Two people were talking inside a lab in the western district. They were Professor Derr Xilion and Major Fischer. They were inside Lab 67, a pristine, well-organized space filled with an array of scientific equipment and tools.
Bright overhead lights that cast a sterile glow throughout the space highlighted the clinical white color of the walls. The lab benches were made of stainless steel, polished to a gleaming shine, and lined with an assortment of glassware, beakers, and test tubes.
There were several lab stations, each manned by diligent scientists in white lab coats, diligently working on their experiments. The air was filled with a sense of focused activity as researchers meticulously measured, mixed, and analyzed various substances.
The hum of the ventilation system provided a constant background noise, along with the occasional beep of monitoring equipment.
Shelves lined with neatly labeled bottles of chemicals and reagents stood against one wall, while another wall was adorned with a whiteboard covered in formulas, diagrams, and sketches.
A computer station in the corner of the lab was abuzz with data analysis and experiment simulations.
The two spent the last week finalizing the plan required to perform their tasks: to cure every person injured by the parasitized monsters and to arrange the search for the parasite itself.
To do this, he planned to create several task forces with specialized hunters and Elite soldiers leading them. The reason for this set-up was that Major Fischer believed that the creature was hiding in some cave in the east, and by using hunters to track the infected thaids and the rest of the soldiers to keep track of every cave and hole inside the forest, they would have been able to find the creature's hiding place.
All of this was, though, like searching for a needle in a haystack, and it required a massive usage of the city's resources to be accomplished.
"We also need to mass-produce the anti-parasitic serum," the Major said to Professor Xilion.
"You want to cure everyone in a month, no?" the doctor asked.
"Indeed."
"Well, I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but we can't possibly create enough of the medicine in a month."
"Why not?" the Major asked.
"Because we do not have enough material, and I doubt there are enough people to go find them." The Major looked at the professor with downcast eyes. It was indeed as he was saying.
"May I speak?" asked the professor.
"Yes."
"I suggest that we prioritize the high-ranked people, regardless of their occupation; in this way, we can avoid the parasite getting a hold on strong people, lessening the burden in case something bad happens, and trust me, it will happen."
Fischer's heart sank hearing Xilion's idea, but by thinking about the pros and the cons, he also concluded that it was the best thing they could do. "You are right," he said.
"How much time do you think the first batch of medicine will need to be ready?" the Major asked.
"Well, I can provide you with an initial batch in a week, but keep in mind that a lot of time has already passed since the attack, and as time goes on, people will start having symptoms.
I don't know why Lakwosky mutated in such a short amount of time, but the soldiers who had been infected a month ago mutated in around a month and a half, so I think we should have the first problems around the 20th of September." Xilion said.
"The problem is that the serum we will be able to create will be enough to cure about two-thirds of the infected, and we only have a month available to heal them all before the mutations start. Here, we must make a choice. Will we cure the kids that got infected in front of the shelter, or will we heal the stronger citizens? Unfortunately, we will not have enough time to provide a cure to everyone," he added.
"Are you sure? Can we not prepare another batch and try to heal them? Can't we do something?" the Major asked.
"No, the serum we can make will not be enough; we must make a choice now."
"Damn…" The man thought about the situation for a little bit and then decided. The kids had to die; he couldn't risk the lives of all the citizens for a bunch of kids. "We will heal the others…" Fischer said.
"All right," Xilion replied. Then he asked the Major, "What about the parasite itself? I hope you can bring his body to me once you find it."
Fischer personally chose the members of the three squads that he selected to be the leading teams in the search for the monster who attacked the city. The teams were comprised of the highest-ranked soldiers available, as Fischer wanted to eliminate any chance for failure. There was no room for another attack on the city, hence why they sent such powerful soldiers to investigate the Heniate's whereabouts.
"Yes… I will send investigative teams starting on the 26th, the same day you will start the production. I only hope that our people will find the creature before it can prepare another monster army".
Then Professor Xilion turned to look at his computer, where he looked at the list of soldiers who had received injuries in the city's ordeal.
"We need to schedule the appointments to heal the people as fast as possible, or panic will spread. They all know what Heniates are and what it means to be bitten," Xilion said.
Fischer looked at him with a thoughtful look. He didn't really know what to say to the population.
"We will just tell them the serum is being produced but won't say anything about the ones who will be left out," the Major replied.
"All right," Xilion replied. Then Fischer sighed loudly.
"What's the matter?" Xilion asked.
"I have to call General Becker. I must update him on the situation and tell him what we have decided regarding the serum…"
"Good luck then."
Fischer took his phone and made the call. The phone rang, and after a short while, someone replied. After five more minutes, he was redirected to Becker's office number.
"This is Fischer talking. Good morning, sir."
The conversation between the two went on. "Everything is ready regarding the investigative teams, sir. Next week we will send them around Etrium's borders in search of the Heniate."
…
"Yes."
…
"Sir, I need to tell you something," Fischer said.
…
"Yes… Yes, sir… We won't be able to provide the cure soon, but not to everyone…"
…
After half an hour of conversation, Fischer hung up the phone. "It was that bad?" the professor asked.
"Yes, he wanted to know how our situation was, and I told him the problem we were having. He wasn't happy about the serum's situation…"
"And? What did he say?"
"He said that aside from the complications, we have nothing to worry about and to do what we can to go on with the plan. The ones who won't be healed will be executed, apparently."
"That's a shame…" the professor replied.
Major Fischer then turned to look behind the glass panel inside the giant lab room. There, he saw a bridled Ranger Lakwosky trying to free himself and shouting out loud.
He and Professor Xilion could not hear his inhuman screams, as every sound had been blocked from and into the room, but Fischer could not stop getting goosebumps by looking at how the man ended up.
Professor Der Xilion and Major Fischer stood in front of the glass-walled observation room, watching the mutated ranger Lakwosky struggle against the restraints that held him in place.
The man's appearance was horrifying; his skin was a sickly shade of red with deep cracks and warts that made him look like a monster spawned from hell. He was the result of the Heniate parasitizing humans.
Lakwosky's muscles bulged as he tried to break free from his shackles, his screams echoing through the observation room. The sight of him was enough to turn anyone's stomach, but Derr and Fischer had seen worse in their years working for the military.
Despite his horrific appearance, the two men couldn't help but feel a sense of pity for Lakwosky. They knew that he had been a ranger—a man who had dedicated his life to protecting his country. Now he was nothing more than a lab experiment, a monster no one wanted to see.
Fischer spoke first, breaking the silence that had settled in the room. "What are we going to do with him, Derr?"
Professor Xilion shook his head. "I don't know. Reversing the process is not possible, unfortunately. His DNA has been heavily altered."
Fischer sighed, his gaze never leaving Lakwosky. "He didn't deserve this."
"I know," Derr agreed. "But we have to focus on finding a way to prevent this from happening again. We can't let anyone else suffer as Lakwosky has."
Fischer nodded in agreement, but his eyes remained fixed on the mutated ranger. He couldn't help but wonder what was going on in Lakwosky's mind and if he was even aware of what had happened to him. He was a shell of the man he had once been, and it was heartbreaking to watch.
As they watched Lakwosky continue to struggle against his restraints, Derr and Fischer realized they had to be fast, as they could not allow other people to become like him.
"Did you find out why he turned so fast?" the Major asked.
"Not at all. I think it was something related to his DNA. However, we got the serum from him at least," Xilion replied.
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