XAVIER, JUNE, AND DAVID HAD BEEN observing the Senator for close for four hours and things were finally starting to turn around. There hadn’t been any change in his prognosis until two hours after the serum was taken when the Senator’s fever had finally broken, and his temperature returned to normal level. By the three-hour mark the Senator’s vitals had returned to normal levels and even his skin was starting to look better. The patient still wasn’t awake, but the doctors were relieved to see that he wasn’t in danger anymore based on how well his vitals looked. The Senator had been deathly pale for a while, so David was stunned as he looked over the patient. He could hardly believe the progress that was made only in a matter of hours. June was gushing with excitement because it clearly looked like the serum was working, and she took a blood sample from the Senator and gave it to a nurse in the hallway and told them to rush the results by order of the Chief. Chances are there was likely going to be no trace of the poison at all, and if that was the case that meant they had discovered another use for the serum. Xavier had a smile on his face as he looked back up at David.
“Do you have any idea what this means?” Xavier asked him.
“I think I do,” David replied, as he could barely contain his excitement. “I think this means poison isn’t going to be a very effective means of assassination anymore!”
“Think of the big picture,” Xavier said, as he was also excited. “Most people who die of poisons are usually victims of bites from animals such as snakes or spiders. This serum could be used as universal anti-venom that will save time and countless lives. No more looking in the woods to find out what snake it was to make sure people are administered the correct anti-venom, just inject this stuff and wait. Countless patients in Africa and especially Australia could use this to combat the many venomous creatures that are out there.”
"Unbelievable,” David agreed, as he took a seat. “This truly is the greatest medical breakthrough of the century, possible in human history. How does this serum really work?”
“It was originally supposed to be a cure for the common cold,” Xavier explained, as he stopped checking on the Senator and walked over to where David was sitting. “But the cold and flu mutate at an exponential rate, so I wanted to make a serum that mutated with it to combat the virus in every form. It turns out this serum somehow began to mutate to combat other diseases as well such as AIDS, cancer, and countless other ailments. At the same time, it repairs the patient’s immune system and prepares the body to fight off disease on its own before eventually fading off after roughly forty-eight to seventy-two hours later.
“How were you able to manipulate the serum to do that?” David asked, somewhat eager to hear the science behind such a miraculous achievement.
“I don’t have to the time to give you all the details,” Xavier replied, “But let’s just say it was a very, very complicated task; one that took many years to get this far. This serum is the ultimate disease kicking cure.”
Xavier walked over and opened the bag with the other vile. He picked up the vile and offered it to David.
“Here’s the other dose I brought with me,” Xavier said, as he handed it over to David, “I’d recommend administering to the other victim of the poison, and I’m confident they will have similar results. Chances are if either of them had any other medical conditions prior to being poisoned, those will be gone too when the process is complete. When he eventually wakes up, Senator Jackson is going to be more than healthy enough to run a full and very vigorous campaign.”
“That’s nice to hear,” a voice called out, “But why is it pink?”
Both men turned around, and looking back at them was Senator Jackson who was awake and fully aware of his surroundings. He looked good considering what state he was in only several hours ago. David hopped right out of his chair and went to the Senator’s side and started to check him immediately. He looked into his eyes to test his pupils, checked his pulse, and the Senator even laughed at the attention. Finally, Xavier was the first to speak.
“Senator,” Xavier started, “Do you know where you are?”
“Obviously, I’m in a hospital,” The Senator replied, “What I’m doing here remains a mystery. Last thing I remember is being at the hotel for the fundraiser and suddenly I was feeling weak. Did I faint?”
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“You collapsed.” David replied, “And that was four days ago.”
“Four days?” the Senator repeated, “What the hell is going on?”
Xavier took a deep breath as he didn’t believe in sugar coating anything.
“There was an attempt on your life, Sir.” Xavier informed him, “Authorities are quite confident that your food was poisoned.”
“What?” The Senator called out as he wasn’t taking the news well, “And this pink stuff you got in your hand, David, what the hell is it?”
“It’s the only reason you’re still alive.” David answered, “We didn’t have any other choice. We didn’t know what kind of poison was in your system, and by the time we found out you and the other person infected likely would have been long dead.”
“So, this stuff is off the books, I assume?” the Senator surmised as he was finally starting to put things together.
“You have no idea the laws we broke by giving it to you,” David confessed, “But did you think I was going to let those bastards get the best of you? I was going to use everything I had to make sure you came back to us. I was not going to let those son-of-a-bitches win this day!”
The Senator took a deep breath and took the pink vile from David, taking a hard look at the substance.
“If I heard you right,” The Senator started, “Did you say that any other ailment I had would be gone as well? Did you really mean anything?”
“I did,” Xavier said as he came closer. “Did you have anything else that was in your system prior to the poisoning?”
The patient paused for a moment, and then took a deep breath.
“I was being treated for cancer,” The Senator confessed, “The doctors think they found it early enough and I was just starting my first round of treatments. If it all went well and I recovered, that is when I was going to announce my run for office.”
“I wouldn’t worry about that anymore, Sir.” Xavier said with a smile, “Chances are that’s gone as well. I’ve already successfully cured several cancer patients already with minimal complications.”
“Why isn’t this being mass produced then?” the Senator quickly asked.
“I’m afraid that’s quite complicated, Sir.” Xavier said.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Senator Jackson quickly asked.
“How about a presidential pardon?” Xavier asked playfully.
Everyone laughed.
Before anyone could respond, June came into the room to inform them all of something but was stopped dead in her tracks by the sight of the Senator sitting up in bed and looking perfectly healthy.
“Oh, my gaud!” She called out, “Senator, how are you feeling?”
“For a man who was apparently at death’s door, I’m feeling just fine.” The Senator answered with a warm smile. He looked at the vile with the pink liquid for a moment before handing it back to David. “Make sure the other person who ingested the poison gets that immediately.”
David didn’t even hesitate as he ran off to administer it. June then suddenly remembered what she was there to say.
“We’ve got to go, now!” She informed Xavier, “The secret service is locking down the building!”
Xavier knew what that meant: his cover was blown. Just as he was grabbing his bag to make an exit, the commander of the secret service and two guards came into the room to check on the Senator. David had already left the room, so the senior agent looked to the two people in the bio-suits.
“Who are you two? Identify yourselves?” The agent asked.
“They’re friends,” the Senator called from the back of the room. “I suggest you leave them alone, especially considering the great work they’ve done here today.”
The agents all suddenly realized that the Senator was awake and walked over to see how he was doing. The senior agent was the first to speak.
“Senator!” he called out, “It’s great to see you awake and doing better. How are you feeling?”
“Much better, thank you.” The Senator replied, “I’m getting word that the building is being locked down. What’s going on?”
As he was speaking to the agents, the Senator was making a signal with his hand for Xavier and June to leave the room while he had them all distracted.
“We suspect that a fugitive wanted by the FBI named Xavier Carter is in the building,” he paused for a moment, “He’s extremely dangerous and possibly a person of interest, so we’re locking the building down for your safety.”
Xavier and June didn’t hang around to hear anymore and slipped out the door and out of the room and walked casually out. Since three agents walked in, no one cared to even question them leaving since it must have been all right if it was cleared with the men inside. One of the guards even looked inside the room and since everyone was okay and still talking, they thought nothing of their departure and assumed they were both cleared. June and Xavier walked down the hall until they reached the stairwell, but just as Xavier was about to walk through the door, he caught sight of someone out of the corner of his eye.
Agent Deacon was down the hall, about fifty yards away. He showing some pictures, and one of the nurses recognized him, and pointed to Xavier at the door. Xavier watched as Tony looked up and realized who she was pointing to and immediately drew his weapon.
“Federal Agent!” Tony bellowed, “Put your hands on your head!”
Rather than respond, Xavier bolted into the staircase and started to go down the stairs as quickly as he could. June had heard Tony scream and was already running ahead of him as they bolted down towards the parking lot.