The Cleansing; Chapter 1

Dr. Xander Williams

Mad Scientist. That's one way to describe Dr. Xander Williams. Though, what makes a scientist mad? Is it what he does? Is it his motives? The results? Dr. Xander truly believes that his research can cure most diseases known to man. Most important: cancer. After having lost his daughter to leukemia fifteen years ago, Xander dedicated his life to finding a cure for cancer, so no one else would have to go through what he did in losing his daughter.

She'd only been about 7 years old when she was diagnosed. However, after being given 6 months to live, Samantha hung on for two more years. She would be 24 now if only Xander had been able to cure her. At least, that's what he tells himself everyday. It's the thought that drives him, his motivation, the fuel for his obsession.

With the introduction of nanotechnology into the world, Xander jumped right on board, curious as to how far this new technology could go. Especially when combined with the medical field. With the small fortune left to him by his parents in their untimely death, he was able to fund his own research. This research led him to creating what he calls, organic nanobots. However, just a few years ago, some European scientists gave it a real name. Nano-structure. It was a discovery to help burn victims regenerate skin when they didn't have enough skin left to graft on.

Dr. Xander took things farther and used the technology to regenerate life. By rebuilding the life-giving organs in the body, and giving them a “Frankenstein” shock to get started, he quickly learned that he could raise the dead. Or, reanimate the body at very least.

The past few years of experiments have made Dr. Xander less than hopefully. He's still only been able to reanimate a dead body. The brain functions are limited to sustaining the body. He needs a new discovery. One that he knows can only happen if he can experiment on a live specimen. His theory is that the serum he's created with the regenerative cells will not activate until the carrier dies. If the cells are already in the subject prior to death, they should repair the body fully, bringing the corps back to life.

The only thing he's unsure of is the side-affects. Would the revived body have memories? Would it be able to communicate and reason? Would it be able to reenter society as if nothing had happened? With this last thought, he ordered the injection into his latest specimen. Some hired assistants were in a glass room, which, unbeknownst to the lab assistants, is made of bulletproof glass. The results he's produced in the past have been violent and difficult to bring down. Luckily, none have escaped his facility.

One lab assistant jabbed a long syringe in to the torso of the corps of a murder victim he stole from the morgue of the local hospital. The other assistant watched the monitors for the first signs of life.

They didn't have to wait long before they saw some results. As soon as they shocked the body with the resuscitator paddles, the serum spread with the fresh blood they were pumping into the body with each shock of the paddles. After a few shocks, the heart was beginning to beat on its own, although irregularly. Soon a steady rhythm began to replace the erratic heartbeats as the cells rebuilt themselves to give the corps life again.

The eyes popped open and locked onto the lab assistant shocking its body. The specimen, a female, tugged at the restraints, frustrated with each attempt. The lab assistant backed away, with a look full of both horror and awe. The awe quickly faded, though, when the restraints snapped and the revived body was now free. Dr. Xander Williams caught a brief glimpse of reasoning in the beasts face as it ripped the ankle restraints from the gurney. The lab assistant ran for the door only to find it locked. The second one who had been monitoring the vital signs dropped his clipboard to help his new friend. The carnage was quick as both assistants were ripped to shreds, but Dr. Xander put a stop to it with the push of a button. A blast of flames engulfed the room, burning everything in it. He'd installed this not only to protect the world from an escaped revived corps, but to eliminate any evidence.

He would put out an ad for new assistants and replace the lab equipment tomorrow. For now, he stared at the charred room and let out a heavy sigh.

“Samantha, what am I doing wrong?” He asked out loud for what seemed the millionth time. A voice in the back of his head told him that he was doing everything wrong. His research needed to end. This wouldn't bring her back. Quickly dismissing this voice, he pulled a lever that opened the floor and dropped the contents of the room into an incinerator below.

Xander took out his cell phone, found the contact he desired and hit send.

“Yes?” Came a voice after one ring.

“Another failure. I need the room cleaned and restocked by morning.”

“Yes, sir,” the voice said and hung up.

David

The accelerator pedal couldn't go down any further. The engine of David's early 2000s Ford F-150 roared angrily as he sped away from the Elder's Hall on his, now former, Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. Banishment. David thought that only happened in old stories, but apparently it can happen to him. All because of his recent conversion to Christianity. They blame the American college he decided to go to; they blame his American girlfriend; they blame his weak character for turning his back on the Great Spirit.

David punched his steering wheel in frustration. This wasn't the way he knew God would want him to respond. What was it the pastor talked about recently? Jesus said the world would hate those who followed Him because they hated Him first. Well, David thought, I'm living proof of that now.

His cell phone rang. Chelsea.

“Hey,” he said after flipping his phone open.

“Hey, sweetie, how did it go?” She asked, concerned.

She could always tell when he was unhappy. Even from just over 100 miles away. How did she do it? She'd said something about discernment. David was still new to this Christianity stuff, so there was still a lot he didn't fully understand.

“Not so good.”

“What'd they say?”

He sighed. “I'm no longer a Sioux in their eyes.”

“What? They kicked you out of the tribe or something?”

David chuckled bitterly. “Yeah, they actually used the word, banished.”

He could hear her stifle a laugh. It made him laugh too.

“I'm sorry,” she said, laughter still hidden in her voice.

A grin spread across his face. How was she always able to make him do that? To smile in what seemed to be a horrible situation? It's actually the thing that attracted him to her the most. This unexplainable joy she always had. He'd seen her deal with some hard things in the two years they've been dating, but the sadness never stayed or consumed her. She didn't hide her emotions or pretend that she was okay, but her outlook on life stayed positive through it. It baffled his mind so much that he had to dig deeper into this girl. What he learned shocked him.

God was the one responsible for her infectious positive attitude. David rolled his eyes at the mention of God at first, but the more he got to know her, the more he saw just how real God is. He began to realize that the Great Spirit his tribe prayed to was in fact real. But that spirit was called God. God was the creator of all things. The other gods they worshiped were still just the same God. There really was only one, and He worked on a personal level with everything He created. That was evident in Chelsea's life.

Even when her father died, it didn't shake her faith. She asked God why; she cried endlessly for weeks it seemed; she even took some time off from their relationship to spend more time with her family. Their “break” didn't stop David from being around her, it just meant their relationship had to change temporarily. She needed to focus on her family that dragging him along and neglecting him through it just wasn't an option. So, David backed off and gave her space. He had no interest in any other girl but her, so anytime someone else showed interest in him, he was completely oblivious. Eventually the advances stopped altogether.

One day, he couldn't stand being away from her anymore, so he drove to her parents' place across town. When she came to the door, she jumped into his arms, crying. She was still crying. But he soon found out they were tears of joy. Chelsea had missed him so much that seeing him was like an emotional overload for her. They went for a walk and she talked nonstop about her father. David wondered if she could ever love him as much.

“You know, you remind me of him sometimes,” she said.

David had stopped walking. “Really?”

“Yeah,” she said and pulled him along. “You're both such quiet and strong men. You take care of me just like he took care of my mom when they were our age.”

“I take care of you?”

She laughed. “Yes, just the way you love me. Nothing changes that. Even if we disagree on something, your love never changes.”

He hadn't realized that until now, but she was right. But it was because of her not because of him. He just couldn't stop loving her. Even in times he was frustrated with her because of her religion, he couldn't stop loving her. It was impossible to not love Chelsea. And her looks had nothing to do with it. Granted, she was gorgeous, not only in his eyes, but in every guy in the school who's ever laid eyes on her. He heard plenty from eavesdropping on guys who mentioned her and saw the looks they gave her that he knew just how lucky he was that she'd agreed to go out with him.

“I feel safe with you. I know you would never let anything happen to me. I've seen the way you glare at guys at school.”

His eyes grew wide at that and he stopped walking again. She pulled him along again.

“I've done that?”

“All the time,” she said, smiling.

“I didn't know those looks were materializing,” he admitted. “I thought I was keeping those private.”

Chelsea laughed and looked at him with an adoring smile.

“Nope, guys are scared of you. I can tell.”

“Well, good,” David said, glad at the information.

They walked in silence for a few more minutes until she broke the silence with a change of tone in her voice.

“I had a dream last night,” she said.

David looked down at her as they walked slowly, hand in hand.

“What about?”

“You.”

“Me? What about me?”

She hesitated knowing how crazy she was about to sound to him.

“God gave me a vision of you. He has such a huge plan for you, you have no idea.”

She started getting really excited as she spoke. She said something about saving the world from something. It all went over his head but the only thing that stuck with him was her saying that God had a “huge plan” for him. God cared about him? It was then that he decided to start paying more attention. Maybe the Great Spirit was trying to reach him.

That night, David stayed in the guest bedroom of Chelsea's childhood home. The next morning he was dragged to church, but this time he wanted to go. He wanted to hear what their pastor had to say about God.

“So, what are you going to do now?” Chelsea asked.

“I'm on my way to you, is that okay?”

“Yeah, I'm actually at Mom's house. Just come here.”

“Okay, I'll be there in a couple of hours.”

Corporal Adam Brown

“Daddy!”

Corporal Brown's eyes opened painfully as he turned on the light beside his bed. Rubbing his face and taking a deep breath. A glace at his alarm clock told him he'd been asleep a grand total of thirty minutes. After such a long day on post, covering a shift for an injured soldier in his squad, he really needed his sleep to go do it all over again tomorrow.

He opened the door to his little girl's bedroom and stumbled in like a zombie.

“What's the matter, Emma?” He asked, approaching her bed groggily.

“My legs hurt,” she whimpered. He could see the tears glistening off of her cheeks. She'd been crying for a while.

He sat on the edge of her bed and wrapped a large, muscular hand around her tiny legs to massage them, but she screamed louder in pain. Adam couldn't remember being more alert than in that moment.

“What? What is it?”

“That hurts!” She squealed.

He turned on her light, then pulled back her blanket to get a better look at her legs. There wasn't any bruising, so she wasn't injured on the surface. Had someone at school been picking on her? He had no idea.

“Did someone hurt you, sweetheart?” He asked just as her mother came into the room, worry etched upon her face.

“No, they just hurt, Daddy,” she cried.

Adam looked up at his wife, unsure of what to do. Amanda went immediately into Mom-mode and hurried to the bathroom. She returned with some Children's Tylenol.

“Here, baby, take these. They should help,” Amanda said, keeping her cool. All Adam could do was stare at his daughter, wondering what was wrong with her. She was their only child, an accident but not a mistake. He and Amanda hadn't been married yet, seeing as Amanda was still just seventeen. But the night of her Senior Prom, one thing led to another and out came Emma. They'd wished they'd waited, but they both fell in love with their little girl. She was their joy and happiness. Everything Adam has done, even joining the military a couple of years ago, was to take care of Emma and her mom. He never knew he could love anyone so much until Emma was born.

After a few minutes, Emma fell asleep and Amanda went to bed. Adam couldn't move. It was as if he'd been sewn into his daughter's mattress.

“You comin' back to bed?” Amanda asked.

He couldn't tear his eyes away from his daughter. “I think I'll stay for a little bit.”

“Okay. Come and get me if she wakes up and she's still in pain.”

“Okay,” he said. Amanda kissed him on the cheek then went back to bed.

Adam laid next to his daughter, propping his head up to watch her sleep. He was never much of a religious man, but he prayed that night for God to do something. He couldn't bear losing his daughter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning, Adam was woken by whimpering again. When he opened his eyes, he realized he'd fallen asleep on his daughter's bed and she was still asleep, but rubbing her legs. Adam got up to wake his wife, but found her already dressed and ready to leave. He was amazed at how she seemed to be able to see the future.

“She's still in pain,” he told her as he started to strip out of his sweats and pull on jeans and a T-shirt. He'd call his commander on the way to the hospital. There was no way he could leave his daughter's side.

“I know, I couldn't sleep. I watched her all night.”

“You did?”

“Yes, she was in pain but stayed calm because you were at her side.”

That stopped him in his tracks. He stared at his wife. Her blond hair streaking behind her as she darted from their bathroom and back into their room again. He remembered the first day they met. He was a Junior and she a Freshman in high school.

She came into his Geometry class, full of Juniors, some Sophomores and even a couple Seniors. So when she told him she was a new Freshman who had transferred from Florida, his chin hit his desk. For one thing, she didn't look like any Freshman he'd ever seen. Most of them looked like kids still, but Amanda looked like she could compete with girls in his own class. Plus, compared to most Freshmen, she was ahead of them, educationally.

“She did?” Adam asked, dumbfounded.

Amanda grinned, but he could still see some worry in her eyes. “Yes, you've always been the one she cries for. Ever since she was born, you calmed her down more than I ever could.”

“I guess that's true,” he admitted, staring lovingly at his daughter.

“Watch out,” she said and he climbed off of the bed to watch his wife dress their little girl.

At the hospital, a doctor examined Emma. There was no external bruising on her legs, and nothing to suggest abuse in his opinion.

“Does she get along with kids at school?” The doctor asked.

“As far as I know, honey?” Adam said, looking to his wife for answers.

“Yes, she's very popular. Boys are already chasing after her.”

Adam was unaware of this. He felt a sudden surge of protectiveness for his daughter. She's only seven! Why would boys be chasing her already? He thought.

Amanda touched his arm as she shook her head. “She chases them first. Our daughter's a flirt.”

His eyes popped wide in shock. NO! Not his daughter! Emma isn't that kind of girl!

“I'd like to get some X-rays done, just to see if there's something deeper.”

Adam looked at his wife again, they were both thinking the same things. How bad could this be? And, How much is this going to cost us?

Even though Adam has been in the military for a few years, his promotions have been slow coming, and the pay that comes with them even slower. His salary alone barely paid their bills, and with Amanda working only part time so she can take care of Emma, finances were tight. But they also wanted what was best for their daughter. They would have to just work out a financial plan with the hospital. Perhaps their parents would be willing to help out too. After all, Emma was their grandchild.

“Okay, doctor. Whatever will help figure out what's best for Emma,” Amanda said.

Adam nodded when the doctor looked at him. He could barely speak. Here was his defenseless little girl, scared and in pain. They couldn't figure out the source of her pain. It was more than just growing pains like the doctor had originally thought. Sometimes the pain can be greater for some more than others, but at how lightly the doctor touched Emma's legs and the amount of pain came through to them in her screams, it was obvious something very serious was wrong with her.

Emma reached for Adam and he picked her up once they had her fully dressed again. They followed the doctor to an X-ray lab on another floor and introduced them to the technician that would be running the machine.

“Hi there, Emma,” the young, attractive technician said. “My name is Shelly, I'm just going to take a picture of your legs with that machine. Is that okay?”

Emma nodded with her head in Adam's shoulder. She was sucking on her thumb, something she only did when she was scared.

“Will you come with me so we can get you ready for your pictures?”

She nodded again but clung to my next as I tried to hand her off to Shelly.

“Okay, that's okay. Dad can come too.”

Adam looked back at his wife and she nodded, trying her best to hide her tears. He gave his best attempt at a comforting smile, but knew he failed. He was too distracted by his daughter's pain to be of any real comfort right now.

Shelly led them behind a led wall where Adam helped Emma into a hospital gown. She looked so skinny and frail. Like he could break her at even the smallest touch. Her green eyes, her mother's eyes, looked at him in fear. She was a smart girl and knew that they would only be doing X-rays if it was something serious.

“Am I dying, Daddy?” She asked him.

He didn't know how to respond to that. A quick glance at the technician told him that she was just as caught off guard as he was.

“No, baby. They just can't see what's wrong with your legs with their eyes. They need to look and see if there's something beneath your skin that could be causing you pain. It could be something as simple as a blood clot.”

“What's a blood clot?”

He thought for a second and said, “It's when your blood gets stuck in your veins and won't let enough blood through.”

“Can they fix that?”

He brushed her soft blond hair behind her ears, saying, “Yes, they give you something to thin the blood until it clears up.”

She seemed satisfied with that answer but it wasn't enough.

“What else could it be?”

He hesitated. He really didn't know. He'd never experienced anything like this in his life, and neither had Amanda, as far as he knew.

“I don't know, baby. Let's just pray that it's just a blood clot.”

She nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck as he lifted her fragile body off the floor and followed Shelly to the MRI machine. He laid her on the lightly padded table that would slide into the machine and ran his fingers through her fine hair, doing his best to hide his own fears.

“Okay, now, Emma. I won't put you all the way into the machine. All we need is a picture of your legs. You will be able to see us the whole time. But your daddy is going to have to go be with your mommmy, is that okay?”

Adam appreciated that Shelly didn't speak to Emma like she was a newborn. She spoke like an adult, however she remained soothing. Emma nodded.

“I'll be right there,” Adam said pointing to the window where Amanda was waiting for him. “I can be here in just a second if you need me, okay?”

“Okay,” she said then hugged him around the neck. He hugged her back and then kissed her on the top of the head before following Shelly out of the room. She sat behind her control station and spoke into a microphone to Emma.

“Emma?”

“Yeah?” she said, looking towards the windows.

Shelly smiled at her. “You're going to hear some loud noises, that's why we gave you the earplugs, okay? It's normal, so don't let it scare you. Just lay still and this will go quick. We'll have you out of there in no time.”

“Okay,” she said, sounding brave.

Shelly flipped a switch on the control panel and the bed began to enter the machine. Once she was half-way in, Shelly stopped the bed and began running the MRI. It clicked and hummed as lights ran up and down Emma's lower half. Emma didn't move. She stayed still just like she was told, and in less than ten minutes, it was all over. Adam entered the room as soon as he was allowed and helped Emma get dressed again. The X-rays were sent immediately to the doctor who examine Emma and they were directed to the waiting room, where they waited for what seemed to be hours.

“Honey, don't you need to get to work?” Amanda asked.

“Crap,” Adam said and pulled out his cell phone. He called his commanding officer and explained the situation. They had already known about it and had his shift covered.

“You already knew?”

“Yes, Corporal. We were alerted of your arrival this morning. You take care of your family and report back to me as soon as you know more.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”

The phone went dead. Staff Sargent Willow was a bit socially awkward, but was fair at the same time. He appreciated that man more than ever in that moment.

“What'd they say?” Amanda asked as she pet Emma's hair. She was asleep, laying on a chair with her head in Amanda's lap.

“He said they were alerted of my arrival here and covered my shift for me.”

Amanda looked at him speechless.

“They did?”

“Yeah,” Adam said, confused.

“How were they alerted? You aren't in uniform.”

He thought about that and said, “They saw my ID. I'm sure they have some kind of contact within Camp Pendleton to inform them of any soldier who enters the facility for any reason.”

“Mr. and Mrs. Brown?” Came the doctor's voice.

They both looked up. Adam stood, but Amanda stayed sitting with Emma.

“Yes?”

“Would you like to come with me? We should talk in private.”

Adam looked at his wife and her worried expression matched the way he felt. He offered her hand and she took it once she had Emma secure in her arms. They followed the doctor to his office and he shut the door once they were all inside.

“So, after examining the MRI results, we'd like to take a blood sample. Just to hopefully rule something out.”

“What did the MRI results show?” Adam asked.

The doctor sighed and said, “Leukemia. It looks like it started in the bone marrow and has moved into her left thigh and right calf.” He pulled out the X-ray photos and put them into the lighted screens to show them. “Here, what looks to be clots are masses growing in her blood. The restricted blood flow is what's causing the pain. Has she shown any signs of fatigue?”

Adam looked to his wife. She was with Emma more than he was because of work.

The look on her face was like watching a light click on.

“Yes. I thought she'd just been wearing herself out at school, but the past week or so, her teacher has said that Emma hasn't seemed her energetic self out on the playground.”

The doctor nodded his head sadly. “I'd really like to take a blood test, just to be sure.”

“Of course,” Adam said immediately. He knew Emma wouldn't like being stuck with a needle, but if there was any chance of saving their little girl, then he would let them do whatever they had to.

Dr. Xander

“Doctor, you have a phone call,” Xander's secretary said over her intercom.

“Thanks, Tess,” he said then answered the phone. “Dr. Williams.”

“Dr. I'm on my way to you now to check on your work.”

It was General Goff. Great, he thought, and I have nothing new to give him.

“Of course, General Goff. I look forward to your visit.”

Xander hung up his phone and reclined in his chair, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. He needed to think of something to tell him. The only thing he could tell General Goff was the truth. He needed a live specimen to test on. A human, no lab animals.

A few minutes later, General Goff was walking into Xander's office, two military escorts on either flank. General Goff of the U.S. Marine Corps was a tough man with hardened lined face cut from stone. His square chin demanded nothing less than total respect and submission from whomever he met.

“General Goff,” Xander said as he approached the man with an extended hand.

“Dr. Williams. I'm here to check on your progress.”

“Of course, but I unfortunately don't have much to show. The serum has definitely increased the strength of the subjects, but that's all its done. I need a live specimen to test it on. I need to see if it will rebuild dying tissue as well as regenerate dead tissue.”

“That's not an easy request to fill, doctor,” General Goff said, walking to the large fish tank Xander kept in his office.

“I understand that, but I can't get any more results from what I've got now. It's just repeating the same thing over and over again, and you know what the definition of insanity is...”

“Excuse me, doctor?” Gen. Goff said, rounding on Xander.

Xander didn't let it phase him. He wasn't easily intimidated. This guy didn't fun his research, nor did he have any means to shut him down.

“Oh, you know, doing the same thing and expecting different results. The only thing I can change is the serum. Obviously it'll work different in a living specimen than in a dead one.”

There was a slight hint of a growl from the General, but Xander still didn't let it affect him.

“I'll look into the files of some soldiers and see what I can do.”

“Look for one desperate for money. I'm willing to pay a lot of money for a volunteer.”

“I'll do that,” General Goff said, then turned on his heel and left without another word.

“Good day to you too,” Xander said under his breath, sarcastically.

“Dr. Williams,” came Tess's voice over the intercom again.

“Yes, Tess?”

“It's the hospital. Sounds like a child patient with leukemia.”

“Thank you, Tess. Let them know I'll be right there.” Xander grabbed his things and left for the hospital. If anything, this trip would bring him some luck.

The drive to the hospital from his home lab was a short one. Xander doesn't like to waste time with pointless traveling when he could be working on his research. He barely slept because of his obsession. Possibly it was this that made him a “mad scientist”. He knew he wasn't like most people, but he also wouldn't accept the fact that he may be crazy. The truth would be revealed in the end.

Xander didn't make it past the reception desk before being approached by the ER doctor who had apparently requested his presence.

“Dr. Williams!”

Turning to face the mole of a man, Xander grinned, saying, “Dr. Craig, how are you?”

“Not so good. I need a second opinion. Come with me.”

He followed him to the doctor's office where Dr. Craig shoved a new file into his arms.

“Please, I don't want the family leaving before you've had a look at these.”

Xander opened the file and took out the X-rays. Holding them up to the light, he could see the small masses forming the the legs of what seemed to be a child; possibly female. He repressed a memory of Samantha and looked at the blood test results. Everything pointed to leukemia.

“What seems to be the problem?”

“Did I make a correct diagnosis? I don't want this family leaving thinking that their daughter is dying of cancer if she's not.”

He glanced over everything again but he had no doubts.

“Where is the family?”

“In the waiting room. I told them I was calling in a specialist.”

“Thank you, doctor. I'll handle it from here.”

“But-”

“Yes, you were correct.”

The doctor began to sigh a sigh of relief, but then realized that he'd just diagnosed the death of a young girl.

“Doctor, go back to the ER, I can handle things from here.”

Dr. Craig nodded and left the office. Looking over the charts, Xander headed back to the waiting room where the family waited. When he saw them, the father was looking right at him, seeming to know that he would be taking over his daughter's case.

“Mr. Brown?” Xander said.

“Yes, sir,” he said standing. His tanned skin and tight fitting T-shirt covered muscular arms and torso. This was a military man.

“Or should I call you by your rank?” Xander asked.

The man looked at him confused. Maybe he was wrong.

“No? Maybe I was wrong. You just looked military.”

“I am, how could you tell?”

“I know a few soldiers. Army? Marines?”

“Marines.”

“Ah, of course. General Goff is a personal friend of mine.”

“General Goff?” He asked, surprised at the mention of the name.

“Oh yeah, he and I go way back. Anyway, why don't you come with me and we can talk about options. Mary, can you look after Emma?”

“Sure, doctor,” the young nurse said, taking Emma's hand. He led them to his office and closed the door for privacy.

“So, why don't you get right to it. What would be best?” Mr. Brown said.

“Mr. Brown-”

“Adam.”

Xander smiled warmly. “Adam. There are many options, especially since we did catch it fairly early. The masses they showed you are small. They haven't moved to anywhere else in the body. A simple surgery can remove the cancer cells blocking the blood flow.”

“Then we'll do it.”

“Honey, let him finish.”

Adam sighed heavily. Xander could empathize with him. He knew exactly how this felt.

“I conduct my own personal research on fighting cancer, specifically child leukemia. I am developing a new drug that not only will attack the cells harming Emma, but will regenerate strong, healthy cells that will allow her to recover faster than most surviving patience.”

“What is it, exactly?” Mrs. Brown asked.

“It's a drug mixed with a newer technology called nanotechnology. As it combines with the medical field, cures are on their way to being found for things like cancer, HIV and AIDS.”

“But, it's still an experimental thing, isn't it?”

“Yes, it is.”

Adam looked at his wife, looking very unsure.

“What are the side effects?” Mrs. Brown asked.

“Well, Mrs. Brown-”

“Amanda.”

Must be a family thing, he thought.

“Amanda,” he repeated. “The side effects seem to vary from person to person. One might break out with a skin irritation, another may just get a little drowsy.”

“So, you don't know.”

“No, I don't.”

Amanda looked at her husband and shook her head. “I don't trust something that hasn't been tested enough.”

“How else is the doctor going to get more results?”

“Not on our daughter,” she said just above a whisper. It wasn't for Xander's sake, but more of an angry reaction. He knew he had to put a stop to this.

“Look, Amanda, you're right. You shouldn't put your child at any more risk than she already is. My suggestion is, go with the surgery. They can clean out the cells and, hopefully they won't come back.”

“Come back?”

“Well, yeah, like with any cancer, anything can return. Sometimes it stays in remission and never returns, but sometimes it returns.”

It was Adam's turn to look at Amanda, but with pleading eyes.

“Surgery isn't one hundred percent.”

“Nothing is, to be fair,” Xander interjected.

They both looked at him this time. He leaned forward, resting on his elbows and pressing his finger tips together.

“The truth about cancer is, we all have it. It's just that in some people, the cancer becomes deadly, or malignant, or it grows abnormally, causing a deformity but isn't deadly, or benign. It's up to the body of the subject to make the cancer one or the other, or to even allow the cancer to grow beyond a normal rate.”

“Which treatment is the most effective?” Adam asked.

Xander wanted to say his new drug, but he couldn't answer that honestly. Besides, he wanted to somehow get this soldier to volunteer to take the drug and he didn't have an endless supply.

“I would go with either radiation therapy or the surgery.”

The couple looked at each other again, seeming to read each others' thoughts. They nodded without speaking a word.

“Surgery,” Adam said, his voice now sounding strained. Amanda was nodding. A tear fell down her eye as well.

“Very well. I will contact you with an appointment.”

Xander stood and escorted them to the door.

“The best thing you can do for Emma, now, until the surgery, is to stay positive. Here, let me write a prescription to help her cope with the pain until then.”

Xander scribbled a mild pain killer for Emma and handed it to her.

“If she can't swallow pills, there is a liquid form. This will get you either one.”

“Thank you, doctor.”

“You're welcome. I will be in touch.”

Once they were gone, he shut his door and dialed the General's number.

“General Goff.”

“I think I have your soldier.”

David

David parked his truck in the driveway of Chelsea's parent's house. As soon as he shut off the engine, she was running out to him from the front door. She seemed to be in extra high spirits to David. What had happened during his two hour drive to make her so excited? It couldn't just be his presence.

“What's got you smiling so much?” David asked, sounding more bitter than he'd intended. The drive from the reservation hadn't calmed him as much as he'd hoped. Instead, he'd just been able to brood over the injustice of the situation.

“I can't say, but the dean wants to see you.”

“The dean? Which dean?”

She laughed. “The dean over the entire student body, silly.” She ruffled his hair.

“Why does he want to see me?” He asked, smoothing his hair back out again.

“You have no clue?”

“Well, I guess I had a pretty good semester, grade wise. But, nothing special.”

She sighed then took his hand and led him to her car.

“I'm driving since you were just on the road for two hours.”

He was grateful. They'd insisted on meeting at 6am that morning, so that meant he either had to stay at his mom's place on the reservation, or leave around 4am to get there on time. He couldn't stay at his mom's, though, because of a night class he had to give a presentation in. So he had no other choice but to get up early and make the long drive.

“Just relax, I doubt it's anything to worry about,” she said, but he could tell she was hiding something. She already knew what it was, or at least had a good idea.

“Chels, please just tell me what's going on.”

“I honestly don't know for sure,” she said. So, she had an idea, and she was keeping it from him.

“Uh huh,” he said skeptically and laid his head against the headrest of the passenger seat. Her Ford Focus barely hummed compared to the roar of his truck. The silence put him out before they hit the end of the street.

“Wake up,” she said slapping his leg. They were parked in the parking lot outside the admini-stration building at Dakota State University. Graduation was a couple weeks away, and David knew his grades were exemplary. Maybe he earned some kind of award for his achievements. Why else would the dean want to see him?

Taking his hand, she took him into the building and at the front desk, Chelsea told the secretary why there were there.

“Oh, go on up. He just got out of a board meeting. If you hurry you can catch him before he heads home,” the elderly secretary informed them.

“Thank you!” Chelsea said and pulled him along at a brisk pace.

They ran up the stairs together and once they reached the top, they followed the signs pointing to the dean's office. The door to his office was open and he saw them approaching.

“Come on in,” he said with a casual wave. He was gathering paperwork and placing them into his briefcase. “How can I help you?”

“Sir, my name is Chelsea, we spoke on the phone earlier.”

“Ah, yes. This is David, then?”

“Yes, sir, I am.”

“Have a seat,” Dean Parker said and closed his briefcase as he took his seat behind his desk.

So, this is Dean Parker. David thought. He'd never seen the dean before, and he was nothing like he imagined.

Dean Edward Parker was a kind looking man with a narrow face, but a large gut. His salt and pepper hair was kept short and he dressed in a casual, tan sweater vest over a beige, long sleeved shirt. No tie. Tan khakis.

“David, I see that you're up for graduation in a couple weeks.”

“Yes, sir. Is there something wrong with my credits? I could have sworn I completed everything I needed to, and then some, but if-”

Dean Parker held up his hand to stop him from talking anymore.

“Your credits are fine. In fact, you're the top student graduating right now.”

David felt a chill run down his spine. What was this about? No! He couldn't be...

“You've been chosen to be the class Valedictorian.”

His chin dropped into his lap. If he'd been a cartoon character, Chelsea would be rolling it back up to his skull.

“I'm sorry, sir, but what?”

“You are this class's Valedictorian. Congratulations!” Dean Parker said, standing up and walking around his desk to give David a hearty handshake.

He stared at the dean's hand for a few seconds, and it wasn't until Chelsea gave him a gentle prod in the arm that he took it.

“I'm sorry, sir. I'm just a little lost for words. This is turning out to be a very strange day.”

“Well, if you don't have class today, go celebrate. If you do...go anyway!” He said and gave a booming laugh. “I'm sure missing one day of class won't take this away from you.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“No, son, thank you! Thank you for all the hard work you put into your five years here at DSU.”

David walked out of the office with Chelsea feeling stunned. He'd been banished from his tribe but then given a great honor by his school. He sighed and shook his head.

“What is it?”

“God is weird,” he said with a laugh.

She already understood. “He's preparing you for life, honey. I just know that you're destined to do such wonderful things in this world.”

Wonderful things, huh?

David pondered at what God could possibly do with a Biology major from Madison, South Dakota.

Cpl Brown

As Adam and Amanda leave the hospital, Adam recognizes the uniformed man making a beeline for them. General Goff. He hands Emma over to Amanda and salutes his superior.

“At ease, soldier.”

Adam relaxed...a little.

“Corporal Brown?” General Goff prodded.

“Yes, sir.”

“Please, relax,” he laughed. “We aren't on base and you're off duty right now.”

“Sorry, sir.”

“Now, what brings you down here today?” Goff asked.

“My daughter is sick, sir,” he admitted as Amanda put her in the car.

“I'm sorry to hear that. What's the diagnosis?”

Adam hesitated. Why was General Goff so interested in his family? And out of the blue like this? How did Goff even know who he was?

He cleared his throat. “Leukemia.”

Genuine concern seemed to etch General Goff's face. There was sadness in his eyes.

“We can protect them from terrorists, but something like this... Well, you just can't kill it with firepower, can you?”

“No, I suppose not, sir.”

“Tell you what, why don't you come by my office in a couple hours. There are some options I can give you to help deal with the situation more. Financially, at least.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”

“Good day, ma'am. And,” he looked at Adam for his daughter's name.

“Emma.”

“Emma,” he said kneeling down and tipping his hat to her like he did to Amanda, then walked into the hospital.

Two hours later, Adam was knocking on General Goff's door, hat in hand. The door was opened by a security soldier inside the office and Adam walked inside.

“Ah, Corporal Brown.”

Adam saluted him again.

“At ease, Adam. Please, have a seat. Relax.”

Adam was confused by this informal treatment from the General, but he didn't argue either. Who was he to argue with one of the top most ranked Generals in the Marines?

Goff sat down back behind his desk and folded one leg up on his opposite knee. Adam was finding it very difficult to relax in front of the General. How many lowly soldiers did he treat so informally?

“So, you said there were options for me and my family?” Adam asked, taking a chance at being the one to make the first move.

“Yes, actually I want to offer you an opportunity.”

“What kind of opportunity.”

Goff took a deep breath and jumped in. “What I'm about to tell you doesn't leave this room. It may even be hard to believe. But, this opportunity will not only take care of you and your family for a very long time, but it will be a great honor for you in serving your country.”

Adam wasn't sure where this was going, but he couldn't disagree with the idea of something taking care of he and his family.

“I am working with a scientist on, I guess you can call it a super drug meant to enhance the speed and strength of the human body.”

“What? Like Captain America?” Adam joked, then thought maybe he shouldn't.

“Yeah, something like that. You see, this drug will keep you from dying. It's meant to regenerate dead cells as they die!”

Adam scowled. This sounded a lot like the drug Dr. Williams was talking about earlier that day.

“What is it?” Goff asked.

“Dr. Williams was talking about a similar drug he wanted to try on Emma to help cure her cancer.”

“Dr. Williams is the scientist I was talking about. He has two versions of the drug. One to help cure cancer and other deadly diseases, and the other to create...”

“A super-soldier.”

“Sure, we can call it that for lack of a better term.”

“I'm not so sure about this, sir.”

“Dr. Williams is willing to pay a hefty amount to those willing to test the drug. It'll more than cover your hospital bills.”

Adam wasn't sure what to say. Something seemed fishy about this, but he knew there was no way he would be able to get his family out from under those hospital bills once all was said and done.

“I can even make it so the Government pays for the hospital bills, plus you will still get the money from Dr. Williams.”

Does Adam take the money and go through with the experimental drug?

For the first choice, it's a simple one. The choices will become more complex as the story progresses.