The atmosphere in the makeshift laboratory was tense, with the cartel's chemists and doctors moving back and forth among the modest analytical equipment. In the center, on an examination table, lay the shredded and lifeless body that Riquelme's men had brought in.
"Are you sure this was the one that massacred our men?" The deep voice of Solano, the head meth cook, sounded skeptical. "It just looks like another filthy gringo."
Zapata, standing next to the table, nodded grimly. "Believe me asshole, I saw it with my own eyes. This thing moved faster than a jaguar and tore several of us apart before we managed to take it down."
Solano narrowed his eyes and leaned closer to the corpse, examining it with a critical eye. "Well, whatever it is, it sure looks like it got the shit kicked out of it..."
"Bah, shut up everyone and concentrate on figuring out what the fuck this is!" Riquelme's booming voice resonated in the laboratory as he made his entrance, eyes sparking. The drug trafficker advanced to the table and looked in disgust at the shredded remains. "Well? Have you found out anything yet?"
The scientists shifted uneasily under their boss's inquisitive gaze. One of the doctors, a short, bald man, swallowed hard before stepping forward.
"Um...well sir, we've been conducting some analyses and...the truth is the results are most strange..."
Riquelme narrowed his eyes impatiently. "Strange how, you idiot?"
The doctor broke out in a cold sweat before composing himself and turning on the small screen connected to an old digital microscope. "You see...when examining the tissue samples at the cellular level, we've found behaviors that defy all logic..."
Microscopic images of strange, deformed cells appeared on the screen, their structures branching and intricate. "These...should be blood cells, but as you can see they have very complex structures. It's almost as if they were microscopic machines..."
"Machines?" Riquelme arched an eyebrow, dubious. "So you're saying this isn't a fucking living being but a...robot or some bullshit like that?"
The doctor shook his head frantically. "No, no, don't misunderstand me boss, it is a biological organism, by machinery I mean deliberate machinery or structure, I've never seen such complex behavior at the cellular level. Its cells seem...optimized for extreme survival and self-repair."
He clicked a button and the images changed, showing other cells of an almost cancerous appearance but with coordinated behaviors. "Observe, these should be normal tumors or cancers, but instead of growing and destroying everything in their path, they seem to be working together with the rest of the body to repair damage... If this is a living being, it hit the mutation jackpot. This is no longer adaptation, it's true evolution."
Riquelme, who had been listening with a dazed expression, shook his head. "Hold on a damn minute...are you telling me this guy's cells are like robots or something?"
♢ ♢ ♢ ♢
Dr. Gálvez observed with growing frustration as the idiotic narcos furrowed their brows in incomprehension. Of course, how could they understand something so revolutionary with their obtuse minds?
'Stupid ignoramuses,' he thought with contempt as Riquelme opened his big mouth again. 'They have one of the greatest biological discoveries in history right under their noses and they can't even understand what I'm telling them.'
He shook his head slightly, controlling his outward expression of disdain. He couldn't afford to defy those armed brutes if he wanted to stay alive. He took a deep breath and adopted a tone of condescension, like one explaining the obvious to a slow child.
"Gentlemen, I don't think you grasp the importance of what we have here..." He made a broad gesture towards the remains on the examination table. "With this creature, these tissues and cells...We would be facing the greatest advance in biotechnology, medicine and biological sciences since the discovery of DNA or the microscope."
The doctor sighed deeply. "No, they're not robots. They're biological cells, only with extraordinary abilities beyond what we know of common human biology. Its tissues seem to be optimized to regenerate with extreme speed and efficiency if damaged."
"Uh-huh, uh-huh..." Zapata nodded as if he understood, though his expression said otherwise. "And so...how is it that something like this exists? Is it an experiment by those Area 51 guys or some bullshit like that?"
Solano furrowed his brow, not understanding shit. "And what about that? Are we gonna sell it to the highest bidder or what?"
Gálvez had to make an effort not to roll his eyes. "Don't be an idiot! We're talking about getting the key to biological immortality and instant curing of any disease. If we could decipher the secrets of this organism, we could replicate its regenerative abilities and transfer them..."
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He trailed off upon seeing Riquelme's greedy eyes, which suddenly seemed more interested. The doctor swallowed discreetly before continuing.
Zapata, arms crossed, snorted impatiently. "Forget that, Gálvez. The real question is: if you say this bastard has such badass regenerative abilities...how the hell did we manage to kill it?"
The doctor swallowed and pointed to the terrible head wounds on the specimen. "Y-you see... although its tissues have astonishing regenerative capabilities, it seems that the organizational tendency of the semi-totipotent cells makes the organism behave like a human following orders from a central nervous system, damage to the central nervous system seems to be enough to disable it, at least temporarily..."
"Temporarily?" Riquelme's voice was as cold as an icicle. "You mean this shit could come back to life or something?"
A tense silence fell over the room as everyone present seemed to consider that terrifying possibility. Solano snorted an incredulous laugh.
"Come on doc, stop bullshitting us. How could it still be alive with all that damage to the head?"
The doctor took a step back, visibly intimidated by the scrutinizing looks. He shook his head and shrugged helplessly. "I-It's not certain... But from what we've analyzed, this being's cells have extraordinary abilities of survival and regeneration. It's as if they were specifically designed to withstand injuries and reanimate no matter what..."
"Maybe it really is some experiment by those government guys after all," Zapata frowned deeper as he considered the idea, running a hand through his greasy hair. "With those characteristics, it would be an indestructible soldier in combat..."
"But that's crazy, isn't it?" Solano interjected with a mocking snap of his fingers. "That being able to revive out of nowhere like a zombie... Come on, not even the dumbest episode of The Walking Dying gets you to that..."
There were some uncomfortable laughs at the joke, though Riquelme's expression remained as hard and cold as ice. Gálvez couldn't believe how stupid they were, maybe a group of monkeys could have the same IQ. Perhaps that's why they ended up in this line of work?
He continued explaining anyway...
"We could transfer those capabilities and create an entirely new field of biotechnology. Cell regeneration therapies, rejuvenation technologies, perfect grafts and transplants..." He paused meaningfully. "Even enhanced, immortal human beings, immune to any damage..."
Riquelme narrowed his eyes, pondering those words, before slowly nodding. Gálvez had to contain a triumphant smile. Finally that thick-headed idiot was understanding him. He continued with more vigor:
"If we could study and decipher the genetic codes of this creature, we would be facing one of the most important scientific milestones for humanity. We would win awards, fame, worldwide recognition..."
"Hold on a damn minute, you bastard!" Zapata interrupted him, furrowing his brow. "What are you saying about going public and publishing bullshit about experiments and crap? Have you gone crazy or what?"
Gálvez was momentarily disarmed. That's right… in his stupor he hadn't considered that little detail, they are a criminal group. Before he could respond, Riquelme stepped forward with a scowling expression.
"Zapata is right, you son of a bitch... How the fuck did you think a cartel like ours is going to go public publishing scientific discoveries?" A look of profound disgust crossed his features. "The gringos would be all over us in two kicks and keep everything for their Area 51 bullshit..."
The doctor had to hold the drug lord's furious gaze, swallowing hard. He had been almost as stupid as these conspiracy nuts by forgetting that their situation precluded any public exposure... Still, he refused to give up his chance at achieving something so transcendental.
"A-alright boss, maybe I misspoke..." He tried to recompose himself, thinking quickly. "Forget the awards and fame, that's not what I mean. The important thing is that...if we manage to master and control the specimen's regenerative capabilities, we would be getting the key to eternal life for ourselves..."
Suddenly, Riquelme's eyes took on a greedy glint of interest, the same one they showed when it came to huge business deals. The doctor held his breath in anticipation.
"Are you saying..." The drug lord's gravelly voice had a menacing timbre now. "That if you research this filth well… you could transfer and give me those damn regenerative abilities to be immortal?"
Gálvez nodded fervently, determined to convince him to proceed even if he had to lie. After all, there was no sure way to know if they could replicate that level of cellular functionality...
"Exactly, boss! If you allow me to research and experiment with these remains, perhaps we can master those capabilities and find a way to implant them in your own body. You would be immune to any injury, any disease! Literally eternal and all-powerful!"
Riquelme remained pensive for a moment, before a greedy sneer distorted his features. He nodded abruptly and turned towards Zapata and the others.
"Alright you bastards, you heard the doctor. I want you to set up everything needed to keep studying this spawn and give him whatever resources he asks for. Gálvez here will be in charge of finding a way to transfer those regenerative abilities to me by any means necessary. Am I being clear?"
The underlings nodded tensely, not daring to argue such a direct order. Gálvez contained a sigh of relief. For now, he had secured the opportunity to investigate that extraordinary specimen in depth...even if he had to lie to Riquelme about his real possibilities.
As the drug lord and his thugs withdrew, discussing preparations, the doctor leaned over the massacred remains with a mixture of scientific fascination and a renewed thirst for knowledge. He gently caressed the shredded skin and muscle, exposing some slowly moving bone fragments and tissue remains amidst the bloody mass.
"Perhaps it will be impossible to transfer your abilities to those fools..." he murmured with a steely glint in his gaze. "But I intend to uncover all your secrets, my biological challenge... And maybe I'll find a way to replicate you completely for myself..."
Suddenly, as if reacting to those words, one of the severed fingers of the specimen twitched amidst the shredded remains. Gálvez got startled for an instant, before a slow smile spread across his face.
"Fantastic… so you're not as dead as we thought. Even better, I'll have all the time in the world to study you in depth… and take you apart cell by cell."