Storm of Vengeance (Crimson Worlds Refugees Book 5) by Jay Allan

Author:Jay Allan [Allan, Jay]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2018-05-06T07:00:00+00:00

* * *

“You have excelled, my friend, beyond even the high standards we Mules set for ourselves. Four decades of research, and virtually no progress…and here…” Achilles gestured toward the woman lying in the bed. “…is the result of your work.”

The woman was a Tank, one who’d been no more than a day from death when she’d been airlifted to the Institute’s infirmary. She was sleeping quietly now, and she was breathing without mechanical assistance. The spots on her skin where there had been black, necrotic sores—part of the reason the disease had been branded ‘the Plague’—were covered now with nothing but a soft pink layer of new skin.

Achilles didn’t rely on anything as incomplete as a glance at the patient, however. He’d reviewed every analysis, every medical scan, and the verdict as undeniable. Save for some minor healing still underway, and immense fatigue from the ordeal, the woman lying a meter from where he stood had no symptoms at all.

“Thank you, Achilles.” Themistocles looked almost as tired as his patient, but his satisfaction was evident on his face. “I was optimistic it would work…but, of course, you can only be so sure without actual test cases.”

“Themistocles, I have been reviewing your notes…there doesn’t appear to be much about the treatment that is specific to the Plague. Indeed, the patients still have the disease—or dysfunction, whatever we call it—your injections are simply repairing the damage as it occurs, and setting up a cycle so the body can continue to do so.”

“That is true, Achilles. I have not unlocked the secrets of what causes the Plague, only developed a way to treat its effects. However, the treatments should keep the Plague in a state of permanent remission, at least, even if it doesn’t eradicate whatever factors cause it.”

“But, you weren’t working on a Plague cure, not at first? That is what you told me earlier.”

“No…I was trying to find a way to reverse our sterility. I was unable to achieve any success there, but I was able to unlock some startling cell regeneration capabilities from First Imperium genetic material.”

A concerned look slipped onto Achilles’s face. The supply of preserved Ancient DNA was restricted, set aside solely for use in quickening new Mules.

“No, my friend…I do not mean I used specimens from the supply of genetic material. I used my own blood samples. Don’t forget, we carry the genetic codes of the Ancients as well as the humans inside us.”

“You were able to initiate widespread cell regeneration using a serum you manufactured from your own blood?”

“Yes, Achilles, my friend. Now, you begin to see that the potential goes far beyond simply treating Plague victims. Our discussion of near-immortality was realistic. I am even more certain now than I was before.”

“Yes, I can see that, Themistocles.” Achilles saw the wondrous uses, but he saw a dark side as well, and he felt a spark of fear at where his friend’s discovery might lead.

“It is good that we were cautious about announcing this publicly. We must be very careful.

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