"You're/I'm pregnant!" we said simultaneously.
The exclamations just hung there in the air as I
stared at her and her at me. In my excitement, I reached out to hug her and
ended up bruising her arm. That's when I noticed it. The bruise healed almost
instantaneously. And then it hit me, the placenta! This baby was conceived
before the mutation had matured, and evidently has passed on some of the
properties to Em.
"You and this wonderful bundle of joy may have just
saved everyone's life!" I said as I gently placed my hand on her belly. "Eli!
Get in here!"
Eli ran into the lab and greeted my excitement with
confusion.
"What's going on?" he asked. "What's with all the
excitement? Did you break something again?"
"We're going to have a baby!" I shouted.
Eli's expression went from that of puzzlement to one
of dour depression.
"Doc, you know that's not possible now," he warned.
"No, Eli, she's already pregnant. Post cure,
pre-mutation! The placenta Eli, think about the placenta!" I yelled.
Eli looked a little puzzled as he went through the arduous
process of figuring out that post-cure and pre-mutation meant that the cells
graphed onto Em's and the baby's, causing an entirely new mutation. And that
the placenta would hold properties that were an amalgam of our two systems, her
completely human and my pre-mutation, with the potential to mutate.
Eli's eyes lit up as he began to realize what this
meant. A cure was now possible. The gestation that Em will go through should
filter the cells through sterile antibodies that will allow us to extract not
only stem cells, but to use the placenta to kill the mutation that started the
outbreak.
"I get it Doc. This is fantastic news on so many
levels," he said. "I get it! I get it!"
"Would someone mind explaining this to me, in layman's
terms?" queried Em. "How does the child's placenta filter the antibodies that
react to other cells as invasive organisms?"
I looked at Eli, and then at Em and I picked her up
and hugged her gently!
"It's already working its way through her system and
creating a benevolent mutation," I shouted.
"Wow! Did that just come out of MY mouth?" uttered Em.
"Em, what did you do on April 8, 2004 at 10 am in the
morning?" asked Eli.
"Why? It was a Thursday, and I met a teacher in
Birmingham for a self-defense session. I remember as there were these attacks
in the area," she said.
"Mental acuity and physiology are both affected by the
mutation," I added.
"Are you telling me that the deposit of your genetic
material in me is making me like you?" she asked in amazement. "I'm a receptive
host via the amniotic fluid of the fetus, thereby allowing me to receive a
benevolent mutation?"
"Well the conjoining of our materials is allowing the
baby to affect your genetic makeup to ensure its survival, it seems" I
explained. "Both your physical and mental capacities will likely increase, but
to what levels, is unknown at this juncture."
"Is it possible that I will duplicate your
considerable abilities?" she asked.
"What are your thoughts on the matter?" I asked.
"Well, if the baby is filtering nutrients through me,
it stands to reason that its mutated cells will filter through me as well, also
causing a benevolent mutation in me," she stated.
"Give that woman a PhD," joked Eli.
"Honey, time is of the essence," I said. "We need to
get some blood and stem cell samples from you and the baby. Judging by your
ability to heal and the speed at which it occurs, we don't have that big of a
window to gather what is needed."
Eli and I went to work immediately to gather the
genetic samples needed. It looked like no matter how much we took from the
fetus, it regenerated and replenished the materials and fluids almost
instantaneously.
Em was a trooper throughout the entire process. She
now had the mental capacity to understand the bio-medical and physiological
aspects of the procedures we were conducting. Although the placenta rapidly
regenerated, we didn't want to harvest too much too soon for fear of harming
the baby.
Eli, Em and I worked quickly and quietly. We were able
to create 50 doses of the serum before the babies healing factor made
harvesting impossible. We kept the work we conducted secret on the outside
chance that it did not work. As the days became weeks, we had very few
incidents to disturb our communities.
We decided to split the serum in the following nature:
Five doses for Eli, Tank, Em, and myself and the remainder to be utilized by
the council. Em and I pooled our doses as did Eli and Tank. Em was beginning to
show, but we had yet to inform the general populace or even our own family with
what her pregnancy meant. Joshua however, was smarter than we had given him
credit.
"Dad, you and Em are my parents in every way that
matters," said Joshua. "I can only guess as to the reason that you are keeping
me in the dark as to what is going on with the baby."
"What do you mean, Joshua?" asked Em as she shot me a
look.
"Well, others may not have noticed due to the
pregnancy, but I have," Joshua stated. "You're a full three inches taller Em in
addition to the weight gain. And we both know that isn't just baby weight. Your
musculature and density have increased significantly. You're mutating."
"Damn! And this is without any mutations of his own,"
I whispered to Em proudly.
"We have to tell him, Marv," she stated. "We have to
tell everyone."
We told Joshua everything as he listened intently to
our medical miracle tale.
Again, hubris was beginning to avail itself when a
notion occurred to Joshua.
"Dad, what if everyone doesn't want the cure?" he
asked.
I had just assumed that "everyone" would want to be
cured, regardless of the effects that came with it.
"This is only one of the myriad of reasons that I love
you son," I said. "You keep me grounded. I never even considered that someone
would not want the cure. But to be honest, when I was first faced with
immortality alone, I wasn't too happy with the prospect myself."
I immediately called a meeting of the council and
attempted to explain in what I now considered layman's terms but sounded like a
thesis on physiology and biochemical mechanics. Eli was on hand to help
translate. The council sat there in stunned silence.
"We have in totality a congruent set of 30 dosages to
be distributed by the council," I said. "As this set is limited to a number
that is not congruent to the subset in totality of those who might wish to
partake, you might want to engage in chance as a determining factor with
distribution."
They all looked to Eli.
"Hold a lottery to determine who gets a dose," said
Eli.
There was muttering amongst the council members and
then Andre stood up.
"So, what you're saying, Doc, is that this serum will
prevent us from changing into DCs when we die? Even if we are bit?"
"In a word, affirmative" I responded.
I looked at T and then at Em.
"I have something I need to get off of my chest," I
said.
"Bro, if this is what I think it is, know that you
have my unwavering support," said T.
"I've known this for a while now, but I did not know
how to broach the subject with any of you," I said. "I believe I am the reason
for the outbreak. My serum focused on proto-enzymes proteins caused the first
DC to rise."
As I retold my tale to them, about my stepdad, about
Emily, Adam and the interns, I could see the anguish on their faces. I could
feel the hurt, the betrayal and the disappointment. As I concluded my
soliloquy, I then made a bold statement:
"I understand how some of you might feel, and while I
do not wish to diminish what that is, no one could comprehend the disgust and
disappointment that I feel in myself. To know that I am possibly responsible
for the fall of mankind is truly a heavy burden to bear. And with that being
said, I throw myself on the mercy of this council. I will abide by whatever
punishment you deem necessary."
Again, there was murmuring, but this time with more
anger, disgust and cursing.
"Marv, this isn't something that we can just consider
on the spur of the moment," said Gerald. "You are probably one of the best
friends I have left on the planet, but that is probably due to your mistake."
"If I had to be honest, right now I'm pissed!" said
Leon. "We're in this mess because of you and the only way out of it is through
you. I love you man, but this is a bit much!"
"I've lost my hand! I almost lost my life! All because
of you!" screamed Fred. "I'll kill you!" Fred lunged at me with his stump
equipped with a spear tip. The spear pressed against my flesh but could not
penetrate it. Again, and again, Fred struck me as everyone looked on in
amazement.
"What the hell are you?!" asked Fred.
I began to explain about my mutations and what they
meant, what they did and how they changed me.
"So, in addition to being cured, we'd become like what
you are now: Hyper intelligent, incredibly strong and long lived?" asked Andre.
"Not quite!" I corrected. "For all intents and
purposes, I am immortal. I cannot die. This is a nano-tipped scalpel. It cuts
on a molecular level." I sliced my arm and it immediately healed before one
drop of blood oozed forth.
"That's amazing!" shouted Fred! "Will it grow my hand
back?"
I opened my shirt and showed him the scar where the
bullet embedded itself in my chest. "Unfortunately, no, it will only heal
wounds that occur after the mutations," I stated. "I'm sorry Fred!"
"I know I'm the newest member to this council. I know
a lot of you feel a certain way about Doc right now, but he was there when me
and my family needed him most," said Rodriguez. "He has done nothing but be
kind to me and mine. Sure, he has made a huge mistake. But it wasn't malicious.
He's doing everything he can to rectify it and he has had loss as well."
"Any punishment you deem necessary for Marv, include
me as well. I've known since the beginning how this mess started," said T. "He
was trying to help people. Isn't that what a doctor is supposed to do? But I
guess the ol' adage is true, 'No good deed goes unpunished!'"
"Of course, you knew," said Andre. "What about Emelia
and the kid? Did they know too?"
"Look, I think we need to think about this thing,"
said an unusually vocal Ernesti. "Man's inhumanity to man is a cause of a lot
of our suffering. Marvin offered a bright oasis in an otherwise dismal world."
"I know a lot of people have died, but I can't lay all
the blame at the doctor's feet," said Jason. "Sure, the mistake is his, but he
has done nothing but try to atone for the mistake."
"The world is screwed because of you!" screamed Diane.
"My life is over and it's all your fault!"
Andre looked at Diane as he slumped in his chair with
a look of disappointment on his face. I think Diane's words hurt him more than
they did me. He truly loved her but was beginning to realize that the affection
might be one sided.
"Before you pass sentence on Marv, know that he didn't
have to tell you about the serum nor that he was responsible for the outbreak.
He never had to take any of you in to build this community or start this
council. He did everything he did only trying to help," said Em.
"If I may," said a voice from the doorway of the
council room. It was Jamie. She and Joshua were listening to the entire
meeting.
"I understand the feelings of loss and betrayal,
probably better than most. Because while most of you feel that your lives were
irrevocably changed, I feel that my future has been stolen," she said. Her
words tore at my heart like jagged glass. "However, you all are viewing this
like it is the final chapter. We still need a leader; a leader, who is smart
and strong and compassionate amongst other things. Who here fits that bill
better than Doc? Hasn't he kept us housed, fed, safe and alive? Hasn't he
ensured our training in all things survival? Who here can say that they have
not made mistakes? Who here would stand up to shoulder the burden that he has
carried since this all began?"
"I know I have no place to speak here, but I'm going
to anyway," began Joshua. "Doc, my dad, has interacted with each and every one
of you. He has shared laughter, tears and hope with us all. He has risked
himself for us on numerous occasions. I'm not saying that his mistake wasn't a
huge one, but we all know what's in his heart, whether we choose to admit it or
not."
"Well Doc, do you have anything to say for yourself?"
queried Leon. "The floor is yours."
I scanned the room and saw some sympathetic faces and
some not so much. I understood each hurt feeling and each disappointed scowl.
They were justified in their anger.
"My Ma used to say, 'Don't do anything you're not
willing to take responsibility for!' when I was younger. I now truly understand
what that means. All I've ever wanted to do, since I was a juvenile was
medically assist mankind; to correct the molecular and cellular deficiencies in
our organisms. To heal and make whole the degenerative mitosis and make a more
efficient mitochondria!'
"What the fuck did he just say?!" asked Gerald, as
everyone looked at each other.
"Since he was a kid, all he's wanted to do was help
people," explained Eli.
"Well at this moment we'll ask all those who are not
members of the council to excuse us while we discuss this new information and
make a decision on how to proceed," said Leon. "Based on relationships, we'll
also ask T, Doc, Em and Joshua to abstain from the discussion."
Unbeknownst to everyone present save Eli and Em, my
auditory capacity was such that I could hear everything they said. I could
smell the sweat that escaped from their pours as some argued for and some
against me. I understood the debate from both sides and had no basis to pass
judgement for their feelings on the matter.
I noticed that Em, because of her expressions, could
hear them as well. She was not pleased with what she heard. I held her hand as
I steadied her and for that brief moment, all I could hear was the heartbeat of
our child as it continued to grow inside of Em.
"Em, regardless of what happens, I want you to know
that I love you," I said as I looked into her beautiful eyes.
The door opened and Rodriguez walked out. "We've
reached a decision," he said