Chapter 242 Apoptosis
As Richard was coordinating the rescue operation of the locals on Fuga Island, he was getting excited at the prospect of trying out the combat suit in actual combat with Graves. It was the reason why they visited the island in the first place.
Of course, the safety of the locals is a priority, not only on Fuga Island but on other islands as well. As they were doing their respective job, Richard received a transmission from Blackwatch.
"Blackwatch Actual to Eagle," Mark's voice sounded in his communication system.
"This is Eagle, send traffic," Richard responded.
"Eagle, we have a situation in the containment facility. It's about Crimson, she suddenly died."
Upon hearing that, Richard halted what he was doing. He froze at the news.
"What?!"
"Doctor Aaron said that they are conducting an autopsy of the body," Mark explained. "They'll try to find out what happened to her."
"Tsk," Richard clicked his tongue. "This changes everything…well…Imma going there immediately, I'll assign Graves to oversee the rescue operation."
"But how about your test?" Mark inquired, curious to know how this would affect Richard's original plans.
"The test will have to wait. Crimson's death is a major setback. We need to understand what happened," Richard said, his tone firm. "I will inform Graves that he's in charge now. I need to get to the containment facility as soon as possible."
"Understood Eagle, out here."
Ending the transmission, Richard walked towards Graves, who was helping a man get aboard the boat.
"Graves," Richard called out as he approached, drawing the attention of the man who was busy assisting with the rescue efforts.
Graves turned to face Richard, immediately noticing the urgency in his demeanor. "What's up, boss?" he asked.
Richard quickly briefed him on the situation. "There's been an unexpected development at the containment facility. Crimson is dead. I need to head there immediately to figure out what happened."
Graves' expression turned serious. "Understood. What do you need me to do here?"
"You're in charge now. Continue with the rescue operations. Ensure the safety of the locals is prioritized. I need you to handle things here while I'm gone," Richard instructed.
"But what about our combat test?" Graves asked.
"That has to wait," Richard?replied firmly. "This situation with Crimson takes precedence. It's vital that we understand what caused her death. Our combat test is secondary at this moment."
Graves nodded in understanding, though the disappointment was evident on his face. "I get it. We'll keep things under control here. The locals' safety is our top priority."
"Thank you, Graves. Keep the operation smooth and update me on any significant changes," Richard said, placing his trust in Graves to manage the situation.
With a final nod to Graves, Richard hurried off to prepare for his departure to the containment facility.
Reactivating the suit's flight system, Richard soared through the sky and set course to the New Clark Containment Facility.
Ten minutes later, Richard arrived at the New Clark Containment Facility.
"Sir Richard, I'm glad you're here. This is a complicated situation," Doctor Aaron said, leading him to the lab where Crimson's body was being examined.
"What do we know so far?" Richard asked, his expression serious.
"Not much yet. We're conducting a full autopsy to determine the cause of death. There were multiple organ failures, but the root cause is still unclear," Doctor Aaron explained.
"Is it possible that the progenitor is behind this?" Richard inquired thoughtfully.
"That's a possibility, but this never happened to Andrea before," Aaron pointed out.
"I know, but that must be because Lin Feng didn't expect one of his minions to break away from his control, maybe there was some sort of a mechanism that activates when he loses control of his minion," Richard said.
"That's an interesting insight, how did you come up with it?" Aaron looked at Richard.
"Well, because if I were in his shoes, I would do the same," Richard responded candidly. "It's a fail-safe mechanism, ensuring that no asset can turn against you or fall into enemy hands with crucial information."
Doctor Aaron nodded thoughtfully. "That does make sense. It would be a logical step for someone like Lin Feng to take. However, we'll need concrete evidence to support this theory. I'll make sure the autopsy looks into any signs of such a mechanism."
"How long will it take?"
"Well, considering the remains of her body, three hours tops," Aaron said.
"Three hours. All right, keep me informed. I'll be here," Richard stated, settling in for the wait.
Richard found a quiet corner in the facility where he could stay updated on the ongoing autopsy without interfering with the process. So Lin Feng already knew that if a pill was removed from his minions, it could be turned into his enemies. He doesn't want to repeat that mistake again like he did to Andrea.
Three hours later, Aaron approached Richard.
Richard checked his watch and tapped the table in front of him. "So, what have we found, Doctor Aaron?"
Aaron sighed, looking somewhat weary from the extensive autopsy. "We've confirmed that Crimson's death was due to a self-destruct mechanism. A highly sophisticated biochemical compound was triggered, leading to rapid organ failure. More specifically, her DNA began collapsing at a microscale, which triggered a cascade of cellular failures throughout her body."
Richard leaned in, intently focused. "Can you elaborate on how her DNA collapsing led to the organ failures?"
"Certainly," Aaron began, adjusting his glasses. "Our analysis indicates that the compound interacted with specific sequences in Crimson's DNA, causing it to break down. This breakdown initiated a process of apoptosis, or programmed cell death, at an accelerated rate. When cells die at such a rapid pace, tissue integrity is compromised, leading to organ failure."
Richard nodded, absorbing the information. "So, essentially, her body's basic building blocks were turned against her. That's a terrifying level of control."
"Exactly," Aaron agreed. "The compound essentially hijacked the natural process of cell death, making it widespread and uncontrollable. Her heart, liver, kidneys – all her major organs were affected almost simultaneously. It's a very sophisticated and, frankly, a brutal way to ensure that no asset turns rogue."
Richard sighed. "Well, Lin Feng is truly a man beyond saving. Well, he is not a human but a monster, a monster that should be eliminated."
"You were nuking cities from foreign countries to increase your strength…isn't your progress enough?"
Richard shook his head. "I don't know how to tell…but I have a feeling that we are not at that level yet. Patience my friend, we'll end this battle before the year 2024 ends."
This content is taken from freewebnove(l).com