Mr. Chen sat in his study at the Bromwick hotel. He considered his options as he finished his brandy. To admit new membered into the cabal, the decision had to be unanimous. The cybernetic doctor from New York was a perfect candidate. He could assist with the cybernetic undertaking while making the cabal stronger. He just needed to convince the others. The members of the cabal had reluctantly agreed to see the doctor. Mr. Chen wanted to ensure that this meeting went as he planned.

One hour later

The remaining members of the cabal filed into the conference room. Gratzano sat near Chen, while Mr. Tage and the Sultan took the rear of the room. Dr. Ash took up the center portion of the room. The absence of many primary members’ lieutenants made the room feel larger than it was. Kurtzen came in late and took a position behind Gratzano.

“Thank you for coming back to the Bromwick, given the short notice. But I thought it was important to bring in my top applicant. Our ranks are thin, given the actions of the traitorous Dahlia,” Mr. Chen said.

“When are we going to meet this mystery man?” Mr. Tage said.

“He will be here any moment. But be prepared to vote, as I want this new member to start immediately.”

“You haven’t even considered my suggestion,” the Sultan said as he crossed his arms.

“We will, but since my guy was in the neighborhood, I thought it prudent to at least give you all the opportunity to interview him,” Mr. Chen said.

Moments later, a tall man with salt and pepper hair and a neatly trimmed goatee entered the room. He was dressed in a three-piece suit. Mr. Chen stood to greet the man.

“Welcome. Now let this official meeting of the Quintessence Society begin.”

“It’s good to meet everyone today. I hope I impress you all enough to be allowed to join your illustrious ranks. It would be my honor to serve,” the well-dressed man said.

“The honor is all mine. Now, please introduce yourself so that my colleagues can also be impressed as much as I am,” Mr. Chen said.

“Thank you, Mr. Chen. My name is Dr. Sylvester Javitts, and I hold PhDs in Biomedical Engineering and Cybernetics. Please ask me anything.”

The Sultan scribbled some notes on his legal pad. Dr. Ash took a moment to compose herself. She was visibly bothered by something.

“Yes, I would,” Dr. Ash said. She held a picture of a woman in her mid-twenties. Her white hair and blue eyes were captivating. “Have you seen this woman?”

Dr. Javitts glanced at the photo for a brief moment. “I’m afraid I haven’t.”

Dr. Ash’s jaw tightened and eyes narrowed. “I have a confession to make. I know who the doctor really is.”

Dr. Ash tapped and swiped her tablet. The blinds lowered, and a screen appeared with the same woman with the white hair.

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“This is my lieutenant, Nozomi. She’s been missing for some time,” Dr. Ash said.

The video played. The woman known as Nozomi showed a blue crystal as she spoke.

“This is a data core. The doctor is the only one we found that has perfected the technology. He proposes a trade. The secrets to the data core for your formula for the skin,” Nozomi said on the video.

Another clip rolled. It was from Nozomi’s perspective as she reached for something between her breasts and handed Dr. Javitts a flash drive. He examined it on a tablet and invited her to his lab. The video continued. Nozomi followed the doctor through a series of nondescript hallways. Moments later, she stepped into a chamber with standing water. The doctor stepped up into an alcove, then appeared to be pressing some buttons, then Nozomi’s feet shook. She seemed to fall to the floor. A system message appeared in Nozomi’s line of sight that read: System shutdown in progress to prevent further damage.

“What you have done with my lieutenant?” Dr. Ash demanded.

Dr. Javitts was speechless. No one else said anything for a long moment.

“Now, Dr. Ash, why don’t you rest for a moment while your fellow Quintessence members get to know the good doctor a little better,” Mr. Chen said as he nodded.

Gratzano took Dr. Ash’s tablet. “I will hang on to this while you rest.”

She shot the mobster a murderous glance, but didn’t make an attempt to retrieve her tablet.

“Your work in the field of cybernetics is legendary. When did you create your first cyborg, and what, if anything, changed for you as a result?” Mr. Tage asked.

Dr. Javitts seemed to stare into space for a long time.

“She was so beautiful. I knew I had to help her. Make her whole.”

“What do you mean—”

“Let him finish his thought,” Chen said, cutting Mr. Tage off.

Dr. Javitts explained how a specimen of a young woman was brought to his lab for study. She was an organ donor and the lab he worked for wanted to harvest her reproductive organs for some fertility experiment. He described how he took great care in washing and preserving her flesh. Introducing her to the data core he had spent his entire professional life creating was a catharsis and changed his life forever.

“That is profound,” Chen said.

The room was silent for several moments.

“Each member of our group contributes something to make our organization stronger. What can you provide what we do not already have?” the Sultan queried.

“My research into cybernetic cores is legendary. No one has even come close to what I have accomplished.”

The questioning went on for several more hours. The doctor didn’t show signs of fatigue.

“Dr. Javitts, please excuse us while we vote,” Mr. Chen said.

The doctor excused himself and left the room.

“Let’s put this to a vote. Do we accept Dr. Javitts into the cabal?”

“This man is a monster, and while I want to vote no. Something tells me that he would make a great ally,” the Sultan said.

“I don’t want him in our organization, not after what he did to Nozomi,” Dr. Ash said.

Chen gave her a thoughtful look.

“I understand that the man has wronged you, and he should pay for that. But I’m curious. Is there not something you want—need—from the doctor?” Chen asked.

Dr. Ash looked conflicted, like a woman with a bad poker hand trying to bluff her way out of the game.

“Admittedly, there’s one item that I require that he only can provide—his data core technology. Like all my children, Nozomi was created out of love. Seeing her take a breath and uttering her first words was like nothing I had ever experienced. It’s probably the closest I’ve come to being a parent.”

“Do you think you could work with him?” Mr. Tage asked.

“I had acquired Nozomi’s data core while traveling in Southeast Asia. Up until that point, most of my experiments had failed. It was only later that I learned that Javitts created the technology. So, yes, I can work with him. But I don’t have to be happy about it.”

“Then it’s settled. We will invite Dr. Javitts into the Quintessence Society,” Mr. Chen said.

“Not so fast. We all have a huge financial interest in the success of the society. We should make sure the doctor is invested as well. We should ask for some of his legendary cyborgs,” the Sultan said.

“And data cores,” Dr. Ash said.

Mr. Chen gave Gratzano a nod. Moments later, he invited their newest member into the fold.