5 Mr. Jang

The pair comes out of the local hospital, and breathes in the cool night air. Lucy gazes at a tree surrounded by sea of asphalt. Her mind filtered out every sound until all she hears is the tree's leaves fluttering softly with air. She focused her eyes on it and found herself capable of scanning the tree like a X-RAY machine.

She saw all its veins and the sap running through them, she saw its roots spread out into the earth. She slowly turned her eyes on Theodore and focused hard, what she saw shocked her a little. "Yours cells are adapting at a rapid pace… You are body is evolving to handle the drug, how is this possible?" Lucy questioned him.

"I have noticed, but I have no possible theory to explain this abnormality." Theodore answered.

"Then you might be able to survive."

"Who knows, maybe I will or maybe not…" He replied calmly and enters the cab and Lucy too gets in. "Now what?" Theodore asked Lucy.

"Now we go after the mastermind behind our misfortune." Lucy answered, coldly. "Take us to the Imperial Hotel." The terrified Driver kicks on the gas and quickly left the area.

Theodore opens the Duffle bag and to look for some useful weapons they can use. He finds some knives, he kept four for him and the other two he gave it Lucy.

"You can't use that, it's too loud." Lucy stopped him from grabbing the shotgun from the bag.

She reach out and grabbed two silenced handguns.

"Use this instead, dealing with the cops will be a hectic task" Theodore shrugged his shoulder and took the guns from her, and tucked them in the back of his pants.

[Imperial Hotel]

The cab pulls up outside the imperial hotel, Theodore knocked on the driver's side window and gesture the terrified Driver to lower his window.

"Wait here, Eh!"

"Okay, Okay." The driver doesn't really have any choice except for accepting these two dangerous people's demands.

The pair marches into the hotel and heads to the elevators without being noticed by the receptionist. They enter the elevators and Theodore saw her pressing the button on the 25th floor. Once they reached the floor, they walk down a hallway and stopped outside a suite.

Lucy focused on her improved visions and found two goons standing at the door, except for them she saw another two chatting very close to the door.

"Go ahead." Theodore told her calmly. She leveled her gun and shot multiple bullets through the soft plywood door.

Theodore pushed open the door, on the other side he found the goons with gaping bullet wounds on their head, except for one who is clutching his neck to stop the blood pouring out of the wound, but it's a futile endeavor because he is going to die anyway.

Theodore pointed his gun at the goon, and blasted a hole through the skull, killing him instantly.

Lucy enters the suite and closes the door behind her.

"Good Work" Theodore looked at her with a slightly tilted head. "I didn't do anything, you are the one who did most of the work." He said.

"He was about to reach for his gun, it could have alerted the guests."

"I noticed that" He then points at the padded walls. "The room would have suppressed the noise."

"Ah… Yes, you are right."

The pair then calmly walks through the empty suite. They head for the office of the boss aka Mr. Jang, the mastermind behind-the-scenes and the leader of this gang.

They found him, sitting in an armchair with a female manuscript working on his left hand, he had a face pack on with two slices of cucumbers over his eyes, and he had headphones on that was blasting a very old opera music.

"Go into that room" Theodore ordered the Chinese woman who look at the pair anxiously. "Don't make me repeat again." He said in Chinese.

The woman gets up and quickly shut herself in the room. Lucy placed her handgun on to the table and hitches up her shirt slightly, revealing two knives tucked in the back of her pant.

She whips them out a flash, and drive them viciously into the tops of Jang's hands. The mafia let out a scream, and jerked his body forward making the slices of cucumber go flying. He barely moves on seeing the pair. Jang's mouth gapes open but no sound dares to emerge.

"Learning is always a painful process. Like when you're little and your bones are growing and you ache all over." Her voice mellows, become almost emotionless.

"Can you believe I can remember the sound of my own bones growing? Like this grinding under the skin. Everything's different now. Like, sounds are music that I can understand, like fluids." If looks can kill a person, then by now she would have died over a thousand times as Jang hatefully glared at her.

"It's funny, I used to be so concerned with who I was and what I wanted to be and now that I have access to the furthest reaches of brain, I see things clearly and realize that what makes us us, it's primitive." Jang is too busy writhing in pain but Lucy didn't stopped.

"They're all obstacles. Does that make any sense?" Jang glared at her. "Like this pain you're experiencing it's blocking you from understanding. All you know now is pain, that-"

"Lucy, he doesn't understand a thing you are saying. We don't have much time." Theodore interrupted her, and with slight annoyance in his voice he told her to hurry.

"Yes, time… You are right"

Lucy peers at Jang and slowly presses her thumbs over his forehead.

She concentrates, the next moment she felt her consciousness penetrates the man's skin, dwell deeper through layer of muscles and into his nervous system. In a few seconds, she found herself into the deepest part of his mind where all memories were stored.

She concentrates more and seconds later an image forms, she was back in the suite where she met the three other mules that carrying the packages, like her and Theodore.

Lucy found herself capable of zooming in and out, pausing the memory on her command. And after she was finished searching for what she was looking for, she looked farther into his mind for any information on her partner, and once she did, she removes her thumbs from Jang's forehead.

"I got the destination of other moles." Lucy told her partner. "I also looked for information about you." Theodore asked her to reveal what she found.

"They kidnapped you from the streets, since you didn't regain your consciousness after they put the packets inside us, I didn't saw you with others that time." Lucy revealed the minuscule amount of information she fetched out of Jang's mind.

"Only this much?"

"Yes, only this much." Lucy nodded.

Theodore sighed, that was completely useless but then again his sudden transfer in this fictional world is mind-boggling and an impossible feat. It's most likely the case that these people don't have the answers to his enquiries.

"Thank you for sharing." Lucy said while staring at Jang.

Theodore suddenly raised his gun and shot Jang in the head, ending his life then and there. Lucy wipes the blood that sprayed all over her face and gave Theodore a pointed, unhappy stare.

"Keeping him alive will bring us unnecessary problem later on, you aren't thinking of leaving him alive are you?" Theodore asked.

"N-No…"

"You definitely are." Lucy shook her head. "You know we have same set of abilities, and right now I have access to 38% of my brain capacity, which is much higher than you. I can tell that you are lying, Lucy." He pointed out with a disappointed look on his face.

"Can we just leave?" She asked while staring away from him.

"Of course, but first… you see that" He directs his gaze at a luggage bag placed on a table.

"It contains a huge sum of money, go fetch it." Lucy nodded and moved over to the table.

After that they left the Imperial hotel without anyone noticing them, they quietly get back in the cab and Lucy gave the driver a location to drive to.

†††

The cab pulls up outside a building. Lucy and Theodore excited the cab with two bags, one filled with weapons and the other contains a huge sum of 100 dollars bills.

Theodore knocked on the driver side, and once he lowered his window Theodore fetched a stack of 100 dollar bills out of the bag.

"If someone asked anything about us." Greed was written all over the driver eyes as he eyed the money.

"I was ill today and took a day off, I didn't ever saw you two or ever meet you in my life." The driver did not stutter or even showed any difficulty speaking English,

"If you call police or snitch on us, we know where to find you." Theodore said ominously.

"No police, I understand, no police."

"Thanks for the ride" Theodore tossed him the money, and then walks into the apartment building with Lucy.

He followed her to the second floor and soon found himself standing before a door with Lucy by his side. Lucy rang the countless time until the door was opened by Caroline, her friend, a 22 year old brunette, in panties and a see through top.

"You scared the shit out of me, ringing that bell like some nut… Nut… bar" Her eyes landed on Theodore & for a moment she just stared at the hunk of a man before her. "… Your new boyfriend?"

"No, just a friend. I am Theodore, nice to meet you." Caroline grasped the offered hand firmly.

"I am Caroline, it's a pleasure to meet you." She introduced herself, a bit of flustered. Theodore looks at her from head to toe, and immediately his visions sharpened, he could scan her bones, muscles, veins, waves, equations, and everything better than any X-ray machine.

Caroline moved aside to let the pair inside, Theodore leans close to Lucy and whispered into her ear. "Your friend's kidney aren't functioning efficiently, her liver is failing her. If she doesn't make some changes in her lifestyle she might hit the bucket pretty soon, I will give around 5 to 6 years." Lucy nodded a silent thank you.

"Did you lose your keys or something?" Caroline asked Lucy. "Yeah, something like that. Can I use your laptop?" Lucy asked.

"Sure." Once she got permission Lucy heads into the living room, sits straight down at the desk and powered on the laptop, before typing at mind blowing speed.

"Tea, Coffee?" Caroline offered, but then she remembered it was 12 o clock in the night. Caroline felt so embarrassed that she now wanted nothing but to dig a hole and bury herself there.

"A cup of Black tea would be nice." Theodore said, and she didn't felt like stupid anymore. "I will be back in a minute." She left the living room with a skip in her step.

Theodore moved behind Lucy and dropped the two bags down, he sat down on a plastic stool and as Lucy browses through the internet for scientific researches on cerebral capacity.

Theodore was amazed at the superhuman speed he was digesting information, mind that Lucy is moving through the scientific papers like at insanely fast pace, no human can dream to keep up, but he still felt that it was way too slow.

He tilted his head, he don't know how but he knows that he is now capable of manipulating electromagnetic wave around him, and that's what he did he controlled the electromagnetic wave and took control over the device, soon its screen started to flicker and moments later various scientific research papers on Cerebral capacity started to fly past by the screen at a lighting fast speed.

Lucy turned back and saw Theodore sitting in a complete trance, she turned to look at the Laptop screen and noticed researches on different subjects also starred to fly past by the screen, subjects like quantum physics, applied mathematics, genetics, biochemistry, gamma radiation, nuclear physics, engineering, robotics, cybernetics, mechanics, chemistry, AI, particle physics, theoretical physics, programming, medicine, architecture, Biomedical Science, Neuroscience, astrophysics, molecular cell biology, Fine art, Pharmacy, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, economics and lastly philosophy.

Once he snapped out of his trance, Theodore controlled the electromagnetic wave again and pulled all the research papers of Samuel Norman[Aka Norman Freeman], on the screen.

"His findings of the brain's capacity, it's a little rudimentary. But he is on the right track." Lucy stared silently at him.

"Did you just memorize every single subject in the world?" Lucy asked, while she stared at him with her eyebrows raised questioningly.

"Not everything, I skipped subjects like arts, history, and many others." At this moment Caroline enters the living room with three cups of Black tea on a tray.

"Do I contact him?" Lucy asked for Theodore's opinion. "Your choice." Theodore said & then moved over to join Caroline on the couch.

"Thank you." The tea is little too sweet for his taste, but it isn't undrinkable. "You should go and visit Nephrologist." Caroline gave him a confused look.

"Your hand and feet are little swollen, they are early symptoms of Kidney failure." Theodore told her calmly.

"R-Really?" Caroline was frozen, stunned on hearing this.

"Are you short on breath or find yourself heading to the restroom with increased frequency?" Caroline nodded as she looked at him, tensely.

"I am studying medicine, I can write down some medications if you want. But at the end of the day it's up to you to take care of yourself, no doctor will make you healthy." He gazed towards Lucy and saw her speaking to someone, well that someone is probably the professor.

"You need to make some lifestyle changes, quit drinking, work out, eat organic. You'll be okay." Caroline nodded her head like a scared child.

"Follow the diet called DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension). This is a diet that's basically low in salt and high in potassium and calcium. It emphasizes choosing low-fat dairy products instead of high-fat ones, choosing vegetable proteins instead of animal proteins and avoiding dark cola drinks." He explained and asked her bring a notebook and pen.

"Okay, what's next." Caroline asked.

"Take phosphate binder with your meals and snacks; this drug doesn't allow phosphorous to get into your blood." Caroline wrote the drug named down on her note book.

"Angiotensin receptor blockers are drugs that help protect your kidneys and slow progression of most forms of CKD. Earlier stage of kidney disease can cause the parathyroid glands to become hyperactive, leading to bone disease, arthritis, skin disease, itching and anemia." Theodore paused and took a sip of his tea before continuing.

"Angiotensin receptor blockers contains Vitamin D that suppresses an overproduction of hormones released by the parathyroid glands (PTH), which prevents the complications of excess PTH." Theodore said, all in one breathe.

"Okay, Okay… " She muttered as she wrote the medication down.

"And oh don't consume to much caffeine." He put down his empty cup down & once again joined Lucy.

"Lucy, it's getting late. So I am going to bed…" Caroline mood was a little downcast but nonetheless she managed to put a smile on her face.

"And thanks, Theo, you saved my life" She gave him a grateful look.

"I'm happy to help, Caroline."

"If you need help of any kind, I will be happy to lend my hand." Caroline told him and moved over to the door to her bedroom.

"I will keep that in my mind" Caroline smiled and entered the room, before closing the door behind.

Theodore moved his attention back on Lucy and The professor.

"Professor, our cells are reproducing at a phenomenal speed, several million per second. I'm having trouble precisely evaluating the time of my death." Lucy spoke to Dr. Norman about their condition.

"Is he the other person…" Dr. Norman questioned when Theodore appeared into the frame.

"Yes, his body consumed 2 kilo of C.P.H.4 but unlike me his cells are adapting at several billion per second, it's as if they are evolving to survive these powerful drug." Lucy answered.

"That's…" Dr. Norman clears his throat. "I don't know what to… say. It's true, I've been working on this theory for over 20 years, but it's only ever been hypothesis and research ideas. I never thought anyone would…" The professor was simultaneously look concerned and a little fascinated.

"Can you two control you own metabolism?" Dr. Norman asked.

"Yes, and I can start to control other people's bodies. Also, both of us can control magnetic and electric waves. Not all of them, just the most basic." Lucy said.

"I can control all of them, Dr. Norman. I'm at 39%... I can access to anyone's memories and make changes with them. I can use telekinesis and can control my cells at will." Theodore raised his hand and the old man on the other watch in morbid fascination as Theodore's nails morphed into razor sharp claws akin to a Lion's.

He dismissed the claws and then changed his eyes form golden brown to crimson red, and many other colors.

"I am also capable of changing my body structure"

"My God…" The professor was awed by the display.

"Professor Since my cells are adapting quite fast, my emotions and what make us human haven't yet faded away, I can still feel happiness, anger and even sadness, but…"

"The drug is suppressing them and not all stimulus will bring those emotions out, right?" Dr. Norman points out the obvious answer.

"Yes, you are right." Theodore looked at Lucy.

"But, Lucy here isn't that lucky..." Theodore then urged her to share her problems.

"Professor, I don't feel pain, fear, desire or any other emotions. It's like the less human I feel, all this knowledge about everything. Quantum Physics, applied mathematics, the infinite capacity of a cell's nucleus. They're all exploding inside my brain, all this knowledge. I know what to do with it."

"If you're asking me what to do… " Dr. Norman looks genuinely worried for her. Dr. Norman closed his eyes and took a moment to think.

"You know, if you think about… the very nature of life, I mean from the very beginning, the development of the first cell that divide into two cells. The sole purpose of life has been to pass on what was learned. There was no higher purpose. So if asking me what to do with all this knowledge you're accumulating, I'd say pass it on just like any simple cell going through time."

"Time... Yes, of course" She was pensive for a moment. "We will be at your door in 12 hours." Lucy hangs up the call.