Chapter 2 - Preparations

As Harold promised in the following days the organisations legal team had been fluttering in and out of the hospital to legalise all of the requirements Daniel had set forth.

On the other hand, Harold was trying to solve the last requirement that Daniel had set forth, Sitting in his office he scrolled through a list of contacts he had that he felt could do the job, but all of the had retire or were missing in action.

"Ben, Come to my office." Harold spoke in to the intercom.

"Gotcha Boss. On my way." Ben replied.

Shortly after there was a knock on the door and it slightly cracked open to reveal Harold's driver Ben.

"You need me for something Boss?" Ben asked in his gruff voice.

"Yes. Close the door and take a seat." Harold said looking up to the door.

After Ben had taken a seat, Harold put a file on the desk in front of him.

" This is a file on a youth named Daniel Fount. He is a highly skilled asset even in his condition and one of his requirements to come and work for me on a project in the faking of his death. Now due to his situation this shouldn't be too hard but none of my contacts are available to do this at the moment and we need this done by the end of the month. So, I need you to recommend someone who you feel will be able to pull this off." Harold explained.

Ben took the file on the desk and looked it over, taking in all the detail and trying to formulate a plan on how to do this.

"Boss, I could do this myself but if you want it to have no links to us what so ever then I could only recommend one guy." Ben replied after some consideration.

"No links to us would be a good this as we wouldn't be under scrutiny. Who is it you'd recommend?" Harold confirmed.

"The guy I'm thinking about used to go under the code name Stingray. I worked a few jobs with him all under the radar and he does a damn good job. His real name is Aaron Peake and he specialises in poisons and subterfuge. I haven't heard of him retiring and I reckon he'd do the job." Ben suggested.

"Well, he certainly does fit the bill. Can you make contact?" Harold asked.

"That shouldn't be too hard. I think I still have his handlers number and I can see if we can set up a meet if you want." Ben said.

"I want to meet him as soon as possible to get this done and I'm willing to pay whatever price." Harold said with a commanding tone.

"I'll get it done Boss." Ben said putting the file on the desk and getting out of his chair.

"Would we offer his a permanent job in security if he's planning to go clean?" Ben questioned just as he was getting to the door.

"Anythings on the table as long as he can get a clean break from this job, with no ties to us." Harold answered.

"Understood." Ben confirmed as he left the office.

Harold sat in his office massaging his temples as he pondered if this was going to be worth it.

"The boy should be able to do it. He solved the other problems and this may be his final achievement before he passes." Harold thought out loud as if trying to convince himself of this possibility.

He tapped a number into his phone and waited for the line to connect.

"Hello, Harold. What can I do for you?" a voice answered on the other end.

"Hello, Sven. I need a favour regarding a new asset we are building up to. I need some genetic treatment for Duchenne muscular atrophy. Anything that could help a patient live longer or improve cardiac and respiratory symptoms." Harold asked his colleague for anything to help Daniel live a bit longer to improve prospects for his project.

"Hmm, That's a difficult one. In normal scenarios, a concoction of steroids and cardiac controlling medicines would be used but there is nothing further that this in the current medical science even with our resources." Sven replied, dashing the hope Harold had raised.

"But if you are willing to allow animal splicing, we may be able to concoct a slight genetic stabiliser to soothe the symptoms and could allow for recover but that could take years. And if you are talking about Daniel, I have looked into his file and seen his own prognosis and to be honest his estimate of 6 months is the most accurate if nothing else crops up with his condition and this would not be enough time for the genetic treatment to bind to his own DNA." he continued.

"So, there's nothing we can do, is what I am hearing?" Harold asked for confirmation.

"At the current rate of research, if there is no major breakthroughs, we will need at least another hundred years of progress to be able to tackle this." Sven replied, shattering any hope or wish for treatment.

"Well damn. That's not good, I don't think we have enough time for him to crack this." Harold commented more disappointed about his lack of option to support his own project.

"Harold, I know this is important to the organisation but I think you are taking this the wrong way. Daniel has accepted this offer because he wants to work till the end and he has never mentioned curing his condition or any extra time. I've personally used his theorems in my own research and I know that these theorems were created as an after-thought while he was taking a break from his main project. Imagine what the boy could do if he had his full focus on one thing." Sven tried to comfort his colleague.

"I know but I feel for the boy. He has so much he could do and with his IQ there is nothing he could not accomplish. Heck, if he would accept I'd adopt him and give him a lap of luxury before he passes but he wants to work." Harold said remorsefully as he thought of the fantasy of Daniel being able to survive.

"I know what you are saying but as they say destiny is such a fickle muse. With such a good mind in such a weak body, such is the fate of genius's. Only a spark to start the fire of creation." Sven commented as he ended the call leaving Harold to further ruminate his thoughts.

He kept running through random possibilities to achieve his goal without Daniel, so as to give Daniel a reward and compensation from life. But no matter which person he thought to replace Daniel he knew they were inadequate. Finally, fully defeated with no hope to get by without Daniel's brilliance, Harold got up from his office to make his way home in hopes to get a good nights rest to prepare for his meeting with Stingray tomorrow.

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After leaving Harold's office, Ben went to his locker to retrieve his old satellite phone as called the handler he thought could get him in contact with Stingray. After a couple of minutes waiting the line connected.

"Hey Bee, It's Wolf. How you doing?" Ben asked giving his old mercenary moniker.

"Wolf, I'm good. It's been a while since we last spoke. Tell me your back in the game." Bee replied in his Japanese accented English.

"No Bee, still retired. But I need a favour." Ben denied.

"Tell what you need Bro." Bee said.

"I need Stingray for a job. It's nothing major just faking some kids death." Ben explained.

"Hmm You know what Wolf, He was just asking about you too. Something about wanting to leave the game and how successful you were." Bee commented.

"That's great, Bee. Tell you what, get him to call me and I may be able to sort him a good clean break if he can do this job for me. The Boss said we'd give him a job if he needed it afterwards anyway." Ben suggested

"Well, well Wolf. You got all the hook ups now. Don't worry Sting is in London at the moment on some down time. I'll message him to get in touch with you. And Wolf remember I'm always here if you need anything. As they once a Bro always a Bro." Bee said.

"Bee, I know and the same to you. If you need anything, let me know. Anyways chat to to another time." Ben said as he hung up, appreciating a true brother he made in life.

Ben walked back to the Harold's office to catch Harold leaving for the day.

"Hey Boss. I made contact with the handler and he said that Sting is on a break at the moment in London so just waiting for him call me. Boss, I think Sting wants to retire from the merc-life so I offered a job in security for now. Is that OK?" Ben reported.

"That's fine Ben. Once you make contact with him get a meeting set for tomorrow and let me know. But for now drive me home, I feel utterly exhausted." Harold replied as he walked towards the elevator.

" Understood Boss." Ben said as he followed his Boss.

The two left the building and drove off in the same car as before toward Harold's home.