuff burns so quickly that it won't last the user more than an hour."
"Wait, is that your only concern? So the stuff works as intended if just a little fast?" Ignis presses Nick for the answer. It seemed he was more excited for its completion than Nick was.
"Yeah, it works great. Once injected, it heals muscle tissue and skin about 3 faster times the normal rate. But it burns up in less than an hour, and the materials used for that result is a disappointing to say the least." Nick sat up on a counter and rested his chin on his hands. Clearly the stuff was a breakthrough in science, but it's findings would be wasted because it was so damn expensive that it's practicality would be for military elites and no one else.
       Ignis was sitting at his desk across from the lab. "Is it a cure-all for sickness?" Nick looked through his notes again and came up empty. "No unfortunately it can't even cure a cold, it's more of a physical repair thing." Ignis looked disappointed in that. "That's still a major discovery, and I know a couple of people who would find that attractive. Probably give you a huge amount of money or a Nobel Prize or whatever." He then started mumbling to himself more than to Nick. "Or they'd just turn it into another exploit for cash because everyone knows the more helpful a medicine is the more they can charge for it." Ignis looked over to Nick, and realized Nick wasn't even listening because he was writing furiously in a notepad. Ignis strolled over to see what was so captivating on the paper. Nick paused and looked over his shoulder at Ignis. "Oh, sorry. When you said the word attractive I suddenly got an idea!"
"What, bottling the stuff in a pretty pink container would make it more attractive?" Ignis asked jokingly.
"No no, I remembered something about this compound." Nick said as he moved on to the laptop that sat beside him. "When these components mix they become slightly magnetic..." Nick mumbled to himself constantly as he typed, researched and ran simulations.
       Ignis watched with curiosity. Nick's mumbling didn't clear up what he was attempting to do.
"There, there! I got it." Nick slid the laptop over to Ignis. "Watch the simulation." Was all he said.
       After clicking "Run," Ignis watched as the simulation ran two components on screen. One labeled "Serum" was shown to be dispersed across the whole area. The second component was centered on screen, labeled "Magnet." Once the magnet was in place, the Serum was no longer dispersed, and was instead uniform and neat.
       Ignis thought about what he was seeing. Then it clicked for him. "Oh! The uh... you need a magnetic force on the body to prolong the serum, right? The serum has a much longer half life that way! That's absolutely genius."
Nick smiled very proudly "Thanks, professor."
Nick began right away writing down plans for a magnetic belt that the serum's user could wear so that the rapid healing effects could last longer than an hour.
"Did you see how long it lasts?" Nick asked.
Ignis looked back to the laptop, and read aloud, "2 years?! One magnetic force can make an hour's worth last for two years?"
"Uh-huh! Isn't that crazy? Whoever's using it can take a beating like no other and be completely fine the next morning." Nick knew his genius would win award after award. And if not then a ton of money. But better than all of that was the fact that he could help his brother out by helping him heal. Nick could already envision the smile on Matt's face.
"I'm going to keep working on this, you've been a huge help, Mr. Ignis!" Nick continued drawing up the plans for the magnetic belt.
"Alright, let me know how well it works later, I'm wondering how accurate your simulator is." Ignis left the room to his student. He really wanted to see the results of the serum-belt combo because nothing like that had ever been done before. Once outside, Ignis lit a cigarette with an ornate lighter and he let it burn a long while before taking a drag.