(1) Death

Lucas was an average man of thirty-six, 1.8m (5'9") tall, gray streaked through his short black hair and half of his goatee. He worked for Future Technologies of the World (FTW) as one of the lead researchers in Research and Development (R&D) and earned a more than comfortable wage at this point. Lucas married the love of his life right out of college and they were now trying for their first child. He was quite content in life and the CEO and vCEO had their eyes on him for promotion to Director of R&D. His life couldn't have gone any better if he planned it himself. "I'm headed out, you coming?" Toyo asked. "Hmm?" Lucus looked up from the tablet in his hands and glanced around to realize that they were the only ones left. "No, I have a couple more tests I want to run on chemical make-up of the new version of vaccine, wouldn't want the rats to explode… again, would we?" Toyo grimaced at the memory, "Alright I'll lock-up and be right back." "Don't worry about it. Go home get some rest and enjoy the weekend, your going to need it." Lucus smiled. "Oh yeah that's right, you're on vacation all next week, aren't you?" "Yup, one week chock full of baby making." Lucus sarcastically sighed. "Oh, please try not to rub it in my face, Angelica and I just split." Toyo replied. Lucus shook his head apologetically "I'm sorry man, I didn't think she was good enough for you anyway. Well instead of heading home go hit a couple bars or try that dating app everyone is on." "Not really my scene and that app is more like 'hooking up' than dating. Maybe your right though I should go have some fun, alright I'll lock-up on my way out don't stay too long wouldn't want Lizzy to get jealous now." Toya chuckled as he walked out.

A few hours later Lucus was walking out of the building. Looking at his wristwatch he noted the time. 'Half past midnight, busses stopped running for the day and by the looks of it, it doesn't seem I'm going to be getting a taxi anytime soon.' Lucus thought, he only lived a couple miles from work, in a flat downtown. He decided a nice evening walk would help clear his mind from his previous failures of the day and the cool air did feel great on his skin. He took a deep breath and started the walk to his building.

Lucus used this time to think about the project instead of clearing his mind like he intended to do. Lost in his thoughts 'This last round must have contained too much aluminum in it. The adjuvant caused a complete override of the nervous system, nutrient absorption, and not to mention the bones basically turned into jelly so even if it was able to move the bones wouldn't be able to support its weight and if it were to bump into anything or fall the bones wouldn't protect the organs or, most importantly, the brain. If I increase the antigen…' his thoughts continued like this for while during his walk. Completely oblivious to his surroundings and to the black sedan slowly pulling up behind him with the lights off.

Two people jump out, one in a black mask and clothes, the other a woman, no mask and still wearing the dress she had on earlier as she sat sipping wine alone at a table set for two. The pair split up, the man getting closer to the buildings and the woman walked, albeit a little sluggishly, in the road. When she saw the man duck into the shadows made by the spacing of the lamps near the buildings, she bellowed out drunkenly, hardly having to act "You stupid ass face!" Surprised he spun on his heels to see a beautiful blonde haired woman with a spectacular body and a modest bosom, bare foot in a black evening gown slit up the thigh all the way to the waist showing quite a bit of leg. The dress clung to her body showing the efforts of her daily fitness routines. Her blonde hair was a bit disheveled and her lids were slits as her eyes stared daggers at him. 'If looks could kill…' he thought. Instead he blurted out "Lizzy?! What the hell are doing? Where are your shoes? How did you ge…" Before he could finish, he felt a sharp pain on the back of his head and he hit the ground hard, his head bouncing off the concrete. He managed to maintain consciousness but only barely as he tried to look around at what had happened. It was no use, he was too dizzy, his vision swam, ears ringing and stomach roiling. "He's still awake!" He heard a woman's voice 'Who was that? She sounds so familiar.' His thoughts a jumble as the bare heel of foot came down his cheek again smashing his head into the concrete sidewalk. He felt the crunch as his cheek bone gave way under the heel and felt something warm and wet on the back of his head. Still he clung desperately to consciousness trying to use the pain in his face to sharpen his dull mind. A groan escaped his lips as he tried to roll himself over and get his arms around his head and face to protect them. "Jesus Christ! What is he made of?" a man's voice said. "Please!" Lucus tried to beg his assailants but due to his destroyed cheek bone the words came out slurred "I have a wife!" "Not after tonight" a woman's voice said as he felt the same bare heel as before connecting with his ribs, knocking the air out his lungs. 'That voice, where do I know that voice' his confusion continued but his beating did not. This time the bare heel was accompanied by heavy boots. He felt and heard his ribs break, his spine, even his pelvis as the heavy boot stomped down. Then he felt the boot come down hard on his right knee. Instinctively he tried to reach down for the now shattered knee and was rewarded with a boot to the face. Causing the break in his cheek bone to spread out to his upper lip, nose, and part the other cheek bone. The assault stopped as Lucus lay struggling to breathe and choking on the blood trickling down his throat. "He's still moving." The man remarked, "Give me that knife, I'll finish it and you get him the trunk." 'That voice! Lizzy?' "Lizzy?" he tried to say more but the blood choked him again and could only gag and cough as he struggled against the pain in his ribs to expand his lungs. Just when he turned his head enough to keep blood from flowing into the back of his throat, he felt the sharp pain of something stabbing into his side. Again, the pain came but slightly higher into his ribs. The blade hit the bone instead of the soft meat in between. "Shit!" a woman's voice yelped as she dropped the blade. He barely understood that the sound was her dropping the knife before the pain came back again and again and again. "Lizzy that's enough!" a man exclaimed. Lucus tried to breathe in again but couldn't manage. 'Must have punctured the lung' he thought 'Or lungs. Why is she doing this to me?' "Get him in the trunk" Lizzy said in a cold tone. He felt his body being dragged the pain in his knee, although now much duller, blazed with pain. He attempted to scream because of the pain but only manage to gurgle out fresh frothy blood. His wedding night flashed in his mind, a vision of beauty given form stood before him, naked for his admiration. Passion burned in her eyes the same he felt in his heart for her. Desire moving his body, they gave themselves over to their primal urges long, long into the night. He barely registered the lurch of the vehicle as his body grew colder and his mind slowed.