CHAPTER NINETEEN
“Well, what did the bloodwork show?” Luke asked his Aunt Suzette, Gabi, and Riley.
“It’s damn similar,” said Gabi. “So much so that we can be certain whatever the kids have been exposed to, is a form of what our team was exposed to. But we don’t think it was dust.”
“How do you know?” asked Cam.
“The dust appeared differently in the bodies of Kane and the others. It’s difficult to explain but the molecules looked different. They were in the blood stream but stagnant. Not really moving or morphing in any way.
“The molecules in the children look nearly identical except that they move, like they’re looking for something to hold onto and maybe they are,” said Suzette.
“I’m not sure what any of that means, Aunt Suzette,” said Luke. “Is this new molecule going to do something else to the children? Is it going to harm them?”
“I’m not sure, honey. I need more time, we need more time and more brain power.
We’ve asked for help from Victoria and a few others out at G.R.I.P.
Remember, the originals were exposed in an attempt to create powers or skills that would make them super-human warriors or soldiers.
It was specifically targeted toward a part of their brain.
“This is different. It’s not about being super-human. Whatever this is was specifically exposed, injected, or targeted to hit the part of the brain that controls creative genius.”
“But you can definitively say it’s at least from the same pattern, for lack of better words, to the original?” asked Cam.
“That we can say,” said Riley. “There was always a part of this that we could never identify or understand. I’m guessing that this woman found her father’s notes, or at least the notes of the scientists involved, and has amped up the capabilities.
If she was a witness to what happened to the others, she probably saw that using it for super-soldiers was a stupid idea.
They could turn on you if they didn’t like what was happening to them. ”
“Why open these kids up? Why operate on their brains?” asked Eric.
“Eric, that’s actually more obvious than you think. They wanted to see how this was working. What was happening in their brains to become so stimulated that it created these savants, who seemingly should not have been able to do the things they were doing?” said Gabi.
“When the kids were asked when they started to show signs of musical ability, they all said it was some of their earliest memories,” said Suzette. “That means that however this particular formula was delivered would have been early in their lives.”
“Wait a minute,” said Eric. “All these kids were orphaned early in their lives and all were from families struggling financially.”
“True,” nodded Luke. “So?”
“Formula. Families struggling when the children are babies are identified by the hospitals where they are born for consideration in well-baby care programs.”
“That’s right,” smiled Riley. “We have one. New mothers are given diapers, blankets, vitamins, and formula. If they were given a formula that contained the active molecule that would explain how they showed signs of their gifts so early.”
Gabi began writing something on the whiteboard, speaking to herself in a low, hushed tone as if computing the formulations in her head. She turned to Suzette who stared at the board, and then Riley.
“I see what you’re doing. Whatever was in this formulation targeted that part of the brain,” said Suzette.
“Explain. In English, please,” smirked Luke. Suzette nodded, grinning at her handsome nephew.
“Musical savants are not created by a single music center in the brain.
Instead, it emerges from an imbalance between the brain's hemispheres.
It typically involves damage or underdevelopment in the left anterior temporal lobe combined with compensatory overdevelopment and activity in the right hemisphere, which is responsible for spatial and artistic processing.
“It’s actually quite fascinating. The underdevelopment was their deafness, although for most it was a genetic defect. The neurological makeup of a musical savant relies on a fascinating interplay of specific brain regions.”
“Aunt Suzette,” sighed Luke rubbing his temples.
“Okay, okay,” she smiled. “The left anterior temporal lobe is the region that usually manages logical reasoning and conceptual categorization.
In savant syndrome, damage or suppressed activity in this left-brain area stops it from filtering out raw sensory details.
This allows the brain to access raw, unfiltered sensory data and privileged memory.
“Savant skills generally map to the right side of the brain. With the left side suppressed, the right hemisphere—which controls visual-spatial awareness, pattern recognition, and creative abilities—hyper-compensates and dedicates enormous neurological resources to musical processing. It’s what allows them to become the absolute miracles they are. ” Suzette nodded at Gabi to continue.
“The auditory cortex, which is located in the temporal lobes, is the area that processes pitch, tone, and melody. Savants often show a massive expansion or heightened activity in Heschl's gyrus, a key area within the auditory cortex dedicated to mapping exact pitches and perfecting absolute pitch or perfect pitch. It’s quite possible this molecule or pink dust or whatever it is, mimics hearing in the deaf to allow them to ‘false’ hear. I know it doesn’t make sense but it’s what’s working in my brain,” said Gabi.
“Some of it makes sense,” said Eric. “I think I can see what you’re saying.”
“There’s more,” said Suzette. “The cerebellum and motor cortex are responsible for regulating physical movement, rhythm, and timing, these areas allow a musical savant to effortlessly translate complex rhythmic patterns into precise physical performance. So, it’s as if everything turns into math and even though the children can’t hear it, the formula makes sense. ”
“So, whatever this stuff is, it was strategically targeted to that portion of the brain so that in spite of their disability, the children would develop a keen ability to feel music, hearing it in their brain. I’m making myself confused now,” laughed Riley. “But do you understand?”
“I think so,” nodded Luke. “It’s like SEALs or Rangers who have an incredible sixth sense. Like Trak who just knows which way to go and finds what’s he’s looking for.”
“Exactly! That part of your brain is functioning at such a high level, everything else is blocked out,” said Gabi.
“Can the children learn regular lessons? Can they learn math, science, history, all of that or will this inhibit that part of their brain?” asked Eric.
“They will learn like every other child. They may experience challenges in certain subjects, just like other kids, but my guess is music, math, and science will be their sweet spot,” said Riley.
“Well, that tells us that these children were born deaf or mute but not savants. Sometime after their birth, we’ll say formula for now, was given to them with this molecule in it.
It made that part of the brain hyper-active, creating the genius,” said Luke.
Gabi, Riley, and Suzette nodded. “But why not artistic geniuses?”
“Honey, one miracle diagnosis at a time,” said Gabi. “We’ll work on the next when I’ve rested my old brain.”
“Gabi, your brain is younger than mine,” laughed Eric. “And a whole lot prettier.”
“Aww, you’re gonna make Zulu jealous,” she said kissing his cheek. “We’ll let you know if we think of anything else. One thing is for sure.”
“What’s that?” asked Luke.
“It cannot be reversed.”