CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
“From a scientific perspective, I have to say I’m impressed with what they’ve been able to do,” said Suzette shaking her head.
“From a human perspective, it scares the shit out of me. It would be one thing if they were using these drugs on willing patients, and I understand that some of them may be willing. But. But, I fear that more are unaware, than aware.”
“I agree,” said Riley. “I don’t believe either of these people have told their clients what the side effects could be.
They won’t magically develop organs from the opposite gender but they will develop physiological effects from the opposite gender.
It could all be horribly confusing and damaging without the proper care. ”
“Well, we know that Carter wasn’t told the truth about what he was taking. He had no interest in becoming female, nor did Julius. I think they were experimenting on these kids without their knowledge,” said Suzette. “Whatever they told the parents was definitely nothing close to the truth.”
“We still don’t know who they are,” said Hex. “I feel like Butch Williams and Helen Williams are aliases.”
“You’re right,” said Hiro coming into the room. “This one really tested us and I have to thank everyone on the comms team that researched it. Butch and Helen Williams were born to Vladim and Elenya Woerter.”
“Those names don’t ring a bell,” frowned Eric.
“There’s no reason that they should. Vladim was a Russian powerlifter and wrestler. Elenya was a rhythmic gymnast who died from the side effects of anorexia. The kids were under five when she died. By all accounts Vladim was a very active father. Too active.”
“He abused them?” asked Eric.
“Not sexually but it was abuse by all accounts. This all came to light decades ago as Butch and Helen were in college. Their father had bred them to be champions. He would accept nothing less. They were exposed when both tested positive for steroids during a drug test at their universities.
“It was actually Butch who admitted to using the drugs first. As reporters and coaches dug into their history, they discovered that Vladim was creating the steroids himself and giving the injections to the kids. He controlled it all. Food, workouts, study time, everything.
“One neighbor suspected something was wrong when the kids were woken at four a.m. to exercise, even in bitterly cold weather. They were forced to lift weights, run, participate in unusual calisthenics and other exercises that seemed too mature for their young bodies.”
“Jesus, what a fucking nightmare,” said Luke.
“After the father died of a heart attack, the kids sort of melted into the background, changing their names and becoming coaches locally in their town,” said Hiro.
“How did they manage that?” frowned Eric.
“How do you think? They had someone falsify documents, the name change helped, and they took daddy’s notes and worked on making his little experiment even better. Or so they thought.”
“I don’t understand,” said Luke. “I mean, I get that the father was trying to make them superior athletes, winners, but how does all of this play into gender and the attempt to change gender?”
“I’m not sure of that. At least not yet,” said Hiro. “Let’s be honest, I wouldn’t be able to understand formulas or anything but I’m trying to find why this is such a sticking point for them.”
“What do you mean?” asked Hex.
“I mean, if these drugs work the way we think they do, somewhat successfully, they could have just sold them to the highest bidders. Although testing at the professional, semi-professional, and Olympic levels is rigid and very good, it’s not perfect. Things get missed or misunderstood.
“Ideally, they could have made millions by selling to individuals, corporations, or countries. So, in my mind, why do something so reckless, so dangerous as to use these drugs on unsuspecting young men and women?”
“I think you answered your own question,” said Hex. “They’re young men and women, young adults, who are unsuspecting and hoping, praying for their big break in whatever their preferred discipline is. Julius and Carter are lucky that they didn’t lose their lives, but we know that several have.”
“Do we know if Butch and Helen were born in Wisconsin?” asked Luke.
“I don’t know that for sure. Part of the challenge is that their parents were immigrants in the U.S. and there seems to be some confusion as to what the children’s actual names were.
“The last location prior to coming to New Orleans was Wisconsin, but we don’t believe they were born there or attended school there. Right now, the only records we can find are their collegiate records which tell us they were banned from sport.”
“This just gets more and more strange,” said Eric. “We all played at collegiate or military level where available. We participated in high school athletics. Records are pretty meticulous.”
“Then beyond the obvious, they’re hiding something,” said Hiro. “It’s not just about the drugs, there’s something else. But what?”
“That’s what you get paid the big bucks for,” smirked Hex.