“Well, I’m sure you’ve done worse things in your life.” Jason picked at his uneven fingernails, apparently taking greater interest in giving himself a hangnail then looking at the man sitting in front of him. A man, sitting uncomfortably in a drab gray suit that was just slightly too large, a fact that made him seem rather unassuming. “A lot worse for a lot less.”
“Yes, yes.” the man muttered, clasping his hands together. He leaned forward on his mahogany desk, which was freshly waxed and gave off a beautiful brown-goldish shine in the early morning sunlight coming in through the open window just behind him. Jason supposed that with the radiant sun basking his silhouette in its glow, he could be seen as somewhat intimidating. Not that it mattered in the end. “But what you’re suggesting… Well, it doesn’t exactly have humanity’s best interest at heart, does it? Our country has done some questionable things in the past, but it was all for the greater good, no?”
Jason looked up from his fingers and gave him a flat stare. “Really.”
“Ah, well… most of what we did anyway. Greater good. For the benefit of all.” The man offered an awkward grin, as if apologetic about something.
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“What I want is simple. And cheap, in the grand scheme of things. Not much to ask for in return for biological immortality, is it?” Jason asked. “Plus, you might learn something new from all of this, when it’s over. Doesn’t it seem like an interesting concept?”
“It’s immoral, that’s what.”
Jason scoffed and stood from his chair. He took exactly three steps backwards and started digging into his coat pockets. He was wearing a puffy winter jacket; the fact that it was mid-spring didn’t seem to bother him in the slightest. There wasn’t a single bead of sweat on his brow when he took out a small plastic box, about half the size of a closed fist. In it was a single translucent cellulose capsule, nearly imperceptible to the naked human eye. “Tell me. What would you do if I were to take this capsule out and take it for myself?”
“You… There’s no need for that, really.” The man shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “We’ll take your deal. It’s just that I had some concerns about it, that’s all. I’m sure a reasonable person such as yourself would understand.”
“Oh, good. You’ll have my full cooperation.” Jason smiled and tossed the box at him, underhand. The man snatched it from the air and looked at him in mild disbelief.
“That’s it, then?”
“Yes, that’s it.” Jason replied. “I’ll expect the infant by next week. I’m sure that’s enough time. More than enough. Just make sure it’s healthy.”