Right on schedule, Dr. Connors stepped onto the platform and introduced himself before everyone present.
"I am Dr. Curtis Connors, a specialist in biogenetics, director, and lead researcher of the «Cellular Reintegration Project»," he said with a professional smile. Then, turning his gaze toward where Rilley stood, he motioned for him to come up as well. "This is my assistant and closest collaborator, Dr. Rilley Glass, an expert in physics. I believe the success of this project is, in large part, thanks to him."
Rilley, for his part, had no choice but to accompany Dr. Connors. He made his way up to the platform and politely greeted everyone present.
After patting Rilley on the shoulder, Dr. Connors pressed a few buttons on the remote control in his right hand. The lights in the room dimmed, and a series of graphs appeared on the screen, marking the beginning of his theoretical presentation.
"The «Cellular Regeneration Serum» was created based on research into the regenerative mechanisms of lizard tails."
On the screen appeared a series of photographs documenting the regrowth of a lizard's tail. It was the very same small lizard Dr. Connors kept near his desk and used for most of his tests and new experiments.
"These are certainly fascinating animals. When they lose their tails, what takes place is not a simple scarring process like the one that would occur in the human body. Instead, an internal program of repair and regrowth is activated, forming a new functional structure. It is not entirely identical to the original one, but it is functional."
The presentation slides continued to display graphs without going into deep detail or revealing any classified information. Dr. Connors was an expert. There was no chance he would accidentally reveal important or sensitive information in front of guests who might have every intention of copying the formula.
"The «Cellular Regeneration Serum» on its own can help stabilize severe injuries and restore lost limbs. In the case of severe injuries, changes may be seen in a matter of minutes. In the case of limb recovery, the process may take a little longer, though certain improvements can already be observed within the first few months."
The slide then changed, revealing what looked like a set of machines inside a sterilized space free of microbial particles. It was a special chamber, the very one that could be seen behind Dr. Connors.
"As of today, technology has taken a great step forward for humankind as a whole. You will not have to wait months to witness the changes. Thanks to the chamber specially designed by Dr. Rilley Glass and myself, you will be able to witness in real time the medical miracle of the century."
Pointing at the diagrams of the special chamber, he continued.
"The patient will enter the chamber and be prepared under the corresponding safety measures. Through stimulation by means of special energy beams, developed and named by Dr. Rilley Glass himself, it is possible to accelerate the process safely. This is because these high-energy particles interact favorably with human genetics, helping the serum factor be assimilated evenly throughout the body."
Dr. Connors made a gesture toward Rilley, who immediately understood that it was time for the procedure they had already planned together. Rilley walked at once toward where an elderly man and a young woman were waiting, apparently his granddaughter.
The young woman looked at Rilley with tearful eyes, her concern for her grandfather plain to see. From that alone, Rilley could tell how close the two of them were.
She looked young, perhaps seventeen. She had fair skin and brown hair tied into two ponytails, with bangs framing her face. She wore a ruffled dress covered in small flowers in soft tones, made of a light fabric that moved easily, reaching down to mid-calf.
Rilley offered them both a reassuring smile.
"Mr. Turner, miss, the trial will begin shortly. Do you have any questions so far? Please remember that if you no longer wish to continue with the procedure, you may refuse without any consequence. Our project accepts volunteers only, and we absolutely refuse to pressure patients into acting against their will."
Mr. Turner was a war veteran with a physical disability. He had lost his left hand only a year after entering the battlefield. Recommended by General Ross, he had received a letter from Empire State University a week earlier inviting him to take part in the project to restore lost limbs.
The old war veteran believed himself old enough already, so he accepted the invitation without fear of side effects, and now, today, he was here eagerly awaiting his turn to participate in the test.
Mr. Turner shook his head.
"I'm here voluntarily. These old bones can still handle little things like this. Even if things go wrong, I'll stay calm."
The old man gave a pat to the trembling hands of his worried granddaughter.
Rilley looked at both of them and, with a calm gesture of his hand, said, "There's no need to worry so much. Mr. Turner is the fifth person in the final-stage trials. The previous four had no problems at all, and they recovered their limbs completely successfully. For most pharmaceutical companies, after a third successful trial, the serum could already be certified and released to the market. But our company has stricter standards. As an extra safety measure, we wait until a fifth trial before certifying and finally distributing it on a large scale."
Rilley's words, delivered with complete confidence, brought the young woman a great sense of relief, and she visibly relaxed.
Once the necessary documents had been formally signed, Rilley guided the old man toward the special chamber in the laboratory, just as Dr. Connors finished his explanation.
After clapping his hands once, Dr. Connors said, "Today, we will begin the presentation of test number 3762-E, the final-stage trial of the project."
Rilley then prepared the test subject while Dr. Connors loaded the regenerative serum into the syringes inside the special chamber. Rilley tightened the safety restraints firmly to prevent the old man from breaking free during the agitation that might occur in the process. Once finished, he stepped out of the chamber, and the door behind him closed automatically.
Dr. Connors began typing commands into the program to initialize the trial, while Rilley adjusted the visual inspection sensors inside the special chamber. With each of them carrying out his respective role, their excellent working synergy was plain to see.
"Rilley, you may activate the intervention system," Dr. Connors said after finishing the parameter setup.
Rilley obeyed immediately. With the special chamber sealed airtight, leaving no possibility of leakage, the procedure began. At the press of a button, a strange blue gas began to seep from the ventilation ducts inside the chamber. This was the serum in gaseous form, released to float through the chamber and distribute itself evenly so that it could be absorbed externally by the test subject.
Once that first stage was complete, the intervention machine began to move. After calibrating its tools and coordinates, eight syringes attached to the test table were revealed, and then they moved into their respective starting positions. Through a retractable mechanism, they were injected into the old man's body.
The second stage consisted of a total of eight injections. Two at the back of the neck, two in the arms, two in the lower ribs, and finally one in each leg. After that, the third stage began.
"The «Cellular Regeneration Serum» in liquid form enters the bloodstream through eight injection points, while the serum in gaseous form adheres to the body and is absorbed through the pores of the skin and the nasal cavity," Dr. Connors explained as he put on protective goggles fitted with special filters.
Rilley did the same, then continued the explanation, taking over from Dr. Connors.
"Special panels have been placed around the chamber for the emission of the catalytic beams," he said, pointing toward the panels, which bore a certain resemblance to photovoltaic cells. Then he continued, "From them, the high-energy beams will be fired through an amplification system. These panels are fitted with a ring-shaped mechanism that allows free rotational movement, enabling them to move at high speed throughout the entire chamber and achieve uniform dispersion, accelerating the effects of the serum, both the portion in gaseous form and the one already injected into the volunteer's body."
In the next instant, the machine activated. The panels lit up, radiating a faint white glow. The motion system released the locking brakes of each panel, allowing them to rotate around the entire chamber before the eyes of every spectator present. The intensity of the white light increased as the energy level was confirmed safe, gradually rising until it reached its limit.
Now that the light had reached such intensity, those present were forced to follow the example of Dr. Connors and Rilley and put on the special goggles for eye protection, which had been distributed before the presentation began.
The catalytic panels fired a brilliant beam of light dispersed in three hundred and sixty degrees around the special chamber, all of it directed toward the test subject.
"The catalytic panels emit a high-frequency beam with amplified charge. It shares certain similarities with gamma rays, but it is slightly more powerful and far easier to manipulate within a strictly controlled environment. The name of these rays is «Ultra Plus Rays»."
"Aahhh!"
A scream interrupted Dr. Connors' speech.
It came from the test subject, who had begun to convulse. He twisted violently in place, so fiercely that the safety restraints shook without stopping.
Before the eyes of all the spectators, something occurred that some might have called a miracle. But everyone present knew it was no miracle of any divinity. It was the application of human science at the height of its research.
The amputated hand of the test subject began to absorb the light of the «Ultra Plus Rays» in such a way that it looked like a bulb shining in the middle of the night. That intense light was tolerable for those present once they put on the protective goggles, allowing them to clearly witness the subject's missing hand regenerate almost instantly in a matter of seconds. That accelerated regeneration began first with the bone, followed by the arteries, veins, cartilage, and flesh, and finally ended with the formation of skin.
The noise of the machinery ceased, and everything fell silent for a few seconds, until the silence was broken by the solitary applause of a single person.
Among the invited guests stood out a middle-aged man in a dark formal suit. The most striking thing about him was his silver hair and silver eyes, very similar to those of Dr. Connors' assistant, Rilley Glass.
The man then stood up and spoke.
"This was, without question, an excellent demonstration. With this being the fifth successful trial, all that remains is to confirm the subject's side effects, and after that, the «Cellular Regeneration Serum» may be put into immediate use, distributed through our official medical channels."
This man was none other than Rilley's father and the current president of the «Glass Industrial Group», Relly Glass.
Everyone seemed pleased to hear such good news. Everyone present, without exception, knew of the excellence and strict quality standards of the products developed by the «Glass Industrial Group». It was well known that in the medical industry, the standard requirement for a new product to be certified as successful and fit for large-scale distribution was three successful trial phases carried out on a certain number of individuals, provided that no severe side effects appeared.
At the «Glass Industrial Group», however, the testing standards were even stricter. Their formulas had to pass a total of five successful trial phases, meeting all requirements with only very mild or no side effects at all. Because of that, the words spoken by the very president of GIG sounded far less like empty talk and far more like an irrevocable fact.
Among the many guests were businessmen as well as military representatives. And many of them had one or another close relative with some form of physical disability, so without question, they were the ones most eager to acquire this new product the moment it was certified as safe for release to the market.
Rilley supported Mr. Turner and led him out of the special chamber. The moment they stepped outside, the young woman ran over and embraced the old man.
"Grandpa! Are you alright? How do you feel?" Her voice carried both anxiety and expectation, as though she were hoping for good news.
Rilley stepped aside to give the grandfather and granddaughter room to speak.
The old man only laughed good-naturedly.
"Ha! These old bones are still sturdy. I won't be going anywhere for at least a few more decades. This young man has already explained the benefits of the serum to me, and now I only need to wait a week to see whether there are any side effects," he said while looking at Rilley.
Then, without warning, the girl hugged Rilley.
Caught off guard by the sudden weight against him, he took a step back in surprise and instinctively wrapped his arms around the nearest thing he could reach. By the time he realized what had happened, he was touching the young woman's back. Being a head shorter than him, she only reached his chest.