27. Chapter 27
Chapter twenty-seven
Alex
Alex’s fear was replaced by confusion when the video screen remained black, before it slowly illuminated to reveal Danyal sitting on a metal chair dressed in a white t-shirt and red basketball shorts, his feet and hands bound in front of him. Alex’s entire body jolted like he’d touched a downed power line. Diana let out an audible gasp.
Danyal, in a shaky voice, began to talk. “My name is Danyal Sarif, and this message is for Alex Lieth and the Palingenesis Corporation. You’ll deliver all samples of ichor to the coordinates provided in seven days. If you don’t comply with this request, the Sons of Enyaluis will kill me and detonate a dirty bomb in an urban area in the United States. This isn’t an idle threat; recent events prove the Sons of Enyaluis have the resources to enact this plan. If you seek help from the authorities or the military, the plan will be executed immediately, and the blood of millions of people will be on your hands.” Danyal stopped speaking and looked directly into the camera, tears streaming down his face. “Please, Alex, give them what they want; I love you.” Danyal could barely say the last words before the screen faded to black once more.
The atmosphere in the boardroom was deathly silent. Galen reached over and placed his hand on Alex’s shoulder, which startled him.
“Sorry, mate, my bad. Ya right?”
Alex stared at the video monitor as it shattered and crashed to the floor. The faces of everyone in the room, including Dr. Bruno, were pale. No one dared break the silence. As Alex’s panic grew, the windows to the boardroom began to shake violently and crack. Galen strengthened his grasp on Alex’s shoulder.
“Alex, focus on your breathing to help regulate your emotions,” pleaded Hoko.
Alex slowed his breathing enough to respond as the shaking dissipated. “What the fuck just happened?”
“Let’s stick to facts, Alex––we need to try and gather as much information as we can from the message,” said Ryo.
“I’ll give you a fact: these motherfuckers will pay!” yelled Alex as he slammed his fist on the table, breaking it into splinters.
“Alex,” said Hoko, “focus again on your breath. We know Danyal is alive, and we need you here to figure this out.”
“How?” asked Alex.
Hoko said they needed him to review the video as slowly and methodically as possible. Alex could see things they couldn’t. Hoko asked if Alex saw anything unusual with his abilities.
Alex closed his eyes to concentrate on feeling the energy of the transmission. He nodded yes. Alex said he couldn’t see the spark in the Danyal’s chest or in the chests of the hostage-takers. “What does that mean?”
Bruno said it meant they were able to reach more of the PGC medical research than they’d anticipated, and they had synthesized an inoculation. Hoko said he suspected Bruno was right because it would prevent Alex from tracking them with his abilities.
“Know I’m late to the scrum,” said Galen, “but did we find anything in the database about the Sons of Enyaluis?”
Ryo said the only information in the world criminal and terrorist database was that they’re a low-level terrorist group with minor engagement in disruptive behavior across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He added they’ve never shown any organization on the level required for their attack on PGC. He wondered aloud how they went from the minor to major leagues so quickly, saying the video was planned down to the second to prevent them from tracking it to the source, as it appeared to be routed through several remote servers. He paused before asking, “Is Thanatos behind this?”
“Ditta did warn us shifting the balance of power may provoke the forces of darkness,” said Diana.
“What makes ya think, Thanatos?” asked Galen.
Alex interjected, “Because, from Greek mythology, Enyaluis was the son of Aphrodite and Aries. He was the god of soldiers and warriors.”
“What’s their plans for the ichor? Why would Thanatos need it? Bloke’s a god. May have access to it already,” said Galen.
Bruno said ichor in the wrong hands would be devastating. It was immediately lethal to humans by all accounts and, if perfected, could create an immortal being or a god, so the damage could be unlimited.
“Imagine an army of immortal soldiers,” Dr. Bruno added as he looked around the room, eventually focusing on Alex. “Alex, I know you’d do anything to save Danyal, but we can’t let ichor fall into the hands of these terrorists. It’s a good thing we have no samples.”
“What if we did have a sample?” Alex asked.
“What’re you saying?” responded Bruno.
Galen placed his hand on Alex’s knee under the table before Alex could respond.
Alex paused until Galen removed his hand before responding. “I’m not saying I have any samples, but what if I could obtain one? Historically, ichor is the golden blood of the gods. Maybe I can locate a source.”
“Heed my warning––that would be a terrible mistake. There would be no feasible way to obtain your blood, given your invulnerability,” responded Bruno.
“So, you wouldn’t do it for someone you loved?” asked Alex.
Bruno sat in silence.
“I figured as much. I need a moment,” said Alex.
Ryo said he’d get the tech department working on the video. He doubted there would be any clues, but they would leave no stones unturned.
Alex stood to leave the room but was stopped by Diana, who extended her arms toward Alex for an embrace. Alex surprised himself by accepting it without resisting.
Hoko placed his hand on Alex’s shoulder before saying Alex knew where to find him when he was ready, and that Hoko would start searching his resources for any mystical information to help ensure Danyal’s safe return. Alex nodded in gratitude. Galen stood to leave the room after all the other occupants had left, but Alex stopped him by grasping his forearm.
“Please stay. I don’t want to be alone,” Alex said, as tears sprang forth from his eyes, and he wept uncontrollably.
Galen turned to Alex and placed his new protective ring on the table. He put his arms around Alex. “Not going anywhere, mate. Will hold ya as long as ya need me. Let it out.”