"No. But it is true that you no longer age. You are in
fact, immortal," said Eli.
Most people would consider that information to be
great. I'm not most people. I considered the implications. Calculated the
permutations. Weighed the pros and cons, and it sucked!
"In fact, Doc, your cells regenerate at an alarming
rate," said Eli. "With your permission, I'd like to try something?"
I nodded and Eli picked up a needle and pressed it
against my forearm. It bent as he applied pressure. He then picked up a scalpel
and again it bent against my skin. He then picked up a Nano-tipped scalpel and
with effort sliced my arm as it healed even before he could move the scalpel
away.
"How cool is that?!" exclaimed Eli.
"Cool! COOL! THIS IS NOT COOL!" I yelled as Eli began
to back away. I immediately replayed that scenario with my step father from oh
so long ago. But now I was the brute threatening another. I breathed in deeply
and calmed myself. This wasn't Eli's fault.
"I'm sorry I raised my voice," I said in a calmer
tone. "But Eli, this is far from cool!"
"Doc, you have what man has strived after for
millennia," he said. "To never age and live forever! Imor-freaking-tality!"
"Eli, you're 17. What happens when you're 27? How
about 37? Or maybe even 47 or 57? Will you live to see 67 in this day and age?"
I asked. "A part of the wonder of life is not being able to predict it. Life is
precious because it is uncertain, undetermined and not promised!"
I shook my head as I remembered that although he has
the intellect, it is not tempered with wisdom, pain and loss. In many ways,
he's just a 17-year-old kid. Years...It's funny that word used to hold such
reverence, but now...
Just then, T, Em and Joshua knocked as they entered.
"How are things going in here?" asked Em.
"Well there was something I was wondering," I said. "Eli
was there enough of the two serums to duplicate to inoculate the rest of the
camp?"
"Oh! Doc, I thought you knew!" he said. "I had to use
the remainder of both to save you."
"And let me guess, my blood can't be used as it treats
any foreign substance as an antibody and attempts to eradicate or absorb it?"
"It's amazing how your mind works now Doc," said Eli. "How
is it that you know these things without supplementary analysis?"
"Lucky guess. What about Tank?" I asked. "Can we use
his blood to create a vaccine?"
"That's what I've been attempting with no results,"
said Eli. "I can't duplicate the formula I derived before in conjunction with
the formula you created. Each time, it is failure after failure. I only had a
small sample of your blood after the dosage, but it has since mutated as well."
I breathed in deeply with a look of disappointment
etched on my face. Again, I shook my head in disbelief. This can't be
happening.
"Eli, can I have a moment alone with my family?" I
asked softly.
I looked at each of them and my heart broke. I know
this was selfishness on my part, but I loved them all.
"I have news," I said. I reached out my overpowered
hand palm up to allow Em to place her hand in mine. I looked at them each as a
tear built in my eye.
"What is it honey?" asked Em.
"Have you all ever heard the saying, 'We begin to die
the moment we are born'?" I asked. T and Em looked at each other and shook
their heads.
"Yes. You taught me that our cells are in a constant
state of decay. Healthy cells replace the dead ones. It's called mitosis," said
Joshua.
I grinned ear to ear.
"You are correct," I said. "Is there anything that you
can't learn? Well, my cells no longer die. They are self-sustaining."
"What? What does that mean, bro?" asked T.
"It means, he can't die," said Joshua as he gleefully
looked me in the eye.
"Get the fuck outta here with that," laughed T.
I looked him in the eye like I had so many times
before to let him know I was serious.
"It also means, I no longer need to eat, sleep, drink
or even breathe to survive," I said as I slashed my forearm with the
nano-tipped scalpel and the tissue began to heal.
"What the fu...How much more of a badass does that
make you then!?" asked T as he slapped me on my back. "Hell, where are those
bullies now from when we were kids?"
Again, I smiled. Only T had that way of making me
realize that things are never as dark as I perceive them. It made me realized
how much more I needed my best friend, my brother.
"So, you mean you won't die...ever?" asked Em.
"Nor will I age beyond what you see in front of you,"
I said.
"T, Joshua, could you excuse me and Marvin, please,"
said Em softly and sweetly. The two patted my back and shoulders as they left.
I looked at Em and she was understandably taken aback.
She had a really pensive look on her face. She paced a little.
"I know this is a lot to take in. What are you
thinking, babe?" I asked.
She turned away from me and remained silent. I stood
and walked up behind her and ever so gently put my arms around her waist. At
that moment I realized that Em had a very distinct scent. It was pleasant like,
honeysuckle and jasmine. But it was slowly changing to one I couldn't quite
place.
She slowly turned to face me with both of her arms
hugging herself.
"Do you know how much I love you, Marvin?" she asked.
I just stood there, dumb founded. A tear rolled down
her cheek.
"I don't claim to be as smart as you and Eli or even
Joshua," she said.
She squeezed herself a little tighter as she looked up
at me with those stunning eyes.
"I heard what Eli said about how your cells would
attack other cells as antibodies," she said. "Does that mean you're poison?
"No dear, it just means I won't be giving any blood
transfusions is all," I said in a reassuring tone. I could now smell the
perspiration on Em and the hormonal change that was occurring. Was she
experiencing her cycle?
"So, in laymen's terms, what would happen if someone
were to receive a transfusion from you?" she asked.
"Well, right now, my blood is in a state of flux," I
said. "As a result, my body is changing from day to day. It could be a
benevolent mutation, but at this juncture, it would more than likely be
catastrophic." Again, my senses denoted a change in her physiology.
"So, what you're saying is depending on WHEN a person
received the transfusion is just as important as IF they received it?" she
asked.
"Yes, something like that. Why are you so concerned
with blood transfusions all of a sudden?" I asked nervously.
"Well, remember the day you woke up and Eli released
you to me?" she asked.
What was that buzzing sound? It is so faint, like it
is there but it wasn't.
"We celebrated your survival and our reuniting," she
said. "Or more accurately I celebrated on you, as you were afraid you'd hurt
me. You're so much stronger now than you were then!"
The buzzing was more audible now and I could tell that
it was slowing.
"I think I was still in a state of mutation then,
honey," I said.
"I mean, after all it WAS technically still our
honeymoon when all of that went down with Cyrus and Cisco," she said.
The buzzing had slowed to a speeding thumping pattern.
"I know what it means that you will outlive everyone
you love, and that sucks," she said. "I mean who wants to live forever alone?"
Thump, thump, thump, thump in rapid succession. If I
concentrate I can hear it. Where is that coming from?
"I didn't want to say anything until I was sure," she
said. "So, I had the twins find me what I needed to be sure." I zeroed in on
the sound. It was coming from...
"I'm/You're pregnant!" we said simultaneously.