EVERMORE ─ marvel ⁷

VIII. Change

Chapter Eight
Analiese

"I appreciate the help, Shuri, I know how busy you are." I say to the princess as she readies the machine.

Shuri grins as the hum of the machine turns on, emitting a white glow. "It's my pleasure. I just hope it works."

"You and me both."

"It will work," Livy says from the work table, making sure the serum we concocted is ready. "I'm confident that between the three of us we can fix Sydney's issue."

"Well if you can't I don't know who can," Sydney says from the edge of the lab. "You three are like the greatest geniuses in the world."

"I'd hardly call myself a genius." Livy protests.

"Nonsense." I argue.

"Any niece of mine is a genius." Shuri proclaims.

"So how is this gonna work?" Sydney asks, eyeing the machine, looking mildly uncomfortable.

"You emit poison from your skin similar to that of a poison dart frog. After more research than you could possibly imagine," I sigh with a huff. I haven't slept in days because of how much research I've had to do. "I found out that the reason why those frogs emit the poison, is because they eat poisonous puffer fish as a diet. The reason why the frogs themselves don't die from the poison they ingest, is because they have a mutated single amino acid that alters the sodium channels in their body. The sodium channels are where the problem lies, what we need to do is destroy the poison that emits from them. Livy and I created a serum filled with single amino acids and the enhanced cure, which already has radiation in it. Those two combined should get rid of your powers."

"How will you inject me if you can't touch me?"

"The machine will inject you for us." Livy explains, handing the serum vile to her aunt, who begins uploading it into the syringe needle attached to the machine.

Sydney nods, beginning to unzip her jacket, hesitatingly putting it on the still closest to her. She walks over towards the machine, careful not to get to close to any of us, and holds her arm out. Shuri activates the machine, and we watch in anticipation as the needle comes closer and closer to Sydney's arm. The needle pierces her skin, making the young woman wince, and then inject the serum. Sydney watches the needle exit her body and pull away, then her eyes go down to her arm, which is bleeding ever so slightly.

"Did it work?" She whispers.

"Only one way to find out." Livy says, taking a step towards her. Livy sniffs the air around Sydney for a second, getting the lay of the land, and then places her hand on Sydney's arm. Nothing happens. Livy is fine.

I can't help the sigh of relief that exhales from the lungs. This reaction is shared by Shuri and especially by Livy, who I am sure is happy to have not been affected by the poison. Sydney stares at her skin in shock for a few moments, and then suddenly bursts into tears. She crumples to the ground, her body shaking in happiness, in relief, in pain. Livy places her hand on Sydney's shoulder to comfort her, looking over her shoulder towards me and Shuri to say: "I'd call this a success."

"Couldn't have done it without both of your help."

To my surprise, Shuri places her hand on my shoulder, giving me a firm nod. "Anything for a colleague."