Bed Farewell: vengeance a cocktail drug, #4

By Sexton Voolinwinkel

In a world of superhuman addicts, one legend stands out above the rest. It is the legend of vigilantes with vendettas.

The world was on the brink of war and Africa was running out of options. A secret organization with powerful influence took matters into their own hands by experimenting with human DNA. The idea was to develop a race capable of withstanding nuclear and chemical warfare. With no volunteers, they sought out the worst criminals as test subjects. A test subject escapes before the transformation process is complete, leaving a trail of bodies behind. He is semi-evolved, he is excessively dangerous and must be stopped.

An informant to the South African Marshall's office gets caught up between a childhood fantasy and the drug cartel and uncovers a world of passion he never knew existed. How could this be so wrong?

This story contains violence, murder and once again, the new marvel drug. The series is not meant for children.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bernard Harold Curgenven
• Release date: Feb 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9781386636526

Book preview

Prologue

Somewhere in Africa, at a secret location, beneath a mountain in a desert terrain:

They were safe from the sandstorm. The meeting started off with the usual introductions, for the record only of course, since most members were already well acquainted. The guest of the party was a newcomer named Susan Steenkamp, a newly appointed research scientist from the organization’s scientific wing. She had been acquired from Interpol. Top dollar had been paid for her expertise and not all the board members approved.

Thank you for joining us on such short notice, Miss Steenkamp. Shall we get down to business, now that the introductions have been made? the director asked the obvious rhetorical question, speaking loud and clear for the recorder. He sat upright, nose in the air, hands at his side, and spoke with a British accent. He had a dull, dry voice, and spoke with authority.

Thank you for inviting me, Mr Chairman. I presume this is about the subject who escaped last week. As I have already explained, it occurred during my leave, so it’s no fault of mine, sir! she answered with a quiver in her voice.

Believe me, Miss Steenkamp, you would be in police custody if it had occurred on your watch, the director continued. We received your report and we are concerned, and I am sure you appreciate the importance of being discrete in this matter.

I don’t understand! she exclaimed. The public are already aware of this rogue soldier. They have a right to prepare themselves...

Actually, there are no super soldiers. He was a vigilante, employed to assist the South African Marshalls. Only now he has acquired a taste for innocent blood, the director explained. He stared across the round table before adding, You see, headhunters often cross over to the other side, and they become even worse criminals.

I assure you, it isn’t my intention to destroy my employer’s reputation. I am merely a scientist, and I’m not aware of any conspiracy to cover the truth.

That’s good to know, Miss Steenkamp, the director answered, and your remarkable work won’t go unrewarded. He stood up and turned towards the staircase behind him. The board has a few questions for you. Please answer them to the best of your ability as a scientist and a dedicated employee, he bellowed, with his back towards her. Then he climbed the stairs and left the basement.

Commissioner Resd, who was seated to the right of the open seat, stood up as if to follow, but he never turned away. Can you identify this substance, Doctor Steenkamp? he asked, fishing it from his cloak pocket. He rolled the round object across the table, towards Susan. It reached its destination with dead accuracy and came to a stop before her.

Is this a joke, sir? she asked abruptly.

We’re not here to entertain you, he said, letting out a dry giggle. You’re probably wondering how we got hold of this, since you took great care to conceal it. You see, we have your entire lab rigged with hidden cameras. We even know about your sexual encounters, and we know when you take a nap.

You have no right to invade my privacy, she said, remorsefully.

Well, that’s debatable, and better left for another time. We know you tried to incinerate this very rare compound, and failing to accomplish the impossible, you hid it. Please explain yourself!

We are playing God here, she huffed, looking up to face the board, obviously annoyed. This substance is infected. It is humanity’s worst nightmare!

Miss Steenkamp, an unintroduced member spoke out in a loud voice, you see this matter as a conspiracy, and in a way you may be right in your assumption, but let me fill you in on the bigger picture. We are living in a time of war, and every nation in Europe wants to be a nuclear superpower, if not to counteract the powerful nuclear nations from the east, then to invade Africa, because we are believed to be an easy target. We have every right to experiment with DNA, if not to enhance genetic warfare, then at least to create a resistance against radioactivity...

Believe me sir, I am well aware of this, but there must be another way, she interrupted. We are moving too fast. We need to do more research before taking a leap of faith. You expect us to experiment on people completely blindfolded...

Explain to us how an inorganic compound can have such a devastating effect on sensory and motor neurons, and how this relates to the reconstruction of the DNA path, the stranger retaliated by interrupting her. He seemed anxious to get to the point.

It is not a fault of the Silver Nitrate alone, but rather a combination of bad experimentation. Silver salts are usually quite safe for the human body. Worst case scenario – severe abdominal pain when digested. But it is also used in the structuring of mirrors. She stopped and looked around.

Are you suggesting the subject is turning into a mirror? he asked.

Not quite! Susan exclaimed. Interneurons transmit impulses between sensory and motor neurons. They consist of dendrites, cell bodies and axons. Impulses are relayed by neurotransmitter chemicals, which are released by the axon terminals across the synapses, or pass directly from one neuron to another. What we have done is interfere with these impulses, by introducing electromagnetic waves in the form of gamma rays. Of course energy occurred in quanta...

So the object before you is a cluster of human nerve fibers, evolved into a mirror, and it possesses energetic properties! Is that what you’re saying? The strange man had hardly finished speaking, when the ball began to roll towards him, by some mysterious force. He stood up abruptly, ready to leap to safety. Are you doing this? he cried out.

No, it is self-sufficient, Susan explained, watching it come to rest before the man. We have uncovered evil in the form of artificial intelligence. Other board members were scrambling to their feet in fear. Finally, she was taking charge! Why should she be bullied by a group of men, who misuse their authority?

Can you control it? someone asked nervously.

Not at this stage and certainly not in this state, she said, shrugging her shoulders. As you know, we introduced a protein called CAS 9c to the RNA tool of the escaped test subject. The idea was to manipulate his DNA. We hadn’t finished the electromagnetism treatment though.

Are you saying this ‘thing’ before us was once a test subject who never got away? someone asked from the base of the staircase.

Yes! Susan said.

So what exactly... what is this ‘vigilante’ now? someone asked.

Unstable, both psychologically and physically! she bellowed. He is virtually indestructible and must be stopped.

Are you saying he is the first subject to survive DNA manipulation? Are you absolutely sure, little missy? another voice echoed. She ignored this question, unsure how to go about answering this phantom voice; there was no evidence of a face to match this unusual voice, so she wasn’t entirely convinced it wasn’t a figment