The secret hideout of Case Carswell’s rogue secret society, the Order of One Justice, was built into the side of a cliff which overlooked the sea. The buildings were all buried into the side of the cliff with the only openings for watercraft, aircraft and underwater submarines to bring people and supplies in and out. So well disguised was this compound that the casual observer may never notice its existence.

Case Carswell with his armed bodyguard Dillon never far behind stepped foot into the research compound he setup with his own scientists he recruited to develop and to reverse-engineer documents and blueprints stolen from the UEN. Ever since the theft of teleportation data and log files from the UEN’s National Laboratory, Judge Carswell was impatient to learn the technological secrets of Dr. Renard. He came from time to time to check on the progress his scientists and researchers were making. During those visits, he would also berate them for not making enough progress to his liking. As these visits happened only once in a long while, the scientists and researchers felt safe from Judge Carswell’s wrath most of the time. Unfortunately for them, today wasn’t one of those quiet days.

Case found his lead research scientist and walked right up to him. The research lead, seeing Judge Carswell heading his way, gulped in fear as his eyes trembled. Case did not waste any time getting to his point.

“Well? I want to hear that someone has been able to re-create Renard’s experiments. Tell me you’ve been able to, yes?”

Case’s research lead gulped again. “Your honor! It’s always a pleasure to have you visit us. It happens far too infrequently.”

“Enough with the pleasantries. Just let me know if any one of you brainiacs have been able to teleport living organisms yet.”

The research lead hemmed and hawed. “Well, you see, your honor, we haven’t been able to recreate Leandre Renard’s experiments on teleporting live organisms because we’re still trying to understand the mathematical theories underpinning his experiments. The theory behind his experimental data is very advanced. It’s nothing like what we’ve seen before.”

“What’s taking so long then?”

Terror struck Case’s research lead. “Do you really want the truth?”

“Of course, I do! I’m a Judge! I’m constantly in search of the truth!” Case was getting mad.

The research lead had an emotional break down and wailed. “Renard must have had help! The theory is so complicated that we simply don’t possess the mental acumen to follow his trail!”

Case was not only mad, he was now also disgusted by what he heard. “First you complain that you don’t have advanced computers and equipment. Now you say you’re not smart enough! I don’t want excuses, I want results! The answers are right in front of you in the stolen data. You don’t have to understand it. Just copy it and run the experiments already!”

In his excitement, Case started to cough due to his emphysema. Dillon leapt forward to help Case, but this time, the judge was able to stifle his hacking coughs although his breathing was wheezy.

“I need the Fountain of Youth Effect to make me young again to repair my body and reverse the disease.”

“Yes, your honor. We understand why you want us to be able to replicate Leandre Renard’s experiments.”

“Once you accomplish that, the Order will teleport an invasion force into the capital of the UEN and overthrow the government and then I will become Supreme Leader of the most powerful nation on the planet. Then no one will dare to challenge my rule!”

The scientists listening could only stand there without saying a word. They already dared not challenge Judge Carswell’s rule.

Case continued his interrogation. “I’ve even brought you the twin daughters of Renard and the reincarnation of his wife so that you can study their physiology. Have you learned anything from them yet?”

On this topic, the research lead did have progress to report. “Since we know that their teleportation events happened with only 99.9999% accuracy, we expected their cells to exhibit some amount of damage due to the errors caused by the teleportation process. However, after about twelve years, the living cells appear to have repaired themselves! If there were any errors due to the relatively high teleportation inaccuracy rate, there are none detectable now.”

An intriguing fact, Case thought. “So, life finds a way to survive after all.”

“Good news, your honor!” Dillon spoke up. “That means the Fountain of Youth Effect will not ultimately harm you since any errors will be repaired by your own cells.”

“There was one abnormality we observed, however.” The research head interrupted. “Since the twins are identical, we compared the cells of the non-deceased one called Anaelle, to the cells of the re-animated one called Marielle. Their cells appeared to be exactly the same and without errors except that the telomeres on Marielle’s DNA were slightly shorter than the telomeres on Anaelle’s DNA. We conclude then that because of Marielle’s shorter telomeres, her life may have been artificially shortened due to the teleportation event. By how much, we have no way to determine at this point.”

“So even if you become younger, you won’t live as long the second time around?” surmised Dillon.

“Yes, that seems to be what the identical twins are telling us.” The research lead agreed with Dillon. “But this is mostly conjecture on our part. We only have one sample to study.”

“What about Viviane?” Case wanted to know.

The research lead shuffled through his papers to review Viviane’s findings. “As for the woman named Viviane, her cells also appear completely normal but since we do not have samples of her cells from before her teleportation event, we have no way to compare to her cells after her teleportation event. If her telomeres have been shortened, we would not be able to know. And she was the one who underwent the Fountain of Youth Effect. The twin girls did not. So, as you can see, your honor, the science is very incomplete.”

Case was getting impatient again. “I don’t care about the consequences! A slightly shortened life in exchange to be young again and to avoid a certain death due to age and disease is a deal with the devil I’m willing to make. You must find a way to make that happen! And quickly!”

“Yes, your honor! Your loyal research scientists all pledge to find the answers you ask of us.”

“Good. Because I still need to have my revenge.”

Dillon was hoping Judge Carswell would not bring that up again. “Are you certain that will still be necessary, your honor?”

“Yes, bailiff, it is what I’ve been working for after all these years,” explained the judge.

“Can’t you just be happy with renewed youth and world domination?” pleaded Dillon. “I would think that should be enough for most Supreme Leaders, don’t you agree? Revenge is so petty compared to being ruler of the world. Also, I worry about your mental health, your honor. Revenge will erode your sanity even more than the drugs your doctors tell you to take. Can you not find it in your heart to let go of revenge?”

Judge Carswell would not be swayed, even by his closest confidant. “No! Revenge is appropriate punishment for the injustice I’ve had to endure. Revenge is the only way to right this wrong. An injustice was committed long ago and therefore, a fitting punishment must be administered. You should understand, Dillon.”

“I do, your honor, but I don’t believe it has to be the only way.”

“Do I have your loyalty, bailiff?”

“To the end, your honor.”