Chapter 1 - The Choice We Made Part I

20 February 2041 - Lyndhurst General Hospital, City of Keri, Demeter

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“Doctor, how is he doing…?”

“I’m afraid we haven’t had much progress. He’s stable and the physical injuries sustained have healed very well in the last 18 months, but there’s an anomaly we are still trying to identify. We believe this anomaly is the cause of his continued comatose state.”

The doctor pauses, flipping through pages on a clipboard. Releasing a sigh, the doctor looks up at the parents of the patient that has caused quite a stir within the local medical community.

“Madam, we have already sent blood samples of your son to half a dozen top tier research institutes in order to help us identify what this is. Sadly, none of them have yet been able to provide us with some answers. I know you’re frustrated.. it’s been over a year since we sent in those requests. I’m really sorry.”

The mother cries in silence, hugging herself tightly as tears ran freely while her husband holds her, making soothing noises.

“Doctor, what are our options..? Does anyone have any idea for how long this will continue..?” asks the father, dark eye bags lining bloodshot eyes. It was obvious that he fared no better than his wife, who in her grief had slowly slumped down on the chair next to the bed where her son lies.

“Sir, I am aware of the difficulties you are both having. At this point in time, none of the institutes are able to give us a clear idea of how long it will take to find answers. This case, is quite unique. Sir, I think you’ll have to take into consideration the possibility that your son will be in this state indefinitely. I do not wish to give you false hope that the researchers will breakthrough in the near term and you still have yourselves and your other children to take care of.”

“Are you saying we should.. consider..?” asks the father, eyes watering. His wife, having also understood the implications, holds her face in her hands, shaking her head while mumbling incoherently. One can faintly hear her repeat a single word - no.

“Sir, I’m afraid it’s an option you will have to consider sooner or later. There’s also another option, but as a doctor, I cannot truly support this idea. As a father myself however.. I feel you both deserve to be aware of all the possible options.”

The father nods for the doctor to continue.

“There is a corporation called MediVance, whose research and development methods in the field of medicine are quite.. unconventional. A majority of their research have run into barriers during clinical trials as the panel in the National Health Organisation (NHO) deem their practice unethical. However, I have seen the results of some of their work. While I can understand where the NHO is coming from, I have to admit that MediVance have been successful in solving what some in the medical community deem as impossible cases.

There are risks, as you should know. There is a very real chance that it could result in the death of your son. There is also a chance that your son may not be the person you both remember him to be should it be successful.”

Slim chances. Though for this couple, they believe that hope, no matter how slim, should be grasped.

“What do we need to do?” asks the mother.

**********

“Good morning, MediVance Inc how can I help you?” chirps a female receptionist.

“Yes, hello, can you transfer me to Doctor Wyse please?”

“Yes sir, whom should I say is on the line?”

“Please tell him it’s Doctor David Kenney from the Lyndhurst General Hospital.”

“Thank you Doctor Kenney. Please hold.”

A pleasant, soothing music plays immediately after the receptionist puts Kenney on transfer. It’s so soothing that Kenney starts to relax, the stress from the day slowly forgotten. ‘I wonder if this is one of their medical tech researches in play...’ thought Kenney. After a few minutes of waiting, the music abruptly stops and a baritone voice brings him back to the present.

“This is Wyse.” followed by a short pause. “Kenney are you there?”

“Ah, yes, yes, hello Wyse. I hope you are doing well and I surely hope you have time right now. There is a patient of mine I’d like to speak to you about.”

“Is that so? Let me guess. No one has been able to solve the problem and I’m the only remaining card on the deck?” Kenney could picture Wyse snickering right now.

“Yes, that is the case. It’ll be easier if you read the file while I brief you. Please check your email. By the way, what’s with that music-on-hold? Is that something new you boys are working on?”

“Okay, I have it. Yeah, though that’s more a personal project, made that tune myself. Been looking on ways to relieve a bit of stress on the go. So far, effects are extremely short term.” Wyse proceeds to scan through the file, brows furrowing the further he gets through the documents.

“Huh. Interesting. Let me know how that goes, I could use something like it. So what do you think of him?” asks Kenney on the other line.

After a brief pause, Wyse starts to make verbal observations. “He’s certainly a very interesting case. 18 years old, no history of inherited diseases and up until the accident, was a healthy and athletic kid. Says here he was with a group of friends and they crashed into a van carrying undisclosed medical supplies. Reports say that all the others have fully recovered except for him.

18-months into the treatment, all physical injuries have long since fully recovered. Remains comatose. No findings to support why this is the case. A blood test had shown traces of an anomaly. Further research has traced the source to the cerebrum? Hmmm.”

The line goes quiet. Kenney can hear Wyse tapping away on the keyboard punctuated with several mouse clicks. Although modern day technology has many other alternatives in terms of peripherals, none have performed nearly as efficiently as the traditional keyboard and mouse. Researchers also get frustrated easily and throwing a keyboard or mouse is less expensive than throwing a touch-screen LCD.

A few minutes pass as Kenney patiently waits for Wyse for a course of action. He can hear Wyse humming the music-on-hold tune.

“Kenney, inform the parents that MediVance will send a representative within the hour. We’ll take care of their son, all expenses paid for provided they agree and sign the consent forms. I take it you’ve already highlighted the risks?”

“Yes, I have. Wyse, this case.. do you think that..”

“I’m sorry Kenney, I can’t make any assumptions at this stage without doing my own research. Listen, I have to go and make preparations. When I can tell you more, I’ll call you back.”

**********

20 February 2041 - MediVance MV, Luminous City, Demeter

It’s been three hours since Hunter Markell was officially admitted to MediVance. Inside one of the many rooms within the a branch of Research & Development (R&D) division located on Level B2, a small team is currently assembled behind a one way mirror, monitoring vital signs and running diagnostics across half a dozen computer screens.

“Linwood, I need an update.” Wyse says to a middle aged researcher who is sitting behind a pair of monitors. Linwood adjusts his glasses to sit more firmly on the bridge of his nose.

“Subject is stable inside the MediPod and we have submerged him in RGEN solution. We have clear feedback on everything going on inside his body at this point. It was a good call to use the RGEN chief. We can monitor the smallest changes.” says Linwood. He has been a researcher under Doctor Erich Wyse for over 10 years and this is the first time encountering such a case. It gave him the butterflies.

“Charlena, what else have we got?” Wyse nods to a young woman in her mid-twenties, her brown hair wrapped up untidily in a large bun.

“MediPod links to research team computers register all green. We have established a direct link to the cerebrum and there are no issues on the tech or subject side. We are currently collating and analysing data from all available sources, centered on findings by the Lyndhurst General Hospital. LARA is working on this as we speak” Charlena had a very soft spoken voice, each syllable uttered somewhat sensual. Although the entire staff’s uniforms ensures that a lot is left to the imagination, her heart-shaped face, slightly droopy eyes and pouty lips usually have the male researchers in a daze.

“Good. As of now, all information pertaining to Hunter Markell will follow Level 5 protocol. Access to facilities in this area will be restricted to only the necessary personnel. Direct report only to myself and in my absence, the CEO. I need you both to follow up with updates every three hours for the next twenty four hours. If it’s nothing urgent, send me a memo otherwise call me right away. From here on, the subject’s name will remain undisclosed in all public records. Refer to only as, CANVAS. Charlena, inform LARA of the changes, let’s get everyone on the same page.”

“Understood chief!” Charlena and Linwood says in chorus.

Having given his orders, Wyse briefly observes the new resident of the MediPod. The MediPod is shaped like a casket with an open top, but with a wider body and reinforced glass surrounding each side, making the naked Hunter Markell clearly visible. The pod is elevated 3 ft up in the air, supported by a large reinforced tube at the center. The tube is not nearly as wide as the casket and from it, cleansed RGEN solution is constantly pumped.

Two other tubes similarly connect to the head and feet of the casket. These ones are slightly smaller, with a light vacuum that sucks in the RGEN solutions to be cleansed in the tank underneath the floor. They have attached a breathing apparatus and upon closer observation, one could see a cable - thick as a fountain pen - with a spiked disc attached to the back of his neck.

With a last look at the MediPod, Doctor Wyse exits the observation room.

**********

tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap…

Back in his office on the 103rd floor, Doctor Erich Wyse was putting together a report for the CEO detailing the events preceding the admittance of Hunter Markell into MediVance. Leaning back on his leather chair, arms propped up on the armrest and hands clasped under his chin, Erich re-reads his report for the second time.

SubjectHunter MarkellAdmitted20 February 2041

Designation-Primary-AllocationL5P-EWYSE-VR/CVSAge18GenderMaleHeight5’11Weight150 lbs

BIOThe subject is the eldest son of Darron and Lashell Markell. Born on 17 December 2020, his known siblings are Arron and Darell Markell, aged 14 and 10 respectively. Registered student at Lyndhurst Public School, graduated July 30, 2039. Highly commended within the school’s Art & Design and Geography departments. Confirmed third party statements that Hunter was a keen practitioner of Sword Arts, influenced primarily by his parents who were once practitioners themselves. No other noteworthy information regarding his education - Markell passed with average grades across other disciplines.

Medical information from the Lyndhurst General Hospital states that Markell has no inherited diseases and no allergies to any form of medication. Records also state that the Markell family visits on a regular basis for a body check - every five years for the last twenty years. Primary consultant is Dr. David Kenney, who has worked with LGH for the last thirty years and has since been responsible for the Markell family. No irregularities found in any records.

Markell and all those related has no criminal records and no known criminal affiliates - cross checked with related agencies followed by a deep data mine by LARA. All parties with relation to Markell has been scrutinized and we have evaluated possible threat level to be nil.

FINDINGSOn August 15, 2039, the subject was enroute to the airport at noon with three other individuals - Carl McKinsey, Katherina Blackford and Sasha Blackford. It was recorded that the driver, McKinsey, had tried to avoid a third party private vehicle heading the opposite direction that lost control. We have analyzed the data recorded and the cause was concluded to be an oil spill the previous day. Although sanded as per regulation, heavy rain on the morning prior to the group’s departure had subsequently led to the road being slippery again.

In trying to avoid a collision with the third party private vehicle, McKinsey inadvertently crashed into a van on the adjacent lane. The van was reported to be carrying undisclosed medical supplies. With help from LARA, we have identified the supplies as a modified version of our CS-01TV. CS-01TV as you may know is a trial product for curing cerebral related viruses. It did not pass the NHO trials but was deemed interesting by the national government due to the stability of the anti-virus. The anti-virus was engineered here in our research department, but due to the inherent possibility of being weaponized, we were unable to proceed to commercial stages.

This modified version seems to have the beginnings of a reverse process with additional behavioural changes. Further study dictates that It is nowhere nearly complete and is extremely flawed. It worries me that the person modifying the code does not have the correct knowledge to undertake this task. The flaws in coding is currently not so evident, primarily because the core that we developed has kept the overall framework stable. I can only foresee that there will be major repercussions should they complete and deploy such a product.

Reports state that Markell was found with a case of the modified CS-01TV. The severity of the crash had punctured the transport casings, one of which had pinned the subject who was sitting on the passenger seat. The report also stated that green viscous liquid had covered his open wounds. We are still analyzing the blood samples to try and estimate the level of exposure, but we are now certain that this is the likely cause of his continued comatose state.

McKinsey and the Blackford sisters have since recovered fully from the accident. We have asked our contacts at the LGH for their blood samples - we plan to run tests on these as soon as possible to determine whether they have any lingering traces of the modified anti-virus and if so, further determine the level of danger to the human body.

CONSULTATION NOTESDue to the nature of the findings, I can only conclude that Markell will be a very valuable asset to the organisation that is developing the modified version of CS-01TV. While I do have my suspicions, I am hesitant to say with certainty as to the identity of this third party. Given the sensitive nature of this case, I have taken it upon myself to issue a preliminary Level 5 protocol on all information regarding the subject.

Until we know more of the nature and purpose of the modifications and the third party behind it, I believe this will be the best way for the Company to prevent any future backlash. The core, after all, can be identified by the NHO as being ours.

In light of this, I suggest that we move the subject from the current less secure location to Level B5, where we are currently working on incorporating the use of virtual reality in advancing medical technology and techniques.

I would also like to suggest completely severing the ties with the subject’s immediate relations, in order to mask his existence from the third party.

Satisfied with the report, Erich clicks the send button, encryption notification flashing followed by a notice to indicate the mail had been sent. Leaning back on his swivel chair, he half turns towards the floor-to-ceiling window of his office and loses himself in the evening cityline view of the City of Keri.

‘It’s beautiful.’ Wyse thought. Bright lights can be seen everywhere across the harbour. From this height on the 103rd floor, the view was even more amazing during the day. The harbour, named Tari Veldt, divides the City of Keri and Luminous City. The City of Keri is a large island and the Tari Veldt, which connects to the Southern Seas spans the length of the city. Commute between the two locations is facilitated by three very wide bridges running parallel to each other at equal distances.

MediVance MV had spent a fortune in buying out this former financial services building located right next to the harbour in Luminous City. It was the tallest building in Demeter and it made the perfect base of operations for MediVance MV, offering plenty of space in the surrounding area for further development. As of now, the 150 floors (above ground) have been split into different publicly listed sections while the underground levels remained undisclosed to the public.

With an area of roughly 3 million sq ft, MediVance was also able to build five residential towers to accommodate staff living quarters. Each tower consisted of 30 floors, housing eight units per floor with a uniform size of 900 sq ft. A separate tower was also built specifically for heads of respective departments and their deputies. These apartment units ranged from 1,500 up to 3,000 sq ft. In Demeter, Such sized accommodation can be considered luxurious.

Given the numerous benefits that comes with working for MediVance, company turnover has been miniscule and loyalty has always been on the high end. Each employee considers any attack on MediVance as a personal attack on themselves and they defend it without mercy. The Founders of the company did the right thing in cultivating a culture that revolves around looking after the well being of their workforce.

‘We’ve come such a long way, you and I, eh Carrick.’ were the last thoughts of Wyse as he drifted off to sleep.

On the ground floor (Level 00), armed guards can be seen patrolling the premises. The building and its surrounding designs was built with a fortress in mind. However, ever since Hunter Markell was admitted early in the evening, a notice had gone out informing all security to be on heightened alert status.

When you lack information, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

**********

MediVance Directory (Level 00)

Level 150President’s OfficeLevel 149ShowroomLevel 148ReceptionLevel 142 - 147Private Executive SuitesLevel 141Sky PodiumLevel 131 - 140Executive Meeting Rooms & Conference HallLevel 130Lounge AreaLevel 122 - 129General Meeting RoomsLevel 121The King & Purse BarLevel 66 - 120Medicinal Advancement - Research & DevelopmentLevel 65Lounge AreaLevel 62 - 64MediVance Clinic & Private WardLevel 61The Shepherd’s Ward RestaurantLevel 56 - 60Public RelationsLevel 41 - 55Technology Division - Research & DevelopmentLevel 31 - 40Natural Science Division - Research & DevelopmentLevel 25 - 30MarketingLevel 22 - 24Human ResourcesLevel 19 - 21Legal DepartmentLevel 16 - 18AccountingLevel 11 - 1524-Hr Gym, Health & SpaLevel 09 - 10The Miller Ranch Bar & GrillLevel 01 - 08Department Stores

Author's Notes:

The tables were slightly challenging so it took me some time to put it together to make sure there weren't any errors. Thank god for the thread explaining how it's all done. That was very helpful. I'm going to try to keep at least 2 chapters in reserve in case anything comes up on my end. So this means Chapter 2 and 3 are actually done already. When Chapter 4 is completed (exclusive of proof reading), I will post the next one.

I'm hoping doing it this way (for the moment) will help me judge timing.

Author's Notes